GB2093706A

GB2093706A - Golf practice device

Info

Publication number: GB2093706A
Application number: GB8105849A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: KREMER PETER DE; KREMER TAMARA DE
Current assignee: KREMER PETER DE; KREMER TAMARA DE
Priority date: 1981-02-24
Filing date: 1981-02-24
Publication date: 1982-09-08

Abstract

A golf practice device comprises flight retarding means 4 providing air frictional resistance attached by a cord to a golf ball 1 and additional means 3 to arrest, without rebound, the flight of the ball within twice the length of the connecting cord. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Golf practice device This invention relates to a golf practice device with a tetherable golf ball and means which provide additional air resistance and a very considerable reduction in the length of golf ball flight in golf practice shots.

Various forms of golf practice aids are known with a tetherable golf ball, usually provided with a metal staple to which a length of cord with a spring or rubber elastic is attached. However, there are serious disadvantages in such method, for instance: 1) during practice, the golf club may strike the part of the ball in which the metal staple is fixed, thus inevitably resulting in damage to the face of the club. 2) The inclusion in the assembly of a spring or an elastic, with only small damping effect, often results in the dangerous rebound of the ball towards the practising golfer.

There are no such disadvantages in the present invention as the metal staple and the rebounding elasticity are completely elirninated.

In the present invention, most of the kinetic energy of the golf ball in motion is being absorbed by the additional air drag of the device, so there is little or no energy left when the ball has travelled twice the length of the cord, one end of which is pegged to the ground. As the cord is approximately 4 metres long, no large space is needed to practice and perfect a golfers's swing.

According to the present invention there is provided a golf practice device comprising a golf ball, without metal stample, connected to a velocity damper of flexible and tear resistant material with sufficient area creating air drag to slow and then stop within a short distance a golf ball in full flight.

A golf practice device according to the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification in which: Figure 1 shows diagrnmmatic view of the device.

Figure 2 shows the nature of the flight of golf ball when the device is being used in golfing practice.

Figure 3 showy a view in cross-section of golf ball of hard core construction.

Figure 4 shows the second embodirnenl: of a golf ball without any need for the usual metal staple.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1. The Golf Practice Device comprises a tetherable golf ball 1, a tether 2, preferably a nylon cord, the free end of which is secured to the ground by a peg 3.

Along the cord 2 there is secured to it the centre of the member 4 made of flexible and tear resistant material. Eyelets 5 at the corners of the member 4 are provided to accommodate the auxiliary cords 6 secured to the principal cord 2.

In use, when the golf ball is hit at first it's flight is not restricted, but eventually the flight is retarded by the air drag created by the member 4.

Fig. 2 shows this Golf Practice Device actually in use.

It should be noted that according to the present invention the distance the ball can travel is limited by two factors: 1) by rapid deceleration due to the air drag created by the member 4, and 2) by the length of the cord end of which is pegged to the ground. There is little or no rebound and the flight of the golf ball cannot exceed the distance of twice the length of the cord to which the ball is secured.

Fig. 3 shows the golf ball in cross-section with a length of cord secured thereto. A golf ball of two piece construction has a hard rubber core 7 being enclosed by a resilient casing such as surlyn cover 8. A hole or bore extends completely through the golf ball. Inserted within the hole 9 is the end portion of a cord 2 of suitable material for example nylon cord.

The free end of the cord, as at the bottom of the drawing, is knotted as indicated digrammatically at 10.

The hole 9 is enlarged at the position where it passes through the outer casing so as to provide a recess 11 into which the knot 10 fits. A number of experiments have shown that the knot 10 when fitted without an additional precotion has a tendancy to act as a wedge thus splitting the core of the golf ball.

In order to prevent such splitting a hard plastic plug or a washer 1 2 is provided in front of the knot.

Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a golf ball without surlyn casing, but a hard plastic centre 1 3 is provided in order to prevent the splitting of the golf ball.

Various modifications may be made without thereby departing from the scope of the inven tion.

ClAIMS

1. A golf practice device comprising a golf ball connoted to an air brake system in such a way that striking the ball results in its flight being restricted due to a very considerable air drag created.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the connecting means comprises a cord having a first end attached to the ball, then about the middle of the cord being attached to the member providing retarding force by air resistance and finally the second end of the cord attached to a peg secured to the ground.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the member providing air drag is attached to the cord in the manner which

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Golf practice device This invention relates to a golf practice device with a tetherable golf ball and means which provide additional air resistance and a very considerable reduction in the length of golf ball flight in golf practice shots. Various forms of golf practice aids are known with a tetherable golf ball, usually provided with a metal staple to which a length of cord with a spring or rubber elastic is attached. However, there are serious disadvantages in such method, for instance: 1) during practice, the golf club may strike the part of the ball in which the metal staple is fixed, thus inevitably resulting in damage to the face of the club. 2) The inclusion in the assembly of a spring or an elastic, with only small damping effect, often results in the dangerous rebound of the ball towards the practising golfer. There are no such disadvantages in the present invention as the metal staple and the rebounding elasticity are completely elirninated. In the present invention, most of the kinetic energy of the golf ball in motion is being absorbed by the additional air drag of the device, so there is little or no energy left when the ball has travelled twice the length of the cord, one end of which is pegged to the ground. As the cord is approximately 4 metres long, no large space is needed to practice and perfect a golfers's swing. According to the present invention there is provided a golf practice device comprising a golf ball, without metal stample, connected to a velocity damper of flexible and tear resistant material with sufficient area creating air drag to slow and then stop within a short distance a golf ball in full flight. A golf practice device according to the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification in which: Figure 1 shows diagrnmmatic view of the device. Figure 2 shows the nature of the flight of golf ball when the device is being used in golfing practice. Figure 3 showy a view in cross-section of golf ball of hard core construction. Figure 4 shows the second embodirnenl: of a golf ball without any need for the usual metal staple. Referring firstly to Fig. 1. The Golf Practice Device comprises a tetherable golf ball 1, a tether 2, preferably a nylon cord, the free end of which is secured to the ground by a peg 3. Along the cord 2 there is secured to it the centre of the member 4 made of flexible and tear resistant material. Eyelets 5 at the corners of the member 4 are provided to accommodate the auxiliary cords 6 secured to the principal cord 2. In use, when the golf ball is hit at first it's flight is not restricted, but eventually the flight is retarded by the air drag created by the member 4. Fig. 2 shows this Golf Practice Device actually in use. It should be noted that according to the present invention the distance the ball can travel is limited by two factors: 1) by rapid deceleration due to the air drag created by the member 4, and 2) by the length of the cord end of which is pegged to the ground. There is little or no rebound and the flight of the golf ball cannot exceed the distance of twice the length of the cord to which the ball is secured. Fig. 3 shows the golf ball in cross-section with a length of cord secured thereto. A golf ball of two piece construction has a hard rubber core 7 being enclosed by a resilient casing such as surlyn cover 8. A hole or bore extends completely through the golf ball. Inserted within the hole 9 is the end portion of a cord 2 of suitable material for example nylon cord. The free end of the cord, as at the bottom of the drawing, is knotted as indicated digrammatically at 10. The hole 9 is enlarged at the position where it passes through the outer casing so as to provide a recess 11 into which the knot 10 fits. A number of experiments have shown that the knot 10 when fitted without an additional precotion has a tendancy to act as a wedge thus splitting the core of the golf ball. In order to prevent such splitting a hard plastic plug or a washer 1 2 is provided in front of the knot. Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of a golf ball without surlyn casing, but a hard plastic centre 1 3 is provided in order to prevent the splitting of the golf ball. Various modifications may be made without thereby departing from the scope of the inven tion. ClAIMS

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the member providing air drag is attached to the cord in the manner which permanently prevents a distortion or collapse of the said member.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the flight of the golf ball when struck is limited to twice the length of the connecting cord and with little or no rebound.