GB2280118A

GB2280118A - Golf teaching apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2280118A
Application number: GB9315380A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Denis Durnian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-07-24
Filing date: 1993-07-24
Publication date: 1995-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2013-07-24
Also published as: GB9315380D0; GB2280118B

Abstract

A golf teaching apparatus comprises a pair of substantially circular laterally closely spaced frame members (11, 12) mounted relative to the ground on support members (14). Each of the frame members (11, 12) are curved rearwardly such that a curved plane is defined by the space (16) between the two members (11, 12), the curved plane corresponding to the ideal path to be followed by a part of golf club during a golf swing. Inner members (17, 18) of the frame members (11, 12) are covered with a low friction coating to enable a golf club to move in the spacing (16) and therefore be constrained to follow the ideal path for a golf swing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPORTS TEACHING APPARATUS This invention relates to sports teaching apparatus and in particular such apparatus for teaching a person to swing a golf club in a correct manner.

Conventional teaching apparatus to assist a professional golfer to teach a pupil to swing in a correct manner generally comprises aids to assist positioning of a pupil's body whilst performing a swing.

The problem with arrangements of this type is that whilst the conventional apparatus does assist in the performance of the correct movements, there is still a relatively large scope for a pupil to perform incorrect movements.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus which overcomes or at least minimises the abovementioned problems associated with prior art arrangements.

Thus, and in accordance with the present invention therefore, there is provided a sports teaching apparatus comprising a frame adapted to locate a part of a golf club in such a manner that said part of the club is constrained so as to be movable only along a path determined by a configuration of said frame.

With this arrangement, it is possible to provide apparatus which facilitates a pupil swinging a golf club to swing the club along a predetermined path which can be approximated to the correct path for an ideal swing.

Preferably said frame comprises at least one generally circular fame element in which said club part locates, said frame element being curved rearwardly when considered in side view.

Most preferably, a pair of closely spaced generally circular frame elements may be provided between which said club may locate so as to be movable only in a direction determined by a path formed by a gap between the pair of elements. In this case both of the elements may be curved rearwardly when considered in side view.

Preferably the surfaces of the element(s) against which the part of the club bears or contacts are coated with a low friction coating thereby to reduce the friction between the frame and club.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic front view of one form of teaching apparatus according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 shows a side view of the teaching apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown sports teaching apparatus 10 comprising a pair of substantially circular laterally closely spaced frame members 11, 12 which are mounted relative to a ground surface 13, in upright disposition, by way of support members 14.

Each of the frame members 11, 12 are generally curved rearwardly, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 2, such that a curved plane is defined by the space 16 between the two members.

The inner surfaces 17, 18 of the frame members 11, 12 are covered with a low friction coating to enable a club to move along the spacing 16 between the two members 11, 12 easily and even when contacting or bearing against the members to minimise the possibility of the club being caught or trapped in the spacing 16 between the members 11, 12 which could cause injury to the pupil swinging the golf club.

In use, a pupil is positioned in a normal set-up position, with the club in the position shown in the lower part of Fig. 2 in which the shaft of a golf club 19 projects between the members 11, 12 and addresses a golf ball on the ground surface 13 in the usual way. When the pupil swings the golf club, the movement of the club is constrained by the frame members 11, 12 and follows the path determined by the spacing 16 between the two members 11, 12.Thus in the case of the present invention, with the path defined by the spacing between the two frame members 11, 12 representing the path the club should follow for an an ideal golf swing for the particular pupil being taught, the pupil is trained to perform an ideal golf swing and because he is actually able to complete the entire swing, his body is able to feel the correct swing and will, it is intended, be trained to follow this path even when not swinging within the constraints of the apparatus.

It is envisaged that, in practice, a number of sports teaching apparatus 10 according to the present invention will be provided, each of different sizes, thereby to accommodate the swings of pupils of different heights and builds, each set of apparatus being shaped to conform to an ideal swing for a pupil of a predetermined range of heights and builds.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims

1. A sports teaching apparatus comprising a frame adapted to locate a part of a golf club in such a manner that said part of the club is constrained so as to be movable only along a path determined by a configuration of the frame.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said frame comprises at least one generally circular frame element in which said club part locates, said frame element being curved rearwardly when considered in side view.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a pair of closely spaced generally circular frame elements are provided between which the club may locate so as to be movable only in a direction determined by the path formed by a gap between the pair of elements.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein both of the frame elements are curved rearwardly when considered in side view.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the surfaces of the element(s) against which the part of the club bears or contacts are coated with a low friction coating thereby to reduce the friction between the frame and club.

6. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.