Principle-based device and method for using an asymmetrical target zone to improve golf-putting skill

Abstract

Multiple variations on a novel device and method for improving golf-putting skills are disclosed. Specifically, the present invention relates to the construction and use of an asymmetrical golf-putting target zone that encourages users to direct putts to land within a specific two-putt range on the high-percentage side of the cup, where the high-percentage side is determined by the slope and pitch of the putting surface. The motivation for the asymmetry is disclosed, as are the principles for constructing, implementing, and using the asymmetrical zone. Specifically, the axis separating the asymmetrical subregions of the zone is placed either approximately perpendicular to, or approximately coincident upon, an ideal line of the ball's approach and is oriented such that the larger subregion is placed on the side of the cup with the higher elevation, or on the side of the cup further away from the putting location if the putting surface is flat.

1 . A golf-putting target consisting of:
 a bounded region surrounding an aperture suitable for affixing to a golf cup;   either wherein the distance from one side of the region to the aperture forms approximately a 2:3 ratio with the distance from the other side of the region to the aperture, or wherein a line can be constructed through the center of the aperture which divides the region into two sub-regions whose areas form approximately a 2:3 ratio;   wherein the shorter length or smaller sub-region is placed on the lower-percentage side of the cup, when the aperture is affixed thereto, in light of the surrounding surface topology and a specified putting location; and   wherein the longer length or larger sub-region is placed on the higher-percentage side of the cup, when the aperture is affixed thereto, in light of the surrounding surface topology and the specified putting location.   
     
     
         2 . The golf-putting target of  claim 1  wherein the target is constructed of a flexible material, such as plastic, paper, cardboard, vinyl, neoprene, polyester, canvass, or cloth, and can be fixably attached and detached to a golf-putting surface. 
     
     
         3 . The golf-putting target of  claim 1  wherein the region is circular, rectangular, oval, square, lenticular, irregular, or amoeboid in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The golf-putting target of  claim 1  wherein the region is circular in shape and has a diameter of 34.25 inches, and wherein the aperture suitable for affixing to a golf cup is regulation size of 4.25 inches, such that the shorter distance between the aperture and one side of the circular region is 12 inches and the longer distance from the other side of the aperture to the other side of the circular region, as measured along the same diameter, is 18 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The golf-putting target of  claim 4 , such that when the target is placed over an actual golf cup on a playing surface, the aperture and cup is placed within the circular region at approximately the:
 six-o'clock position, if the surrounding surface topology is flat or slopes uphill and does not have any left-to-right or right-to-left pitch;   four-o'clock position, if the surrounding surface topology is flat or slopes upward and has left-to-right pitch;   eight-o'clock position, if the surrounding surface topology is flat or slopes upward and has right-to-left pitch;   twelve-o'clock position, if the surrounding surface topology slopes downward and does not have any right-to-left or left-to-right pitch;   two-o'clock position, if the surrounding surface topology slopes downward and has left-to-right pitch; or   ten-o'clock position, if the surrounding surface topology slopes downward and has right-to-left pitch;   
       where the aforementioned clock positions and surrounding surface topologies are determined in reference to a vantage point located at an elevation just above the specified putting location and facing the cup. 
     
     
         6 . A golf-putting improvement game device consisting of:
 a surface,   a plurality of markings on the surface,   a target zone, and   a golf cup,   wherein the plurality of markings is spaced at various distances from the golf cup and indicates putt locations for a user of the device;   wherein the golf cup is located within the target zone such that the center of the golf cup divides a line segment running from one edge of the zone to the other edge of the zone into two segments of unequal length, as measured from the edge of the golf cup to the edge of the zone along said segment; and   wherein either: a) the two segments have lengths that form approximately a 2:3 ratio, or b) the perpendicular line to said line segment running through the cup from one edge of the target zone to the other edge divides the target zone into two subregions whose areas form approximately a 2:3 ratio.   
     
     
         7 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the target zone is a circle of diameter 34.25 inches;   wherein the golf cup is a regulation golf cup of diameter 4.25 inches; and   wherein the golf cup divides a diameter of the circle into two segments of 12 and 18 inches respectively, as measured from the edge of the golf cup to the edge of the target zone along said diameter.   
     
     
         8 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 , further comprising an exclusionary zone, wherein the exclusionary zone abuts an edge of the surface near the target zone and is designed to impede a golf ball from rolling back toward the golf cup once the golf ball enters the exclusionary zone. 
     
     
         9 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 8 , wherein the exclusionary zone is located 18 inches away from a boundary of the target zone. 
     
     
         10 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 , wherein the target zone is red in color. 
     
     
         11 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of markings on the surface are red or yellow in color. 
     
     
         12 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 , wherein one or more of the plurality of markings on the surface is accompanied by an indicator of the marking's distance from the golf cup. 
     
     
         13 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of markings are located at one or more of the following combinations of distances from the golf cup:
 a) 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 feet;   b) 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 feet;   c) 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 feet; or   d) 5, 7, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, and 30 feet.   
     
     
         14 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 , wherein one or more markings is considerably farther from the golf cup than any of the other markings within the plurality of markings. 
     
     
         15 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 14 , wherein the one or more markings that are considerably farther from the golf cup than any of the markings within the plurality of markings are visually distinct from the other markings within the plurality of markings. 
     
     
         16 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 15 , wherein the one or more markings that are considerably farther from the golf cup than any of the other markings within the plurality of markings are denoted by a larger red or yellow marker. 
     
     
         17 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more markings that are considerably farther from the golf cup than any of the other markings within the plurality of markings are located at one or more of the following distances from the golf cup:
 a) 25 feet, if the markings within the plurality of markings are located at 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 feet from the cup;   b) 30 feet, if the markings with the plurality of markings are located at 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 feet from the cup;   c) 35 feet, if the markings within the plurality of markings are located at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 feet from the cup; or   d) 40 feet, if the markings within the plurality of markings are located at 5, 7, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, and 30 feet from the cup.   
     
     
         18 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 , wherein the surface is:
 a) relatively flat or slopes generally upward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone, and is largely devoid of any left-to-right or right-to-left pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings;   b) relatively flat or slopes generally upward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone, and simultaneously has a left-to-right pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings;   c) relatively flat or slopes generally upward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone, and simultaneously has a right-to-left pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings;   d) slopes generally downward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone, and is largely devoid of any left-to-right or right-to-left pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings;   e) slopes generally downward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone, and simultaneously has a left-to-right pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings; or   f) slopes generally downward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone, and simultaneously has a right-to-left pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings.   
     
     
         19 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 18 , wherein the line perpendicular to and equally dividing the line segment running through the cup from one edge of the target region to the other edge lies:
 a) approximately perpendicular to a line of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes generally upward without any left-to-right or right-to-left pitch, or is placed on the side of the cup further away from the one or more plurality of markings, if the surface is relatively flat without any left-to-right or right-to-left pitch;   b) approximately coincident to a line of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes generally upward with left-to-right pitch, or is placed on the side of the cup further away from the one or more plurality of markings, if the surface is relatively flat with left-to-right pitch;   c) approximately coincident to a line of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes generally upward with right-to-left pitch, or is placed on the side of the cup further away from the one or more plurality of markings, if the surface is relatively flat with right-to-left pitch;   d) approximately perpendicular to a line of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes generally downward without any left-to-right or right-to-left pitch;   e) approximately perpendicular to a line of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes generally downward with left-to-right pitch; or   f) approximately perpendicular to a line of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes generally downward with right-to-left pitch;   
       where the aforementioned lines of ideal approach, surface topologies, high sides of the cup, and further-away sides of the cup are defined with respect to a vantage point located at one or more of the markings within the plurality of markings on the surface, either singly or in the aggregate. 
     
     
         20 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 19 , wherein when the target zone is viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings, the cup is located within the target zone at approximately the:
 six-o'clock position if the surface is relatively flat or slopes generally upward without any right-to-left or left-to-right pitch;   four-o'clock position if the surface is relatively flat or slopes generally upward with left-to-right pitch;   eight-o'clock position if the surface is relatively flat or slopes generally upward with right-to-left pitch;   twelve-o'clock position if the surface slopes generally downward without any right-to-left or left-to-right pitch;   two-o'clock position if the surface slopes generally downward with left-to-right pitch; or   ten-o'clock position if the surface slopes generally downward with right-to-left pitch.   
     
     
         21 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 , wherein the surface is approximately between 250 and 600 square feet in size. 
     
     
         22 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 , wherein the surface is square, rectangular, oval shaped, circular, lenticular, kidney shaped, or amoeboid shaped. 
     
     
         23 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 , wherein the surface has dimensions of approximately 25 to 50 feet long by 7 to 15 feet wide. 
     
     
         24 . The golf-putting improvement game device according to  claim 6 , wherein the surface consists essentially of artificial turf, playable carpet, dirt, asphalt, wood, plastic, rubber, linoleum, natural grass, sand, vegetation, water, rocks, stone, gravel, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . A game process for improving golf putting skills comprising the steps of:
 putting one or more golf balls from one or more of a plurality of fixed locations on a bounded playing surface that are varying distances from a golf cup,   tabulating a score according to the following scheme:
 A point(s) for each ball that lands within the golf cup, 
 B point(s) for each ball that lands within a target zone surrounding the golf cup, 
 C point(s) for each ball that lands outside the target zone but remains on the playing surface, and 
 D point(s) for each ball that leaves the playing surface, 
   such that a score of A points is more desirable than a score of B points, which in turn is more desirable than a score of C points, which in turn is more desirable than a score of D points;   putting a golf ball from one of one or more fixed locations that are substantially further away from the cup than are the plurality of fixed locations of the prior putts; and   scoring the final, longer putt according to the following scheme:
 E point(s) for landing within the golf cup, 
 F point(s) for landing within the target region, 
 G point(s) for landing outside the target region but staying on the playing surface, and 
 H point(s) for each putt that leaves the playing surface, 
   such that a score of E points is more desirable than a score of F points, which in turn is more desirable than a score of G points, which in turn is more desirable than a score of H points, and such that a score of E points is a more desirable score than a score of A points, a score of F points is a more desirable score than a score of B points, a score of G points is more desirable score than a score of C points, and a score of H points is a more desirable than a score of D points.   
     
     
         26 . The game process of  claim 25 , wherein having a lower score is considered more desirable than having a higher score; and where:
 A is negative one point,   B is zero points,   C is positive one point,   D is positive two points,   E is negative two points,   F is negative one point,   G is zero points, and   H is positive one point.   
     
     
         27 . The game process of  claim 25 , wherein the second putting step, consisting of putting a golf ball from a single fixed location that is substantially further away from the golf cup than are the plurality of fixed locations of the prior putts, is executed only if the total score received after the first putting step is more desirable than a threshold score. 
     
     
         28 . The game process of  claim 27 , wherein:
 A is negative one point,   B is zero points,   C is positive one point,   D is positive two points,   E is negative two points,   F is negative one point,   G is zero points,   H is positive one point;   wherein having a lower score is considered more desirable than having a higher score; and   wherein the threshold score for determining whether the optional second putting step is executed is a cumulative score of zero or lower for all putts tabulated up to that point.   
     
     
         29 . The game process of  claim 25 , wherein the target zone is situated with respect to the golf cup such that the golf cup divides a line segment running from one side of the target zone to the other into two segments of unequal length, as measured from the edge of the cup to the edge of the target zone, and wherein either: a) the lengths of the two uneven segments form approximately a 2:3 ratio, or b) the line perpendicular to the two segments and that intersects the cup divides the target region into two subregions whose area forms approximately a 2:3 ratio. 
     
     
         30 . The game process of  claim 29 , wherein the target zone is a circle of diameter 34.25 inches; wherein the golf cup is a regulation golf cup of 4.25 inches; and wherein the golf cup divides said diameter of the circle into two segments of 12 and 18 inches respectively. 
     
     
         31 . The game process of  claim 30 , wherein an exclusionary zone abuts an edge of the surface near the target zone and is designed to impede a golf ball from rolling back toward the golf cup once the golf ball enters the exclusionary zone. 
     
     
         32 . The game process of  claim 31 , wherein the exclusionary zone is located 18 inches away from a boundary of the target zone. 
     
     
         33 . The game process of  claim 31 , wherein the target zone is red in color. 
     
     
         34 . The game process of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of markings on the surface are red or yellow in color. 
     
     
         35 . The game process of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more markings that are considerably farther from the golf cup than any of the other markings within the plurality of markings are visually distinct from the markings within the plurality of markings. 
     
     
         36 . The game process of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more markings that are considerably farther from the golf cup than any of the other markings within the plurality of markings are denoted by a larger red or yellow marking. 
     
     
         37 . The game process of  claim 25 , wherein one or more of the plurality of markings on the surface is accompanied by an indicator of the marking's distance from the golf cup. 
     
     
         38 . The game process of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of markings are located at one or more of the following combinations of distances from the golf cup:
 a) 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 feet;   b) 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 feet;   c) 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 feet; or   d) 5, 7, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, and 30 feet; and   
       wherein the one or more markings that are considerably farther from the golf cup than any of the other markings within the plurality of markings are located at one or more of the following distances from the golf cup:
 a) 25 feet, if the locations within the plurality are located at 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 feet; 
 b) 30 feet, if the locations within the plurality are located at 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 feet; 
 c) 35 feet, if the locations within the plurality are located at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 feet; or 
 d) 40 feet, if the locations within the plurality are located at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 feet, respectively. 
 
     
     
         39 . The game process according to  claim 25 , wherein the surface:
 a) is relatively flat or slopes generally upward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone and is largely devoid of any left-to-right or right-to-left pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings;   b) is relatively flat or slopes generally upward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone and simultaneously has a left-to-right pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings;   c) is relatively flat or slopes generally upward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone and simultaneously has a right-to-left pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings;   d) slopes generally downward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone and is largely devoid of any left-to-right or right-to-left pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings;   e) slopes generally downward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone and simultaneously has a left-to-right pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings; or   f) slopes generally downward in elevation from one or more of the plurality of markings toward the target zone and simultaneously has a right-to-left pitch as viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings.   
     
     
         40 . The game process according to  claim 39 , wherein a linear boundary that intersects the cup and separates either the two segments whose lengths form approximately a 2:3 ratio or the two subregions whose areas form a 2:3 ratio lies:
 a) approximately perpendicular to a line of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes uphill without any left-to-right or right-to-left pitch, or is placed on the side of the cup further away from the one or more plurality of markings, if the surface is relatively flat without any left-to-right or right-to-left pitch;   b) approximately coincident to a line of ideal of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes uphill with left-to-right pitch or is placed on the side of the cup further away from the one or more plurality of markings, if the surface is relatively flat with left-to-right pitch;   c) approximately coincident to a line of ideal of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes uphill with right-to-left pitch or is placed on the side of the cup further away from the one or more plurality of markings, if the surface is relatively flat with right-to-left pitch;   d) approximately perpendicular to a line of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes downhill without any left-to-right or right-to-left pitch;   e) approximately perpendicular to a line of ideal of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes downhill with left-to-right pitch; or   f) approximately perpendicular to a line of ideal of ideal approach, and wherein the longer segment or the larger subregion is placed on the higher side of the cup, if the surface slopes downhill with right-to-left pitch,   where the aforementioned lines of ideal approach, surface topologies, high sides of the cup, and further-away sides of the cup are defined with respect to a vantage point located at one or more of the markings within the plurality of markings on the surface, either singly or in the aggregate.   
     
     
         41 . The game process according to  claim 40 , wherein when the target zone is viewed from the one or more of the plurality of markings, the cup is located within the target zone at approximately the:
 a) six-o'clock position if the surface is relatively flat or slopes generally upward without any right-to-left or left-to-right pitch;   b) four-o'clock position if the surface is relatively flat or slopes generally upward with left-to-right pitch;   c) eight-o'clock position if the surface is relatively flat or slopes generally upward with right-to-left pitch;   d) twelve-o'clock position if the surface slopes generally downward without any right-to-left or left-to-right pitch;   e) two-o'clock position if the surface slopes generally downward with left-to-right pitch; or   f) ten-o'clock position if the surface slopes generally downward with right-to-left pitch.   
     
     
         42 . The game process of  claim 25 , wherein the playing surface is approximately between 250 and 600 square feet in size. 
     
     
         43 . The game process of  claim 25 , wherein the playing surface is square, rectangular, oval shaped, circular, lenticular, kidney-shaped, or amoeboid shaped. 
     
     
         44 . The game process of  claim 25 , wherein the surface has dimensions of approximately 25 to 50 feet long by 7 to 15 feet wide. 
     
     
         45 . The game process of  claim 25 , wherein the surface consists essentially of artificial turf, playable carpet, dirt, asphalt, wood, plastic, rubber, linoleum, natural grass, sand, vegetation, water, rocks, stone, gravel, or some combination thereof.