GB2419537A

GB2419537A - A golf training aid

Info

Publication number: GB2419537A
Application number: GB0424221A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Covell Collier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-02
Filing date: 2004-11-02
Publication date: 2006-05-03
Also published as: GB0424221D0

Abstract

A golf training aid comprises a mirror parallel to the direction of the stroke and inclined at an angle so that the player may watch his stroke and adjust it accordingly. Indicia may be printed on the mirror to provide reference points. A second mirror may be placed on the ground at the point where the ball would be placed so that the player may check the position of the head prior to replacing the ball and playing the shot.

Description

GOLF PUTTING PRACTICE APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE

This patent refers to apparatus to be used by golfers endeavouring to improve their putting ability by practicing on a carpet, mat or putting green.

Learning how to set up to putt with head, eyes, shoulders, arms, hands and feet in the correct positions prior to stroking the ball is an important part of putting. Many devices designed to help golfers achieve this have failed because their scope was limited or parts of the apparatus created distractions that adversely affected the golfers concentration. For example US3934874 shows an effective method of positioning the eyes over the ball by locating a mirror adjacent to the ball, but the reflections and hard surface of the mirror on which the putter rests prior to putting the ball create a distraction that adversely affects the golfers concentration. US 5294124 has a planar mirror with a slot in which the ball is located and the reflection of the golfers upper body is seen through this mirror, but putting on a glass surface does not simulate conditions encountered when putting on grass and images reflected in this mirror adversely affect the golfers concentration when stroking the ball.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus comprising a mirror lying on a plane inclined to the horizontal with its longitudinal axis parallel with the intended direction of travel of the golf ball and a planar calibration mirror located in the position normally occupied by the ball that is replaced by the ball after a relationship between the two mirrors and the golfers eye has been established, thus enabling the golfer to ascertain the position of his or her head, eyes, shoulders, arms and feet relative to the ball and the direction the ball is intended to travel, prior to, and after stroking the ball on a grass or simulated grass surface.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 shows an end view of the apparatus.

Fig I is a plan view of apparatus 1 showing calibration mirror 2 adjacent to front face 3 of putter 4 with line 5 on the centre of the mirror coinciding with line 6 located on the sweet spot of the putter. A ghost outline of ball 7 is shown occupying its normal position when the golfer is practicing putting, line 8 indicates the aim line along which the ball is intended to travel. Edge 9 of the putter is adjacent to face 10 of putter guide 11, mirror 12 is attached to the putter guide by brackets 13 and 16 secured by screws 14, 15, 17 and 18, lines 24, 25 and 26 marked on the face of the mirror are parallel with face 10 of the putter guide. 19 and 20 indicate an approximate location of the golfers feet relative to the parallel outside edge of the mirror; the physique of the golfer will determine their actual position.

Fig 2 is an end view of the apparatus with putter and ball omitted for clarity, showing calibration mirror 2 sitting on horizontal plane 27 that can be a carpet, felt mat or putting green, bracket 16 is shown attaching putter guide 11 to mirror 12 by screws 17 and 18, mirror 12 is inclined to the horizontal by support platform 21 that is attached to the mirror by an adhesive or other suitable means.

Eye symbol 22 shows the location of the golfers eye when its image can be seen reflected in calibration mirror 2 indicating the eye is directly over the mirror, 23 indicates the position on inclined mirror 12 where the golfer would see the image of the same eye reflected, by noting this position relative to the parallel lines 24, 25 or 26 shown in Fig 1, the golfer has a reference point on this mirror to establish the position of the eye when it is directly over mirror 2 and consequently the position of the eye in mirror 12 when it is directly over a ball that is substituted for mirror 2, and due to the size of mirror 12 the golfer can see the reflected image of both eyes and thus determine if they are parallel with the reference lines on the mirror and consequently if both eyes are directly over the aim line. The golfer can also see the reflected image of the upper part of the body and determine for example if the shoulders are parallel to the aim line and the arms and hands are correctly positioned. Similar observations can be made after the stroke has been completed to see for example if there has been any movement of the head or if the shoulders have moved out of line.

A typical example of the use of the apparatus will now be described. The apparatus is calibrated to cater for the height of each golfer and the width of the putter being used, both of which affect the position of the golfers eye and consequent reflected images. To do this the golfer places the putter adjacent to the putter guide as shown in Fig I and then places the calibration mirror adjacent to the front face of the putter with the lines on the mirror and putter coinciding, the golfer then positions his/her head over the calibration mirror until the image of an eye can be seen reflected in the mirror, the golfer then looks in the inclined mirror and notes the position of the reflection of this eye relative to one of the reference lines on the mirror, this completes the calibration procedure and the mirror is now replaced by a ball.

The golfer now sets up with the reflection of his/her eye in the position previously noted in the inclined mirror and checks that both of the eyes and the shoulders and forearms are parallel with the lines on the mirror, and that the feet are parallel with the outside edge of the mirror. The golfer will then be set up correctly and can proceed to putt the ball by stroking the heel of the putter close to the face of the putter guide, From the above description it can be seen that having established a relationship between the two mirrors and the calibration mirror is removed the surface underneath the putter is devoid of anything that can distract the golfers attention from the ball.

Claims

1) A golf putting practice apparatus comprising a flat rectangular mirror located in a position that does not encroach on the path of the head of the putter and supported on a plane inclined to the horizontal with its longitudinal axis parallel with the intended direction of travel of the golf ball, providing the golfer with a reflected image of the eyes, head and upper body when viewed from a position directly above the golf ball, whereby the golfer is able to detect any alignment errors that occur prior to or during the execution of the putting stroke, that is performed over an area devoid of any reflective objects.

2) A golf putting practice apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein several equally spaced reference lines parallel with the longitudinal axis of the mirror are provided on the mirror.

3) A golf putting practice apparatus as claimed in claim I and claim 2 wherein a flat calibration mirror is provided lying on a horizontal plane and located in the position normally occupied by the golf ball, whereby providing the golfer with a reflected image of the eyes when viewed from a position directly above this mirror, and also providing the golfer with a reflected image in the inclined mirror of the eyes relative to the reference lines on this mirror, enabling the golfer to locate the eyes directly above a ball that is substituted for the calibration mirror by referring to the previously noted position of the eyes in the inclined mirror.

4) A golf putting practice apparatus as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 and claim 3 wherein an L shaped member may be attached to the lower edge of the inclined mirror with the vertical face parallel with the intended direction of travel of the ball, providing a guide for the heel of the putter during the putting stroke.

5) A golf putting practice apparatus substantially as described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.