A training device useful with a putter having a head and a shaft extending from the head has a sight line, which may be delineated by a taut string, and two rails for guiding the shaft as the putter is swung through a limited range defined by the rails. The limited range includes an intermediate position, in which the head of the putter is positioned in a lowermost position, a subrange of back-swing positions, in which the head of the putter is raised from the lowermost position, and a subrange of follow-through positions, in which the head is raised from the lowermost position. Each rail has a guiding surface. The rails are adapted to be adjustably curved into any of various configurations such that the shaft when guided along the guiding surfaces is positioned in a position farthest from the sight line when the putter is positioned in the intermediate position with the head positioned in the lowermost position and such that the shaft is positioned in positions closer to the sight line when the putter is swung through either subrange with the head raised from the lowermost position. The rails are arranged such that an imaginary line tangent to the guiding surfaces of the rails, in an imaginary plane intersecting the rails at any position within the limited range, is inclined approximately at a constant inclination relative to a horizontal plane. The rails are adjustable so as to adjust the constant inclination.
Improvement in a golf training device having a guide bar having a horizontally disposed straight portion thereof for guiding the back and forth movement of the shaft of a golf club while a golfer practices therewith, the improvement being in the arrangement supporting the guide bar, such arrangement utilizing the weight of the golfer to steady the position thereof during use of the golf training device and including a foot mat upon which the golfer can stand, the foot mat having top and bottom surfaces, a straight front edge and front corners at opposite ends of the front edge, a pair of support structures at such front corners, respectively, which upstand from the top surface of the foot mat for gripping opposite ends of the guide bar, respectively, to hold it in place, the support structures holding the straight portion of the guide bar bar disposed above such top surface and forwardly of such front edge, the golfer being able to stand upon the foot mat behind the pair of support structures, whereby his weight steadies the position of the guide bar during use of the golf training device.
A device and method for improving the putting of a golf ball is described herein. The instructional device employs a sighting member and a shaft guide to assist in aligning and stroking a golf putt. The device is configured such that a golfer or instructor may develop each putting skill independently or in combination with the other skills. The device comprises two stands, set apart, with the sighting member attached to the top of each stand. A square face indicator may be positioned perpendicular to the sighting member, and the shaft guide may couple to a side of the stands. A method for improving the putting of a golf ball is also described herein, where the method addresses finding and verifying a sight line that extends from a golf ball to a desired target, aligning a golf putter face squarely to said sight line, and moving a putter shaft parallel to said sight line.
This invention is comprised of an apparatus which provides improved means for perfecting the art of putting of a golf ball by a golfer. It allows for refining a golfer's putting skill by making the starting and ending points of the putting stroke easy to evaluate. The apparatus is a rectangualr frame which is placed on the ground with the head of the putter inside the frame and perpendicular to the long sides of the frame. A golf ball is placed on the ground roughly in the center of the frame. The putter is drawn back a given distance to the edge of an adjustable backstop. At the end of the stroke the putter just contacts a flexible rod whose positoin along the frame can be adjusted. The frame has both fixed and adjustable markings to allow the golfer to judge the beginning of the putting stroke and the follow through.
The present invention is a golf putter practice apparatus designed and configured to aid and improve a golfer's putting capabilities through repetitious use. The present invention is a frame structure having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion will be located on the desired surface for putting and the upper portion will be elevated from this lower portion. The lower portion acts as a supports and supports the upper portion which includes a horizontal bar member. This horizontal bar member acts as a guide. Thus for utilization, the user places a golf ball in front of the horizontal bar member. The club's head is placed behind the ball and the shaft will rest against the horizontal bar. This will force the shaft to move in a straight and forward position thus improving on the golfer's swing and putting capabilities.
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.
