Portable putting range adaptable for break adjustment

Abstract

A golf putting practice device having a synthetic playing surface is supported by a flexible elastic substrate to produce natural curves and playing surface angles. Markings sequentially placed on the playing surface provide the user with feedback as to the proper angle of club impact with the ball, and club force, to achieve sufficient ball speed and trajectory angle to sink a putt on an angled practice surface.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/956,554 filed Aug. 17, 2007, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

The disclosed device relates to the game of golf. More particularly the disclosed device relates to a device employable for putting practice. The device is portable and easily deployed by the user. Additionally, the device features a simulated green that is adjustable by the user for the green angle to the hole to which the ball is targeted or the “break” of the green.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf is a game enjoyed and played by millions of people throughout the world. As with any sport, practice is one of the most important aspects of the game. Further, the game of golf is divided into a number of areas where skill for a certain type of shot is required to hit the ball accurately to place it in the hole. One of the key portions of any golfer's game is putting the ball into the hole on the green.

During the game of golf, initially players drive the ball long distances from the tee toward the eventual hole at the end of the fairway. The hole is normally located on a generally planar surface of grass and unlike driving the ball long distances on a fairway, a much different stroke is required to accurately deposit the ball into the hole across a green.

Consequently, a golfer, to become competitive at the sport, must continually strive to practice all aspects of the game. To that end golfers spend many hours on driving ranges practicing the driving of the ball long distances to accurate landings. Typically such driving ranges are outdoors due to the distances involved in a tee shot. Some putting greens do exist at driving ranges and practice ranges for practice of the soft touch required to accurately putt the ball across the grass of a green and into a hole. But these are more of an afterthought since driving ranges generally focus on drive practice rather than the short game.

For putting however, in many cases, golfers practice indoors on a carpeted surface that is adapted to simulate the grass surface of the green surrounding a hole. Many such devices are commercially available with most providing some type of elongated carpet section which engages a hole at one end which allow the golfer to practice at home. The golfer typically tries to putt the ball across the surface of the carpet and into the hole. Many putting practice devices that aid in the practice of putting have been created.

However, most such devices tend to be mechanically complicated, expensive to manufacture and therefor expensive. Further, most lack the necessary components to vary the angles of the carpet to the hole which would provide practice on a non-level surface to the golfer. This is important because most greens are of course, not a flat surface since grass is grown on the ground and the ground tends to shift over time. Further, many greens are intentionally angled to create a break, away or toward the hole. This makes the game more interesting since the golfer must properly anticipate the break with his stroke, to thereby properly project the ball into the hole. The stroke must be such that it overcomes the forces of gravity and the break of the slanted green on the moving ball. This involves both ball speed, and the accuracy of the angle of the shot off the putter.

As such, putting practice greens and the like, should provide some means to impart a break or slant to the carpet surface, to thereby allow the practicing golfer to practice accommodating the break of a green in their stroke. However, because commercially available practice greens are generally planar or rely on a carpet surface that is rolled onto a planar floor, they cannot provide a break, nor any means to change or adjust that break for practice sessions.

As a consequence, golfers employing such devices, cannot adjust the carpet or other green-simulating surface to allow them to practice speed and accuracy of ball angle to accommodate shots at different break angles. This is unfortunate since many practice strokes are required to allow the golfer to view and calculate the angle of the green to the hole, to putt the ball at an angle, and at a force designed to overcome the force of gravity a slanted green will impart to the rolling ball. The putting range practice device herein described and disclosed, solves this dilemma through the provision of means to alter the break of the practice green, and to allow the golfer to visually identify defects in both their accuracy and force to overcome the forces of a slanted green.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

An object of this invention is the provision of a putting practice device that is easily set up and employed for practice and provides a realistic recreation of a green on a golf course with a break toward or away from the hole.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of such a golf putting practice device which allows the user to change the break of the putting surface to different angles, to thereby allow practice accommodating these different break angles.

Yet a further object of this invention is the provision of such a putting practice device, which will provide the user with concurrent visual feedback as to both the force of their shot and the accuracy of their stroke at an angle to overcome the green break angle.

These objects, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent to those skilled in the art, reside in the details of the construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The putting practice device herein described and disclosed, allows the user to set up a putting green which simulates the green of a golf course. The device additionally provides a means to position the surface in a manner which simulates many different break angles of the green and the putting situations (break left, break right, s break, up-down, etc.) a user is likely to encounter on the course. The break angle to provide practices for different green situations are easily determined by the user through placement of one or a plurality of break accessories which are user-positionable under the matt simulating the green.

In order to provide numerous different break angle possibilities for the user, the break accessories consist of a lightweight material dimensioned in geometrical shapes like triangles, rectangles, etc. which when positioned under the green-simulating matt, in different locations, will result in different putting lines for the user to practice. An infinite number of break angles and putting situations can be formed by the kit employed by the user by simply moving the break accessories around in their positions underneath the suspended mat which simulates the green. In fact, the user can actually construct a replica of a local course green using the different break accessory components.

However, rather than simply forming bumps in the mat placed over the break-determining components, simulating those which would occur on the course, the mat of the enclosed device also has a support layer engaged underneath the playing surface. This support layer is engaged by laminating or gluing a plastic substrate to the putting surface to thereby uniquely support it when engaged over the underlying break-forming components and any support structure. The flexible plastic substrate stretches and holds the upper surface to more realistically form curves and detents and rises of the overhead simulated playing surface. This formation of curves and break-angles is accomplished by insertion of one or a plurality of different types of break forming components which bias the plastic substrate elastically supporting the overlying carpet or other green-simulating material. This unique elastic flexible substrate, allows for the formation of realistic bumps and depressions and break angels in the overhead playing surface along with gentle curves and depressions.

Additionally provided to the user is a means for real-time visual feedback as to the accuracy of both their stroke toward the hole, and the force of that stroke, in their efforts to overcome the effects of green break or angle, upon the roll of the ball. Using a plurality of positioned markers on the playing surface, the user is afforded a means to ascertain both the accuracy of the angle of their shot, along with the requested force needed to place the ball in the hole at different break angles. Further provided is a means to mark a determined accurate shot for both ball angle and force of the club on the ball to allow the user to try to repeat the shot for practice.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, which are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing description and following detailed description are considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, upon reading this disclosure, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents which may be resorted to by those skilled in the art considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a top perspective view of the putting green device with break adjustment component positioned under the synthetic surface which imparts a right-hand break to the playing surface and the markers positioned on the surface to provide feedback to the user as to force and trajectory of the shot.

FIG. 1a depicts a top view of the device wherein a break adjustment component has been inserted under the suspended playing surface to create a right-break angle and showing the plurality of markers positioned on the surface to provide the user real-time feedback as to the accuracy of their trajectory of the ball, and amount of force imparted by their stroke to overcome the force of the break angle.

FIG. 2 is a slice through the device of FIG. 1 showing the layer of synthetic playing surface, a plastic substrate supporting the playing surface, and a break adjustment component supporting the substrate being employed to change the break.

FIG. 3 shows just a few of the different shapes and dimensions of the break adjustment components which are employed with the device. Virtually any shape and size may be employed to achieve a desired break in the surface

FIG. 4 depicts another top view where the break angle of the playing surface has been changed to another configuration by movement of or changing the dimension of the break adjustment components supporting the playing surface.

FIG. 5 depicts the additional feedback capability of the device wherein markers may be placed, or designated from the markers of FIG. 1, to show trajectory accuracy and speed from force on the struck ball, for repetitive practice of the proper stroke.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in FIGS. 1-5, wherein similar parts are identified by like referenced numerals, as noted in FIG. 1 there is depicted a top perspective view of the putting green device 10 with break adjustment component 12 (FIG. 1a) positioned under the synthetic surface 14 which imparts a right-hand break to the playing surface 14.

Particularly preferred in all modes of the device 10 are a plurality of markers 16 positioned on the playing surface 14 which impart a means to provide feedback to the user on each shot. The markers 16 can be printed or appliqued indicia such as the depicted dots which are arranged in spaced adjacent rows as depicted in FIG. 1a. Viewing the ball trajectory 23 after each putt, the user can watch and see the ball crossing individual markers 16 in each row of adjacent markers 16.

As shown in FIG. 1a and more particularly FIG. 5, the crossing of the rolling ball 18 over a respective marker 16 in each adjacent row 20 of markers 16, along the trajectory 23 of the putt, provides feedback as to ball speed imparted by the force of the club on the ball 18, and, the trajectory 23 of the putt as imparted by the angle at which the user hits the ball 18 with the putter.

In use, by watching the trajectory 23 of the ball 18 after it is struck as it crosses markers 16 in each row 20, the user can ascertain the correct trajectory 23 and force to use to overcome the break angle of the surface 14. Using one 17 or two 19 of the markers 16, from any two of the adjacent rows 20, the user can ascertain if the ball has been hit at the proper angle to achieve the proper trajectory 23 to sink the ball 18 into the hole 22. Employing the second 19 of the two markers 16 the user can ascertain if the ball has been hit with sufficient force to obtain a ball speed when combined with trajectory 23, that will overcome the bias from the angle of the playing surface to sink the ball 18 into the hole 22.

It takes this combination of proper trajectory 23, and ball speed, to provide the force and direction to the ball 18 to overcome the force from the break angle of the angled playing surface 14. Once the user observes the ball crossing the chosen consecutive markers 16 in the chosen rows 20, on one accurate putt trajectory, they may decide to designate the proper markers 16 with a color or other means to visually identify the proper marker for trajectory and speed. Thus the first marker 17 for shot angle and the second marker 19 for ball speed can be identified for the user to continuously view to practice the shot.

This marker identification can be done by using stick-on colored dots or other means to mark the two markers 16 from the plurality of rows 20 of markers 16 shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a. Or the markers 16 themselves may be colorized when applied to the playing surface where each marker 16 in each row 20 is a different color than the adjacent markers 16 in that row 20. In this fashion the user would just remember which of the markers 16 is the first marker 17 for angle and the second marker 19 for ball speed.

Those skilled in the art will realize numerous ways to individually identify each marker 16 in each row 20 such that the user may pick the two respective markers 16 to provide feedback on the proper putt with the proper trajectory and ball speed to sink the putt at the angle of the playing surface 14 imparted by the chosen adjustment component 12 in the chosen position under the playing surface 14. This provides a means to practice the putt continuously once the markers 16 for proper speed and trajectory (FIG. 5) have been designated by the user. For subsequent feedback and review, the putting session may be recorded on video from above so the user may review the ball trajectories which worked best at the different chosen playing field angles.

Also, the user may alter the practice session at the chosen playing surface 14 angle they have determined using the adjustment components 12 by using a different hole 22 of the device 10. As depicted in FIGS. 1a and 4, a plurality of holes 22 may be employed in a row so that the user may use a different hole 22 from the plurality to change the required trajectory and ball force required during practice. The holes may be left open, or closed by inserting a piece of playing surface 14 into a removable engagement with the hole 22 apertures not being used.

An additional preferred mode of the device 10 is the employment of an elastic substrate 24 to support the overhead playing surface 14 on top of the chosen adjustment components 12 from FIG. 4. This support is shown in FIG. 2 along with the layering of substrate 24 to playing surface 14.

Playing surfaces such as carpet or synthetic turf material are well known in the art and employed widely for practice devices. However, when supported atop the adjustment components 12 between guides 26 and the curved backboard 28, conventional carpet and synthetic turf tend to buckle and wrinkle in fashions which do not mimic the surface of a golf green which has generally smooth transitions along the break angle.

The depicted guides 26 serve to corral the ball 18 should the trajectory 23 be off to keep it on the playing surface 14. Also provided is the backboard 28 which is curved which will cause the ball 18 to return to the user's direction if the trajectory 23 is errant and the ball 18 misses the hole 22. Additionally, a portion of the playing surface 14 is engaged to the guides 26 and endwall 28 to form a gap between the playing surface and underlying support surface.

Experimentation has found that laminating or otherwise adhering an elastic plastic substrate 24 to the playing surface formed of carpet or synthetic turf provides smooth and very realistic curves and transitions to the supported playing surface 14.

Such elastic substrate materials 24 are available in different flexural strengths (stiffness) and can be acquired in different thicknesses to be adhered to the playing surface 14 to produce the smooth playing surface 14 breaking characteristics described above. Because of the variance in elasticity of materials from different manufacturers it can be difficult to specify the desired material for the substrate 24.

The flexural strength of a material is conventionally defined as its ability to resist deformation under load. For materials that deform significantly but do not break, the load at yield, typically measured at 5% deformation/strain of the outer surface, is reported as the flexural strength or flexural yield strength. The test beam is under compressive stress at the concave surface and tensile stress at the convex surface under testing conditions such as ASTM D790.

Applicant has thus defined a current preferred manner to specify the desirable substrate 24 material as a function of the radius and grading which the material produces when a one inch in height adjustment component 12 is placed under the substrate supporting the playing surface 14.

This of course is related to the variables previously defined (flexural strength and thickness) of the elastic substrate 24 material. It has been found that such materials will work well are those having flexural strengths between 60 to 90 (Mpa) such as polyethylene or polystyrene.

Using material formed of this flexural strength, in order to have the desired break of the playing surface 14, the grading should be between 7% to 9% from the top of the one inch adjustment component 12, to the point the substrate/putting surface material touches the floor. With the proper substrate material the grading will not be planar but will be curved and will have a sin typical curve shape with a radius in the crown from r=40 inch to r=75 inch when measuring the curve produced from a virtual circle above it or below it depending on the shape of the produced curve.

While the device 10, employing the markers 16 in rows 20 to allow the user to ascertain correct trajectories 23 will work better than conventional putting practice devices, the employment of the flexible elastic substrate 24 further enhances the performance of the device 10 and is preferred. The employment of the substrate 24 in combination with the markers 16 provides a smooth, natural, curved playing surface 14 with the elastic substrate 24 atop the adjustment components 12 and provides a more natural break to the playing surface 14 along with means to ascertain proper speed and trajectory 23 of the ball 18 on each stroke.

Using the flexible elastic substrate 24 allows for the employment of adjustment components 12 of virtually any shape as shown in FIG. 3 which depicts just a few shapes that might be employed. The user can thus make the break angle of the playing surface 14 ever more difficult by employing differently shaped adjustment components to impart one or a plurality of break angles to the playing surface 14 supported by the elastic substrate 24 in a natural manner.

The method and components shown in the drawings and described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of particular construction, and configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure of the present golf putting device with user variable break angle in the playing surface. It is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration, and using different steps and process procedures, and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described, may be employed for providing a portable putting range adapted for break adjustment device and method in accordance with the spirit of this invention.

As such, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features, without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract of the invention, is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Claims

1. A golf putting training device for improving the putting of a golfer, the golf putting training device comprising:

a playing surface having an upper surface adapted for putting and a lower surface opposite said upper surface;

means to suspend a portion of said playing surface above a support surface thereby forming a gap between said lower surface and said support surface;

at least one component member, said component member positionable in said gap to a plurality of engaged positions within said gap, said component member dimensioned to contact both said lower surface and said support surface when positioned in any of said engaged positions;

said component member in any said engaged position defining the slant upon said upper surface, said slant being generally downward from said engaged position and toward said support surface; and

said slant imparting a break in the trajectory of a golf ball putted across said upper surface from a starting position toward past said engaged position toward a distal end of said upper surface, whereby a user of said training device can practice putting said golf ball along a curved said trajectory toward a target hole for said golf ball positioned adjacent to said distal end of said upper surface.

2. The golf putting training device of claim 1 additionally comprising:

said component member being one of a kit of said component members being dimensioned to create a different said slant to said upper surface whereby said slant may be varied by said user to practice different said trajectories for said ball to said target hole.

3. The golf putting training device of claim 2 additionally comprising:

a plurality of said slants being formed in said upper surface by a plurality of said component members from said kit being inserted to respective said engaged positions; and

a plurality of slants being formed on said upper surface providing said user a said upper surface adapted to practice putting said ball along a said trajectory to said target hole which includes multiple said slants to be accommodated by said trajectory imparted to said ball by said user with a golf club.

4. The golf putting training device of claim 1 additionally comprising:

said lower surface provided by the underside of a substantially planar elastic substrate engaged to said lower surface of said playing surface; and

said elastic substrate providing means to prevent intersecting planar surfaces along said upper surface along portions having said slant and thereby form curves along said slant of said upper surface in a manner mimicking natural turf.

5. The golf putting training device of claim 2 additionally comprising:

said lower surface provided by the underside of a substantially planar elastic substrate engaged to said lower surface of said playing surface; and

said elastic substrate providing means to prevent intersecting planar surfaces along said upper surface along portions having said slant and thereby form curves along said slant of said upper surface in a manner mimicking natural turf.

6. The golf putting training device of claim 3 additionally comprising:

said lower surface provided by the underside of a substantially planar elastic substrate engaged to said lower surface of said playing surface; and

said elastic substrate providing means to prevent intersecting planar surfaces along said upper surface along portions having said slant and thereby form curves along said slant of said upper surface in a manner mimicking natural turf.

7. The golf putting training device of claim 1 additionally comprising:

visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and

whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.

8. The golf putting training device of claim 2 additionally comprising:

visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and

whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.

9. The golf putting training device of claim 3 additionally comprising:

visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and

whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.

10. The golf putting training device of claim 4 additionally comprising:

visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and

whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.

11. The golf putting training device of claim 5 additionally comprising:

visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and

whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.

12. The golf putting training device of claim 6 additionally comprising:

visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction of said ball along a said trajectory located upon said upper surface, wherein said user may ascertain a force and angle of impact to impart to said ball to move it along a said trajectory properly traversing said slant to reach said hole; and

whereby said user is provided a visible reference as to a said force and a said angle of impact to impart to said ball with a club for a repeatable correct trajectory depositing said ball in said hole.

13. The golf putting training device of claim 7 wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:

a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;

said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;

each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;

a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;

a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and

whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.

14. The golf putting training device of claim 8 wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:

a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;

said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;

each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;

a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;

a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and

whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.

15. The golf putting training device of claim 9 wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:

a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;

said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;

each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;

a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;

a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and

whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.

16. The golf putting training device of claim 10 wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:

a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;

said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;

each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;

a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;

a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and

whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.

17. The golf putting training device of claim 11 wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:

a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;

said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;

each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;

a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;

a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and

whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.

18. The golf putting training device of claim 12 wherein said visible means to ascertain a correct ball speed and initial direction comprises:

a plurality of rows of markers positioned on said upper surface;

said rows positioned to be substantially traverse to any said trajectory of a said ball;

each of said rows having a plurality of said markers spaced from adjacent said markers;

a first of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by said angle of impact with said club depending on where in said row said ball traverses along a said trajectory;

a second of said rows crossed by said ball along a said trajectory providing a visible means to ascertain the path of said trajectory imparted to said ball by a force of said impact with said club, depending on where in said second row said ball traverses along a said trajectory; and

whereby a user observing said ball crossing said first row and said second row may ascertain a proper said angle of impact a said force to propel said ball along a said trajectory which traverses said slant to deposit said ball in said hole.

19. The golf putting training device of claim 1 wherein said means to suspend a portion of said playing surface above a support surface thereby forming a gap between said lower surface and said support surface comprises:

said distal end of said playing surface engaged to and endwall at a position above said support surface; and

opposing side edges along said portion being engaged to guide members at a position above said support surface.

20. The golf putting training device of claim 13 wherein said means to suspend a portion of said playing surface above a support surface thereby forming a gap between said lower surface and said support surface comprises:

said distal end of said playing surface engaged to and endwall at a position above said support surface; and

opposing side edges along said portion being engaged to guide members at a position above said support surface.