Abstract:
A putting training device having two alignment guides positioned to extend from the blade of a putter. In one embodiment the alignment guides extend generally parallel to each other to faciliate a generally parallel putting stroke. In an alternative embodiment, each of the alignment guides generally arcuate in shape and extends from the blade of the putter in a generally concentric manner, to facilitate a generally arcuate putting stroke. The ends of the alignment guides are tapered to prevent the alignment guides from catching on the putting surface. Additionally, at least one of the alignment guides is movable, such that the space between the two alignment guides can tailored for the experience level of each user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to golf training devices, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation to an adjustable device that is removably attached to a putter blade for training a golfer&#39;s putting stroke.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Recreational sports and hobbies are popular all around the world. It is when a person is in the pursuit of some degree of proficiency in these types of activities that a diversion from the routine patterns of life can be experienced. Many times, a person may excel in a particular side interest or pastime to such a degree that they may be competitive with others who have the same interests. A person may enjoy bowling, for example, and find that competing in a league against other bowlers provides them with a great measure of enjoyment.  
         [0003]     Those who participate in sports as a recreational activity and who desire to have some measure of success in so doing must develop and maintain a certain level of proficiency in the sport&#39;s skills. For baseball players, the ability to swing the bat in harmonious manner with the movement of the player&#39;s body is critical to successful contact with the baseball. Tennis players must also have the swinging motion coordinated with body movement and eye contact in order to play the game with success. Others who play sports such as racquetball and table-tennis have similar physical attributes that must be developed.  
         [0004]     Golfers are among those who practice a great deal in order to prepare themselves to play with any degree of competence. They must be able to hit the golf ball with any of a number of different clubs properly under a variety of circumstances. Many golfers hire trainers to assist them in developing their golfing skills. Hours of time may be spent in preparation for a single game. The use of a driving range at a golf course, golf school, or public practice area is often a part of a golfer&#39;s training and preparation for a round of golf.  
         [0005]     Of the many aspects of playing golf, putting is one of the most important components in the game. As a golfer must keep their head very still, in a fixed position during the putting stoke, it is very difficult for the golfer to determine whether the blade of the putter is being drawn back properly during the backswing and whether the blade of the putter is maintained in the proper orientation during the putt. If the golfer&#39;s head moves to watch the putter during the putt stroke, the rest of the putting stroke can be affected. Therefore, it is not only important that a golfer be able to practice a mechanically sound putting stroke, but also to be able to readily determine that the putting stroke is being done properly  
         [0006]     As can be appreciated, there is a need for improved golf training devices that can be used while practice putting to not only help develop a good putting stroke, but can also provide feedback to the golfer that the putting stroke is proper.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of an alignment guide in accordance with the principles of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing an attachment mechanism for alignment guides; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating showing an attachment mechanism for the generally arcuate alignment guides.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]     Referring now to the drawings wherein the various elements depicted are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in particular, to  FIG. 1  there is shown a putting training device  100 . As illustrated putting training device  100  includes a putter head  110  connected to a putter shaft  120 . Two alignment guides,  130  and  140  are connected to putter head  110 . Alignment guides  130  and  140  are connected to putter head  110  being generally parallel to each other, and generally perpendicular to the face  112  of putter head  110 . In a preferred embodiment, alignment guide  140  is attached in a fixed position on putter head  110 , while alignment guide  130  is movable with respect to alignment guide  140  such that the space between alignment guides  130  and  140  can be adjusted. Dashed lines  150 ,  152 ,  160  and  162  represent a desired proper parallel putting stroke, with dashed lines  150  and  152  illustrating the desired proper backswing of putting training device  100 , and dashed lines  160  and  162  illustrating the desired proper follow through.  
         [0014]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of a putting training device  200 . As illustrated putting training device  200  includes a putter head  210  connected to a putter shaft  220 . Two, generally arcuate alignment guides  230  and  240  are connected to putter head  220 . In a preferred embodiment, alignment guide  240  is attached in a fixed position on putter head  210 , while alignment guide  230  is movable with respect to alignment guide  240  such that the space between alignment guides  230  and  240  can be adjusted. Additionally, in this preferred embodiment, alignment guide  230  is shorter than alignment guide  240  to allow the proper arcuate stroke of putting training device  200 . Dashed lines  250 ,  253 ,  260  and  263  represent a desired proper arc shaped putting stroke, with dashed lines  250  and  252  illustrating the desired proper backswing of putting training device  200 , and dashed lines  260  and  262  illustrating the desire proper follow through.  
         [0015]     Referring not to  FIG. 3 , there is illustrated a side view of an example of a preferred embodiment of an alignment guide  300 , such as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As illustrated, alignment guide  300  has a notch  310  which is cut to correspond or mate with the shape the putter head or mounting mechanism on which it is to be used. Edge  320  is tapered from the front of top edge  330  towards notch  310 , to facilitate the smooth movement of alignment guide  300  during a putting swing by at least preventing edge  320  from catching on the putting surface. It is contemplated that alignment guide  300  be attached to a putter head using suitable mechanical or chemical attachment methods. Good results have been achieved by manufacturing alignment guide  300  from metals, such as thing various types of sheet metal, or from various types of plastics. It is desirable that the chosen material for alignment guide  300  be non-corrosive, durable and strong. It is further desired that the material having a high impact strength and be able to accept and retaining coloring materials for an extended length of time.  
         [0016]     It is contemplated that alignment guide  300  could be bendable such that, for example, if a golfer utilized an arcuate putting stroke, alignment guide  300  could be readily bend to a particular arc shape to coincide with the golfer&#39;s putting stroke.  
         [0017]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of a putting training device  400 . As illustrated, putting training device includes generally parallel alignment guides  430  and  440  and a mounting bracket  435 , with alignment guides  430  and  440  being similar in shape to alignment guides  130  and  140  of  FIG. 1 . Alignment guide  440  is fixed to mounting bracket  435  while alignment guide  430  is removably secured to mounting bracket  435  with a screw, such as a thumb screw  432 . Thumb screw  432  can be loosened to allow the adjustment of the position of alignment guide  430 , such that the space between alignment guides  430  and  400  can be changed. Mounting bracket  435  is placed on the top of putter blade  410  and secured to the putter shaft  420  with a screw  434 .  
         [0018]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of a putting training device  500 . As illustrated, putting training device includes generally arcuate alignment guides  530  and  540  and a mounting bracket  535 , with alignment guides  530  and  540  being similar in shape to alignment guides  230  and  240  of  FIG. 2 . Alignment guide  540  is fixed to mounting bracket  535  while alignment guide  530  is removably secured to mounting bracket  535  with a screw, such as a thumb screw  532 . Thumb screw  532  can be loosened to allow the adjustment of the position of alignment guide  530 , such that the space between alignment guides  530  and  500  can be changed. Mounting bracket  535  is placed on the top of putter blade  510  and secured to the putter shaft  520  with a screw  534 .  
         [0019]     As there are at least two schools of thought on putting strokes, a parallel or straight back stroke, and an arcuate stroke, it is anticipated that putting training device  100  be utilized by a golfer practicing the parallel putting stroke and that putting training device  200  be utilized by a golfer practicing an arcuate stroke.  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the operation of putting training device  100  will now be described. A user or golfer adjusts the position of alignment guide  130  such that the desired space between alignment guides  130  and  140  for the golfer is achieved. For example, the alignment guides  130  and  140  would be set far apart for beginners and set increasingly closer as the golfer&#39;s putting skills become more precise. Alignment guides  130  and  140  are then aligned or pointed at the hole or target. A golf ball is placed between alignment guides  130  and  140 . As the golfer starts the backswing of putting training device  100 , there is instant visual and mechanical feedback on whether the putter face  112  is staying square or is rotating. If putter face  112  is rotating, alignment guides  130  and  140  will provide visual feedback to the golfer by rotating and emphasizing that they are no longer pointing to the target. Additionally, if the putter face  112  rotates sufficiently such that the golf ball comes into contact with one of alignment guides  130  and  140 , a vibration will be felt by the golfer. If putter face  112  is maintained in a substantially square alignment during the backswing, alignment guides  130  and  140  will provide visual feedback to the golfer, as alignment guides  130  and  140  will continue to substantially point to the target. Additionally, no contact will be made between the golf ball and the alignment guides  130  and  140  and no vibration will be felt by the golfer.  
         [0021]     Similarly, as the golfer makes a forward swing with putting training device  100 , if the proper alignment of putter face  112  is not maintained, alignment guides  130  and  140  will provide visual feedback to the golfer by rotating and emphasizing that they are no longer pointing to the target. Additionally if the rotation of the putter face  112  is great enough, the golf ball will come into contact with one of the alignment guides  130  and  140  and a vibration will be felt by the golfer. If the proper alignment of putter face  112  is maintained, alignment guides  130  and  140  will provide visual feedback to the golfer, as alignment guides  130  and  140  will continue to substantially point to the target. Additionally, no contact will be made between the golf ball and alignment guides  130  and  140 , and no vibration will be felt by the golfer. As can be appreciated, the closer alignment guides  130  and  140  are placed together, the amount of deviation of the alignment of putter face  112  that is needed to have the alignment guides  130  and  140  come into contact with the golf ball is decreased.  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the operation of putting training device  200  will now be described. A user or golfer adjusts the position of alignment guide  230  such that the desired space between alignment guides  230  and  240  for the golfer is achieved. For example, the alignment guides  230  and  240  would be set far apart for beginners and set increasingly closer as the golfer&#39;s putting skills become more precise. The putter face  212  is aligned or pointed at the hole or target. A golf ball is placed between alignment guides  230  and  240 . As the golfer starts the backswing of putting training device  200 , there is instant visual and mechanical feedback on whether the putter face  212  is staying properly aligned. If putter face  212  is rotating, alignment guides  230  and  240  will provide visual feedback to the golfer by rotating with the putter face  212  and emphasize that the putter face  212  is no longer aligned to the target. Additionally, if the putter face  212  rotates sufficiently such that the golf ball comes into contact with one of alignment guides  230  and  240  a vibration will be felt by the golfer. If putter face  212  is maintained in proper alignment during the arcuate backswing, alignment guides  230  and  240  will provide visual feedback to the golfer. Additionally, if putter face  212  is maintained in proper alignment, no contact will be made between the golf ball and the alignment guides  230  and  240 , whereby no vibrations will be felt by the golfer.  
         [0023]     Similarly, as the golfer makes a forward swing with putting training device  200 , if the proper alignment of putter face  212  is not maintained, alignment guides  230  and  240  will provide visual feedback to the golfer by being rotated, thus emphasizing that the putter face  212  is no longer properly aligned. Additionally, if the rotation of the putter face  212  is great enough, the golf ball will come into contact with one of the alignment guides  230  and  240  such that vibrations will be felt by the golfer.  
         [0024]     If the proper alignment of putter face  212  is maintained, alignment guides  230  and  240  will provide visual feedback to the golfer, as the putter face  212  will continue to substantially point to the target. Additionally, no contact will be made between the golf ball and alignment guides  230  and  240 , and no vibration will be felt by the golfer. As can be appreciated, the closer alignment guides  230  and  240  are placed together, the amount of deviation of the alignment of putter face  212  that is needed to have the alignment guides  230  and  240  come into contact with the golf ball is decreased.  
         [0025]     Although alignment guides  140  and  240  are described as fixed and alignment guides  130  and  230  are described as being movable in preferred embodiments of training devices  100  and  200 , it is contemplated to be within the scope of this that either or both of the alignment guides of each putting training device  100  and  200  be adjustable with respect to the other alignment guide, or that neither alignment guide be adjustable, i.e. both are attached at a preset fixed position.  
         [0026]     As can be appreciated, putting training devices  100  and  200  will help a golfer develop a steady smooth swing while minimizing the margin of error. This is accomplished by training the golfer to have the face of the putter strike the ball square and to facilitate a complete follow through.  
         [0027]     It is further contemplated that the alignment guides of putting training devices  100  and  200  be connected together such that they could be attachable to the shaft of the putter where the shaft joins the club head (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), such that the putting training devices could be utilized with virtually any shaped putter.  
         [0028]     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.