US20080146363A1

US20080146363A1 - No-head-turn putting and swing teaching aid

Info

Publication number: US20080146363A1
Application number: US11/643,447
Authority: US
Inventors: Ray Solari
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-19
Filing date: 2006-12-19
Publication date: 2008-06-19

Abstract

A teaching aid promoting better shots in golf by prompting the user to keep his or her head still. Using a downwardly extending panel, the teaching aid system as described herein provides and/or enhances visual cues to the golfer so that he may keep his head in a still or relatively still position while making the shot. Such shots may particularly include the putt, but may also be applicable to the chip and the drive. A variety of embodiments provide multiple means by which the present system may be implemented. The descending panel may be folded into an invisible, unobtrusive, and/or unobstructive configuration that may either be incorporated into a hat or removably detachable from it.

Description

COPYRIGHT AUTHORIZATION

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material which is subject to copyright and/or mask work protection. The copyright and/or mask work owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and/or mask work rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golfing systems and more particularly to a no-head-turn putting and swing teaching aid associated with headgear indicating to the golfer whether or not his head is remaining motionless during the golf swing.
2. Description of the Related Art
The game of golf is well-known in the art and has presented challenges to many generations of players.
While there are certain times when the game of golfing appears to be easy in that success is achieved with generally little effort, it is more often the case that players have tendencies to mis-hit the ball or to engage in improper form. This often happens with the golf swing as the golf swing determines the shot of the ball and a variety of factors affect good golf swings.
One of the classical elements to a good golf swing is holding one's head still. Without stationary head position, golfers may often mis-hit the ball as they may be focusing on the results of the shot instead of the shot itself.
Generally, when a person moves their head during the golf shot, it can affect the motion of the arms and the resulting ultimate position of the golf ball. By keeping one's head still, it is generally found that golfers are able to achieve better golf shots and to impose more control over their resulting golf shots.
Of particular interest are those golf shots where accuracy and control are most important. Of these, the putt may be of significant importance simply because the room for error is much smaller. As opposed to a drive off of the tee or an iron shot from a fairway, putting on the green near the hole can require intense concentration and achieving natural control of the golf swing in order to achieve predictable shots can be a challenge.
It is relatively difficult for the individuals to self judge whether or not they are keeping is their head still when swinging a golf club. It is too burdensome and difficult to have a natural constraint that would force a person to keep their head motionless. Consequently, there is a need in the art for means by which the golfer can determine whether or not he or she is moving his or her head during the golf swing. Furthermore, such an indicator or device would conveniently used and generally unobtrusive and camouflaged when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen, above, there is a need in the art for readily and conveniently deployed devices that indicate to a golfer whether or not the golfer's head is moving during the golf swing. The present invention provides a new system for indicating to the golfer whether or not he (the masculine pronoun used herein is meant to indicate either masculine and feminine golfers or other persons) is moving his head during the golf shot. The no-head-turn putting and swing teaching aid of the present invention is conveniently deployed, incorporatable into a hat or headgear, and can be used (in another embodiment) in conjunction with any headgear having a bill, brim, or visor.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide the golfer with means by which he can self-judge whether or not his head is turning during a golf shot. The instant no-head-turn putting and swing teaching aid and method of use thereof has many of the advantages of such aids possibly developed in the past as well as many novel features that result in new golf swing aid devices which are not anticipated or rendered obvious, suggested, taught, or even implied by any of the prior art head motion indicating systems, either alone or in any combination thereof. The present invention may be attachable to a bill, brim, or visor of a hat, such as a baseball cap, and generally has a downwardly projecting flap or extension that is positioned in front of the golfer's eyes.
In conjunction with the golf ball to be hit, the golfer positions his head in alignment with both the golf ball and a downwardly extending extension. Once the golfer has achieved his final stance and begins his golf swing, any change in the alignment between the golfer's eyes, the downwardly projecting extension, and the golf ball is readily perceived. Throughout the golf swing, the golfer's eyes should be focused on the golf ball. The downwardly extending flap indicates to the golfer whether or not any deviation has been made from the goal of holding still one's head during the golf shot.
In one embodiment, a brim or visor for a hat provides visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim has a panel and a hinge hingedly attaches or coupling the panel to the brim. The panel is positioned generally adjacent and along the brim when in a folded or closed position and the panel projects downwardly and away from the brim when deployed and in an unfolded or open position. The panel is sized and positioned such that when it is deployed, it is generally before the eyes of the wearer such that head turning of the wearer is more easily noticed by the wearer in comparing a first position of the panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer and a second position of the panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a brim or visor for a hat provides visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim has a panel and a hinge hingedly attaches or coupling the panel to the brim. The hinge has cam and/or spring action to hold the panel in at least one position and to at least resiliently holding the panel in the folded position. The panel is positioned generally adjacent and along the brim when in a folded or closed position, but projects downwardly and away from the brim when deployed and in an unfolded or open position. The panel has a free end substantially opposite the hinge. The free end has a shape selected from the group consisting of a substantially straight line, a point, a gore, a prong, a pair of adjacent and substantially parallel prongs defining a space therebetween, a pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, and combinations thereof. The panel is sized and positioned such that when the panel is deployed it is before the eyes of the wearer such that head turning of the wearer is more easily noticed by the wearer in comparing a first position of the panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer and a second position of the panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer. The surroundings of the wearer may include a golf ball that the wearer is attempting to strike with a club. The panel's first and second relative positions with respect to the golf ball generally indicate to the wearer whether or not the wearer's head is turning when the wearer strikes the golf ball.
Another alternative embodiment of the present invention includes a detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat. The detachable indicator provides visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim and includes a clip adapted to be detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat and a panel. A hinge hingedly attaches the panel to the clip. The panel is positioned in alignment with the brim when in an undeployed position and projects downwardly and away from the brim when in a deployed position. The panel is sized and positionable so that when it is deployed, it is before the eyes of the wearer such that head turning of the wearer is more easily noticed by the wearer in comparing a first position of the panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer and a second position of the panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer
Another alternative embodiment of the present invention has a detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat. The detachable indicator provides visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim and includes a clip adapted to be detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat. The clip has an upper clip panel flexibly coupled to a lower clip panel such that the upper and lower clip panels define a brim slot therebetween. Generally, the brim slot is curved to match a curved surface of the brim, particularly to forward most free edge thereof. A hinge hingedly attaches the panel to the clip. The panel has a free end substantially opposite the hinge. The free end has a shape selected from the group including a substantially straight line, a point, a gore, a prong, a pair of adjacent and substantially parallel prongs defining a space therebetween, a pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, and combinations thereof. The hinge has cam or spring action to hold the panel in at least one position including resiliently holding the panel in an undeployed or folded position with the panel preferably positioned in alignment with the brim when in the undeployed position. The panel projects downwardly and away from the brim when in a deployed position and the panel is sized and positional to be before eyes of the wearer when deployed. The panel's deployment is such that head turning of the wearer is more easily noticed by the wearer in comparing a first position of the panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer and a second position of the panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer. Such surroundings may include a golf ball that the wearer is attempting to strike with a club. The panel's first and second relative positions with respect to the golf ball may indicate to the wearer whether or not the wearer's head is turning when the wearer strikes the golf ball.
Another embodiment of the present invention includes headgear for putting that includes a brim or bill with a pointed forward end thereof selected from a group of structures including: a single point or gore, a pair of points or gores defining a throughspace therebetween, and combinations thereof
Other embodiments of the present invention are set forth in more detail, below, and the embodiments set forth above and generally herein are made for purposes of example only and not of limitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a right side elevational view of a hat incorporating the no-head-turn putting and swinging teaching aid of the present invention. The aid is showing in a deployed form with the quarter circle of travel indicated in phantom.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the hat and aid in FIG. 1 with the device of the present invention shown in an undeployed or folded configuration.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the bill, brim, or visor as indicated by circle 2A in FIG. 2 showing the present invention in a folded or undeployed configuration.

FIG. 3A is a right side perspective view of a hat incorporating or bearing an alternative embodiment of the present invention that clips to the front of the bill, brim, or visor of the headgear such as the cap shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3B is a right side perspective view of the hat shown in FIG. 3A showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention having a single point.

FIG. 3C shows an alternative embodiment along the lines of FIGS. 3A and 3B with the panel of the instant invention showing two points or prongs.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of one or more of FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C showing the instant panel deployed or unfolded form.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the clip-on embodiment of the present invention showing two posts articulable in a left and right manner.

FIG. 6 is an alternative embodiment of the clip-on device shown in FIG. 5 with the hingeable posts articulating rearwardly and forwardly with respect to the wearer of the hat.

FIG. 7 is a left side perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the clip-on indicator shown in FIGS. 3A-4 with the deployed configuration shown in phantom.

FIG. 8 is a rear, left side, and perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 5, the device being shown in an unfolded or deployed form.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention where the bill of a hat is configured to a point.

FIG. 10 is a right side elevational view of the hat shown in FIG. 9 with one embodiment of an angle of the bill, brim, or visor.

FIG. 11 is an alternative embodiment of the invention along the lines shown in FIG. 9 and 10 with the forward-most end of the bill, brim, or visor having two prongs or gores.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present invention resides in a no-head-turn putting and swing teaching aid taking a variety of configurations and embodiments. The aid of the present invention serves to provide visual indication to a golfer whether or not his head is turning during the swing, particularly during a swing for putting a golf ball towards the hole. A downwardly-extending panel takes a variety of configurations and embodiments which generally always serve to provide a visual reminder, indicator, or other means by which head turning of the golfer can be self-evaluated.
Referring to the drawings where like numerals of reference designate like elements throughout, it will be noted that in FIG. 1, a hat 100 has a bowl 102 with a brim, bill, or visor 104. As shown in FIG. 1, the bill 104 may have a slot, opening, or depression 106 formed, engraved, carved or made otherwise present therein. At a forward end of this opening 106, a hinge mechanism 108 may be present that couples a panel 110 to the bill 104. Panel 110 may be something similar to that as is shown in FIG. 3A although the thickness of the panel 124 shown in FIG. 3A may be thicker or thinner than that shown in FIGS. 1-2A.
The panel 110 may take a variety of configurations, including all of the configurations shown in the drawings. Additional other configurations may be achieved without departing from the present invention which seeks to provide a visual indication to the golfer as to whether or not he is turning his head during the golf shot.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A, the panel 110 may fold into the slot 106 in order to retract the panel 110 and keep it out of the golfer's field of view for convenience and appearance. The panel 110 is generally a tool by which the golfer can achieve visual feedback with regards to the turning of his head during the golf shot. In order to hold the panel 110 within the slot 106, the hinge 108 may have a spring or camming action that serves to hold the panel 110 in position. A variety of mechanical configurations, structures, geometries, and/or devices are known in the art presently and may be developed in the future with respect to such spring or cam action. Notches, pins, spring biasing, and the like can all be implemented in alternative embodiments of the present invention. A torsion spring (not shown) may be advantageously applied in order to bias the panel 110 into the closed position (FIG. 2) inside the slot 106.
Additionally, camming or spring-biasing may be present such that the panel 110 is held in the deployed or unfolded position (FIG. 1) and such a camming may provide a range of adjustment between certain angular displacements so that there are discrete locations where the panel 110 enjoys resilient stability with respect to hinge 108 and the bill 104.
Of course, adjustment of the cap or hat 100 itself can also allow the golfer to adjust the position of the panel 110.
FIGS. 3 a-3 c shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention. While the panel 110 and hinge 108 are incorporated into the hat 100 itself via its brim 104, in the embodiment showing in FIGS. 3A-8, the panel is removably attached to the brim of the hat. Consequently, the golfer can choose a number of hats to wear on the golf course and for each hat, the no-head-turn putting and swing teaching aid is available to him and in a detachably attachable manner. Consequently, the aid could be kept with the golfer's equipment in his golf bag, in his pocket, or otherwise and either used on an intermittent basis and attached to the bill when needed or continually left on the bill for the duration of the round of golf or otherwise.
In FIG. 3A, the teaching aid 120 may take a removably attachable configuration with a bill clip 122 enabling the panel 124 to be removably attachable to the cap 100 generally at the bill 104. Intermediating the clip 122 and panel 124 is a hinge 126 that allows the articulation of the panel 124 through an angular range of dispositions. As mentioned above, the hinge 126 may have a camming or spring action as for the embodiment described with regards to FIGS. 1-2A.
FIGS. 3A-3C show a variety of embodiments of the panel 124 with FIG. 3B showing a panel 130 having a pointed free end 132 and FIG. 3C showing a panel 134 having a pair or gores of points 136 that define an angled space 138 therebetween.
FIG. 4 shows a right side elevational view of the teaching aid 120 in a deployed or unfolded configuration which, due to perspective, would be generally similar for all the prior teaching aid 120 depictions of FIG. 3A-3C.
In a similar manner, FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternative embodiments of the detachable teaching aid 120.
FIG. 5 shows the teaching aid 120 with a brim clip 122 attached to a pair of hinged to posts 150. The posts 150 may articulate together or separately and are shown in FIG. 5 as having a range of motion of approximately 90° (as do generally all of the panels) with respect to their deployed position (shown in FIG. 5) and the undeployed position (indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5). After attaching the teaching aid 120 to the brim 104 of the hat 100, the golfer can deploy the posts 150 in order to define a gap therebetween and use that as a visual indicator for the golf ball that he is putting. When not needed, the posts may be folded upperwardly and in the case of FIG. 5, to the left. The posts may be placed out of the way and only minimally interfere with the golfer's field of vision underneath the brim 104 of the cap 100. As for all of the panels, the posts 150 may be colored or pigmented such that they are an unobtrusive color that either blends in with the underside of the brim 104 or in a general case may be black so as to be as unobtrusive as possible.
Hinges 152 may serve to couple the posts 150 with the brim clip 122 and may operate as hinges having a slight amount of friction to hold the posts 150 in place or having the spring and/or cam action as indicated above. Other hinge types could also constructively used in this and the other embodiments of the present invention.
In FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment of a teaching aid 120 shown in FIG. 5 is portrayed. As shown in FIG. 6, the teaching aid 120 may have other embodiments including an alternative embodiment with respect the posts 156 that fold in underneath the brim 104 along one or more hinges 158. Unlike the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the hinges 158 in FIG. 6 are aligned and could be shared, causing the posts 156 to articulate together. In FIG. 5, the axes of rotation for the posts 150 on the hinges 152 are not coaxial and so the hinge cannot be shared between those posts 150.
Not shown in the drawings, but easily obtained from the description herein, are posts such as that in FIG. 5 that articulate to the right. In fact, if pivots are provided above the hinges 152 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the posts may be disposed along a circle defined by the pivot coupling the hinge 152 to the underside (not shown) of the brim 122. Likewise, for FIG. 6, articulation of the hinge 158 can take place in an opposite direction.
FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the teaching aid 170. FIG. 7 shows a left side perspective view of a teaching aid 170 having a cosmetically different appearance than that set forth in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6. In FIG. 7, the teaching aid 170 has a brim clip 172 having an upper panel 174 and a lower panel 176 that define a brim slot 178 therebetween. The upper panel 174 may have a stepped configuration with a middle portion thereof 180 being raised with respect to a lower portion thereof 182.
The brim clip 172 may be hingeably attached to a configured panel 190 that continues the upper 180 and lower 182 slanted configuration where the upper portion basically converges to a point at the middle of a configured panel 190. In FIG. 7, the panel 190 is shown in an undeployed position where the panel 190 appears to be cosmetically continuous with the upper panel 174. Shown in phantom in FIG. 7 is the panel 190 shown in a deployed configuration where the panel 190 has been folded or moved downward as a pivot upon the hinge 192 in order to provide visual indication for the golfer. As with the brim clip 172, the configured panel 190 has an upper portion 194 and lower portions 196.
As shown in FIG. 8, a left side in rear perspective view of the teaching aid 170 shown in FIG. 7 is portrayed with the configured panel 190 in the deployed or lowered position. In FIG. 6, the configured panel 190 has two major extensions 200 and a middle minor extension 202. Each of these extensions terminates in a circular disk or other indicator 204 that faces the golfer and is visible to the golfer when the panel 190 is placed in the position as shown in FIG. 8. As also indicated in FIG. 8, the hinge 192 may have struts 206 or other features that enable the panel 190 to articulate with respect to the brim clip 172.
Below the middle minor extension 202 and between the two major extensions 200 is a gap or slot 210 through which the golfer may see the golf ball. As the golf ball appears to a circle to a golfer (its two-dimensional projection from the sphere that the golf ball is), the perceived image of the golf ball is similar to the circular disks 204 present of the end of the extensions 200, 202. With propitious selection and manufacture of the panel 190, the extensions 200, 202 and the disks 204 can be arranged in a pattern where the two eyes of the golfer are able to see the golf ball and the gap, slot, and/or opening 210 defined between the major extensions 200. The cross section of the golf ball is seen by the golfer and may be used to determine the size of the circular disk 204 such that when that the golfer views the golf ball through the opening 210, it has the same visual cross section as the circular disks 204.
The golfer may then visually align the golf ball horizontally between the disks 204 at the end of the major extensions 200 and simultaneously align the golf ball vertically with the circular disk 204 at the end of the middle minor extension 194. In this way, there is registration of the golf ball with the aid 170 by the golfer prior to the golf shot and any deviation from this registration can be determined as by placing a small piece of paper or other marker either in front of or in back of the golf ball such that when the golf ball is struck and displaced from its current position, if the stationary marker laid down by the golfer is not in its position relative to the panel 190 and the disk 204, the golfer will know that he has moved his head. Alternatively, if the marker has remained into the same relative position, the golfer gets an indication and reinforcement that he is not moving his head and is maintaining proper head motion during his golf swing. Of course, the golfer may just mentally note where his golf ball is prior to the shot to determine if he is moving his head.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the wide back end of the brim clip 172 may be approximately 3¼ inches wide and approximately ⅞ inches long at the side. The entire device 170 may be approximately 2¼ inches long from the wide end of the brim clip 172 to the narrow end of the panel 190. The panel 190 may be approximately 1⅛ inches long and approximately ¾ inches wide at its narrow ends.
FIGS. 9 through 11 show an alternative embodiment of the present invention where the teaching aid 220 is incorporated directly into the bill 104 of the cap 100. In FIG. 9, a front plan view of an alternative embodiment of teaching aid 220 is shown where the bill of the cap 104 has been altered to form a pointed end 222 having visual markers 224 thereon.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, a single point or gore 222 is shown. However, in FIG. 11, the teaching aid 220 takes the form of two (2) points or gores 226 defining a visual gap 228 therebetween. Visual markers 224 in the form of holes, slots, markers, or otherwise may be present on either the underside or top of the brim 104. In FIGS. 9 and 11, s such markers are shown on the top of the brim 104. The markers 224 serve as means by which the golfer can align the golf ball with respect to the end of the brim 104.
FIG. 10 shows a right side elevational view of the cap 100 with its unique brim 104 of FIGS. 9 and 11. The side view shown in FIG. 10 may be applicable to both of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. In an alternatively embodiment, the brim 104 may be angularly adjustable to a certain extent or the golfer may adjust the cap itself 100 in order to position the points or gores 222, 226 in an optimal position for the golfer.
In some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the hinges set forth herein and described may be absent and the panels as indicated may be set in an unmovable position. The detachable version of the present invention may have attractive logos or other indicia present as a means to provide advertising, club affiliation, or the like.
The teaching aids set forth herein, including the teaching aid shown in FIG. 7 and 8, may allow individuals to lower their golf score by holding their head still and to provide such advantages in a very rapid fashion. When the head remains still, the right shoulder moves under the golfer's head and enables a better golf swing. The teaching aids 120, 170, 220 may also be effective not only for putting strokes but also for chipping strokes. In the removably attachable embodiments as shown and described herein the device may clip on and off very easily and may fit any visor or brim. The hinge's cam action may hold the panel in place and the device system is generally invisible or unobtrusive when not in use.
The teaching aids of the present invention quickly, if not instantly, make the golfer aware when he turns his head and makes a putt or other shot. As putting is one of the most difficult strokes to teach, many professionals practice putting for hours at a time in order to achieve better skills. The teaching aid system of the present invention may be a one piece unit with no hinge or a two piece unit having a hinge that enables articulation between the two separate panels. The teaching aid may enable greater confidence in all areas of putting and other golf shots. Results may be quickly achieved by visually prompting the golfer to hold his head still. As a result, advantageous increases in accuracy and distance may be obtained. By using the present teaching aid, the golfer may correct fundamental putting flaws and flaws in his other shots and may maintain the correct wrist position and head position throughout the stroke. The deice may enable the golfer to deliver a consistent stroke for lower scores and may be manufactured of relatively inexpensive materials. The use of the present invention may enable to golfer to practice or play with consistently better results arising from consistently better putting or other strokes.
The teaching aid system set forth herein may enable better aligned strokes and straight putting paths by enabling the golfer to both keep his face square and in-line facing the golf ball and having his right palm facing the hole. Bad putters may have their games improved and learn better techniques and develop better muscle reflexes. The same may similarly be said for those with greater experience or ability.
The no-head-turn putting and swing teaching aid instantly makes the golfer aware that he has turned his head towards the target hole or green before he has hit the golf ball on the putting green or when hitting with clubs on the practice range or on the fairways. This invention also develops a muscle memory. It immediately makes the most difficult golf stroke to teach (putting) into the easiest golf stroke to learn. Both the single angle unit or multiple prongs embodiment can be made in one piece with golf visor secured on with permanent snaps to enable snap on and off operation. Furthermore, the unit can also be made with a hinge so the unit can be turned down for practice and turned up into visor so it is practically invisible.
These and other advantages, utilities, applications, and solutions provided by the present invention will be apparent from a review of the specification herein and accompanying drawings. The foregoing are some of but a few of the goals sought to be attained by the present invention and are set forth for the purposes of example only and not those of limitation.
While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept.

Claims

1. A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim, comprising:

a panel;

said panel hingedly attached to the brim;

said panel positioned generally adjacent to the outer edge of said brim and capable of folding inward along the brim when in a closed position;

said panel projecting downwardly and away from the brim when deployed and in an unfolded or open position; and

said panel sized and positioned to be at a sufficient distance before eyes of the wearer such that the panel does not cover the eyes of the wearer when said panel is deployed; whereby

head turning of the wearer is more easily noticed by the wearer in comparing a first position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer and a second position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer.

2. A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

the brim defining a recess into which said panel may fit when folded.

3. A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

said panel flush with an underside of the brim when said panel is in said folded position.

4. A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said hinge having cam action to hold said panel in at least one position.

5. A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

said hinge resiliently holding said panel in said folded position.

6. A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said panel having a free end substantially opposite said hinge, said free end having a shape selected from the group consisting of a substantially straight line, a point, a gore, a prong, a pair of adjacent and substantially parallel prongs defining a space therebetween, a pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, and combinations thereof.

7. A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said surroundings of the wearer including a golf ball that the wearer is attempting to strike with a club, said panel's first and second relative positions with respect to said golf ball indicating to the wearer whether or not the wearer's head is turning when the wearer strikes said golf ball.

8. A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim, comprising:

a panel;

a hinge hingedly attaching said panel to the brim;

said hinge having cam action to hold said panel in at least one position and resiliently holding said panel in said folded position;

said panel projecting downwardly and away from the brim when deployed and in an unfolded or open position;

said panel having a free end substantially opposite said hinge, said free end having a shape selected from the group consisting of a substantially straight line, a point, a gore, a prong, a pair of adjacent and substantially parallel prongs defining a space therebetween, a pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, and combinations thereof;

said panel sized and positioned to be at a sufficient distance before eyes of the wearer such that the panel does not cover the eyes of the wearer and such that head turning of the wearer is more easily noticed by the wearer in comparing a first position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer and a second position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer; and

9. A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

the brim defining a recess into which said panel may fit when folded.

10. A device for a brim of a hat providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

11. A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat, the detachable indicator providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim, comprising:

a clip, said clip adapted to be detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat;

a panel;

a hinge hingedly attaching said panel to said clip;

said panel positioned in alignment with the brim when in an undeployed position;

said panel projecting downwardly and away from the brim when in a deployed position; and

said panel sized and positionable to be before eyes of the wearer when deployed; whereby

12. A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in claim 11, wherein said clip further comprises:

an upper clip panel flexibly coupled to a lower clip panel, said upper and lower clip panels defining a brim slot therebetween

13. A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in claim 12, wherein said clip further comprises:

said brim slot being curved to match a curved surface of said brim.

14. detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

15. A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in claim 14, wherein said pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts further comprises:

first and second circular projections respectively corresponding and attached to respective ends of respective ones of said pair of posts, each of said circular projections having a diameter approximately matching visually that of a golf ball to be putted although the golf ball is several times farther away from the eyes of a wearer of the indicator than said pair of posts.

16. A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in claim 15, further comprising:

a middle sub-post positioned between said pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, said sub-post having a third circular projection similar to that of said pair of posts; and

said first, second, and third posts arranged in at least an isosceles triangle so that when said indicator is deployed the golf ball may be placed visually between in alignment with said first and second circular projections and may be placed visually below and in alignment with said third circular projection.

17. A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

said hinge having cam action to hold said panel in at least one position.

18. A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in claim 17, further comprising:

said hinge resiliently holding said panel in said folded position.

19. A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

20. A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat, the detachable indicator providing visual indication of head turning or lack thereof for a wearer wearing the brim, comprising:

a clip, said clip adapted to be detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat, said clip having an upper clip panel flexibly coupled to a lower clip panel, said upper and lower clip panels defining a brim slot therebetween, said brim slot being curved to match a curved surface of said brim;

a panel;

a hinge hingedly attaching said panel to said clip, said hinge having cam action to hold said panel in at least one position including resiliently holding said panel in an undeployed or folded position;

said panel having a free end substantially opposite said hinge, said free end having a shape selected from the group consisting of a substantially straight line, a point, a gore, a prong, a pair of adjacent and substantially parallel prongs defining a space therebetween, a pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, and combinations thereof said panel positioned in alignment with the brim when in said undeployed position;

said panel projecting downwardly and away from the brim when in a deployed position;

said panel sized and positionable to be before eyes of the wearer when deployed such that head turning of the wearer is more easily noticed by the wearer in comparing a first position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer and a second position of said panel with respect to surroundings of the wearer, said surroundings of the wearer including a golf ball that the wearer is attempting to strike with a club, said panel's first and second relative positions with respect to said golf ball indicating to the wearer whether or not the wearer's head is turning when the wearer strikes said golf ball.

21. A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in claim 20, wherein said pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts further comprises:

22. A detachable indicator detachably attachable to a brim or visor for a hat as set forth in claim 21, further comprising:

a middle sub-post positioned between said pair of spaced-apart and substantially parallel posts, said sub-post having a third circular projection similar to that of said pair of posts;

23. Headgear for putting, comprising:

a brim or bill having a pointed forward end thereof selected from the group consisting of: a single point or gore, a pair of points or gores defining a throughspace therebetween, and combinations thereof.

24. Headgear for putting as set forth in claim 23, further comprising:

said pair of points having oppositely opposed markings on different ones of said pair, said markings serving to visually align an item, including a golf ball, between said points.