US20070293335A1 - Practice attachment for golf putter - Google Patents
Practice attachment for golf putter Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070293335A1 US20070293335A1 US11/556,965 US55696506A US2007293335A1 US 20070293335 A1 US20070293335 A1 US 20070293335A1 US 55696506 A US55696506 A US 55696506A US 2007293335 A1 US2007293335 A1 US 2007293335A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- putter
- frame
- practice
- rod
- practice attachment
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B69/00—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports
- A63B69/36—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf
- A63B69/3676—Training appliances or apparatus for special sports for golf for putting
- A63B69/3685—Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning
Definitions
- the present invention relates to devices for improving golf swings. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices for improving golf putting. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a device removably attachable to a putter and arranged to aid a golfer improve a putting stroke.
- the present invention is related to a putting stroke aid that is removably attachable to a blade or heel-toe type putter rather than a mallet type putter or any other type of golf club.
- Others have described publicly devices to assist in the improvement of golf strokes not limited to putting. However, each has its own deficiency resolved through use of an aid such as the invention described herein.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,253 to Cooper describes a putter permanently modified for the removable introduction of a flat-headed cylinder to the face of a heel-toe type putter.
- the Cooper device requires the golfer either to acquire a putter having a threaded hole through the putting service, or modify his/her own putter to accept the flat-headed cylinder. Either way, the golfer may be required to expend more than is desirable for a single-purpose putter.
- the flat surface of the flat-headed cylinder fails to address putting problems by giving the putter a forgiving surface—the flat surface to perpetuate an improper putting stroke.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,895 to Nakajima describes a single-purpose putter comprised of a shaft and a ball-shaped head.
- the Cooper putter is not arranged as a conventional putter. It requires the golfer to purchase the item separate from the putter the golfer ordinarily uses. Therefore, the golfer would work on the putting stroke with the aid device and then separately putt with a separate device—the golfer's regular putter. This device not only adds to the golfer's expenses, but fails to allow the golfer to correct his/her stroke with the putter of choice.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,228 to Hawkins et al. describes a practice attachment tool for a golf club not limited to a putter.
- the Hawkins device is shown removably attachable to a club that appears to be a driver or other type of wood.
- the Hawkins device addresses the concern about either permanently modifying the golfer's existing club(s) or purchasing a dedicated stroke-aiding club.
- the attachment tool includes a convex ball striking surface, but the described mechanism for attaching the tool to the club is completely unsuitable in a practical sense.
- the Hawkins attachment means are straps described as either elastic (rubber bands) or hook-and-loop (Velcro®).
- the Hawkins device is unsuitable for actual swing training. Further, it does not appear to be directed to aiding the improvement of the putting stroke but, instead, the full-swing stroke associated with all other golf club types.
- a putting stroke aid that is relatively inexpensive and that may be removably attached to a conventional putter without permanent modification of the putter. Also, what is needed is such a putting stroke aid that will remain in the desired position during the club swinging process. Further, what is needed is such an aid that is specifically directed to assisting in the improvement of the putting stroke.
- the present invention is a practice attachment for a golf putter.
- the practice attachment includes a frame and a clamping device.
- the frame has a convex curved edge aligned approximately perpendicular to the ground when the practice attachment is clamped to a putter.
- the frame further includes a sight hole.
- the frame may be formed of an angle and a cylindrical rod, with a thumb screw for easy adjustment of the positioning of the frame on the putter head and application and release of pressure on the putter head to keep the frame firmly in place or to remove it, as desired.
- the frame may be fabricated in a unitary fabrication but is not limited thereto.
- the practice attachment of the present invention provides an inexpensive, simple, and durable device that can improve a golfer's putting stroke, and therefore putting accuracy, by producing a putting system where small deviations in putting swing result in large deviations from the intended direction of golf ball travel.
- An aspect of the invention is that it adds a convex striking surface to the golfer's preferred putter, but limited to either a blade-type putter or a heel-toe type putter.
- the practice attachment includes a facility to align the temporary, convex striking surface with the marked “sweet spot” that appears on the putter.
- the practice attachment teaches the golfer to keep his or her head down and their eye on the ball for every putting stroke. Because the striking surface of the practice attachment is not flat (it is convex), the golf ball will not travel in the intended direction unless it is struck at the point on the convex striking surface that is on the line defined by the direction of putter head travel. If the ball is struck to one side or the other of this point, it will be driven to the right or left of the direction of putter head travel.
- the practice attachment also helps golfers develop a smooth putting stroke. If the putting stroke is not smooth and careful, the golfer will have difficulty in repeating sending the ball in the intended direction of travel.
- the practice attachment is arranged to fit most blade-type and heel-toe putters.
- the practice attachment may be fabricated of one or more materials of interest, such as metallic and/or non-metallic materials or combinations thereof. The material or materials selected for the fabrication of each component of the practice attachment are preferably chosen to avoid marking, marring, scarring or otherwise damaging the golfer's putter in any manner.
- the components of the practice attachment may be fabricated of one or more pieces as desired for ease of use, shipment, and/or manufacture,
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a heel-toe putter having the practice attachment device of the present invention attached thereto.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the practice attachment device.
- FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the first embodiment of the practice attachment device.
- FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the practice attachment device.
- FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment of the practice attachment device.
- FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the first embodiment of the practice attachment device.
- FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of the first embodiment of the practice attachment device.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the practice attachment device.
- FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the practice attachment device.
- FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the second embodiment of the practice attachment device.
- FIG. 1 A practice attachment device 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 removably attached to a putter 100 at putter head 102 .
- FIGS. 2-7 show a first embodiment of the practice attachment device 10 alone in various views that may be referred to in combination with this description.
- the practice attachment device 10 includes an attachment frame 12 and a guiding rod 14 .
- the rod 14 may be permanently or removably attached to the frame 12 .
- the rod 14 is preferably press fitted directly into the frame 12 .
- it may be removably attached with a threaded screw into a threaded port of the frame 12 and of the rod 14 , or it may be permanently attached to the frame 12 such as by welding or with a press fit stud.
- the frame 12 includes a body 18 and a clamp body 20 .
- the clamp body 20 includes port 22 for receiving therein retaining means for holding the frame 12 to the putter head 102 .
- the port 22 may or may not be threaded.
- the retaining means is a clamp screw 24 having a threaded body 26 for passing through the port 22 , and a wing head 28 .
- the frame body 18 includes a sight port 30 to be used to aid a golfer in aligning the frame 12 and the rod 14 on the putter head 102 .
- the sight port 30 is cylindrical.
- the frame 12 , the rod 14 and the retaining means each may be fabricated of one or more metallic and/or non-metallic materials selected to minimize or avoid marking, marring, scarring or otherwise causing damage to the putter head 102 .
- the frame 12 is preferably 1 ⁇ 8-inch thick aluminum alloy formed in an “L” shape, where the long leg is the main body 18 and is about 1.35 inches long, and the short leg is the clamp body 20 and is about 0.60 inches long.
- Front end 19 of the main body 18 of the frame 12 preferably has a radius to match the radius of the rod 14 as described herein.
- retaining means is shown as a clamp screw 24 used to attach the practice attachment device 10 to the putter head 102
- alternative retaining means include a button head cap screw, a flat head screw, a self-tapping screw, or any similar removable attachment mechanism suitable for joining the frame 12 to the putter head 102 in a way that keeps the frame in a fixed position during the putting stroke.
- the wing head 28 is a preferred device to cause rotation of the clamp screw 24 in that it is easy to use by any golfer, regardless of age, gender or difficulty with fine motor skills. However, other means for causing rotation of the clamp screw 24 or other similar tightening component do not diminish the functional aspect of the practice attachment device 10 .
- the body 18 and the clamp body 20 of the frame 12 may be fabricated as two or more distinct pieces joined together such as by welding or adhesive. Alternatively and preferably, it may be a unitary piece in an “L” shape, such as an Aluminum extrusion. Further, the frame 12 and the rod 14 may be fabricated as two or more distinct pieces joined together in any of the manners described herein. Alternatively, the frame 12 and rod 14 may be fabricated as a unitary piece in a “U” shape.
- the clamp body 20 is preferably fabricated to include as the port 22 a threaded hole, for example a no. 10-32 threaded hole, arranged so that the axis of the threaded hole for receiving threaded body 26 of the clamp screw 24 intersects the axis of rod 14 at a right angle. Further, the threaded hole is preferably located about midway along the length of clamp body 20 . In general, the dimensions of the combination of frame 12 and rod 14 are designed to permit temporary attachment of the practice attachment 10 to the putter head 102 . That is, the maximum opening between face 25 of clamp screw 24 and backside 15 of the rod 14 is adequate to fit over the width or thickness of any putter head 102 for a blade or heel-toe type of putter.
- the rod 14 is preferably a right cylinder, which may be either a solid or hollow. The rod 14 preferably has a radius of about 0.31 inches.
- the body 18 includes the sight port 30 extends from upper body face 18 ′ through lower body face 18 ′′ such that when the practice attachment 10 is affixed to the putter head 102 , the golfer can see onto upper surface 104 of the putter head 102 to a putter alignment mark 106 of the type applied to many putters by putter manufacturers.
- the alignment mark 106 is ordinarily aligned with the center of the long dimension of face 108 of the putter head 102 .
- the sight port 30 thereby allows the golfer to properly locate the practice attachment 10 on the putter head 102 such that when the practice attachment is in use, optimal front striking surface 32 of the rod 14 is aligned with the center of the putter face 108 .
- the golfer may proceed with putting stroke practice. Specifically, the golfer may place a golf ball on a substrate, align the putter 100 with a target and swing the putter 100 with practice attachment 10 as he or she ordinarily would when playing.
- the frame 12 is attached such that the axis of the rod 14 is approximately vertical with respect to the underlying substrate, and the golfer is viewing the upper body face 18 ′ of the frame 12 when he or she is in the normal putting position. Only when the front striking surface 32 of the rod 14 is properly aligned with the ball will the ball travel in the direction of the target when the putter 100 is swung to hit the ball.
- any other stroke path generated by the golfer will cause improper contact of the rod 14 with the ball such that the ball is not struck by the front striking surface 32 and will therefore not travel to the intended target.
- the golfer must thereby adjust the stroke until that impact is achieved. Through repetition the golfer will come to establish a smooth, consistent stroke by which the putter face 108 will strike the ball at the sweet spot when the bottom of the putter head 102 is substantially parallel with the underlying substrate.
- FIGS. 8-10 A second embodiment of the practice attachment device 10 ′ is shown in FIGS. 8-10 .
- the second embodiment of the practice attachment device 10 ′ includes the same components and is attached and used in the same manner as described herein with respect to the practice attachment device 10 of FIGS. 1-7 .
- the sight port 30 ′ is not cylindrical but is instead elongate modified diamond shape. It is to be understood that the sight port may be of other shapes without deviating from the intent to provide the golfer with a line-of-sight to the alignment mark 106 of the putter head 102 .
- the practice attachment 10 / 10 ′ is a simple, cost effective aid to improve a golfer's putting stroke.
- the practice attachment 10 / 10 ′ may be easily attached to and removed from the putter head of the golfer's putter without the need to make any modifications to the putter and without the need to purchase a customized practice-aid putter.
- the practice attachment 10 / 10 ′ forces the golfer to establish a repeatable smooth putting stroke using the cylindrical arrangement of the rod 14 and its striking surface 32 .
Abstract
A practice attachment device for removable attachment to the head of a putter. The device is designed to aid a golfer improve a putting stroke when using a blade or heel-toe putter. The device includes a frame, an aligning rod, and a clamp to attach the combination of the frame and the rod to the putter head. The rod is cylindrical in shape and positioned in front of the putter head face such that it strikes the ball. If the putter head, and thus the rod, is not properly aligned with the ball, the ball will travel off target when struck. The golfer must change the stroke until the rod is properly aligned with the ball on contact. The frame includes a sight port to allow the golfer to align the frame on the putter at the center of the putter head.
Description
- This application is a Continuation-In-Part of, and claims priority benefit to, pending U.S. design patent application Ser. No. 29/261,743, filed Jun. 20, 2006, entitled “PRACTICE ATTACHMENT FOR A GOLF PUTTER” filed by the same inventor of the present application. The entire content of that pending application is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to devices for improving golf swings. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices for improving golf putting. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a device removably attachable to a putter and arranged to aid a golfer improve a putting stroke.
- 2. Description of the Prior Art
- Many golfers take great interest in improving their skills in order to reduce the number of strokes required to play each hole of golf that they play. While golfers must hit a golf ball hundreds of yards to reach the hole from the tee, approximately one-third to one-half of all golf strokes are taken on the green within fifty or sixty feet of the hole. Therefore, putting is an important aspect of the game. As a result, many golfers spend a substantial amount of time attempting to improve that part of their game. In spite of that effort, putting has remained a fickle aspect of the sport. A golfer can be told how to hold the putter, how to read the green and how to swing the putter. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for many golfers to translate that mental understanding of the important technical details of the putting stroke into reality.
- There are many devices, tools, instructional programs and professionals available to assist golfers in improving all parts of their games from the tee to the hole. Some of these aids are much more costly than others and therefore may be out of reach of the recreational and/or well-funded golfer. The present invention is related to a putting stroke aid that is removably attachable to a blade or heel-toe type putter rather than a mallet type putter or any other type of golf club. Others have described publicly devices to assist in the improvement of golf strokes not limited to putting. However, each has its own deficiency resolved through use of an aid such as the invention described herein.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,253 to Cooper describes a putter permanently modified for the removable introduction of a flat-headed cylinder to the face of a heel-toe type putter. The Cooper device requires the golfer either to acquire a putter having a threaded hole through the putting service, or modify his/her own putter to accept the flat-headed cylinder. Either way, the golfer may be required to expend more than is desirable for a single-purpose putter. Further, the flat surface of the flat-headed cylinder fails to address putting problems by giving the putter a forgiving surface—the flat surface to perpetuate an improper putting stroke.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,895 to Nakajima describes a single-purpose putter comprised of a shaft and a ball-shaped head. The Cooper putter is not arranged as a conventional putter. It requires the golfer to purchase the item separate from the putter the golfer ordinarily uses. Therefore, the golfer would work on the putting stroke with the aid device and then separately putt with a separate device—the golfer's regular putter. This device not only adds to the golfer's expenses, but fails to allow the golfer to correct his/her stroke with the putter of choice.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,228 to Hawkins et al. describes a practice attachment tool for a golf club not limited to a putter. In particular, the Hawkins device is shown removably attachable to a club that appears to be a driver or other type of wood. The Hawkins device addresses the concern about either permanently modifying the golfer's existing club(s) or purchasing a dedicated stroke-aiding club. The attachment tool includes a convex ball striking surface, but the described mechanism for attaching the tool to the club is completely unsuitable in a practical sense. The Hawkins attachment means are straps described as either elastic (rubber bands) or hook-and-loop (Velcro®). Any ordinary physical exertion on the club, such as in the course of a swing, would dislodge the straps and cause the undesired movement of the attachment tool. Therefore, the Hawkins device is unsuitable for actual swing training. Further, it does not appear to be directed to aiding the improvement of the putting stroke but, instead, the full-swing stroke associated with all other golf club types.
- What is needed is a putting stroke aid that is relatively inexpensive and that may be removably attached to a conventional putter without permanent modification of the putter. Also, what is needed is such a putting stroke aid that will remain in the desired position during the club swinging process. Further, what is needed is such an aid that is specifically directed to assisting in the improvement of the putting stroke.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a putting stroke aid that is relatively inexpensive and that may be removably attached to a conventional putter without permanent modification of the putter. It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a putting stroke aid that will remain in the desired position during the club swinging process. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an aid that is specifically directed to assisting in the improvement of the putting stroke.
- These and other objects are provided by the present invention, which is a practice attachment for a golf putter. The practice attachment includes a frame and a clamping device. The frame has a convex curved edge aligned approximately perpendicular to the ground when the practice attachment is clamped to a putter. The frame further includes a sight hole. The frame may be formed of an angle and a cylindrical rod, with a thumb screw for easy adjustment of the positioning of the frame on the putter head and application and release of pressure on the putter head to keep the frame firmly in place or to remove it, as desired. The frame may be fabricated in a unitary fabrication but is not limited thereto.
- The practice attachment of the present invention provides an inexpensive, simple, and durable device that can improve a golfer's putting stroke, and therefore putting accuracy, by producing a putting system where small deviations in putting swing result in large deviations from the intended direction of golf ball travel. An aspect of the invention is that it adds a convex striking surface to the golfer's preferred putter, but limited to either a blade-type putter or a heel-toe type putter. The practice attachment includes a facility to align the temporary, convex striking surface with the marked “sweet spot” that appears on the putter.
- The practice attachment teaches the golfer to keep his or her head down and their eye on the ball for every putting stroke. Because the striking surface of the practice attachment is not flat (it is convex), the golf ball will not travel in the intended direction unless it is struck at the point on the convex striking surface that is on the line defined by the direction of putter head travel. If the ball is struck to one side or the other of this point, it will be driven to the right or left of the direction of putter head travel.
- The practice attachment also helps golfers develop a smooth putting stroke. If the putting stroke is not smooth and careful, the golfer will have difficulty in repeating sending the ball in the intended direction of travel. The practice attachment is arranged to fit most blade-type and heel-toe putters. The practice attachment may be fabricated of one or more materials of interest, such as metallic and/or non-metallic materials or combinations thereof. The material or materials selected for the fabrication of each component of the practice attachment are preferably chosen to avoid marking, marring, scarring or otherwise damaging the golfer's putter in any manner. The components of the practice attachment may be fabricated of one or more pieces as desired for ease of use, shipment, and/or manufacture,
- These and other advantages of the practice attachment of the present invention will become more apparent upon review of the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a heel-toe putter having the practice attachment device of the present invention attached thereto. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the practice attachment device. -
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the first embodiment of the practice attachment device. -
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the practice attachment device. -
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment of the practice attachment device. -
FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the first embodiment of the practice attachment device. -
FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of the first embodiment of the practice attachment device. -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the practice attachment device. -
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the practice attachment device. -
FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the second embodiment of the practice attachment device. - A
practice attachment device 10 of the present invention is shown inFIG. 1 removably attached to a putter 100 at putter head 102.FIGS. 2-7 show a first embodiment of thepractice attachment device 10 alone in various views that may be referred to in combination with this description. - The
practice attachment device 10 includes anattachment frame 12 and a guidingrod 14. Therod 14 may be permanently or removably attached to theframe 12. For example, therod 14 is preferably press fitted directly into theframe 12. Alternatively, it may be removably attached with a threaded screw into a threaded port of theframe 12 and of therod 14, or it may be permanently attached to theframe 12 such as by welding or with a press fit stud. Theframe 12 includes abody 18 and aclamp body 20. Theclamp body 20 includesport 22 for receiving therein retaining means for holding theframe 12 to the putter head 102. Theport 22 may or may not be threaded. As shown in the drawings, the retaining means is aclamp screw 24 having a threadedbody 26 for passing through theport 22, and awing head 28. Theframe body 18 includes asight port 30 to be used to aid a golfer in aligning theframe 12 and therod 14 on the putter head 102. In this embodiment of the present invention thesight port 30 is cylindrical. - The
frame 12, therod 14 and the retaining means each may be fabricated of one or more metallic and/or non-metallic materials selected to minimize or avoid marking, marring, scarring or otherwise causing damage to the putter head 102. Theframe 12 is preferably ⅛-inch thick aluminum alloy formed in an “L” shape, where the long leg is themain body 18 and is about 1.35 inches long, and the short leg is theclamp body 20 and is about 0.60 inches long.Front end 19 of themain body 18 of theframe 12 preferably has a radius to match the radius of therod 14 as described herein. While the retaining means is shown as aclamp screw 24 used to attach thepractice attachment device 10 to the putter head 102, alternative retaining means include a button head cap screw, a flat head screw, a self-tapping screw, or any similar removable attachment mechanism suitable for joining theframe 12 to the putter head 102 in a way that keeps the frame in a fixed position during the putting stroke. Thewing head 28 is a preferred device to cause rotation of theclamp screw 24 in that it is easy to use by any golfer, regardless of age, gender or difficulty with fine motor skills. However, other means for causing rotation of theclamp screw 24 or other similar tightening component do not diminish the functional aspect of thepractice attachment device 10. - The
body 18 and theclamp body 20 of theframe 12 may be fabricated as two or more distinct pieces joined together such as by welding or adhesive. Alternatively and preferably, it may be a unitary piece in an “L” shape, such as an Aluminum extrusion. Further, theframe 12 and therod 14 may be fabricated as two or more distinct pieces joined together in any of the manners described herein. Alternatively, theframe 12 androd 14 may be fabricated as a unitary piece in a “U” shape. - The
clamp body 20 is preferably fabricated to include as the port 22 a threaded hole, for example a no. 10-32 threaded hole, arranged so that the axis of the threaded hole for receiving threadedbody 26 of theclamp screw 24 intersects the axis ofrod 14 at a right angle. Further, the threaded hole is preferably located about midway along the length ofclamp body 20. In general, the dimensions of the combination offrame 12 androd 14 are designed to permit temporary attachment of thepractice attachment 10 to the putter head 102. That is, the maximum opening betweenface 25 ofclamp screw 24 and backside 15 of therod 14 is adequate to fit over the width or thickness of any putter head 102 for a blade or heel-toe type of putter. Therod 14 is preferably a right cylinder, which may be either a solid or hollow. Therod 14 preferably has a radius of about 0.31 inches. - With continuing reference to
FIGS. 1-5 , thebody 18 includes thesight port 30 extends from upper body face 18′ throughlower body face 18″ such that when thepractice attachment 10 is affixed to the putter head 102, the golfer can see ontoupper surface 104 of the putter head 102 to a putter alignment mark 106 of the type applied to many putters by putter manufacturers. The alignment mark 106 is ordinarily aligned with the center of the long dimension of face 108 of the putter head 102. Thesight port 30 thereby allows the golfer to properly locate thepractice attachment 10 on the putter head 102 such that when the practice attachment is in use, optimalfront striking surface 32 of therod 14 is aligned with the center of the putter face 108. - When the
practice attachment 10 is properly aligned on the putter head 102, the golfer may proceed with putting stroke practice. Specifically, the golfer may place a golf ball on a substrate, align the putter 100 with a target and swing the putter 100 withpractice attachment 10 as he or she ordinarily would when playing. Theframe 12 is attached such that the axis of therod 14 is approximately vertical with respect to the underlying substrate, and the golfer is viewing the upper body face 18′ of theframe 12 when he or she is in the normal putting position. Only when the frontstriking surface 32 of therod 14 is properly aligned with the ball will the ball travel in the direction of the target when the putter 100 is swung to hit the ball. Any other stroke path generated by the golfer will cause improper contact of therod 14 with the ball such that the ball is not struck by the frontstriking surface 32 and will therefore not travel to the intended target. The golfer must thereby adjust the stroke until that impact is achieved. Through repetition the golfer will come to establish a smooth, consistent stroke by which the putter face 108 will strike the ball at the sweet spot when the bottom of the putter head 102 is substantially parallel with the underlying substrate. - A second embodiment of the
practice attachment device 10′ is shown inFIGS. 8-10 . In all respects but the shape of thesight port 30′ the second embodiment of thepractice attachment device 10′ includes the same components and is attached and used in the same manner as described herein with respect to thepractice attachment device 10 ofFIGS. 1-7 . In this embodiment of the invention, thesight port 30′ is not cylindrical but is instead elongate modified diamond shape. It is to be understood that the sight port may be of other shapes without deviating from the intent to provide the golfer with a line-of-sight to the alignment mark 106 of the putter head 102. - The
practice attachment 10/10′ is a simple, cost effective aid to improve a golfer's putting stroke. Thepractice attachment 10/10′ may be easily attached to and removed from the putter head of the golfer's putter without the need to make any modifications to the putter and without the need to purchase a customized practice-aid putter. Thepractice attachment 10/10′ forces the golfer to establish a repeatable smooth putting stroke using the cylindrical arrangement of therod 14 and itsstriking surface 32. - While the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain embodiments of the practice attachment device, it is to be understood that it includes all reasonable equivalents thereof as defined by the following appended claims.
Claims (9)
1. A practice attachment for a golf putter having a putter head, the practice attachment comprising:
a. a frame including a rod having a convex curved edge aligned approximately perpendicular to the ground when the practice attachment is clamped to a putter, and wherein the frame includes a sight port; and
b. a clamp device for removably clamping the frame to the putter.
2. The practice attachment as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rod is cylindrical.
3. The practice attachment as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a main body and a clamp body extending from the main body, and wherein the clamp body includes retaining means.
4. The practice attachment as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the retaining means is a threaded port and the clamp device is a threaded thumb screw.
5. The practice attachment as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the main body and the clamp body are fabricated as a unitary piece.
6. The practice attachment as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the frame and the rod are fabricated as a unitary piece.
7. The practice attachment as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the putter includes an alignment mark on the putter head, the rod includes a front striking face, and wherein when the frame is clamped to the putter head with the mark visible through the sight port, a proper putting stroke causes the front striking face to contact a ball aligned with a target.
8. The practice attachment as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sight port is cylindrical.
9. The practice attachment as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sight port is an elongated diamond shape.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/556,965 US20070293335A1 (en) | 2006-06-20 | 2006-11-06 | Practice attachment for golf putter |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US29/261,743 USD548809S1 (en) | 2006-06-20 | 2006-06-20 | Practice attachment for a golf putter |
US11/556,965 US20070293335A1 (en) | 2006-06-20 | 2006-11-06 | Practice attachment for golf putter |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US29/261,743 Continuation-In-Part USD548809S1 (en) | 2006-06-20 | 2006-06-20 | Practice attachment for a golf putter |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070293335A1 true US20070293335A1 (en) | 2007-12-20 |
Family
ID=46326521
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/556,965 Abandoned US20070293335A1 (en) | 2006-06-20 | 2006-11-06 | Practice attachment for golf putter |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070293335A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD667070S1 (en) | 2011-08-23 | 2012-09-11 | Practicepro Putter, LLC | Golf practice putter head face |
US20140357394A1 (en) * | 2013-05-30 | 2014-12-04 | Jeong Soo Lee | Golf Putter Practice Device |
US20180326281A1 (en) * | 2017-05-15 | 2018-11-15 | John David Barkwith | Golf training aid |
US20190217181A1 (en) * | 2016-07-27 | 2019-07-18 | Yong Sik CHOI | Golf putter for practice |
Citations (22)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3021141A (en) * | 1960-07-15 | 1962-02-13 | Polsky Irving | Golf club head attachment |
US3198525A (en) * | 1962-07-23 | 1965-08-03 | Harold W Smith | Golf putter and a foldable sighting element secured to the shaft thereof by y-shapedmagnet means |
US4002343A (en) * | 1975-07-07 | 1977-01-11 | Eckert Albin F | Putter pointer |
US4158259A (en) * | 1978-02-07 | 1979-06-19 | Egon Hansen | Marble shooting sight |
US4306721A (en) * | 1980-04-08 | 1981-12-22 | Doyle Louis D | Golf putter with sighting device |
US4498245A (en) * | 1983-06-30 | 1985-02-12 | The Boeing Company | Adaptor for clamping optical scale on tooling button |
US4647045A (en) * | 1985-06-03 | 1987-03-03 | Bilyeu Roy M | Putter guide |
US4712797A (en) * | 1986-12-15 | 1987-12-15 | Fore-Sight Golf, Inc. | Golf putter with sighting device |
US4722528A (en) * | 1983-05-17 | 1988-02-02 | Tsao Thomas K | Golf putter |
US4934706A (en) * | 1989-12-11 | 1990-06-19 | Marshall Perry C | Combination lie and shaft position indicator |
US5135228A (en) * | 1987-02-06 | 1992-08-04 | Hawkins Sr Arnold R | Practice attachment for golf clubs |
US5240253A (en) * | 1992-03-24 | 1993-08-31 | Cooper Gene E | Practice aid golf club putter |
USD360446S (en) * | 1994-06-21 | 1995-07-18 | Juliano Marvin L | Putting alignment aid |
US5524895A (en) * | 1995-01-19 | 1996-06-11 | Nakajima; Atsushi | Practice golf club putter |
US6464596B1 (en) * | 2000-11-07 | 2002-10-15 | Randy S. Belding | Golf club alignment attachment |
US20040009825A1 (en) * | 2002-07-10 | 2004-01-15 | Hale Brad R. | Golf putter training system |
US6821212B2 (en) * | 2001-08-27 | 2004-11-23 | Truroll Golf, Inc. | Device to convert a golf club into a training system |
USD502519S1 (en) * | 2003-05-30 | 2005-03-01 | Sock Jhin Kang | Golf putter head attachment |
USD519593S1 (en) * | 2005-02-09 | 2006-04-25 | Ray Solari | Putter aid |
US20060135278A1 (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2006-06-22 | Sung-Yoon Lee | Apparatus for practicing golf putting |
US20060183562A1 (en) * | 2005-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | Hill Harry B Iv | Portable putter teaching aid |
USD548809S1 (en) * | 2006-06-20 | 2007-08-14 | Walsh Stephen W | Practice attachment for a golf putter |
-
2006
- 2006-11-06 US US11/556,965 patent/US20070293335A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (22)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3021141A (en) * | 1960-07-15 | 1962-02-13 | Polsky Irving | Golf club head attachment |
US3198525A (en) * | 1962-07-23 | 1965-08-03 | Harold W Smith | Golf putter and a foldable sighting element secured to the shaft thereof by y-shapedmagnet means |
US4002343A (en) * | 1975-07-07 | 1977-01-11 | Eckert Albin F | Putter pointer |
US4158259A (en) * | 1978-02-07 | 1979-06-19 | Egon Hansen | Marble shooting sight |
US4306721A (en) * | 1980-04-08 | 1981-12-22 | Doyle Louis D | Golf putter with sighting device |
US4722528A (en) * | 1983-05-17 | 1988-02-02 | Tsao Thomas K | Golf putter |
US4498245A (en) * | 1983-06-30 | 1985-02-12 | The Boeing Company | Adaptor for clamping optical scale on tooling button |
US4647045A (en) * | 1985-06-03 | 1987-03-03 | Bilyeu Roy M | Putter guide |
US4712797A (en) * | 1986-12-15 | 1987-12-15 | Fore-Sight Golf, Inc. | Golf putter with sighting device |
US5135228A (en) * | 1987-02-06 | 1992-08-04 | Hawkins Sr Arnold R | Practice attachment for golf clubs |
US4934706A (en) * | 1989-12-11 | 1990-06-19 | Marshall Perry C | Combination lie and shaft position indicator |
US5240253A (en) * | 1992-03-24 | 1993-08-31 | Cooper Gene E | Practice aid golf club putter |
USD360446S (en) * | 1994-06-21 | 1995-07-18 | Juliano Marvin L | Putting alignment aid |
US5524895A (en) * | 1995-01-19 | 1996-06-11 | Nakajima; Atsushi | Practice golf club putter |
US6464596B1 (en) * | 2000-11-07 | 2002-10-15 | Randy S. Belding | Golf club alignment attachment |
US6821212B2 (en) * | 2001-08-27 | 2004-11-23 | Truroll Golf, Inc. | Device to convert a golf club into a training system |
US20040009825A1 (en) * | 2002-07-10 | 2004-01-15 | Hale Brad R. | Golf putter training system |
USD502519S1 (en) * | 2003-05-30 | 2005-03-01 | Sock Jhin Kang | Golf putter head attachment |
US20060135278A1 (en) * | 2004-12-17 | 2006-06-22 | Sung-Yoon Lee | Apparatus for practicing golf putting |
USD519593S1 (en) * | 2005-02-09 | 2006-04-25 | Ray Solari | Putter aid |
US20060183562A1 (en) * | 2005-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | Hill Harry B Iv | Portable putter teaching aid |
USD548809S1 (en) * | 2006-06-20 | 2007-08-14 | Walsh Stephen W | Practice attachment for a golf putter |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD667070S1 (en) | 2011-08-23 | 2012-09-11 | Practicepro Putter, LLC | Golf practice putter head face |
US20140357394A1 (en) * | 2013-05-30 | 2014-12-04 | Jeong Soo Lee | Golf Putter Practice Device |
US9302169B2 (en) * | 2013-05-30 | 2016-04-05 | Jeong Soo Lee | Golf putter practice device |
US20190217181A1 (en) * | 2016-07-27 | 2019-07-18 | Yong Sik CHOI | Golf putter for practice |
US20180326281A1 (en) * | 2017-05-15 | 2018-11-15 | John David Barkwith | Golf training aid |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US6296574B1 (en) | Golf swing improvement device | |
WO2006092740A3 (en) | Golf putter head with visual alignment system | |
US5961392A (en) | Focused sweet spot for all golf clubs | |
US9630080B1 (en) | Putter alignment apparatus | |
US6769999B1 (en) | Reuseable directional golf tee apparatus and method | |
US8162773B1 (en) | Golf putting accessory | |
US6814672B2 (en) | Golf positioning device | |
US20060183562A1 (en) | Portable putter teaching aid | |
US20070293335A1 (en) | Practice attachment for golf putter | |
US20060287121A1 (en) | Method and apparatus for practicing a golf swing | |
US20120064986A1 (en) | Golf swing training device | |
US6464596B1 (en) | Golf club alignment attachment | |
US7780542B1 (en) | Golf training device | |
US7914389B2 (en) | Golf putter training device | |
US20190224553A1 (en) | Putting aid to generate professional putting posture | |
US6692372B1 (en) | Putter head | |
US6863618B2 (en) | Flat shaft golf clubs and putters | |
US7494421B2 (en) | System, method, and apparatus for athletic swing training | |
US20040053703A1 (en) | Golf putter and method of putting | |
US20020177486A1 (en) | Putter bubble | |
US8033926B2 (en) | Golf swing training device | |
CA2303607C (en) | Inseyed putting alignment system | |
US20050096144A1 (en) | Line-of-sight putters and methods | |
US20070135226A1 (en) | Golf Teaching Aid | |
KR200442499Y1 (en) | Golf putter with indicator of direction |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |