Abstract:
The present invention is an apparatus and method enabling a controlled approach to making accurate puts in golfing. The apparatus uses laser aiming, measured stroking distances, and a surface analysis aid to benchmark a perfect put. The method enhances control by eliminating the back half of the swing while providing data points for reassessment of performance during practice training.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to golf training aids, and particularly to an apparatus and method facilitating putting performance. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Among the critical skills required for competitive golfing, putting, arguably, is one of the most important. On an 18-hole course, not less than half of the par strokes are dedicated to putting. The successful putting stroke requires accurate aim and a measured amount of is momentum in the ball strike. The slope of the playing surface, which in some cases is too subtle for casual notice, may cause the ball to “break” from a straight line approach. 
     Training aids to assist the recreational golfer in mastering putting are known in the art. Most of these provide alignment guides and some attempt to limit the backstroke of the swing by providing a stop interface. An initial alignment can be lost, however, by contact with rails, or stops, which are intended to guide or limit the head of the putter club during the club swing. As a matter of fact, some alignment can be lost in the act of making a backstroke, which, together with the forward stroke and follow-through, comprises the golf swing. 
     What is missing in the field of art is a training aid which is free of interferences for the swing while, at the same time, providing accurate aiming and precision application of ball-striking force. Such a guide should be compact for portability and accessibility while simple to operate and modest in cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The “aiming” component of the putting stroke can be divided into two parts. The first part is determining a direction which will result in the ball rolling into the cup. The preferred direction is not always a sight-line to the cup. Typically, the character of the playing surface, including irregularities in slope, flatness or texture, must be taken in consideration. The second part is hitting the ball squarely, so that the ball follows the intended trajectory along the preferred direction. 
     In the training aid of the present invention, a novel combination of features is used to assist with the direction-finding first part. A reflective target is placed at an initial aiming point and a laser is used to find orientation to the target. A bubble level is used to indicate inclination of the field. Lastly, perpendicular aiming lines are used to indicate both the preferred direction and the golfer&#39;s facing direction with respect to a proper stance. The aiming lines facilitate the golfer&#39;s visualization of the act, the visualization, in and of itself, enhancing the performance. 
     Regarding the second part of the aim, the present invention embodies both a novel method and a means to facilitate said method in the training aid. The backstroke is essentially a “wind-up” to the swing. In putting situations, the wind-up may not be necessary to gather sufficient force for the ball strike. After all, the ball makes a controlled roll over the putting green, not an airborne flight. Eliminating the backstroke eliminates a tendency to twist the club caused by the preferred two-handed grip. The twist is a consequence of the muscles in the two arms being differentially flexed during the swing. Realigning the backstroke with a stopping surface is not the answer because the fluidity of the swing is placed in jeopardy by the resulting collision. 
     A better method is to limit the swing to a forward stoke beginning with an alignment of is the club head to the preferred direction. This alignment is achieved in the present apparatus with the head abutting an aimed vertical feature. The forward stoke is purposely uninhibited, in the present case, by avoiding guiding rails, or other constraints intended to steer the stroke. While conceptually beneficial, such constraints pose the risk of making accidental contact with the swinging club and skewing the alignment in unintentional consequence. 
     The “momentum” component of the putting stroke comes down to judging the amount of force in the swing for delivery to the ball. As we have already defined the striking component of the swing as the forward stroke, this amounts to judging the distance in the setup with the ball. The judgment of an appropriate amount of said distance results from trial-and-error, which in turn informs the golfer&#39;s experience. The present invention facilitates the learning experience by providing a means to spot the ball a measured distance away, thereby defining the length of the stroke. This calibrated distance can be directly related to the distance the ball travels. After a few training swings, the golfer will be able to judge the correct ball-to-club placement and, together with the aiming features, deliver perfect strokes for sinking the cup. 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to enable a golfer to improve putting performance by providing a tool to facilitate alignment. It is a further object to provide a means to detect a slope direction on the playing surface. It is a further object to provide a golfer with a means to judge an appropriate amount of swing. It is further object to provide a method for delivering a ball strike with the club head reliably squared to the is preferred direction. It is a further object to provide such tools and method in a compact device which might be carried in a golf bag. It is a further object to use common household objects, such as a retractable tape measure, to avoid construction complexity. It is a further object to facilitate both right-handed and left-handed golf swings. 
     These objects, and others to become hereinafter apparent, are embodied in a golf training apparatus for putting with a club head having parallel front and back surfaces. The golf training apparatus comprises a platform having a front edge, a back edge and a top surface, said platform moveably anchored to a playing surface; a means for orienting the platform to a preferred direction; a means for squaring the back surface of the club head in perpendicularity to the preferred direction, said squaring corresponding to an aim for striking a golf ball; and a means for spotting the golf ball a calibrated distance from the platform, said spotting corresponding to a striking force on the golf ball. As configured herein above, and with the platform oriented to a targeted destination by the means for orienting, the aim adjusted by the means for squaring and the striking force adjusted by the means for spotting, the club may deliver the golf ball to the destination by a forward stroke thereof while avoiding an anticipatory backstroke. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the means for orienting is a laser beam cast from a laser fixed to the platform in perpendicular arrangement to the front edge; the means for squaring is a vertical structure attached to the front edge of the platform; and the means for spotting the golf ball is a measuring device with graduation markings thereon. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a method for practice putting with a club head having parallel front and back surfaces, comprises the steps of placing a golf training apparatus on a playing surface, said golf training apparatus essentially the preferred apparatus embodiment supplemented with a bubble level for determining slope and at least two golf tees for anchoring the platform; aligning the golf training apparatus to a preferred direction, said preferred direction taking slope under consideration, by swiveling the platform about one of the anchoring golf tees to align the laser beam to reflect from a reflector placed in the path of the preferred direction; anchoring the golf training apparatus in place with the at least one other anchoring golf tee; placing the golf ball a calibrated distance from the vertical structure by reference to the measuring device; addressing the ball in a stance by facing perpendicularly to the preferred direction, said stance having one foot in an advance direction relative to the preferred direction, and lining up the advanced foot with the golf ball; placing the back surface of the club head against the vertical structure to align it with preferred direction and squaring it in approach to the golf ball; and swinging the club in a forward stroke to make an aimed and measuredly forceful strike on the golf ball. 
     As this is not intended to be an exhaustive recitation, other embodiments may be learned from practicing the invention or may otherwise become apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood through the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view of the golf training apparatus embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the golf training apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the golf training apparatus showing placement of the club and stance of the golfer; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the spotting of the golf ball and the club swing; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the alignment of the apparatus using a laser; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of a practice putting method embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the term “squaring” will be taken to mean aligning a club head for a line of strike in an intended direction; the term “spotting” will be taken to mean placing a ball at an intended distance from a reference position; and the complex term “slope direction” will be taken in the downhill sense, or in the direction to which a rolling ball will break. 
       FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4  show the constituent elements of a golf training apparatus  1 . The golf training apparatus  1  is comprised of a platform  5  having a front edge  6 , a back edge  7  and a top surface  8 . The apparatus  1  is further comprised of a means for orienting  10  the platform  5 , a means for squaring  20  a putter club head  2  and a means for spotting  30  a golf ball  35 . With aim adjusted by the means for orienting  10  and the means for squaring  20 , and the striking force adjusted by the means for spotting  30 , the putter  2  will be repeatably enabled by a swing of the club, as will be shown herein below, to deliver the ball  35  to a targeted destination  12  (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, the swing is comprised of a forward stroke  24  without a preliminary backstroke  23  (not shown). 
     In the preferred embodiment, the means for orienting  10  is comprised of a laser  14  casting a laser beam  13  toward the targeted destination  12 , as shown best in  FIG. 5 . The means for orienting  10  may alternatively be comprised of any beam of light, such as from a flashlight, which has been lens-ably focused. The laser  14  is fixedly mounted on the platform  5  to be perpendicular to the platform front edge  6  or the platform back edge  7 , as the case may be. The platform  5  is anchored to the playing surface, in the preferred embodiment, by at least two golf tees  9  ( FIG. 2 ) thrust through anchor holes  18  in the top surface  8 . Alternatively, headed nails may be used in place of golf tees. At least one of to the anchor holes  18  is placed centrally on the platform  5  so that the laser  14  may be pivoted about one of the golf tees  9  to orient the beam  13 , the at least second golf tee  9  waiting to be placed until after the orientation is found. A reflector  15  may be placed in the path of a preferred direction  11  to confirm, by reflection, the aim of the laser beam  13 . 
     Markings may be used to help the golfer visualize orientation. Visualization is a known technique whereby a mental image can guide an actualization, such as in the case of a golf swing. In the preferred embodiment, the means for orienting  10  further comprises a first aiming line  16  placed in-line with the laser  14  on the platform top surface  8  to be readily visible to a golfer while addressing the ball, as shown in  FIG. 3 . One or more second aiming lines  17  may be placed perpendicular to the first aiming line  16  to guide the facing direction, and therefore the alignment of the golfer&#39;s feet, in a stance  19  of said address. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the means for squaring  20  is a first vertical structure  21  attached to the platform front edge  6 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The means for squaring  20  may alternatively include any feature to which the putter club head  2  may be abutted in a perpendicular orientation to the preferred direction  11 . In a particular preferred embodiment, the first vertical structure  21  is a vertical wall  25  having a laser aperture  26  there through, the aperture  26  providing a means for mounting the laser  14  ( FIG. 2 ). To facilitate both right-handed and left-handed golfers, a second vertical structure  22  may be attached to the platform back edge  7 . In taking up the stance  19 , the golfer will shoulder to a back surface  4  of the club head  2  against the first vertical structure  21  (or the second vertical structure  22 , as the case may be). Because a front surface  3  of the club head  2  is parallel to the back surface  4 , the club head  2  is thereby enabled by squaring through perpendicularity with the preferred direction  11  to deliver an accurately aimed forward stroke  24  to the golf ball  35 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the means for spotting  30  is a measuring device  32  having graduated markings  33  thereon to mark a calibration distance  31  from either the front edge  6  or the back edge  7  of the platform  5 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The means for spotting  30  may alternatively be any distance-indicating means, such as a string with regularly-placed knots, for example. In a particular preferred embodiment, the measuring device  32  is a retractable tape measure  34  placed midway between the front edge  6  and the back edge  7 . The middle placement allows the tape measure to be reversed, in the sense of its extension direction, for the alternative-handed scenario. Because the measuring device  32  must, for interference reasons, always be on the opposite side of the platform  5  from the golfer&#39;s stance  19 , the platform  5  cannot be considered to be pivotally bilateral; in other words, the second vertical structure  22  is necessitated by the feature. The tape measure  34  may be registered on the platform  5  by means of recess  36  ( FIG. 2 ). The golf ball  35  is spotted in line with the squared club head  2  at a calibration distance  31  by reference to the extended tape of the tape measure  34 , which indicates said distance by the markings  33  thereon. The calibration distance  31  corresponds to a length of the forward stroke  24  applied in each instance of said distance, said length corresponding, in turn, to a striking force on the ball  35 . By means of altering the calibration distance  31 , and thereby the spotting of the ball, the propulsive force of the stroke may be gauged for training purposes. 
     The golf training apparatus  1  further comprises a means for determining a slope direction  40  of the playing surface. In the preferred embodiment, the means for determining a is slope direction  40  comprises a bubble level  41  joined in some manner to the platform top surface  8 . Alternatively, the means for determining slope  40  may be any means for determining inclination, such as a rolling marble placed on the top surface, for example. The slope direction must be combined with a line-of-sight to the targeted destination  12  to formulate a judgment call as to the preferred direction  11 . Said judgment effectively compensates for a break in the ball&#39;s trajectory to the targeted destination  12  resulting from slope, or other surface anomaly. 
     The platform  5  may be constructed from any rigid material, including wood, metal or plastic. In the preferred embodiment, the construction is an injection molding of a commodity resin, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP). The platform  5  can be configuring in any easily portable size, preferably a size that can be carried in a golf bag. In the case of the preferred embodiment, the dimensions of the platform are approximately six and half inches wide by eight inches long by one and three-quarter inches high (vertical wall  25 ). At least one or more corners of the platform  5  may be cut-away to permit the tape of the retractable tape measure  34  to extend perpendicularly from the front or back edge, as best shown in  FIG. 3 . The bubble level  41  may be bonded with the top surface  8  by glue, by double-faced tape or by any known attachment means. The laser  14  is of a handheld, battery-operated, pointer type, such as may be obtained from Alpec, for example. The laser  14  may be removably inserted into laser aperture  26  and held therein by friction fit or by compression of a rubber grommet. 
     The use of such a common household device as a tape measure, as opposed to integrating a retractable or foldable measuring device, simplifies the construction, and together with the small footprint of the apparatus, makes the equipment profile sufficiently small for convenience and portability. In a similar manner, the use of golf tees as anchoring devices signifies economy and resourcefulness in design. 
     A method for practice putting  50 , with a club head  2  having parallel front  3  and back  4  surfaces, is presented as an alternate embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The method for practice putting  50  comprises deploying a golf training apparatus  1  and using, therewith, the means for orienting  10 , the means for squaring  20 , the means for spotting  30  and the means for determining slope direction  40 , as herein above recited, to deliver an aimed and calibrated forward stroke  24 , and thereafter assessing accuracy of the stroke and making adjustments in repeated strokes until satisfactory results are achieved. 
     In a particular alternate embodiment, the method for practice putting  50  comprises:
         in a step  51 , placing a golf training apparatus  1  on a playing surface, said golf training apparatus  1  comprising a platform  5  having a front edge  6  and a top surface  8 , said platform  5  moveably anchored to the playing surface by at least two golf tees  9  placed through anchor holes  18  in the top surface  8 ; a vertical structure  21  attached to at least the front edge  6 ; a laser  14  capable of throwing a beam  13  of light, said laser  14  fixed to the vertical structure  21  and oriented perpendicularly thereto; a bubble level  41  fixed to the platform  5 , said bubble level  41  indicating slope and direction thereof; and a tape measure  34  having graduation markings  33  on a tape, said tape measure  34  retractably extending the tape perpendicularly to the vertical structure  21  to provide a calibration distance  31  to a golf ball  35 ;   in a step  52 , aligning the golf training apparatus  1  to a preferred direction  11 , said preferred direction  11  taking slope under consideration, by swiveling the platform about one of the anchoring golf tees  9  to align the laser beam  13  to reflect from a reflector  15  placed in the path of the preferred direction  11 ;   in a step  53 , anchoring the golf training apparatus  1  in place with the at least one other anchoring golf tee  9 ;   in a step  54 , spotting the golf ball  35  a calibrated distance  31  from the vertical structure  21  by reference to the extended tape;   in a step  55 , addressing the ball  35  by facing perpendicularly to the preferred direction in a stance  19 , said stance  19  having one foot in an advance direction relative to the preferred direction  11 , and placing the advanced foot  27  ( FIG. 3 ) in line with the golf ball  35 ;   in a step  56 , placing the back surface  4  of the club head  2  against the vertical structure  21  to align it with preferred direction  11  and square it in approach to the golf ball  35 ;   in a step  57 , swinging the club in a forward stroke  24  to make an aimed and critically impactful strike on the golf ball  35 ;   in a step  58 , evaluating the swing in light of the resulting ball travel, wherein the step  58  includes an assessment of correct aim and correct impact force relative to placing the golf ball  35  accurately at a targeted destination  12 ;   in a step  59 , making adjustments, wherein the step  59  further includes step  60 , said step reversing step  53  and pivoting the golf training apparatus  1  to adjust for aim and step  61 , said step revisiting step  54  to adjust for striking force; and   in a step  62 , repeating all of the above steps until accuracy is achieved.       

     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction, to the arrangements of the components and to the method of using set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, the platform  5  could be reduced to a foldable “T”, in the extreme of light-weighting. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.