Golf Putting Practice Device and Methods of Practicing Putting Thereof

Abstract

A golf putting practice device/simulator and ball return with no moving parts, and method for a golfer to practice putting a golf ball in which the device is located in close proximity to the golfer and the intended target can be of any normal putting distance allowing one to practice golf putts indoors of greater length than indoor spaces normally allow. The device accomplishes this by detecting the speed and the position of the golf ball as it approaches the device. The device is programmed and configured in such a way to accurately approximate the distance and to display the direction the golf ball would have traveled had the path of the ball not be interrupted by device. The practice device can be configured to account for a coefficient of resistance commonly know as the Stimp of the green in its calculations. The device receives and returns the ball to the user then evaluates the putt data. The results are then displayed on the digital display.

1 . A golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball, comprising:
 a. a bounce beam for receiving a putted golf ball from a golfer and for returning said golf ball to the golfer, wherein said golf putting practice device has no moving parts for returning said golf ball to said golfer;   b. a display element, said display element configured for displaying information about said putted golf ball;   c. at least one sensing element, said at least one sensing element being configured to obtain information as to when said putted golf ball approaches said bounce beam;   d. a timing element coupled to said sensing element capable of capturing timing information pertaining to the putted golf ball;   e. a microprocessor coupled to the timing element for receiving information from said timing element, said microprocessor configured to calculates data pertaining to said putted golf ball, said microprocessor further configured to transmit display data to said display element for display to said golfer;   f. and wherein during use of said golf putting practice device, said golf putting practice device is placed a distance from the golfer that is less than the distance that the golfer intends the putted golf ball to travel.   
     
     
         2 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 1 , further comprising a reflective or semi-reflective screen configured to scatter an incoming circular light beam into a line shape parallel to the line of sight of the user and roughly perpendicular to the trajectory of the ball; 
     
     
         3 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 1 , wherein said bounce beam is of sufficient weight to absorb the energy from a putted golf ball and return said putted golf ball to said golfer without any noticeable movement of the golf putting practice device. 
     
     
         4 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 1 , wherein said display element comprises a digital display. 
     
     
         5 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 4 , wherein said digital display comprises at least two digital displays, said at least two digital displays provide information about said putted golf ball comprising at least one of the distance of the putted golf ball had the golf ball not contacted the bounce beam, the speed of the putted golf ball at approximately the time the putted golf ball contacted the bounce beam, the direction of the putted golf ball, user preferences for practicing the putting of a golf ball, and game result information. 
     
     
         6 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 4 , wherein said digital display further comprises a linear array, said linear array configured to display the real-time deceleration and resulting rollout of said putted golf ball. 
     
     
         7 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 1 , wherein said sensing element comprises at least two optical beams, a first optical beam traveling in a substantially perpendicular direction to the direction of the putted golf ball and in a substantially parallel direction to the direction of said bounce beam, and a second optical beam traveling at a known angle in relation to said first optical beam. 
     
     
         8 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 1 , wherein said sensing element comprises at least two optical beams, said at least two optical beams traveling in relation to each other so as to be able to detect a putted golf ball as it approaches said bounce beam, and configured to provide information pertaining to said putted golf ball. 
     
     
         9 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 8 , wherein said at least two optical beams comprises a first optical beam traveling in a substantially perpendicular direction to the direction of the putted golf ball and in a substantially parallel direction to the direction of said bounce beam, and a second optical beam traveling in a substantially parallel direction to the direction of said first optical beam. 
     
     
         10 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 1 , wherein said sensing element comprises at least two accelerometers, piezoelectric sensors, microphones, or strain gauges configured to obtain impact data from said putted golf ball contacting said bounce beam. 
     
     
         11 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 9 , wherein said a timing element comprises at least one timer and at least two accumulators, a first accumulator capable of capturing the time it takes for the putted golf ball to cross said first optical beam, and a second accumulator capable of capturing the time it takes for the putted golf ball to travel from said first optical beam to said second optical beam; 
     
     
         12 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 1 , wherein said data calculated by said microprocessor comprises at least one of the distance of the putted golf ball had the golf ball not contacted the bounce beam, the speed of the putted golf ball at approximately the time the putted golf ball contacted the bounce beam, the direction of the putted golf ball, user preferences for practicing the putting of a golf ball, and game result information. 
     
     
         13 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 1 , wherein said data calculated by said microprocessor is stored in a memory for displaying after the putting of subsequent golf balls. 
     
     
         14 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 12 , wherein said game resultant information comprises information pertaining to a game being played using said golf putting practice device. 
     
     
         15 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 12 , wherein said calculation of distance of the putted golf ball had the golf ball not contacted the bounce beam is based in part on a coefficient of rolling resistance. 
     
     
         16 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 12 , wherein said calculation of the putted golf ball's deceleration is based in part on a user-selectable coefficient of rolling resistance. 
     
     
         17 . The golf putting practice device for practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one foot switch, said at least one foot switch configured to be activated with the golfer's foot to turn the golf putting practice device on or off and to enter at least one golfer's preference. 
     
     
         18 . A method of practicing the putting of a golf ball utilizing a golf putting practice device having a bounce beam, said golf putting practice device having sufficient weight for receiving a putted golf ball from a golfer and for returning said golf ball to the golfer without said golf putting practice device moving a noticeable amount, wherein said golf putting practice device has no moving parts necessary for returning said golf ball to said golfer, comprising the steps of:
 a. placing said golf putting practice device a distance from said golfer that is less than the distance that the golfer intends the putted golf ball to travel;   b. allowing for a golfer to putt a golf ball at said bounce beam;   c. interrupting said putted golf ball using said bounce beam; and   d. returning said putted golf ball to said golfer.   
     
     
         19 . The method of practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 14 , wherein said placing said golf putting practice device a distance from said golfer that is less than the distance that the golfer intends the putted golf ball to travel comprises a substantial distance less than the distance that the golfer intends the putted golf ball to travel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of practicing the putting of a golf ball in  claim 14 , wherein said placing said interrupting and returning said putted golf ball comprises stopping said golf ball from traveling in one direction and sending said putted golf ball moving in the substantially opposite direction.