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 with a spring-loaded fastener that is positioned above the club head and behind the ball striking face of the club head. The improvements 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 
 a front including a ball striking face,    a back,    a top, and    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 upwardly extending grip, and,  
 (ii) a back portion having a distal end and second upwardly extending 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 ball striking face of the club head and displacing said distal end of said back portion against the back of the club head such that displacing said second grip toward said first grip displaces said distal end of said back portion away from the back of the club head, said fastener including a spring spaced rearwardly away from the ball striking face and above the top of 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 lower edge extending outwardly from the ball striking face and spaced above the ground when the bottom surface of the club head is resting on and substantially parallel to the ground;    said practice device mounted on the club head without contacting the bottom surface of the club head and without extending beneath the club head.