US20040259657A1

US20040259657A1 - Golf game and golf teaching method

Info

Publication number: US20040259657A1
Application number: US10/844,977
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Heller; Kristen Heller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-13
Filing date: 2004-05-13
Publication date: 2004-12-23

Abstract

A golf teaching technique is enclosed, in addition to golf equipment for teaching and recreation. The equipment includes golf clubs, balls, and targets, and also includes a method for teaching students how to properly use these items.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/470,144, filed 13 May 2003, and entitled “Golf Game and Golf Teaching Method.”[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to instructional tools and methods for teaching people how to properly play golf. Generally, most people learn how to play golf by going to a local golf course and playing a few rounds of golf. People may also take lessons from a golf professional to improve their skills. However, such measures may be cost inhibitive, especially for children. Furthermore, such learning methods are limited to places and times where the weather permits outdoor activities.

Also, golf is a difficult came to learn. Many people learning to play golf, especially children, may get easily frustrated and give up on learning. It may be difficult for students to properly grab a golf club or find the right size golf club to use. Students may likewise find it difficult to accurately hit a golf ball, as the golf ball may be too small for them to properly hit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is for a golf game and method that will teach people golf fundamentals in a manner that is fun, cost-efficient and may be used anywhere, indoors or outdoors. The invention consists of targets, golf clubs, balls, and instructions for teaching the game of golf.

The surfaces of the balls and targets are covered with a material that will allow each other to stick to the other, such as hook and loop material. The targets are generally flat targets, but they may also incorporate some three-dimensional aspects. The balls used are generally larger than normal sized golf balls to facilitate students in hitting the golf balls.

The clubs are designed so that they may be used indoor, such as in a school gymnasium, without damaging the floor. The clubs also have color-coded features, which help teach the students how to properly hold the golf clubs and how to properly select the right size of club.

The overall design of the instructional game allows students to enjoy practicing golf without the need to spend much money to do so. Along with the game, a method for providing lessons and instructions is disclosed. These and other objectives will be explained in greater detail in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf target used in the present invention. [0008]
FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view of the target shown in FIG. 1. [0009]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second target used in the present invention. [0010]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a third target used in the present invention. [0011]
FIG. 5 shows a plurality of golf clubs used in the present invention. [0012]
FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the golf clubs shown in FIG. 6. [0013]
FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the head of a golf club used in the present invention. [0014]
FIG. 8 and [0015] 9 are side views of a golf club grip used in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention, which may be embodied in other specific structure. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. [0016]
FIG. 1 shows a [0017] target 10 to be used in the present invention. The target 10 is covered with a hook and loop material for a ball (not shown) to stick to when hit towards the target 10. The target 10 sits at the center of a mat 12, which is shaped to represent a golf green. The mat 12 is open at the center, which allows the target 10 to be placed through the mat 12 and sit in the middle of the mat 12. In the center of the target 10 is an upright flag 14 to give more of a feel that the student is aiming at a real golf hole.
FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the [0018] target 10 shown in FIG. 1. The target 10 has an upright section 10 a and flat base section 10 b. Both sections 10 a and 10 b are covered with a hook and loop material that will allow a ball (not shown) to stick to the target. The upright section 10 a is approximately as tall or shorter than the diameter of the base section 10 b. While the target 10 is shown to be round to simulate a golf hole, the target could be of any shape or size.
FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a [0019] target 110. The target 110 is similar to the first embodiment, 10 except the flat base section 110 b is larger. There is no separate mat 12 in this embodiment. As shown, the target 110 has a bulls-eye scoring system, with the ball 18 scoring more points the closer it lands to the center of the target 110. In FIG. 3, the ball 18 would have scored 100 points.
FIG. 4 show a third embodiment of a [0020] target 210. The target 210 is used to help students practice their chipping and/or putting skills. The target 210 is angled upwards by end sections 220 a and 220 b. The end sections 220 a and 220 b are designed in a triangular style so that a second target 210 could be placed on the back of the end sections 220 and 220 b, thereby allowing the target to be used by two students or groups of students simultaneously.
FIGS. 5-9 display the clubs used in the present invention. There are two basic club styles: a [0021] wedge 50 and a putter 60. Both clubs 50 and 60 are preferably made from a polycarbonate material that is strong enough to strike a ball and all flexible enough not to damage a surface like a gym floor. Preferably the clubs are foam filled to provide durability. Both the wedge 50 and the putter 60 are designed so that learning golf for the students will be as easy as possible. Arrows 70 are shown on each club focusing and directing a student at the proper place where to hit a ball.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the [0022] wedge 50 and the putter 60 have varying shaft lengths 62. To facilitate the learning process, the shafts are preferably color-coded (not shown) so that students will quickly know which club 50 or 60 is the proper one for them to use as they can easily associate the club with a color. In the drawings, three different length shafts 62 are shown. Three colors, preferably blue, red, and green (not shown) are used for the three different shaft 62 lengths, representing the longest to the shortest shaft 62, respectively. It is possible to use other colors for the shafts 62 or more or fewer clubs 50 and 60 if desired.
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the [0023] head 64 of the putter 60. The head 64 is of a solid symmetrical design. The arrow 70 is shown pointing directly to the center of the head 64 to assist the student in properly hitting and addressing the ball.
Referring now to FIG. 8, a preferred view of a [0024] grip 54 carried by shaft 62 for use with the wedge 50 is shown. At the end of the shaft is the grip 54, which has two distinct depressions 56 and 58. Depressions 56 and 58 are preferably color-coded (not shown), to teach a student where to place his or her thumbs on the golf club to assist in forming an appropriate technique for the student to place hands about the grip 54. In a preferred embodiment, depressions 56 and 58 are overlapping in the vertical direction, and each displaced about horizontal direction about a diameter of the grip 54. For instance, section 58 (preferably red), would show a right-handed student where to place their right thumb and section 56, (preferably blue), would teach a student where to place their left thumb. The color-coding scheme helps students easily learn proper technique for holding a golf club. For instance, the student can be taught “right hand red” and “left hand blue.”
FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 except that the [0025] shaft 62 is of the putter 60. A putter grip 64 also has a colored depressions 66 and 68 (colors not shown, preferably blue and red, respectively), to show a student where to properly place the left thumb and right thumb, respectively, when putting. The colored depressions 66 and 68 are preferably aligned down the shaft 62. While the clubs have been designed for a student who is right handed, the clubs could be readily adapted for a left handed student using the same or similar color-coding technique. Likewise, other colors and patterns could be used and still achieve the desired affect of properly teaching students how to swing a golf club.
Along with the golf clubs, targets, and balls, the invention also incorporates a teaching method. In a preferred embodiment of said method, an owner of a kit comprising golf clubs, balls, and targets, provides a customer, such as a school, with an instructional manual comprising lesson plans and the golf equipment. [0026]
A sample of the method is included in Appendix A. The teaching method is made simple and fun for school age children, but could also be incorporated for use with older students. The method starts out by teaching students proper use of the equipment and golf safety. The method continues with instructions on how to properly stand when using a club, and also how to properly grip a club, using key phrases, such as “left thumb blue . . . right. thumb red . . . hands snuggled together,” to get the students to focus on proper form. [0027]
The method contains different lesson plans, with each lesson plan beginning with a focus on safety. Thus, the method not only teaches students how to properly swing a golf club, but also how to play golf safely. The method also incorporates other skills, such as math skills, by having players add their scores as they proceed. Likewise, skills such as teamwork and playing together are incorporated into some of the lesson plans. Overall, the invention is a fun, effective, cost-efficient way of teaching students golf and other skills. [0028]
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. [0029]

Claims

I claim:

1. A kit for golfers to use as an instructional or recreational aid, said kit comprising:

a first putter type golf club comprising a putter type head coupled with a color coded shaft of a first length and a first color;

a second putter type golf club comprising a putter type head coupled with a color coded shaft of a second length and a second color;

a first iron type golf club comprising an iron type head coupled with a color coded shaft of a first length and said first color;

a second iron type golf club comprising an iron type head coupled with a color coded shaft of a second length and said second color;

said shafts bearing said first color being shorter than said shafts bearing said second color;

a ball for being struck by any of said golf clubs;

a target at which to aim said ball at by striking said ball with any of said clubs.

2. A kit for golfers to use as an instructional or recreational aid, said kit comprising:

a golf club;

a ball for being struck by said club, said ball comprising at least one of hook or loop material;

a target comprising a mat, said mat bearing point values, said mat comprising at least one of hook or loop material.

3. A kit according to claim 2, wherein said target comprises a flag coupled with an approximately circular mat.

4. A kit according to claim 2, wherein said target comprises a pair of approximately triangular endposts, and a mat coupled between said endposts.

5. A kit according to claim 2, wherein said target comprises a flag coupled with an approximately circular mat.

6. A golf club comprising:

a head coupled to a shaft;

a grip coupled to said shaft;

a first color coded region of said grip for placing a portion of a first hand of a user;

a second color coded region of said grip for placing a portion of a second hand of a user.

7. A golf club according to claim 6, wherein said club is a putter-type club, and wherein said first and said second color coded regions of said grip are aligned coaxially with said shaft.

8. A golf club according to claim 6, wherein said club is an iron-type club, and wherein said first and said second color coded regions of said grip are aligned coaxially with said shaft and displaced from each other about a diameter of said grip.

9. A golf club comprising:

a head coupled with a shaft;

said head formed of a polycarbonate material on an exterior region of said head, said polycarbonate material coupled with a foam material on an interior region of said head.

10. A golf club according to claim 9, said club further comprising an alignment arrow on a ball striking surface of said club.

11. A method of providing golf instruction, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of balls, golf clubs, and targets, to a customer;

providing a lesson plan to said customer outlining use of said balls, clubs and targets;

said lesson plan comprising safety tips and instructional tips.