Field

[0001 ] The present invention relates to golf putting practice devices for improving golf putting skills.

Background

[0002] Golf putting practice or training devices commonly comprise an elongate planar member having a line marking a putting path for a golf ball. A golf ball is positioned on the putting path in a hole in one end of the planar member. A golf putter is then used to putt the golf ball along the putting path marked on the planar member. A well-struck ball will roll along the putting path, while a miss-struck ball will roll off the planar member.

[0003] Existing golf putting practice devices have various disadvantages. For example, they generally do not enable users to practice squaring up the putter head or face so that it is normal (or, perpendicular or at right angles) to the intended putting path when striking the ball. This results in miss-struck, off-square or off-center putting strokes where the putter face angle and swing path are not square to the putting path when the putter head impacts the ball. Further, existing golf putting practice devices typically only enable putting skills to be practiced in one direction along the planar member.

[0003] In this context, there is a need for improved golf putting practice devices.

Summary

[0004] According to the present invention, there is provided a device, comprising:

a T-shaped planar member having a narrow, elongate central stem with centrally-arranged first and second holes at opposite first and second ends, and a cross-piece normal to the first end of the central stem;

a centre line marked on the central stem to intersect the first and second holes; and a transverse line marked on the cross-piece to intersect the first hole and a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of through holes in the cross-piece on opposite sides of the central stem normal to the centre line.

[0005] Each of the plurality of spaced-apart pairs of through holes may be adapted to receive a pair of spaced-apart golf tees to define an alignment gate for a putter head.

[0006] The central stem may have a third hole on the centre line adjacent to the transverse line and between the first and second holes.

[0007] The central stem may have chamfered side edges.

[0008] The T-shaped planar member may have a textured upper surface.

[0009] The T-shaped planar member may be made of plastic.

[0010] The central stem and the cross-piece may be integrally formed as a plastic moulding.

[0011 ] The present invention also provides a method, comprising practising putting using the device described above.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0012] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a golf putting practice device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section view of the device through A-A in Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the device.

Description of Embodiments

[0013] Referring to the drawings, a golf putting practice device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise a T-shaped planar member 10 having a narrow, elongate central stem 12 with centrally-arranged first and second holes 14, 16 at opposite first and second ends. A centre line 18 may be marked on an upper surface of the central stem to intersect the first and second holes 14, 16. The T- shaped planar member 10 may further comprise a cross-piece 20 normal to the first end of the central stem 12. A transverse line 22 may be marked on an upper surface of the cross-piece 20 to intersect the first hole 14 and a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of through holes 24 in the cross-piece 20 on opposite sides of the central stem 12 normal to the centre line 18. The plurality of spaced-apart pairs of through holes 24 may, for example, be three spaced-apart pairs of through holes 24. The centre line 18 may define a putting path of a golf ball (not shown), and the transverse line 22 may define an alignment line for a head or face of a golf putter (not shown). The centre and transverse lines 18, 22 may be painted or printed lines.

[0014] Each of the plurality of spaced-apart pairs of through holes 24 may be adapted to receive a pair of spaced-apart golf tees or pegs (not shown) to define an alignment gate 26 for a putter head (not shown). Each of the through holes 24 may have a diameter sufficient to respectively receive a golf tee, for example, around 5.5 mm. The width of the alignment gate 26 may be selectively varied to accommodate putter heads of varying width by inserting the pair of golf tees in different spaced-apart pairs of through holes 24.

[0015] The central stem 12 may have a third hole 28 on the centre line 18 adjacent to the transverse line 22 and between the first and second holes 14, 16. Each of the first, second and third holes 14, 16, 28 may have a depth and a diameter sufficient to retain a golf ball on the central stem 12, but to also allow it to be freely putted along the central stem 12. For example, the first, second and third holes 14, 16, 28 may be through holes having a diameter of around 5.5 mm.

[0016] The central stem 12, and optionally the T-shaped planar member 10, may have chamfered side edges, for example, a 3 mm, 45 degree chamfer. The T-shaped planar member 10 may have a textured upper surface, for example, a roughened surface texture. The T-shaped planar 10 member may be made of plastic. For example, the central stem 12 and the cross-piece 20 may be integrally formed as a plastic moulding. Other equivalent or alternative materials and constructions may also be used. [0017] The device 10 may be used in three different modes. In a first mode, the T- shaped planar member 10 may be placed on a surface, such as a putting green, carpet, a ground surface, or any other planar surface. A golf ball may be placed on the first hole 14 of the device 10 at the first end of the central stem 12. The first hole 14 may be configured to restrain the ball enough to stop it moving but does not interfere with a putting stroke by a player (not shown). The player may then stand parallel to the central stem 12 and address the ball with the putter. The transverse line 22 on the cross-piece 20 may provide a visual alignment guide to the player of the putter head being arranged at right angles to the centre line 18 on the central stem 12. The ball may then be struck in a first direction A along the central stem 12, and if hit correctly should follow the putting path along the central stem 12 defined by the centre line 18. If the ball is struck slightly off alignment (or, off-square or off-centre), it will go either left of right of the centre line 18 until it hits the 45 degree chamfered side edges which will then cause the ball to veer off the central stem 12.

[0018] In a second mode of use, the ball may be placed at the third hole 28 of the device 10 with a pair of spaced-part golf tees in one of the three spaced-apart pairs of through holes 24 on either side of first hole 14. The pair of spaced-apart tees may define an alignment gate 26 to align the putter head or face. The spacing between the pair of spaced-apart tees depends on the width of the player's putter head. The same basic principle of squaring up the putter head as described above for the first mode of use applies in this second mode, but this time with the assistance of the transverse line 22 which passes through all pairs of through holes 24. If the putter is swung correctly, it will pass between the spaced-apart pair of golf tees and strike the ball correctly to putt the ball straight along the centre line 18 on the central stem 12. Should the putter head approach the ball from either the left or right, it will strike one of the pair of spaced-part golf tees.

[0019] Once the player has mastered the first and second modes of use described above, the device 10 may be used in a third mode where the ball may be placed at the second hole 16 at the opposite second end of the central stem 12 which has no lines for squaring the putter head or face. The ball may then be struck in a second opposite direction B along the central stem 12 as described above for the first mode of use. The aim is once again to hit the ball along the full length of the device 10 without it veering to one side or the other. [0020] Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved golf putting practice device that is usable in three different putting practice modes, and in two different putting directions.

[0021 ] For the purpose of this specification, the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning.

[0022] The above embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims that follow.