Golf Ball Putting Practice Apparatus

Abstract

A golf ball putting practice apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a trap, that is configured to trap a golf ball between a surface of the trap and a playing surface on which the apparatus is placed. The surface of the trap is inclined at an angle relative to the playing surface. The apparatus also comprises a detector that is configured to detect that the golf ball has entered the trap, and a golf ball returner configured to provide, with or without a delay, a substantially horizontal impulse to return the golf ball along the playing surface in dependence upon detection that the golf ball has entered the trap.

1 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a trap, configured to trap a golf ball between a surface of the trap and a playing surface on which the apparatus is placed, wherein an inclination of the trap relative to the playing surface is configured or controllable to trap the golf ball;   a detector configured to detect that the golf ball has entered the trap;   a golf ball returner configured to provide, with or without a delay, a substantially horizontal impulse to return the golf ball along the playing surface in dependence upon detection that the golf ball has entered the trap.   
     
     
         2 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the trap is arranged to form a converging duct between a surface of the trap and the playing surface, in which the golf ball is trapped as the golf ball moves into the converging duct. 
     
     
         3 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises an emitter and a receiver. 
     
     
         4 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein
 the emitter comprises an electromagnetic radiation beam generator; and   the receiver comprises an electromagnetic beam receiver, the electromagnetic beam receiver configured to receive a beam of electromagnetic radiation generated by the electromagnetic radiation beam generator; wherein   the detector detects that a golf ball has entered the trap when the beam of electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic radiation beam generator to the electromagnetic beam receiver is interrupted by the golf ball in the trap.   
     
     
         5 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation generated by the electromagnetic radiation beam generator comprises one of visual light, infra-red radiation. 
     
     
         6 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball returner comprises:
 a ball striker plate, configured to provide the substantially horizontal impulse to the ball;   a camshaft, comprising at least one cam lobe;   a motor, mechanically coupled to the camshaft;   a cam follower, mechanically coupled to the ball striker plate and configured to be contactable with and diseangagable from at least one cam lobe of the camshaft, in response to rotation of the camshaft by the motor; and   a spring, configured to bias the cam follower, causing the ball striker plate to provide the substantially horizontal impulse to the golf ball when the cam follower is disengaged from the at least one cam lobe.   
     
     
         7 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the golf ball returner comprises a camshaft orientation sensor;
 wherein following receipt of a control signal, the motor rotates the camshaft by 360/n degrees, wherein n is the number of the at least one lobe of the camshaft and the rotation of the camshaft is sensed by the camshaft orientation sensor.   
     
     
         8 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the motor is mechanically coupled to the camshaft via a gearbox. 
     
     
         9 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the impulse provided by the golf ball returner to the golf ball is adjustable by adjusting a degree of bias of the spring. 
     
     
         10 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the trap comprises at least one of grooves, dimples and/or an elastomeric material to retain the golf ball. 
     
     
         11 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the inclination of the trap to the playing surface is controllable. 
     
     
         12 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , where the apparatus comprises an actuator, the actuator being mechanically coupled to the trap, wherein the inclination of the trap is controllable by the actuator. 
     
     
         13 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the inclination of the trap is controllable by the actuator in response to receipt of the control signal by the actuator. 
     
     
         14 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein return of the golf ball by the golf ball returner is additionally dependent upon a second control signal. 
     
     
         15 . A golf ball putting practice apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one mechanical interface and at least one electrical interface, the at least one mechanical interface and at least one electrical interface being configured to connect the apparatus to a compatible apparatus of a putting practice system.