Training device for teaching putting mechanics

• US 6,869,288 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Faulkner
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Faulkner
• Inventors: Faulkner, Robert P., Faulkner, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom, Kurt
• Application Number:
  US10/620,478
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 434/252, 473/257, 473/261, 473/262, 473/266, 473/270, 473/278, 473/279
• US Class Current: 434/252
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/024 with screws or pins in the earth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3667 Golf stance aids, e.g. means for positioning a golfer's feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3676 for putting A63B69/3608, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3697 take precedence

Abstract

A training device for teaching putting mechanics through implementation of a) suggested predetermined backswing and, if desired, follow-through, stroke lengths for a variety of putting distances, and b) adjustments, by formula, for a variety of putting green/slopes by putting distance.

Claims

1. A putting training device comprising:

a first member formed of a flexible material adapted to lie on the ground having expressed thereon indicia positioned to visually represent predetermined backswing length information for a plurality of putting distances, said first member permitting a golf putter to freely pass above or alongside said indicia during a putting stroke, and wherein said first member further includes a notch along an edge sized to receive a golf ball, wherein said indicia are determined through the application of a standard, measurable putting stroke to propel a golf ball toward a golf hole over a putting surface that has substantially no side/side or up/down green breaks or slopes at a predetermined green speed.

2. The device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second member rotatably connected to said first member permitting said members to rotate on a horizontal plane in relation to each other, said second member indicating a direct path between said device and a putting target while said first member is simultaneously aligned at an angle relative to said direct path to account for an estimated break in a putting surface, wherein said angle is determined in accordance with the formula Arc Tan=Y÷

D in accordance with the formula L²=D²+Y², where L, D and Y comprise three legs of a right triangle on the putting surface, D is the distance on the ground from the center of a specified golf ball to the center of a specified golf hole plus any additional distance between the center of the golf ball and the pivot point on the invention, Y is the putting break magnitude, which is the distance on the ground from the center of the golf hole to a specified point to the left or right of the center of the golf hole for a particular green break, and L is the distance on the ground from the pivot point on the invention to the specified point.

3. The device according to claim 2 further comprising:

third indicia on said second member representing a range of putting break magnitudes for a plurality of putting distances; and

indicators on said first member to allow the user to rotate said first member to an appropriate angle, relative to said direct path, by reference to said third indicia.

4. The device according to claim 3 further comprising an opening in said first member positioned such that the relevant third indicium on said second member is displayed in said opening.

5. The device according to claim 3 wherein said indicating means show how much the path of the putting stroke will deviate from a straight line between said device and a putting target.

6. The device according to claim 3 wherein said indicating means is a plurality of openings in said first member.

7. The device according to claim 3 wherein said indicating means is a line on a transparent portion of said first member.

8. The device according to claim 3 wherein said indicating means is an extension from said first member.

9. The device according to claim 3 wherein said third indicia are numerals disposed in semi-circular bands.

10. The device according to claim 3 wherein said third indicia are expressed as angles of deviation from said direct path.

11. The device according to claim 3 wherein said third indicia show a suggested putting direction angle adjustment of between five and six degrees for a putting distance of ten feet adjusted for an estimated one foot break on a putting surface.

12. The device according to claim 3 wherein said third indicia show a suggested putting direction angle adjustment of between two degrees and three degrees for a putting distance of twenty feet adjusted for an estimated one foot break on a putting surface.

13. A golf putting training device comprising:

a first member visually indicating a direct path between said device and a putting target when said device rests on a putting surface;

a second member rotatably connected to said first member and sized to permit a golf putter to freely pass over said second member during a putting stroke and having means to visually indicate the direction of a putt; and

indicia to numerically show a magnitude of a break, when said first member is aligned with a putting target and said second member is aligned with an estimated break in a putting surface.

14. A golf putting training device comprising:

a first member formed of a flexible material adapted to lie on the ground having indicia thereon representing predetermined putting direction angle adjustments for a plurality of putting distances and a plurality of breaks on a putting surface;

a second member indicating the direction of the putt, said second member being rotatably mounted to said first member, and said second member being positionable for a user to simultaneously view said indicia on the first member and said second member; and

said device being sized to permit a golf putter to freely pass above or alongside said first member and second member during a putting stroke.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined putting direction angle adjustments are determined in accordance with the formula Arc Tan=Y÷

D in accordance with the formula L²=D²+Y², where L, D and Y comprise three legs of a right triangle on the putting surface, D is the distance on the ground from the center of a specified golf ball to the center of a specified golf hole plus any additional distance between the center of the golf ball and the pivot point on the invention, Y is the putting break magnitude, which is the distance on the ground from the center of the golf hole to a specified point to the left or right of the center of the golf hole for a particular green break, and L is the distance on the ground from the pivot point on the invention to the specified point.

16. The device according to claim 14 wherein said second member is further housed in a third member and said second member may be extended and retracted.

17. The device according to claim 14 wherein said second member has expressed thereon indicia representing predetermined backswing distances for a plurality of putting distances.

18. The device according to claim 14 wherein said second member is transparent.

19. The device according to claim 14 wherein said second member is a flat panel.

20. The device according to claim 14 wherein said second member is a rod.

21. The device according to claim 14 wherein said second member is a tape.

22. A method for practicing putting to compensate for breaks in a putting surface, comprising the steps of:

estimating the magnitude of a break angle for a particular distance from a putting target;

positioning a visual guide behind a golf ball in relation to a putting target, said guide being sized to permit a golf putter to pass over or alongside said guide during the putting stroke, having a first indicator to indicate a direct path between a golf ball and a putting target, a second indicator to indicate the path of the putting stroke, and a third indicator to indicate the magnitude of the deviation between said direct path and said putting stroke path;

aligning said first indicator with said putting target;

aligning said second indicator in accordance with the estimated angle of the break, as indicated by said third indicator; and

putting said golf ball along the path indicated by said second indicator,

whereby the user can practice adjusting for breaks in the putting surface and improve through standardized trial and error his or her ability to estimate break magnitudes.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said angle is determined in accordance with the formula Arc Tan=Y÷

D in accordance with the formula L²=D²+Y², where L, D and Y comprise three legs of a right triangle on the putting surface, where D is the distance on the ground from the center of a specified golf ball to the center of a specified golf hole plus any additional distance between the center of the golf ball and the pivot point on the invention, Y is the putting break magnitude, which is the distance on the ground from the center of the golf hole to a specified point to the left or right of the center of the golf hole for a particular green break, and L is the distance on the ground from the pivot point on the invention to the specified point.

24. A method for practicing putting to compensate for breaks in a putting surface, comprising the steps of:

providing predetermined information correlating the putting direction angle adjustment for a plurality of putting distances and a plurality of putting surface breaks;

providing a structure having visual indicators spaced to correspond to said information;

applying the applicable estimated putting surface break and distance to the putting target to said predetermined information and said structure; and

positioning said structure in proximity to a chosen putting stroke path such that during the putting stroke, the golfer can perceive the proper putting direction angle adjustment and can alter the putting direction in accordance with the approximate information, wherein said angle adjustment is determined in accordance with the formula Arc Tan=Y÷

D in accordance with the formula L²=D²+Y², where L, D and Y comprise three legs of a right triangle on the putting surface, where D is the distance on the ground from the center of a specified golf ball to the center of a specified golf hole plus any additional distance between the center of the golf hall and the pivot point on the invention, Y is the putting break magnitude, which is the distance on the ground from the center of the golf hole to a specified point to the left or right of the center of the golf hole for a particular green break, and L is the distance on the ground from the pivot point on the invention to the specified point,

whereby the golfer can practice putting to adjust for perceived breaks in the putting surface and improve through standardized trial and error his or her ability to estimate break magnitudes.