Golf putting improvement and teaching apparatus and method

A golf putting improvement and/or teaching apparatus, comprising:

• a. a frame which has a longitudinal axis and is adapted to be positioned on a putting surface, said frame having parallel side rails extending along said longitudinal axis and end members defining a putting area in which can be positioned a head of a putter and a golf ball, with the side rails defining a putting path and being spaced from one another a sufficient distance to permit said putter to be moved longitudinally between said rails in a putting stroke;
• b. a rebound member positioned at one end portion of said frame in transverse alignment with the putting path defined by the frame so as to rebound a ball traveling on said putting path back along said putting path;
• and
• c. at least one of said end members having a through opening, and said rebound member being removably positioned in alignment with said through opening, whereby the ball moving in the putting area can, with the rebound member removed, pass through the through opening or, with the rebound member in place be rebounded from the through opening.

A golf putting improvement and/or teaching apparatus, comprising:

• a. a frame which has a longitudinal axis and is adapted to be positioned on a putting surface, said frame having parallel side rails extending along said longitudinal axis and end members defining a putting area in which can be positioned a head of a putter and a golf ball, with the side rails defining a putting path and being spaced from one another a sufficient distance to permit said putter to be moved longitudinally between said rails in a putting stroke;
• b. a rebound member positioned at one end portion of said frame in transverse alignment with the putting path defined by the frame so as to rebound a ball traveling on said putting path back along said putting path;
• and
• c. said end member at the other end of said frame is provided with an unobstructed through opening, whereby the ball can be putted along said path through said unobstructed through opening in one direction, or can be putted along a opposite path toward the end member to be rebounded thereby.

A golf putting improvement and/or teaching apparatus, comprising:

• a. a frame which has a longitudinal axis and is adapted to be positioned on a putting surface, said frame having parallel side rails extending along said longitudinal axis and end members defining a putting area in which can be positioned a head of a putter and a golf ball, with the side rails defining a putting path and being spaced from one another a sufficient distance to permit said putter to be moved longitudinally between said rails in a putting stroke;
• b. a rebound member positioned at one end portion of said frame in transverse alignment with the putting path defined by the frame so as to rebound a ball traveling on said putting path back along said putting path;
• and
• c. a pair of alignment members, each mounted to a respective rail member, said alignment members being moveable longitudinally along said rail members so as to provide visible alignment references at selected locations along said longitudinal access.

A golf putting improvement and/or teaching apparatus, comprising:

• a frame which has a longitudinal axis and is adapted to be positioned on a putting surface, said frame having parallel side rails extending along said longitudinal axis and end members defining a putting area in which can be positioned a head of a putter and a golf ball, with the side rails defining a putting path and being spaced from one another a sufficient distance to permit said putter to be moved longitudinally between said rails in a putting stroke;
• b. a rebound member positioned at one end portion of said frame in transverse alignment with the putting path defined by the frame so as to rebound a ball traveling on said putting path back along said putting path;
• and
• c. at least one of said end members having a through opening, and said rebound member being removably positioned in alignment with said through opening, whereby the ball moving in the putting area can, with the rebound member removed, pass through the through opening or with the rebound member in place, be rebounded from the through opening;
• d. a locating means extending along said path, said locating means being provided with at least two moveable locating members which can be selectively positioned at two longitudinally spaced locations along said longitudinal axis to identify stroke locations;
• e. a third moveable locating member, which can be selectively positioned at a third location spaced longitudinally from said two locations, whereby a third stroke location can be identified on said path;
• and
• f. a pair of alignment members, each mounted to a respective rail member, said alignment members being moveable longitudinally along said rail members so as to provide a visible alignment reference at selected locations along said longitudinal axis.

A method of practicing golf putting comprising:

• a. providing a frame having a longitudinal axis and adapted to be positioned on a putting surface, and having side rails and end members defining a putting area in which can be positioned a head of a putter and a golf ball, with the side rails defining a putting path;
• b. providing a locating means extending along said path with at least two moveable locating members;
• c. selectively positioning said locating members along said longitudinal axis at longitudinally spaced locations to identify two longitudinally spaced stroke locations;
• d. practicing a putting stroke by moving a putter through the putting stroke in accordance with the positioning of the locating members.