Patent Publication Number: US-7214146-B1

Title: Putting training device and method

Description:
This utility patent application is based on the provisional patent application (Ser. No. 60/671,803) filed on Apr. 15, 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of the Invention 
   Description of the Related Art 
   The game of golf is a very difficult and challenging sport in which many individuals spend a large amount of time and energy trying to master. One of the hardest aspects of the game of golf is putting. While putting seems to be mechanically the simplest of all golf skills, very few golfers are able to master it. 
   The body&#39;s physical requirements for putting are minimal. A successful golfer must be able to recognize different types of slopes on a putting green and accurately judge the influence of gravity on the path of the ball as it rolls towards the hole. Good putters must learn how to ‘read’ different slopes and conditions on the green and then consistently adjust their putts to these conditions. 
   What is needed is a putting training device and method to teach golfers how to consistently and accurately putt. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a putting training device and method. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide such a device used to teach a simple method of accurately putting on either flat or slopping greens. 
   These and other objects of the putting training device that comprises an elongated planar member made of flexible material capable of being easily folded or rolled into the golfer&#39;s pocket or golf bag. Longitudinally and centrally aligned on the top surface of the planar member is a target line indicator. Also printed on the top surface of the planar member are right and left swing force indicators, a center ball indicator, and front and rear foot position indicators. Located adjacent to the center ball indicator is a putter head angle scale. 
   During use, the planar member is unfolded and placed on the turf or green between the golfer&#39;s feet and the ball. The planar member is transversely aligned with the golfer so that the target line indicator is longitudinally aligned with the target line that extends from the ball to the hole. In the preferred embodiment, the center ball indicator is centrally aligned on the planar member so that when the planar member is placed adjacent to the ball, the center ball indicator is located adjacent to the ball. After setting up the planar member on the turf or green, the golfer inspects the areas on the turf and green between the ball and the hole for slopes, dips or imperfections that may impact the roll of the ball as it travels towards the hole. The golfer identifies a projected path line from the ball to the hole and any lateral slopes located thereon. The lateral slopes are added together to generate a final lateral slope. Next, the golfer identifies the slope angle reference line printed on the putter head angle scale that substantially matches the final lateral slope value. In the preferred embodiment, the putter head angle scale is divided into two scales, an open head scale and a closed angle head scale, that are centrally aligned around a single reference point. In the preferred embodiment, the reference point is aligned with the center ball indicator. 
   Next, the golfer inspects the areas on the turf and green along the projected path line for one or more longitudinal slopes that may increase or decrease the speed of the ball as it travels to the hole. The golfer also takes into consideration the texture of the turf or grass, the wind and moisture and its impact on the amount of force needed to roll the ball towards the hole. With this information, the golfer determines the amount of force needed to be applied to the ball. 
   After all of the above factors have been identified, the golfer then positions himself or herself perpendicular on the side of the planar member opposite the ball. He or she then aligns the face of the putter with the proper slope angle reference line on the open or closed head scales. The golfer grips the handle so that the face of the putter head is maintained at the desired slope angle as the putter is swung over the target line indicator. The golfer uses the swing force indicator to mark the rearmost point of the golfer&#39;s backswing to produce the desired impact force on the ball. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golfer making a putt using the training device described herein. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the training device placed on a putting green with the golfer&#39;s feet aligned with the front and rear foot indicators. 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the putter head angle guide. 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view showing a putt performed on a putting green with two sloped hills located between the golfer and the hole. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
   There is shown in the accompanying Figs., a putting training device  8  used by golfers on a putting green  7 , and method. The device  8  includes an elongated planar member  10  made of material capable of being easily folded into a pocket. As shown more clearly on  FIG. 2 , the planar member  10  is unfolded and positioned on the putting green  7  parallel to the golfer&#39;s two feet  6 A,  6 B. The two feet  6 A,  6 B are normally, perpendicular to the target line  90 . 
   Printed on the top surface  11  of the planar member  10  is a longitudinally aligned target line indicator  20 . Also printed on the top surface  11  are right and left swing force indicators  38 ,  36 , respectively, a center ball indicator  45 , and a plurality of right and left foot  19  position indicators  50 ,  55  respectively. Located adjacent to the center ball indicator  45  is a putter head angle scale  60 . 
   The planar member  10  is made of plastic or laminated paper stock with an imprinted  22  target line indicator  20 . In the preferred embodiment, the planar member  10  is approximately 28 inches in length and 3½ inches in width. The right and left swing force indicators  30 ,  36  are transversely aligned lines  31 – 33  and  37 – 39 , respectively, imprinted over the target line indicator  20  and on opposite sides of the putter head angle scale  60 . In the preferred embodiment, the lines  31 – 33  and  37 – 39  are centrally aligned on opposite sides of the scale  60  and equally spaced apart approximately 3½ inches. It should be understood that the lines  31 – 33  and  37 – 39  could be spaced apart at other distances. In the preferred embodiment, the right and left foot indicators  50 ,  55  are formed by two zigzag lines  51 ,  52  and  56 ,  57 , respectively, formed along the perimeter edge  12  of the planar member  10 . The foot indicators  50 ,  55  are aligned parallel with the target line indicator  20 . The lines  51 ,  52  and  56 ,  57 , for each foot indicator  50 ,  55  diverge and converge in an alternating manner to create apexes  100 , are equally spaced apart along the perimeter edge  12  of the planar member  10 . During use, the golfer  5  aligns his or her feet right and left foot  6 A,  6 B, respectively, with two apexes  100  on opposite sides of the center ball indicator  45  to properly position his or her shoulders and hips over the ball. In the preferred embodiment, the apexes  100  are approximately 3½ inches apart. It should be understood that the lines  51 ,  52  and  56 ,  57  and apexes  100  can be replaced with other markers to help the golfer properly position his or her feet. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2  the right and left swing indicators  36 ,  38  may be two index scales  41 ,  43  located on opposite sides of the reference point  45  and parallel to the target line indicator. In the preferred embodiment, each index scale  41 ,  43  includes a plurality of marking  42 ,  44 , respectively. The markings are equally spaced apart adjacent to the distal longitudinal edge of the planar member  10 . 
   The putter head angle scale  60  is centrally located on the planar member  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the putter head angle scale  60  includes a plurality of slope reference lines  70  that terminate at a central reference point  61 . In the preferred embodiment, the scale  60  is divided into two smaller scales, an open head scale  62  and a close head scale  63 . The two scales  62 ,  63  radiate in opposite directions from the central reference point  61 . The reference lines  70  are radially aligned 2 degrees apart on opposite sides of the reference point  61 . During use, the planar member  10  is unfolded on the turf or green between the golfer&#39;s feet  6 A,  6 B and the ball  9 . The planar member  10  is aligned so that the target line indicator  20  is longitudinally aligned with the actual target line  90  that extends from the golfer  5  to the hole  95 . The center ball indicator  45  is aligned or slightly offset with the center of the ball  9 . Next, the golfer  5  inspects the area of the putting green  7  that leads to the hole  95  for lateral slope surfaces  96 ,  98  that may force the ball  9  to travel towards or away from the hole  95 . The golfer  5  then determines projected ball path to the hole  95  and the final slope angle. Once the final slope angle is determined, the golfer  5  then reviews the putter head angle scale  60  to identify the slope reference line  70  that most closely matches the final slope angle. 
   As discussed above, the final slope angle is the summation of the individual lateral slopes located along the projected ball path that extends between the golfer  5  and the hole  95 . When more than one slope surfaces  96  exists between the golfer  5  and the hole  95 , the golfer  5  adds or subtracts the slopes  96  together to determine final slope angle, (plus symbol used with uphill slopes and minus symbol used with downhill slopes). The face  24  of the putter is then positioned next to the reference line  70  on the scale  61  or  62  that most closely matches the final slope angle. 
   Before attempting the putt, the golfer  5  also inspects the green for longitudinally aligned upward slopes or downward slopes along the projected ball path that increases or decreases the speed of the ball  9 . The golfer then inspects the green&#39;s texture and moisture content. 
   After the final slope angle, the presence of longitudinally aligned upward or downward slopes, the texture and the moisture issues have been considered, the golfer  5  then positions himself or herself on the side of the planar member  10  opposite the ball  9 . He or she then aligns the face  24  of the putter  23  with the slope reference line  70  that most closely matches the final slope angle. He or she then grips the handle  14  so that the angle of the face  24  is maintained as the putter  23  is swung along the target line indicator  20 . For a right-handed golfers, the face  24  of the putter  23  is opened when the putting green slopes downward right to left. When the putting green slopes downward left to right, the face  24  of the putter  23  is closed. For left-handed golfers, the opened or closed orientation of the face  24  of the putter  23  is reversed. 
   Before putting, the golfer  5  must also determine the amount of force applied to the ball by using the force indicator  30  or  36  on the end of planar member  10  opposite the hole. As mentioned above, the lines  31 – 33  and  37 – 39  or markings  42 ,  44  on the force indicators  30 ,  36 , respectively, are equally spaced apart. Based on a normal, constant putting swing acceleration of approximately 1–2 ft. per second, each reference line or marking represents the starting location of the putter along the backswing. Reference lines or markings closer to the center axis produce shorter backswings and thus resulting in, less force being applied to the ball. Reference lines or markings further from the center axis produce longer backswings with greater force being applied to the ball. While golfers are instructed to swing the putter  23  at a constant acceleration and to follow through, the accelerator of the putter varies between golfers. For the typical golfer, the distance between adjacent reference lines represents the amount of force needed to make the ball roll approximately 2 yards on a flat green. 
   For other golfers, the distance between reference lines or markings may represent greater or lessor distances. During the initial use of the device, the golfer must calibrate the reference lines or markings with his or her putting swing speed. During use, the golfer  5  estimates the distance needed to reach the hole  9  or the apex  110  of the ball path  99  and then uses the force indicators  30  or  36  to produce the proper force. It is important to note that the amount of force exerted on the ball  9  is determined by the distance the ball  9  must travel from the golfer  5  to the apex  110 ) of the path  99  of the ball  9  when it hits a desired angle equal to the slope reference line  70 . If the ball  9  must roll over a lateral slope to reach the hole  95 , the golfer  5  hits the ball  9  with sufficient force so that the ball  9  travels in an arc. The ball  9  should be hit with sufficient force so that when the ball  9  reaches the apex  110  of the arc, the ball  9  then rolls towards the hole  95 . If the ball  9  must roll in a straight path and over one or more over longitudinally aligned slopes to reach the hole, the golfer must hit the ball with sufficient force to accommodate the effect of gravity on the ball  9 . 
   In the prior art the golfer  5  changes the placement of his or her feet  6 A,  6 B so that the swing path of the putter  23  is aligned with the projected ball path  99 . If slopes exist around the hole, the golfer&#39;s feet  6 A,  6 B are aligned with the projected ball path  99  to the high or low apex  110  spot of the ball&#39;s arc to the hole  95 . In the method disclosed herein, the swing path of the putter  23  is always longitudinally aligned with the target line indicator  20  that extends from the ball  9  to the hole  95 . Only the angle of the face  24  of the putter  23  is adjusted to match the final slope angle. 
   Using the above device, a method for putting is disclosed, comprising the following steps: 
   a. selecting a putter training device that includes an elongated planar member with a longitudinally aligned target line indicator, right and left swing force indicators longitudinally aligned with said target line indicator, a center ball indicator, and a putter head scale; 
   b. placing said training device on the ground so that said target line indicator is longitudinally aligned with the target line that extends from the ball to the hole; 
   c. determining a projecting path line from the ball to the hole; 
   d. determining the angle of lateral slopes between the ball and the hole; 
   e. adding the angles of lateral slopes together to determine a final slope angle; 
   f. aligning the putter with a reference line that substantially matches said final slope angle; 
   g. determining the amount of force to hit the ball and, 
   h. swinging the putter along the target line indicator while holding the putter with the face of said putter aligned with said reference line that matches said final slope angle. 
   In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown is comprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.