Portable putting range adaptable for break adjustment

Abstract

A golf putting practice device having a synthetic playing surface is supported by a flexible elastic substrate to produce natural curves and playing surface angles. Markings sequentially placed on the playing surface provide the user with feedback as to the proper angle of club impact with the ball, and club force, to achieve sufficient ball speed and trajectory angle to sink a putt on an angled practice surface.

1 . A golf putting training device for improving the putting of a golfer, the golf putting training device comprising:
 a playing surface having an upper surface adapted for putting and a lower surface opposite said upper surface;   means to suspend a portion of said playing surface above a support surface thereby forming a gap between said lower surface and said support surface;   at least one component member, said component member positionable in said gap to a plurality of engaged positions within said gap, said component member dimensioned to contact both said lower surface and said support surface when positioned in any of said engaged positions;   said component member in any said engaged position defining the slant upon said upper surface, said slant being generally downward from said engaged position and toward said support surface; and   said slant imparting a break in the trajectory of a golf ball putted across said upper surface from a starting position toward past said engaged position toward a distal end of said upper surface, whereby a user of said training device can practice putting said golf ball along a curved said trajectory toward a target hole for said golf ball positioned adjacent to said distal end of said upper surface.   
   
   
       2 . The golf putting training device of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said component member being one of a kit of said component members being dimensioned to create a different said slant to said upper surface whereby said slant may be varied by said user to practice different said trajectories for said ball to said target hole.   
   
   
       3 . The golf putting training device of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 a plurality of said slants being formed in said upper surface by a plurality of said component members from said kit being inserted to respective said engaged positions; and   a plurality of slants being formed on said upper surface providing said user a said upper surface adapted to practice putting said ball along a said trajectory to said target hole which includes multiple said slants to be accommodated by said trajectory imparted to said ball by said user with a golf club.   
   
   
       4 . The golf putting training device of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 said lower surface provided by the underside of a substantially planar elastic substrate engaged to said lower surface of said playing surface; and   said elastic substrate providing means to prevent intersecting planar surfaces along said upper surface along portions having said slant and thereby form curves along said slant of said upper surface in a manner mimicking natural turf.   
   
   
       5 . The golf putting training device of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 said lower surface provided by the underside of a substantially planar elastic substrate engaged to said lower surface of said playing surface; and   said elastic substrate providing means to prevent intersecting planar surfaces along said upper surface along portions having said slant and thereby form curves along said slant of said upper surface in a manner mimicking natural turf.   
   
   
       6 . The golf putting training device of  claim 3  additionally comprising:
 said lower surface provided by the underside of a substantially planar elastic substrate engaged to said lower surface of said playing surface; and   said elastic substrate providing means to prevent intersecting planar surfaces along said upper surface along portions having said slant and thereby form curves along said slant of said upper surface in a manner mimicking natural turf.   
   
   
       7 . The golf putting training device of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and   whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       8 . The golf putting training device of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and   whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       9 . The golf putting training device of  claim 3  additionally comprising:
 visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and   whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       10 . The golf putting training device of  claim 4  additionally comprising:
 visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and   whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       11 . The golf putting training device of  claim 5  additionally comprising:
 visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and   whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       12 . The golf putting training device of  claim 6  additionally comprising:
 visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and   whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       13 . The golf putting training device of  claim 7  wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:
 a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;   said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;   each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;   a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;   a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and   whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       14 . The golf putting training device of  claim 8  wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:
 a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;   said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;   each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;   a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;   a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and   whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       15 . The golf putting training device of  claim 9  wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:
 a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;   said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;   each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;   a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;   a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and   whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       16 . The golf putting training device of  claim 10  wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:
 a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;   said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;   each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;   a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;   a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and   whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       17 . The golf putting training device of  claim 11  wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:
 a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;   said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;   each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;   a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;   a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and   whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       18 . The golf putting training device of  claim 12  wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:
 a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;   said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;   each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;   a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;   a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and   whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.   
   
   
       19 . The golf putting training device of  claim 1  wherein said means to suspend a portion of said playing surface above a support surface thereby forming a gap between said lower surface and said support surface comprises:
 said distal end of said playing surface engaged to and endwall at a position above said support surface; and   opposing side edges along said portion being engaged to guide members at a position above said support surface.   
   
   
       20 . The golf putting training device of  claim 13  wherein said means to suspend a portion of said playing surface above a support surface thereby forming a gap between said lower surface and said support surface comprises:
 said distal end of said playing surface engaged to and endwall at a position above said support surface; and   opposing side edges along said portion being engaged to guide members at a position above said support surface.