Putting practice device

Abstract

There is disclosed a practice putting apparatus. The practice putting apparatus has a putting target, and a light source for lighting a guide path on a practice surface, the guide path being parallel to a putting line along which a golf ball is intended to be struck at said target to thereby provide a visual aid to alignment of the putter head when making a putting stroke along the putting line.

1 . A practice putting apparatus comprising:
 a putting target; and   a light source for lighting a guide path on a practice surface, the guide path being parallel to a putting line along which a golf ball is intended to be struck at said target to thereby provide a visual aid to alignment of the putter head when making a putting stroke along the putting line.   
     
     
         2 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said putting target comprises a simulated golf hole, a golf ball return device for returning a ball that reaches said simulated golf hole towards the place from which it was struck. 
     
     
         3 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said light source comprises a first light and a second light. 
     
     
         4 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein each light emits a broad planar beam of light in a plane substantially perpendicular to a practice surface to thereby light said guide path. 
     
     
         5 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein each light comprises a laser and a cylindrical prism. 
     
     
         6 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the first and second lights are mounted to a housing of said putting target. 
     
     
         7 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said first and second lights are spaced apart whereby said guide path comprises a pair of spaced apart lines of light. 
     
     
         8 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein at least one of the lights is slidably mounted to the housing so that one or both of the lines of light can be moved. 
     
     
         9 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein at least one of the lights is detachably mounted to the housing. 
     
     
         10 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein, a first light is located on a housing of said putting target and a second light is movable whereby it can be placed on the opposite side of the position where the putter is to be located relative to the target and aligned with the first light such that said guide path comprises a single line of light parallel to said putting line. 
     
     
         11 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said first light is slidably mounted to said housing to thereby allow adjustment of said line of light so that it is coincident with the putting line. 
     
     
         12 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said light source comprises a light mounted on a housing said putting target and a mirror to be placed on the opposite side to the target of the position where the putter is to be located and aligned relative to the light to reflect light from the light such that said guide path comprises a single line of light parallel to said putting line. 
     
     
         13 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a timer for turning off at least part of said light source after a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         14 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said light source comprises a light mounted on a housing that houses said target, and said apparatus further comprises a launch mat from which the golf ball can be struck, the launch mat comprising alignment means that can be aligned along the guide path, and which provides a continuation of the guide path when the light source is blocked by the putter. 
     
     
         15 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the alignment means comprise linear markings on the mat. 
     
     
         16 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the alignment means comprise a linear indentation in the mat. 
     
     
         17 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said light is centrally mounted relative to the target. 
     
     
         18 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said apparatus comprises an additional light source comprising first and second side lights mounted to either side of the target. 
     
     
         19 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said apparatus comprises switching means for switching between at least first and second modes of operation, the side lights operating in the first mode and the central lights operating in the second mode. 
     
     
         20 . A practice putting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said light source comprises first and second lights mounted within a housing for said target to either side of said target.