Putting Practice Device

Abstract

A system for supporting improvement in golf putting is provided. The system comprises a raised flat surface. The system also comprises a ramp with an upper edge approaching and attached to a front edge of the flat surface. The ramp receives initial contact with a putted golf ball at a lower edge of the ramp, the ball putted from a surface area approaching the lower edge. After the received initial contact, the system allows the ball to roll upward toward the upper edge. When the rolling ball has a first quantity of momentum, the system allows the ball to roll past the upper edge and onto the raised flat surface. In another event, when the rolling ball has a second quantity of momentum, the system allows the ball to discontinue rolling prior to reaching the upper edge and allows the ball to roll down the ramp to the ground surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for supporting improvement in golf putting, comprising:
 a raised flat surface;   an indentation in the flat surface;   vertical panels at left and right sides of the flat surface and extending forward of the flat surface;   a ramp with an upper edge approaching and attached to a front edge of the raised flat surface and bounded by the panels that:
 receives initial contact with an oncoming putted and rolling golf ball at a lower edge of the ramp, the ball putted from a surface area approaching the lower edge, 
 after the received initial contact, allows the ball to naturally roll upward toward the upper edge, 
 in a first event, when the rolling ball has a first quantity of momentum, allows the ball to roll past the upper edge and onto the raised flat surface and come to rest in the indentation in some cases, 
 in a second event, when the rolling ball has a second quantity of momentum, allows the ball to discontinue rolling prior to reaching the upper edge and further allows the ball to roll back down the ramp to the ground surface area, and 
 in a third event, when the rolling ball has a third quantity of momentum, allows the ball to roll past the upper edge and past the raised flat surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ramp is approximately 4.25 inches wide, about a width of a golf hole on a golf course. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the panels are of height higher than the ramp and are directed to blocking errantly struck golf balls. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein in-boundary points are situated approximately 0.875 inches each from the right and left sides of the ramp at the lower edge, leaving approximately a 2.5 inch space between them, a space through which if the upright golf ball center of entering putts enters are deemed to represent successful putts unless struck excessively hard. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system has holes in the vertical panels to facilitate fastening the system to a ground surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system additionally comprises a vertical back surface that supports the system along with the vertical panels. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system additionally comprises a lower back ledge within the vertical back surface that stops a putt struck with too much force, a putt touching the lower back ledge in its travel deemed still to represent a successful putt, a putt flying beyond without touching the lower back ledge in its travel deemed to represent an unsuccessful putt struck due to carrying too much force. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ramp has a first notch at its central lower ramp entry and the lower back ledge has a second notch at its back ledge center such that both notches are used to align with a straight line on a putting surface or to construct a string line with supports over the putting surface to facilitate practice of repeatedly aligning to and hitting straight putts. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is rotatable to represent an angle of entry that a putted ball would be required to be travelling on to enter the center of the hole on a sloped or non-flat putting surface. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein two of the systems are placed back-to-back to produce a multi-putt scenario where one or more users participate using two generally opposing putt lines to practice, compete, or participate in enjoyable drills and games, and the two lower back ledges of each system amalgamate to form a functional ball-collection trough. 
     
     
         11 . A system for building golf putting skills, comprising:
 a flat surface suspended above one of a floor level and a ground level;   an indentation in a center area of the flat surface;   a ramp leading upward and at an angle from the one of the floor level and the ground level to the flat surface that:
 receives golf balls putted from points located on one of the floor and the ground associated with the one of the floor level and the ground level, respectively, 
 in a first event when a first golf ball is putted with a first force, provides a first means for the first ball to roll back down and to return to the one of floor and ground, 
 in a second event when a second golf ball is putted with a second force, provides a second means for the second golf ball to roll to a top of the ramp and to the flat surface and settle in the indentation in some cases. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system further comprises vertical side panels and a rear panel supporting the flat surface and the ramp. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second force exceeds the first force when the golf balls are putted from a same location on the one of floor and ground. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system is turned so as not to directly face the user to reduce access of the putted ball and to simulate a sloped putting surface. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein in-boundary points are situated about 0.875 inches each from the right and left sides of the ramp at a lower edge, leaving about 2.50 inches of space between the in-boundary points, space into which entering putts are assured to represent successful putts unless struck excessively hard. 
     
     
         16 . A method for supporting growth in golfing skills, comprising:
 a golf putting improvement device receiving a first putted golf ball on a sloped surface of the device;   the device, based on the first ball having received a first strike of a first force, allowing the first ball to reach and overcome a top edge of the sloped surface and thereafter reach a flat surface attached to the sloped surface;   the device receiving a second putted golf ball on a sloped surface of the device, and;   the device, based on the second ball having received a second strike of a second force, allowing the second ball to roll back down and off the sloped surface and roll away from the device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first force exceeds the second force when the first and second balls are putted from a same location. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein putted balls that enter the sloped surface in a center section of width about 2.5 inches within an overall 4.25-inch width of the sloped surface would sink in a golf course environment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the device providing a vertical sidewall on each side of the sloped surface, the vertical sidewalls providing boundaries indicating an unsuccessful putt when hit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the device receiving placement at an angle as opposed to facing the user directly, thus reducing access of the putted ball to the sloped surface and to simulate a nonlevel putting surface.