GB2354453A

GB2354453A - Arm control aid for golf

Info

Publication number: GB2354453A
Application number: GB9920475A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Isak Haliyo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-09-01
Filing date: 1999-09-01
Publication date: 2001-03-28
Also published as: GB9920475D0

Abstract

A stroke control aid 1 comprises means 3 for attaching the aid to one part of the player's arm (being either the forearm or upper arm), a support element 7 which is held in firm engagement with that part of the arm and a stop element 9 which extends into the path of movement of the other part of the arm to prevent the angle between each part of the arm from reducing past a certain level. Preferably the support and stop elements are made from metal covered with leather and are formed integrally. The support element may be contoured to fit into firm engagement with one part of the arm. Optionally the stop element may be 'T'-shaped 13 and be reinforced by a metal spine. The attachment means may be formed from leather and can have securing means in the form of a touch and close fastener 5.

Description

2354453 STROKE CONTROL AID

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a stroke control aid for use in or in connection with a ball game in which a ball is struck by a hand-held implement such as a golf club carried by a subject. Reference will be made hereinafter to the game of golf but it should be understood that the invention is not restricted to such and has applications in other sports such as tennis or cricket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a golfer strikes the ball there is two moments. The first moment is the back swing (Figures 1 and 2) wherein before striking the golf ball upon a tee or fairway, the golfer swings his arms holding the golf club up over his body and across his shoulder.

The second moment in striking the ball is the downswing (Figures 3 and 4). This involves the golfer swinging his arms back down across his body. This moment is dependent on the backswing.

To create both distance and control at the top of the backswing, the angle between the right forearm and the right bicep of the golfer should be 90' (Figure 5). At this position, the right arm can support the club with hands kept at a healthy distance from the shoulders and the golfer is now ready to drop the club down powerfully, his arms in synchronisation with a turning body.

The tendency is for the golfer to move his forearm towards his upper arm too much thus effecting a relative angle of, for example, 60' (Figure 6). This prevents the golfer from achieving a full swing. In this situation, the speed of the club is diminished as is the distance travelled by the ball. Also the clubface will close, 30 causing the golfer to 'hook' the ball.

Alternatively, the golfer may effect a relative angle of the fore and upper arm which is greater than the optimum of 90' (Figure 7). The golfer hits the ball with an open face and will more than likely 'slice' the ball. Instead of landing on the green or the fairway, the ball goes from left to right on its way to the 'rough'.

STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a stroke control aid for use in or in connection with a ball game in which a ball is struck by a hand-held implement carried by a subject, the stroke control aid comprising means for attaching the aid to one part of the arm, being the forearm or the upper arm of the subject, a support element which, in use, is held in firm engagement with said one part of the arm and a stop element extending from the support into the path of movement of said one part of the arm relative to the other part during bending of the arm, thereby to impede relative movement between said parts of the arm once the stop element engages the other part of the arm.

In a preferred embodiment, the stop element of the stroke control aid extends in a substantially perpendicular direction away from the support element. Preferably the support element and stop element are made from rigid, resilient material which cannot easily be deformed by the application of hand pressure. Preferably this material is metal and is covered with leather.

Preferably the support element is contoured to follow the curve of the arm and has a total surface area of 35 cm2 to 50 CM2. More preferably the support element has a 2 2 total surface area of 40 cm to 45 cm. In a preferred embodiment of the invention 2 the support element has a total surface area of 42.5 cm. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the stop element is 'T'-shaped wherein a 7 cm bar is arranged substantially perpendicular to one end of a 5 cm stem, the other end being connected to the support element.

2 In a preferred embodiment of the invention the attachment means attaches to the upper arm of said subject and is made from a band of flexible material such as leather. Preferably the band is ftom 30 cm to 50 cm in length. More preferably the band is from 35 cm to 45 cm in length. In a preferred embodiment of the invention 5 the band is 38 cm in length.

Preferably each end of the attachment means is provided with a touch and close fastening such as velcro. Co-operating strips of fastening are attached at each end of the flexible band at opposite sides thereof Preferably each band of touch and close fastening is from 6 cm to 13 cm in length. More preferably each band is from 8 cm to 11 cm in length. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the attachment means is provided with two strips of touch and close fastening each of 9.5 cm in length.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 8 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention.

As shown in Figure 8, stroke control aid I comprises attachment means 3 which is a 38 cm band of leather material. A 9.5 em strip of touch and close fastening such as velcro is attached to each end of the band on opposite sides thereof and forms securing means 5.

Attached to attachment means 3 is support element 7 which is a piece of resilient metal material with a leather coating. The support element comprises rectangular portion 6 which has a total surface area of 42.5 ern 2 and interconnecting portion 8.

Support element 7 is contoured to follow the curve around an arm and therefore fits in firm engagement with one part of the arm.

One strip of touch and close fastening 5 is attached on the inside of leather band 3 relative to the support element 7. The second strip is attached on the outside of band 3 3 relative to the support element. It should be understood that whilst a variety of securing means may be used to secure the stroke control aid to the arm of the golfer, velcro has the advantage of ease of manipulation and ensures that a single device can accommodate a multitude of arm sizes.

Attachment means 3 passes along the longest side, behind the leather covering of rectangular section 6, via two slits 11 in either side thereof and is slideably moveable therebetween. Interconnecting member 8 serves to connect support element 7 with stop element 9 which extends in a substantially perpendicular direction therefrom.

Stop element 9 is 'T' shaped. Stem 15 of stop element 9 is formed integrally with support element 7 and is also made of resilient metal material. In an alternative embodiment the stop element is formed separately to the support element.

A rivetally attached reinforcing metal spine extends along the length of the stem and through the centre of the body of the support element. The metal is covered with leather which gives a better feel against the golfers arm and is also more pleasing from an aesthetic point of view. The leather covering is reinforced to form a 7 cm bar 13 which sits on one end of stem 15 and is arranged substantially perpendicular thereto.

In use support element 7 is placed on one part of the arm, typically the bicep muscle of the upper arm, and attachment means 3) are bought around the circumference of the arm. The end of the attachment means with a velcro strip attached on the inside relative to the support element is drawn over the other end with an outward facing velcro strip and is firmly secured thereto.

Stop element 9 extends at a 90 degrees angle from support element 7 and into the path of movement of the forearm relative to the upper arm during bending of the arm.

When the forearm is moved into a position where it impinges on this rigid member, the forearm of the golfer is impeded from swinging any further. Sensing this rigid 4 abutting force the golfer knows that his arm is now correctly positioned at the optimum angle with which to strike the ball and with which to achieve the optimum follow through in downswing (See Figure 9).

Claims

1. A stroke control aid for use in or in connection with a ball game in which a ball is struck by a hand-held implement carried by a subject, the stroke control aid comprising means for attaching the aid to one part of the arm, being the forearm or the upper arm of the subject, a support element which, in use, is held in firm engagement with said one part of the arm and a stop element extending from the support into the path of movement of said one part of the arm relative to the other part during bending of the arm, thereby to impede relative movement between said parts of the arm once the stop element engages the other part of the arm.

2. A stroke control aid according to claim 1 wherein said stop element extends in a substantially perpendicular direction away from said support element.

3. A stroke control aid according to claim I or clam 2 wherein the support element is made of resilient material.

4. A stroke control aid according to any preceding claim wherein the stop element is made of resilient material.

5. A stroke control aid according to claims 3 and or claim 4 wherein said resilient material is metal.

6. A stroke control aid according to any of claims 3 to claim 5 wherein said material is covered with leather.

7. A stroke control aid according to any preceding claim wherein the stop means and supporting element are formed integrally.

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8. A stroke control aid according to any preceding claim wherein said support element is contoured to follow the curve of an arm and therefore fit in firm engagement with one part of the arm.

9. A stroke control aid according to any preceding claim wherein said support element has a total surface area of 3 5 CM2 to 50 CM2.

10. A stroke control aid according to claim 9 wherein said support element has a total surface area of 40 cm2 to 45 CM2.

11. A stroke control aid according to claim 10 wherein said support element has a 2 total surface area of 42.5 cm..

12. A stroke control aid according to any preceding claim wherein the stop element is T-shaped.

13. A stroke control aid according to claim 12 wherein the 'T'-shape is formed from a 7 cm bar arranged substantially perpendicular to a 5 cm stem.

14. A stroke control aid according to claim 13 wherein a rivetally attached reinforcing metal spine extends along the length of the stem and through the centre of the body of the support element.

15. A stroke control aid according to any preceding claim wherein said attachment means attaches to the upper arm of said subject.

16. A stroke control aid according to any preceding claim wherein said attachment means comprises a band of flexible material.

17. A stroke control aid according to claim 16 wherein said material is leather.

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18. A stroke control aid according to any of claims 15 to claims 17 wherein the band of flexible material is from 30cm to 50 cm in length.

19. A stroke control aid according to claim 18 wherein the band of flexible material is from 35 cm to 45 cm in length.

20. A stroke control aid according to claim 19 wherein the band of flexible material is 38 cm in length.

21. A stroke control aid according to any preceding claim wherein said attachment means is provided with securing means.

22. A stroke control aid according to claim 21 wherein said securing means is in the form of a touch and close fastening attached to each end portion of the attachment means on opposite sides thereof.

23. A stroke control aid according to claim 22 wherein said touch and close fastening is velcro.

24. A stroke control aid according to any of claims 21 to 23 wherein each touch and close fastening is from 6 cm to 13 cm in length.

25. A stroke control aid according to claim 24 wherein each touch and close fastening is from 8 cm to I I cm in length.

26. A stroke control aid according to claim 25 wherein each touch and close fastening is 9.5 cm in length.

27. A stroke control aid according to claim I and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying diagrams.

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