Golf planing putting stroke training device

This application claims priority as a continuation-in-part of USPTO Application “Putting Stroke Trainer and Method of Use”, application Ser. No. 11/796,713 filed Apr. 30, 2007 and currently pending before the USPTO.

Golf putting training devices designed and configured to aid in the development of putting skills and habits through repetitive training.

Putting in the game of Golf is arguably the most important and most precise part of the game of golf. With regard to scoring in the game of Golf, putting statistically has the greatest influence. It has the greatest influence because it encompasses over 40% of the strokes a golfer plays to complete the course of 18 holes of Golf. To ensure a golfer has the best chance of minimizing strokes while putting, the golfer must develop as precisely repeatable a stroke as possible. To perform this precise stroke repeat ably under the pressures of play the stroke must be conditioned into habit. To perform this precise stroke repeat ably under the pressures of play it is also recommended that the golfer\'s putting technique naturally fits the golfer\'s individual biomechanical needs. Strokes developed with natural biomechanics have the best opportunity to be trusted and performed under the pressures of play. In recent years it has been shown that it is much easier to condition into habit a stroke that naturally fits the individual\'s biomechanical needs. It has also been shown that it is much easier to trust a stroke that naturally fits the individual setting out to putt the ball. Studies have shown that golfers are built in varying shapes and sizes, and the study of biomechanics describes exactly how each golfer\'s golfing machinery is organized. Further studies have shown that strokes that most naturally match the biomechanics of each golfer fall into the category of planing strokes. As far as putting strokes are concerned, planing strokes are strokes in which the shaft of the of the putter club move precisely along one geometrical plane throughout the whole stroke.

Many existing training aids are based on theories of developing in-line, linear, strokes that are commonly called straight-back straight-thru strokes because they are intended to travel straight along a path in-line with the ball and the target. Such existing training aids are intended in patents U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,486 B2 and US 2005/0197199 A1. These type of devices and the strokes they intend to develop fail to satisfy the natural biomechanical needs of planing type strokes. By definition they cannot satisfy any type of planing stroke available to the golfer under the established Rules of Golf. The rules of golf stipulate that the shaft of the putter must diverge from vertical. This means the lie angle of the club must be inclined significantly away from a vertical plane. What this means is that any stroke seeking a linear straight-line motion of the putter head must move off the incline plane used for planing strokes. Additionally, linear type theories recommend that the golfer\'s eyes are positioned directly above the intended line of the putt. This positions the golfer\'s eyes in the most advantageous position to view and direct a linear action.

Other existing training aids and devices are designed to promote what are commonly called pendulum strokes. By definition pendulum devices also have a vertical in-line component. The influence of this vertical relationship imparts a direct force that ensures that the putter head must move off a true planing path. Since the putter head must begin to the side of the component that establishes the vertical aspect of a pendulum type motion, the putter head will be forced to move off of the inclined plane as soon as the pendulum moves in a pendulum type action. Pendulum type theories and devices strive to position the golfer\'s eyes directly above the intended line of the putt for two main reasons. The most commonly discussed reason being to position the eyes in a position to look straight down the intended line of the putt. A second reason is to position the golfer\'s shoulders as close to the intended line of the putt as possible. This is important because the rules of golf require the putter shaft to diverge from the vertical plane at address precisely for the reason of making it impossible to perform a perfect pendulum type action. Therefore, the so-called pendulum type strokes are actually trying to be as pendulum type as possible under the rules of golf. The closer the golfer can position the shoulders to the line of the putt during the set-up and the stroke the better chance the golfer has of performing a pendulum type stroke. With the shoulders positioned as close to the vertical plane as possible, the shoulders can control a stroke that is as close to a true pendulum as possible. What further makes these techniques more pendulum like is securing a hand and grip position that is aligned directly below the center of the shoulders on a vertical plane. It is this positioning that creates the pendulum relationship. Remember, pendulums require a vertical relationship. As the shoulders rock back and forth in as vertical a manner as possible the hands mirror this movement creating a pendulum type action. This activity encourages the putter head to move more straight-back and straight-thru than a true planing type stroke.

Though some theories and devices strive to develop a pendulum motion that creates a plane type relationship between the shoulders and the ball location, they fail to produce an actual planing action. This is due to the requirement of the rules of golf defining that the shaft of the putter be positioned on an inclined plane that is significantly flatter than the vertical plane of a true pendulum motion. Additionally, if the golfer positions his or her eyes over the intended line of the putt, the shaft of the putter by definition will be much flatter than the shoulder plane relationship desired for pendulum type strokes. Therefore, all pendulum type strokes establish a shoulder plane relationship that is more vertical than the shaft angle of the putter and therefore any pendulum type putting action that can be argued to be a planing type stroke will be directed on a plane that is dramatically different than a true planing stroke. This is because pendulum type strokes strive to have the putter head move either straight-back and straight-thru, or on an incline plane that is much more vertical than the inclined plane of the putter shaft. Additionally it is the positioning of and the motion of the shoulders that define this inclined plane. True planing strokes have the structural advantage of the putter shaft moving on the incline plane established by the putter shaft at address. Further studies of pendulum type strokes and devices designed to train pendulum type strokes will show that at address the golfer\'s forearms and putter shaft are positioned significantly below the shoulder plane and fail to provide any structural advantage. It is only the shoulder positioning that provides structural influence in relations to the plane being recommended. Furthermore, pendulum type strokes can be performed without the putter shaft maintaining one specific geometric plane. Additionally, studies have shown that positioning the body in such a manner that it can use the shoulders muscles to promote a pendulum type stroke creates stress and tension in the body while diminishing use of the golfer\'s arms and hands. Diminishing arm and hand use has been shown to diminish the golfer\'s touch and feel, mechanisms that help the golfer precisely deliver the proper amount of energy throughout the impact interval of the stroke. Planing strokes that utilize the structural advantage of planing the shaft of the putter use arm and hand feel to precisely deliver the proper amount of energy. Examples of patents related to pendulum types devices and strokes are U.S. Pat. No. 4,900,030 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,211.

As can be seen in all pendulum type strokes, the pendulum motion is being controlled by muscular adjustments as compared to structural transfer. A true planing stroke has structural transfer of the putter shaft along the established plane. The putter shaft is positioned precisely on the structural plane and remains precisely on the structural plane throughout the entire stroke. The golfer may accomplish this planing action with wrist action control only, wrist and arm action control, or wrist, arm, and shoulder action control. With wrist action control only, the shaft of the putter and the golfer\'s wrists are positioned and structurally maintained in the plane relationship. With wrist and arm action control the putter shaft the golfer\'s wrists and the golfer\'s forearms must remain structurally on-plane. With wrist, arm, and shoulder action control the putter shaft, golfer\'s wrist, forearms, and upper arms must remain structurally on-plane.

An example of a putting training aid that encourages a planing action and shows the difference between pendulum strokes and strokes that satisfy the planing requirements is U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,971. U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,971 was invented by Edward A. Tischler, the same Edward A. Tischler who invented the present invention. The present invention can be used in conjunction with U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,971 showing it is suitable for strokes other than pendulum and straight-line linear strokes.

To further develop the precise nature of putting with a planing type stroke, the golfer must position his or her feet precisely the same distance away from the intended line of the putt every time the stroke is made. To accomplish this, the present invention uses adjustable foot guides to ensure the golfer positions his or her feet in exactly the same position every time. These fore mentioned adjustable foot guides accommodate stance width, stance alignment, and stance distancing away from the intended line of the putt. For example, some golfer\'s specific biomechanics require more weight to be positioned on the front foot (left foot for right-handed golfers). These golfers will stand with the rear foot (right foot for right handed golfers) further away from the intended line of the putt than the front foot. Biomechanics determines that positioning more weight on the front foot than the rear foot automatically adjusts the golfer\'s shoulder and arm alignments in what is called an open address alignment. Positioning the rear foot further away from the line adjusts the shoulder and arm alignments back into the proper structural plane alignments. Some golfer\'s biomechanics require that the golfer stand with a 50-50 weight distribution. These golfers automatically find their arm and shoulder alignments seeking the desired structural plane for a planing stroke. Some golfer\'s specific biomechanics require more weight to be positioned on the rear foot (right foot for right-handed golfers). These golfers will stand with the front foot (left foot for right handed golfers) further away from the intended line of the putt than the front foot. Biomechanics determines that positioning more weight on the rear foot than the front foot automatically adjusts the golfer\'s shoulder and arm alignments in what is called a closed address alignment. Positioning the front foot further away from the line adjusts the shoulder and arm alignments back into the proper structural plane alignments. Therefore, where precision is required there is a need to precisely identify exactly where the feet need to be positioned. Precisely identifying foot positions and alignments require a means of consistently marking the exact distance between each foot as well as exactly how far away from the ball line each foot is located. The present invention accomplishes these goals unlike any prior art by providing adjustable foot guides the range from 2 inches in length to 20 inches in length. An example of these foot guides is shown in the drawings, however not limited to the type of construction shown in the drawings.

To further ensure the precision of the golfer\'s biomechanical structure while putting with a planing type stroke, the position of the golfer\'s head and eyes must remain constant and inside the line of the putt. The present invention uses a variety of mirrors to ensure the golfer can precisely position his or her head and eyes. Other prior attempts to use mirrors for eye-line and head alignments have done so solely for the purpose of positioning the golfer\'s eyes directly over the intended line of the putt. These attempts place a mirror on and about the intended line of the putt. The mirror is positioned so that the line of the putt bisects the mirror. This type of mirror positioning accommodates either pendulum stroke efforts or linear stroke efforts. Planing strokes require the head and eyes to be inside the line of the putt so that the golfer\'s optical view more naturally matches the visual cues and relationships necessary for a planing stroke. The present invention accomplishes this by using fixed, adjustable, and detachable mirrors on the top edge of the guide rail and the L-shaped alignment guide member.

Further studies have shown that some golfers putt best when the arc of the planing stroke travels an equal amount during the backstroke portion of the stroke as it does in the follow-thru portion of the stroke, while other golfers perform best with a shorter backstroke portion of the stroke than the follow-thru portion of the stroke, while other golfers perform best with a backstroke portion traveling much longer than the follow-thru portion of the stroke. The present invention accommodates these needs by positioning marks on the top of the guide rail. There is a forward mark positioned for use by golfers that use a longer backstroke with a shorter follow-thru. These golfers address the ball while positioning the putter shaft on the forward mark. There is a centered mark for golfers that use a stroke that has a backstroke that equal in length to the follow-thru portion of the stroke. These golfers address the ball while positioning the putter shaft on the center mark. There is a rearward mark to be used by golfers that use a shorter backstroke than the follow-thru portion of the stroke. These golfers address the ball while positioning the putter shaft on the rearward mark. All alignment guides, mirrors, and foot-positioning guides are adjustable to be positioned in conjunction with the above-mentioned starting marks.

The present invention has an additional feature of an arced clubface alignment guide that simulates the positioning of a square to the plane of the stroke clubface alignment at varying positions throughout the stroke. To accomplish this, the clubface alignment guide uses markings on the top side of the guide showing the relative alignment of a square to the plane putter face alignment as the golfer planes the putter shaft along the guide rail. This helps the golfer develop the eye-hand and grip coordination necessary to maintain a square to the plane clubface alignment throughout the whole stroke.

This clubface alignment guide is generally positioned outside the toe of the putter at set-up, however it can also be positioned inside the heel of the putter at address. There is a center-line on the clubface alignment guide to help with positioning the guide accurately. When this alignment guide is positioned outside the toe of the putter it is positioned close enough to clearly identify the relationship between the putter and the lines on the alignment guide. This alignment guide is adjustable to be positioned outside the toe of the putter in all three set-up positions. That is, it can be used when the putter is set-up on the forward mark, center mark, or the rearward mark on the top of the guide rail.

The L-shaped alignment guide member is designed with a reversible ball positioning guide at rear end of alignment guide member. This ball positioning guide is reversible so that right-handed and left-handed golfers can use the device. This alignment guide member also uses an identical, adjustable, and reversible ball positioning guide to be positioned in alignment with the set-up markings on the guide rail. The L-shaped alignment guide member has markings that match-up identically with the markings on the guide rail. These ball positioning guides allow the golfer to position the ball in the same position every time. It also allows each golfer to customize this positioning for their specific needs.

A further advantage of the present invention is the use of a hoop to simulate a down the line mark that the ball must roll through. Present studies have shown that due to the binocular nature of human vision the true line looks askew as we view it from an inside the ball line eye and head positioning. Golfers often draw lines on the golf ball, pick a mark on a down the line portion of the putt, and then aim the lines drawn on the ball at and down the line at the mark. This helps them believe everything is aimed properly. However, once the golfer sets up to the ball and looks at the alignments the alignments often look all wrong. Human optics are binocular in nature and can distort the view of a straight line when view from a side-on vantage point. The positioning of the hoop down the line with the use of the track rolling the ball down the line helps reinforce the true optical view of the line of a straight putt as viewed by the golfer using a planing stroke. With continued use, what once looked askew will be viewed as the true straight line to the intended hole.

In summary, though seemingly similar looking devices have been used to help train putting strokes, the present invention addresses the newest understood necessities related to biomechanically sound planing type strokes, and it does so in the most comprehensive, adjustable, portable, and precisely repeatable manner possible to date. The present invention is significantly different than prior devices and is a significant improvement upon any prior existing device that strives to solve the precise issues of developing a repeatable putting stroke. It is significantly different because it solves the concerns and needs of planing type putting strokes while defining and making readily adjustable the precise nature of consistently repeating the set-up and execution of biomechanically sound planing type putting stroke.