PUTING PRACTICE DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

A versatile putting practice device trains a golfer to keep the putter low and to give a good roll to a golf ball by automatically keeping the golfer's head still and down and so that the golfer isn't flipping his/her hands through impact. The device includes an upright post, an impact projection connected to the top of the upright post and extending outwardly from it in a first dimension; and a support base connected to the bottom of the upright post and extending outwardly from it in a second dimension. The support base includes an elongated linear element that in use sights along a target line. Methods of practicing putting using the device are expected to improve putting accuracy.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For all of weekend duffers, club champions, and professional golfers, the difference between a good and undesirable score can often be effective putting. While there are numerous aspects to good putting technique there is agreement as to some of the most basic elements. A good putting stroke includes starting the golf ball on an intended target line to the cup and controlling and varying pace. It is important to strike the ball with the center of the putter's face, with the club face square on impact. In other words the putter head should be low through impact with the head square to the intended target line to get a consistent roll down the target line, and into the cup.

In the section “Dad's Grip Drill” of his 2011 book “Unconscious Putting,” professional golfer Dave Stockton described how at an early age his father taught him to putt by emphasizing what the putter (club) should do, which would be accomplished by the golfer keeping the putter low to the ground and letting his lead hand (in his case the left hand since he was right handed) be dominant. Dave practiced putting by having his father, or a friend or fellow golfer, stand alongside his target line holding the butt of a golf club about three inches from the back of his lead hand. His goal in stroking the putter wasn't necessarily to sink the practice putt but to hit the butt of the held club with the back of his lead hand.

According to Dave Stockton if during his practice drill he was able to hit the butt of the held club with the back of his lead hand it meant that he was keeping the putter low and giving a good roll to the ball, and that he was keeping his head still and down and wasn't flipping his hands through impact—all subconscious stroke improvements that came from simply concentrating on hitting the butt of the held club with the back of his lead hand.

According to the invention a putting practice device and method are provided that allow a golfer to achieve the desirable putting results that Dave Stockton believes he achieved without the necessity of involving another person so that the individual golfer can practice putting by himself/herself whenever he or she desires. The device according to the invention also is versatile since it allows the golfer to practice putting in a different but complementary manner, and it can be moved from a deployed functioning position to a lower volume configuration that makes it easy to transport even in a golf bag. The invention can be used by right or left handed golfers of any skill level who use either a conventional grip of the putter or a cross-handed grip. The device and method may be utilized on an actual putting green, on a miniature golf course, or in indoor settings with or without a cup or simulated cup.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a putting practice device that trains a golfer to keep the putter low and to give a good roll to the golf ball by automatically keeping the golfer's head still and down and so that the golfer isn't flipping his/her hands through impact. The putting practice device comprises, in use, the following components: An upright post having top and bottom portions. An impact projection operatively connected to the upright post top portion and extending outwardly from it in a first dimension. And a support base operatively connected to the upright post bottom portion which supports the upright post in an upright position and extends outwardly from it in a second dimension different than the first dimension. The putting practice device is simple and can consist essentially of (be constructed only by) the upright post, impact projection, and support base recited above.

The putting practice device of the invention support base may comprise three substantially linear components comprising: A first component extending in a dimension substantially opposite to the impact projection. A second component extending substantially perpendicular to the first component and away from the upright post. And an elongated third component extending substantially perpendicular to the second component and parallel to the first component and away from the upright post. Desirably the upright post, and the three support base components, have a tubular configuration and are operatively connected with tube elbows. Also desirably the impact projection is operatively connected to the upright post by a tube elbow and a substantially flat impact surface of the projection extends a sufficient distance from the upright post so that the post will not be impacted by the golfer's lead hand at the end of the putting stroke.

In a preferred embodiment the upright post comprises first and second members that are adjustable with respect to each other so as to allow adjustment of the distance of the impact projection from the support base. For example the first and second members may comprise telescoping tubes having an adjustable connection selected from the group consisting essentially of: transition fixed fit; spring button; clutch lock; and snap lock. The device may be made from a wide variety of materials including aluminum or other metals and various types of plastic. In one simple embodiment the upright post and support base components are constructed of PVC tubing. The impact projection impact surface may include a pad that the back of the golfer's lead hand engages during use.

The support base may be operatively connected to the upright post so that the base and post can be moved from a deployed high volume functional configuration to a low volume transport configuration without disconnecting the support base from the upright post. Also the device may be constructed so that at least the third component may be rotated with respect to the second component so that the base and post can be moved from a first position accommodating a right handed golfer to a second position accommodating a left handed golfer without disconnecting the support base from the upright post.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method, on a putting surface, of a golfer utilizing a putting practice device having an upright post with an impact projection at the top end thereof and a support base at the bottom end thereof. The method comprises: a) positioning the back of the golfer's lead hand adjacent, but spaced from (e. g. by about two-six inches), the impact projection while gripping the shaft of a putter with the putter head close to the putting surface; b) placing a golf ball adjacent the putter head; and c) sighting along a target line to a target and swinging the putter head so that the putter head impacts the golf ball and the back of the golfer's lead hand impacts the impact projection.

In the practice of a preferred method of the invention the support base includes an elongated linear element extending coordinately with respect to the upright post and the impact projection. In that case the method further comprises, before a), d) positioning the support base elongated linear element on substantially a target line toward a target.

While the method may be practiced indoors, on a miniature golf course, or on a wide variety of other surfaces with or without a simulated cup, preferably the putting surface is a putting green and the target is a cup. In that case the method further comprises: e) adjusting at least one of a), c) and d) so that when practicing c) the golf ball rolls on the green into the cup.

In the practice of the method preferably the height of the impact projection is adjustable. In that case the method further comprises: f) adjusting the height of the impact projection so that by the practice of a) and c) the back of the lead hand of the golfer properly impacts the impact projection. The method may further comprise: g) rotating the elongated linear element with respect to the upright post between a first position accommodating a right handed golfer to a second position accommodating a left handed golfer without detaching the upright post and support base.

The invention also encompasses an alternative method of using the putting practice device by: a) positioning the support base linear element on substantially a target line toward a target; b) gripping the shaft of a putter with the putter head close to the putting surface and adjacent but spaced from and substantially perpendicular to the support base elongated linear element; c) placing a golf ball adjacent the putter head; and d) sighting along a target line defined by the support base elongated linear element to the target and swinging the putter head so that the head impacts the golf ball and is either physically or by sight guided by the support base elongated linear element.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a simple yet effective putting practice device that can improve a golfer's putting accuracy regardless of the sex, experience level, desired grip, or handedness of the golfer, and a method of improving putting accuracy using the device. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from a detailed description of the drawings and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view, partly in side view and party in isometric view, of an exemplary putting practice device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a slightly modified isometric view of the device of FIG. 1 shown in one possible assembled configuration thereof;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the device of FIG. 2 shown in its most desirable functional/use position in association with a putter, golf ball, cup, and the golfer's hands and feet; and

FIG. 4 is a view like that of FIG. 3 showing the device of FIGS. 2 & 3 in another mode of use by a golfer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary putting practice device 10 according to the invention is shown in disassembled condition in FIG. 1. The device 10 includes an impact projection 12, in this case comprising a tubular elbow 14 having a projection 16 extending from (preferably substantially perpendicular to) the elbow 14 and terminating in a substantially flat impact surface 18. The substantially flat surface 18 is preferably dimensioned and constructed so that it will not harm the back of a golfer's lead hand when impacted during a putting stroke. While not normally necessary the surface 18 can be enlarged compared to that illustrated in the drawings and may have some sort of padding (e. g. leather or rubber) attached to it which is impacted by the back of a golfer's lead hand during use. In use the lead hand of a right handed golfer will be his/her left hand (whether in a conventional or cross-handed grip) while the lead hand of a left handed golfer will be his/her right.

The device 10 also comprises an upright post 20. While the post 20 can be one piece, of a wide variety of materials including aluminum or another metal, or a variety of plastics such as PVC, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 it comprises two pieces so that it is adjustable. In any event the top of the post 20 as positioned in FIG. 1 is operatively connected to the impact projection 12 by any desirable mechanism, such as a tubular top of the post 20 connected to the tubular elbow 14 by an interference fit, screw threading, or a conventional transition fixed fit. If an interference fit is utilized the elements are not really movable with respect to each other once connected, while if a conventional transition fixed fit they can be moved with respect to each other even though such movement is difficult because of the small clearance between the components.

The impact projection 12 is preferably constructed so that the impact face 18 is spaced far enough from the post 20 (e. g. two-eight inches) so that the back of the golfer's lead hand will not hit the post 20 after the putting swing is completed.

In the adjustable form illustrated in FIG. 1 the post 20 adjustability is provided by conventional spring button telescoping tubes (such as illustrated in US 2022/0202642 and described in section thereof). That is the post 20 includes a lower tubular component 22 with a plurality of openings 23 spaced along it (e. g. about one-two inches apart), cooperating with a conventional spring button 24 (seen poking out of the top opening 23 in lower tubular component 22) which button 24 is mounted to the interior tube or shaft 26. The tubes 22, 26 preferably are circular in cross section but can have another cross-section, such as square, or have other conventional devices to insure proper orientation of the button 24 with respect to the openings 23 as long as the connections to the top and bottom of the post 20 can accommodate a different shape.

While a spring button 24 configuration of the adjusting mechanism is shown in FIG. 1, other conventional mechanisms may be utilized to provide adjustability between two telescoping tubes including, but not limited to, transition fixed fit, clutch lock, and snap lock.

The other components, shown generally by reference numeral 28 in FIG. 1, besides 12 and 20, comprise a support base for the upright post 20. The components of the support base 28 include the elbows 30, 38, 42, and the linear sections 36, 40, and 44. As seen in FIG. 2 the elbow 30 is operatively connected to the bottom of the post 20 lower tube 22 at the open end 32 thereof, while the substantially perpendicular open end 34 is operatively connected to one end of the desirably short (e. g. two-six inches) linear tube section 36.

The second end of the section 36 is preferably operatively connected to the open end 32 of the elbow 38, while the other open end 34 of the elbow 38 is operatively connected to one end of the linear tube 40. The other end of the linear tube 40 is operatively connected to the open end 32 of the elbow 42, while the other open end 34 of the elbow 42 is operatively connected to one end of the elongated linear tube 44. The other end of the elongated tube 44 can have a . . . conventional cap 45. The connections between the elbows and linear tubes may be transition . . . fixed fits so that the elements are securely held in place but can, with sufficient force, normally without the use of a tool, be rotated with respect to each other.

FIG. 2 shows the device 10 assembled. In the illustration in FIG. 2 the upright post 20 is shown as a single tube without the adjustability provided by the spring button telescoping tubes 22, 24, 26 illustrated in FIG. 1. Also in FIG. 2 for clarity of illustration the elongated linear tube 44 of the support base is not in an orientation that it would be typically used in (the normal use orientation is shown in FIGS. 3 & 4) but to which it can be moved by providing the fits between the elbows 38 and 42 with the tubes 36, 40, and 44 as transition fixed fits so that they will be securely maintained into any position to which they are rotated with respect to each other, but such rotation will be allowed without the necessity of using tools in most circumstances.

While the components of the device 10 can be made of a wide variety of materials including aluminum or other metals, or a variety of hard plastics, the device illustrated in the drawings is composed primarily of conventional PVC pipe components including straight sections, elbows, and caps such as shown at https://www.tigerfishtools.com.

The dimensions of the components of the device 10 can vary depending upon the user. If the upright post 20 is not adjustable a desirable height of the impact surface 18 supported thereby is about thirty-thirty six inches, and when adjustable the range is typically between twenty six and thirty eight inches. The dimensions of the straight sections 36, 40, 44 of the base support are designed to insure that a sturdy base is provided, yet desirably the device 10 can be folded up into a low volume configuration especially by rotating the component 44 ninety degrees with respect to the component 40 so that the elongated linear element 44 is substantially parallel to the post 20. Probably the most important dimension of the base 28 is the length of the elongated linear tube 44 which preferably is about eighteen-twenty two inches. The diameters of the tubes 20, 36, 40, 44 may vary widely too, but preferably are about one-two inches.

FIG. 3 illustrates the device 10 of FIG. 2 employed in the preferred method of use thereof. Illustrated is a method, on a putting surface GR (e. g. a putting green), of a golfer utilizing a putting practice device 10 having an upright post 20 with an impact projection 12 at the top end thereof and a support base 28 at the bottom end thereof. The method comprises: a) positioning the back of the golfer's lead hand H adjacent, but spaced from (e. g. typically about two-six inches, desirably about four inches), the impact projection 12 (the face 18 thereof) while gripping the shaft S of a putter with the putter head P (face F thereof) close to the putting surface GR; b) placing a golf ball GB adjacent the putter head P; and c) sighting along a target line to a target (cup C) and swinging the putter head P so that the putter head (face F thereof) impacts the golf ball GB and the back of the golfer's lead hand H (in this case the left hand since the golfer shown is right handed) impacts the impact projection 12 (face 18 thereof).

In a preferred embodiment the support base includes an elongated linear element 44 extending coordinately with respect to the upright post 20 and the impact projection 12. Herein the term “coordinately” means that the components have substantially the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3 & 4 wherein the elongated linear element 44 is spaced a short distance (just about two-six inches by element 36) in the dimension substantially parallel to a target line and when the elongated linear element 44 is rotated ninety degrees with respect to element 40 it is substantially parallel to the post 20. In this case the method further comprises, before a), d) positioning the support base elongated linear element 44 on substantially a target line toward a target C.

In practicing the method described above preferably the putting surface GR is a putting green and the target is a cup C, and the method further comprises: e) adjusting at least one of a), c) and d) so that when practicing c) the golf ball GB rolls on the green GR into the cup C. Also desirable in the practice of the method the height of the impact projection 12 (particularly the face 18 thereof) is adjustable in which case the method further comprises: f) adjusting the height of the impact projection 12 (e. g. using the telescoping tubes 22, 26 of FIG. 1) so that by the practice of a) and c) the back of the lead hand H of the golfer properly impacts the impact projection 12 (face 18 thereof).

In order to accommodate both right and left handed golfers the method of the invention may further comprise: g) rotating the elongated linear element 44 with respect to the upright post 20 between a first position (FIG. 3) accommodating a right handed golfer to a second position (with the elements 40, 42, and 44 on the opposite side of the post 20 than is illustrated in FIG. 3) accommodating a left handed golfer without disconnecting the upright post 20 and support base 28.

An alternative method of using the putting practice device described above is illustrated in FIG. 4. This method may comprise: a) positioning the support base 28 elongated linear element 44 on substantially a target line toward a target C; b) gripping the shaft S of a putter with the putter head P (face F thereof) close to the putting surface GR and adjacent and substantially perpendicular to the support base elongated linear element 44; c) placing a golf ball GB adjacent the putter head P (face F); and d) sighting along a target line substantially defined by the support base elongated linear element 44 to the target C and swinging the putter head P so that it (face F thereof) impacts the golf ball GB and is either physically (by moving along and in contact with the elongated linear element 44) or by sight (with the head P not actually engaging the element 44) guided by the support base elongated linear element 44.

While the invention has been herein shown and described in what is presently conceived to be a preferred embodiment thereof it is to be understood that the invention can be modified in many ways within the scope thereof, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent devices and methods, limited only by the appended claims and the prior art.

Claims

1. A putting practice device comprising in use: an upright post having top and bottom portions; an impact projection operatively connected to said upright post top portion and extending outwardly therefrom in a first dimension; and a support base operatively connected to said upright post bottom portion which supports said upright post in an upright position and extending outwardly therefrom in a second dimension different than said first dimension.

2. A putting practice device consisting essentially of an upright post having top and bottom portions; an impact projection operatively connected to said upright post top portion and extending outwardly therefrom in a first dimension; and a support base operatively connected to said upright post bottom portion which supports said upright post in an upright position and extending outwardly therefrom in a second dimension different than said first dimension.

3. A putting practice device as recited in claim 1 wherein said support base comprises three substantially linear components comprising: a first component extending in a dimension substantially opposite to said impact projection; a second component extending substantially perpendicular to said first component and away from said upright post; and a third elongated component extending substantially perpendicular to said second component and parallel to said first component and away from said upright post.

4. A putting practice device as recited in claim 3 wherein said upright post, and said three support base components, have a tubular configuration and are operatively connected by tube elbows.

5. A putting practice device as recited in claim 4 wherein said impact projection includes an impact substantially flat face and wherein said impact projection is operatively connected to said upright post by a tube elbow and is positioned so that said impact face is spaced far enough from said upright post so that said upright post is not impacted when said impact face is impacted.

6. A putting practice device as recited in claim 1 wherein said upright post comprises first and second members that are adjustable with respect to each other so as to allow adjustment of the distance of said impact projection from said support base.

7. A putting practice device as recited in claim 6 wherein said first and second members comprise telescoping tubes having an adjustable connection selected from the group consisting essentially of: transition fixed fit; spring button; clutch lock; and snap lock.

8. A putting practice device as recited in claim 4 wherein said upright post and support base components are constructed of PVC tubing.

9. A putting practice device as recited in claim 2 wherein said support base comprises three substantially linear components comprising: a first component extending in a dimension substantially opposite said impact projection; a second component extending substantially perpendicular to said first component and away from said upright post; and a third elongated component extending substantially perpendicular to said second component and substantially parallel to said first component and away from said upright post.

10. A putting practice device as recited in claim 9 wherein said upright post, and said three support base components, have a tubular configuration and are operatively connected with tube elbows.

11. A putting practice device as recited in claim 10 wherein said upright post comprises first and second members that are adjustable with respect to each other so as to allow adjustment of the distance of said impact projection from said support base.

12. A putting practice device as recited in claim 11 wherein said first and second members comprise telescoping tubes having an adjustable connection selected from the group consisting essentially of: transition fixed fit; spring button; clutch lock; and snap lock.

13. A putting practice device as recited in claim 1 wherein said support base is operatively connected to said upright post so that said base and post can be moved from a deployed high volume functional configuration to a low volume transport configuration without disconnecting said support base from said upright post.

14. A putting practice device as recited in claim 3 wherein at least said fourth component may be rotated with respect to said second component so that said base and post can be moved from a first position accommodating a right handed golfer to a second position accommodating a left handed golfer without disconnecting said support base from said upright post.

15. A method, on a putting surface, of a golfer utilizing a putting practice device having an upright post with an impact projection at the top end thereof and a support base at the bottom end thereof, said method comprising: a) positioning the back of the golfer's lead hand adjacent, but spaced from, the impact projection while gripping the shaft of a putter with the putter head close to the putting surface; b) placing a golf ball adjacent the putter head; and c) sighting along a target line to a target and swinging the putter head so that the putter head impacts the golf ball and the back of the golfer's lead hand impacts the impact projection.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the support base includes an elongated linear element extending coordinately with respect to the upright post and the impact projection, said method further comprising: before a), d) positioning the support base elongated linear element substantially on a target line toward a target.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein the putting surface is a putting green and wherein the target is a cup, the method further comprising: e) adjusting at least one of a), c) and d) so that when practicing c) the golf ball rolls on the green into the cup.

18. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein the height of the impact projection is adjustable; and further comprising f) adjusting the height of the impact projection so that by the practice of a) and c) the back of the lead hand of the golfer properly impacts the impact projection.

19. A method as recited in claim 16 further comprising: g) rotating the elongated linear element with respect to the upright post between a first position accommodating a right handed golfer to a second position accommodating a left handed golfer without disconnecting the upright post and support base.

20. An alternative method of using the putting practice device of claim 16 comprising a) positioning the support base elongated linear element on substantially a target line toward a target; b) gripping the shaft of a putter with the putter head close to the putting surface and adjacent and substantially perpendicular to the support base linear element; c) placing a golf ball adjacent the putter head; and d) sighting along a target line defined by the support base elongated linear element to the target and swinging the putter head so that it impacts the golf ball and is either physically or by sight guided by the support base elongated linear element.