Golf training putter

Abstract

The present invention provides a golf training putter comprises a putter head that is connected to a shaft in a manner which enables the putter head to rotate around the shaft.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf training putter comprising: 
 a shaft; and    a putter head that is connected to a shaft in a manner which enables the putter head to rotate around the shaft.    
     
     
         2 . The golf training putter of  claim 1  wherein the putter head is connected to the shaft by a rotational device.  
     
     
         3 . The golf training putter of  claim 2  wherein said rotational device is a bearing.  
     
     
         4 . The golf training putter of  claim 1  wherein the putter head has one or more visual alignment marking lines that are perpendicular to an intended target line of a putt.  
     
     
         5 . The golf training putter of  claim 1  further comprising a locking mechanism that immobilizes the putter head and prevent the putter head from rotating around the shaft.  
     
     
         6 . The golf training putter of  claim 5  wherein the locking mechanism is comprised of a rigid appendage that is affixed to the shaft and rotates along with the rotation of the shaft.  
     
     
         7 . The golf training putter of  claim 6  wherein the appendage has one or more holes through the appendage.  
     
     
         8 . The golf training putter of  claim 7  wherein the putter head has at least one aligning hole in the putter head that aligns with at least one hole in the appendage in one or more orientations of the putter head.  
     
     
         9 . The golf training putter of  claim 8  wherein at least one rigid object is passed through at least one hole in the appendage and simultaneously through the aligning hole in the putter head to immobilize the putter head and prevent the putter head from rotating around the putter shaft.  
     
     
         10 . The golf training putter of  claim 9  where the rigid objects have features at one end to facilitate passing the rigid objects through the holes by hand, without the use of a specific tool.  
     
     
         11 . The golf training putter of  claim 7  where the locking mechanism is comprised of a threaded rod extending outward from the end of the putter shaft that engages with the putter head.  
     
     
         12 . The golf training putter of  claim 11  where a locking nut is threaded onto a threaded rod extending from the shaft and is allowed to tighten with sufficient pressure against the rotational device to prevent the device from rotating and prevent the putter head from rotating around the putter shaft.  
     
     
         13 . The golf training putter of  claim 12  where one or more washers are inserted between the locking nut and the rotational device.  
     
     
         14 . The golf training putter of  claim 12  where the locking nut is designed to facilitate threading the nut onto the threaded rod of the shaft by hand, without the use of a tool.  
     
     
         15 . The golf training putter of  claim 7  wherein the locking mechanism is comprised of: 
 one end of the putter shaft having a threaded inner diameter; and  
 a locking rod inserted into the threaded inner diameter of the putter shaft wherein at least one portion of the locking rod is allowed to contact the rotational device in a manner that prevents the rotational device from rotating.  
 
     
     
         16 . The golf training putter of  claim 15  wherein washers are inserted between the locking rod and the rotational device.  
     
     
         17 . The golf training putter of  claim 15  wherein the locking rod is designed to facilitate threading into the threaded inner diameter of the shaft by hand, without the use of a tool.  
     
     
         18 . The golf training putter of  claim 1  wherein a counterweight is attached to the putter head by a support device.  
     
     
         19 . The golf training putter of  claim 18  wherein the support device is shaped in the form of a Y.  
     
     
         20 . The golf training putter of  claim 19  wherein the ends of the support device align with at least two holes in the putter head.  
     
     
         21 . The golf training putter of  claim 20  wherein the counterweight is attached to a stem portion of the Y shaped support device.  
     
     
         22 . The golf training putter of  claim 21  wherein the counterweight is allowed to slide closer to or farther away from the putter head along the stem of the Y shaped support device.  
     
     
         24 . The golf training putter of  claim 19  wherein the stem of the Y shaped support device is telescopic.  
     
     
         25 . The golf training putter of claim  23  wherein the counterweight is attached to the end of the stem of the Y shaped telescopic support device.  
     
     
         26 . The golf training putter of  claim 24  wherein the counterweight is interchangeable with other counterweights of various size and weight.  
     
     
         27 . The golf training putter of  claim 1  further comprising a return mechanism to return the putter head to a specific starting position prior to each putting stroke while still allowing the putter head to rotate around the shaft.  
     
     
         28 . The golf training putter of  claim 26  wherein the return mechanism is comprised of a ring attached to the shaft.  
     
     
         29 . The golf training putter of  claim 27  wherein the ring has at least one elastic member extending from the ring and is connected to at least one portion of the putter head.  
     
     
         30 . A golf training putter comprising: 
 a grip;    a shaft;    a putter head; and    a means for rotatably connecting the putter head to the shaft.    
     
     
         31 . A method for manufacturing a golf training putter, the method comprising: 
 providing a shaft; and    attaching a putter head to a shaft in a manner that allows the putter head to rotate about the shaft.