US2606026A

US2606026A - Golf instruction device

Info

Publication number: US2606026A
Application number: US59080A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin F Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-11-09
Filing date: 1948-11-09
Publication date: 1952-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1969-08-05

Description

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 B. F'. YOUNG NWA GOLF INSTRUCTION DEVICE mm r o n w m m A MNPO Aug. 5, 1952 Filed Nov. 9, 1948 3mm fif/YJAM/N E Xou/va.

yam-Mi Aug. 5, 1952 B. F. YOUNG GOLF INSTRUCTION DEVICE 2 SHEETSSHEE'I 2 Filed NOV. 9, 1948 gnaw/wind? Bibi/AMI f2 YOU/V6.

GOLF rnsrnoorron DEVICE Benjamin F. Young, PhiladelphiafPa. Application November 9, 19"4s',-seria1uo. 59,686 3 Claims. (01. 273-35) The present invention relates to improvements in golf instruction devices and has for an object to provide an instrument of this kind for teaching the fundamentals of the game of golf.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure which shows the beginner the properposition to take when addressing the ball. By the use of this device the proper practical degree or angle for each foot is ascertained and the correct distance between the feet and the distance from the ball is determined.

A further objectof the present invention is to provide an improved device of this character by the use of which the golfer is taught the proper positioning of the hands and shaft. of the club when addressing the ball. It also teaches the correct back swing and follow-through technique. r

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure which is adapted to be used indoors and outdoorsflas wet or damp ground will not damage or impair the usefulness of the device.

Still another object of the present. invention is. to. provide an improved device by the use of which wooden and. iron club shots can be practiced for the purpose of improving the players game. a

The present invention aims; to' provide an improved device of. this kind which is simple to operate, economical to. manufacture. can be easily carried by the golfer and canbe quickly; setup for use either indoors. or outdoors.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more fully described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the. improved device constructed in accordance with themesent invention;

'Figure 2 is a rear el'evati'onal' view of" the improved device;

Figure. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view show-- ing the spring in extended position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure I; and

Figure 5 is a longitudinalsectional view on the line 5-5 of Fi'gure'B.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I'D indicates a. base. of. suitable material, such as waterprobfplywood or the like, preferably one= half inch thick;twenty-fourinches wide and thirty-six incheslong, and can be painted green on its upper surface with a one-fourth inch border painted white. The base l8 has a front edge H, a rear edge H, a right side edge l3 and a left side edge M.

A marker line It about one-eighth inch in Width is painted upon the uppersu'rface of the base Id at approximately nine inches from the left side edge l4 and extends from the rear edge 12 to the front edge II at right angles to these edges. This line I5 constitutes the marker for lining up the golf ball for the wooden club shots. A hollow metal shaft i6 is secured to the upper surface of the base!!! by a wood screw H". The shaft i6 extends from a point about one and one-half inches from the rear" edge 12 of the base H3 upon the line I5 and terminates approximately two and one-fourth inches from thefront edge Hwhere it is securedto the upper" surface of the-base by a U-shaped metal strap t8 which has oppositely extending apertured feet T9 for receiving wood screws 20' 'bywhich the strap is fastened to the base H);

A metal'tube 21 is telescopically and frictionally received by the hollow shaft "Sand a coil spring 22 has'about three inches of one end portion insertedinto the free end of the tube 2i and secured therein by welding or the like. The coil spring is about fifteen inches in length so that about twelve inches extend outwardly beyond the end of the tube2 I. When not in use the coil spring 22 is attached to a wire hook 23 which is secured to the upper surface of the base I!) by a wood screw 24. An angle line 25 for the left foot is painted upon the upper surface of the baseliiand begins at a point approximately one and three-fourths inchesfrom the rear edge 12 of the base and three and one-half inches to the left of the line I 5 and extends forwardly at an angle of the order of nine degrees to the line [5. p i

A right angled member comprising arms 26 and 21' is secured to the upper faceof the base 10 by wood screws 28. The arms 26 and flare aboutthree inches. in length and one-half inch high,v The arm 21 is located about one and onehalf inches to the right of the line 25 and is substantially parallel thereto and the arm 26- of the right angled member is-disposed at approximately right angles to the line 25.

A gate 29 is pivotally mounted on the upper face of the base I0- by a wood screw 30' located about one and three-fourths inches from the rear edge I 2 of the base l0 and five and-three fourths TENT; oFjF'ioE Y inches to the left of the line IS. The gate 29 can be made of. waterproof plywood and is preferably one-half inch high, five-eighths inch wide and four inches long.

A half circle 3| having arrowheads 32 and 33 at its opposite ends is painted on the upper surface of the base l and intersects the line I which coincides with one of the radii of the half circle 3|. The half circle is struck on a radius of approximately eight inches and the medial point of the half circle is located about one-fourth inch from the front edge ll of the base ID.

A space 34 has a width of about one inch and a length of about twelve inches and is formed by 35 which are painted on the upper surface of the base containing individual stride numbers .36.

ranging from zero to nine. Individual stride lines 31 extend from each of the numbers 36 rearwardly at an angle of the order of twentyseven degrees to the line l5 and a borderline 38 extends from the space 34 to the right of line number nine rearwardly at an angle of the order of twenty-seven degrees to the line l5. The zero individual stride line 31 and the borderline 38 extend to the rear edge I2 of the base H1 and the intermediate lines 31 terminate at a heel stop line 39. The zero stride line 31 at its rear end is approximately six and one-half inches from the line I5 and is about nineteen and one-half inches in length. The borderline 38 is approximately nineteen and one-half inches in length and its rear end is about eighteen inches from the line |5.' The'st'ride lines number one to nine, inclusive, are about 'sixteen and one-fourth inches in length. The borderline 38 is adapted to serve the same function as the lines 31.

The heel stop line' '39 is disposed at right angles to the line.f|5 and is eleven and one-fourth inches in length starting from the zero stride line and ending at the borderline 38. .A substantially T-shaped heel stop 40 of waterproof plywood or the like and having a height of about one-half inch is provided with anarcuate shaped forward wall 4 I.. ,Rearwardly of the heel stop line 39 the base- H1 has .a longitudinally extending slot 42 which isparallel to the heel stop-line 39 and to therear edge l2 of the base In from which ittis spaced about two and one-fourth inches. Theslot 42 begins at a point approximately seven and one-half inches from theline i5 and is about twelve inches-in length extending at about right angles to the line IS. A threaded bolt 43 has aflat washer-like head 44 which engages theunder surface of the base I0 adjacent the-slot 42. The shank portion of the bolt 43 extends upwardly from the head 44 through the slot 42 and a suitable opening in the heel stop 40 to receive a wing nut 45 by which the heel stop 40 is secured in any selected position within the confines of the slot 42.

Lines 46 ranging from zero to seven begin at the heel stop line 39 at the points-where the lines 31, numbered zerofto seven join the .heel stop line and extendrearwardly for adist-ance of about-two inches "at an; angle of the order of twenty-one degrees to the line l5. These lines 46 are intersected by the slot 42. An arrow 41 is painted on theu'pp'r surface of the base IO and begins at a pointabout one and one-half inches from the righthand side edge [3 and about fourteen inches from the rear edge H of the base and extends to the left for a distance of about thirty-threeinches. The arrow is disposed at right angles to the line I5 and intersects the lines I5 and 25 at the

points

48 and 49, respectively.

Short lines 50 ranging from zero to seven are painted on the upper surface of the base In and intersect the arrow 41, the point of intersection of the zero short line being twelve and one-eighth inches from the line l5 and the lines being spaced one and one-eighth inches on center. The short lines 50 are each two inches in length and extend one and one half inche'sf forwardly of'the arrow 41 and-one-half inch 'rearwardly of the arrow. The lines 50 are disposed at an angle of the order 1 of twenty-one degrees to the line l5.

Iron club shot ball lines 5| ranging from zero to seven are painted on the upper surface of the base H) in the center portion thereof and begin about one and three-fourth inches forwardly of the arrow 41 and extend forwardly approximately seven and three-fourth inches to terminate in the front edge of the base. Each of the lines 5| is one-eighth inch wide and the zero line is spaced about three and three-sixteenth inches from the line l5. The lines 5| are spaced one and oneeighth inches on center and are disposed parallel to the linfixlfi. 7 Q I A handle 52 is secured to the rear edge of the base I0 substantially midway of the side edges l3 and M to give balance and convenience in carrying the device.

In the use of the devicein connection with shots to be made with wooden clubs the device is placed upon the tee and the gate 29 isswung on its pivot 30 to the left towards the lefthand edge |4.. The golfer places his left foot on the line 25 and places his right foot on the zero line 31. In order forthegolfer to obtain his stride, hemoves theright foot to the right until the leftarm pit isxperpendicular'to the line l5. If, for example, this movement of the right foot brings it to number six line 31 then the heel stop 40 is slid to .number six of the lines 31. The wing nut 45 'is'then screwed home to hold the heel stop on the number six line.

The heel of the left foot engages .the arm 25 of the right-angled member. and the heelof the right footsis received by the arcuate shaped wall 4|of' the heelstop 40. .By this arrangement the feet aremaintained in proper position without danger of inadvertently moving them. The weight of the golfers body is thus evenly balanced o'n each foot.'. :The golfer now holds the driverin front of him with the head of the driver on the ground in aligmnent with the line IS. The hands should bekept slightly to the right of the line IS, the arms,'the club'and the legs forming atripod. This is correct stance foraddressing the ball. The coil spring'22 is released from the hook 23 and the tube 2| is moved outwardly of the hollow shaft I6 so that the end of the spring is disposed at the center of the head of the club. This will indicatethe proper point at which to tee up the ball. A tee is then placed in the ground at the end of the spring. When the device is being used indoors a paper tee may be employed.

When addressing the ball the golfer should keep his eyes on the ball; hold his head down and keep his shoulders still. The club should be swung back and up until the hands are shoulder high. To hit the ball the golfer should bend his left knee towards the line I5. I This will put the weight of his body on the right foot and the left arm should be parallel to the arrow 41. As the golfer swings down toward the'ball, he pivots on the right foot and after hitting the ball he should follow through the left-hand side of the half circle 3| by swinging the club up and over his left shoulder.

In the use of the iron clubs, the gate 29 is swung to the right inside the right-angled member and against the arm 26 thereof. The golfer then places his left foot on the line with the back of his heel against the gate. If in the determination of the proper stance in the use of the wooden clubs number six of the lines 31 was used, the golfer should subtract three from six so that he should use the number three line for his iron shots. The heel stop is now slid to the number three of the lines 48 where it is secured by the wing nut 45. It will be noted that the toe of the golfer should be placed on the number three line of the short lines 50 so that the number three lines of the lines it and 50 indicate the proper angle for the right foot. In the determination of which line of the lines and to use in making iron shots, it is only necessary for the golfer to subtract three from the number obtained in the selection of the proper line 3? for the right foot in connection with making wood shots. If line number three of the

lines

46 and 50 is used for the angle of the right foot, this line number three of the iron club shot line 5| should be used in placing the ball in the proper position for the iron shots. making iron shots, the tube 2| should be telescoped within the hollow shaft I6 and the spring 22 should be secured to the hook 23. While the head of the club is still on the ground, place the ball on the ground in line with the number three of the lines 5i and in line with the center of the head of the club. In order to hit the ball, the golfer should bend the left knee toward the number three of the lines 5i and the left arm should be parallel to the arrow 47. After hitting the ball the golfer should follow through the lefthand side of the half circle 3| by swinging the club up and over his left shoulder. On the back swing in the use of both the wooden clubs and the iron clubs, the golfer should follow the righthand half of the half circle 3|.

In the use of the device by beginners in making wooden club shots, the beginner places both feet together. He then places his left foot about two inches from his right foot using the line 25 and moves his right foot to obtain his stride as described above.

In the use of the iron clubs, the beginner places both feet together on the line of the ball, addresses the ball and steps back to obtain distance. He then places his right foot about four inches from his left foot using the angle and moves his left foot over to obtain his stride using the distance as described above.

It is obvious that various changes and modiflcation may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

When

What I claim is:

1. A golf instruction device comprising a base having a ball mark line thereon, a left foot angle indicating line disposed on the base to the left of and at an angle to said ball mark line, and a plurality of individual stride indicating lines disposed on the base to the right of and at an angle to said ball mark line, said base having a half circle mark thereon and bisected by the ball mark line for indicating to the golfer the proper path for his club head to follow, a right angle member being mounted on said base and being provided with a pair of arms one of which is substantially at right angles to the left foot angle indicating line and extending to both sides of said left foot angle indicating line, a gate pivotally mounted on said base and adapted to be swung into and. out of engagement with the arm of the right angle member which is disposed at a right angle to the left foot angle indicating line, the arm of said member which is disposed at a right angle to the left foot indicating line being adapted to be engaged by the heel of the left foot of the golfer when said gate is out of engagement with said arm and the gate being adapted to be engaged by the heel of the left foot of the golfer when the gate is in engagement with said arm, two groups of lines the individual lines of which are adapted to be selectively used in positioning the right foot for iron shots the selection being dependent upon the reading obtained from the right foot stride indicating lines, and a plurality of iron club shot lines adapted to be selectively used in connection with the two groups of lines for positioning the ball for iron club shots.

2. A golf instruction device as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that an arrow is disposed on the base at substantially right angles to the ball mark line for indicating the proper position of the left arm of the golfer.

3. A golf instruction device as claimed in claim 2 characterized by the fact that said two groups of lines are disposed at an angle of the order of twenty-one degrees to the ball mark line, that the lines of one of said groups of lines are intersected by a slot and that the heel stop is carried by the base for sliding movement in the slot.

BENJAMIN F. YOUNG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,208,995 Lyon Dec. 19, 1916 1,383,876 Sullivan July 5, 1921 1,484,390 Gibbs et a1 Feb. 19, 1924 2,180,170 Richards Nov. 14, 1939 2,189,613 Paulsen Feb. 6, 1940 2,457,351 Crowley Dec. 28, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,930 Great Britain 191