GB2239400A

GB2239400A - Cue action training device

Info

Publication number: GB2239400A
Application number: GB9028161A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Burley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-12-29
Filing date: 1990-12-28
Publication date: 1991-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-28
Also published as: GB2239400B; GB9028161D0; GB8929303D0

Abstract

A training device for snooker, billiards and pool comprises a first member (2) adapted to be struck by a cue, and a second member (4) to which said first member is connected and which is adapted to move with said first member when said first member is struck, means (26) being provided to measure the amount of forward travel of said first and second members after the first member has been struck by the cue. The first member is in the form of a half-ball and the second member is in the form of a rod, the half-ball being fixedly or pivotally secured to the rod. <IMAGE>

Description

Training Device This invention relates to training devices and more particularly to training devices for snooker, billiards and pool.

In the playing of snooker, billiards and pool, accurate play is only achieved by adopting the correct stance and cuing action every time the cue ball is struck. The end position of the object ball, i.e. that ball struck by the cue ball, depends upon the point of impact - by the cue on the cue ball, the speed of impact of the cue on the cue ball, and the amount of follow through of the cue after the cue ball has been struck.

For accurate play, the amount of follow through, i.e. the distance the cue travels forward after it has struck the cue ball, should be consistent and of a predetermined amount. Ideally, this distance of travel should be 2.5 inches (64mm).

The present invention seeks to provide a training device to enable a user to accurately determine the amount of follow through of a cue after it has struck the cue ball.

According to the present invention there is provided a training device for snooker, billiards and pool comprising a first member adapted to be struck by a cue, and a second member to which said first member is connected and which is adapted to move with said first member when said first member is struck, and means to measure the amount of forward travel of said first and second members after the first member has been struck by the cue.

The first member will preferably be in the form of a hollow half-ball, and the second member will preferably be a rod. The first member will be mounted on the rod so that the first and second members are movable together linearly when the first member is struck by the cue.

The second member will preferably be mounted for linear movement in a supporting bracket, means being included on or in said bracket to provide resistance to movement of said second member relative to said bracket.

The means to measure the amount of forward travel of the first and second members after the first member has been struck by the cue may be a scale located relative to the second member and over which the second member may travel to indicate said amount of forward travel.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a training device in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the device; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device; and Figure 5 is a pictorial representation showing the ideal stance of a player.

Referring to the drawings, the training device for the games of snooker, billiards and pool comprises a first member in the form of a half-ball 2 and a second member in the form of a rod 4, the rod 4 being mounted for linear movement in a bracket 6 which is adapted to be secured to or held on a supporting surface 8.

The half-ball 2, which is hollow, has a flattened surface 10 and an internal bush 12 by which the half-ball 2 may be mounted on the rod 4. The half-ball 2 is preferably composed of a synthetic plastics material and is of any desired colour, although ideally it will be white. The half-ball 2 is mounted on the rod 4 through the intermediary of a ball 14 on the end of the rod 4, the ball 14 engaging in the bush 12, so that the half-ball may pivot relative to the rod.

The rod 4, composed of plastics material or metal, is mounted for linear movement in the supporting bracket 6 which, as will best be seen in Figures 2 and 4, includes wings or feet 16 and 18 having therein hoies 16A and 18A respectively through which screws (not shown) may be passed to secure the bracket to the supporting surface 8.

The bracket includes end surfaces 20 and 22 having holes or through-bores 20A and 22A respectively which are coaxial and through which the rod 4 passes. Located internally of the bracket 6 is a rod-movement resistor or restrictor 24 which is adapted to bear on the rod 4 and to resist the movement of the rod 4 when the latter is moved relative to the bracket upon the striking of the half-ball 2 by a cue, not shown in Figures 1 to 4.

Associated with the device is a scale 26 which carries Imperial and/or Metric markings which are used to show the amount of forward travel of the rod 4 when the-halfball 2 is struck by the cue.

In use, and referring firstly to Figure 5, the person using the device in accordance with the invention should position himself with his left foot parallel with his cue and approximately six inches to the left of the cue line, with left knee bent forwardly over the left foot. The right foot is placed over to the right of the cue line pointing forwards and approximately at a 45-degree angle to the cue line.

When gripping the cue, the tension in the hand should be relaxed but firm, and the grip should remain constant throughout the shot. The bridge hand is put firmly on the table or other support surface with the fingers spread, the heel of the hand being kept on the table or surface.

The middle of the hand should be lifted, keeping the fingers straight and spread. The thumb is lifted into the fore-finger, such that the cue rests between fore-finger and thumb.

When playing the shot, the player's head should be kept very still, ideally with the chin touching the cue.

Having thus positioned himself as shown in and briefly described with reference to Figure 5, the tip of the cue is put to the middle of the half-ball 2 and forward movement is imparted to the cue so that the cue strikes the half-ball, the player endeavouring to ensure that the cue travels in a straight line. When moving forward with the cue, the player's right hand should strike the chest.

When the half-ball 2 has been struck by the cue, the half -ball will travel forwardly and thus impart forward movement to the rod 4, the amount of forward travel of the rod being measurable on the scale 26. As previously mentioned, this amount of forward travel should ideally be 2.5 inches (64mm).

If, after the half-ball has been struck, it is found that the rod 4 has travelled forwardly too much or too little, the right hand should be re-positioned on the cue either forwards or backwards.

If the half-ball 2 is not struck dead-centre, the halfball will go off line with respect to the rod 4 and the amount of forward travel of the rod will be affected, and so great endeavours should always be made to strike the half-ball dead-centre.

Thus, with practice, the rod 4 will be caused to move the ideal forward distance.

In sn alternative embodiment of the invention, the halfball 2 may be fixedly mounted on the rod 4 so that the half-ball cannot move relative to the rod, but only with the rod in a linear manner. This fixed half-ball could be used in the initial use of the device, and when cuing has been perfected the pivoting half-ball and rod could be used to perfect the application of 'side', 'top' or 'bottom' to the half-ball.

In yet another alternative embodiment of the invention, the rod could have a fixed half-ball on one end and a pivotable half-ball on the other end, the rod being reversed in the bracket depending upon which half-ball it is desired to use and depending upon the degree of skill and competence of the user of the device.

In a still further alternative embodiment, the rod could be provided with a sliding ring movable along the length of the rod to measure the amount of forward travel of the rod when the half-ball is struck by the cue.

Instead of the scale 26 being located beneath the rod 4, the scale may be mounted on the rod itself such that the scale travels with the rod, the amount of forward travel of the rod being measured against a reference line or marking on the supporting surface 8.

Alternatively, the rod 4 itself may be marked out as a scale which will be read , in order to determine the amount of forward travel of the rod, against a reference line or marking on the supporting surface 8.

In each of the above-described embodiments incorporating a pivotable half-ball, or indeed with a fixed half-ball, the half-ball could be quartered or otherwise marked to provide an indication of the amount of 'side', 'top' or 'bottom' imparted to the half-ball when it is struck by the cue.

Finally, instead of the rod-movement resistor or restrictor being in the form shown in the drawings, the resistance or restriction may be provided by means adapted to move the sides of the bracket 6 towards and away from each other which has the effect of causing the rod to engage the said sides to a greater or lesser degree.

Claims

Claims:

1. A training device for snooker, billiards and pool comprising a first member adapted to be. struck by a cue, and a second member to which said first member is connected and which is adapted to move with said first member when said first member is struck, and means to measure the amount of forward travel of said first and second members after the first member has been struck by the cue.

2. A training device in accordance with Claim 1, wherein said first member is in the form of a half-ball.

3. A training device in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said second member is a rod.

4. A training device in accordance with Claim 3, wherein said half-ball is mounted on said rod so that the two are movable together linearly when the half-ball is struck by the cue.

5. A training device in accordance with Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein said rod is mounted for linear movement in a supporting bracket.

6. A training device in accordance with Claim 5, wherein means are provided on or in said bracket to provide resistance to movement of said rod relative to said bracket.

7. A training device in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the means to measure the amount of forward travel of the first and second members is a scale located relative to said second member and over which said second member may travel to indicate said amount of forward travel.

8. A training device in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the means to measure the amount of forward travel of the first and second members is a sliding ring movable along the length of the second member.

9. A training device in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the means to measure the amount of forward travel of the first and second members is a scale mounted on said second member and movable therewith against a reference line or marking.

10. A training device in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the means to measure the amount of forward travel of the first and second members is a scale marked out on said second member.

11. A training device in accordance with any of Claims 3 to 10, wherein said half-ball is fixedly secured to said rod.

12. A training device in accordance with any of Claims 3 to 10, wherein said half-ball is pivotally secured to said rod.

13. A training device in accordance with any of Claims 3 to 12, wherein said half-ball is quartered or otherwise marked to provide an indication of the amount of 'side', 'top' or 'bottom' imparted to the half-ball when it is struck by the cue.

14. A training device for snooker, billiards and pool substantially as herein described.

15. A training device for snooker, billiards and pool constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.