Golf ball marking system

Abstract

In accordance with the invention, a golf ball is marked with two equatorial O-rings adjacent an equator of the ball and equally spaced therefrom, which are in a golfer's full view of the top side of the ball when the ball is accurately aligned to its desired initial starting line and a golfer is properly positioned to putt. The polar regions of the ball are also imprinted with a pattern which is essentially invisible to the golfer when properly positioned to putt. When the ball is aligned to a particular starting direction, and properly struck precisely and squarely and rolls purely in that starting direction, the equatorial O-rings will roll without wobble, and the polar O-rings will remain essentially invisible to the golfer. But when side spin is imparted to the ball at impact, the equatorial O-rings (circumferential lines) will appear to wobble as the ball rolls, and the polar O-rings will become periodically visible and emphasize the appearance of wobble. The quantity of the polar region imprints which become visible and obvious, and which enhance the appearance of wobble as the ball is rolling, provides an indication of the extent to which side spin has been imparted to the ball by the putting stroke. This feedback to the golfer after every putt, as to the magnitude of the apparent wobble (i.e. amount of side spin) his or her stroke imparted at impact, allows the golfer to differentiate between good and poor putting strokes. Such learning will inevitably help the golfer improve his or her putting. A putter for use with the ball marked as described above includes a central region which simulates the appearance of a golf ball cover. Two lines are printed on this central region converging from the back of the putter toward the front surface with the lines adapted to be aligned with the equatorial O-rings on the ball. The regions of the upper surface of the putter contiguous to the central region may be printed or painted with a coating that simulates grass.

1 . A golf ball, comprising two equatorial O-rings printed on the ball, the o-rings being spaced close to but equidistant apart from an equator of the ball, and markings printed in the polar regions of the ball, whereby the movement of the o-rings and markings when a ball is rolling indicates whether or not a ball has been squarely struck and the extent, if any, to which side spin was imparted to the ball at impact.  
   
   
       2 . A golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the marking printed in each polar region is an o-ring parallel to the two equatorial o-rings, the polar o-rings being essentially invisible to a golfer when aligning a putt, when the ball is properly aimed along its desired starting line.  
   
   
       3 . A golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the marking printed in the polar regions comprises a pair of solid lobes extending in opposite directions, the polar lobes being essentially invisible to a golfer when aligning a putt, when the ball is properly aimed along its desired starting line.  
   
   
       4 . A golf ball according to  claim 3 , wherein the patterns printed in the polar regions are offset from each other by 90°.  
   
   
       5 . For use with a golf ball according to  claim 1 , a putter including an upper central region simulating the cover of a golf ball and two marking lines printed on the surface of said central region and adapted to align with the equatorial o-rings of the golf ball.  
   
   
       6 . A putter according to  claim 5 , wherein the lines printed on the central region of the putter converge from the back of the putter toward the front.  
   
   
       7 . A putter according to  claim 6 , wherein the upper central region of the putter is shaped with converging edges which line up with the polar markings of the golf ball.  
   
   
       8 . A putter according to  claim 7 , wherein the putter includes areas adjoining said central region, said areas containing a surface coating simulating grass.  
   
   
       9 . A putter according to  claim 5 , wherein a top tray insert forms said upper central region, said top tray insert being secured to the putter and including a vertical surface adapted to contact the golf ball during the putting stroke.  
   
   
       10 . A putter according to  claim 9 , wherein the lines printed on the top tray insert converge from the back of the putter toward the front.  
   
   
       11 . A putter according to  claim 10 , wherein the top tray insert includes converging side edges which line up with the polar markings of the golf ball.  
   
   
       12 . A putter according to  claim 11 , wherein the putter includes areas adjoining said top tray insert, said areas containing a surface coating simulating grass.