Abstract:
A training device for a putting stroke in the game of golf. A base and sidewalls form a track which defines the path of the stroke. A guide attached to the putter head fits within the track and prevents the putter head from binding in the track and thus directs the putter head along the track causing the golfer to keep proper wrist alignment and to build muscle memory when properly stroking the ball. One version of the track permits the width of the track to be adjusted to accommodate putters having different sized heads. Further, a portion of the track may be adjusted to train a putting stoke having a slightly curved backswing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 60/536,534 filed Jan. 15, 2004, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   Embodiments of the invention relate to training a golfer&#39;s putting stroke and more particularly to apparatus used for same. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Putting is an essential skill for golfer&#39;s, both recreational and professional. A number of strokes can be subtracted from a player&#39;s score if the player is able to consistently control their putting stroke. 
   It is known to train an athlete to perform a skill, such as a golfer&#39;s putting stroke, by building the “muscle memory” as a result of repetitively performing the skill in a correct or desired manner. In order to ensure that this repetitive training is effective, apparatus have been developed to assist in maintaining a proper stroke. 
   A number of prior art devices are known to assist a golfer to develop a consistent putting stroke. Many of these devices are merely visual aids to assist in alignment of the putter head with the ball and do not force the stroke to follow a pattern throughout the backswing and the follow through. 
   A number of known devices provide a track in which the golfer can stroke the putter head, the putter being either fixed to the track in some fashion or free within the track. One such prior art device is that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,542 to Walk which provides a putting track and two L-shaped attachment deflection members having two adjustable guide pointers removably attached to a conventional putter. The attachment members and the track provide a visual indicator of alignment rather than forcing the putter head to remain in alignment. Further, golfer&#39;s wrists are not caused to remain stable throughout the stroke and therefore to follow a consistent pattern throughout the stroke, techniques many believe to be elements of a consistent putting stroke. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,471,155 to Donaldson teaches a track and a carriage means used to clamp the putter head within the track. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,796 to King teaches a track and a specially designed rectangular putter head, which is adjustably connected to a shaft and freely moveable within the track, to approximate the adjustment of the head and shaft to that of the golfer&#39;s putter. The rectangular shape of the head is particular to provide contact between the track and the head, should the swing not follow the track. The point of contact of the head with the track is relatively small and Applicant believes that the head has an increased tendency to bind within the track and to stop an incorrect stroke rather than forcing the stroke to match the track on a consistent basis. 
   Clearly there is a need for a simple device that permits a golfer to use the putter that they will use on the golf course, that can be used without the need to affix the putter to the device and that will force the golfer to stroke the ball, according to a predetermined optimal stroke, in both the backswing and follow-through portions of the stroke. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Apparatus for training a putting stroke in the game of golf comprises a track in which a putter is stroked and a guide, sized to the width of the track, which is attached to the putter for directing a head of the putter along a path defined by the track. The putter is freely moveable within the track. The guide attached to the putter acts not only to direct the head of the putter but also to increase the effective axial extent of the putter head preventing the putter head from twisting and binding in the track. Thus, a golfer using the apparatus is directed to maintain a proper wrist positioning and builds muscle memory while stroking the putter head and guide from a backswing through a target point, typically a golf ball, to a follow-through portion of the swing. 
   In a broad aspect of the invention, apparatus for training a golfing stroke using a putter comprises a base; substantially parallel sidewalls connected to the base and spaced a width apart for forming a track therebetween, the track being adapted for releasably accepting a putter head for free axial movement therealong in a path; and a guide adapted to be releasably connected to the putter to reside in the track, sized to be substantially the width between the sidewalls and having an effective axial extent, wherein, in the track, the guide maintains the putter head substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls and directs the stroke when moved axially therein along the path for stroking through a target point. 
   Preferably, the side walls are adjustable connected to the base such as by fasteners and slots, permitting the width of the track to be adjusted or optionally, a portion of the path to be altered, such as a slightly curved backswing portion. 
   Preferably, the base is open at a front end of the apparatus to permit the ball to be placed and stroked to run along the surface on which the base is placed preventing alterations in the flight of the ball which might result from a transition between the base and the surface. More preferably, a narrow U-shaped opening extends contiguous to the base opening for assisting in centering the ball in the track. 
   Optionally, the apparatus is provided with ball supply means. In a preferred embodiment the ball supply means is an angled, ramped trough extending along a sidewall and terminating at an entrance in the sidewall which permits the balls to enter the track. Preferably the entrance is adjacent the termination of the U-shaped opening which receives and centers the balls as they enter the track. 
   Preferably a user-actuated mechanism or gate means permits electively releasing the golf balls from the trough to the track. In one embodiment, the gate means is a finger which is pivotally connected to the sidewall and is normally biased to protrude across a portion of the entrance. Pressure applied to a portion of the finger overcomes the biasing means, such as springs, and temporarily pivots the finger away from the entrance permitting a ball to enter the track. 
   In an alternate embodiment, the gate means comprises an L-shaped plate which forms a back wall to the track and extends along the sidewall and is moveably connected thereto using fasteners and slots, the plate being normally biased to extend over the entrance. Pressure applied to the back wall using the putter temporarily overcomes the biasing means, such as springs or elastic bands, and permits a ball to enter the track. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective end view of an embodiment of the invention having an adjustable width track, a guide adapted for lagging attachment to a putter head and sized for the track, and a ball supply trough for feeding a supply of balls into the track; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective end view according to  FIG. 1  having a portion of the track adjusted to permit an alternate curved backswing portion of the putting stroke; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view according to  FIG. 1  illustrating the ball supply trough and a user-actuated mechanism or gate means for feeding balls from the trough into the track; 
       FIG. 4  is a close-up view of the gate means according to  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an perspective side view illustrating a plurality of adjustable connection means from an opposite side from that of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective front view of an alternate embodiment of the invention having a fixed width track, and illustrating a ball feed trough and an alternate user-actuated mechanism to feed balls from the trough to the track; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective rear view according to  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a side view according to  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a plan view according to  FIG. 6 , illustrating an embodiment of a guide adapted for attachment to a putter head and sized to fit within the track, the guide shown for optionally leading the putter head; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective rear view illustrating the guide, according to  FIG. 9 , positioned in the track and leading the putter head, the putter having been removed for clarity; 
       FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of an embodiment of a guide adapted for attachment to a putter head having a rounded protrusion at a rear surface of the putter head; 
       FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the guide according to  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  is a plan view of the guide according to  FIG. 11 ; and 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of the guide according to  FIG. 11 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Having reference to  FIGS. 1–10 , embodiments of apparatus for training a putting stroke for golfing are shown. 
   Having particular reference to  FIG. 1 , a putting trainer  1  comprises a track  10  for limiting the putting stroke to follow a pre-determined pattern or path P and a guide  11  adapted to be positioned adjacent a head  12  of a putter  13  and sized substantially the same as a width W of the track  10 . The guide  11  ensures that the putter head  12  remains substantially perpendicular to substantially parallel sidewalls  14 , 15 , which are spaced apart and attached to a base  16  to form the track  10 . Further, the guide  11  ensures the putter head and attached guide  12 , 11  do not bind within the track  10 . Thus, the putter head  12  is directed along the path P established by the track  10  and the golfer is forced to maintain proper putter head  12  positioning and wrist alignment in order to complete the putting stroke therein. In  FIG. 1 , a linear path P is shown. 
   In an embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1–5 , the base  16  is separate from the sidewalls  14 , 15 . The sidewalls  14 , 15  are connected to the base  16  by a plurality of adjustable connection means  17  which permit altering the width W or the path P of the track 
   Should the track width W be adjusted to accommodate an unusual sized putter head  12 , a corresponding adjustment is made to a width of the guide  11  to be used. Different sized guides  11  may be provided, or alternatively, a guide (not shown) having an adjustable width may be provided to ensure that the putter head  12  cannot twist or bind within the track  10 . 
   Some of the plurality of connection means  17 , such as those along at least one sidewall  14 , 15 , may be adjusted to permit movement of the at least one sidewall  14 , 15 , relative to the base  16 , to widen the track  10 . At least some of the plurality of connection means  17 , such as those adjacent both sidewalls  14 , 15  adjacent a portion of the track  10  can be adjusted, relative to the remainder of the connections means  17 , and both sidewalls  14 , 15  can be moved relative to the base  16 , in parallel arrangement, to adjust the path P. 
   In one embodiment, the connection means  17  are co-operating fasteners  20  and slots  21 . The fasteners  20 , such as wing nuts or the like, extend upwards from the base  16  through the slots  21  which extend from the sidewalls  14 , 15 , preferably formed in tabs  22  which extend and overly the base  16 . To adjust the width W of the track  10 , at least some of the fasteners  20  are loosened to permit movement of one or both of the sidewalls  14 , 15  and then tightened to fix the position of the sidewalls  14 , 15  relative to each other and to the base  16 . The slots  21  typically have a fixed length to limit the degree of adjustment possible. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2  the track&#39;s path P may be adjusted for altering at least a portion of the putting stroke. Thus, golfers who may prefer a slightly curved backstroke over a straight backstroke, can move a portion B of the sidewalls  14 ,  15 , while maintaining the parallel relationship therebetween, to create a curved backstroke P 2  along a track  10  having a width W the same as that of the track  10  at a follow-through portion F of the stroke. 
   One embodiment of the guide  11  is shown in  FIGS. 11–14 . A protruding portion  40  of the guide  11  extends axially outward from an attachment portion  41  which attaches to the putter  13 . Typically, the protruding portion  40  extends backwards, or lags from, the putter head  12 . Alternatively, however, the guide  11  can be positioned so that the protruding portion  40  leads the putter head  12 , provided the guide  11  is attached above a striking face (not shown) of the putter head  12 , while still residing in the track  10  when the putter  13  is positioned therein. 
   In a preferred embodiment for use regardless whether the guide  11  lags or leads the putter head  12 , the protruding portion  40  extends axially outwards from the putter  13  such that the protruding portion  40  is above the striking face (not shown) of the putter head  12  and typically above a height of a golf ball. 
   The width of the protruding portion  40  is substantially the same as the width W between the sidewalls of the track  10 . Further, the extent to which the protruding portion  40  axially extends from the putter head  12  acts to increase an effective axial extent of the putter head  12 , so that when the putter head  12  and guide  11  are positioned in the track  10  the putter head  12  cannot twist and bind within the track  10 . Further, with each stroke of the putter  13  in the track  10  along the path P, a golfer is forced to maintain correct wrist position and build the necessary skill and muscle memory to reproduce the stroke without the track  10 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  11  and  12  and in a particular embodiment of the guide  11  adapted for attachment to a putter  13  having a cylindrical putter head body  12   a  attached to a back surface  42  of a rectangular striking surface  43  ( FIG. 1 ), a first groove  44  is formed in the bottom  45  of the attachment portion  41  of the guide  11  for co-operating with the cylindrical body  12   a  and retaining the guide  11  thereon. A second vertical groove  46  extends upwards from the first groove  44  along an end  47  of the attachment portion  41  to accommodate a hosel  48  which extends upwards from the head  12  and interconnects with a shaft  49 . The second vertical groove  46  ensures that the guide  11  does not rotate about the cylindrical head  12  if the guide  11  contacts the sidewalls  14 , 15  of the track  10  during the stroke. 
   In a preferred embodiment, openings  55  are formed through the protruding portion  40  to allow the golfer to view at least a portion of the golf ball  30  and to reduce the weight of the guide  11 . 
   One of skill in the art would understand that due to the variety in design of commercially available putters  13 , a variety of means such as clips, grooves and the like may be provided for attachment of the guide  11  to various portions of the putter  13 . 
   Typically, in use, the golfer positions the guide  11  on the putter  13  and then positions the putter head  12  and guide  11  between the sidewalls  14 , 15  of the track. The golfer then executes a putting stroke, causing the putter head  12  to be moved along the track as directed by the guide  11 , the stroke passing through a target point T, typically a golf ball  30  positioned within the track  10 . While the stroke may be completed without a ball  30  positioned in the track  10 , the flight of the ball  30  from the track  10  provides additional visual feedback to the golfer. The golf ball  30  may be manually positioned in the track  10  by the golfer or may be supplied to the track  10  by supply means such as an automated or semi-automated ball supply. 
   Best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  9  and in a preferred embodiment, the base  16  further comprises an opening  50  which extends from a front end  51  of the base  16  for at least a portion  52  of the track  10  to permit the golf ball  30  to travel on a surface  53  on which the base  16  rests once it is struck by the putter head  12 . Thus the flight of the ball  30  is not affected by transitions from the base  16  to the surface  53  which provides improved visual confirmation of the putting stroke to the golfer. More preferably, a narrow or restricted U-shaped opening  54  extends from the base opening  50  to aid in centering the golf ball  30  in the track  10 . 
   Optionally, as shown in  FIGS. 1–10 , a ball supply means  60 , typically a trough, is affixed to one of the sidewalls  14 , 15  for supplying golf balls  30  to the track  10 . The trough  60  is angled downwards to an entrance  61  formed in the sidewall  14 , 15  so that balls  30  placed therein will roll downwards to the entrance  61 . Preferably, a user-actuated ball feed mechanism or gate means  62  is positioned at the entrance  61  allowing the user to selectively permit the entrance of golf balls  30  to the track  10 . 
   Having reference to  FIGS. 1–5  and best seen in  FIG. 4 , a preferred embodiment of the gate means  62  comprises a finger  63  pivotally connected to the track  10  and normally biased, such as by a spring  64 , to protrude into the entrance  61  and prevent balls  30  from entering the track  10 . When desired, the user actuates the finger  63  by applying pressure onto at least a portion of the finger  63 , such as at an edge of a plate  65 , extending from the finger  63  and above the sidewall  14 , 15 , with the putter  13 , to temporarily pivot the finger  63  away from the entrance  61  and allow a ball  30  to enter the track  10 . Most preferably, the restricted U-shaped opening  54  terminates at the entrance  61  for accepting and centering balls  30  at target point T as the balls  30  are admitted to the track  10 . 
   Having reference to  FIGS. 6–10 , another embodiment of the putting trainer  1  having a fixed width track wherein the substantially parallel sidewalls  14 , 15  are spaced apart fixed to the base  16 , a corresponding guide and an alternate gate means  62 , is shown. An end  70  of the track  10 , adjacent the completion of the backswing portion of the putting stroke, is covered by an L-shaped plate  71  which extends over the track&#39;s end  70  and along a sidewall  14  of the track  10  to protrude across at least a portion of the entrance  61  forming an end wall  72  and gate  73 . The L-shaped plate  71  is moveably connected to the sidewall  14  by co-operating fasteners  74  and slots  75  and is biased to a normally closed position wherein the end wall  72  abuts the sidewalls  14 , 15  and the gate protrudes into the entrance  61 . Extensible biasing means  76 , such as an elastic band or spring, is connected between the fasteners  74  for biasing the L-shaped plate  71  to the closed position. The user actuates the L-shaped plate  71  to move away from the entrance  61  and permit a ball  30  to enter the track, by moving the putter head  12  and guide  11  to the furthest axial extent of the backswing portion of the track  10  and applying pressure on the end wall  72 . The pressure overcomes the biasing means  76  and causes the end wall  72  to move away from the sidewalls  14 , 15  and pulls the gate  73  away from the entrance  61 . 
   Additionally, a front wall  80  may extend between the sidewalls  14 , 15 . An exit opening  81  is formed in the front wall  80  to permit the golf ball  30  to exit the track below the wall  80  when struck by the putter head  12 . The front wall  80  may aid in providing structural rigidity to the fixed width track  10 .