Patent Abstract:
The present invention provides a golf training putter comprises a putter head that is connected to a shaft in a manner which enables the putter head to rotate around the shaft.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims benefits from provisional application No. 60/437,772 filed Jan. 3, 2003 and provisional application No. 60/503,126 filed Sep. 15, 2003, the complete disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention pertains to a training aid for improving the path of a golfers putting stroke and also for improving the ball contact made during the putting stroke. The training aids of the present invention may resemble a standard golf putter comprised of a shaft with a grip and a putter head. The putter head will unconventionally be allowed to rotate around the shaft in order to provide both visual and physical feedback regarding the quality of the putting stroke and ball contact.  
         BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0003]    There are two critical components to a good golf-putting stroke. The first key to a good stroke is comprised of a repeatable back swing and forward swing that follows along an intended target line in a pendulum motion. Secondly, the putting stroke should ensure that the ball is struck with the center of the putter head to impart a consistent forward roll along the intended target line. Inconsistencies in either of those two key components can cause putts to travel off-line or to not travel the intended distance. These inconsistencies result in more missed putts and undesirably higher golf scores. This invention pertains to a golf putter with unique features that will improve a golfers ability to make a repeatable putting stroke by providing physical and visual feedback due to any inconsistencies to one or both of the key swing components during the stroke.  
           [0004]    A wide variety of inventions and devices exist to help improve a golfer&#39;s putting stroke. U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,099 describes a laser alignment device that can be easily attached to a club or putter shaft. This laser device will emit a line of light on the ground creating a target line for the putter head to follow. While this line is useful for alignment purposes, it may encourage the golfer to rotate their head slightly and look in front of the ball during the putting stroke instead of keeping the eyes focused on the ball until it is struck. Not watching the ball as it is struck frequently results in putts that are miss-hit and not struck in the center of the putter head. These putts tend to stray off line and not travel the intended distance. In addition, since the laser device is attached to the shaft of the club, any inadvertent rotation of the shaft during the putting stroke will also rotate the alignment marking line that is transmitted on the ground. This alignment adjustment may not be easily perceivable to the user and putts may be missed if the putter head follows the altered alignment marking.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,039 describes a putting training device that consists of a curved track and an engagement feature on the bottom of a putter head that forces the putter head to follow the curved track during a putting stroke. The curved track lies relatively flat in the middle of the golfer&#39;s stance where the ball is placed prior to putting. The track gradually increases in height as it moves back and away from the golfer. This increase in height represents the pendulum motion a good putting stroke would follow. The features of this invention encourage a putting stroke that travels straight back and straight through along the target line and also encourage that the ball be struck in the center of the putter head, both of which are desirable results. However, this type of apparatus is a cumbersome device for a golfer to carry and use in different locations. In addition, this device may not be well suited for all different body types. For instance, a shorter golfer may not make a stroke with the same pendulum arc that a taller golfer may make. Using a track not fitted for your swing path or body type may begin to develop some uncomfortable aspects throughout the stroke by forcing your stroke along an unnatural path. This can affect the fluidity of the putting stroke. Therefore, it may be required that each curved track be custom fitted for each particular golfer body type which can be expensive for the consumer.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention provides a golf putter that can be used both indoors on a carpet or floor and also outdoors on a golf putting green or similar surfaces by both left-handed and right-handed golfers. It is a further aspect of the invention that it may be used in all arenas either as a training aid or as a standard golf putter depending on how the various features of the invention are configured. If the putter is used as a training aid, it is an aspect of the invention to improve the path of a golfer&#39;s putting stroke. A good putting stroke is comprised of a repeatable back swing and a forward swing that follows an intended target path in a pendulum motion. To accomplish this intention, the putter head will unconventionally be allowed to rotate around the shaft in order to provide both visual and physical feedback regarding the quality of the putting stroke. If the putting stroke were to undesirably travel off line during the stroke, the putter head would rotate and the golfer will be able to visually see the rotation of the putter head and become aware of the poor putting stroke. Or, the rotation of the putter head would result in the ball being struck at some angle other than perpendicular to the intended target line, causing the ball to travel off the intended target line, which the golfer would visualize at impact.  
           [0007]    As the golfers ability to make a repeatable straight-back, straight-through stroke improves, it may be desirable to add a feature to the putter head that makes the putter head more susceptible to small imperfections of the putting stroke to fine tune the golfers stroke even further. To accomplish this, it is a further optional aspect of the invention that an adjustable counterweight may be attached to or removed from the putter head as desired. The counterweight may be attached to the putter head on a “Y” shaped support device. In this configuration, the two tips of the fork of the “Y” shaped support would be attached to the two ends of the putter commonly referred to as the “toe” (end of the putter farthest from the golfer) and “heal” (end of the putter nearest the golfer). This method of attachment would allow the counterweight to be attached to the stem of the “Y” shaped support and be located directly behind the center of the length dimension of the putter head. The counterweight would ideally be allowed to slide closer to, or further away from the putter head along the stem of the “Y” shaped support as desired. Positioning the weight farther away from the putter head increases the length of the moment arm by which the counterweight can impart a rotational force on the putter head and cause the head to rotate around the shaft. A longer moment arm will impart more torque on the putter head with less force and would therefore increase the susceptibility of the putter head to rotation as a result of small imperfections of the putting stroke, such as an off-line stroke path. Conversely, locating the counterweight closer to the putter head will decrease the length of the moment arm thereby reducing the putter heads susceptibility to rotation from small imperfections of the putting stroke. It is a further aspect of the invention that heavier or lighter counterweights may be interchangeably utilized to meet a particular feel or susceptibility level as desired by the user.  
           [0008]    It is another aspect of the invention that the length of the stem of the “Y” be adjustable by either extending or retracting the length of the stem, thereby allowing the counterweight to be placed a desired distance from the putter head. To easily extend or retract the length of the stem, it is a further aspect of the invention that the stem of the “Y” shaped wire may be comprised of a telescopic structure. It is yet a further aspect of the invention that the counterweight be located at the tip of the telescopic structure thus providing the ability to easily extend or retract the counterweight to the desired level of difficulty.  
           [0009]    It is a further aspect of the invention that the putter head have additional optional mounting holes for inserting the tips of the “Y” wire along the centerline of the width of the putter head. These holes may be spaced apart from one another, beginning from the heal and the toe of the putter head and moving closer inward towards the shaft of the putter. Inserting the tips of the “Y” wire into the mounting holes that are closer to the heal and toe of the putter will increase the susceptibility of the putter head to rotation. Having the tips spaced far away from the shaft increases the rotational force moment arm that tips will impart a rotational force across onto the bearing. Depending on the skill level of the golfer, a novice golfer may want to place the tips of the “Y” wire into mounting holes closer to the putter shaft to reduce the length of the moment arm and make the putter head less susceptible to rotation due to an improper stroke. As the golfer&#39;s putting stroke improves, the tips of the “Y” wire can be gradually moved further away from the shaft to increase the level of difficulty.  
           [0010]    To further improve the visual feedback provided to the golfer, it is another aspect of the invention that the putter has alignment markings on the top of the putter head. These alignment markings can be both parallel and perpendicular to the intended target line of the putt. The alignment markings that are parallel to the putting path assist the golfer in properly aligning the putter head along the intended-putting path. The alignment markings perpendicular to the putting path provide the golfer with additional visual feedback if the putter head begins to undesirably rotate during the putting stroke. These markings assist the golfer in noticing subtle rotations of the putter head.  
           [0011]    It is another aspect of the invention when used as a training aid to improve a golfer&#39;s ability to strike the ball repeatedly with the center of the putter head, commonly referred to as a “sweet spot”. A putt that is struck with the center of the putter head travels with a consistent forward roll along the intended target line. By allowing the putter head to rotate around the putter shaft, putts hit inadvertently off center will cause the putter head to rotate and visually inform the golfer of the miss hit. The farther off center the ball is struck, the more the putter head will rotate providing additional information on how far off center the putt was struck. This feedback will work for both putts hit off either the toe or heal of the putter. Putts hit near the toe of the putter will cause the putter head to rotate clockwise around the shaft for a right-handed golfer. Putts hit towards the heal of the putter will cause the putter head to rotate counter clockwise for a right-handed golfer. The rotational directions are reversed if the golfer is putting left-handed.  
           [0012]    If desired to use the invention as a standard golf putter, the invention provides various locking features that can be incorporated and used to immobilize the putter head to prevent it from rotating about the shaft. A locking feature will allow the golfer to use the same putter as both a training aid and as a standard putter thereby keeping the size, shape and weight of the putter the same, which is important. If a golfer were to practice with a putting device that is heavier than the standard putter the golfer uses during a round of golf, the golfer&#39;s putting stroke may become quick due to the lighter weight of the standard putter. This is a similar result to a baseball player that takes several practice swings with a weight attached to the bat prior to hitting a pitch from an opposing player. Practice swings with a heavier bat help the baseball player to increase their bat speed during their actual hitting attempt by providing both a physical and psychological feel that the bat is lighter. An increased bat speed will increase the distance a baseball will travel when struck. Therefore, a golfer putting with a putter that is lighter than the practice putter used may encourage a putting stroke that is faster than required and hit putts that travel longer than intended. The reverse also holds true. If a golfer were to practice with a putting device that is much lighter than the normal putter used, when the heavier putter is used during competition or play, a golfer&#39;s putts may not travel the entire intended distance due to the reduced swing speed.  
           [0013]    There are numerous methods for incorporating locking or immobilization features into this invention. Three such locking features are described in detail here within. However, it should be appreciated that other locking features that are obvious to someone skilled in the art may be incorporated into this invention.  
           [0014]    In one aspect of the invention, the locking feature is attached onto the shaft of the putter. In this configuration, a rigid appendage could be affixed to the shaft as a portion of the locking feature and be forced to rotate along with any rotation of the shaft. Threaded or unthreaded holes may be incorporated through the thickness of the appendage into which threaded or unthreaded rigid members can be inserted. One or more corresponding receiving holes could also be incorporated into the putter head that could simultaneously receive the rigid members that are passed through the appendage. The rigid members should also contain certain features that allow the members to be easily inserted or removed by hand without the need for a special tool. The rigid members would then be in contact simultaneously with the putter head and the appendage. Since the appendage is affixed to the shaft, the putter head would only rotate along with any rotation of the putter shaft and not be allowed to rotate around the shaft thus allowing the putter to be used as a conventional putter.  
           [0015]    In another aspect of the invention, the locking mechanism will be comprised of a threaded feature extending outward from the end of the putter shaft nearest the head of the putter. In this aspect, the threaded feature extends beyond the lower edge of the rotational device towards the bottom of the putter head. One or more rubber, metal, plastic or similar washers with inner diameters slightly larger than the diameter of the putter shaft could then be inserted over the threaded device and putter shaft and allowed to make contact with the rotational device. The washers can be secured in place with a threaded nut inserted onto the threaded device and tightened securely. Tightening the nut securely will ensure that sufficient pressure is applied to the rotational device by the washer thus preventing the rotational device from moving and thus preventing the putter head from rotating around the shaft. The locking nut should also contain certain features that allow the nut to be tightened or loosened by hand without the need for a special tool.  
           [0016]    In a further aspect of the invention, the locking mechanism would be accomplished by threading the inner diameter of the putter shaft at the end of the putter nearest the putter head. One or more rubber, metal, plastic or similar washers with inner diameters slightly larger than the diameter of the putter shaft could then be inserted over the putter shaft and allowed to make contact with the rotational device. The washers can be secured in place with a threaded rigid member inserted into the threaded inner diameter of the putter shaft and tightened securely. Tightening the threaded rigid member securely will ensure that sufficient pressure is applied to the rotational device by the washer thus preventing the rotational device from moving and thus preventing the putter head from rotating around the shaft. The threaded rigid member should also contain certain features that allow the member to be tightened or loosened by hand without the need for a special tool.  
           [0017]    It is another aspect of the invention that a device may be attached to the putter that will return the putter head to the desired staring position that is perpendicular to the intended target line of the putt. While it shall be appreciated that a variety of solutions may be employed to achieve this result, the preferred embodiment would utilize an elastic mechanism for returning the putter head perpendicular to the target line after each stroke. The return mechanism would be comprised of a ring with one or more elastic strings attached to the ring. The ring itself would be rigidly attached to the putter shaft and be allowed to rotate along with the putter shaft. The elastic strings could be attached to one or more ends of the putter head along the centerline of the putter width. Ideally, the elastic string would provide sufficient resistance to allow the putter head to return to the desired starting position but should not provide so much resistance that it restricts the ability of the putter head to rotate during the stroke or impact. The putter head would essentially act like a saloon style door that will swing back and forth but eventually return to the staring position perpendicular to the intended target line.  
           [0018]    These and other aspects of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES  
       [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 illustrates three components of the invention, a shaft, a rotational device and a putter head that is allowed to rotate around the shaft.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the three components of the invention described in FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 illustrates the invention with a locking mechanism that is comprised of a rigid appendage and rigid objects that can be used to immobilize the putter head for use as a standard golf putter when training is not desired.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 illustrates the invention along with a locking mechanism that is comprised of a threaded rigid object at the end of the putter shaft. Washers and a locking nut can then be threaded onto the threaded rigid object creating sufficient pressure against the rotational device to prevent the head from rotating.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 illustrates the invention along with a locking mechanism that is comprised of a threaded rigid object that can be threaded into the inner diameter of the putter shaft. The head of the threaded rigid object is shaped in a manner that will exert sufficient pressure against the rotational device and prevent the head from rotating.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 illustrates the invention along with the counterweight and “Y” shaped support device.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 illustrates the invention along with a return mechanism that will force the putter head back into a square alignment position with the intended target line after each stroke. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]    Referring to the figures below, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a practice putting apparatus  5  that is encompassed by the present invention. Apparatus  5  shows a putter shaft  20  connected to putter head  10  by a rotational device  30 . Putter shaft  20  can be made from a multitude of materials including, but not limited to, aluminum and similar alloys, steel and similar alloys, graphite, wood or similar substances. Putter head  10  can be made from a multitude of materials including, but not limited to, aluminum and similar alloys, steel and similar alloys, brass, copper, iron, nickel or similar materials. Putter shaft  20  is connected to putter apparatus  5  by first passing freely through hole  13  of putter head  10 . Hole  13  has a slightly larger diameter than the outer diameter  21  of shaft  20  so that no friction or contact is made and putter head  10  can rotate around shaft  20 . Putter shaft  20  can then be connected to the inner diameter  31  of rotational device  30 . One method for connecting shaft  20  to inner diameter  31  utilizes an interference friction fit between the two features. This interference friction fit can be accomplished by using a putter shaft  20  where the end of shaft  20  where the interface with rotational device  30  occurs has an outer diameter  21  that is equal to or slightly larger than inner diameter  31  of rotational device  30 . Rotational device  30  may be forced onto shaft  20  via pressure, or, rotational device  30  may be heated to an elevated temperature to temporarily expand inner diameter  31  of rotational device  30  to reduce the pressure required to assemble rotational device  30  onto shaft  20 . When rotational device  30  cools, inner diameter  31  contracts and increases the interference friction between the rotational device  30  and shaft  20 . The interference friction would not be so great that it would inhibit rotational device  30  from rotating properly. However, the interference friction should be sufficient enough to maintain the mechanical connection between the rotational device  30  and shaft  20  for many years and over various temperature ranges and weather conditions that the putter may be exposed to during practice or a round of golf.  
         [0027]    Another method that can be used to attach rotational device  30  to shaft  20  is to use a putter shaft  20  with an outer diameter  21  that is smaller than inner diameter  31  of rotational device  30 . The space that would exist between outer diameter  21  and inner diameter  31  could then be filled with epoxy, glue or other substance that would create a mechanical bond between outer diameter  21  and inner diameter  31 . This mechanical bond would be sufficient enough to maintain the mechanical connection between rotational device  30  and shaft  20  for many years and over various temperature ranges and weather conditions that putter apparatus  5  may be exposed to during practice or a round of golf.  
         [0028]    In order to improve the visual feedback provided to the golfer by the invention, alignment markings  80  could be included as a feature on the top of putter head  10  as shown in FIG. 1. Alignment markings  80  can be parallel or perpendicular to the intended target line  100  of the putt. The intent of alignment markings  80  that are parallel to the putting path is to assist the golfer in properly aligning the putter head along intended target line  100 . The intent of alignment markings  80  perpendicular to target line  100  is to provide the golfer with additional visual feedback if putter head  10  begins to undesirably rotate during the putting stroke. These markings allow the golfer to more easily notice subtle rotations of putter head  10 .  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIG. 2, rotational device  30  is attached to putter head  10  by similar methods used to attach rotational device  30  to putter shaft  20 . An interference friction fit can be created between rotational device  30  and putter head  10 . To accomplish this, inner diameter  11  of hole  15 , at the bottom surface of putter head  10 , will be equal to or slightly smaller than outer diameter  32  of rotational device  30 . The rotational device  30  may be forced into hole  15  via pressure, or hole  15  may be heated to an elevated temperature to temporarily expand the inner diameter  11  and reduce the pressure required to assemble rotational device  30  into putter head  10 . When hole  15  cools, inner diameter  11  contracts and increases the interference friction between outer diameter  32  of rotational device  30  and inner diameter  11  of hole  15 . The interference friction would not be so great that it would inhibit rotational device  30  from rotating properly. However, the interference friction should be sufficient enough to maintain the mechanical connection between rotational device  30  and putter head  10  for many years and over various temperature ranges and weather conditions that putter apparatus  5  may be exposed to during practice or a round of golf.  
         [0030]    Another method that can be used to attach rotational device  30  to putter head  10  is to create hole  15  with inner diameter  11  that is larger than the outer diameter  32  of the rotational device  30 . The space that would exist between inner diameter  11  and the outer diameter  32  could then be filled with epoxy, glue or other substance that would create a mechanical bond between the inner diameter  11  of hole  15  and outer diameter  32  of rotational device  30 . This mechanical bond would be sufficient enough to maintain the mechanical connection between rotational device  30  and putter head  10  for many years and over various temperature ranges and weather conditions that putter apparatus  5  may be exposed to during practice or a round of golf.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention described in detail in FIG. 1 along with locking features that can immobilize the putter head and prevent the putter head  10  from rotating around shaft  20  if desired. The apparatus shown in FIG. 3 contains all of the same aspects, such as shaft  20 , rotational device  30 , putter head  10  and alignment markings  80 , that are mentioned in the detailed description for FIG. 1. The additional aspects shown in FIG. 3 make up the locking mechanism and are comprised of rigid appendage  40  with one or more threaded or unthreaded holes  41  and one additional hole  42  passing through appendage  40 . Hole  42  will be used to rigidly affix appendage  40  to shaft  20 . Hole  41  of rigid appendage  40  could be used along with threaded or unthreaded rigid object  50  and one or more threaded or unthreaded hole  12  in putter head  10  that align with hole  41 . To immobilize putter head  10 , rigid object  50  would pass through hole  41  of appendage  40  and simultaneously pass through hole  12  in putter head  10  making both appendage  40  and putter head  10  rotate along with the rotation of shaft  20 , preventing putter head  10  from rotating independently.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention described in detail in FIG. 1 along with locking features that can immobilize putter head  10  and prevent putter head  10  from rotating around shaft  20  if desired. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 contains all of the aspects and methods for attaching the components, such as shaft  20 , rotational device  30 , putter head  10  and alignment markings  80 , that are mentioned in the detailed description for FIG. 1. The additional aspects shown in FIG. 4 make up the locking mechanism and consist of a threaded rod  70 , one or more washers  90 , and a locking nut  60 . Threaded rod  70 , extends outward from the bottom of shaft  20  and can be attached to shaft  20  through a variety of methods. These methods include but should not be limited to a mechanical interference fit, a chemical-mechanical bond such as epoxy, glue or cement, or other similar methods to secure threaded rod  70  to shaft  20 . When assembled and shaft  20  is securely attached to rotational device  30  as described in the detailed description of FIG. 1, threaded rod  70 , should extend beyond the bottom of rotational device  30 . Threaded rod  70  should extend far enough so that one or more washers  90  and locking nut  60  can be assembled onto threaded rod  70 . The inner diameter  91  of washer  90 , should be slightly larger than outer diameter  71  of threaded rod  70  and larger than outer diameter  21  of shaft  20  so that washer  90  can be forced up against the bottom of rotational device  30 . Locking nut  60  is assembled after washer  90  and is allowed to tighten up against washer  90  in order to increase the pressure and friction washer  90  imparts on rotational device  30 . Locking nut  60  and washer  90  should be able to provide sufficient pressure and friction to prevent rotational device  30  from rotating and effectively immobilize putter head  10  to prevent it from rotating about shaft  20 . Washer  90  can be created from a variety of metal, plastic and/or rubber materials. Metal washers could be used to increase the overall weight of the putter if desired. Plastic or rubber washers tend to have a higher coefficient of friction and therefore would reduce the amount of pressure locking nut  60  would have to impart in order to prevent rotational device  30  from rotating.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention described in detail for FIG. 1 along with locking features that can immobilize the putter head and prevent putter head  10  from rotating around shaft  20  if desired. The apparatus shown in FIG. 5 contains all of the same components and methods for attaching the components, such as shaft  20 , rotational device  30 , and putter head  10 , that are mentioned in the detailed description for FIG. 1. FIG. 5 also shows a threaded locking rod  130  that can be passed through the rotational device and threaded into the inner diameter  22  of shaft  20 . Head  135  of the locking rod  130  is shaped in a manner that will allow head  135  to make sufficient contact pressure and friction against rotational device  30  to prevent rotational device  30  from rotating and effectively immobilize putter head  10  and prevent it from rotating about shaft  20 . In additional pressure against rotational device  30  is required, washer (not shown) can be inserted prior to the insertion of locking rod  130  similar to the methods described in the detail description for FIG. 4. Additionally, locking head  135  may be shaped in such a manner that will allow locking rod  130  to be threaded or inserted into inner diameter  22  of shaft  20  by hand without the use of special tools.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the invention described in detail for FIG. 1. The apparatus shown in FIG. 6 contains all of the same components and methods for attaching the components, such as shaft  20 , rotational device  30 , and putter head  10 , that are mentioned in the detailed description for FIG. 1. FIG. 6 also shows counterweight  120  and “Y” shaped support structure  110 . Support Structure  110  is comprised of stem  115  along with the two ends  111 . Counterweight  120  could be made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to metals such as steel, galvanized steel, brass, aluminum, copper, or tin. Counterweight  120  is located along stem  115  and is allowed to slide along stem  115  to move closer to or farther away from putter head  10  as desired. The friction between stem  115  and counterweight  120  should be sufficient enough to retain counterweight  120  in a desired location along stem  115  yet still be easily adjustable by hand with out the use of special tools. Locating counterweight  120  farther away from putter head  10  will increase the putter&#39;s susceptibility to rotation due to imperfections in a putting stroke. If counterweight  120  is not maintained directly behind the center of putter head  10  throughout the putting stroke, the momentum of the stroke will impart a force onto counterweight  120 . Force acting on counterweight  120  will in turn impart a rotational force onto rotational device  30  and cause putter head  10  to rotate around shaft  20 . Placing counterweight  120  farther away from putter head  10  increases the length of the moment arm that imparts the rotational force onto rotational device  30 . A longer moment arm increases the amount of rotational force applied to rotational device  30 . Therefore, a longer moment arm requires less force from counterweight  120  to impart sufficient rotational force to cause putter head  10  to rotate. With counterweight  120  placed farther away from putter head  10 , a more consistent putting stroke with a straight-back and straight-through pendulum motion is required to keep counterweight  120  positioned directly behind the center of mass of putter head  10  throughout the stroke. Conversely, positioning counterweight  120  closer to putter head  10  will decrease the length of the moment arm thus making putter head  10  less susceptible to rotation.  
         [0035]    Any rotational force imparted onto putter head  10  by counterweight  120  is transmitted through support structure  110  where it connects to putter head  10  at ends  111 . As an additional means of adjusting the difficulty level of the putting aid, it is a further aspect of this invention that support structure  110  be flexible enough to allow ends  111  to flex and align with holes  105  in putter head  10 . To allow for flexibility, support structure  110  could be made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to metals such as steel, galvanized steel, brass, aluminum, copper, tin, or plastics such as polycarbonate, polycarbonate/ABS blends, polystyrene, polyethylene, or PVC. Similar to the positioning of counterweight  120 , positioning ends  111  into holes  105  that are located farthest away from shaft  20  increases the length of the moment arm between ends  111  and rotational device  30 , thereby making putter head  10  more susceptible to rotation. Conversely, positioning ends  111  into holes  105  that are closer to shaft  20  will decrease the length of the moment arm thus making putter head  10  less susceptible to rotation. Varying the length of the moment arm between these key features allows for the invention to be adjustable to all skill levels.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the invention described in detail for FIG. 1. The apparatus shown in FIG. 7 contains all of the same components and methods for attaching the components, such as shaft  20 , rotational device  30 , and putter head  10 , that are mentioned in the detailed description for FIG. 1. FIG. 7 also shows features of a return mechanism comprised of ring  150  and one or more elastic strings  145 . In this configuration, ring  150  would be rigidly attached to putter shaft  20  and be allowed to rotate along with putter shaft  20 . One end of elastic string  145  is attached to ring  150 . The other end of elastic string  145  is attached to insertion feature  160  with geometry capable of mating with hole  105  on putter head  10 . Insertion feature  160  can be made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to metal, plastic, rubber, or wood. Insertion feature  160  should be shaped in such a manner so that it is easily inserted or removed from hole  105  by hand, without the use of any special tools. The intention of elastic string  145  is to return putter head  10  to the desired starting position that is perpendicular to the intended target line at the beginning of the putting stroke. As putter head  10  rotates, tension force will constantly be loaded and unloaded in elastic string  145  until all energy is dissipated and putter head  10  is returned to its original starting position. Locating insertion feature  160  into hole  105  that is farthest away from shaft  20  will increase the tension in elastic string  145  prior to the start of the stroke. More initial tension in elastic string  145  will cause the energy imparted on the strings through the rotation of putter head  10  to dissipate more quickly. Therefore, putter head  10  would return more quickly to its starting position, where all forces acting on the putter head are neutral until the putting device is set into motion again. Conversely, locating insertion feature  160  into hole  105  that is closer to shaft  20  would reduce the initial tension in elastic string  145  and allow putter head  10  to rotate back and forth for more iterations before coming to rest. This flexibility in pre-loading the tension of elastic string  145  allows the user to adjust how quickly putter head  10  returns based upon the users preference.  
         [0037]    While particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0