Method of training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills and a device used for such training

Abstract

A method of training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills and a device used for such training. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A method of using a practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills, said practice device comprising: a vertical anchoring bar being configured to be inserted into a ground surface; a support bar being connected to and held by said vertical anchoring bar in a horizontal position perpendicular to said vertical anchoring bar; an elongated alignment bar being connected to and held by said support bar in a horizontal position perpendicular to said support bar; said support bar comprising a first end being connected to said vertical anchoring bar, and a second end being connected to said alignment bar; a mounting bracket being disposed on top of said alignment bar; a laser device being held in said mounting bracket; said laser device being configured and disposed to project a light beam in a direction parallel to the length dimension of said alignment bar to assist a golfer in aligning said alignment bar with an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting a golf ball into a hole; said support bar and said alignment bar being configured to provide a golfer with a reference in which to orient his putter face parallel to said support bar and perpendicular to said alignment bar; said alignment bar comprising a first end and a second end opposite said first end; said first end of said alignment bar comprising a guide spot disposed on the top surface thereof and being configured to be viewed by a golfer as a reference and aiming point under which the golfer may direct a golf ball to cause the golf ball to initially follow an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting the golf ball into a hole; said alignment bar being configured to provide said golfer with a reference in which to strike said golf ball to follow a path under and along said alignment bar, and thus initially along an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting a golf ball into a hole; and said spot or said indicating dot being configured to aid a golfer in imagining said spot or indicating dot upon putting a golf ball without the use of said practice device, said method comprising the steps of:
 determining an aim line sufficient for putting a golf ball into a hole;   inserting said vertical anchoring bar into the ground with said alignment bar approximately aligned with the aim line;   placing a golf ball under said alignment bar and slightly ahead of said support bar in the direction of travel of the putt;   finally adjusting the alignment of said alignment bar to precisely align said alignment bar and said laser beam with the aim line;   holding a putter such that the putter head is immediately adjacent the golf ball and under said alignment bar, and the putter face is oriented parallel to said support bar and perpendicular to said alignment bar, and thus perpendicular to the aim line;   focusing on said guide spot and substantially simultaneously executing a putting stroke to strike the golf ball to move the golf ball under said guide spot and initially along the aim line; and   repeating the putting stroke while focusing on said guide spot until the golfer can successfully putt the golf ball into the hole without utilizing the practice device.   
   
   
       16 . The method of using a practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills according to  claim 15 , wherein said vertical anchoring bar is rotatable to permit adjustment of the position of said support bar and said alignment bar, and said step of adjusting the alignment of said alignment bar comprises rotating said vertical anchoring bar. 
   
   
       17 . The method of using a practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills according to  claim 16 , wherein said practice device is in combination with a laser target being configured to be positioned a distance from said practice device and having a rough finish to reflect the laser beam to permit the user to more easily view and align the laser beam, and thus the alignment bar, with an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting a golf ball into a hole, said method further comprises:
 placing said laser target several feet away from said practice device and along the aim line; and   adjusting the alignment of said alignment bar and said laser device until the laser beam strikes and visibly appears on said laser target.   
   
   
       18 . A practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills, said practice device comprising:
 a vertical anchoring bar being configured to be vertically oriented with respect to a ground surface;   a support bar being connected to and held by said vertical anchoring bar in a horizontal position perpendicular to said vertical anchoring bar;   an elongated alignment bar being connected to and held by said support bar in a horizontal position perpendicular to said support bar;   said support bar comprising a first end being connected to said vertical anchoring bar, and a second end being connected to said alignment bar;   said support bar and said alignment bar being configured to provide a golfer with a reference in which to orient his putter face parallel to said support bar and perpendicular to said alignment bar;   said alignment bar comprising a first end and a second end opposite said first end;   said first end of said alignment bar comprising a guide spot disposed on the top surface thereof and being configured to be viewed by a golfer as a reference and aiming point under which the golfer may direct a golf ball to cause the golf ball to initially follow an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting the golf ball into a hole;   said alignment bar being configured to provide said golfer with a reference in which to strike said golf ball to follow a path under and along said alignment bar, and thus initially along an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting a golf ball into a hole; and   said spot or said indicating dot being configured to aid a golfer in imagining said spot or indicating dot upon putting a golf ball without the use of said practice device.   
   
   
       19 . The practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills according to  claim 18 , said practice device further comprising:
 a mounting bracket being disposed on top of said alignment bar;   a laser device being held in said mounting bracket; and   said laser device being configured and disposed to project a light beam in a direction parallel to the length dimension of said alignment bar to assist a golfer in aligning said alignment bar with an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting a golf ball into a hole.   
   
   
       20 . The practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills according to  claim 19 , wherein said vertical anchoring bar is rotatable to permit adjustment of the position of said support bar and said alignment bar, and is configured to be inserted into a ground surface. 
   
   
       21 . The practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills according to  claim 20 , further comprising a counterweight being configured to receive and hold said vertical anchoring bar in a vertical position to permit use of said practice device on a surface in which said vertical anchoring bar cannot be inserted. 
   
   
       22 . The practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills according to  claim 21 , in combination with a laser target being configured to be positioned a distance from said practice device and having a rough finish to reflect the laser beam to permit the user to more easily view and align the laser beam, and thus the alignment bar, with an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting a golf ball into a hole. 
   
   
       23 . A method of using a practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills, said practice device comprising: a vertical anchoring bar being configured to be vertically oriented with respect to a ground surface; a support bar being connected to and held by said vertical anchoring bar in a horizontal position perpendicular to said vertical anchoring bar; an elongated alignment bar being connected to and held by said support bar in a horizontal position perpendicular to said support bar; said support bar comprising a first end being connected to said vertical anchoring bar, and a second end being connected to said alignment bar; said support bar and said alignment bar being configured to provide a golfer with a reference in which to orient his putter face parallel to said support bar and perpendicular to said alignment bar; said alignment bar comprising a first end and a second end opposite said first end; said first end of said alignment bar comprising a guide spot disposed on the top surface thereof and being configured to be viewed by a golfer as a reference and aiming point under which the golfer may direct a golf ball to cause the golf ball to initially follow an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting the golf ball into a hole; said alignment bar being configured to provide said golfer with a reference in which to strike said golf ball to follow a path under and along said alignment bar, and thus initially along an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting a golf ball into a hole; and said spot or said indicating dot being configured to aid a golfer in imagining said spot or indicating dot upon putting a golf ball without the use of said practice device, said method comprising the steps of:
 determining an aim line sufficient for putting a golf ball into a hole;   vertically orienting said vertical anchoring bar with respect to the ground with said alignment bar approximately aligned with the aim line;   placing a golf ball under said alignment bar and slightly ahead of said support bar in the direction of travel of the putt;   finally adjusting the alignment of said alignment bar to precisely align said alignment bar with the aim line;   holding a putter such that the putter head is immediately adjacent the golf ball and under said alignment bar, and the putter face is oriented substantially parallel to said support bar and substantially perpendicular to said alignment bar, and thus substantially perpendicular to the aim line;   focusing on said guide spot and substantially simultaneously executing a putting stroke to strike the golf ball to move the golf ball under said guide spot and initially along the aim line; and   repeating the putting stroke while focusing on said guide spot until the golfer can successfully putt the golf ball into the hole without utilizing the practice device.   
   
   
       24 . The method of using a practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills according to  claim 23 , wherein said vertical anchoring bar is rotatable to permit adjustment of the position of said support bar and said alignment bar, and said step of adjusting the alignment of said alignment bar comprises rotating said vertical anchoring bar. 
   
   
       25 . The method of using a practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills according to  claim 24 , wherein said practice device further comprises: a mounting bracket being disposed on top of said alignment bar; a laser device being held in said mounting bracket; and said laser device being configured and disposed to project a light beam in a direction parallel to the length dimension of said alignment bar to assist a golfer in aligning said alignment bar with an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting a golf ball into a hole, and said step of adjusting the alignment of said alignment bar further comprises aligning the laser beam with the aim line. 
   
   
       26 . The method of using a practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills according to  claim 25 , wherein said practice device is in combination with a laser target being configured to be positioned a distance from said practice device and having a rough finish to reflect the laser beam to permit the user to more easily view and align the laser beam, and thus the alignment bar, with an aim line determined by the golfer to be sufficient for putting a golf ball into a hole, said method further comprises:
 placing said laser target several feet away from said practice device and along the aim line; and   adjusting the alignment of said alignment bar and said laser device until the laser beam strikes and visibly appears on said laser target.   
   
   
       27 . The method of using a practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills according to  claim 26 , wherein said practice device further comprises a counterweight being configured to receive and hold said vertical anchoring bar in a vertical position to permit use of said practice device on a ground surface, and said step of vertically orienting said vertical anchoring bar with respect to the ground comprises placing said counterweight on a ground surface and inserting said vertical anchoring bar into said counterweight. 
   
   
       28 . The method of using a practice device for training a golfer to improve his or her putting skills according to  claim 26 , wherein said vertical anchoring bar is configured to be inserted into a ground surface, and said step of vertically orienting said vertical anchoring bar with respect to the ground comprises inserting said vertical anchoring bar into said ground surface.