Putting surface testing apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a putting surface testing apparatus which incorporates a curved guideway shaped and dimensioned to direct a golf ball therealong, and secured to a stand for raising the guideway into an inclined orientation such that a golf ball will roll down the guideway and onto a putting surface to be tested, the apparatus further comprising a receiver slidably mounted on the guideway, and operable to receive and release a golf ball from a desired position along the guideway, from which the condition or other operating parameters of the putting surface may be calculated.

1 . A putting surface testing apparatus comprising a curved guideway shaped and dimensioned to direct a golf ball therealong; a stand for raising the guideway into an inclined orientation; and a receiver for releasing a golf ball from a desired position along the guideway. 
     
     
         2 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the guideway defines a substantially V shaped longitudinally extending channel. 
     
     
         3 . A putting surface apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the receive is slidably mounted to the guideway. 
     
     
         4 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising an immobiliser operable to releasably secure the receiver at a desired position along the guideway. 
     
     
         5 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the stand comprises a pair of legs spaced from one another and a cross member extending therebetween, the guideway being mounted to the cross member. 
     
     
         6 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 5  in which the pair of legs are pivotally mounted to the cross member. 
     
     
         7 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the stand comprises a pair of ground engaging feet. 
     
     
         8 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 7  in which the feet each comprise a curved ground contacting surface. 
     
     
         9 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 7  in which the feet are each substantially spherical. 
     
     
         10 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the guideway comprises a tapered ground contacting end. 
     
     
         11 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 2  in which the guideway comprises a pair of opposed faces which define the channel, the opposed faces describing an angle of between 120 and 170 degrees, more preferably between 130 and 160 degrees, and most preferably 144 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the guideway has a radius of curvature of between 1 m and 2 m, more preferably between 1.3 m and 1.8 m, and most preferably 1.6 m. 
     
     
         13 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the receiver defines a recess arranged to receive a golf ball and to allow the golf ball to travel from the recess down the guideway. 
     
     
         14 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the receiver comprises a release mechanism displaceable between a ball retaining position and a ball release position. 
     
     
         15 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 14  in which the release mechanism is biased towards the ball retaining position. 
     
     
         16 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 13  in which the recess is a substantially semi-circular recess formed in a front wall of the receiver. 
     
     
         17 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 13  in which the recess comprises a through aperture extending from an upper surface of the receiver to the guideway. 
     
     
         18 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 17  in which the receiver comprises an internal passage in communication with the recess at one end and an opening in a front wall of the receiver at an other end, the passage being shaped and dimensioned to enable a golf ball to pass from the recess out of the opening. 
     
     
         19 . A putting surface testing apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the stand is adapted to enable the orientation of the guideway to be adjusted.