US20060258477A1

US20060258477A1 - Putting practice device and its method of use

Info

Publication number: US20060258477A1
Application number: US11/128,018
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernard Sheridan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-12
Filing date: 2005-05-12
Publication date: 2006-11-16

Abstract

A putting practice device and method for its use that assists a golfer to properly align his or her body and putter, in relation to the ball and the hole or target. The putting practice aid includes a flat mirrored surface, a hole in the middle to holding a golf ball in place, and two perpendicular lines running through its center printed on one side. The golfer uses the perpendicular lines, according to a method, to properly align his or her body and clubface to the hole or target.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed toward a device and method to improve a golfer's putting, by helping a golfer to properly align his or her body and clubface to his or her golf ball in relation to a target.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,729,968, to Port, has an issue date of May 4, 2004. The invention is directed toward a putting training aid and putter calibration device to use on a putting surface, which includes a horizontal calibrated bar with a linear centered scale and a parallel calibration block having an oblique face and set on the practice putting surface below and offset from the horizontal calibrated bar. Also provided is a linear scale decal which is applied to a putter shaft. The device is designed to align the putter head to proper lie and neutral loft so that the face is square to the intended target line and to teach the golfer the proper grip, stance, alignment of the golfer, alignment of the club and proper putting stroke.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a device and method to help a golfer align his or her body and clubface into the proper position, in relation to the ball and the hole, when putting.
This aspect can be attained by a device and a method to use with the device, which includes an alignment device featuring a mirrored planar surface, a first straight line running through a center of the mirrored planar surface and a second straight line, perpendicular to the first, running through the center of the mirrored planar surface. The mirrored planar surface having a circular opening at its center to hold a golf ball.
This aspect can also be attained by a method using the device described above that includes placing an alignment device on a ground and centering it over a spot from which the golf ball is to be putted. The device is then rotated so that the first straight line runs along the desired line the golf ball is to travel to the target. A golf ball is placed in the circular opening and the golfer stands over the ball as if he or she were going to putt it. The golfer then uses the device to move his or her feet, head, and clubface into the proper position. The golfer's foot that is closest to the target is placed parallel to the second line with the instep of this foot just outside of the ball. The golfer then moves his or her head into the proper position by looking into the mirrored planar surface so that he or she can see his or her eyes behind the ball, in relation to the target, with the first straight line passing through the center of both eyes. The putter is then moved so that the clubface is parallel to the second straight line, and the ball is between the putter and the target. Lastly, the ball is putted by moving the putter over the first straight line toward the ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a top view of a golfing alignment device, according to an embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a top view of a golfing alignment device with a golf ball removably mounted onto it, according to an embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a side view of a golfing alignment device with a golf ball removably mounted onto it, according to an embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a top view of the golfing alignment device being used by a golfer to align his or her feet to the ball, according to an embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a top view of the golfing alignment device being used by a golfer to align his or her head to the ball, according to an embodiment; and
FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a top view of the golfing alignment device being used by a golfer to align his or her putter to the ball, according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
A common problem among golfers is the failure to have their body and club in the proper position, with relation to the hole, when lining up to hit a golf ball. This problem becomes more acute when a golfer is putting because the margin of error is quite small relative to longer golf shots. A golfer's alignment error of only a few degrees, with regard to either his or her body or clubface relative to the hole, can result in a putt being significantly off-line. This device and method can provide the golfer several lines of reference to use when determining where to stand, how to properly position his or her head, and how to properly align his or her clubface.
FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a top view of a golfing alignment device, according to an embodiment.
An alignment device 100 can be used to improve a golfer's putting by aligning a golfer and his or her clubface to his or her golf ball in relation to a hole when putting. The alignment device 100 can be made of plastic, wood, glass or other suitable material known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The device 100 can be planar and can be comprised of a circular opening 101, located in a center of the device 100, which can be of a suitable size to removably mount a golf ball. The device 100 can be comprised of a first straight line 103 running through the center of the device 100 and a second straight line 104, perpendicular to the first straight line 103, which also can run through the center of the device 100.
FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a top view of a golfing alignment device with a golf ball removably mounted onto it, according to an embodiment.
A golf ball 201 can be removably mounted onto a circular opening (not pictured) of an alignment device 200.
FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a side view of a golfing alignment device with a golf ball removably mounted onto it, according to an embodiment.
A golf ball 301 can be removably mounted into a circular opening (not pictured) of an alignment device 300 by placing the golf ball 301 onto the circular opening (not pictured).
FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a top view of the golfing alignment device.
The alignment device 400 can assist a golfer to properly align his or her feet by providing an alignment reference to the golfer. A first straight line 403 can be pointed to a hole 406. A second straight line 404 can provide a reference to the golfer if he or she imagines the second straight line 404 projecting past the alignment device 400 and running between the golfer's feet. The golfer can then adjust his or her front foot 401, which is the foot closest to the hole 406, so that it is parallel to the second straight line 404, and the instep 405 of the golfer's front foot 401 is just outside of the golf ball 402.
FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a top view of the golfing alignment device being used by a golfer to align his or her head to the ball, according to an embodiment.
The alignment device 500 can have a mirrored planar surface 501 which can allow the golfer to see his or her reflection 502 in the mirrored planar surface 501. The mirrored planar surface 501 can have a first straight line 503 drawn on it. The golfer can then move his or her head so that the line runs through the middle of both of his or her eyes in the reflection 502, and the golfers reflection 502 is behind the golf ball 504.
FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a top view of the golfing alignment device being used by a golfer to align his or her putter to the ball, according to an embodiment.
The alignment device 600 can be used to properly align a golfer's putter 601 to the ball 602, relative to the hole 603. The clubface of the putter 601 can be positioned so that it is parallel to a second straight line 605. A center 606 of the clubface can be moved along a first straight line 607 when striking the ball 602.
The second side of the alignment device, which may not have any markings, can be used by a golfer to align himself or herself without the benefit of the markings. This feature can allow the golfer to make the transition from using the first side of the device to align himself or herself to eventually being able to properly align himself or herself without the benefit of the alignment device.
The alignment device can be a compact disc with markings on it as described. A reflective surface can be present on either or both sides. The compact disc can be stored in a standard compact disc case when not in use.
The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device to align a golfer's body and club with his or her golf ball when putting, the device comprising:

a planar surface having a first side and a second side;

the mirrored first side further comprising a first straight line running through a center of the planar surface;

the first side further comprising a second straight line running through the center of the planar surface, the second straight line being perpendicular to the first straight line;

an opening at the center of the planar surface to hold a golf ball; and

first or second lines being used to align the center of the eyes of the golfer behind the ball.

2. (canceled)

3. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the planar surface is a compact disc.

4. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein the second side comprises no lines.

5. A device as recited in claim 3, wherein the second side comprises no lines.

6. A method to determine the optimal alignment of a golfer's body and club to his or her golf ball when putting comprising:

placing an alignment device on a ground comprising;

a planar surface, having a mirrored first side and a mirrored second side; the first side further comprising a first straight line running through a center of the planar surface and a second straight line running through the center of the planar surface, the second straight line being perpendicular to the first straight line, and an opening at the center of the planar surface to hold a golf ball;

centering the alignment device over a spot where the golf ball is to be putted from;

turning the alignment device so that the first straight line runs along a desired path that the golf ball is to travel to the target;

placing the golf ball in the opening;

placing a golfer's foot, that is closest to the target, parallel to the second line, with an instep of said golfer's foot just outside of the ball;

looking into the mirrored, planar surface in a way that he or she can see their eyes behind the ball with the first straight line passing through the center of the golfer's eyes;

lining up the head of the putter parallel to the second straight line so the ball is between the putter and the target; and

swinging a putter over the first straight line toward the ball.