PUTTING GUIDE AND TRAINING METHOD FOR REFINING PUTTING STROKES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to golf training aids and, more particularly but not exclusively, to a putting guide and method for training and improving one’s putting stroke.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Swing and stroke trainers for improving one’s golf swing and putting stroke are well known. Putting aids include alignment tools such as alignment sticks, putting mats with alignment lines, and putting mirrors to help with alignment and stroke path. Other tools, such as laser alignment tools and putting mats with distance markings, help visualize alignment and develop distance control. However, advancements in putting training tools are still needed to refine and enhance a golfer’s putting consistency and technique. Therefore, what is needed is a putting guide and training method that provides physical alignment, back stroke limitation, and user feedback to refine and perfect putting strokes.

SUMMARY

[0003] It is a primary object feature, or advantage of the present disclosure to improve over the state of the art by providing a comprehensive putting guide that integrates physical alignment, back stroke limitation, and user feedback into a single training system.

[0004] It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present disclosure to provide a putting guide with opposing guide walls for maintaining a consistent stroke path.

[0005] It is a still further object, feature, or advantage of the present disclosure to include a removable alignment member that aids in ensuring a straight putting stroke.

[0006] Another object, feature, or advantage is to provide slots within the guide walls to accommodate a back stroke limit plate for controlling the back stroke length.

[0007] Yet another object, feature, or advantage is to incorporate a foot positioning gauge to assist golfers in achieving proper stance and alignment.

[0008] It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present disclosure to construct the guide from various materials, such as wood or plastic, to accommodate different manufacturing techniques and user preferences.

[0009] It is a still further object, feature, or advantage of the present disclosure to offer a removable alignment member that can be replaced with a laser alignment tool for advanced precision training.

[0010] Another object, feature, or advantage is to provide a method of use that includes immediate feedback on putting strokes to refine technique.

[0011] Yet another object, feature, or advantage is to facilitate repeatable and consistent putting strokes by guiding the putter head along a predetermined path.

[0012] In one aspect, a putting guide apparatus for training a putting stroke is disclosed. The putting stroke trainer includes opposing upstanding guide walls spaced apart in parallel symmetry, a forward wall brace, an end wall, a removable alignment member providing a visible guide extending forward of the forward wall brace, and slots for optionally limit backward movement of the putting stroke.

[0013] In at least one other aspect, a system for training a putting stroke is disclosed. The putting stroke training system includes a putting guide apparatus with opposing guide walls spaced in parallel, a forward wall brace, an end wall, and a removable alignment member, where the system optionally includes a foot positioning gauge and other visual aids and indicators to refine alignment and stroke.

[0014] In yet another aspect, a method for training a putting stroke is disclosed. The method includes such steps as, for example, aligning a putting guide apparatus with a target, placing a golf ball centrally between guide walls, positioning a putter head, and performing a stroke with tactile and visual feedback provided by the putting guide apparatus.

[0015] One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the specification and claims that follow. No single aspect need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage. Different aspects may have different objects, features, or advantages. Therefore, the present disclosure is not to be limited to or by any objects, features, or advantages stated herein.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Illustrated aspects of the disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein.

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a putting guide apparatus illustrating opposing upstanding guide walls, the end wall, the forward wall brace, and the putting alignment member.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the slots disposed on the interior surfaces of the opposing guide walls and the removable back stroke limit plate.

[0019]FIG. 3 is a view of the foot positioning gauge extending outwardly from the exterior side of one of the opposing guide walls.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the collapsible nature of the putting guide apparatus, showing how the components disassembled for transport and storage.

[0021]FIG. 5 is an in-use illustration of a user and the putting guide apparatus in accordance with exemplary aspects of the present invention.

[0022]FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the method for training a putting stroke in accordance with an exemplary aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023]A putting guide apparatus 10 and method for training one’s putting stroke is disclosed in FIGS. 1-6. As illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1, putting guide 10 includes opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 spaced apart in parallel symmetry by at least one upstanding end wall 16 and at least one forward wall brace 18. Opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 and upstanding end wall 16 have an upstanding height (H1) generally to exceed the height of a putter head 108 of a putter 100 in one aspect or exceed the height of a hosel 106 attaching a putter shaft 102 having a putter grip 104 to putter head 108 with a putter face 120. Similarly, upstanding end wall 16 and forward wall brace 18 have a length (L1) to space apart opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 at least a length greater than putter head 108 so there are gaps 40, 42 between opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 and a heel 110 and toe 112 of putter head 108. Length (L1) of upstanding end wall 16 and forward wall brace 18 may be adjusted to accommodate different putter head 108 sizes and to reduce or increase the size of gaps 40, 42 between opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 and heel 110 and toe 112 of putter head 108. For example, beginners may desire larger gaps 40, 42 at first and professionals may desire smaller gaps 40, 42 to refine their putting stroke. The vertical and horizontally extending space between opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14, upstanding end wall 16, and forward wall brace 18 is open for receiving putter head 108 of a putter 100. Opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 define an ideal stroke path 20. Forward wall brace 18 is configured to connect forward ends of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 and provide a non-interference pathway for a golf ball 30 to exit putter guide 10 without touching forward wall brace 18. In at least one aspect, upstanding end wall 16 is configured having a height (H2), which is the same height (H1) of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14.

[0024]A putting alignment member 22 is removably fixed to the midpoint of forward wall brace 18, which is equidistant from opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 and includes a visible guide 24 that extends forward from forward wall brace 18 in parallel to opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14. Putting alignment member 22 with its visible guide 24 identifies an ideal ball trajectory 26. In at least one aspect, visible guide 24, such as a fixed distance, telescoping or collapsible rod can be configured to extend forwardly of forward wall brace 18 in a straight line to identify ideal ball trajectory 26. In at least one other aspect, visible guide 24, such as a laser beam, can be configured to project both forward and rearward of forward wall brace 18, where the forward extending portion of visible guide 24 identifies ideal ball trajectory 26 and the rearward extending portion of visible guide 24 identifies a stroke line 28 extending parallel to and along the midpoint between opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14. Visible guide 24 of putting alignment member 22 may also incorporate lighting elements or reflective surfaces for improved visibility in varying lighting conditions, providing enhanced training utility indoors or outdoors. In at least one other aspect, putting alignment member 22, such as a laser, may be removably connected to the upstanding end wall 16 or back stroke limit plate 38 to project visible guide 24, such as a laser beam, forward toward and beyond the forward wall brace 18 to identify stroke line 28 and ideal ball trajectory 26.

[0025] Inside surfaces 32, 34 of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 include slots 36A, B disposed, in at least one aspect, equidistantly between upstanding end wall 16 and forward wall brace 18 in inside surfaces 32, 34 of opposing upstanding guide walls 12. In one aspect, slots 36 A, B have a height (H3), which is the same height (H1) as opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 so as to extend between a top surface 58, 60 and a bottom surface 62, 64 of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14.

[0026]As best shown in FIG. 2, a putting back stroke limit plate 38 is received in a pair of the opposing slots 36A-36B in the opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 for setting a putting back stroke distance or limit the back stroke of the putting stroke by preventing backward travel of putter head 108 beyond back stroke limit plate 38 (Step 208). Putting back stroke limit plate 38 is repositionable in slots 36A, B to change the permissible back stroke movement of putter head 108 during the back stroke of the putting stroke. The backstroke limit plate 38 is not only adjustable within the slots 36A, B but may also include calibration markings for precise positioning, enabling user 114 to practice strokes of varying lengths with increased accuracy.

[0027]As shown in FIG. 3, putting guide 10 may include a removably attachable foot positioning and alignment gauge 44 (Step 206) for correctly aligning and positioning a user 114 so their eyes are directly over golf ball 30 resting between the opposing upstanding side walls 12, 14 as shown, for example, in FIG. 5. Foot positioning and alignment gauge 44 is removably attached to an exterior side 50, 52 of one of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14, depending upon whether the user is right- or left-handed. Foot positioning and alignment gauge 44 extends a distance outward from one of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 equal to a length (L2) of opposing standoff members 46, 48, and is parallel to one of exterior sides 50, 52 of one of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14. Length (L2) of opposing standoff members 46, 48 can be lengthened or shortened to increase or decrease the distance of the feet 116, 118 of user 114 from stroke line 28 defined by the forward and rearward extending midpoint/center line between opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14. Foot positioning and alignment gauge 44 may include extendable or retractable opposing standoff members 46, 48 for accommodating different user sizes and stances, further enhancing its versatility.

[0028] Putting guide 10 may also be configured with opposing visual indicators 54, 56 on top surfaces 58, 60 of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14. Opposing visual indicators 54, 56 are disposed on top surfaces 58, 60 in alignment across from each other on opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14. Opposing visual indicators 54, 56 are spaced equidistantly along top surfaces 58, 60 and may, in at least one aspect, be configured to correspond with slots 36A, B in inside surfaces 32, 34 of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14. Opposing visual indicators 54, 56 provide a visual reference to ensure putter face 120 remains parallel to opposing visual indicators 54, 56 and perpendicular to the ideal stroke path 20 (Step 218). In at least one aspect, opposing visual indicators 54, 56 on top surfaces 58, 60 of guide walls 12, 14 may include customizable markings for tailoring feedback to user preferences or specific stroke training goals.

[0029] Components of putting guide 10 such as opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14, upstanding end wall 16, forward wall brace 18, putting alignment member 22, back stroke limit plate 38, and foot positioning and alignment gauge 44 are collapsable for transport and storage as shown in FIG. 4.

[0030] Components of putting guide 10 can be manufactured from various types of material, including, but not limited to, wood, composites, metals, alloys, and plastics using large volume manufacturing/production processes, such as automated computer numerical control (CNC) processes, injection/blow molding, and 3D printing.

[0031]Although not exhaustive, an exemplary in-use illustration of user 114 and putting guide 10 is shown in FIG. 5 to further aid in discussing the many methods of putting guide 10, some of which are provided, by way of example, in FIG. 6. Illustrative methods for training a putting stroke of user 114 using putting guide 10 include those explicitly stated and those implied by illustrations in FIGS. 1-6 and corresponding descriptions. As discussed previously, putting guide 10 includes components such as opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14, upstanding end wall 16, forward wall brace 18, putting alignment member 22, back stroke limit plate 38, and foot positioning and alignment gauge 44, which can be assembled (Step 202), as shown for example in FIG. 1, for use and disassembled for storage and transport. Putting guide 10 may also be used without foot positioning and alignment gauge 44 and back stroke limit plate 38 (Step 208). It also may be used without putting alignment member 22 if user 114 wants to simply practice a putting stroke that follows ideal stroke path 20 defined by stroke line 28, which is a forward and rearward extending centerline between opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14. User 114 can work on ideal stroke path 20 and ideal ball trajectory 26 by first assembling components of putting guide 10 (Step 202), if not already assembled. Assembled putting guide 10 may be positioned with visible guide 24 of putting alignment member 22 pointed at the target (e.g., the pin 122) or a desired putting line for ideal ball trajectory 26 if a break is involved due to the slope of the putting surface (Step 204). Golf ball 30 is placed and centered inside between opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 and a desired distance from upstanding end wall 16 based on the distance being putt and/or the desired back stroke of putter head 108 based on the putting stroke of user 114 (Step 210). Optionally, back stroke limit plate 38 may be installed in slots 36A, B by placing opposing edges of back stroke limit plate 38 in opposing slots 36A, 36B in inside surfaces 32, 34 of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 to further reduce movement of the putter head 108 during the back stroke of user 114 (Step 208).

[0032] It should also be noted that the back stroke and forward stroke of user 114 during a putt should be equal in length for ideal stroke path 20. The longer the putt, the longer the back stroke – and conversely, the longer the forward stroke – at least on shorter putts. The amount of power user 114 puts into a stroke also may vary. Thus, back stroke limit plate 38 trains user 114 equal back and forward strokes – especially on short putts. Forward wall brace 18 may also be used to provide a limit to the forward stroke of user 114. This is accomplished by limiting the forward stroke with forward wall brace 16 and limiting the back stroke with back stroke limit plate 38. Additionally, by adjusting back stroke limit plate 38 forward and rearward in slots 36A, B, the space for putter head 108 to move during the forward stroke and back stroke may be increased or decreased.

[0033] User 114 positions and aligns feet 116, 118 relative to and using one of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14, depending on whether the user is right- or left-handed. Foot positioning and alignment gauge 44 may also be used (Step 206) to correctly position and align feet 116, 118 of user 114 with the goal of positioning user 114 so their eyes are directly over golf ball 30, so if user 114 dropped a second golf ball from the nose of user 114 while in their address position (i.e., final body position user 114 takes before putting) the second ball lands directly on top of golf ball 30 resting on the ground between opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14. Proper eye placement of user 114 is critical for correct putting. Thus, foot positioning and alignment gauge 44 aids user 114 in consistently spacing feet 116, 118 from golf ball 30 at address to ensure proper eye position.

[0034] Putter head 108 is placed inside of and between opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14 behind golf ball 30 with user 114 in the address position (Step 212). In this manner, movement forward (forward stroke) and movement backward (back stroke) of putter head 108 is permitted while up and down movement of putter head 108 is bounded by opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14.

[0035]User 114 performs a putting stroke best following ideal stroke path 20 (Step 214). If the putting stroke is not the ideal stroke path 20, user 114 is given immediate tactile (Step 216) and visual feedback (Step 218) from putting guide 10 regarding the putting stroke of user 114, such as from movement of: (a) putter head 108 during the putting stroke relative to opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14, forward wall brace 18, and upstanding end wall 16 or back stroke limit plate 38 defining ideal stroke path 20; (b) golf ball 30 trajectory relative to opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14, visible guide 24 of putting alignment member 22, and putting target (e.g., pin 122) identifying ideal ball trajectory 26; and (c) movement of club head 108 before, during, and after putting stroke relative to opposing visual indicators 54, 56 opposing visual indicators 54, 56, opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14, forward wall brace 18, upstanding end wall 16 or back stroke limit plate 38. Tactile feedback (Step 216) may occur when, before, during or after the putting stroke, club head 108 deviates from ideal stroke path 20 and makes contact with any one of opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14, forward wall brace 18, upstanding end wall 16, or back stroke limit plate 38. Similarly, visual feedback may occur when, before, during or after putting stroke, golf ball 30 fails to follow ideal ball trajectory 26 or club head 108 or putter face 120 fails to align with opposing visual indicators 54, 56, opposing upstanding guide walls 12, 14, forward wall brace 18, upstanding end wall 16 or back stroke limit plate 38. Thus, both tactile (Step 216) and visual feedback (Step 218) and cues aid user 114 in correcting and refining their putting stroke to follow ideal stroke path 20 and golf ball 30 to follow ideal ball trajectory 26. In this manner, the method is repeated thereby refining the user’s putting stroke until it is consistently repeatable without deviations (Step 220).

[0036] The disclosure is not to be limited to the particular aspects described herein. In particular, the disclosure contemplates numerous variations in GOLF PUTTING TRAINER. The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list or limit any of the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. It is contemplated that other alternatives or exemplary aspects are considered included in the disclosure. The description is merely examples of aspects, processes or methods of the disclosure. It is understood that any other modifications, substitutions, and/or additions can be made, which are within the intended spirit and scope of the disclosure.