Putting alignment system

Abstract

A golf putter alignment system in which a putter has a putter shaft joined to the putter head near the toe and extending upwardly towards the golfer, the shaft having a mark on the shaft, which when visually aligned by the golfer with a centerline mark on the head, ensures that the golfer's eyes are “over the ball”.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a Continuation in Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 019,435 filed on Dec. 31, 2001.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to the game of golf and more importantly to a golf putter having an alignment arrangement to aid a golfer in aligning his or her eyes “over the ball”. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Putting plays an important role in a successful round of golf. In order to technically execute a proper putt a golfer's eyes must be properly positioned relative to the ball and to an intended line of the putt. [0004] A putter has a striking face, which should be aligned square to the desired path of the ball travel. The target line is a line extending through the ball, representing the intended path of travel of the ball when putted. It is known to place a centerline marker on the top surface of the putter to indicate the desired area of putter-to-ball impact and to aid a golfer in positioning the face of a pu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The putter shaft forms an acute angle with the putter head, extending upwards from the toe of the putter head, across the centerline of the putter head, the handle or grip of the shaft terminating in an area generally above the heel of the putter head. In a preferred embodiment the sole of the putter head is flat and the shaft forms an acute angle with the sole of the putter head. The flat sole aids the golfer to properly place the putter on the ground (i.e. with the sole flat on the ground) and therefore to properly align his / her eyes over the ball. The flat sole also helps to ensure consistency in the golfer's positioning. The flat sole allows the putter to be consistently placed parallel to the putting surface which ensures that the line passing through both the centerline marker and the mark on the shaft is at a right angle to the putting surface and to the target line. Once the putter is sitting flat on the ground a golfer need only build his or her stance to the putter with his eyes visually aligned with the centerline marker and the mark on the shaft, and he knows he is in the correct alignment to make a putt. The flat bottom of the putter ensures that the putter sits flat on the ground every time.

[0015] In an alternate embodiment, when the putter is in the putting position, the putter shaft may extend vertically upwards from putter head and then angle towards the golfer. In a further alternate embodiment of the invention, the putter shaft is curved toward the golfer. Such curved or angled embodiments bring the golfer's hands closer to a point directly over the target line and / or the center of gravity of the putter, thereby improving swing mechanics. A further advantage of these two alternate embodiments is that the distance between the marking on the shaft and the centerline marker on the putter head is increased, thereby making it easier for the golfer to visually align them.

Problems solved by technology

Golfers of all skill levels have been shown to find correct eye position and putter alignment difficult to maintain over time.

However, these are cumbersome and impractical techniques.

There exist a number of putting aids in the prior art, however, none of them effectively address the need to align the golfer's eyes over the ball.

However, the markings of Condon are not aligned with anything but the ball.

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