GB2325169A - Limited flight ball - Google Patents

Abstract

A ball which may be struck by a golf club comprises feathers or a shuttlecock type flight to limit the distance the ball travels. The balls of the invention can be hollow plastic, solid plastic, compressed cork, and hollow rubber. The balls can be used in combination with a target.

Description

GOLF PRACTICE BALL This invention relates to a practice golf ball which could enable the development,improvement and correction to the golf swing in a restricted area There are various practice golf balls available to develop and improve a players golf swing.

They ALL give either an inaccurate assessment of the direction of certain shots due to varied weather conditions or have limited practice areas and many have been lost in field practice or damaged people,property and plants in a house and garden area.

The main practice balls are: An aero type plastic ball which is light in weight and is the cheapest but needs a fairly long distance as well as none windy conditions.

a solid plastic ball which claims to be 45% of the weight of a normal golf ball this needs up to 120 metres and is also wind affected.

A driving range ball made of a hard plastic compound which approximates to the weight of a normal ball. The driving range ball needs up to 300 metres on a range and is dangerous in any open area.

These all have limitations as to where they can be used or the weather conditions and environment in which they are suitable.

According to the present invention the practice balls of varying materials will ALL have a special flight inserted with the means of securing the flight both inside and outside the ball.

The flights will be of moulded plastic simulating feathers or can be of real feathers linked together,or any other suitable material.

it will limit the distance the ball travels give a more accurate assessment of the direction travelled.

enable every ball to be easily located.

can be used indoor or outdoor depending on the balls construction.

is equally effective with all the clubs (except the putter).

The practice balls,which will not necessarily be spherical, will be of any one of the following materials : Solid plastic 45% normal ball weight Solid plastic compound driving range material.

Hollow plastic ball with holes in.

Hollow plastic ball covered with a thin stretched white canvas coating.

compressed cork covered with a thin stretched white canvas coating.

Compacted polystyrene covered with a thin stretched white canvas coating..

Hollowed white rubber, insulating material or other suitable material.

The flight would face away from the clubhead when struck The size and shape of the flight would vary to compliment the specific material and weight of the ball.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure la. shows in perspective the light ball with the flight in position.

ib. shows in perspective the 45% ball with the flight.

ic. shows in perspective the heavier driving range ball with the flight in position.

Figure 2 illustrates the separation of the ball and the flight.

Figure 3 illustrates the view from the top of the flight Figure 4 shows the ball in position before the clubhead strikes Figure 5 a. shows a cross section of the lighter ball and flight.

Referring to the the drawing the practice ball comprises a flight 6 and a ball 8 which has the flight 6 firmly inserted and secured to the ball 8.

The ball in the example Sa.is of a cork construction and is covered with a thin white or illuminous canvas 10 stretched around the ball.

Fig 5b. shows a similar cross section for the 45% ball and therefore larger flight.

Both drawings illustrate the construction of the practice ball.

The balls made from cork,polystyrene or other light material,would be preferable for shorter gardens,yards and indoor practice.

The hollow 'aero' type plastic balls have limited use indoors and are preferable outside.

The harder solid plastic is for gardens and fields or similar environment from 10 to 30 or 40 metres.

A small practice mat 14 can be used (provided with a complete kit that could become available). This mat, which will have a rubber tee inset (15), would safeguard either the grass or indoor floor covering from damage that may be caused when striking the practice ball.

It is recommended that a practice mat 14 is used for both indoor and outdoor use. This can be of Astroturf or similar hard wearing material or even a piece of carpet on which to rest the ball . This mat would also have a rubber tee support 15 for practising the tee shots.

The practice balls are constructed in such a way as to be packed into a tubular container 16 containing 4 or 6 of the practice balls.

DEVELOPMENTS.

A game can be developed for the garden using these practice balls and aiming for a target which will have both a vertical and horizontal target at which to strike the ball.

A diagram (Fig 7) illustrates this development.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS.

1. A practice golf ball of standard size(41 -43mm) on which a flight has been secured within the ball which will point in the direction to which the ball will travel when struck by a standard golf club,thereby considerably reducing the forward momentum of the ball.

2. A practice golf ball as claimed in Claim 1 can be of corkohard plastic,light solid plastic, rubber,polystyrene, hollow plastic with holes, light insulating material or other light material and be spherical,cylindrical,square or similar suitable shape.

3. A practice golf ball flight as claimed in Claim 1 would be of either a plastic material or feathered construction but could also be of other light material.

The size of the flight would be larger, both in length and width, for the heavier material mentioned in Claim 2 to help reduce the stronger forward momentum. It can be of a conical shape or other suitable shape which would restrict forward momentum.

4. A practice golf ball as claimed in Claim 1,2 and Claim 3 would have its flight held inside the ball securely by a small lip,ridge or other 'hold fast' system which would lock it in place with fixative making it strong enough to withstand considerable force and general wear and tear.

5. A practice golf ball as claimed in Claim 4 when made from plastic,cork or other light materials for the ball, will allow a video camera to be placed directly ahead 20-25 metres away,preferably on a tripod. This will allow the swing to be filmed, without damaging equipment, and later analysed to see faults or good points

6. A practice golf ball as claimed in any preceding claim may use a mat,including a raised tee,and a target area which could be included in a pack that would be developed. This would consist of a number of practice balls and target area plus a rule book and various uses for the ball. There could be an inside pack(using the lighter balls), and an alternative outside pack (using a mixture of light and heavier balls).

7. A practice golf ball as claimed in Claims 1 to 4 can also be used at a Junior level game being developed to include a driving practice mat,flighted balls, a target area mat and a plastic golf club.

8. A practice golf ball substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 7 of the accompanying drawing.