WO1999011336A1

WO1999011336A1 - A golfing aid

Info

Publication number: WO1999011336A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1998/000131
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruce James Barry
Original assignee: Bruce James Barry
Priority date: 1997-09-02
Filing date: 1998-09-01
Publication date: 1999-03-11
Also published as: AU9010498A

Abstract

A golf practice aid to assist a golfer correct addressing of a golf ball relative to an intended course of travel of the ball. The golf practice aid includes a surface area (10) with a plurality of placement guides (14, 15) for a golf ball, the placement guides being located to correspond to a particular type of club or plurality of clubs to be used by the player. The surface is also provided with a feet positioning guide (16, 17, 18) and a shoulder positioning guide (19) to assist the golfer in determining correct positioning of the golfer when addressing the ball relative to the ball's intended course of travel.

Description

A GOLFING AID

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf practice aid.

Golf is a sport where technique is very important. The use of the correct technique leads to consistently executing successful shots and thereby a lowering of handicap.

In order to achieve a consistent result a golfer must practice and so many golf practice aids are available which attempt to help the golfer learn consistent form (particularly swing) and thereby improve the golfers game.

The majority of these aids focus on a single area of the game such as club type (eg. putting aids) or swing. These aids provide some assistance but are by no means a complete solution.

Written manuals and golf coaching media are available as a poor substitute to a personal professional golf tutor who can adapt to the needs and physique of an individual player. The cost of employing a professional golf tutor is, however, beyond the budget of many casual players . The use of mirrors and mats are known but rarely does a product produce consistent results and teach a good swing form for a variety of players . Products are known which encourage an iterative improvement by marking feet and tee positions when good plays are made, but this does not encourage improvement from first use. Inevitably many golfing aids are used for only a short time before the golfer loses interest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a practice golf aid which can be used by a wide range of different golfer physiques and teaches improvement in swing form by enabling the user to learn correct addressing of the ball prior to commencement of the swing.

Broadly in one aspect of the invention there is provided a golf practice aid including a surface area with a plurality of placement guides for a golf ball, the placement guides being located to correspond to a particular type of club or plurality of clubs, there being feet and shoulder positioning guides to teach correct positioning of the golfer when addressing the ball relative to an intended course of travel of a ball located with selected of said placement guides . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a plan view of the practice golf aid layout according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the golf practice aid being used by a golfer,

Figure 3 shows an example of the golfer's addressing of the ball to induce a fade or sliced shot,

Figure 4 shows a further example of the address used to induce a draw or hook shot, and

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the practice golf aid according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It should be appreciated from the following description that several embodiments of the golf practice aid may be possible without extending beyond the scope of the invention.

The golf practice aid 10 includes three major components, a ball positioning guide matrix 11, a shoulder/hand positioning guide 12 and a foot positioning guide 13. The ball positioning matrix 11 is comprised of a series of parallel lines 14 and strips 15 arranged perpendicularly to said lines 14. The parallel lines 14 provide the 'ball to target line'. When a straight shot is played the ball should continue in the same direction as lines 14. There are eight lines 14 as seen in Figure 1 which are generally derived to accommodate the range of physiques of different golfers and/or length of club shaft. More lines may be added if more adjustability is desired.

Intersecting with lines 14 are strips 15. The intersect points I provide a guide for ball or tee placement as seen best in Figure 1. Each strip 15 corresponds to a club type or range of club types (eg. short iron, long iron etc.) and may be colour coded for identification purposes . The illustrated form of the invention provides a golf practice aid for three golf club types and so three strips (15a, 15b, 15c) are provided for three types of clubs - (a) drivers/fairway woods, (b) medium irons and (c) short irons/wedges respectively.

According to golf theory, longer distance clubs should address the ball on a line which is roughly in line with the centre of the heel of the leading foot to ensure a straight shot. Driver strip 15a extends from the heel centre of footprint 16 of foot guide 13 perpendicularly into target lines 14 as illustrated by Figure 1.

Short irons/wedges require the ball to be more centrally located and closer to the body. Accordingly short iron strip 15c is positioned substantially in the mid-body point (as defined by footprint 16 and 17).

Medium irons strip 15b is positioned between the driver strip 15a and short iron/wedge strip 15c. Preferably the location is closer to the driver strip 15a.

As indicated above the ball is positioned closer to the golfer when using a shorter club. Accordingly the ball should be placed on a strip 15 in a position which is comfortable for the golfer. This will be dependant on the length of the golf club shaft and maintaining the correct stance for the swing.

Figure 1 illustrates the three ball positions Bl, B2, B3 necessary for an "average" golfer to execute a straight shot. Position Bl is the recommended location for the ball (preferably mounted upon a rubber tee) when being struck by a suitable driver. Position B2 corresponds to a medium iron and position B3 to a short iron or wedge. An increase in club length will cause an increase in the distance of the ball from the golfer. In order for a straight shot to be executed (other shots will be described hereinafter), the golfer must maintain the feet in a line which is parallel to the target line 14. To achieve this, foot guide 13 is provided which includes a fixed placement footprint 16, a set of variable placement footprints 17, and a straight edge 18.

The golfer preferably stands with feet at shoulder width with the front foot in the fixed footprint 16 and one foot in an appropriate variable footprint 17. The height of the golfer will be proportional to the separation of the feet and also to the tee/ball placement guide offered by target lines 14.

Shoulder placement (and hence correct stance) is monitored by a mirrored strip 19 which is located in front of the golfer adjacent and parallel to the straight edge 18. The golfer can watch the reflection in mirror 19 and then ensure that his/her shoulders are maintained parallel to the target lines 14.

A parallel channel 20 within mirror 19 is provided for the adjustable positioning of a sliding marker 21 which is used to indicate the correct hand placement of the golfer. Initial hand placement is preferably a hand span from the body and in line. In Figure 1 the sliding marker 21a shown in dotted detail has been adjusted for, say, a driver/wood shot.

The mirror 19 can also include a marker/indicator 23 which corresponds to the recommended head position.

The club back swing is then initiated and the hands and club head should move in parallel to the target line 14 during the initial part of the swing. Constant use of the practice aid 10 will eventually lead to correct addressing of the ball and movement of the club away from the ball becoming second nature to the golfer.

Figure 2 illustrates a golfer G in the correct initial stance for use of a driver D. The ball B can be seen to be placed on line 15a in a position comfortable to golfer G. The golfer G monitors his shoulder bearing in the mirror strip 19.

The main purpose of the golf practice aid according to the invention is to teach good alignment (along with other guidelines and tips provided in a user's manual) so the correct stance and good habits will become second nature to the golfer. Eventually after prolonged use, the golfer will not need the use of the golf practice aid 10. For shots which are not intended to be straight but to fade or draw (curve in flight), Figures 3 and 4 illustrate alternative feet positions to achieve these specialist shots (on purpose) .

Figure 3 illustrates the feet position for a fade (or slice) shot. The fixed foot 16 remains substantially unchanged but foot 17 steps over the straight edge 18 of foot guide 13. The golfer still attempts to strike the ball straight but the alteration in body position will cause the ball to travel away from the golfer. A successful fade shot is used to curve the ball part way through its flight eg. to avoid obstacles in front of the golfer or take into account wind or some other factor such as a dog leg fairway.

Figure 4 illustrates the feet position for a draw (or hook) shot. The golfer stands further away from the ball with his/her rear foot.

Foot 17 is positioned further back from the target line than foot 16 and the ball (if struck successfully) curves mid way through its flight behind the golfer and around obstacles or to follow a bend in the fairway.

An alternative embodiment of the golf practice aid 10 with additional features is shown in Figure 5. In addition to the series of parallel lines 14 (as illustrated in Figure 1) is a set of arcs 22 which more correctly define the back-swing motion of the golf club. The arcs 22 curve toward the body of the golfer and is hence a more natural movement during the initial part of the back- swing. The curve of the arc may be different for different club types as will be apparent to experienced golfers.

Figure 5 also features two small sliding cursors 23a and 23b sliding within channel 20 and a fixed centre line indicator 23c. The moveable mirror 19 is located parallel to straight edge 18 with the fixed centre indicator 23c placed at the centre of the feet positions. Cursors 23a and 23b are located at respective shoulder reflections in mirror 19.

The slideable cursors 23a and 23b represent the limits within which the shoulders must turn when executing the swing to avoid swaying. The centre indicator 23c corresponds to the recommended head position

In a further development the foot positioning guide 13 includes footprints 17 of colour coded form to correspond to the recommended stance for a particular club type.

For even further swing monitoring, a vertical (preferably at least body-height) mirror 25 may be provided so a golfer may see his/her swing and stance to correct errors. A similar adjustable marking system may be used to set recommended movement boundaries as described previously (ie. channel 20 and cursors 23a, 23b, 23c) . Alternatively, marker pens used directly on the glass could be used to set these limits.

It will be appreciated that several further embodiments will be possible which each incorporate different combinations of the features described above without departing from the scope of the invention.

The embodiments described in all Figures are clearly for a right handed player. The apparatus can easily be configured to the needs of left handed players by reversing the layout.

The ball positioning surface area 11 and foot guide 13 is most conveniently produced in a mat form with holes provided therethrough for tees to be placed therein or into the earth if the mat is used outdoors . The mat may be made from a synthetic grass or like surface so balls can be struck easily without tees (more realistic for practicing with clubs other than drivers ) .

The advantages of producing the golf practice aid as a mat (which may be rolled up) are clear - it is easily transportable with other golf equipment and left and right handed versions can be displayed on alternative sides of the mat utilising the same tee holes. A mat of this type can be used for practicing swings at home as well as for actual shots made on a golf course.

It is envisaged, however, that the layout could be provided in a more permanent form either on a driving range or as outlines drawn on hard ground.

The golf practice aid according to the invention is suited to a wide range of golfer physiques by virtue of its adjustability and teaches correct stance and positioning technique for several club types .

Claims

1. A golf practice aid including a surface area (11) with a plurality of placement guides (14, 15) for a golf ball (B), the placement guides being located to correspond to a particular type of club or plurality of clubs, there being feet positioning guide means (16, 17 and 18) and shoulder positioning guide means (19) to teach correct positioning of the golf club when addressing the ball relative to an intended course of travel of a ball located with selected of said placement guides.

2. The golf practice aid of claim 1 wherein the placement guides include a plurality of lines (14) which indicate intended direction of ball travel and a plurality of strips (15) substantially at right angles to lines (14), each strip intersecting (I) with one or more of lines (14).

3. The golf practice aid of claim 2 wherein the intersections (I) indicate placement positions for a golf ball (B) .

4. The golf practice aid of claim 3 wherein at least some of the intersections (I) include means for location of a golf ball (B) .

5. The golf practice aid of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein at least one of the strips (15) is located adjacent a first footprint representation (16).

6. The golf practice aid of claim 5 wherein the feet positioning guide means includes a plurality of footprint representations (17) spaced from said first footprint representation (16).

7. The golf practice aid of claim 6 wherein the plurality of footprint representations (17) are located in an overlapping fashion.

8. The golf practice aid of claim 7 wherein the plurality of footprint representations (17) are ovably located relative to the first footprint representation (16).

9. The golf practice aid of any one of the preceding claims wherein the feet positioning guide means includes a straight edge (18) parallel to an intended line of travel of a golf ball (B).

10. The golf practice aid of any one of the preceding claims wherein the shoulder positioning guide means (19) includes reflective image means.

11. The golf practice aid of any one of claims 1 to 9 further including adjustable hand positioning means (21).

12. The golf practice aid of claim 10 further including hand and body positioning means (21) adjustably mounted with the shoulder positioning guide means (19).

13. The golf practice aid of claim 10, 11 or 12 further including indicators (23a, 23b) for indicating limits to shoulder positioning and movement of the user.

14. The golf practice aid of claim 13 wherein the indicators (23a, 23b) are adjustable in position.

15. The golf practice aid of any one of the preceding claims further including markings (22) to indicate direction of back swing of a club relative to the placement guides (14, 15).

16. The golf practice aid of any one of the preceding claims further including mirror means (25) for reflecting the stance of a user of the golf practice aid relative to the placement guides (14, 15).

17. The golf practice aid of claim 17 wherein the placement guides (14, 15) include colour coding.

18. The golf practice aid of any one of the preceding claims further including a head position indicator (23c).

19. The golf practice aid of any one of the preceding claims in the form of a mat (10).

20. The golf practice aid of claim 19 wherein the mat (10) is made from a synthetic grass or like material.