METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIRMING THE DIRECTION OF ROLLING GOLF BALL WHILE PUTTING Technical Field The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for confirming the direction of a rolling golf ball while putting, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for confirming the direction of a rolling golf ball while putting, which sets an imaginary line between the ball and a hole while viewing the ball and the hole with the golfer's eyes, before the golfer putts the ball so as to make the ball roll along a putting green into the hole, and radiates laser beams in the form of dots or lines from a laser pointer carried by the golfer at a position aligned with and close to the outer corner of a golfer's eye such that one or more target points are illuminated on the imaginary line between the ball and the hole on the putting green without forming any obstacles, thus allowing the golf ball to precisely roll in a desired direction.

Background Art Generally, when a golfer putts a ball so as to make it roll into a hole on a'putting green, several factors, including the inclination and the condition of the putting

green, must be considered. Particularly, it is most important to precisely set the direction of hitting the golf ball so as to make it roll into the hole.

In order to precisely make the ball roll into the hole, there has been widely used a method where the golfer sets an imaginary line between the ball and the hole, and then putts the ball so as to make it roll along the imaginary line. But, it is not very easy for either professionals or amateurs to set such an imaginary line.

That is, in the case of putting while the golfer pays attention to only the imaginary line, the golfer carelessly performs a putter addressing motion and putting force control, so it is impossible to precisely putt as desired. Meanwhile, there has been disclosed a putter with a laser radiating unit for ensuring a high putting precision, in Korean U. M.

Registration No. 193325.

Figs. la and 1b are, respectively, a side elevational view and a plan view of the conventional putter with the laser radiating unit. As shown in the drawings, the laser radiating unit 2 is installed on a shaft 1 of the putter and downwardly radiates laser beams B. The laser beams B are radiated straight to the putting green while being parallel with the shaft 1. This putter helps the golfer to practice placing the hitting surface of a head of the putter perpendicular to the ball 3, thus allowing the golfer to acquire precise putting

posture as well as to correct his putting posture.

The conventional putter with the laser radiating unit has an educational effect in that the golfer practices acquiring precise putting posture in a stationary state.

However, in the case of practically putting, there occurs a so-called"head up", that is, the golfer has bad posture due to the movement of his body while swinging the putter in the state of bringing the hitting surface of the head to the ball, so the golf ball diverges from a desired putting direction.

As such, the conventional putter has many problems when used in a real golf game.

Further, the conventional putter with the laser radiating unit has another problem that it is not helpful in improving the putting motion, because the laser radiating unit is integrated with the shaft of the putter, so the radiating range of the laser beams is excessively limited.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for confirming the rolling direction of a golf ball while putting, which is capable of precisely controlling the rolling direction of the golf ball while putting.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a

method and apparatus for confirming the rolling direction of a golf ball while putting, which prevents a head up while putting, and increases the precision of medium or long distance putting.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a method of confirming the rolling direction of a golf ball while putting, which includes the steps of setting an imaginary line between a ball and a hole while viewing the ball and the hole with the golfer's eyes, before the golfer putts the ball so as to make the ball roll along a putting green into the hole, and radiating laser beams in a form of dots or lines from a laser pointer carried by the golfer at a position aligned with and close to an outer corner of a golfer's eye such that a target point is illuminated on the imaginary line between the ball and the hole, thus indicating the rolling direction of the ball with the target point so as to allow the golfer to precisely confirm the rolling direction of the ball ; wherein the laser pointer is held, using holding means, at a golfer's cap or hair band such that the laser pointer is positioned close to the outer corner of the golfer's eye viewing a putting direction, thus allowing the direction of the laser beams radiated from the laser pointer to be changed according to a direction in which the golfer looks.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. la and 1b are, respectively, a side elevational view and a plan view of a conventional putter; Fig. 2 is a view showing one example of putting posture of a golfer, for explaining a method of confirming the direction of a rolling golf ball while putting; Figs. 3a and 3b are, respectively, an exploded perspective view and a perspective view of an apparatus for confirming the direction of the rolling golf ball while putting, in accordance with the primary embodiment of this invention; Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, a sectional view and a view showing the operational effect of main components included in the apparatus for confirming the direction of the rolling golf ball while putting ; Figs. 6 and 7 are views showing a cap and a hair band, respectively, carrying the apparatus for confirming the direction of the rolling golf ball while putting; and Fig. 8 is a view showing the apparatus for confirming the direction of the rolling golf ball while putting, according to the second embodiment of this invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

Fig. 2 shows one example of putting posture of a golfer, for explaining a method of confirming the direction of a rolling golf ball while putting. Figs. 3a and 3b are, respectively, an exploded perspective view and a perspective view of an apparatus for confirming the direction of the rolling golf ball while putting, in accordance with the primary embodiment of this invention. Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, a sectional view and a view showing the operational effect of main components included in the apparatus for confirming the direction of the rolling golf ball while putting.

According to this invention, a method of confirming the rolling direction of a golf ball while putting, includes the following steps: setting an imaginary line between a ball and a hole while viewing the ball and the hole with the golfer's eyes, before the golfer putts the ball so as to make the ball roll along a putting green'into the hole; and radiating laser beams in a form of dots or lines from a laser pointer carried by the golfer at a position close to an outer corner of a

golfer's eye such that a target point is illuminated on the imaginary line between the ball and the hole. In this case, the target point indicates the rolling direction of the ball, thus allowing the golfer to precisely putt the ball.

The laser pointer 10 is carried by the golfer and is held, using a holding means 20, at a golfer's cap 30 or hair band 40 such that the laser pointer 10 is positioned close to the outer corner of the golfer's eye viewing a putting direction, thus allowing the direction of the laser beams radiated from the laser pointer 10 to be changed according to a direction at which the golfer looks. In this case, Fig. 6 shows the cap 30 whereas Fig. 7 shows the hair band 40.

As shown in Fig. 8, the laser pointer may be integrally attached to a frame of sunglasses or glasses 50 worn by the golfer.

The means 20 for holding the laser pointer 10 consists of a clamp 21, a holder 22, and a bolt 23. In this case, the clamp 21 is mounted on a golfer's clothing or adornment. The holder 22 is mounted on a surface of the clamp 21 and used for removably holding the laser pointer 10. The bolt 23 is fastened to the holder 22 in such a way as to vary the angle of the holder holding the laser pointer 10.

That is, the laser pointer 10 is held at the golfer's cap or hair band, using the clamp 21 included in the holding means 20, to be carried by the golfer. Next, the angle of the

holder 22 is appropriately adjusted such that the direction of the laser beams radiated from the laser pointer 10 is aligned with the golfer's gaze.

An elastic clip may be alternatively used in the holding means 20, in place of the clamp 21. In addition, a flexible support may be connected at a predetermined position of the clamp 21, in place of the holder 22 holding the laser pointer 10.

As described above, various modifications are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

According to this invention, in order to putt the ball positioned on the putting green into the hole, the golfer primarily sets the imaginary line between the ball and the hole while viewing the ball and the hole with his eyes. Next, the laser beams are radiated from the laser point 10 carried by the golfer such that the target points are created on the imaginary line (See, Fig. 2).

At this time, it is preferable that the laser beams 8 are radiated in the form of lines from the laser pointer 10, as shown in Fig. 8.

Thereafter, the golfer swings the putter to putt the ball while viewing the target point created by the radiated beams 8. At this time, the ball precisely rolls into the hole, thus enhancing putting precision.

The laser beams illuminate the target points on the

putting green without forming any obstacles between the ball and the hole. The golfer thus confirms his putting direction with his/her eyes while golfing.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for confirming the direction of a rolling golf ball while putting, which allows a golfer to precisely confirm putting direction while viewing the ball and a hole for putting the ball in a golf game, and prevents"head up", thus enhancing his confidence in putting.

According to this invention, it is easy for the golfer to carry a laser pointer which radiates laser beams so as to allow the golfer to confirm the putting direction. In addition, this invention allows the golfer's view to be focused on a hole aligned with a target point putting, thus preventing a putting error due to the erratic swinging of the golfer's arms when swinging a putter, and increasing the probability of success in medium or long distance putting.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.