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Golf putter training device

Golf putter training device description/claims

The present invention relates golf training aids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a putting training aid which improves the golfer's alignment for proper putting.

The game of golf is one of the most widely enjoyed sports activities in the world. The number of persons participating in this activity, both at the professional and recreational level, is almost unparalleled. Not only is this activity already widespread, but also the ranks of golfers continue to swell at an unprecedented rate.

The sport of golf is typically played on a course consisting of nine or eighteen “holes”. A set of clubs is used to strike a golf ball along each hole comprising the course. Each hole consists of a starting location wherein a golfer places a ball and initially strikes the ball towards a green. Each green includes a recessed cup, and it is the object of the golfer to strike the ball with a series of strokes into the cup. Different clubs are used to vary the height, distance and spin of the ball, and a set of clubs may number ten or more. The holes normally vary in length from short holes of approximately one hundred yards to longer holes of five hundred yards and greater. The holes are flanked by rough areas out of which it is more difficult to play, and hazards are provided to increase the intricacy and precision required in play.

One of the more difficult aspects of the game is putting. Putting, in the game of golf, takes place when the golfer has hit the ball onto the putting green, where the cup is located. Accurate putting is essential for a golfer to be able to play golf well. Many putting training aids have been developed over the years to help improve a golfer's putting game.

When putting, proper club, ball alignment is essential to making a good putt. A common mistake that many golfers make is to improperly position their putter before making a putt. For example, golfers often do not ensure that the bottom surface of the club is level with the ground. The club may be angled such that it is not level from front to back, side to side or diagonally. Any stroke made with an improperly positioned club increases the risk of a bad putt. Furthermore, proper placement of the head of the golfer is necessary for a proper putt. The golfer's head should be placed directly over the club head and ball. There are various types of training aids in the prior art which attempt to help the golfer solve these problems. Most of the designs include alignment marks at various places on the top of the club.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,900 issued to Antonious includes alignment marks on the top surface of the club. In addition, a recessed area adjacent to those alignment marks is provided which also includes alignment marks. While this invention provides some assistance in aligning the club, it does not allow for omni-directional alignment.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,877 also issued to Antonious has a similar design. In this design, a club head is hollow and has a circular aperture therein. Surrounding the circular aperture are alignment marks in two directions. On the bottom surface of the inside of the club, additional alignment marks are present. In use, the object is to keep the lines on the outside of the putter aligned with the lines on the inside. This patent also provides additional embodiments with similar alignment features. Again, the alignment is not omni-directional and does not ensure that the head of the golfer is properly placed directly over the putter.

The present invention provides an improved golf club alignment system. The invention includes a putter shaft having a hand grip at one end. The other end of the putter shaft terminates at a putter head. The putter head may be of various shapes, but includes a flat club face, a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface has a cylindrical recess therein. The cylindrical recess has a side wall and a circular bottom. Preferably, the cylinder has a diameter of between 15 mm and 45 mm. Preferably, the side wall and bottom are in contrasting colors. The top of the cylindrical recess has a lip. The lip has an inside diameter which is smaller than the inside diameter of the inside cylindrical wall. The difference between the diameter of the lip and the diameter of the inside wall of the cylinder should preferably be in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Therefore, when the golfer's head is properly over the putter head and the putter is level with the ground in all directions, the lip of the recess completely obscures the side wall of the cylinder. The golfer sees only the bottom circular surface. Because the side wall of the cylinder and the bottom surface are made of contrasting colors, if the golfer's head and club are not aligned properly, the contrasting side wall will be visible. The golfer can then adjust his position and the position of the club for proper alignment.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf putter training apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the invention of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of the invention of FIG. 1

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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