Putting distance and putting line trainer

Abstract

The present invention relates in general to golf training devices and, more specifically, to a portable putting trainer suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Unlike other putting training devices, the trainer of the invention provides feedback to the user concerning the speed of the putt, its direction, and the distance it would have traveled past the hole if not holed, collects, sorts and retains putted balls according to direction and predetermined distance ranges, and particularly trains the user to strike the ball on the proper line with such force as to impart an initial speed sufficient to at least cover the distance to the hole with a safe speed margin in reserve, and preferably with the optimum speed. It accomplishes this by means of a target, a ramp, and one or more troughs and stalls constructed to identify, sort and retain balls according to direction and predetermined distance ranges.

What we claim as our invention is:  
     
         1 . A portable putting distance and putting line trainer, comprising a base component intended to rest on a practice putting surface or putting green, a target affixed to the base component and elevated above the base of the base component, at which a practicing golfer aims a putted ball, and at least one ramp up to and ahead of the target and at least one trough below the level of and behind the target.  
     
     
         2 . A portable putting distance and putting line trainer, comprising a base component intended to rest on a practice putting surface or putting green, a target on a substantially horizontal surface of the base component at which a practicing golfer, putting on a practice surface or a putting green, aims a putted ball, and at least one ramp up to and ahead of the target and at least one trough below and behind the target, wherein the trough captures certain putted balls whose speeds when they first encounter the trainer are within a certain pre-determined range, corresponding to a range of distances beyond the target that a putted ball would have traveled in the absence of the trainer.  
     
     
         3 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 2 , wherein the range of distances beyond the target is between 6″ and 24″.  
     
     
         4 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the target is marked on a substantially horizontal surface behind the ramp and has the width of a regulation golf hole.  
     
     
         5 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the target is a circle marked on a substantially horizontal surface behind the ramp and has the diameter of a regulation golf hole.  
     
     
         6 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 2 , wherein the target is a hole in a substantially horizontal surface behind the ramp, with the diameter of a regulation golf hole, and depth, when uncovered, sufficient to retain a putted ball.  
     
     
         7 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 6 , wherein the hole is substantially covered by a plate which is stably but loosely supported in the hole such that its upper surface is between {fraction (1/16)}″ and ⅛″ below the substantially horizontal surface.  
     
     
         8 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 7 , wherein the plate is removable.  
     
     
         9 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 7 , wherein the plate is made of material which vibrates in a way so as to make audible noise when a golf ball rolls over it.  
     
     
         10 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 7 , wherein the plate has a surface treated in such a way so as to make audible noise when a golf ball rolls over it.  
     
     
         11 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 6 , wherein the plate is in substantially the same plane as the substantially horizontal surface.  
     
     
         12 . The portable putting distance and putting fine trainer of  claim 11 , wherein the plate is made of material which vibrates in a way so as to make audible noise when a golf ball rolls over it.  
     
     
         13 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 11 , wherein the plate has a surface treated in such a way so as to make audible noise when a golf ball rolls over it.  
     
     
         14 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the trough has a first descending slope and a second ascending slope., and wherein the highest point on the second slope is higher than the highest point on the first slope.  
     
     
         15 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 2 , wherein the trough has a first descending slope and a second ascending slope, and wherein the highest point on the second slope is higher than the highest point on the first slope.  
     
     
         16 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom of the trough slopes to either side of the trainer from a highest point proximate to a center line parallel to the practice putting direction, such that a putted ball which is within that range of speeds to be captured by the trough is expelled to the sides of the trainer and out of the way of subsequently putted balls.  
     
     
         17 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 15 , wherein the height difference between the substantially horizontal surface and the practice surface is such that any ball which would have rolled at least 6″ beyond the target hole enters the trough, and wherein the height difference between the highest points on the respective second and first slopes of the trough is such that the trough will capture and expel to the sides those putted balls which would have traveled no more than a predetermined distance which is no more than 24″ beyond the target hole in the absence of the putting trainer.  
     
     
         18 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 15 , wherein there are at least two troughs.  
     
     
         19 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 15 , wherein there are at least two troughs and a rear stall.  
     
     
         20 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 18 , wherein each trough has a first descending slope and a second ascending slope, and wherein the highest point on the second slope of each trough is higher than the highest point on the first slope of the respective trough.  
     
     
         21 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 20 , wherein the heights of the substantially horizontal surface and the highest point of the second ascending slope of the first trough are adjusted such that a putted ball which would have traveled at least a first predetermined distance range beyond the target hole is captured by the first of the troughs and then expelled to the sides of the trainer by slopes in the bottom of the first of the troughs, and wherein the highest point of the second trough is adjusted such that a putted ball which would have traveled at least a second predetermined distance range beyond the target hole is captured by the second of the troughs and then expelled to the sides of the trainer by slopes in the bottom of the second of the troughs.  
     
     
         23 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of claim  22 , wherein the first predetermined distance range is a range whose lower limit is at least 6″ and whose upper limit is at least 18″ and at most 30″, and wherein the second predetermined distance range is a range whose lower limit is approximately equal to the upper limit of the first predetermined distance range and whose upper limit is at least 24″ and at most 48″.  
     
     
         24 . The portable putting distance and putting line trainer of  claim 23 , wherein a stall of at least the width of one golf ball diameter and with a rear lip running across the path of the putted ball is included beyond the second trough, and wherein the height of the rear lip is adjusted to capture balls which would have traveled more than a second, but no more than a third, predetermined distance beyond the target hole.