GB2408943A

GB2408943A - Golf tee with height markings

Info

Publication number: GB2408943A
Application number: GB0328694A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Marcus Sierant; Thomas More Flannery
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-11
Filing date: 2003-12-11
Publication date: 2005-06-15
Also published as: GB0328694D0

Abstract

A golf tee is provided with markings 1 on the stem 5 which assist a golfer in setting the tee to a desired height. The markings may comprise grooves 1, raised rings (2, fig. 2), coloured bands (3, fig 3), numbers (not shown), and/or letters (not shown). The tee may be formed from plastic, wood and/or fibrous material, and may be biodegradable. The presence of grooves 1 may allow the tee to break easily thus indicating a low swing, and/or preventing the tee from clogging lawnmowers.

Description

1 2408943 Improvement to Tees The invention relates to a ball-support or

tee which enables the support of the ball at a consistently regular, userdetermined height above the ground in order to try to eliminate one of the many variable factors that restrict a player's development.

Tees are well-known, but all suffer from the fact that there is no simple way to guarantee that the ball will be placed at a precise height above the ground every time the ball-support is pushed into the ground. The depth the ball- support is pushed in to the ground can vary for many reasons, but optical illusion due to grass length is regular.

If a ball is too high for the player's swing, then the ball will be hit by the top of the club and will result in a very high shot and possible damage to the ball.

If the ball is too low for the player's swing, then the ball will be topped, resulting in a low shot and possible damage to the ball.

The player can choose the height to place the ball that takes into account the type of club being used to maximise the power and accuracy of the swing.

The player's personal height and swing technique will also play a part in determining the player's choice of ball height.

An object of this invention is to provide a quick to use ball-support which can easily measure and place the ball accurately in order to assist the player in hitting the sweet spot of the club. The sweet spot is the optimum- designed point of impact of the club with the ball.

The invention gives a consistent accuracy of placement of plus or minus lmm from the surface of the ground and removes the confusion that occurs with grass of different heights.

The invention provides a ball-support which enables the player's finger or finger nails to be used as the depth-stop and the precise depth is determined by markings on the ball-support.

The ball-support's marking will most likely be grooves in the stem of the ball-support, at distances apart that enable the player to locate his chosen depth with his finger or finger nail. Other markings could be raised rings on the stem different coloured bands either painted or manufactured in the stem or a series of alpha or numeric symbols.

The advantage of grooves is that the ball-support will break easily and so be less likely to clog lawnmowers.

The ball-support would also break easily on the swing, thus denoting a low strike of the ball.

Preferably the ball-support is made of plastic, but can be made from wood, fibreboard or any mouldable material.

The material chosen may be biodegradable to minimise damage to the environment.

The ball-support may be solid or hollow.

The size of the ball-support may be of varying diameters and lengths, but a typical ball-support would be 5mm in diameter and from 4cm to 7cm in length.

Introduction to the drawings:

Figure 1 This shows a side view of the ball support where the point (7) and the cup (6) in which the ball is placed are clearly visible.

The ball-support stem (5) is the portion between the cup (6) and the point (7). On the stem (5) are a series of grooves (1) running around the stem (5) at distances apart so that the player can consistently select a certain groove with the finger nail and press the ball support in to the ground until the depth is achieved.

Figure 2 As in Figure 1, but on the stem (5) are a series of raised rings (2) which perform the same purpose as the grooves (1) Figure 3 As in Figure 1, but on the stem (5) are a series of coloured bands (3) and a series of different coloured bands (4) which perform the same purpose as the grooves (1)

Claims

1. A ball-support which has markings on the stem by which the precise height that the ball is placed above the ground can be consistently determined.

2. A ball-support as in claim 1 where the markings are a series of grooves.

3. A ball-support as in claim 1 where the markings are a series of raised rings.

4. A ball-support as in claim 1 where the markings are a series of coloured bands.

5. A ball-support as in claim 1 where the markings are numbers and/or letters to denote the depth markings.

6. A ball-support as in claim 1 where the markings are a combination of claims 2, 3, 4 or 5.

7. A ball-support as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from any plastic, wood or fibrous material or any combination of these materials.

8. A ball-support as claimed in claim 4 which is made from a biodegradable version of the material.

9. A ball-support substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.