Golf putting training device and method

Abstract

A putting training device having an elongate section with a ball receiving area and a visual target reference or aim point that is positioned in the desired direction of travel of the golf ball. The visual target reference is located a distance from the golf ball receiving area that is selected so that a golfer can focus on the visual target reference when making their swing, thus maintaining their attention on the desired direction of travel of the ball to improve their aim while still being able to see the orientation of the head of the putter during the latter portion of the golfer's stroke and as it hits the ball to be able to provide better club control during the putting swing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf training device comprising
 an elongate member having a first and a second end, and defining an axis that extends along the elongate member;   a golf ball receiving area formed in the elongate member adjacent the first end;   a visual target reference formed on the elongate member and spaced a selected distance from the golf ball receiving area along the axis of the elongate member, wherein the spaced selected distance is selected so that a golfer sees the club head of the putter as it approaches a ball in the golfer's peripheral vision when the golfer is focusing on the visual target reference.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball receiving area comprises a recess. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the recess is circular and has a dimension of 0.85 cm. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the visual target reference is formed to be approximately 1 to 2 inches from the ball receiving area along the axis of the elongate member. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the visual target reference is approximately 1.81 inches from the golf ball receiving area and has a diameter of approximately ⅜ of an inch. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is sized so that a golf ball that is not hit so as to travel along the direction of the axis of the elongate member rolls off of the elongate member before reaching the second end. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the elongate member is approximately 17 inches long and is approximately 1¼ inches wide. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a golf ball and a putter. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cross piece attached to the second end of the elongate member wherein the cross piece extends in a second direction that is perpendicular to the axis of the elongate member. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the cross piece defines openings located on the outer sides of the elongate member and wherein securing devices can be positioned within the openings to secure the device to the ground and so that the securing devices define a target area in the desired direction of travel of the ball for the golfer to aim to hit the ball through. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the cross piece is integrally attached to the elongate member. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the cross piece extends approximately 1 inch in the axis of the elongate member and approximately 3.5 inches in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis of the elongate member. 
     
     
         13 . A method of training a person to putt a golf ball comprising:
 positioning a golf ball in a first location;   identifying a visual target reference at a second location along a desired direction of travel of the golf ball wherein the second location is spaced from the first location by a distance that allows the golfer to focus on the second location while peripherally observing the first location as the golfer swings the putter;   swinging the putter while focusing on the second location.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the second location is approximately 1 to 2 inches from the first location. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the visual target reference is approximately 1.81 inches from the first location and has a diameter of approximately ⅜ of an inch. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second locations are both formed on an elongate member that defines an axis that coincides with the desired direction of travel of the golf ball. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising forming a target along the desired direction of travel of the golf ball. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the target comprises two vertically extending golf tees.