GB2433209A

GB2433209A - Putting aid defining a number of target gaps

Info

Publication number: GB2433209A
Application number: GB0610380A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan David Webster
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-14
Filing date: 2006-05-25
Publication date: 2007-06-20
Also published as: GB0525509D0; GB0610380D0

Abstract

A putting aid comprises barrier portions 10,11,12,13 which extend between alternate ends of vertical supports 3,5,7,9 such that (i) the aid defines a number of gaps, e.g. four gaps 2,4,6,8, each of a different width, and (ii) in use, the barrier portions are alternately exposed above and located within the golf hole 20. Preferably, the aid includes four supports 3,5,7,9 and four barriers 10,11,12,13, with first barrier 10 extending between the first ends of supports 3,5 to define a gap 4, second barrier 11 extending between second ends of supports 5,7 to define a second gap 6, third barrier 12 extending between the first ends of supports 7,9 to define a third gap 8, and fourth barrier 13 extending between the second ends of barriers 9,3 to define a fourth gap 2. In use, two of the barriers 11,13 form a lower locating portion which locates in the golf hole 20, and the other two barriers 10,12 define gaps 2,6 above hole 20 which allow a ball to enter the hole. Upon turning the aid upside down, barriers 10,12 form the locating portion and barriers 11,13 define gaps 4,8 which allow a ball to enter the hole (see fig. 3).

Description

PUTTING AID

The present invention relates to putting aids, and in particular to aids for improving the accuracy of putting in golf.

A number of devices are currently available, which are designed as practice aids for improving a golfer's putting by reducing the diameter of the hole. These devices are generally placed on a golf cup and comprise an artificial surface with reduced diameter hole. The golf ball travels across the green, across the surface of the reducer and into the reduced diameter hole. The reducers are usually made from rubber or plastic and the difference between the grass of the green and the artificial surface of the reducer can affect the path of the ball.

Typically, the golf cup must be set at a specific depth below the surface of the green. If it is not, the height of the reducer will be affected. If the reducer protrudes above the surface of the green it will stop the path of the ball and if it is set too deep, the device will not reduce the hole. A further disadvantage is that there is a greater risk of the ball spinning out of the smaller hole or the ball may skip straight over the hole. Golfers are often therefore required to slow down their putting stroke to minimise this risk, forcing them to practice with an unnatural swing. The devices also reduce the hole by a fixed amount, which may be too difficult for amateur golfers or not sufficiently challenging for experienced golfers.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention provides a putting aid comprising a locating portion arranged to be located in a golf hole and a barrier portion arranged to extend above the hole to define a gap that is narrower than the diameter of the hole.

The barrier portion prevents a golf ball entering the hole at that point, only allowing it to enter the hole through the gap defined by the locating portion and barrier portion. The putting aid therefore narrows the width of access to the hole, requiring a more accurate shot.

The barrier portion may be arcuate so that it has substantially the same curvature as the golf hole. Preferably, the putting aid defines a cylindrical channel through which a golf ball can enter the hole and through which the ball can be retrieved. This means that balls can easily be retrieved from the golf cup without removing the putting aid from the hole.

The putting aid may have substantially the same diameter and thickness as a golf cup and may be arranged to rest on top of the golf cup. This has the advantage that the putting aid does not reduce the size of the hole but simply restricts access into the hole. The device does not therefore increase the risk of the golf ball skipping over the hole or spinning out of it. Since the putting aid does not extend across the hole but projects out of it, the golf ball enters the hole from the turf as usual without having to travel across an artificial surface. A golfer can therefore practice with his usual putting stroke.

Preferably, the putting aid includes a plurality of vertical support portions and the barrier portion may extend horizontally between at least two of the vertical support portions.

Preferably, the putting aid defines more than one gap, and each gap may be a different size. For example, the putting aid may define four gaps of increasing sizes, which may be defined by four barrier portions and four vertical support portions. This enables a golfer to arrange the putting aid in the hole such that he is aiming for the gap most suited to his ability.

The barrier portions may extend between alternate ends of the vertical walls so that, when in use, the barrier portions may be alternately exposed above the golf hole and located within the golf hole.

Preferably, the putting aid comprises four vertical support portions and four barrier portions. A first barrier portion may extend between the first ends of a first vertical support portion and a second vertical support portion defining a first gap, a second barrier portion may extend between the second ends of the second vertical support portion and a third vertical support portion defining a second gap, a third barrier portion may extend between the first ends of the third vertical support portion and a fourth vertical support portion defining a third gap and a fourth barrier portion may extend between the second ends of the fourth vertical support portion and the first vertical support portion defining a fourth gap.

Preferably the putting aid is made from plastic. Alternatively, the band may be made from an alloy, aluminium or any other suitable material.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of producing a golf practice course comprising placing a putting aid according to the first aspect of the invention in a golf hole. The method may further comprise selecting one of a plurality of different sized gaps defined by the putting aid allowing restricted access to the golf hole. The gap size most suited to the ability of the golfer may be selected.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a putting aid according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows the putting aid of Figure 1 located in a hole and protruding above ground level; Figure 3 shows the putting aid located at a shallower depth than that shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows the putting aid of Figure 2 with a golf ball travelling towards it; Figure 5 shows the putting aid of Figure 2 with a golf ball in the hole; Figure 6 shows a cross section through the putting aid of Figure 1 located on top of a golf cup in a hole; Figure 7 shows a cross section through the putting aid of Figure 1 located on top of a golf cup in a hole at a shallower depth than that shown in Figure 6; and Figure 8 shows a plan view of the putting aid of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, a putting aid 1 comprises four vertical support portions in the form of walls 3, 5, 7, 9, all with the same height.

Typically, the height of each wall is approximately 5cm (2 inches). Four horizontal barrier portions 10, 11, 12, 13, extend between the four vertical walls. One barrier portion 10 extends between a first end of vertical walls 3 and 5 so that together they define a first gap 4. The second barrier portion 11 extends between a second opposite end of vertical walls 5 and 7 so that together they define a gap 6. The third barrier portion 12 extends between the first ends of vertical walls 7 and 9, together defining a gap 8, and the fourth barrier portion 13 extends between the second ends of vertical walls 9 and 3, together defining a gap 2. The barrier portions 10, 11, 12, and 13 are arcuate and together define a substantially cylindrical channel.

The vertical walls 3, 5, 7, 9 are not evenly spaced but are spaced at increasing intervals to define four gaps of different sizes. The first gap 2 is the smallest and the width of the gaps increases up to the fourth gap 8.

The smallest gap 2 must be wider than the diameter of a golf ball so that the golf ball can pass through the gap and into the hole. The largest gap must be narrower than the diameter of the golf hole so that access to the hole is restricted, improving a golfer's putting.

The vertical walls 3, 5, 7, 9 and barrier portions 10, 11, 12, 13 all lie in a common cylindrical surface and define a circular aperture at the top of the putting aid, a circular aperture at the bottom of the putting aid and cylindrical channel through the putting aid. The gaps 2, 4, 6, 8 that are defined by the vertical walls 3, 5, 7, 9 and barrier portions 10, 11, 12, 13 extend from the ends of the cylinder. In this embodiment, the gaps extend alternately from the top and bottom ends of the cylinder.

In use, the putting aid 1 is placed on top of a golf cup 18 in a golf hole 20. The top of the golf cup 18 is approximately 2.5cm below the surface and so the putting aid 1 partially projects above ground level, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The inner diameter of the putting aid 1 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the golf cup 18. The outer diameter of the putting aid 1 is substantially the same as the diameter of the golf hole and is typically 10.8cm (4.25 inches). Referring to Figure 2, the second edge 16 of the putting aid 1 rests on the top of the golf cup 18 and two barrier portions 10, 12 are exposed above ground level. If a golf ball is hit across the green to the hole 20, access to the hole is restricted to passing through either gap 2 or gap 6. The vertical walls 3, 5, 7, 9 and the barrier portions 10, 12 act as barriers to prevent the golf ball entering the hole at those points. Referring to Figure 3, the putting aid 1 can be inverted so that the first edge 14 rests on top of the golf cup 18 and barrier portions 11, 13 are exposed. The vertical walls and barrier potions 11, 13 act as barriers to the golf ball, only allowing it to pass through gaps 4 and 8.

A golfer can choose the gap size most suited to his ability. For example, an amateur golfer may select the widest gap 8 whilst a more experienced golfer may select the narrowest gap 2, which requires more accurate putting. If either gap 2 or 6 is selected the putting aid 1 should be placed with the first edge 14 resting on the top of the golf cup 18 and if either gap 4 or 8 is selected it should be placed with the second edge 16 resting on top of the golf cup 18.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, once the putting aid 1 has been placed on the golf cup 18 with the desired gap size exposed, the golfer aims the golf ball 26 across the green 24 towards the selected gap 8. If the aim is sufficiently accurate, the golf ball 26 passes through the gap 8 and into the hole 20. If the strike is not sufficiently accurate, the balI 26 will hit either a vertical wall 10 or a barrier portion 12 and will rebound away from the hole 20.

A golf cup 18 is generally set into the ground with the top of the cup 2.5 cm below the surface. However, the putting aid is effective if the cup 18 is set either above or below this level. Referring to Figure 6, the maximum depth 22 at which the golf cup 18, and therefore the putting aid 1, can be set into the ground 24 is such that the barrier portions 10, 12 are exposed by a sufficient amount to stop the path of the ball 26. This ensures that there is a barrier above ground level to stop the ball if the path of the ball is not accurate enough to pass through the gap 2, 6.

Referring to Figure 7, the minimum depth 22 at which the putting aid 1 can be set into the ground 24 is equal to the width of the barrier portions 11, 13. If the depth at which the putting aid I is set is shallower than this, the barrier portions 11, 13 will protrude above ground level and the golf ball will not be able to enter the golf cup at any point around the hole. Furthermore, the lower edge of the exposed barrier portions 10, 12 must not be above the height of a golf ball, otherwise the ball can pass underneath the barrier and into the hole 20.

The sides of the vertical walls 3, 5, 7, 9, and therefore the sides of the gaps 2, 4, 6, 8, are vertical. The height of the putting aid 1 in the ground does not therefore affect the width of the gap through which the ball can pass.

The golf cup 18 and putting aid 1 can be set into the ground at any point between this maximum and minimum value. This gives much more flexibility compared to known hole reducers.

Referring to Figure 8, the diameter of the putting aid 1 is the same as that of a golf cup 18. The thickness of the putting aid I is typically approximately 3mm and should also be substantially the same as that of the golf cup 18 so that the device does not reduce the size of the hole 20.

Any reduction in the size of the hole 20 increases the risk of the golf ball skipping over the hole or spinning out of the hole. A golfer would therefore have to adapt his putting strike to accommodate this which is undesirable if a golfer is trying to practice his usual putting swing.

The aperture defined by the putting aid 1 means that golf balls 26 can easily be retrieved from the inside the golf cup 20 without having to remove the putting aid 1. A putting aid 1 with the same thickness and diameter as the golf cup 18 also means that putting flags can be inserted into the golf cup 18 and removed without removing the putting aid.

Putting flags comprising a pin with a base that is wider than a standard ferrule can also be accommodated, again without removing the putting aid. These are designed to lift the golf balls 26 out of the golf cup 18 as the pin is removed.

The putting aid 1 is made from plastic to be lightweight, durable and easy to manufacture. However, it will be appreciated that many other materials such as aluminium or alloys are suitable if a greater strength or rigidity is required. Alternatively, the putting aid may be made from wire. The putting aids may be coloured to coordinate with other golfing equipment.

It will be appreciated that putting aids may be made with different numbers of gaps, for example two or three. Individual putting aids with a single gap may also be made, which may comprise part of a set of putting aids with differing gap sizes. The putting aid is not limited to a circular shape but may be square or any other suitable shape, as long as the locating portions are arranged to locate the putting aid in a golf hole.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A putting aid comprising a locating portion arranged to be located in a golf hole and a barrier portion arranged to extend above the hole to define a gap that is narrower than the diameter of the hole.

2. A putting aid according to claims 1, wherein the barrier portion is arcuate.

3. A putting aid according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the putting aid defines a cylindrical channel through which a golf ball can enter a hole and through which the ball can be retrieved.

4. A putting aid according to claim 3, wherein the putting aid is arranged to rest on top of a golf cup and wherein the inner diameter of the putting aid is substantially the same as that of the golf cup.

5. A putting aid according to claim 4, wherein the thickness of the putting aid is substantially the same as that of the golf cup.

6. A putting aid according to any foregoing claim, including a plurality of vertical support portions and wherein the barrier portion extends horizontally between at least two of the vertical support portions.

7. A putting aid according to any foregoing claim defining a plurality of gaps.

8. A putting aid according to claim 7, wherein each gap is a different width.

9. A putting aid according to claim 8 defining four gaps of increasing sizes.

10. A putting aid according to any one of claims 6 to 9, when dependent on claim 6, wherein a plurality of barrier portions extend between alternate ends of the vertical support portions so that, when in use, the barrier portions are alternately exposed above the golf hole and located within the golf hole.

11. A putting aid according to claim 10 comprising four vertical support portions and four barrier portions, wherein a first barrier portion extends between the first ends of a first vertical support portion and a second vertical support portion defining a first gap, a second barrier portion extends between the second ends of the second vertical support portion and a third vertical support portion defining a second gap, a third barrier portion extends between the first ends of the third vertical support portion and a fourth vertical support portion defining a third gap and a fourth barrier portion extends between the second ends of the fourth vertical support portion and the first vertical support portion defining a fourth gap.

12. A putting aid according to any preceding claim wherein the putting aid is made from any one or more of plastic, aluminium, alloy or any other suitable material.

13. A method of producing a golf practice course comprising placing a putting aid according to any foregoing claim in a hole.

14. A method of producing a golf practice course according to claim 13, further comprising selecting one of a plurality of different sized gaps defined by the putting aid allowing restricted access to the golf hole.

15. A putting aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

16. A method of producing a golf practice course substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of Figures 2 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.