A device for improving golf putting and chip-shots. The device includes a guide rail supported by a support frame and allowing a shaft guide to travel therealong. The shaft of a putter club is clamped to the shaft guide so as to restrain the shaft from rotation about its longitudinal axis and to prevent axial movement of the shaft relative to the guide. However the shaft is free to pivot within the plane of the putting stroke, that is parallel to the guide rail, and to rotate in a plane transverse of the guide rail. The guide rail is selectively formable into an arcuate shape of desired radius so that the head of the golf club will subscribe a correct path when the shaft guide travels along the guide rail. The frame is attached to the base plate so as to allow relative adjustment in the fore aft direction allowing different angles to the vertical of the plane of the stroke and the different length clubs while retaining the same club head and ball position relative to the plate. The plate includes an alignment line with which a practice ball is aligned in use, and an indicator which is vertically aligned with the alignment line so that the golfer is vertically above the ball when the indicator and line coincide.
A golf putting trainer includes a holder for a putter having a shaft and a head, elements for guiding the holder in a curved movement path and elements for holding the putter head in a position perpendicular to the direction of movement of the holder. The golf putting trainer includes elements for adjusting the curvature of the movement path of the holder both vertically and horizontally.
This invention relates to a golf putting training device adapted to allow a user to develop a putting stroke which is more natural, comfortable, and automatic. The device generally comprises a pair of rod members rigidly mounted to and extending between a pair of end brackets in a vertical plane. A carriage is slidably mounted to the rod members in a manner wherein the carriage may travel in a horizontal direction between the end brackets. Extending from the carriage is an elongate shaft member which includes an openable and closable mounting means for releasably mounting a golf putter to the shaft member. When closed about the shaft portion of the golf putter, the mounting means is adapted to allow the shaft portion of the golf putter to slide axially relative to the mounting means and also is adapted to permit rotational movement of the shaft portion via a ball and socket joint about a generally horizontal axis in a manner wherein the putter may be angularly adjusted relative to the rod members.
A golf training device for chipping or pitching comprises a vertical support means; an arcuate rigid planar sheet having upper, leading, trailing, and lower edge portions describing an arc of approximately 120.degree.; and an adjusting means engaging said sheet and holding said sheet in a predetermined angular relation with said vertical support means; whereby the golfer may swing the clubhead of a golf club along the inner planar surface of said sheet.
A golf stroke instruction device comprising an elongate, pivotally mounted club-engaging component whose range of motion can be selectively controlled by the user. This novel club-engaging component is operatively mounted adjacent at least one generally vertically disposed planar member. The planar member has an upper portion upon which the component is pivotally mounted for free swinging motion, with the planar member also having a face portion as well as a pair of side portions. A motion-limiting arrangement is utilized on each side portion of the planar member, serving to limit the motion of the club-engaging component as it moves along the face portion of the planar member and approaches a side portion. The motion-limiting arrangement I prefer to utilize involves a series of holes along each side portion of the planar member, into any one of which holes, a dowel or golf tee can be selectively inserted by a user of the device, whereby the range of permitted motion of the club-engaging component can be selectively controlled. In some instances I can mount the club-engaging component between a pair of generally planar members of substantially equal size supported in an upright position.
A putting training device and method for training a golfer's muscles to learn, recall and follow the proper putting swing. The training device has a rigid guide rail from which a vertical plate extends perpendicularly. The face of the putter head is held against the vertical plate to insure the face is held perpendicular to the intended trajectory of the golf ball. As the putt swing is made, the plate slides in channel of guide rail, tensioned by elastic band or similar stretchable material. The method is repeated until a swing of similar trajectory can be made without the aid of the putting training device. The device may include a gripping device on the guide rail to secure the training device to the putting surface.
