Golf putting and training aid

Abstract

A golf putting training aid comprising a raised putting line stretched between respective front an rear reference fixtures; said putting line provided with an adjustable reference marker.

1 . A golf putting training aid comprising a raised putting line stretched between respective front an rear reference fixtures; said putting line provided with an adjustable reference marker.  
   
   
       2 . The training aid of claim I wherein said reference marker and a ball placed directly below said marker define a sighting line substantially normal to a putting surface; said line being a first determinant of the position of a user's head relative to said ball.  
   
   
       3 . The training aid of  claim 1  wherein said respective front and rear reference fixtures each include a respective front and rear target object disposed directly under said raised putting line.  
   
   
       4 . The training aid of  claim 3  wherein said putting line is further provided with respective front and rear adjustable reference markers; each said reference marker adapted for positioning relative to each respective said target object so as to define a sloping front sighting line and a sloping rear sighting line such that said front sighting line and said rear sighting line intersect on said sighting line substantially normal to said putting surface to define a second determinant of the position of the head of a user.  
   
   
       5 . The training aid of  claim 4  wherein said first and second determinant enable a user to maintain his or her head at a position directly above said ball and at a consistent height above said ball for repeated training strokes for a given ball position relative to said front and rear reference markers.  
   
   
       6 . The training aid of  claim 1;  said training aid further comprising first and second side lines disposed on either side of and parallel to said putting line; said side lines stretched between said front and rear reference fixtures at a height above the putting surface so as to allow a golf ball to pass under said side lines.  
   
   
       7 . The training aid of  claim 6  wherein each of said first and second side lines is provided with at least a pair of adjustable reference markers; said reference markers adapted to indicate a notional enclosing box having one end rearward of a golf ball and an opposite end forward of said golf ball so as to define the backswing and follow-through of a putting stroke.  
   
   
       8 . The training aid of  claim 6  wherein each said first and second side lines is provided with at least one additional adjustable reference marker to said pair of adjustable reference markers adapted to indicate a notional transverse line for the aligning of a striking face of a putter at right angles to said putting line when said putter is in an address position relative to a ball.  
   
   
       9 . The training aid of  claim 8  wherein a pair of adjustable reference markers is further adapted to be positioned on their respective side line forward of said golf ball in said address position so as to define a notional exit gate for a golf ball in a breaking putt when said training aid is used on a sloping surface.  
   
   
       10 . The training aid of  claim 6  wherein said putting line and said first and second side lines are elastic lines stretched between respective support posts on each said respective front and rear reference fixture.  
   
   
       11 . The training aid of  claim 7  wherein said reference markers are beads adjustably attached to said putting line and said first and second side lines.  
   
   
       12 . The training aid of  claim 3  wherein said front and rear target objects are white discs.  
   
   
       13 . The training aid of  claim 3  wherein said front and rear target objects are white hemispheres.  
   
   
       14 . The training aid of any  claim 1  wherein said training aid is further provided with at least one putting surface; said putting surface comprising a strip of flexible material adapted to stretch between and under said front and rear reference fixtures.  
   
   
       15 . The training aid of  claim 14  wherein said putting surface is provided in a variety of textured surfaces; said variety of textured surfaces simulating different running characteristics of putting green surfaces.  
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A method for practicing a consistent putting stroke for a straight line putt on a level surface; said method including the steps of:- 
 (a) providing a raised putting line above said putting surface,    (b) arranging forward and rear target objects directly under respective forward and rearward ends of said putting line,    (c) providing adjustable ball, forward and rearward reference markers on said putting line,    (d) placing a golf ball directly under said putting line,    (e) adjusting said ball reference marker so as to define a line substantially normal to said putting surface and centred on said golf ball,    (f) adjusting said forward and rearward markers to define sloping sight lines between respective said markers and said forward and rearward reference markers so that said sight lines intersect at a point on said line substantially normal to said putting surface.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said method includes the further steps of: 
 (a) providing first and second side lines arranged on either side and below said putting line,    (b) providing adjustable reference markers on respective said first and second side lines,    (c) adjusting said reference markers on said side lines so as to form a notional box having a forward end forward of said golf ball and a rearward end rearward of said golf ball, such that the distance between said golf ball and said forward end determines the follow-through portion of a putting stroke and the distance between said golf ball and said rearward end determines the back swing or takeaway of said putting stroke.    
   
   
       19 . A method for practicing a consistent putting stroke for a breaking putt on a transverse sloping putting surface; said method including the steps of: 
 (a) providing a raised putting line above said putting surface,    (b) arranging forward and rear target objects directly under respective forward and rearward ends of said putting line such that said putting line and said target objects define a plane generally normal to said putting surface,    (c) providing adjustable ball, forward and rearward reference markers on said putting line,    (d) placing a golf ball under said putting line so as to be bisected by said plane,    (e) adjusting said ball reference marker so as to define a line substantially normal to said surface and centred on said golf ball,    (f) adjusting said forward and rearward markers to define sloping sight lines between respective said markers and said forward and rearward reference markers so that said sight lines intersect at a point on said line substantially normal to said surface.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said method includes the further steps of: 
 (a) providing first and second side lines arranged on either side and below said putting line,    (b) providing adjustable reference markers on respective said first and second side lines,    (c) adjusting a pair of said reference markers on a first side line further up the slope of said sloping surface from said putting line such that the distance between said golf ball and a forward one of said reference markers determines the follow-through portion of a putting stroke and the distance between said golf ball and a rearward one of said reference markers determines the back swing or takeaway of said putting stroke,    (d) adjusting a pair of said reference markers on a second opposing side line to define an exit target gate for passage of said golf ball after breaking from an initial direction defined by said plane substantially normal to said surface,    (e) adjusting a reference marker on said putting line to indicate a break position where said golf ball departs from a first direction along said plane generally normal to said putting surface.    
   
   
       21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . (canceled)