Golf Putting Training Device and Method of Use

Abstract

A putting training device designed to be inserted into a conventional golf hole to variably decrease the width of the hole while closely maintaining the original depth or length of the hole. The device includes an outer component enabling insertion into a regulation golf hole. The outer component includes a pair of opposing top planar members that serve to reduce width of the opening of the golf hole, but still allowing a regulation golf ball to fall into the hole, all while closely maintaining the original depth, or length from front to back, of the golf hole. The putting training device also includes an inner component that removably nests inside the outer component further reducing the width of the golf hole, while still allowing a regulation golf ball to fall into the hole, while still closely maintaining the original depth of the golf hole.

1 . A system for improving golf putting in a golfing environment having a golf ball and a golf putting hole comprising:
 a cylindrical support ring having a diameter generally equal to the diameter of said golf putting hole capable of being inserted into said golf putting hole,   an opposing pair of top planar surfaces coupled to the cylindrical support ring, said surfaces defining a training hole that is generally rectangular with a width less than the diameter of said golf putting hole but wider than the diameter of said golf ball, and a length generally the same as the diameter of said golf putting hole.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said top planar surfaces are rotatable with respect to said cylindrical support ring. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said top planar surface further comprises an opposing pair of top planar subsurfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein size of said training hole is adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a set of candidate training holes wherein the adjustable size of said training hole is achieved by selecting one candidate training hole for insertion into said cylindrical support ring. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein size of said training hole is adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a set of candidate training holes wherein the adjustable size of said training hole is achieved by selecting one candidate training hole for insertion into said cylindrical support ring. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said top planar surface further comprises an opposing pair of top planar subsurfaces. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein size of said training hole is adjustable. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a set of candidate training holes wherein the adjustable size of said training hole is achieved by selecting one candidate training hole for insertion into said cylindrical support ring. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein size of said training hole is adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a set of candidate training holes wherein the adjustable size of said training hole is achieved by selecting one candidate training hole for insertion into said cylindrical support ring. 
     
     
         13 . A method for improving putting of a golf ball into an unmodified golf hole from a starting position, said unmodified golf hole having a first width wherein said first width substantially equals the diameter of a regulation golf hole, the method comprising the steps of:
 choosing said starting location,   choosing a second width of said golf hole wherein said second width is smaller than said first width,   forming a reduced width golf hole by reducing the width of said unmodified golf hole to said second width perpendicular to a target line defined as the line having one endpoint at said starting location and having a second endpoint at the center of said golf hole while maintaining the width of said golf hole parallel to said target line at said first width,   wherein a golf ball putted substantially on said target line from said starting location at a speed wherein said golf ball would drop into said regulation golf hole will drop into said reduced width golf hole,   wherein a golf ball putted substantially on said target line from said starting location at a speed wherein said golf ball would fail to drop into said regulation golf hole will fail to drop into said reduced width golf hole.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said starting position is on a golfing green having said unmodified golf hole. 
     
     
         15 . A system for improving putting of a golf ball into an unmodified golf hole from a starting position, said unmodified golf hole having a first width wherein said first width substantially equals the diameter of a regulation golf hole comprising:
 a golf hole width reducer which reduces the width of said unmodified golf hole to said second width perpendicular to a target line defined as the line having one endpoint at said starting location and having a second endpoint at the center of said golf hole while maintaining the width of said golf hole parallel to said target line at said first width,   wherein when a said starting location is chosen, and a second width of said golf hole is chosen, and said golf hole width reducer is deployed to form a reduced width golf hole having said second width, wherein said second width is smaller than said first width, such that a golf ball putted substantially on said target line from said starting location at a speed wherein said golf ball would drop into said regulation golf hole will drop into said reduced width golf hole,   wherein when a said starting location is chosen, and a second width of said golf hole is chosen, and said golf hole width reducer is deployed to form a reduced width golf hole having said second width, wherein said second width is smaller than said first width, a golf ball putted substantially on said target line from said starting location at a speed wherein said golf ball would fail to drop into said regulation golf hole will fail to drop into said reduced width golf hole.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said starting position is on a golfing green having said unmodified golf hole.