Putting stroke training system

• US 8,337,321 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2012
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman Douglas Bittner
• Original Assignee: Norman Douglas Bittner
• Inventors: Bittner, Norman Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US13/404,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20120157218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 473198-200, 473219-226, 473/257, 473/407, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/265
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities

Abstract

A putting stroke training system includes a putting board with a putting section and a hole, a light sensitive or touch sensitive screen positioned in the putting section of the putting board, where the light sensitive or touch sensitive screen records stroke paths of a putter head, and a processor that correlates successful strokes with respective ones of the stroke paths. The processor generates a preferred stroke path based on an average of the successful strokes.

Claims

1. A putting stroke training system comprising:

a putting board including a stroke recording section and a result section, the stroke recording section recording stroke paths of a putter head made by a golfer using the system, and the result section recording a result of each stroke of the putter head and identifying successful strokes of the golfer;

a stroke analysis tool that correlates successful strokes with respective ones of the stroke paths recorded by the stroke recording section, the stroke analysis tool generating a preferred stroke path for the golfer based on the respective ones of the stroke paths correlated with the successful strokes; and

an alignment tool including a putting guide that graphically illustrates the preferred stroke path.

2. A putting stroke training system according to claim 1, wherein the stroke recording section comprises an electronic recording screen having one of a touch sensitive or light sensitive surface, the electronic recording screen being coupled with a memory that stores the putter head stroke paths based on signals from the electronic recording screen.

3. A putting stroke training system according to claim 2, wherein the stroke analysis tool comprises a computer processor communicating with the electronic recording screen and the result section, the computer processor selectively displaying the preferred stroke on the electronic recording screen.

4. A putting stroke training system according to claim 3, further comprising a scriber attachment for the putter head, the scriber attachment including a marking member detectable by the electronic recording screen.

5. A putting stroke training system according to claim 4, wherein the scriber attachment further includes a signal emitter oriented in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the putting board, and wherein the stroke recording section comprises a signal receiver disposed facing the signal emitter during a putting stroke.

6. A putting stroke training system according to claim 5, wherein the signal receiver comprises a light sensitive electronic screen, and wherein the signal emitter emits a signal that is detectable by the light sensitive electronic screen.

7. A putting stroke training system according to claim 6, wherein the signal emitter and the signal receiver are positioned to record a vertical position of the putter head during the putting stroke.

8. A putting stroke training system according to claim 1, wherein the result section comprises an opening in a surface of the putting board that simulates a golf hole in a putting green, the result section further comprising a sensor that detects a ball in the opening.

9. A putting stroke training system according to claim 8, wherein the result section further comprises an electronic board that detects dynamic characteristics of a golf ball rolling over the electronic board, the electronic board being positioned in front of the opening in the putting board surface.

10. A putting stroke training system according to claim 1, wherein the alignment tool is portable and independent of the putting board.

16. A putting stroke training system according to claim 1, wherein the stroke analysis tool generates the preferred stroke path based on an average of a plurality of the stroke paths correlated with the successful strokes.

11. A putting stroke training system comprising:

a putting board including a stroke recording section and a result section, the stroke recording section recording stroke paths of a putter head, and the result section recording a result of each stroke of the putter head and identifying successful strokes;

a stroke analysis tool that correlates successful strokes with respective ones of the stroke paths recorded by the stroke recording section, the stroke analysis tool generating a preferred stroke path based on the respective ones of the stroke paths correlated with the successful strokes; and

an alignment tool including a putting guide that graphically illustrates the preferred stroke path, wherein the alignment tool comprises a grid box including a bottom and two sides, and wherein the putting guide is positioned inside the grid box on the bottom.

12. A putting stroke training system according to claim 11, wherein the grid box comprises a protractor at a putting end.

13. A putting stroke training system according to claim 11, wherein the grid box comprises at least one of a side-to-side level and a front-to-back level.

14. A putting stroke training system according to claim 11, wherein the bottom of the grid box is formed of a transparent material.

15. A putting stroke training system according to claim 11, wherein the grid box further comprises a metronome.

17. A putting stroke training system comprising:

a putting board including a putting section and a hole;

a light sensitive or touch sensitive screen positioned in the putting section of the putting board, the light sensitive or touch sensitive screen recording stroke paths of a putter head made by a golfer using the system; and

a processor that correlates successful strokes with respective ones of the stroke paths, the processor generating a preferred stroke path for the golfer based on an average of the successful strokes.

18. A putting stroke training system comprising:

a putting board including a putting section and a hole;

a light sensitive or touch sensitive screen positioned in the putting section of the putting board, the light sensitive or touch sensitive screen recording stroke paths of a putter head; and

a processor that correlates successful strokes with respective ones of the stroke paths, the processor generating a preferred stroke path based on an average of the successful strokes; and

a grid box cooperable with the putting board, the grid box including a putting guide that graphically illustrates the preferred stroke path.

19. A putting stroke training system comprising:

a putting board including a putting section and a hole;

a light sensitive or touch sensitive screen positioned in the putting section of the putting board, the light sensitive or touch sensitive screen recording stroke paths of a putter head; and

a processor that correlates successful strokes with respective ones of the stroke paths, the processor generating a preferred stroke path based on an average of the successful strokes; and

a scriber attachment for the putter head, the scriber attachment including a marking member detectable by the light sensitive or touch sensitive screen.

20. A putting stroke training system according to claim 19, wherein the scriber attachment further includes a signal emitter oriented in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the putting board, the putter stroke training system further comprising a signal receiver disposed facing the signal emitter during a putting stroke.

21. A putting stroke training method comprising:

(a) a golfer putting repeatedly on a surface including a stroke recording section;

(b) recording stroke paths of a putter head via the stroke recording section;

(c) correlating successful strokes by the golfer with respective ones of the stroke paths;

and (d) generating a preferred stroke path for the golfer based on an average of the successful strokes.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein step (b) is practiced by recording the stroke paths in at least two dimensions.