GB2100607A

GB2100607A - Golf stance indicator device

Info

Publication number: GB2100607A
Application number: GB08119876A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Mcdonald; David Stanroyd East; Ronald Keith Rowles; Anthony J Muller; Jack Brookes; James G Astbury
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-06-27
Filing date: 1981-06-27
Publication date: 1983-01-06
Also published as: GB2100607B

Abstract

The device consists of a pair of arms arranged at right angles to each other, the first arm (1) being arranged to define the position of the feet and in combination with the second arm (2) the position of the front heel of the golfer. The second arm (2) has connected thereto a telescopic ball pointer arm (4) arranged to be parallel to the second arm (2) at all times but adjustably located in relation to a scale (3B) on the first arm in such manner that the ball position is indicated by the ball pointer arm. The scale (3B) being used to define the ball position from a forward position opposite the instep of the front foot when the golfer is using a driver until it is substantially at the centre of the stance when the golfer is using the shorter irons. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Golf stance indicator device The present invention relates to devices for aiding golfers to assume an improved stance in addressing a golf ball.

It is recognised that the stance adopted by a golfer, when addressing the ball, is a matter which has a great bearing upon the success of the golf stroke.

The stance is the position of the feet with respect to the ball and their position with respect to the desired line of flight of the ball.

The present invention aims to provide a device which assists golfers in achieving an improved stance when addressing a golf ball.

According to the present invention there is provided a golf stance indicator device comprising two arms which are arranged in operation such that a first arm extends at right angles to a second arm, the first arm being adapted to lie parallel with the required direction of flight of the ball and to act as a datum line for the toes whereas the second arm is arranged in co-operation with the first arm to define the position for the front heel of the golfer and the device further includes a ball position pointer arm connected to the second arm in such manner that it is maintained parallel with said second arm at all times but is adjustably located in relation to a scale on said first arm in such manner that the ball position as indicated by the ball pointer arm is moved progressively back from a forward position opposite the instep of the front foot when for example the golfer is using a driver until it is approximately at the centre of the stance when using the shorter irons.

The ball position pointer arm is arranged to be telescopic and includes a graduated scale which may be annotated to indicate the ball position when using a driver at one end of the scale through the clubs to the wedge or 10 iron at the other end of the scale.

The use of such a device has particular advantage for improving the performance of beginners and average performer golfers. For such golfers, rather than using what is considered by many as a "professional" position with the ball opposite the instep of the front foot, it has been found to be advisable to use a modified method. In this method the stance as per normal is wide for the driver, narrowing through the fairway woods long and middle irons until finally it is quite narrow for the short irons, however, the ball position is moved progressively back, from being opposite the instep or heel of the front foot when using a driver, until it is at approximately the centre of the stance when using the middle or short irons.

To accommodate the narrowing of the stance the device according to a feature of the invention is arranged such that the first arm is also graduated to show the position of the trailing foot and this graduation may be annotated in accordance with the club to be used.

The device according to one embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

The device comprises two arms 1 and 2 pivoted at X which are arranged in operation to be locked so that they lie at right angles to each other. The arm 1 includes a graduated scale 3 which may be graduated in accordance with golf clubs commencing at its left hand end 3A with a "driver" and terminating at its right hand end 3B with a "No. 7 iron" or "wedge".

Attached to the second arm 2 is a ball pointer arm 4 adapted in operation to be maintained parallel to the second arm 2 at all times and arranged to be adjustably aligned with the graduations on the graduated scale 3 on the first arm 1. The ball pointer arm 4 is connected to the second arm 2 by a pair of stays 5 and 6 which are pivotally connected to the ball pointer arm 4 at pivot points A and B and the second arm 2 at pivot points C and D. The stays 5 and 6 are of equal length and are connected to the second arm 2 and the ball pointer arm 4 in such manner that the distance between pivots A and B is equal to that between C and D. By such an arrangement the arms 3 and 4 and stays 5 and 6 form an adjustable parallelogram with one side arm 2, fixed at right angles to the first arm 1 of the device.The ball pointer arm is arranged to be telescopic in its section outside that forming the parallelogram and may be graduated similarly in relation to golf clubs.

Arm 1 acts as a datum line for the toes whereas Arm 2 acts as a datum line for the front foot heel.

The device may be folded up by pivoting arms 1 and 2 so that they line one on top of each other.

Similarly the ball pointer arm 4 can be fully telescoped so that the device is more readily accommodated in the golfers golf bag.

The device is particularly suited to providing an indication where the ball should be positioned with reference to the heel of the front foot progressively backwardly from opposite the instep when using a driver until, when using the wedge, it is at the centre of what was the original stance width. This arrangement is recommended by many professional coaches as being particularly suitable for use by beginner and average golfers.

In use the device is placed on the floor with arm 1 pointing in the direction of required flight of the ball.

The ball pointer arm 4 is then adjusted until it lies parallel with the graduation on the scale 3 relative to the club or position in the stance required. The upper end of the ball pointer arm is then telescopically adjusted to correspond with the club required. The position of the end of the ball pointer arm now defines the position of the ball while arm 1 acts as a datum line for both toes and arm 2 acts as a datum line for the heel of the front foot.

The drawing shows typical positions for the ball relative to the heel of the front foot of a right handed golfer. The ball is positioned in line with the instep or front foot heel when using a driver and is progressively moved backwards as the club selected for use is shortened until the ball is placed in the mid-stance position for a 5 iron. Thereafter the stance may be opened and narrowed for the short irons through to the wedge or 10 iron. The narrowing of the stance effectively moves the ball back beyond the mid-point of the stance. To open the stance the front foot may be moved "down" the leading foot heel datum line (i.e. arm 2) and various points 21 may be marked on arm 2 correspondingly referenced for the shorter irons.

The above description has been of one embodiment only and is not intended to be limiting to the scope of the invention. Alternative arrangements will be seen by those skilled in the art for example the graduated scales may be marked with corresponding clubs (such as Driver Wedge) or may be left without references and adapted so that the golfer may mark his own references upon the scales in accordance with the ball position suggested by a professional or that best suited to his own performance. In addition a single rear foot marker may be provided on arm 1 and this arm may be made telescopic and graduated in accordance with club usage against stance width.

CLAIMS (Filed 25 June 1982) 1. A gold stance indicator device comprising two arms which are arranged in operation such that a first arm extends at right angles to a second arm, the first arm being adapted to lie parallel with the required direction of flight of a golf ball and to act as a datum line for the toes of a golfer whereas the second arm is arranged in co-operation with the first arm to define the position for the front heel of the golfer and the device further includes a ball position pointer arm connected to the second arm in such manner that it is maintained parallel with said second arm at all times but is adjustably located in relation to a scale on the first arm, the said scale being used to define the ball position from a forward position opposite the instep of the front foot when the golfer is using a driver until it is substantially at the centre of the stance when the golfer is using the shorter irons.

2. A golf stance indicator device as claimed in claim 1 in which the ball pointer arm is pivotally connected to the second arm by a pair of stays of equal length to form a parallelogram with one side thereof formed by the second arm.

3. A golf stance indicator device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the ball pointer arm incorporates an extension which projects beyond the bounds of the parallelogram and said extension is telescopic.

4. A golf stance indicator as claimed in claim 3 and in which the ball pointer arm extension is graduated to indicate the ball position for each club.

5. A golf stance indicator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the first arm is also graduated to indicate the position of the toe of the golfer's trailing foot.

6. A golf stance indicator according to claim 5 in which the first arm is telescopic.

7. A golf stance indicator according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second arm includes graduated marking to allowforthe opening of the golfer's stance.

8. A golf stance indicator according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first and second arms are pivotally connected and are arranged to be folded so that they lie on top of each other when the device is not in use.

9. A golf stance indicator substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (i.e. arm 2) and various points 21 may be marked on arm 2 correspondingly referenced for the shorter irons. The above description has been of one embodiment only and is not intended to be limiting to the scope of the invention. Alternative arrangements will be seen by those skilled in the art for example the graduated scales may be marked with corresponding clubs (such as Driver Wedge) or may be left without references and adapted so that the golfer may mark his own references upon the scales in accordance with the ball position suggested by a professional or that best suited to his own performance. In addition a single rear foot marker may be provided on arm 1 and this arm may be made telescopic and graduated in accordance with club usage against stance width. CLAIMS (Filed 25 June 1982)

1. A gold stance indicator device comprising two arms which are arranged in operation such that a first arm extends at right angles to a second arm, the first arm being adapted to lie parallel with the required direction of flight of a golf ball and to act as a datum line for the toes of a golfer whereas the second arm is arranged in co-operation with the first arm to define the position for the front heel of the golfer and the device further includes a ball position pointer arm connected to the second arm in such manner that it is maintained parallel with said second arm at all times but is adjustably located in relation to a scale on the first arm, the said scale being used to define the ball position from a forward position opposite the instep of the front foot when the golfer is using a driver until it is substantially at the centre of the stance when the golfer is using the shorter irons.