Method and apparatus for practicing putting stroke

Abstract

Improvements are provided for a putter. The putter includes a club head. The improvements are removably mounted on the putter and facilitate the practice of a putting stroke in which the putter club head moves along a path of travel that is generally parallel to the ground.

1 . In combination with a putter having a club head, having front including a ball striking face, a back, and having a bottom surface, the improvements for practicing a putting stroke in which the club head moves along a path of travel substantially parallel to the ground during a backstroke, said improvements comprising a practice device including 
 (a) a body having 
 (i) a front portion having a distal end and a first grip, and,  
 (ii a back portion having a distal end and second grip spaced apart from said first grip;  
   (b) a spring loaded fastener interconnecting said front portion and back portion to generate a forces displacing said distal end of said front portion against the front of the putter and displacing said distal end of said back portion against the back of the putter such that displacing said second grip toward said first grip displaces said distal end of said back portion away from the back of the putter; and    (c) a pair of parallel spaced apart guide panels extending outwardly from said body normal to the ball striking face, each of said panels having a lower edge positioned above the ground when the bottom surface of the club head is resting on and substantially parallel to the ground.    
   
   
       2 . A method for practicing putting using a putter having a club head having a ball striking face and having a bottom surface, the method facilitating a putting stroke in which during the backstroke the club head moves along a path of travel that is substantially parallel to the ground, said method including the steps of 
 (a) providing a practice device including 
 (i) a body,  
 (ii) a fastener connected to said body to removably securing the practice device to the club head, and  
 (iii) a pair of parallel spaced apart guide panels extending outwardly from said body, each of said panels having a lower edge;  
   (b) using said fastener to mount the practice device on the club head such that a lower edge such that 
 (i) said guide panels and lower edges extend outwardly from and are perpendicular to said striking face, and  
 (ii) said lower edges of said panels are each less than about one-quarter inch from the ground when the bottom surface of the club head contacts and is substantially parallel to the ground; and,  
   (c) moving the putter through a backstroke while maintaining said lower edges spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the ground.    
   
   
       3 . In combination with a putter having a club head, having a ball striking face, and having a bottom surface, the improvements for practicing a putting stroke in which the bottom surface of the club head remains substantially parallel to the ground, said improvements comprising a practice device including 
 (a) a body;    (b) a fastener connected to said body and removably securing the practice device to the club head; and    (c) a pair of parallel spaced apart guide panels extending outwardly from said body normal to the ball striking face, each of said panels having a flat face at least one-half inch high and substantially normal to the ground and the ball striking face to facilitate determining when the club head tilts such that the bottom surface is canted with respect to the ground.    
   
   
       4 . In combination with a putter having a club head, having a ball striking face, and having a bottom surface, the improvements for practicing a putting stroke in which the club head moves along a path of travel substantially parallel to the ground during a backstroke, said improvements comprising a practice device including 
 (a) a body;    (b) a fastener connected to said body and removably securing the practice device to the club head;    (c) at least one guide panel extending outwardly from said body normal to the ball striking face, said panel having a lower edge; and,    (d) apparatus for adjusting the position of said guide panel laterally along said body in a direction parallel to the ball striking face while maintaining said guide panel normal to the ball striking face.