Golf ball grabber

Abstract

A golf ball remover allows easy removal of a golf ball from a golf hole while the flagstick is left in place, thereby sparing physical strain on the golfer and potential damage to the hole. The golf ball remover may user the flagstick itself as a movement guide, with a ball grabbing component that is not kept within the hole, but instead is stored above the hole on the flagstick and is pushed down into the hole when used. The golf ball remover may be attached to a retractable cord and/or other movement component to automatically lift it out of the hole.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A golf ball remover comprising:
 a tube component positioned coaxial to a golf flagstick and configured to glide coaxial along the golf flagstick;   a spring component positioned coaxial to the golf flagstick between the golf flagstick and the tube component, the spring component having:
 a lower end positioned so that the spring component is prevented from descending from its initial position along the flagstick; and 
 an upper end constrained by the tube component; and 
   a ball-grabbing component attached to a lower end of the tube component;   wherein movement of the tube component downward from an initial position pushes the ball-grabbing component into a golf hole while compressing the spring component to generate a spring force that returns the ball-grabbing component and tube component to substantially the initial position.   
     
     
         3 . The golf ball remover of  claim 2 , wherein the ball-grabbing component comprises two or more pieces that are attached to the tube component such that they can be easily removed without removing the tube or spring components. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball remover of  claim 2 , wherein the spring component comprises an elastic material or compressed gas piston. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball remover of  claim 2 , wherein the spring component does not include a coiled wire. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball remover of  claim 2  wherein the tube component comprises a semi-solid, perforated, or coiled material. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball remover of  claim 2 , wherein the tube component is not a solid tube. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball remover of  claim 2 , wherein the initial position of the ball-grabbing component, tube component, and spring component are all more than three inches above a putting surface that defines a top of the golf hole. 
     
     
         9 . A golf ball remover comprising:
 a ball-grabbing component position to be co-axially moved down and up along a golf flagstick, wherein an initial position of the ball-grabbing component is more than three inches above a putting surface.   
     
     
         10 . The golf ball remover of  claim 9 , wherein the ball-grabbing component is configured to be moved downward along the golf flagstick by a manual force applied by a user to grab a golf ball in a golf hole. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball remover of  claim 10 , wherein the ball-grabbing component is configured to be moved upward along the golf flagstick with the ball secured by the ball-grabbing component to move the ball above the golf hole. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball remover of  claim 9 , wherein the ball-grabbing component is detachable from the golf flagstick without sliding it over either end of the golf flagstick. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball remover of  claim 9 , wherein the ball-grabbing component comprises two or more pieces that are screwed or snapped together around the golf flagstick. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball remover of  claim 13 , wherein the screws or snaps are reversible to allow removal of the ball-grabbing component from the golf flagstick without sliding over either end of the golf flagstick. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball remover of  claim 9 , wherein the ball-grabbing component is configured to return to the initial position automatically. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball remover of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more of a spring, an elastic material, or a compressed gas.