Putting practice tracking and analysis system

Abstract

A putting system that utilizes a computing system to process signals from sensors that are built into the apparatus is described. The sensors track a golf ball rolling along a putting mat to determine both the speed and location of the putt. The system then communicates to the player's smartphone or other connected device to facilitate analysis of the putt attempt and to relay putt information to a central server for storage, game interactions, and comparative analysis against other players. Using applications that run on the player's mobile device, tablet, tv, or computer, real-time and historical analyses are presented to the player. Games against other players locally or connected through the internet expand the experience in novel and challenging ways. Overall, the putting system aims to provide a more useful and engaging putting experience through statistical tracking and analysis, meaningful feedback to the user, and the inclusion of multiplayer elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf putting practice system comprising:
 a mat configured to simulate a putting green;   a base unit configured to receive a golf ball;   at least one sensor integrated into the base unit, the at least one sensor configured to detect a rolling golf ball and to assess a speed and position of the rolling golf ball;   a computer configured to receive signals from the sensors,   wherein the computer is configured to determine the speed and position of the rolling golf ball based on the signals from the sensors,   wherein the computer is configured to determine a quality measurement of a putting stroke related to the rolling golf ball.   
     
     
         2 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured to communicate with an online server. 
     
     
         3 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 2 , wherein the computer is configured to communicate wirelessly with the online server. 
     
     
         4 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is integrated into the base unit. 
     
     
         5 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is smartphone placed into a holder in the base unit. 
     
     
         6 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors are configured to track the rolling golf ball moving up the base unit. 
     
     
         7 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured to display the quality measurement. 
     
     
         8 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 7 , wherein the computer is configured to display the quality measurement as part of a game played locally. 
     
     
         9 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 7 , wherein the computer is configured to display the quality measurement as part of a game played over the internet. 
     
     
         10 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer is configured to determine whether the putt attempt was successful. 
     
     
         11 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer is configured to display the speed of the rolling golf ball and whether the putt attempt was successful. 
     
     
         12 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 11 , wherein the computer is configured to display the speed of the rolling golf ball and whether the putt attempt was successful via a smartphone screen. 
     
     
         13 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 10 , wherein the base unit describes a putting hole having a first radius, and
 wherein the computer is configured to determine whether the putt attempt would have been successful for a virtual hole having a second radius.   
     
     
         14 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 13 , wherein the second radius is smaller than the first radius. 
     
     
         15 . The golf putting practice system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer is configured to determine whether the putt attempt would have been successful for a virtual hole.