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Golf putting training templateRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Body Movement Or Position Indicator (e.g., Stance Aids, Etc.)Golf putting training template description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070173339, Golf putting training template. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] A. Field of the Invention [0002] The field of the present invention relates generally to golf training devices and methods. In particular, the present invention relates to golf training devices and methods that are specifically directed to improving a golfer's putting techniques. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to such putting training aids that are provided in a flat plate or plate-like configuration for ease of use and portability. [0003] B. Background [0004] Golfing is one of the most popular played sports throughout the world, on both a competitive and recreational level. One of the most important aspects of golfing is putting the ball once it lands on the green around the hole or cup. Because golfing requires a relatively high amount of skill to properly hit the golf ball in the desired direction and with the desired amount of force, the vast majority of people take golf lessons and must practice on a relatively routine and frequent basis. This is particularly true with putting. Although driving the ball to get to the green is very important to the game of golf, the inability to putt the ball into the hole once it is on the green is often one of the most frustrating problems for the amateur and professional golfer alike. While many golfers may adequately learn techniques to drive the ball further and straighter, or other desired direction, the lack of proper putting skills is very common and generally results in an undesirable high score from multiple missed putts. It is well known that in order to be successful at putting it is important for the golfer to learn and practice the proper putting techniques so that he or she will be able to develop a consistent, high quality putting stroke. [0005] Studies of putting techniques generally indicate that the number one reason most golfers have difficulty putting is due to bad or improper aim. As used in the present disclosure, the "preferred line" is the path that the golf ball should follow between where it is located when hit and the cup in order for the golf ball to end up in the cup. Bad aim results in a golf ball that travels to the left or right of this preferred line. As a result of the golfer's inability to properly aim the golf ball towards the cup along this preferred line, the golfer generally compensates his or her putting stroke to produce a stroke that attempts to "steer" the golf ball towards the cup. The steered stroke typically manifests itself when the golfer tries to guide the golf ball by taking the putter straight back and then moves it forward in a manner that guides the face of the putter head down the preferred line to the cup. Unfortunately, the failure to properly aim the stroke down the preferred line makes developing a consistent putting stroke very difficult for the golfer. [0006] Another common problem many golfers have with putting is failing to hit the golf ball at the desired location on the putter head face. To obtain the desired distance and straight ball travel, the area of the center of gravity of the putter head should be what strikes the golf ball. The portion of the putter face which is directly forward of the center of gravity of the putter head is commonly referred to as the "sweet spot". Failure to hit the golf ball exactly at this sweet spot is very likely to result in errant or misdirected travel for the ball (i.e., travel to the left or right of the preferred line). Generally, the further away from the sweet spot that the golf ball is struck by the putter head, the more misdirected the golf ball will travel. A golf ball hit towards the toe of the putter head will generally travel to the right of the preferred line and a golf ball hit towards the heel of the putter head will travel to the left of the preferred line. As is well known, a golf ball deviating to the right or left of the preferred line will not get to the cup and will result in a higher score. [0007] Yet another common problem most golfers have with putting is the inability to properly contact the golf ball with the putter head. The general goal of a good putting stroke is to strike the golf ball with the face of the putter at a point in the swing where the plane of the putter head face is generally perpendicular or square with the desired direction of travel. To achieve the desired contact with the golf ball the golfer must properly hold and guide the putter head while rotating his or her shoulders during the putting stroke. As is well known, this is not easy to achieve. In order to be somewhat successful with putting, the golfer must train his or her body to swing the putter through the putting stroke in a manner that results in the putter head face perpendicularly striking the golf ball. [0008] Over the years, a number of training devices for teaching golfers a proper or preferred putting stroke have been patented. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,870 to Froggatte discloses an alignment guide for practice putting comprising a base having perpendicular target and putter face lines and a pair of spaced apart guide rails secured to the base parallel to the preferred line and forming a channel for the putter head. U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,343 to O'Conner, et al., describes a golf putt training apparatus that has a pair of mutually opposing guide rails that each have a plurality of rigid teeth projecting towards the opposing guide rail to guide the putter head along the preferred line. U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,486 to Sweinhart describes a putter practice apparatus having a frame structure with an upper horizontal bar member that acts as a guide for the putter shaft. U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,920 to Hamilton describes a golf putting guide that has a vertical front surface facing the ball that is part of the elliptical vertical projection of desired swing path of the putter head. The heel of the putter head slides along the front surface of the guide to guide the putter in a swing circle centered between the golfer's shoulders. This device is commercially available as The Putting Arc.RTM. from The Putting Arc, Inc. U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,852 to Kim describes a putting guide comprising a rectangular frame that defines a path for the putter head. Back and front stop members define the beginning and end of the putting stroke. U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,106 to Adams discloses a putting stroke training device that comprises a flat base with an adjustable channel running its length to define a path for the putter head. U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,685 describes a golf putting device having a base plate and a pair of elongated members slidably mounted on the base plate to form a guide for the putter head. U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,557 to Casillas, et al. discloses a putting practice device that comprises a mat having a pair of parallel, separated raised portions that define a putting stroke path. U.S. Pat. No. 2,866,645 to Cayot describes a putting practice device comprising a plate having two upstanding parallel rails on which the golf ball is placed and an upstanding wall, parallel to the rails, which the toe of the putter head travels in a parallel direction during the putting stroke. Although the foregoing are configured to assist the golfer with his or her putting stroke, they do so by controlling the movement of the putter head or golf ball through an artificial mechanism. While repetitious use of these devices may ultimately improve the golfer's putting skills, the forgoing devices do not optimally train the golfer's body and mind to move in a manner that will best achieve the desired putting stroke. [0009] The use of mats, plates and other generally planar devices for use in training golf putting are also known in the art and the subject of patents. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,719 to Franklin describes a golf putting teaching aid comprising a mat-like putting surface having a cup near one end and a plurality of putting guide patterns on the upper surface of the mat. U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,625 to Miner describes a putting practice device comprising a thin, flat T-shaped member having an elongated portion with a centerline thereon and a V-shaped notch in the T-shaped member that connects to the centerline at the apex of the V. A sighting bore is positioned on the centerline of the base for proper positioning of the golfer's head. U.S. Pat. No. 2,992,005 to Lockhart describes a putting guide comprising a thin, generally rectangular sheet having a rectangular notch at one end with a direction line along the centerline of the sheet that intersects the center of the notch for placement of the ball and guidance of the putter head to the ball. Although the foregoing patents describe generally mat or mat-like putting training devices to improve the golfer's putting stroke, they are configured only to guide the putter head along a straight line to the golf ball. As such, they do not provide putting training devices that effectively train the golfer's body to properly putt the golf ball. [0010] What is needed, therefore, is an improved golf putting training device that is provided in a generally thin, flat mat or mat-like configuration for ease of use and portability. The preferred golf putting training device will not require the movement of the putter or golf ball to be controlled by the training device so as to optimize the training of the golfer's body to properly putt the golf ball. The preferred golf putting training device will facilitate correct movement of the putter head through the putting stroke so as to contact the golf ball at the sweet spot of the putter head and with the face generally perpendicular to the preferred line. The preferred golf putting training device will also facilitate assisting the golfer with proper aim of his or her putt along the preferred line. The preferred golf putting training device will also assist the golfer with proper placement of his or her feet relative to the position of the golf ball. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The golf putting training template of the present invention provides the benefits and solves the problems identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses a golf putting training template that effectively and efficiently trains the golfer to more accurately putt the golf ball towards the cup. In the preferred embodiment, the golf putting training template of the present invention is configured as a mat-like template that is easily utilized on the ground and easy to transport. The golf putting training template does not utilize any non-golfer external control of the putter head and/or golf ball, thereby optimizing the golfer's putting training by effectively teaching the golfer's body to properly putt the golf ball towards the cup. The golf putting training template of the present invention has a arc line with plurality of parallel putter head face lines that corresponds to the proper direction of travel and angle for the putter head during the putting stroke to visually guide the sweet spot to the golf ball. The present invention has a plurality of parallel follow-through lines to train the golfer on the proper follow through for his or her putt. The golf putting training template of the present invention has an aim line that is configured to assist the golfer with aiming his or her golf ball along the preferred line towards the cup. [0012] In one aspect of the present invention, the golf putting training template has a forward base member and a rear base member that are placed in abutting relationship to define the template base member. In an alternative embodiment, the base member can be a single component, made of two or more hingedly joined components or more than two components. An open area extends rearwardly from the first end of the base member, positioned towards the cup or hole where the golf ball is to be aimed, to define a ball placement area configured to receive the golf ball. At the rearward side of the open area is a center position that defines where the center of the golf ball is positioned during use. An aim line extends rearward from the center position and is used to align the template with a target line that is drawn at least partially along the preferred line the golf ball should take to reach the cup or hole. An arc line extends rearward in a substantially elliptical manner from the center position towards the first or golfer side of the template. In the preferred embodiment, the base member has a plurality of tracking lines that more or less perpendicularly intersect the arc line to provide a guide for the golfer's swing during his or her backstroke and forward stroke by aligning the face of the putter head with the tracking lines. The arc line defines the preferred travel of the putter head during the putting stroke, which is achieved by rotation of the golfer's shoulders. On the forward side of the center position the base member comprises a plurality of follow-through lines that guide, by keeping the face of the putter head parallel thereto, the golfer's follow-through swing. To assist with the golfer's feet positioning, the base member of the preferred embodiment of the template includes a stance line for aligning the middle of the golfer's stance and indicia for positioning the golfer's left and right feet. Positioning apertures on the base member are used for securing the template to the ground or other surface. Using the template of the present invention, the golfer rotates his or her shoulders to swing the putter head along the arc line and then hit the sweet spot of the putter head solidly against the golf ball to direct the golf ball toward the cup. [0013] In use, the golfer first marks a target line along at least a portion of the preferred line the golf ball should take to the cup or hole. The golfer places the first end, having the open area, towards the cup and aligns the aim line on the template with the target line on the ground. In the preferred embodiment, the template is secured to the ground, with the aim line in alignment with the target line, by placing a golf tee through each of one or more positioning apertures. The golf ball is placed at the ball placement area and the golfer stands near the template with the middle of his or her stance aligned with the stance line and his or her feet aligned with the feet alignment indicia. The sweet spot of the putter head is placed adjacent the golf ball. The golfer rotates his or her shoulders to swing the putter head along the arc line while keeping the putter head face in alignment with the tracking lines that perpendicularly intersect the arc line. The sweet spot of the putter head face contacts the golf ball to direct the golf ball towards the cup while the golfer continues to rotate his or her shoulders and keeps the putter head face substantially aligned with the follow-through lines on the forward side of the base member. Using the template of the present invention for putting practice will result in the golfer training his body how to correctly and consistently putt the golf ball. [0014] Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a golf putting training template that provides the advantages discussed above and overcomes the disadvantages and limitations which are associated with presently available golf putting training devices. [0015] An important objective of the present invention is to provide a golf putting training template that optimizes putter training by more effectively teaching the golfer's body and eyes to recognize the correct putting stroke (peripheral vision) without utilizing any guide members, channeling devices or other non-golfer control mechanisms to guide the putter head to the golf ball. [0016] It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a golf putting training template that helps train the golfer to improve the aim of his or her putt along the preferred line. [0017] It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a golf putting training template that is in a flat plate or plate-like configuration to facilitate ease of use and portability thereof. [0018] It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a golf putting training template that provides for rotation of the golfer's shoulders during the putting stroke by guiding the putter head along an arc line on the upper surface of the template to direct the sweet spot of the putter head to the golf ball with the putter head face perpendicular to the preferred stroke path. [0019] It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide a golf putting training template having an upper surface configured to visually train the golfer's swing through the entire putting stroke. [0020] The above and other objectives of the present invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presently described and understood by the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0021] In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention: Continue reading about Golf putting training template... Full patent description for Golf putting training template Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf putting training template patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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