Golf putting training device

Abstract

Provided herein is a training device for golfers used for assistance in aiming golf shots, such as putts. The training device may comprise a base and an anchor plate, wherein the anchor plate can be affixed to the ground and the base can rotate freely around the anchor plate. The base may further comprise additional fixation points to the ground. The device may include several anchor plates that can be selected for use according to green speed and can be interchangeably paired with the base. The anchor plates may have guide lines to assist the user in compensating for green slope.

Description

[0001] GOLF PUTTING TRAINING DEVICE

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] Embodiments of the invention relate to training devices for golfers, and more specifically, training devices to assist golfers for training the mechanics of a stroke or putt. More specifically, the invention relates to training mats or plates for assisting golfers in particular strokes, such as putts. The invention further relates to training mats or plates that allow golfers to improve the aim of their strokes or putts. Most specifically, the invention relates to a training device for golfers that allows them to improve the aim of their putts by lining up their shot while taking into account variables such as green speed and green side slope.

[0004] Background of the Invention

[0005] There are various products out on the market that assist golfers with training, and especially training for putting. Putting aids come in many forms and designs such as, for example, a putting mat, putting mirror, putting laser or a putting ruler. Typical training aids that are commercially available are simple cards or decks with guide lines thereon. The person using the training aid will place the aid on the ground and then place a golf ball on top of the aid, using the various guide lines for assistance in lining up a putt. A common issue with such training aids is that the aids are not fixed to a single spot on the ground and can move with every putt, forcing the user to realign the aid with the hole for each subsequent usage of the device.

[0006] This can be partially addressed by affixing the aid to the ground using external tees or other external fixtures, such as ground stakes, that can secure the aid to the ground. While this solution is simple, this type of solution also causes other problems, such as time consumption and the requirement that the initial placement of the aid is perfect and does not require additional refinement. That is, if the placement is fractionally off target, the user has to pull up the ground stakes and re-aim the aid. Products offered by Well Putt and Visio Putting are examples state of the art devices that are affixed to the ground and cannot be adjusted after they are affixed.

[0007] While this is relatively easy to accomplish, such solutions for keeping the alignment secure by affixing the training device to the ground with stakes is not convenient. Accordingly, there is a need in this field for a training device that can be easily fixed to the ground but nevertheless allows adjustment of aim after the device is affixed to the ground. This would be more convenient and would also allow for fractional adjustments after the device is affixed to the ground.

[0008] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the base having a top surface, a front end, a rear end, a cutout for accepting an anchor plate and positional cutouts for forming a gate.

[0010] Figure 1 B is a schematic representation of a an embodiment of the present invention showing an anchor plate inserted into a cutout in the base.

[0011] Figures 2A and 2B are schematic representations of anchor plates in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention, showing the anchor plate positioned within the cut out as seen from underneath the training device;

[0013] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the anchor plate illustrating the guidelines for aiming.

[0014] Figure 4a is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of an anchor plate according to the present invention.

[0015] Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a base plate according to an embodiment of the present invention, incorporating side channels for passing stakes through to affix the base plate to the ground.

[0016] Figures 6A and 6B are schematic representations of a base plate according to an embodiment of the present invention incorporating gate elements.

[0017] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0018] In embodiments of the present invention, the golf putting training device comprises a base, a gate and an anchor plate (or disk). With reference to Figs. 1 A and 1 B, the base 100 defines a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end 102, a rear end 103, two sides, and comprises a cutout 104 for accepting the anchor plate 105 therein. The anchor plate 200 is also shown in Fig. 2A and 2B. Both the base and the anchor plate can be constructed of 3D printed plastic, but one of skill in the art will understand that other materials are possible, such as various metals.

[0019] Referring back to Fig. 1A, and in an embodiment, and as shown, the top surface of the base 100 can have a center line 106 that can be visually symmetrical to the user to help aim the putter head. In embodiments, a profile of the cut out in the base can be circular as the anchor plate has a circular profile. However, the anchor plate is not limited to having a circular profile, and can have profiles of different shapes, so long as the base can freely rotate relative to the anchor plate. Although the cutout 104 for accepting the anchor plate is shown to be adjacent the rear end 103 of the base 100, the location of the anchor plate is not limited to adjacent the rear end of the base, and can be anywhere on the base. In fact, the anchor plate need not be limited to placement of the top surface of the base, and can be positioned along a side edge of the base, so long as the positioning of the anchor plate allows the free pivoting of the base relative to the anchor plate. As shown in Figs. 1 A and 1 B, the base further comprises positional cutouts for accepting gate posts that, in cooperation with one another, form a “gate” that a golf ball would pass therethrough during a putt. As shown, and in embodiments, the cutouts for the gate posts can optionally, but not necessarily, be positioned adjacent the front end of the base.

[0020] In embodiments, the gate can comprise a combination of a steel plate attached to the base and magnetic posts for placement in the positional cutouts. The magnets can fit securely in the positional cutouts on the top surface of the base and can be strategically placed to provide feedback to the user for miss-hit putts that start off-line. This provides the “gate” for feedback. In embodiments, there can be two positional cutouts that make it easier and harder to pass through the gate for different skill levels. These embodiments are further described with reference to Figures 6A and 6B below. In other embodiments, the gate can be simple holes cut into the base plate that can accept posts therein.

[0021] With reference to Figs. 2A and 2B, one embodiment of the anchor plate 200 defines a top surface and a bottom surface, and at least two anchors 201 , 202 extending downwardly from the bottom surface. A first anchor 201 extends downwardly from about a center of the anchor plate, and a second anchor 202, positioned radially away from the first anchor, extends downwardly. Both the first and second anchors 201 , 202 are adapted to engage a ground portion and extend into the ground, providing a two point anchoring system for positionally securing the anchor plate at a specific desired positioned in the ground. The two point anchoring system also provides a desired alignment of the anchor plate in the ground, and prevents the free rotation of the anchor plate relative to the ground. One of skill in the art will understand that anchor plates with more than two anchors are possible. One of skill in the art will also understand that anchor plates with only one anchor are possible if the anchor is formed in a configuration that provides a firm anchor point in the ground. They key feature is that the anchor is fixed in the ground such that the anchor plate stays still and the base can rotate around the anchor plate. One of skill in the art will also understand that a version of the anchor plate that does not require anchoring in the ground is also possible, so long as the anchor plate remains fixed with respect to the base and the base can rotate freely around the anchor point. This would be desirable in an indoor setting where the user would not want to anchor the anchor plate into artificial turf, for example.

[0022] Visually, the anchor plate defines a top surface that is slightly larger than a golf ball. Thus, when a golf ball is placed on the anchor plate, the user can align their sight line in the most optimal way to facilitate a proper putt, whether that be an alignment that allows the user to see a small sliver of the anchor plate all around the ball, or an alignment that allows the user to see more of the anchor plate on one side of the ball. A skilled golfer will understand the best alignment of line of sight for a particular situation.

[0023] Referring to Figs. 1 A, 1 B and 3, and with further reference to the cutout for accepting the anchor plate, as shown, the cutout 300 (shown from underneath in Figure 3) can further comprise an arcuate slot 301 and an opening 302 for permitting the two anchors of the anchor plate to pass freely therethrough. As shown, the first anchor 303 correspondingly passes through the opening, and the second anchor 304 passes through the arcuate slot. This permits the anchor plate to pass through the base plate, and secure the base plate to the ground. As discussed above, the two point anchoring system allows a user to secure the anchor plate in a desired direction without allowing movement of the anchor plate relative to the ground. The arcuate slot in conjunction with the second anchor allows the base plate to rotate about the anchor plate to allow the user fine adjustment of the base plate.

[0024] Referring to Fig. 4, and as discussed above, the anchor plate 400 comprises a top surface. As shown, the top surface further comprises a plurality of guidelines 401 radially extending outwardly therealong for providing assistance to the user by providing aiming points for the user based on stimpmeter readings (speed of a green) and the slope of a green between the golf ball and the hole. A further embodiment of an anchor plate is shown in Figure 4a. A user might choose this anchor plate from a set of available anchor plates if the user had employed a stimpmeter to determine that the green speed was 10.5. One of skill in the art will understand the usage of a conventional stimpmeter in this manner. The user might also select this anchor plate from a set of available anchor plates if the user, as a skilled golfer, has determined the green speed through taking a few putts on the green. Either method of anchor plate selection falls within the scope of the inventive concepts disclosed herein.

[0025] Further reference to Figure 4a will reveal one long line 402 extending from a ball placement notch, four shorter radially extending lines 403 with two on either side of the long line, and even shorter radially extending lines 404 found between the four shorter radially extending lines. If the user was also optionally using a golf level device to measure the side slope of the green (one of skill in the art will understand the application and use of such a device), they would be able to use these radially extending lines to account for green side slope as follows. If, solely by way of example, the green was found to slope to the left by one percent, the user would align the first to the right of the four even shorter radially extending lines with the center line of the base when anchoring the inventive aiming device to the ground in order to compensate for the side slope. Each of the four shorter radially extending lines account for one percent of side slope and the even shorter radially extending lines also account for one percent of side slope - the lines are configured to be of differing lengths simply to help with visual discernment. The embodiment of the anchor plate shown in Figure 4a can be used for greens with up to 4% slope variability to the left or right, but one of skill in the art will understand that anchor plates can be easily constructed to allow for different amounts of green slope variability and also that the gradients chosen can vary - quarter degree gradients could be used for example, instead of half degree gradients.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a golf training set may be provided that includes a base, gate elements and a set of anchor plates corresponding to different green speeds. Solely by way of example, the inventive set may have ten anchor plates with numbers on them designating green speeds from 8 to 12.5. Each of the anchor plates can be used similarly to the green speed 10.5 anchor plate described herein with reference to Figure 4a. To select an anchor plate from this set, the user would optionally try some putts and use their experience to determine the approximate green speed, or use a stimpmeter. In short, as one of skill in the art will understand, the chosen green speed as reflected on the anchor plate corresponds to the speed that will allow a putt to fall into the centre of the hole when hit from 10 feet away. Different anchor plates from the set will vary with designated green speed in that the guidelines will be spaced differently to account for the interaction of green speed and green slope in terms of how the ball will run depending on these two variables.

[0027] While golf aids with aiming lines corresponding to green slope are known in the art, the present inventors are unaware of a golf training device that allows the user to interchangeably select an element that can be selectively placed in, and removed from, the base device, wherein the selected element is chosen based on measured or experienced green speed. The present inventors are also unaware of any golf training device that also incorporates ground anchoring with free rotation for aim adjustment.

[0028] A further embodiment of the base 500, as shown in Fig. 5, comprises two channel cutouts 501 , one on each side of the base, that allow for stakes to be passed through to provide further points where the base can be affixed to the ground. In this embodiment, the base can be positioned according to user preference by rotating it around the plate (already affixed to the ground), and then stakes can be passed through the channel cutouts to fix the base in position so that it can no longer rotate around the plate. If the user then wishes to aim for a different target, the stakes can be pulled out, the base rotated around the plate, and then the stakes can be passed through the side channels again to disable rotation of the base. As shown in Fig. 5, the side channel cutouts 501 are optionally longitudinal slots so that the stakes can pass through at different locations along the side of the base. This flexibility is important in situations where the base is only rotated a small amount from prior placement of the stakes (a micro-adjustment) - for example, if the stakes were placed at the end of the channel cutout closest to the front of the base in a first positioning of the base, after microadjustment, the stakes can be placed at the end of the side channel closest to the back end of the base so as to find fresh ground for the stakes to anchor in. This allows micro-adjustments to be stable and allows for the position of the plate to remain the same when the base is rotated relative to the plate, thus providing convenience and ease of use.

[0029] In another embodiment of the present invention, Figures 6A and 6B show a base 600 with gate elements 601 placed at the front end of the base. The gates 601 function to allow the user to judge whether they are properly aiming their putts when they see how their putts pass through the gates 601 . If the ball passes through without touching either of the gates, the putt is likely aimed well. If, on the other hand, the ball contacts one or both of the gates when passing through, the putt is likely aimed less well. If the gates 601 are aligned longitudinally, as in Figure 6A, they provide a more relaxed gating function since there is more space for the ball to pass through. If the gates 601 are aligned horizontally, as shown in Figure 6B, they provide a stricter gating function since there is less space for the ball to pass through.

[0030] In the embodiments of Figures 6A and 6B, the gates are optionally constructed of magnetic elements. In these embodiments, the base incorporates a metal with magnetic properties in a sheet between the bottom and top of the base near the front end of the base. This allows for the gates to be releasably affixed to the base easily and conveniently and represents a unique feature of the present invention. The skilled artisan will understand that alternative gate fixation modalities are possible, using alternative materials, but that the magnetic modality provides convenience and ease.

[0031] In sum, the free rotational movement of the base plate relative to the anchor plate allows the user to rotate the base plate to adjust for different targeting points. The adjustment will be based on matching the line on the plate to the line on the anchor plate. The combination of the base plate and the anchor plate allows for relative ease for a user to practice the main important parts of putting all with one training aid; correct read of the putt, correct aim, accurate start-line, and speed control.

[0032] In the embodiments disclosed herein, the training device allows for the base plate to change aim, by rotating relative to the anchor plate, without having to re-do the setup process in order to provide accurate aim for the user. This rotation of the base can be accomplished, according to user preference, by a golf club such as a putter, placed against the back end of the base. The anchors on the chosen anchor plate disk establishes a desired alignment that cannot be altered without removing the anchor plate and the training device from the ground once secured and set up. In embodiments, there can be more than two anchors.

[0033] One of skill in the art will also understand that a golf training aid using the principles disclosed herein regarding different anchor plates for different green speeds would also be conceivable without the need for the device being anchored into the ground if there was another mechanism for the device to stay still on the ground. Solely by way of example, a mat that stayed still on the ground due to friction could have interchangeable ball rests with different guidelines for different green speeds and slopes while still falling within the principles articulated herein.

Claims

What is Claimed Is:1 . A golf training device comprising: a base with a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a back end, two sides, and defining a cutout; an anchor plate with a top surface and a bottom surface and at least two anchor portions extending outward from the bottom surface of the anchor plate; and one or more guide lines drawn on the top surfaces of the base and the anchor plate; wherein the bottom surface of the anchor plate is advanced through the cutout such that the at least two anchor portions are affixed into the area of ground and the base can rotate freely around the anchor plate.2 The golf training device of Claim 1 , configured such that the base can be rotated around the anchor plate allowing for the guide lines to be aligned with a desired golf putt direction.3 The golf training device of Claim 2, further comprising side cutout channels configured to allow stakes to pass through to facilitate additional ground fixation points.4 The golf training device of Claim 2, further comprising gates to facilitate further guidance for golf shot accuracy.5 The golf training device of Claim 1 , wherein the anchor plate incorporates guide lines allowing a user to compensate for golf green side slope.6 The golf training device of Claim 1 , wherein the anchor plate has features specific to golf green speed.7 A golf training device comprising: a base with a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a back end, two sides, and defining a cutout; a set of anchor plates, each with a top surface and a bottom surface and at least two anchor portions extending outward from the bottom surface of the anchor plate, wherein a desired anchor plate may be selected by a user according to measured or experienced green speed; and one or more guide lines drawn on the top surfaces of the base and each of the anchor plates;wherein the bottom surface of each of the anchor plate may be advanced through the cutout such that the at least two anchor portions are affixed into the area of ground and the base can rotate freely around each of the anchor plate.

8. The golf training device of Claim 1 , configured such that the base can be rotated around each of the anchor plates allowing for the guide lines to be aligned with a desired golf putt direction.9 The golf training device of Claim 2, further comprising side cutout channels configured to allow stakes to pass through to facilitate additional ground fixation points.10 The golf training device of Claim 2, further comprising gates to facilitate further guidance for golf shot accuracy.11 The golf training device of Claim 1 , wherein each of the anchor plates incorporate guide lines allowing a user to compensate for golf green side slope.12 The golf training device of Claim 1 , wherein each anchor plate has features specific to a certain golf green speed.13 A method of training a golfer to improve their putting accuracy, comprising: providing a golf training device comprising: a base with a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, a back end, two sides, and defining a cutout; a set of anchor plates, each with a top surface and a bottom surface and at least two anchor portions extending outward from the bottom surface of the anchor plate, wherein a desired anchor plate may be selected by a user according to measured or experienced green speed; and one or more guide lines drawn on the top surfaces of the base and each of the anchor plates; wherein the bottom surface of each of the anchor plate may be advanced through the cutout such that the at least two anchor portions are affixed into the area of ground and the base can rotate freely around each of the anchor plate; instructing the golfer to select an anchor plate based on measured or experienced green speed; instructing the golfer to place the anchor plate in the cutout in the base; instructing the golfer to anchor the anchor plate into the ground;instructing the golfer to rotate the base around the anchor plate to account for green slope; and instructing the golfer to attempt a putt and observe the results before practicing further.

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