JP2008514313A - Putting practice device - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed a practice putting apparatus. The practice putting apparatus has a putting target, and a light source for lighting a guide path on a practice surface, the guide path being parallel to a putting line along which a golf ball is intended to be struck at said target to thereby provide a visual aid to alignment of the putter head when making a putting stroke along the putting line.

Description

  This application is filed with Australian provisional application 2004905618 filed on September 28, 2004 and US provisional application no. Claims the benefit of 60 / 669,364.

  The present invention relates to a golf putting practice device.

  There are many changes in putting in golf games. In general, the golfer first selects a putting line to put along by judging the slope of the green to determine what borrow is needed. Thus, when the putting line is accurately predicted and the ball is hit along the putting line at the correct pace, the ball moves from the place on the green into the hole. The putting line is determined by a number of factors, including the severity of the slope on the green and the speed of the green. If the golfer can determine the correct putting line, the golfer must hit the golf ball along the correct putting line. To do so, when the ball is hit, the plane of the putter club head must be substantially perpendicular (or perpendicular) to the putting line where the golfer hits the ball. , It must be moved substantially along the putting line. For example, in the case of a straight putt without a bow, the putting line extends straight from the center of the golf ball to the hole. If the ball is hit along the putting line, the ball will enter the hole. However, if the ball is not hit along the exact line, the ball will miss the hole. The necessity for positioning the putter depends on the length of the putt, and it becomes more important to accurately place the putter as the putt becomes longer.

  The mechanics of the human body tend to cause the club being swung to move around the player's body in an arc, and hence away from the putting line, depending on the length of the player's backswing. In order to hit the ball accurately, the player needs to make the club face at a right angle, and the putting club needs to move along the putting line.

  In golf, putting a line or mark on the green to assist putting is a violation of the rules. Therefore, it is necessary for golfers to practice positioning if they want to improve their putting. Putting is an activity that does not require many special tools for practice and can be performed on a practice surface such as a floor with an appropriate flooring such as a carpet. Usually, when practicing golf, a golfer aims at a target and practice.

  It would be beneficial to provide a golf putting practice device that allows a user to practice positioning the putter club head.

  The present invention provides a practice putting device that includes a light source for illuminating a putting target and a guide track on the practice surface. The guide track is parallel to the putting line, and the putting line is for the golf ball to be hit along the target toward the target. Thereby, a visual aid for positioning the putter head is provided when performing a putting stroke along the putting line.

  In one embodiment, the putting target includes a golf ball return device for returning the ball that reaches the simulated golf hole toward the place where the ball was hit.

  In one embodiment, the light source includes a first light and a second light.

  Preferably, each light emits a wide planar beam of light in a plane substantially perpendicular to the practice surface, thereby illuminating the guide track.

  Preferably, each light comprises a laser and a cylindrical prism.

  In one embodiment, the first and second lights are attached to the housing of the putting target device.

  Preferably, the first and second lights are provided at a distance so that the guide track comprises a pair of spaced light lines.

  Therefore, the golfer can align the putter between the two lines of light during use.

  Preferably, one or both lights are slidably attached to the housing so that one or both of the lines of light can move.

  Therefore, the position of the line can be adjusted to accommodate the putter size and practice borrow.

  In one embodiment, one or more lights can be removably attached to the housing.

  In one embodiment, the first light is provided on the housing, and the second light is movable so that the putter can be disposed on the opposite side of the position where the putter is placed, and the guide track is It can be arranged in a line with the first light so as to be composed of a single light line parallel to the putting line.

  Preferably, the first light is slidably attached to the housing, so that the light line can be adjusted so that the light line coincides with the putting line.

  In another embodiment, the light source comprises a light attached to a housing containing the putting target and a mirror disposed on the opposite side of the target where the putter is placed, Are arranged in a line with respect to the light so as to reflect the light from the light so that the guide track consists of a line of light parallel to the putting line.

  The apparatus may include a timer for turning off at least a part of the light source after a predetermined time.

  In one embodiment, the light source comprises a light attached to a housing containing the target, and the device further comprises a launch mat from which a golf ball can be hit. Yes. The firing mat includes positioning means that can be arranged in a line along the guide track, and provides an extension of the guide track when the light source is blocked by the putter.

  The positioning means can comprise a linear marking on the mat.

  The positioning means can comprise a linear recess in the mat.

  In this embodiment, it is preferred that the light is mounted centrally relative to the target.

  The apparatus can comprise an additional light source with a first sidelight and a second sidelight mounted on both sides of the target.

  The apparatus can further comprise switch means for switching between at least a first operation mode and a second operation mode, a sidelight that operates in the first mode, and a center light that operates in the second mode. .

  Referring to FIG. 1, practice putting devices 100 and 120 are shown. The practice putting device has a putting target in the form of the golf ball return device 100, and also has a light source 120 with a first light 120a. The first light 120 a is attached on the housing 110 of the golf ball return device 100. The second light 120b is movable and is intended to be aligned with the first light during use to form a single light line 124. The light line 124 provides a guide track parallel to the putting line. As the golf ball is struck along the putting line toward the golf ball return device 100, the light line 124 provides a visual aid for the positioning of the putter 50 having the putting face 52. Therefore, the golfer can practice the positioning of the putter with respect to the putting line when hitting a golf ball, i.e., the putter face can be perpendicular to the putting line, and the putter club head can be moved along the putting line. Can move substantially.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the light line 124 includes a first portion 124a and a second portion 124b. The first portion 124a is projected by the first light source 120a, and the second portion 124b is projected by the second light source 120b. Each light source 120 emits a wide planar beam of light so as to project a line along the practice surface 40 where the practice putting devices 100, 120 are installed. That is, the light is positioned so that the beam of light is perpendicular to the base of the housing 110 and hence to the practice surface. The first light 120 is slidably mounted in the groove 112 of the housing 110 to allow adjustment of the guide track. This allows the practitioner to adjust for any borrow caused by bumps in the practice surface. That is, most floors are not flat so that the ball tends to roll from left to right or from right to left. Accordingly, when the putting line from the place where the putter head 50 is located to the golf ball return device 100 corresponds to the arrow A or B, the golfer moves the first light 120a to match the accurate putting line. The second light 120b is moved so that the second light 120b is aligned with the first line. Since both the first and second lights 120 project a line onto the practice surface 40, it is easy to line up the lines of light accurately.

  From here, the apparatus will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2, which is a schematic cross-sectional view of the golf ball return apparatus 100 and the first light 120a placed on the practice surface 40. The golf ball return device 100 has a slope 101, and the golf ball moves above the slope 101 when it is hit accurately so as to stop at the dish-like dent 102. A sensor 103 is placed at the bottom of the dished indentation so that when the ball is over the sensor, the ball triggers the return mechanism 104. Although the return mechanism 104 is not shown in detail, those skilled in the art are familiar with the operation of such devices. Typically, such devices have a spring loaded mechanism that applies a load on the golf ball received on the sensor 103. The spring-loaded mechanism is released after the shaft is retracted, hits the golf ball, and returns the golf ball to the golfer. It is also known in the art that the spring-loaded mechanism can be adjusted so that the player can adjust the distance to which the ball is returned.

  The light 120a is composed of a mounting portion 121 slidably received in the groove 122. The light has a laser 122 and a cylindrical prism 123 that projects a wide planar beam 125 of light that forms a line 124 a on the practice surface 40.

  Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any suitable power source, such as main power or battery power, can be used to power the return mechanism 104 and the light 120a. The second light 120b has essentially the same structure as the light 120a, but usually has a wider base and is therefore easier to position. It is more common for the light 120b to be battery powered, which makes it more convenient to move the light 120b into place. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that if the light 120a is strong enough, it can be reflected when the light 120b is replaced with a mirror and the second portion 120b of a single line of light is accurately aligned. is there. The advantage of the first embodiment is that the light line is both on the target side of the putter, and behind the putter, the light line is disturbed by the golf ball or putter head 50 (as recognized by the golfer). It is not. As a result, no matter where the putter is placed along the line 124, the golfer can recognize whether the club face has been adjusted perpendicular to the putting line.

  Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many additional features can be incorporated into the device. For example, the device can incorporate a timer that turns off the light 120 after a specified period of time, such as five minutes after the device is activated. This has the advantage of providing an operation similar to a power saving device with an accurate practice time for the golfer (eg, when the golfer is practicing in the office). Further possible modifications will be apparent from the description of other embodiments.

  A second preferred embodiment of the practice putting devices 200, 220 is shown in FIG. Where appropriate, the same reference numerals are used to describe elements in a second preferred embodiment similar to elements in the first embodiment. The light source in the second preferred embodiment is provided by a pair of lights 220a, 220b mounted in the groove 112. The lights are slidably mounted so that their positions can be moved. In this embodiment, the guide track is defined by lines of light 224a, 224b that pass through opposite sides of the putter head 50. When the golfer puts along the putting line C, the width of the gap between the first light line 224a and the second light line 224b so that the light line passes only through the side surface of the putter head 50. Can be slidably adjusted to adjust. As seen in the first embodiment, the light 220 can be adjusted to adjust the various putting lines required to deal with the borrow in the practice surface 40. In one variation of this embodiment, one or both of the lights 220 are removable so that a person can switch between the first mode and the second mode. In the first mode, they practice to keep the putter perpendicular to the putting line C with lines on both sides of the putter head, and in the second mode, they follow the technique of the first embodiment, I can practice.

  Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many minor changes can be made. For example, instead of mounting the light in the groove, the light may be mounted on a rail, or the first light may be mounted substantially in the housing, for example directly above the return mechanism 104.

  The light source may also incorporate means for adjusting the directionality of the light so that the line extends substantially in the area where the putter is to be located. Also, one or more light sources may be fixed in place on the housing, or the beam is projected along various lines using conversion optics such as a mirror to change the trajectory. As such, the light source may be configured.

Furthermore, instead of the golf ball return device, the target may be in the form of a simulated hole in the region of the dish-like indented portion 102, or a person may manually collect the ball. Other return mechanisms are known in the art and can be substituted for the return mechanism of the preferred embodiment. These and other improvements will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In particular, further improvements may incorporate features of other embodiments described herein.

  A practice putting device of the third embodiment is shown in FIGS. In this embodiment, the apparatus 300 has three fixed lights 320 including first and second side lights 320a and 320b and a center light 320c.

  FIG. 4 shows the device in the first mode of operation when the two sidelights 320a, 320b are operating such that a guide track is formed by the first light line 324a and the second light line 324b.

  The apparatus has a switch mechanism for switching the apparatus from the OFF state to the first operation mode shown in FIG. 4 and the second operation mode shown in FIG. The switch means comprises a switch 330 mounted on the top of the housing 110, the switch 330 being in the form of a rubber, and a plurality of rubber fins to facilitate switching the switch with a putter head. 331.

  FIG. 5 shows the apparatus of FIG. 4 operating in a second mode of operation where the first and second sidelights 320a, 320b are off and the centerlight 320c is on. In order to facilitate this mode of operation, in this embodiment it is preferred that the apparatus further comprises a firing mat 360 that can strike a golf ball. The firing mat includes positioning means in the form of a line marking 361 that allows the firing mat 360 to line up with the rest of the guides formed by the light 320c (eg, the light line 324c). To.

  The line marking may be the same color as the light, so that it appears as a guideline extending beyond the putter head 50 even when the putter blocks the light 324c from the light source 320c.

  In a further embodiment, the positioning means may additionally or alternatively comprise an elongated recess in the mat 360 so that the golf ball can be hit along the recess in use.

  It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes or further improvements in the third embodiment include changes using features of other embodiments.

It is the schematic which shows the putting device for practice of 1st preferable embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view along a cross section corresponding to the line 124a of FIG. It is the schematic which shows the putting device for practice of 2nd preferable embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the putting device for practice of 3rd preferable embodiment in a 1st operation mode. It is a figure which shows the 2nd operation mode of the putting device for practice of FIG.

Claims (20)

A practice putting device,
A putting target,
A light source that illuminates the guide track on the practice surface,
The guide track is parallel to the putting line, and the putting line is for the golf ball to be hit along the target toward the target, so that the guide track is put along the putting line. A practice putting device which provides visual assistance for positioning the putter head when performing a stroke.   The practice putting according to claim 1, wherein the putting target includes a simulated golf hole and a golf ball return device for returning a ball reaching the simulated golf hole toward a place where the ball is hit. Putting device.   The practice putting device according to claim 1, wherein the light source includes a first light and a second light.   4. A practice putting device according to claim 3, wherein each light emits a wide planar beam of light in a plane substantially perpendicular to the practice surface, thereby illuminating the guide track.   4. The practice padding device of claim 3, wherein each light comprises a laser and a cylindrical prism.   The practice putting device according to claim 3, wherein the first and second lights are attached to a housing of the putting target.   7. The practice putting device according to claim 6, wherein the first and second lights are provided with a space therebetween, whereby the guide track includes a pair of spaced light lines.   7. The practice putting device according to claim 6, wherein at least one light is slidably attached to the housing so that one or both of the lines of light can move.   The practice putting device according to claim 6, wherein at least one light is removably attached to the housing.   The first light is provided in the housing of the putting target, and the second light is movable, whereby the second light can be arranged on the opposite side of the position where the putter is placed with respect to the target, and The practice putting device according to claim 3, wherein the guide orbit can be arranged in a line with the first light so that the guide track is formed of a single light line parallel to the putting line.   11. The practice putting device according to claim 10, wherein the first light is slidably attached to the housing so that the light line can be adjusted so that the light line coincides with the putting line. .   The light source includes a light attached to a housing accommodating the putting target, and a mirror disposed on the side opposite to the target where the putter is placed. The practice putting practice device according to claim 1, wherein the practice putting practice apparatus is arranged in a line with respect to the light so as to reflect the light from the light so as to be composed of a line of light parallel to the putting line.   The practice putting device according to claim 1, further comprising a timer for turning off at least a part of the light source after a predetermined time.   The light source comprises a light attached to a housing containing the target, the apparatus further comprises a firing mat from which a golf ball can be hit, the firing mat comprising: The practice putting device according to claim 1, further comprising positioning means arranged in a line along the guide track and providing an extension of the guide track when the light source is blocked by the putter.   15. The practice putting device according to claim 14, wherein the positioning means comprises a linear marking on the mat.   The practice putting device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means includes a linear recess in the mat.   15. The practice putting device according to claim 14, wherein the light is centrally attached to the target.   15. The practice putting device according to claim 14, wherein the device comprises an additional light source comprising a first sidelight and a second sidelight mounted on both sides of the target.   The apparatus includes at least switch means for switching between the first operation mode and the second operation mode, a sidelight that operates in the first operation mode, and a center light that operates in the second operation mode. The practice putting device according to claim 14.   The practice putting device according to claim 1, wherein the light source includes a first light and a second light attached to both sides of the target in the target housing.

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