US-20260124518-A1 - PUTTING TRAINER AND EYE ALIGNMENT SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD

US20260124518A1US 20260124518 A1US20260124518 A1US 20260124518A1US-20260124518-A1

Abstract

An apparatus and method for training a golfer to decelerate a putter club head through the point of impact with the golf ball. The apparatus controls the position from which the putter club begins its forward motion and controls the final follow-through position. The apparatus comprises elements in form of crossmembers that prevent movement of the putter club head beyond the rearward position in a rearward direction, and prevent movement of the putter club head beyond the final follow-through position in a forward direction. By controlling the distance the putter club head travels from the rearward position to impact the golf ball, and controlling the distance the putter club head travels to the final follow-through position after impacting the golf ball such that the first distance is greater than the second distance, the putter club head is caused to be decelerating when it strikes the golf ball.

Inventors

William J. Mallon

Assignees

William J. Mallon

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260104

Claims (20)

1 . A method for training a golfer to putt a golf ball, comprising the steps of: determining, for a desired length of ball rollout, a golf club putter head rear position located a first distance from a golf ball to be putted; determining a putter club head final follow-through position, where the golf club putter head final follow-through position is located a second distance from the point of impact of the golf club putter head on the golf ball to be putted, the second distance defined as distance the golf club putter head travels after impact of the golf club putter head on the golf ball to be putted; wherein the first distance and the second distance are determined so as to cause the golf club putter head to be decelerating at the time of putter head impact on the golf ball to be putted; and motivating the golf club putter head from the rear position to the final follow-through position in a continuous motion, impacting the golf ball to be putted.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: for a particular golfer, determining an optimum ratio of first distance to second distance, by: preforming, by the particular golfer, a plurality of putts, wherein, for each putt of the plurality of putts, for a desired rollout distance, determining an optimum first distance that is most likely to achieve the particular desired rollout, and determining an optimum second distance that is most likely to minimize ball skip after impact of the golf club putter head on the golf ball; repeating the step of performing, by the particular golfer, a plurality of putts for a plurality of different desired rollout distances; determining a first distance to second distance ratio for each putt of the plurality of putts; and averaging the first distance to second distance ratios to arrive at an average ratio of first distance to second distance for the particular golfer.
4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of determining, for the particular golfer, a relationship of the first distance to a desired distance of ball rollout, wherein the relationship is determined at least in part by the particular golfer's physiologic biomechanics.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of determining the relationship of the first distance to a desired distance of ball rollout is achieved by measuring, over a plurality of putting attempts by the particular golfer, the ratio of the ball rollout to the first distance, and averaging the measured ratios, to arrive at an average ball rollout to first distance ratio.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: providing a putting training apparatus, wherein said putting training apparatus is defined as comprising: a pair of elongate rails, said pair of elongate rails comprising a first rail and a second rail placed apart by a first crossmember and a second crossmember; wherein said first crossmember is slidably engaged with said first rail and said second rail, and said second crossmember is movably engaged with said first rail and said second rail, such that each of said first crossmember and said second crossmember are able to be moved along the length of said first rail and said second rail such that said first crossmember and said second crossmember are able to located at a desired location along said first rail and said second rail; wherein, when said golf ball is placed between said first rail and second rail, said golf club putter head is able to be motivated from said rear position towards said golf ball so as to impact said golf ball, said first crossmember physically preventing movement of the golf club putter head beyond said rear position; and wherein said golf club putter head is able to traverse said second distance to said golf club putter head final follow-through position, said second distance defined as a distance the golf club putter head travels after impact of the golf club putter head on the golf ball, said second crossmember physically preventing movement of the putter club head beyond said final follow-through position.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said second crossmember is shaped so as to allow said golf ball to pass unimpeded under, through or around said second crossmember after said golf ball has been impacted by said golf club putter head.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said first distance is greater than said second distance.
9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said first distance and said second distance are adjustable such that, when said golf club putter head is motivated from said rear position to said golf club putter head final follow-through position in a continuous motion, the golf club putter head is decelerating as it impacts the golf ball.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: a. for a particular golfer, determining an optimum time of golf club putter head travel from the rear position to impact position where the golf club putter head impacts golf ball such that ball skip is minimized; and b. training the golfer, by repetitive practice putts, to motivate golf club putter head in the forward direction such that, irrespective of the length of the first distance for a particular desired length of ball roll-out, the time of golf club putter head travel from the rear position to impact position where the golf club putter head impacts golf ball (the “metronome time”) is the same for all desired lengths of the first distance.
11 . A method of putting a golf ball in a controlled manner, comprising the steps of: determining a putter club head rear position located a first distance from a golf ball to be putted; determining a putter club head final follow-through position, where the club head final follow-through position is located a second distance from the point of impact of the putter club head on the golf ball to be putted, the second distance defined as distance the golf putter head travels after impact of the putter club head on the golf ball to be putted; wherein the first distance and the second distance are determined so as to cause the golf putter club head to be decelerating at the time of putter head impact on the golf ball to be putted; and motivating the putter club head from the rear position to the final follow-through position in a continuous motion, impacting the golf ball to be putted.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said first distance is determined by a desired ball rollout distance.
13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: a. for a particular golfer, determining an optimum time of putter club head travel from the rear position to impact position where the putter club head impacts golf ball such that ball skip is minimized; and b. training the golfer, by repetitive practice putts, to motivate putter club head in the forward direction such that, irrespective of the length of the first distance for a particular desired length of ball roll-out, the time of putter club head travel from the rear position to impact position where the putter club head impacts golf ball (the “metronome time”) is the same for all desired lengths of the first distance.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of: determining a desired golf ball rollout distance; determining if the desired rollout distance is between 0-20 feet, 20-40 feet, or 40-60 feet; wherein upon determination that the desired rollout distance is between 0-20 feet, defining the first distance as equaling 1 inch per every foot of desired rollout; wherein upon determination that the desired rollout distance is between 20-40 feet, defining the first distance as equaling inch per every foot of desired rollout for the first 20 feet, plus one-half inch per every foot of desired rollout between 20-40 feet; and wherein upon determination that the desired rollout distance is between 40-60 feet, defining the first distance as equaling inch per every foot of desired rollout for the first 20 feet, plus one-half inch per every foot of desired rollout between 20-40 feet; plus one-quarter inch per every foot of desired rollout between 40-60 feet.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said first distance is determined through practice to achieve a specific practice golf ball rollout on a level surface having a baseline stimp when the putter club head is motivated towards the practice golf ball and striking the practice golf ball, further comprising the steps of: wherein the value of said first distance is determined through practice to achieve a specific practice golf ball rollout on a level surface having a baseline stimp when the putter club head is motivated towards the practice golf ball and striking the practice golf ball, wherein the putter club head travel after striking the practice golf ball is limited to a second distance that is less than said first distance; determining a desired rollout distance of a play golf ball on a play putting green; modifying said first distance to account for the play putting green's stimp, or speed, in the case in which the play putting green's stimp differs from said baseline stimp; or modifying said first distance to account for the play putting green's slope along the direction of golf ball rollout, in the case in which the play putting green's slope along the direction of golf ball rollout is uphill or downhill; or modifying said first distance to account for the play putting green's stimp, or speed, in the case in which the play putting green's stimp differs from said baseline stimp and further modifying said first distance to account for the play putting green's slope along the direction of golf ball rollout, in the case in which the play putting green's slope along the direction of golf ball rollout is uphill or downhill.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of modifying the first distance is further defined as increasing the first distance if the play putting green's stimp is less than the baseline stimp, and decreasing the first distance if the play putting green's stimp is greater than a golfer's baseline stimp.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of modifying the first distance is further defined as: wherein when the play putting green surface along the direction of golf ball rollout is uphill, adding 2 feet to the golfer's baseline (practice) ball rollout for every 1 percent of uphill slope for each 10 feet of desired rollout to determine an equivalent rollout distance to arrive at the required first distance for the putt on the play green; or wherein when the play putting green surface along the direction of golf ball rollout is downhill, subtract one (2) feet per 1% grade per 10 feet of desired rollout to determine an equivalent rollout distance to arrive at the required first distance for the putt on the play green.
18 . A golf putting training apparatus, comprising: a pair of elongate rails, said pair of elongate rails comprising a first rail and a second rail spaced apart by a first crossmember and a second crossmember; wherein said first crossmember is movably engaged with said first rail and said second rail, and said second crossmember is movably engaged with said first rail and said second rail, such that each of said first crossmember and said second crossmember are able to be located along the length of said first rail and said second rail at any desired position; wherein, when a golf ball is placed between said first rail and second rail, a golf club putter head is able to be motivated from a rear position located a first distance from said golf ball towards said golf ball so as to impact said golf ball, said first crossmember physically preventing movement of the golf club putter head beyond said rear position; and wherein said golf club putter head is able to travers a second distance to a golf club putter head final follow-through position, said second distance defined as a distance the golf club putter head travels after impact of the putter club head on the golf ball, said second crossmember physically preventing movement of the golf club putter head beyond said final follow-through position.
19 . The golf putting training apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said second crossmember is shaped so as to allow said golf ball to pass unimpeded under, through or around said second crossmember after said golf ball has been impacted by said golf club putter head.
20 . The golf putting training apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said first distance is adjustable by sliding said first crossmember along said first rail and said second rail.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE This non-provisional patent application filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) under 35 USC 111(a) is a continuation of international patent application number PCT/US24/36842 entitled PUTTING TRAINER AND EYE ALIGNMENT SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD filed in the U.S. Receiving Office (USRO) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Jul. 4, 2024, and which published as WIPO publication number WO 2025/010389 A1 on Jan. 9, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. PCT/US24/36842 claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/524,909 , entitled PUTTING TRAINER APPARATUS AND METHOD, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Jul. 4, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is also incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not applicable. INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK Not applicable. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention relates generally to a system, apparatus, and method for training golfers to improve their putting skills. BACKGROUND In the game of golf, it is well understood that putting is one of the key elements of play. Generally, a player's strategy to minimize strokes, and thus achieve a better score, on any given hole, may be to divide the play into several components. For example, the initial strike of the golf ball from the golf tee box (generally called the “drive”); the strike of the ball from location where the ball landed, in order to place the ball on the golf green (generally called the “short game”), and, finally, the strike of the ball causing the ball to roll into the cup (generally called “putting”). Putting generally occurs on a putting green. A golfer may putt the ball into a receiving cup using putting strokes, in which a golfer uses the head of a putting club to strike the golf ball in order to motive the golf ball towards and into a receiving cup (“cup”) that is buried in the putting surface such that the golf is able to roll into and be received by the cup. During the putting portion of play, the act of striking or impacting a golf ball with the intent of rolling the golf ball towards the cup may be called a “putt”, and the final stroke of play for a hole of golf is the putting stroke that causes the golf ball to roll into the cup. It is generally the case that putting is a required element of game play. In fact, it is well understood that a golfer's ability to minimize putting strokes (i.e. to minimize the number of putts required to sink the golf ball into the cup) may be one of the most important factors in minimizing the number of strokes per hole, thus improving the golfer's score. In professional golf, a player's ability putt accurately may be a significant factor in determining a player's final score and thus may dramatically affect their financial income. Thus, the need to improve putting accuracy so as to reduce putting strokes has been a long felt need in the art. It is a stated desire of putting that the number of putts (i.e. strokes) be minimized as much as possible. This requires 1) keeping one's head steady and centered over the ball during the putting stroke; 2) accuracy in putting direction such that the ball, after being struck by the putter, rolls in a desired and controlled direction; 3) accuracy in transfer of energy from the putter club head to the ball during impact of the putter head on the ball, such that the ball rolls a desired distance towards the cup (also sometimes called the “hole”); and 4) minimizing undesired effects of the putter club head impact's on the ball, such as, for example, “skipping”, in which the ball does not roll on the putting green grass after ball impact, but rather is lifted slightly such that, for a short period of time after club head impact, the ball is airborne just above the grass surface. During the time the golf ball is skipping it is not rolling in a controlled fashion, making it difficult for the golfer to control golf ball roll distance. This means that the ball may not reach the cup, or may roll past the cup, increasing the number of strokes required to sink the ball in the cup, negatively affecting the golfer's score. Ball skip results in loss of putting control. This is an undesired result. The ability of the golfer to control the direction of the putt, the ball roll distance, sometimes called “rollout”, and to reduce negative effects of ball strike can be critical in minimizing stokes during the putting portion of play. Thus, golfers are continually looking for ways to improve these aspects of putting. One of the key factors that contribute to the effectiveness of a putting stroke is the stability and position of the head during the putting stroke. The head's stability is directly linked to a golfer's ability to maintain focus, align t