GB2328618A

GB2328618A - Putting aid with movable guide

Info

Publication number: GB2328618A
Application number: GB9718291A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-01
Filing date: 1997-09-01
Publication date: 1999-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-01
Also published as: GB2328618B; GB9718291D0

Abstract

A putting aid for golf practice has a base plate 12, ball location means 22, an elongate putter guiding surface 17 on an upright plate 13, and a sight 21 for aiming a shot. The plate 13 may be moveable, either by use of lugs 15 in slots 16A or a screw thread in a hole 16. Tees placed in holes 14 of the plate 12 may secure the aid to the ground.

Description

A Putting Aid for Golfers Field This invention relates to putting aids, that is means for helping golfers improve their putting skills.

Backqround The present invention is a club guide which helps golfers to improve their directional putting skills and also helps the golfer to more correctly assess the required strength of shot.

The guide can be used on an indoor surface, or on grass, and is preferably used in cooperation with a golf hole.

Statements of Invention According to the present invention there is provided a putting aid for golf practice comprising a base plate for standing on a surface and which has a ball location means for positioning a golf ball for a putting stroke, an elongate guide surface for guiding the putter onto the ball, and a sight for aligning the direction of travel of the ball with a target.

Preferably the guide surface is a substantially upright surface on an elongate member, preferably a flat plate, which may be adjustably mounted on the base plate so that the ball can be centred on the face of the putter since in use the heel of the putter will move along the guide surface.

The elongate member has lugs thereon and each lug that may be positioned in a series apertures in the base plate, or a series of slots in a respective aperture.

Preferably the base plate has a pair of holes therein whereby the base plate can be secured in position on a surface by insertion of pins, or other suitable means e.g. a golf tee, through the hole.

The ball location means comprise a cut-out in the base plate and which at its inner end has an arcuate notch in which the ball locates when resting on said surface, preferably the ground. In the case of a rectangular base the cut-out is in a corner of the base and the notch has a radius substantially equal to the radius of the ball.

The sight may comprise a straight edge associated with the base plate or guide surface, preferably one edge of a rectangular base plate.

A putting aid according to the invention helps reduce backswing, improves follow through, shows quite clearly the effect of weight on breaking putts, can be calibrated for stim gauge readings, and creates the conditions for a square stroke.

Description of Drawinqs The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a an isometric drawing showing an embodiment of the invention, Detailed Description of the Invention With reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an aid for improving the aim of golfers on the putting green.

The putting aid 11 essentially comprises a base plate 12 which in use sits upon a surface , preferably a putting green or lawn, and an elongate guide member in the form of a back plate 13.

The base plate 12 may be formed of a suitable plastic material and is rectangular being about 12ins (about 30cms) in length and about 4-5 ins (10-13 cms) in width. The back plate 13 is also formed from plastics material and stands substantially upright on the base plate. The back plate 13 is substantially the same length as the base plate and is about 1-1.5 ins.(2.5-4 cms) in height and has a plurality of downwardly extending lugs 15 that engage in apertures 16 in the base plate 12. The back plate is held substantially normal to the base plate 12 and has an upright guide surface 17 on at least one side thereof which in use guides the heel of a putter.

The base plate 12 on its side adjacent the guide surface 17 has a pair of ball centring or locating means 18 which are formed from cut-outs in the two respective corners of that side of the plate . The ball location means 18 have an arcuately shaped notch 22 located at their innermost ends 19 adjacent the edge 21 of the base plate 12. The location means 18 each have a overall width W of about 2.5 ins (6 cms) and a length L of about 1.5 ( 4.0 cms) . The notch 22 has a radius of about 0.84 ins (2.13 cms), that is the notch 22 has a radius substantially equal to the radius of a standard golf ball.

When a golf ball is located in the notch 22 it should be clear of the inner longitudinal edge of the cut out so that the ball can roll without interference.

With the ball accurately located in a respective notch 22 the back plate 13 is adjustably mounted with respect to the base plate so that with the heel of the putter against the guide surface 17, and with the putter normal thereto, the ball is centred on the face of the putter.

The adjustment means may be a continuous adjustment device as could be made by screw threaded means in an elongate aperture 16, but is preferably a simple step-wise type adjustment in which each lug 15 is engageable in a series of spaced apart apertures 16A in the base plate. Each series 16A allows the back plate 13 to be located in say 3-5 different locations with differing distances from the ball centring means.

In an alternative embodiment, each aperture 16 could be subdivided into discrete slots providing different locations for a respective lug 15.

The base plate 12 on its side opposite to the ball centring means 18 has a pair of location holes 14 whereby the plate can be secured to the ground by pins or golf tees or pegs being inserted through the hole into the ground.

The straight edge 21 on the base plate 12, between the two cut-outs 18, is about 9 ins (23cms) in length a provides a sight for aiming the ball at a golf hole on a putting green.

In use the putting aid is aimed at the hole by lining up the sight line S with the target , e.g the golf hole or the line to a golf hole. A ball is placed in the location means 18, and the heel of a putter placed against the guide surface 17. The back plate 13 is then adjustably positioned until the ball is centred on the face of the putter. The base plate is then locked in position on the ground. The putting stroke is made by keeping the heel against the guide surface 17 and the sole of the putter as close to the base plate 12 as possible. The length of the back plate helps adjust the back swing.

If the ball misses then the aid 11 is repositioned removing the rear locking pin from its respective hole 14 , pivoting the base plate 12 around the front pin (nearest the golf hole) and relocating by re-inserting the second pin in the rear hole.

It is necessary to keep the putting stroke short so that the heel remains on the guide surface.

By having the aid 11 substantially symmetrical end-to-end, with the two cut-outs 18 located one at each end of the base plate 12, the device is made suitable for use by both left and right handed persons.

Claims

1. A putting aid for golf practice comprising a base plate for standing on a surface and which has a ball location means for positioning a golf ball for a putting stroke, an elongate guide surface for guiding the putter onto the ball, and a sight for aligning the direction of travel of the ball with a target.

2. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the guide surface comprises an upright surface on an elongate member secured to the base plate.

3. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the elongate member is adjustably positioned on the base plate relative to the ball location means to allow the ball to be centred on the face of the putter.

4. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the elongate member has downwardly extending locating lugs which are engagable in apertures in the base plate for location on the base plate.

5. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the adjustment of the location of the elongate member takes place through stepwise adjustment means.

6. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the stepwise adjustment means for location of each lug comprises a series of spaced apertures in which each lug is engagable, or a series of slots in a single aperture with the respective lug engagable in each slot.

7. A putting aid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the base plate has at least one hole therein whereby the base plate can be secured in position on a surface by insertion of a pin, or other suitable means, through the hole.

8. A putting aid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the ball location means comprise a cut-out in the base plate in which the ball locates when resting on said surface.

9. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the base plate is rectangular and cut-out is in a corner of the base plate.

10. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the cut-out includes an arcuate notch for location of the ball, the notch having a radius substantially equal to the radius of the ball.

11. A golf putting as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the guide surface comprises one side of a flat plate secured to the base plate in an upright condition.

12. A putting aid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the sight comprises a straight edge associated with the base plate or guide surface.

13. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 12 when dependant upon Claim 8, wherein the sight is a straight edge on the base plate adjacent the cut-out.

14. A putting aid as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 13 wherein the putting aid is symmetrical about a centre line having two spaced apart ball location means on one side of the guide surface for either left or right handed use.