GB1595791A

GB1595791A - Teaching device for ball games

Info

Publication number: GB1595791A
Application number: GB2434576A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-11-10
Filing date: 1977-11-10
Publication date: 1981-08-19

Description

(54) TEACHING DEVICE FOR BALL GAMES (71) I, ROBERT VICTOR FOSTER, a British subject of 104 Hillfield Court, Belsize Avenue, London NW3 4BE, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement : The present invention relates to a teach- ing device which is particularly suitable for teaching a golfer a correct golf swing but which may be used in the teaching of any other game which involves the hitting of a ball by a player.

In order to play the game of golf well, it is essential that the player's swing should be correctly produced. With standard teaching methods, either verbal, physical or printed, the golfer finds difficulty in translating the advice into action and particular difficulty in retaining it in his mind for when he next practices or plays. However, as people are, by nature, imitative it has been found that if a player is exposed constantly to the sight of a good professional player swinging a golf club correctly and with the correct rhythm, he will tend to imitate both the line and rhythm of the swing. If this sight of a good professional player can actually be seen and imitated repeatedly by the golfer at the same time as he is practising his own swing, the problem of retaining the mental picture would be overcome and he would learn much more quickly and thoroughly.

I therefore provide, in accordance with the present invention, a teaching device for ball games involving the hitting of a ball by a player, comprising image producing means operative to produce repeatedly on a screen which can be seen by the player a moving image of a player performing a ball hitting action, and mounting means for a ball adjacent the screen, for use in maintaining the ball captive after the ball has been hit.

Preferably the teaching device includes a trigger on the mounting means for actuating the image producing means.

The image producing means may be a film or video projector and preferably includes a timing device for repeating the images at predetermined intervals and a speed control to allow the images to be slowed down to suit the player's speed of swing and to allow slow motion analysis of the movements necessary to produce the correct finished result. The image producing means may include a reversing device for reversing the image produced on the screen so that, for instance, when the device is being used for teaching a golfer a correct golf swing a right-handed swing is shown on the screen as a left-handed swing. This is then an exact mirror image of the swing being executed by a person facing the screen.

The image producing means is preferably pivotally mounted and the screen may be located internally of the image producing means.

In one arrangement, the mounting means comprises an arm mounted on a base member for rotation about one end in a plane inclined to the plane containing the base member, the arm carrying a ball to be hit by the player.

Preferably said one end of the arm is held in a bearing eccentrically mounted on the base member. The device may include a braking means for impeding rotary movement of the arm after the ball has been hit by a player.

The ball may be detachable from the arm. The arm preferably comprises two parts, one of which carries the ball, the parts being adjustable in position relative to one another, in order to alter the elevation of the ball for different types of shots.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example and, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of the teaching device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation showing a player using the teaching device of Figure 1; Figures 3 to 5 are perspective views of a second teaching device showing different modes of use; Figure 6 is a plan view of the ball hitting device which forms a part of the teaching device illustrated in Figures 3 to 5; Figure 7 is an elevation of the ball hitting device of Figure 6; Figure 8 is an elevation of a part of the ball hitting device of Figures 6 and 7; Figure 9 is an elevation showing the teaching device illustrated in Figures 3 to 5;; Figure 10 is an elevation of the projector of the teaching device illustrated in Figures 3 to 5; and Figure 11 is a perspective view of the film carrying drum from the projector illustrated in Figure 10.

In Figure 1 a teaching device is indicated generally at 10 comprising a housing 11 having a flat bottom 12 which can rest on the ground'. A front wall 13 of the housing 11 slopes backwardly and includes a screen 14.

Projecting forwardly from the bottom of the front wall 13 is an arm 15 on which a golf ball 16 is mounted by a resilient stem 17. The golf ball 16 and resilient stem 17 are mounted on the arm 15 so that they can be readily replaced when worn or damaged.

Within the housing 11 are mounted projection means 20 comprising a light source which may be battery or mains operated, means for loading and unloading a cassette containing continuous film loop and a projector for projecting a moving image onto the screen 14. The film loop contained in the cassette carries a series of pictures depicting a professional golfer executing a golf swing.

The device 10 is used in the following manner. The device is switched on by means of a switch 18 on the side of the housing. Switching on the device actuates the light source and the mechanism for driving and projecting the film loop so that a picture appears on the screen of a player executing a golf swing. The user of the device executes a golf swing imitating the line and rhythm of the swing which he sees, striking the ball 16.

After a predetermined delay, the film is repeated and the user of the device again sees a golf swing executed on the screen 14.

The film loop is preferably continuous so that the device can be used continuously for as long as required and until it is switched off at the switch 18.

Preferably the cassette containing the film loop can be replaced through an access panel 19 in the side of the housing. This enables films of different players to be used and of players executing different shots.

For instance, it is envisaged that different films will be provided of professionals executing different types of shot for instance, a bunker shot, a drive, a mid-iron and so on.

In order to facilitate imitation of the swing seen on the screen film is preferably reversed so that a right-handed swing is shown on the screen as a left-hand swing.

This is then an exact mirror image of the swing being executed by a person facing the screen.

It is envisaged that minor modifications and improvements can be made to the device 10, for instance, a variable speed control might be incorporated so that the slow motion effect could be achieved without having to use a slow motion section in the film loop. In addition the stem 17 may include a switch which actuates the projecting means 20 causing it to project a moving image onto the screen 14 when a ball is placed on the stem.

The teaching device illustrated in Figures 3 to 11 which is a further embodiment of the invention consists of two parts, a golf ball hitting device 30 and a film projector unit and stand 31. The ball hitting device 30 has a metal base 32 on which is mounted a bearing 33 tilted at an angle of 10 . A metal arm 34 is attached to the centre of the bearing 33 and carries a golf ball 35.

The bearing 33 is enclosed in an outer sleeve 36 having a spiral groove 37. At the rear of the metal base 32 is a damper weight 38 having a projecting tongue 39 which is located in the groove 37 of the sleeve 36.

When the ball 35 is struck by a golf club it rotates the bearing 33 which brings the damper weight 38 into action as the curve of the groove 37 rises, thereby acting as a dampening force on the ball 35. This dampening force does not come into effect until the ball 35 has moved 90" from its central position.

The ball 35 therefore moves freely away from the club face on an ascending line due to the tilt of the bearing 33. If the ball 35 is struck sufficiently hard the force will overcome the effect of the damper weight 38 and the arm 34 will continue around the base 30 for a full 360". When the ball 35 is not struck sufficiently hard, the damper weight 38 will prevent the arm 34 moving more than 1800 and will return it to its original position.

The arm 34 and ball 35 are shown in more detail in Figure 8. It will be seen that when the ball 35 becomes worn it can be removed from the arm 34 and replaced with a fresh ball by unscrewing a ball retaining screw 59.

The arm 34 consists of an inner part 40 and an outer part 41, the inner part 40 being pivotally connected to the outer part 41 by means of a pivot screw 42. This arrangement permits the height of the ball to be adjusted, for example for tee shots or iron shots, by altering the angle at which the outer part 41 is connected by means of a holding screw 43. In Figure 7 the elevation of the ball is at a high setting. It can be lowered by locating the holding screw 43 in the lower hole 144.

Figure 9 shows the ball hitting device 30 and the projector unit 31 assembIed together to form the teaching device.

The projector unit 31 has a stand 43 with a vertical support 44 on which a film projector 45 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 46. A hinged plate 47 at the front of the stand carries a white image reflective disc 48 on its surface. A stop 56 ensures that the projector 45 is accurately positioned to proJect an undistorted image onto the disc 48 and a detachable hood 57 is use in strong sunlight to enclose the beam from the projector 45. The hinge plate 47 can be raised to allow the ball hitting device 30 to be positioned underneath.

The projector 45 uses a film showing a 10 second sequence of a golf shot being executed with the finishing position held at the end of the swing. The film consists of 200 frames and is projected at a speed of 20 frames per second.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11 the film is attached to a 10 inch drum 50 which rotates in a 10 second sequence. The drum 50 can be easily removed from the projector 45 and replaced by a different drum.

Thus films illustrating different shots can be mounted on different drums and the drums interchanged when it is desired to show a different shot. The use of a drum to carry a film also avoids wear and tear on the film which occurs in a conventional projector where tile film is continuously moved by a system of sprockets. A timing mechanism 61 imposes a 2- second pause between each 10 second rotation of the drum. The drum 50 has circular apertures 49 which produce a circular picture when projected.

Instead of the timing mechanism the ball hitting device may include a switch which actuates the projector causing it to project a moving image onto the disc 48 when the ball 35 is struck.

It can be seen, with reference to Figures 3 to 5 that the teaching device can be used in three different ways. The projector 45 can project the film sequence onto the reflective surface 48 just above the ball hitting device 30 so that the correctly produced swing is in the golfer's vision as he executes his own swing as shown in Figure 3. The projector 45 can be rotated to a vertical position, as shown in Figure 4, so that the film sequence is shown on the hinged internal screen 60.

The ball hitting device 30 can be pro.

vided with its own back projection screen 51 and positioned forwardly of the pro.

jection unit 31 so that the projector 45 projects the film sequence onto the back projection screen 51, as shown in Figure 5 The ball hitting device can be mounted on a golfing mat of artificial grass. It ie envisaged that the device 30 win be sup plied with a series of golfing mats having artificial grass of different length so thai different golf shots can be practised.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A teaching device for ball games in.

volving the hitting of a ball by a player, comprising image producing means opera.

tive to produce repeatedly on a screen which can be seen by the player a moving image of a player performing a ball hitting action, and mounting means for a bail adjacent the screen, for use in maintaining the ball captive after the ball has been hit.

2. A teaching device as claimed in claim 1 including a trigger on the mounting means for actuating the image producing means.

3. A teaching device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the image producing means is a film projector.

4. A teaching device as claimed in claim 3 in which the film projector includes a timing device for repeating a film sequence at predetermined intervals.

5. A teaching device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the image producing means includes a revers ing device for reversing the image pro duced on the screen.

6. A teaching device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the image producing means is pivotally mounted.

7. A teaching device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the screen is located internally of the image producing means.

8. A teaching device according to any preceding claim wherein the mounting means comprises an arm mounted on a base member for rotation about one end in a plane inclined to the plane containing the base member, the arm carrying a ball to be hit by the player.

9. A teaching device as claimed in claim 8 in which said one end of the arm is held in a bearing eccentrically mounted on the base member.

10. A teaching device as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 including a brake for impeding rotary movement of the arm after the ball has been hit by a player.

11. A teaching device as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 in which the ball is detachable from the arm.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

41 by means of a pivot screw 42. This arrangement permits the height of the ball to be adjusted, for example for tee shots or iron shots, by altering the angle at which the outer part 41 is connected by means of a holding screw 43. In Figure 7 the elevation of the ball is at a high setting. It can be lowered by locating the holding screw 43 in the lower hole 144.

Figure 9 shows the ball hitting device 30 and the projector unit 31 assembIed together to form the teaching device.

The projector unit 31 has a stand 43 with a vertical support 44 on which a film projector 45 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 46. A hinged plate 47 at the front of the stand carries a white image reflective disc 48 on its surface. A stop 56 ensures that the projector 45 is accurately positioned to proJect an undistorted image onto the disc 48 and a detachable hood 57 is use in strong sunlight to enclose the beam from the projector 45. The hinge plate 47 can be raised to allow the ball hitting device 30 to be positioned underneath.

The projector 45 uses a film showing a 10 second sequence of a golf shot being executed with the finishing position held at the end of the swing. The film consists of 200 frames and is projected at a speed of 20 frames per second.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11 the film is attached to a 10 inch drum 50 which rotates in a 10 second sequence. The drum 50 can be easily removed from the projector 45 and replaced by a different drum.

Thus films illustrating different shots can be mounted on different drums and the drums interchanged when it is desired to show a different shot. The use of a drum to carry a film also avoids wear and tear on the film which occurs in a conventional projector where tile film is continuously moved by a system of sprockets. A timing mechanism 61 imposes a 2- second pause between each 10 second rotation of the drum. The drum 50 has circular apertures 49 which produce a circular picture when projected.

Instead of the timing mechanism the ball hitting device may include a switch which actuates the projector causing it to project a moving image onto the disc 48 when the ball 35 is struck.

It can be seen, with reference to Figures 3 to 5 that the teaching device can be used in three different ways. The projector 45 can project the film sequence onto the reflective surface 48 just above the ball hitting device 30 so that the correctly produced swing is in the golfer's vision as he executes his own swing as shown in Figure 3. The projector 45 can be rotated to a vertical position, as shown in Figure 4, so that the film sequence is shown on the hinged internal screen 60.

The ball hitting device 30 can be pro.

vided with its own back projection screen

51 and positioned forwardly of the pro.

jection unit 31 so that the projector 45 projects the film sequence onto the back projection screen 51, as shown in Figure 5 The ball hitting device can be mounted on a golfing mat of artificial grass. It ie envisaged that the device 30 win be sup plied with a series of golfing mats having artificial grass of different length so thai different golf shots can be practised.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A teaching device for ball games in.

volving the hitting of a ball by a player, comprising image producing means opera.

tive to produce repeatedly on a screen which can be seen by the player a moving image of a player performing a ball hitting action, and mounting means for a bail adjacent the screen, for use in maintaining the ball captive after the ball has been hit.
2. A teaching device as claimed in claim

1 including a trigger on the mounting means for actuating the image producing means.
3. A teaching device as claimed in claim

1 or claim 2 in which the image producing means is a film projector.
4. A teaching device as claimed in claim

3 in which the film projector includes a timing device for repeating a film sequence at predetermined intervals.
5. A teaching device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the image producing means includes a revers ing device for reversing the image pro duced on the screen.
6. A teaching device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the image producing means is pivotally mounted.
7. A teaching device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the screen is located internally of the image producing means.
8. A teaching device according to any preceding claim wherein the mounting means comprises an arm mounted on a base member for rotation about one end in a plane inclined to the plane containing the base member, the arm carrying a ball to be hit by the player.
9. A teaching device as claimed in claim

8 in which said one end of the arm is held in a bearing eccentrically mounted on the base member.
10. A teaching device as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 including a brake for impeding rotary movement of the arm after the ball has been hit by a player.
11. A teaching device as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 in which the ball is detachable from the arm.
12. A teaching device as claimed in any

one of claims 8 to 11 in which the arm comprises two parts, one of which carries the ball, the parts being adjustable in position relative to one another.
13. A teaching device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 2 of the accompanying drawings.
14. A teaching device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 3 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.