Putting practice device

Abstract

There is disclosed a practice putting apparatus ( 100 ). The practice putting apparatus has a putting target ( 101 ), and a light source ( 120 a, 120 b ) for lighting a guide path on a practice surface, the guide path being parallel to a putting line ( 124 ) 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A practice putting apparatus comprising:
 a putting target comprising a housing and a simulated golf hole and a golf ball return device for returning a ball that reaches said simulated golf hole towards the place from which it was struck;   a light source that directs light outwardly relative to the housing to light 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 a putter head when making a putting stroke along the putting line, wherein the light source is formed from a combination of a central light mounted to the housing so as to be centrally mounted relative to the target and first and second side lights mounted to the housing to either side of the target; and   a switching mechanism configured for electrically switching between at least first and second modes of operation, the side lights operating in the first mode and the central light operating in the second mode.   
     
     
         2 . The practice putting apparatus of  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         3 . The practice putting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each light comprises a laser and a cylindrical prism. 
     
     
         4 . The practice putting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising 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 front the light such that said guide path comprises a single line of light parallel to said putting line. 
     
     
         5 . The practice putting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a timer for turning off at least part of said light source after a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         6 . The practice putting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising 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. 
     
     
         7 . The practice putting apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the alignment means comprise linear markings on the mat. 
     
     
         8 . The practice putting apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the alignment means comprises a linear indentation in the mat 
     
     
         9 . The practice putting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second side lights are mounted within a housing for said target to either side of said target. 
     
     
         10 . The practice putting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said switching mechanism is engageable by a putter. 
     
     
         11 . The practice putting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said switching mechanism has a plurality of fins engageable by the putter. 
     
     
         12 . The practice putting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said switching mechanism is further configured for switching the practice putting apparatus from a state in which it is off.