IES80843B2 - Golf practice device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a golf practice device with the aim of improving the users golf swing. The device consists of a post with an angled top section which is mounted on a base which may be either weighted or spiked. A length of flexible line is attached to the top section of the post and extends to a mat at ground level where a practice golf ball is connected. When the user strikes the ball, it rotates about the angled section of the post and returns back to ground level.

Description

Practicing striking a golf ball in suburban areas is difficult due to the lack of open spaces.

Indeed, even when there are adequate open spaces, it is usually difficult if not impossible to strike golf balls safely without the fear of causing damage to property or injury to the public.

Driving ranges have been provided to overcome these problems, however, these tend to be expensive to use and are more often than not overcrowded.

It is an object of the invention to provide a golfing aid which overcomes at least some of these problems.

The invention relates to a Golf Practice Device and in particular to a golfing aid which facilitates striking a golf ball in a domestic environment. In this specification the term golf ball primarily refers to practice or imitation golf balls, however, the term does not exclude conventional golf balls.

Statements of Invention According to the invention, there is provided a Golf Practice Device comprising a golf ball, anchoring means, and a connecting means connecting the golf ball and the anchoring means. A Golf Practice Device formed in accordance with the invention allows a user practice striking golf balls in a domestic environment without the fear of causing damage to property or injury to the public. -1S80843 Typically, the connecting means is a flexible line. Preferably the anchoring means includes an upstanding post, and in which one end of the connecting means is mounted to an upper portion of the post.

Ideally the end of the connecting means is mounted to the upper portion of the post to allow free rotation of the connecting means on the post.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper portion of the post is cranked.

Most preferably, the upper portion of the post is cranked at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the post.

Typically the anchoring means includes at least one of the weighted base or a ground engaging spike.

X Detailed Description of the Invention The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a side elevation view of a Golf Practice Device according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing Fig 1, there is illustrated a Golf Practice Device according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 and comprising a golf ball 2, ground -2anchoring means 3 and a flexible connecting means 4, connecting the ground anchoring means 3 and the golf ball 2.

In more detail, the ground anchoring means comprises an upstanding post 7 having an upper γ portion 8 cranked at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the post 7, and weighted base j 9. The length of wire 4 is ratably mounted on the post 7 by means of a pole engaging mechanism 10 which embraces a free end 11 of the post 7, the mechanism lObeing restrained on a free end 11 of the post 7 by means of a fixed stop 12 and a removable stop 13.

In use, the Golf Practice Device 1 is assembled in a garden or any other suitable type of open space and the golf ball 2 is placed on a mat 14 as is illustrated in the drawing. A user may then strike the ball with as much force as is desired without losing the ball or causing any damage to property or personal injury. When struck, die ball 2 will travel in an arc about the free end 11 of the post 7 and return to a position adjacent to mat 14* This is illustrated in the drawing in broken lines.

Although the post illustrated in this embodiment of the invention is formed in one piece, it is understood that the post may comprise a number of interengagable or loosely connected pieces which would allow the post be dissembled when not in use thus facilitating storage of the Golf Practice Device.

It is further understood that file ground anchoring means may comprise a ground engaging spike on its own or in addition to file weighted base. -3Further, the cranked portion of the post may be rotatable by the momentum of a struck ball about the longitudinal axis of the post. In this manner, a user, after having struck a ball, will be able to gauge the power of the shot. Alternatively, the wire may be connected to the anchoring means via a pulley and associated strain gauge. In this manner, after a ball has been struck, the strain gauge measures the strain on the pulley as it unwinds, the strain being proportional to the force with which the ball is struck.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims (4)

1. ϊ 1. A Golf Practice Device comprising of a gold ball, spaced-apart ground anchoring means, and a connecting means connecting j the golf ball and the ground anchoring means.

2. A Golf Practice Device as claimed in Claim 1 in which the ground anchoring means includes an upstanding ροεζ and in which the connecting means is mounted to an upper portion of the post.

3. A Golf Practice Device as claimed in Claim 2 in which the connecting means is mounted to an upper portion of the post by means of a post engaging mechanism to allow free rotation of the connection means on the post.

4. A Golf Practice Device as claimed in Claim 2 in which the upper portion of the post is cranked with respect to a longitudinal axis . of the post.