Putting training aid and calibration device

Apparatus for objectively calibrating a putter position to facilitate practice of consistent putting strokes by a golfer, said putter having an axial shaft, a head at a shaft end having a sole and a face, the face having a loft and the sole and shaft defining a lie angle, the apparatus comprising:

• first means for demarcating a plurality of positions along the putter shaft;
• second means for demarcating a plurality of positions along an axis generally parallel to and spaced above a generally planar putting surface;
• and
• said first and second demarcating means being positioned and arranged such that intersection of the shaft and axis with the sole generally flat against the putting surface and the face oriented with a generally neutral loft causes alignment of at least one of each of the first and second demarcating means to objectively calibrate the putter at a repeatable neutral putter position.

Apparatus for objectively calibrating orientation of a putter to facilitate consistent putting strokes by a golfer, said putter having an axial shaft and a head having a sole and a face, the sole and shaft defining a lie angle and the face having a loft, the apparatus comprising:

• a first position indicator disposed along the putter shaft;
• an elongate axial calibration member supported generally parallel to and spaced above a generally planar putting surface;
• a second position indicator disposed along the calibration member;
• and
• said first and second position indicators being positioned and arranged such that placement of the putter shaft against the calibration member with the sole generally flat against the putting surface and with the face oriented with a generally neutral loft causes the first and second position indicators to align at a calibration point corresponding to a neutral putter position;
• whereby the putter may be consistently re-positioned at the neutral putter position after each putting stroke by placing the putter shaft against the calibration member at the calibration point.

Apparatus for objectively calibrating a position of a putter having a shaft, a head, a sole and a loft to facilitate consistent putting strokes by a golfer comprising:

• a plurality of first position-indicating indicia adapted to be disposed along the putter shaft;
• an elongate axial calibration member;
• support structure adapted to support the calibration member generally parallel to and spaced above a putting surface;
• and
• a plurality of second position-indicating indicia disposed along the calibration member such that the first and second position-indicating indicia may be aligned to identify a putter position in which the loft is generally neutral and the sole is generally flat against the putting surface;
• whereby the putter may be consistently returned to the identified putter position after each putting stroke by placing the putter shaft against the calibration member with the indicia in alignment.