US20190126119A1

US20190126119A1 - Down-blow swing practice apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20190126119A1
Application number: US15/573,822
Authority: US
Inventors: Yang Soo Kim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-05-22
Filing date: 2016-03-08
Publication date: 2019-05-02
Also published as: CN107635626B; KR101572205B1; WO2016190528A1; JP6474497B2; JP2018524032A; GB201718331D0; GB2553999B; GB2553999A; CN107635626A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a down-blow swing practice apparatus comprising: an object to be hit-part of which a portion protrudes from a curved part formed on a part spaced at a predetermined distance in the proceeding direction of a golf ball from the position, at which the golf ball is put, on the upper surface of an artificial turf mat and protrudes upwards from the artificial turf mat in correspondence to the strength of the force applied through a leading edge of a golf club head only when a person who is practicing takes a desirable down-blow swing; and a returning part formed in the direction opposite to the object to be hit-part so as to return the state of the object to be hit-part into the state before swing practice, wherein the object to be hit-part protrudes only when the person who is practicing takes an accurate down-blow swing, and thus the person who is practicing can practice the accurate down-blow swing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a down-blow golf swing practice apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

General golf swing motions, as shown in FIG. 1a , may be largely classified into a) a duff shot, b) a down-blow shot, and c) a topping shot. Most beginning golfers often perform a) a duff shot or c) a topping shot, whereas advanced golfers perform b) a down-blow shot in order to hit a golf ball farther and more accurately.
Various kinds of golf swing practice apparatus for aiding golf swing practice have already been developed.
A general golf mat for swing practice includes artificial turf laid on a plate on which the golfer assumes a swing stance, and may be configured such that only artificial turf is provided on the plate or such that an elastic rubber pad is provided under the artificial turf in order to attenuate shocks when struck by a golf club head. However, such a golf mat for swing practice merely aids the golfer to practice hitting a golf ball.
One of the methods for improving a golf swing is to make good use of the characteristics of golf clubs. In particular, in the case of iron clubs, in order to increase the accuracy of a golf swing so as to hit a golf ball far in a desired direction, a golfer needs to perform a down-blow swing.
A down-blow swing is a golf swing that strikes a golf ball before the center of a club head, swung down from the top of swing, reaches the lowest point, and in which the club head, having struck the golf ball, comes into contact with a portion of the surface of the mat that is located just ahead of the position at which the golf ball has been placed (refer to b) in FIG. 1a ).
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 1b , swing motions may also be classified into a down-blow swing, a descending-blow swing, and a sweeping-blow swing. The descending-blow swing and the down-blow swing create a divot in the turf. The position at which the divot is created is a key point; that is, a divot created at a position behind the ball indicates a duff swing and a divot created at a position ahead of the ball indicates a good swing. Most beginning golfers perform a swing such that the lower-end portion of a golf club directly hits the ground directly below the golf ball, and accordingly cannot recognize whether or not they have performed a down-blow swing correctly.
Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, “MAT FOR PRACTICING DOWN-BLOW SWING” is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0222235. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is configured such that switching devices 5 a and 5 b are provided at a position corresponding to a down-blow swing between a body 2, equipped with a power supply device, and an artificial turf mat 3, on which a spot where a golf ball 6 is to be placed is marked, and such that a sound-generating device 4, configured to be operated by the switching devices 5 a and 5 b, is provided to produce a sound when a down-blow swing is correctly performed.
In the state in which the golf ball 6 is placed on a predetermined position on the artificial turf mat 3, the sound-generating device 4 operates when a golf club 7 pressurizes the switching devices 5 a and 5 b, which are located near the position of the golf ball 6, particularly, are located in the swing path of the golf club. Accordingly, when a sound is produced by the sound-generating device 4, the golf trainee can recognize that he/she has performed an accurate down-blow swing.
This practice apparatus has a problem in that, when the golf club strongly pressurizes the switching devices, the switching devices may be separated from their installation positions and may malfunction, that is, fail in the performance of the switching operation. In addition, there is inconvenience in that the sound-generating device 4 needs a power source.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

It is an object of the present invention to provide a down-blow swing practice apparatus, which enables a golfer, who practices golf swings, to recognize in real time whether or not he/she has performed an accurate swing.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a down-blow swing practice apparatus, which enables a golf trainee to recognize a swing result related to the direction in which a golf ball is struck by the leading edge of a golf club head.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a down-blow swing practice apparatus, which enables a golf trainee to practice golf swings so that he/she can accomplish swings for divot generation in turf on an actual golf course.

Technical Solution

The objects of the present invention can be accomplished by the provision of a down-blow swing practice apparatus including a body provided under an artificial turf mat to support the artificial turf mat, the artificial turf mat being configured to support a golf ball placed thereon, a strike unit configured such that a portion thereof protrudes from a concave portion formed at a predetermined distance from a spot on the top surface of the artificial turf mat, on which the golf ball is to be placed, in the moving direction of the golf ball and configured to protrude further upwards from the artificial turf mat in proportion with the magnitude of force applied by the leading edge of a head of a golf club when a golf trainee performs an accurate down-blow swing, and a returning unit provided opposite the strike unit to restore the state of the strike unit to an initial state before the swing practice, wherein the strike unit includes a protruding part configured to be struck by the leading edge of the head of the golf club when the golf trainee performs an accurate down-blow swing and a strike line connected to the two ends of the protruding part and disposed inside the body supporting the artificial turf mat.
Herein, the protruding part of the strike unit may be formed in an arc shape.
In addition, the strike unit may include a tube or band configuration made of a rubber or plastic material to envelop the strike line.

Advantageous Effects

A down-blow swing practice apparatus according to the present invention may have the following effects.
First, a golf trainee is capable of practicing an accurate down-blow swing.
Second, a golf trainee is capable of recognizing in real time the direction in which a golf ball is moved by the golf swing.
Third, a golf trainee is capable of correcting his/her swings in real time.
Fourth, the apparatus provides the effect of practicing a swing on a slope.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1a and 1b are exemplary views showing various kinds of golf swings.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing the configuration of a conventional golf swing practice apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the conventional golf swing practice apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view of a down-blow swing practice apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the down-blow swing practice apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the down-blow swing practice apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7a and 7b are exemplary views showing a returning unit in more detail in the down-blow swing practice apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8a and 8b are exemplary views showing the protruding state of a strike unit when a down-blow swing is accurately performed in the down-blow swing practice apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8c and 8d are exemplary views showing the protruding state of a protruding part when a down-blow swing is performed in the wrong direction.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, a down-blow swing practice apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, a description of the configuration of the present invention will be made. FIG. 4 is an exemplary view of the practice apparatus of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the practice apparatus includes a body 20, which has an artificial turf mat 10 where a golf ball is placed; a strike unit 40, a portion of which protrudes from a concave portion 10 a formed at a predetermined distance from a spot “A” on the top surface of the artificial turf mat 10, on which the golf ball is to be placed, in the moving direction of the golf ball 100 and which protrudes further upwards from the artificial turf mat 10 in proportion with the magnitude of force applied by a leading edge 200 b of a head 200 a of a golf club 200 when a golf trainee performs an accurate down-blow swing; and a returning unit 50, which is provided opposite the strike unit 40 to restore the state of the strike unit 40 to the initial state before the swing practice.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the constitutional relationship between the body 20 and the strike unit 40 shown in FIG. 4.
The body 20 includes a rubber plate 21, which is disposed under the artificial turf mat 10, a rubber bar 22, which is provided at the bottom surface of the rubber plate 21 to support the artificial turf mat 10 and the rubber plate 21, a support part 23, which is provided under the portion of the artificial turf mat 10 that is located slightly ahead of the spot where the golf ball is to be placed and which is elastic enough to allow the artificial turf mat 10 to be pushed down in accordance with the degree of impact applied thereto by the leading edge 200 b of the head 200 a of the golf club 200, and a connection part 24, which is connected with the returning unit 50. The support part 23 may be formed in the shape of a circle or a quadrangle using an elastic material, such as rubber, silicon, polyurethane or a spring, and the shape of the support part 23 may be varied as desired. A guide rail (not shown) of the returning unit 50 is inserted into the connection part 24.
The concave portion 10 a is formed at a portion of the top surface of the artificial turf mat 10 that is spaced a predetermined distance apart from the spot where the golf ball 100 is to be placed in the direction in which the golf ball 100 is to be moved. The strike unit 40 is provided at the concave portion 10 a of the artificial turf mat 10. The strike unit 40 includes a protruding part 41, which protrudes from the top surface of the artificial turf mat 10, and a strike line 42 a, which is connected at two ends thereof to two ends of the protruding part 41 and which is disposed inside the body 20 supporting the artificial turf mat 10.
The protruding part 41, as illustrated in FIGS. 8b to 8d , may be embodied as, for example, a tube made of a rubber or plastic material, into which the strike line 42 a is fitted. The protruding part 41 is configured so as to be moved left or right by the force applied thereto by the leading edge of the head 200 a of the golf club 200, and the reason why the protruding part 41 is formed in the shape of a covering that envelops the strike line 42 a is to enable a user to check the swing direction of the golf club because the protruding part 41 is directly struck by the head of the golf club and to facilitate replacement when damaged during use. The protruding part 41 may alternatively be formed in the shape of a band that envelops the line 42 a using Velcro tape.
In the strike unit 40, a portion of the protruding part 41 that protrudes from the top surface of the artificial turf mat 10 may preferably be formed in an arc shape.
In order to enable a golf trainee to practice an accurate down-blow swing, the protruding part 41 of the strike unit 40, which partially protrudes from the top surface of the artificial turf mat 10, needs to be located in the path of a down-blow swing of the golf trainee. That is, when the golf trainee performs a down-blow swing, the artificial turf mat 10 is temporarily pushed down due to the elastic support part 23, which is disposed under the portion of the artificial turf mat 10 that is hit by the golf club, and the protruding part 41 protrudes at a predetermined angle from the slanted surface of the concave portion 10 a of the artificial turf mat 10.
Unlike this embodiment, in which the protruding part 41 of the strike unit 40 that partially protrudes from the top surface of the artificial turf mat 10 is formed in an arc shape, the protruding part may be formed in the shape of a touch bar that is connected to the end of one line, rather than in the shape of an arc that has two ends. In addition, the line may be configured such that one end thereof is connected to the protruding part 41 of the strike unit 40 and the opposite end thereof is connected to the returning unit.
The configuration of the strike unit 40 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6, which illustrates the bottom view of the practice apparatus of the present invention. The strike line 42 a connected to the protruding part 41 of the strike unit 40 extends to the returning unit 50 via the bottom surface of the body 20 and the connection part 24. The strike line 42 a of the strike unit 40 and the returning line 42 b of the returning unit 50 may be formed of various materials, for example, may be embodied as a steel wire or a plastic or silicon line.
FIGS. 7a and 7b are exemplary views showing the returning unit in more detail. The returning unit 50 includes two guide rails 51 a and 51 b, which extend from the body 20 and are connected at the ends thereof to each other, and a rotary roller 52. The strike line 42 a extends from the bottom surface of the strike unit 40 along the two guide rails 51 a and 51 b and passes through the rotary roller 52 so as to be connected to the rotary roller 52, and the returning line 42 b is configured to be moved in the moving direction of the golf ball by the protruding movement of the protruding part 41 and to be moved in the reverse direction by external force applied thereto, and passes through the rotary roller 52 while forming a separate closed loop at a position opposite the strike line 42 a of the strike unit 40 with respect to the rotary roller 52.
Although this embodiment is configured such that the returning unit 50 is constituted by the two guide rails 51 a and 51 b and the rotary roller 52, the returning unit 50 may have a configuration different from this embodiment so long as the strike unit 40 is constituted by a single protruding part, which is to be struck by the leading edge 200 b of the golf club, and the returning unit is able to return the protruding part to its original position. Alternatively, depending on the embodiment, the strike unit 40 may be configured to include an elastic member for returning to its original position by itself without the returning unit.
If the golf trainee performs a correct down-blow swing on the practice apparatus of the present invention, the support part 23, which is provided under the artificial turf mat 10, is temporarily pushed down by the golf club in the manner in which a divot is created in turf on an actual golf course. As the golf club moves further forward, the golf club makes the protruding part 41 of the strike unit 40 protrude further upwards from the slanted surface of the concave portion 10 a. At this time, the strike line 42 a, which is connected to the protruding part 41, is also moved forward and protrudes. Accordingly, the rotary roller 52, through which the strike line 42 a passes, is moved forward along the guide rails 51 a and 51 b. In order to perform the next swing, the golf trainee moves the rotary roller 52 backward using his/her golf club or foot. Accordingly, the protruding part 41 of the strike unit 40, which is connected to the strike line 42 a, is introduced back into the region under the surface of the concave portion 10 a of the artificial turf mat 10 and returns to its original position.
FIGS. 8a to 8d are exemplary views showing the protruding state of the strike unit in accordance with a result of performing a down-blow swing using the practice apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 8a is an exemplary view showing the situation in which the golf ball 100 is accurately struck by the leading edge 200 b of the head 200 a of the golf club and flies forward.
FIG. 8b shows the protruding state of the strike unit when a down-blow swing is accurately performed as shown in FIG. 8a . As shown in FIG. 8a , in the state in which only the protruding part 41 protrudes from the concave portion 10 a of the artificial turf mat 10, the support part 23, provided under the artificial turf mat 10, is temporarily pushed down by the force applied thereto by the leading edge 200 b of the head 200 a of the golf club, and the golf club, which moves further forward, make the protruding part 41 protrude a predetermined distance further from the concave portion 10 a of the artificial turf mat 10. At this time, the strike line 42 a, which is located inside the body 20, also protrudes the same distance from the concave portion 10 a of the artificial turf mat 10.
Meanwhile, FIGS. 8c and 8d show the states in which one side of the protruding part 41 protrudes further than the other side thereof. FIG. 8c shows the state in which the heel portion of the club head strikes the protruding part 41 earlier than the toe portion of the club head when the protruding part 41 is struck by the leading edge 200 b of the golf club head. This result indicates that the golf trainee performed a slice shot despite attempting to swing straight toward a target position. However, if the golf trainee is an advanced golfer, this result may indicate that the golf trainee intentionally practiced a fade shot. That is, this case indicates that the golf trainee practiced a down-blow swing while intentionally maintaining an out-in swing path.
FIG. 8d shows the state in which the toe portion of the club head strikes the protruding part 41 earlier than the heel portion of the club head when the protruding part 41 is struck by the leading edge 200 b of the golf club head. This result indicates that the golf trainee performed a hook shot despite attempting to swing straight toward a target position. However, if the golf trainee is an advanced golfer, this result may indicate that the golf trainee intentionally practiced a draw shot. That is, this case indicates that the golf trainee intentionally practiced a down-blow swing while following through in the outward direction of an in-out swing path. As such, the golf trainee is capable of practicing an accurate down-blow swing, a draw shot and a fade shot.

Claims

1. A down-blow swing practice apparatus comprising:

a body (20) provided under an artificial turf mat (10) to support the artificial turf mat (10), the artificial turf mat (10) being configured to support a golf ball placed thereon;

a strike unit (40) configured such that a portion thereof protrudes from a concave portion (10 a) formed at a predetermined distance from a spot on a top surface of the artificial turf mat (10), on which the golf ball is to be placed, in a moving direction of the golf ball and configured to protrude further upwards from the artificial turf mat in proportion with a magnitude of force applied by a leading edge of a head of a golf club when a golf trainee performs a down-blow swing; and

a returning unit (50) provided opposite the strike unit (40) to restore a state of the strike unit to an initial state before a swing practice,

wherein the strike unit (40) includes:

a protruding part (41) configured to be struck by the leading edge of the head of the golf club when the golf trainee performs a down-blow swing; and

a strike line (42 a) connected to two ends of the protruding part (41) and disposed inside the body (20) supporting the artificial turf mat (10).

2. The down-blow swing practice apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding part (41) of the strike unit is formed in an arc shape.

3. The down-blow swing practice apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding part (41) includes a covering material for enveloping the strike line.

4. The down-blow swing practice apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body (20) includes:

a rubber plate (21) disposed under the artificial turf mat (10);

a rubber bar (22) provided at a bottom surface of the rubber plate (21) to support the artificial turf mat (10) and the rubber plate (21);

a support part (23) provided under a portion of the artificial turf mat (10) that is located slightly ahead of the spot on which the golf ball is to be placed, configured to be elastic enough to allow the artificial turf mat (10) to be pushed down in accordance with a degree of impact applied thereto by the leading edge (200 b) of the head (200 a) of the golf club (200), and configured to be pushed down in accordance with a degree of impact applied by the golf club when the golf trainee performs a down-blow swing; and

a connection part (24) for receiving the returning unit (50) inserted thereinto.

5. The down-blow swing practice apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the returning unit (50) includes:

two guide rails (51 a and 51 b) extending from the connection part (24) and connected at ends thereof to each other;

a returning line (42 b) configured to be moved in a moving direction of the golf ball by protruding movement of the strike unit (40) and to be moved in a reverse direction by external force applied thereto, the returning line (42 b) forming a separate closed loop at a position opposite the strike line (42 a) of the strike unit (40); and

a rotary roller (52) configured to receive the strike line (42 a) and the returning line (42 b) so that the strike line (42 a) and the returning line (42 b), extending along the two guide rails (51 a and 51 b), pass through the rotary roller (52).

6. The down-blow swing practice apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the returning unit (50) includes: