GB2258818A

GB2258818A - Apparatus for practising snooker strokes

Info

Publication number: GB2258818A
Application number: GB9217973A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antonio Claros-Bolivar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-08-22
Filing date: 1992-08-24
Publication date: 1993-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2012-08-24
Also published as: GB2258818B; GB9217973D0

Abstract

Apparatus for practising snooker strokes, comprising a horizontal guide member (10) to be positioned at the height of a standard snooker table, a flat hand-rest (13) at one end of the guide member, and a snooker-like ball (14) mounted just above the surface of the guide member at one end of a horizontal rod (15) which is slidable in guide means (18) mounted on the guide member, so that when the ball is struck by a player's cue the ball will travel an appreciable distance before the other (remote) end of the rod strikes an abutment (19) to return the ball towards its initial position. The ball (14) may be carried on a bracket (16) which may swivel, or a fixed finger may enter a keyway in the rod to prevent or limit swivelling of the rod on which the bracket is mounted. The abutment (19) may be resilient, or a resilient washer may be sandwiched between the rod (15) and the bracket (16). <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR PRACTISING SNOOKER STROKES This invention relates to apparatus for practising strokes for table ball-games such as snooker, billiards or pool; for convenience, reference will be made simply to snooker.

The growing popularity of snooker has produced a demand for not only playing tables but also practice facilities. Practice can be an expensive exercise if, as is usual, full-size playing tables are employed; small-size tables are not usually favoured, particularly by serious players. Individual tuition is also expensive, and competent instructors are rarely readily available.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for use in practising snooker strokes, which is simple and inexpensive to produce and use and which requires only a modest amount of floorspace.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for practising snooker strokes, comprising a horizontal guide member to be positioned at the height of a standard snooker table, a flat hand-rest at one end of the guide member, and a snooker-like ball mounted just above the surface of the guide member at one end of a horizontal rod which is slidable in guide means mounted on the guide member, so that when the ball is struck by a player's cue the ball will travel an appreciable distance before the other (remote) end of the rod strikes an abutment to return the ball towards its initial position.

The 'snooker-like' ball may comprise a standard (white) cue ball, and is preferably mounted rotatably at one end of the horizontal rod which is slidably mounted on guide means to carry the ball just clear of the surface of the guide member. The 'snooker-like' ball may be rotatably mounted on a swivel bracket carried by said rod, to allow the user to impart 'spin' by cuing the ball off center.

Preferably also, a mirror of restricted size is mounted at the remote end of the guide member to allow the user to inspect his hand and cue positions and movements.

Said abutment may comprise a rubber or like stopper secured to an upstanding extension at the remote end of the guide member, or a plastics washer may be sandwiched between the rod and the bracket.

In one readily-portable embodiment of the invention, the horizontal guide comprises a flat platform on which said guide means are mounted, and to the remote end of which said upstanding extension is secured, a detachable leg is provided to support the platform, and the upstanding extension is adapted to be secured to a suitable position on the wall of a practice room.

A tension spring such as described in my published U.K. Patent Specification No. 2234182A may be anchored at said other end of the guide member for attachment to the lower arm of the player to resist forward movements during the stroke. This resistance is useful in improving those arm muscles which are important to a serious exponent of the game and, particularly in combination with a mirror as aforementioned, also promotes a straight and horizontally aligned movement of the lower arm.

The aforementioned flat hand rest may be adjustable in position along the guide member, and preferably includes an upper face which simulates the green baize surface of a snooker table.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation showing an apparatus for use in practicing snooker strokes; and Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 1 but on a larger scale.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a flat horizontal member 10 having an upright member 11 at one (the remote) end, and provided with a leg 12 to support the member 10 at approximately the level of a standard snooker table. The near end length 13 of the member 10, measuring around 20 cm square, is covered with green baize and provides a hand-rest for the players, and the complete upper surface of the member 10 may be baize covered.

A (snooker) ball 14 is rotatably mounted at the near end of a horizontal support rod 15, on a semi-circular bracket 16 which is secured at 17 to the (swivel) support rod.

The rod 15 is carried in a guide block 18 which is bolted to the member 10 as hereinafter described.

The upright member 11 at the remote end of the member 10, is rigidly secured to the member 10 and a resilient stopper 19 which may comprise a suitable door-stopper is attached just above the junction with the member 10.

The rod 15 is formed at its remote end with a flat or slightly rounded head 20 to engage the stopper 19, and the head, or the bracket IS, is detachable as by a screw connection to allow the rod to be passed through the block 18 during assembly, or disassembly. The generally cylindrical block is preferably formed of low-friction plastics material, and has at least two sets of tapped bores and corresponding bottom 'flats' 21; this enables the block to be angularly repositioned periodically, to compensate for any wear which might deform the central bore through which the rod passes.

A small rectangular mirror 22, measuring about 10 x 8 cm is attached, centrally, to the upper limb 11A of the upright member which is also formed with through bores 23.

The apparatus, which is the present embodiment is readily portable, is prepared for use by attaching the leg 12, which may be screw-in, to the member 10 and then, after ensuring that the member 10 is level, the upright member 11 is screwed to a suitably vertical wall or the like by means of screws or bolts inserted into the bores 23.

In suitable circumstances a single screw or bolt, through top-central bore 23A, may suffice, but three or four attachments may be preferred.

In use, a player addresses the ball 14 with his cue held in such a manner that his upper arm is approximately horizontal and his lower arm approximately vertical; this can be checked in the mirror 22, as can the player's gripand the position of the cue.

The player can then practice strokes by repeatedly striking the (cue) ball 14 which presents a reaction similar to that experienced in striking the cue ball in normal play.

The rotary mounting of the ball 14 on the bracket 16, for example by means of a spindle extending through a central bore in the ball, and the swivel action of the bracket, allows the player to practice spin shots. This is achieved by striking the ball off-centre, and the ball will then rotate to show if the stroke has been successfully executed.

When an arm strap 20 (such as strap 20 in Patent publication No. 2234182A) is attached round the wrist of the (vertical) upper arm of the player, the restraining action of the spring acts to develop and strengthen the relevant muscles in the player's upper and fore arm.

The length of the guide member 10 is not critical, but an overall length of about 70 cm has proved satisfactory for the average player. The ball requires a 'free' movement of about 10 to 15 cm, from its extended position which has been found satisfactory at some 40 cm from the stopper 19.

The leg 12 should be positioned under or at least close to the hand-support 13, and it will be appreciated that the apparatus may be adapted for use in practicing pool strokes by reducing the height to that of a standard pool table, and the other dimensions to suit the smaller diameter of pool balls.

In a modification, the rod 15 may be formed with an axial key way along its bottom face, to be entered by an extended one of the bolts or screws which secure the block 18 to the member 10.

This will prevent or restrict the swivel motion of the rod and so avoid damage to the (baize-covered) surface of the member 10, which can occur if the bracket 16 swivels too far.

Particularly when formed of rubber, the resilient stopper 19 may cause excessive rebound, and can be replaced by a plastics disc.

However, even better results have been achieved by introducing a plastics washer, of about 0.5 to 1.0 cm and indicated at 17A, between the bracket 16 and the adjacent end of the rod 15.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus for practising snooker strokes, comprising a horizontal guide member to be positioned at the height of a standard snooker table, a flat hand-rest at one end of the guide member, and a snooker-like ball mounted just above the surface of the guide member at one end of a horizontal rod which is slidable in guide means mounted on the guide member, so that when the ball is struck by a player's cue the ball will travel an appreciable distance before the other (remote) end of the rod strikes an abutment to return the ball towards its initial position.

2. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which said ball comprises a standard (white) cue ball.

3. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which said ball is rotatably mounted at one end of a horizontal rod which is slidably mounted on guide means to carry the ball just clear of the surface of the guide member.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which said ball is rotatably mounted on a swivel bracket carried by said rod, to allow the user to impart 'spin' by cuing the ball of centre.

5. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, but in which stop means are provided to prevent or restrict swivel movement of said bracket.

6. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, in which said stop means comprise a fixed finger which enters an axial keyway in said rod.

7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which a mirror of restricted size is mounted at the remote end of the guide member to allow the user to inspect his hand and cue positions and movements.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which said abutment means comprises a rubber or like stopper secured to an upstanding extension at the remote end of the guide member.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, in which a plastics washer is sandwiched between said rod and said bracket.

10. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which said horizontal guide comprises a flat platform on which said guide means are mounted.

11. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which a detachable leg is provided to support the near end region of the platform, and the apparatus is arranged to be secured at its remote end to a suitable position on the wall of a practice room.

12. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which a tension spring is anchored at said other end of the guide member for attachment to the lower arm of the player to resist forward movements during the stroke.

13. An apparatus for practising snooker strokes, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. The features herein described, or their equivalents, in any patentably novel selection.