Putting guide method and apparatus

Abstract

A putting reference guide apparatus and method including a plurality of tabular reference indicia representing the expected break amount for a putt based on an estimated perpendicular distance from a straight-aimed putt.

1 . A putting reference guide comprising:
 a plurality of tabular reference indicia representing an expected break amount for a putt based on an estimated perpendicular distance from a straight-aimed putt.   
     
     
         2 . The putting reference guide of  claim 1  further comprising a ratio to a base number indicia wherein the break amounts can be adjusted for uphill or downhill directions by applying the ratio to the base number. 
     
     
         3 . The putting reference guide of  claim 1  wherein relative speed data is included indicating the ratio of how hard a putt must be hit relative to the equivalent force across a flat surface or a cross-hill putt. 
     
     
         4 . The putting reference guide of  claim 2  wherein, additional data representing putts across different grades of slope are displayed. 
     
     
         5 . The putting reference guide of  claim 2  wherein, additional data representing putts across different green speeds, or stimp values, are displayed. 
     
     
         6 . A method for improving golf play comprising, for each selected golf hole of a golf course played, the steps of:
 (a) selecting a corresponding putting reference guide from a plurality of putting reference guides for a hole, each guide correlated to a golf hole of a golf course, the putting reference guide comprising a plurality of tabular reference indicia representing the expected break amount for a putt based on its distance from a straight-aimed putt;   (b) estimating the position of a straight-aimed putt back to the hole at roughly the same linear distance as the actual putt;   (c) estimating the average grade of the slope that the putt will be roiling across as it travels to the hole;   (d) estimating the distance of the desired golf stroke from the straight-aimed reference point; and   (e) locating in the tabular data the intersection of distance and slope to find a pre-calculated approximation of an expected break amount representing the amount to the left or the right of the hole for aiming based on the intersection being located in the left or right half of the putting guide, respectively.   
     
     
         8 . The method of claim  7  wherein the pre-calculated break amounts can be adjusted by applying a ratio to account for uphill and downhill putt directions. 
     
     
         9 . The method of claim  7  wherein a speed value is assigned to the putt calculated as a ratio or the linear distance of the ball position to the hole. 
     
     
         10 . The method of claim  7  wherein for intermediate distances, an average expected break amounts is used. 
     
     
         11 . The method of claim  7  wherein for intermediate distances, an average of the expected break amounts is used. 
     
     
         13 . A computer implemented method, comprising, for each selected golf hole of a golf course played, the steps of:
 (a) receiving a selection of a corresponding putting reference guide from a plurality of putting reference guides for a hole, each guide correlated to a golf hole of a golf course the putting reference guide comprising a plurality of tabular reference indicia or relational data representing the expected break amount for a putt based on its distance from a straight-aimed putt;   (b) receiving an estimated position of a straight-aimed putt back to the hole at roughly the same linear distance as an actual putt;   (c) receiving an estimated average grade of the slope that the putt will be roiling across as it travels to the hole;   (d) receiving an estimated distance of the desired golf stroke from the straight-aimed reference point;   (e) outputting from the tabular data or relational data the intersection of the distance and slope that comprises a pre-calculated approximation of an expected break amount representing the amount to the left or the right of the hole for aiming based on the intersection being located in the left or right half of the putting guide, respectively; and   (f) displaying the approximation of the expected break amount.   
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer readable media comprising computer code stored thereon for implementing the steps of  claim 13 . 
     
     
         15 . A printed booklet comprising the putting reference guide of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A method of using a putting reference guide comprising a plurality of tabular reference indicia representing the expected break amount for a putt based on its distance from a straight-aimed putt, the method comprising:
 (a) selecting a corresponding putting reference guide from a plurality of putting reference guides for a hole, each guide correlated to a golf hole of a golf course;   (b) estimating the position of a straight-aimed putt back to the hole at roughly the same linear distance as the actual putt;   (c) estimating the average grade of the slope that the putt will be roiling across as it travels to the hole;   (d) estimating the distance of the desired golf stroke from the straight-aimed reference point; and   (e) ascertaining from the tabular data the intersection of distance and slope to find a pre-calculated approximation of an expected break amount representing the amount to the left or the right of the hole for aiming based on the intersection being located in the left or right half of the putting guide, respectively.   
     
     
         17 . A method of teaching for improving golf play comprising, for each selected golf hole of a golf course played, the steps of:
 (a) providing a putting reference guide comprising a plurality of tabular reference indicia representing the expected break amount for a putt based on its distance from a straight-aimed putt;   (b) selecting a corresponding putting reference guide from a plurality of putting reference guides for a hole, each guide correlated to a golf hole of a golf course and including, for said golf hole;   (c) estimating the position of a straight-aimed putt back to the hole at roughly the same linear distance as the actual putt;   (d) estimating the average grade of the slope that the putt will be roiling across as it travels to the hole;   (e) estimating the distance of the desired golf stroke from the straight-aimed reference point; and   (f) ascertaining from the tabular data the intersection of distance and slope to find a pre-calculated approximation of an expected break amount representing the amount to the left or the right of the hole for aiming based on the intersection being located in the left or right half of the putting guide, respectively.