Patent Application
20250144500
The present disclosure is in the field of sporting goods. More particularly, the present disclosure provides systems and methods of a putt path training device comprising a disc the size of a normal golf hole that is suspend several inches off the ground about one foot from the putting point of a golf ball and in a line with the putting point and a hole behind the device with a purpose of giving the golfer a near and achievable target to putt toward which may boost golfer confidence and reduce golfer anxiety that often accompanies putting, especially long putts.
Putting is one of the most challenging and important aspects of the game of golf. While all aspects of golf have a substantial mental aspect that affects the physical aspects of positioning and delivering proper strokes, putting in particular, because of the precision required and the pressure to complete the hole, involves even more mental pressure.
Putting can be difficult for various reasons, including developing proper line and speed control. It can be difficult to control the exact speed or force applied to the ball. Hitting a putt too hard or too soft or off-line can lead to frustration, three-putts, and bad scoring.
Putting is also difficult because of ball position. If the ball is too far forward in the golfer's stance, it can make it difficult to control distance and direction.
Also, with green reading, it can be difficult to judge the distance of a putt, especially uphill or downhill. Finally, mechanical thoughts by the golfer can be disabling. Thinking about too many mechanical aspects of one's stroke can be detrimental.
Systems and methods described herein provide a golf teaching device, a training aid, a competition game, and a recreational game device to compliment and evolve the user's understanding and skill in making putts on the golf course during a real golf game by developing the habit of proper putt path. A result may be a better understanding, better scoring and more enjoyment of the game of golf.
Systems and methods are directed to golfers of all ages and all skill levels to teach or compliment their core understanding and delivery of successful putting, especially to address the issue of starting putts on their proper putt path.
Systems and methods illustrate, teach, and provide real life feedback about the importance of the golfer delivering the golf ball on its proper starting path in creating successful putts. A distant target (i.e., the golf hole), which appears smaller to the golfer relative to its increasing distance away, is brought into close visual proximity to the golfer. This serves as a reminder that the hole is large compared to the much smaller golf ball. This may give the golfer true and educated confidence that allows the golfer to relax and perform more effectively in delivering all putts.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a device comprising a generally golf hole-sized circular disc raised several inches above a putting surface is provided to represent the true size of the golf hole, allowing the golfer to physically, mentally, and emotionally settle and perform a golf putt comfortably knowing that their performance does not have to be perfect. The device may make it apparent that many putt lines may result in a successful putt, not just one. The device reminds the user that the golf hole is large.
Systems and methods provided herein allow direct accurate feedback as to the starting path of a golf putt allowing the golfer to subjectively know the true starting line of their putt rather than to have to only guess or assume.
Another purpose of the present disclosure is to provide convenient storage of custom golf tees that are used to create both a) boundaries for determining the limits of the proper starting putt path and b) supportive legs to allow the device to conveniently hover over the surface of the golf green allowing the golf ball to roll freely underneath it.
Another purpose is to remind the golfer of the lines between which the vertical center of a golf ball must pass having most any reasonable speed wherein the entire ball fits within a golf hole and thus may result in a successful putt. Another similar purpose is to remind the golfer of even wider lines between which the vertical center of a golf ball must pass having good speed wherein result in a successful putt.
The system also provides an extension from the circular disk that protrudes towards the user and permits the housing of a focused small target to train the golfer to pick and focus mentally on the target on the starting line of their putt path to become a systematic step in their putting setup which may aid in putt path alignment.
The disc effectively hovers over the ideal path of a golf putt using golf tees or similar support legs, allowing a golf ball to pass through the two tees. This may help the golfer ensure that they start their putt on the intended line.
The disc represents the size, shape, and visual image of a golf hole to train the golfer psychologically for confidence in putting that the golf hole is always much larger than the golf ball even though the golf hole will appear smaller when viewed from a distance in an actual golf game.
A middle alignment line through the middle of the upper surface of the disc aligns the disc with the intended starting line of the putt below. The line trains the golfer to align the alignment line of a golf ball to be in line with the middle alignment line on the apparatus as well as with the intended starting line of the putt.
There are two lines that are parallel to the middle alignment line, one on each side of the middle alignment line that defines the permitted boundary (power zone) where the vertical center of a rolling golf ball should pass between to ensure that the entire golf ball fits entirely inside the width measure of a golf hole and thus would represent a successful putt struck with any reasonable speed or striking force. Two sets of parallel lines to the middle alignment line and visual aiming point can be a sticker, painted, drawn, embedded, or protruding. An additional set of lines that are parallel to the middle alignment line, one on each side of the middle alignment line defines the wider permitted boundary (good weight zone) where the vertical center of a rolling golf ball should pass between to ensure that a successful putt using good weight.
The disc also has a protruding front surface that contains a visual aiming point which trains the golfer to habitually align each putt to a single point at the beginning of their intended starting path of their putt for consistent putting alignment.
On the disc's bottom surface are placement holes for the convenient storage of golf tees or other support leg items to be inserted to support the apparatus in use to hover over the path of an intended putt line.
On the bottom surface of the disc are holes for the convenient storage of support legs or support golf tees where alternate inward facing notches are created to supply inward pressure to hold the support legs or tees in place during storage.
Systems and methods provide the disc or apparatus for golf putting that is disk shaped creating a representation of the golf hole to represent teaching and learning opportunities specific to the putt path of a golf ball. The apparatus reminds the user of the ideal center putt path line for easy alignment concurrently presenting that line to the user in form and visually relative to the true metrics of a golf hole.
The apparatus reminds the user of the putt width within which an entire golf ball fits completely within the boundaries of a golf hole, concurrently presenting that width to the user in form and visually relative to the true metrics of a golf hole. The apparatus reminds the user of the true putt width where a golf putt struck will likely be successful if the putt is hit with subjectively good force and concurrently presenting that space to the user in form and visually relative to the true metrics of a golf hole. The apparatus offers an anterior extension for the purpose of housing a specific focus point for the user to use as an alignment aid in accomplishing the task and habit of creating a proper start of a putt path.
The apparatus houses storage slots with lock indentations such that golf tees can be securely stored when the device is not in use. The apparatus houses multiple pairs of base holes for the insertion of legs designed to support the apparatus above a surface and for the insertion of legs that in turn create defined passage port boundaries below. The apparatus houses multiple pairs of base holes for the insertion of legs used for creating passage port boundaries that allow users to participate in fun practice recreational games and golf putting practice indoors.
The target (3) trains the mental process representing the picking of a target on the starting line in a real putt situation. It may simplify the putting routine down to focusing on an easy task of bringing the putting target closer and to a narrow-focus point, an advantage to improving the putting alignment and starting putt paths for users.
Embodiments also include a central line or arrow (5) marking, line, ridge or indentation that defines the desired putt path of the putt for the user, as well as two wider power zone lines (6), being dotted lines, lines, markings, ridges, or indentations that define the line between which the center vertical axis of the golf ball must roll between for the entire golf ball to fit completely inside the hole. On each of the power zone lines can be a clear symbol such as an expanded dot that defines the IN boundary, the boundaries between which the putt is successful at most any reasonable speed.
In practical application, the user may realize that any putt hit with reasonable speed where the vertical center of the ball is within these power lines (6) will result in a successful putt. An additional set of good weight zone lines (7) can be dotted lines, lines, markings, ridges, or indentations that define the zone where the putt will be successful when the user strikes a putt such that the vertical center of the ball rolls between these good weight zone lines (7) with good speed, as opposed to any reasonable speed.
The good weight zone boundaries teach the golfer that a much wider zone of acceptance for a successful putt exists when the putt is delivered with good speed. The usefulness of both (6) and (7) are to teach and/or to make aware to the golfer that putts do not have to be perfect to be successful and that the more reasonable that the speed of the putt is delivered equates to a wider golf hole.
Systems and methods provide the disk shaped device designed to represent the size, shape and appearance of a true golf hole, that can be utilized by golfers and casual users to bring the actual visual size of the golf hole near them so as to act as a reminder of the true size of the hole, and also to aid the user in ensuring that the starting path of a putt is on its true putt path and to be objectively sure what that starting putt path is to favor true objective feedback in developing the detailed skill of green reading.
The top surface of the device offers functional and inventive qualities including a central indicative marker, preferably an arrow or line, to guide the user to focus their putting efforts on the ideal line of their starting putt path, as well as a focused individual target to direct their starting putt path efforts towards, for example an asterisk in an embodiment, which is made possible by the creation of an extension from the disk device that brings the said individual target towards the user, in turn training the user to utilize the simple process of picking a near target for their putt path focus as part of their normal golf putting routine.
The top surface of the device further offers a functional and inventive set of putt path boundary lines, one that defines where the vertical center of the ball must be within, called power zone lines, such that a putt hit with nearly any reasonable speed will result in a successful putt. An additional set of wider good weight zone lines define the zone where the putt will be successful when the user strikes a putt such that the vertical center of the ball rolls between these good weight zone lines with good speed.
The good weight zone boundaries teach the golfer that a much wider zone of acceptance for a successful putt exists when the putt is delivered with good speed. The usefulness of both sets of lines is to make the user aware and teach the user that putts do not have to be perfect to be successful and furthermore that the more reasonable a speed of the putt is delivered equates to a wider golf hole.
The bottom surface of the device offers functional features, namely a set of storage slots with lock indentations that enable secure golf tee storage when the device is not in use, as well as multiple pairs of golf tee base holes that welcome the heads of the golf tees in creating legs for the device that act as varying width options for the passage of a golf ball under and through the device, thus training the user to practice and be aware of the starting path of their putts.
Once golf tees are utilized and assembled as supportive legs to the device, the device may optionally be secured to a putting green surface by embedding tees into the putting green where desired on the starting line of the putting or in a position desired for recreation or subsequent attempt as use in a viral video attempt. Once the device is ready for storage, the golf tees are simply removed as legs and stored in the storage slots and the device is compact and easily and safely stored.
Regarding previous implementations that may resemble or suggest aspects of the present disclosure, the only item that has been identified currently that has similarities to current invention is a putting device that is an actual putter. This putter has multiple round white shapes, representing golf balls, in-line behind the sweet spot of the putter, to try to instill proper starting path of the putt. The system provided herein is separate from the putter and focuses the golfer on the large size of the hole in comparison to the golf ball.
In an embodiment, a system for improving golf putting accuracy is provided. The system comprises a round disc positioned horizontally and putting alignment lines placed on an upward facing surface of the disc. The system also comprises two stabilizer pegs directed to supporting the disc that receive placement of upper ends vertically into a downward facing surface of the disc. The pegs also receive insertion of pointed lower ends into a putting surface, the insertion suspending the horizontally positioned disc about two inches above the putting surface. The pegs also serve as boundary posts through which golf balls are putted.
The disc is 4.25 inches in diameter. The pegs are placed opposite one another from center at edges of the disc.
The disc and stabilizer pegs are placed about one foot from a point of putting when in use. The disc and pegs are positioned on a path between a point of putting and a hole to which putted golf balls are directed.
The disc has an extension that protrudes towards the user which houses a target and promotes selection of the target during practice to train the golfer to select, align, and focus mentally and physically on a similar close target to aid putting alignment during regular putting routine in a real golf course environment. the disc is a size of a standard golf hole which is large compared to a standard golf ball and is placed proximate the golfer in practice to remind and support golfer confidence regarding psychologically challenging aspects of the golf hole appearing smaller as the golf hole's distance relative the golfer increases.
The pegs are golf tees and are stored in an underside area of the disc when not in use. A center alignment line serves as a guide to align a golfer's putting stroke with an intended putt path.
A first set of alignment lines is located about 1.25 inches on each side of the center alignment line to draw attention to a distance between pegs of 2.5 inches through which a vertical center of a putted golf ball need only to pass for the entire golf ball to enter within the width of an actual golf hole and thus yield success of a putt, success also contingent upon not excessive force having been applied to the putt. A second set of alignment lines is located about 1.75 inches on each side of the center alignment line to draw attention to a total width of about 3.5 inches through which the vertical center of the golf ball need only to pass for enough of the golf ball to enter the golf hole, success also contingent upon not excessive force having been applied to the putt. The center alignment line serves as guidance to practice and support a process of confidently and accurately aligning alignment lines on a golf ball to match the starting path of a putt.
Visual width of the disc itself is directed to at least draw attention to the 4.25-inch width of the golf hole and wherein the vertical center of the golf ball need only to pass anywhere through the width for the golf ball to enter the golf hole, contingent upon not excessive or insufficient force having been applied to the putt. The system is placed about one foot from the point of putting to direct user attention to a location nearer the user instead of at the more distant hole.
In another embodiment, a system to promote improvement in golf putting skills is provided comprising a round flat object positioned horizontally and lines placed on an upward facing surface of the object. The system also comprises two stabilizing components of length about two inches placed opposite one another proximate edges of a downward facing surface of the object that receive placement on a golf putting surface about one foot from a putting point of a golf ball, the placement suspending the object about two inches above the surface. Via the lines, the components provide guidance for direction of putting and via the stabilizing components, serve as an objective putting space.
A point of placement of the components and object is on a line between the putting point of the ball and a hole. The round flat object is of diameter about 4.25 inches. The space provided by the two stabilizing components is an objective area through which a ball is putted. The system is placed about one foot from the point of putting to direct user attention to a location nearer the user instead of at the more distant hole.
In yet another embodiment, a method for providing opportunities for improvement of putting to golfers is provided. The method comprises a horizontally positioned disc receiving vertical insertion of two stabilizer pegs on a downward facing surface of the disc. The method also comprises the disc receiving placement on a golf putting surface about one foot from a putting point of a golf ball. The method also comprises the disc receiving positioning on the surface on a line between a golf ball to be putted and hole of width 4.25 inches in the surface. The method also comprises the disc receiving attachment to the surface via exerted downward pressure, the pressure causing the stabilizer pegs to penetrate the surface and suspend the disc about two inches above the surface. The method also comprises the disc, via the pegs, serving as an objective space for putting of the ball.
The present non-provisional patent application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/629,538, filing date Nov. 6, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63629538 | Nov 2023 | US |
