WO1983001202A1

WO1983001202A1 - Practice aid for golfers

Info

Publication number: WO1983001202A1
Application number: PCT/GB1982/000288
Authority: WO
Inventors: Golf Limited Foremat
Original assignee: Mayes, Brian, Edward
Priority date: 1981-10-08
Filing date: 1982-10-08
Publication date: 1983-04-14
Also published as: GB8314380D0; GB2116436A; JPS58501658A

Abstract

A flexible mat (5) having a first region (10) containing a rectangular, matrix-like grid defining a plurality of feet placements and a second region (20) containing a second rectangular matrix-like grid for defining a plurality of ball placements. The golfer stands with his feet in the first region (10) of the mat and places a ball in the second region (20). He practises his shots until he achieves the optimum result, whereupon he records on a record card the position of his feet and the ball that give the desired result. The record card is a reproduction of the mat on a reduced scale. The golfer can at a later date resume the desired stance by adopting the position indicated on the record card and with practice get a feel for the correct position which he will then be able to adopt on the golf course. Several attachments can advantageously be adopted in conjunction with the mat and the card for practising putting, driving, chipping, etc.

Description

PRACTICE AID FOR GOLFERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a practice aid for golfers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When a golfer practises his shots he can find it difficult to decide which of the many variables are influencing his success or failure. Of these variables, his stance and the positioning of the ball relative to his stance are particularly important and possibly the most difficult to define so that they can be repeated. DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART

GB-PS 1305710 discloses a golfer's practice mat of plastics material having lines for defining the placement of the golfer's feet and a further portion which is apertured to receive a tee for a golf ball. This mat is excessively complex and does not enable a golfer to ascertain through practice his or her most successful stance, to record that stance and to establish the best position of the ball relative to this stance. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT"INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a practice aid for golfers which comprises a mat having a first region provided with a rectangular grid-like matrix of lines for defining different placements of the feet

ip of a golfer standing on the mat, and a second region provided with a plurality of positions for defining different positions of a ball to be struck, whereby the golfer can practise his shots with different placements of his feet on the mat and different positions of the ball on the mat and can note the positions of his feet with reference to the grid and the position of the ball giving a desired result, to facilitate the position of his feet and the position of the ball being repeated in a real game of golf.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a practice aid for golfers which comprises a combination of a mat and a record card, the mat having a first region provided with a plurality of positions for defining different place¬ ments of the feet of a golfer standing on the mat, and a second region provided with a plurality of positions for defining different positions of a ball to be struck, the card being a representation of the mat on a reduced scale, whereby the golfer can practise his shots with different placements of his feet on the mat and different positions of the ball on the mat and can note the-position of his feet and the position of the ball giving a desired result and record the positions on the card to facilitate the position of his feet and the position of the ball being repated in a real game of golf.

The first region of the mat is preferably composed of a rectangular grid-like matrix of lines for defining different placements of the feet.

The plurality of positions of a ball are preferably defined by an array of points on the second region of the mat. The array of points may conform to any desired pattern, but in a preferred embodiment the array is a rectangular array defined at the intersection of a grid-like matrix of lines. These lines, like the lines in the first region, may be drawn on the surface of the mat, may be moulded so as to project or be impressed therein, or may be formed in any other convenient way.

The first region may include or be bounded by a line forming a toe line on or adjacent to which the golfer places his toes. The plurality of ball positions in the second region of the mat may be provided with locating means for locating a golf ball at a selected One of the positions, and the locating means may be adjustable in height to simulate different heights of a tee. - i_ -

The locating means may take the form of upwardly open tubular formations or any other formations on or through the mat surface which will prevent a golf ball rolling on the mat after it has been placed at a selected one of the second plurality of positions.

The record card may be made of a plastics or other material suitable for carrying in the golfer's pocket and capable of being marked with a pen to record the positions of the feet and the position of the ball. A plurality of such record cards may be provided to record the foot and ball positions for different strokes and/or clubs.

Alternatively removable stick-on markers e.g. in the shape of shoe soles and in the shape of a ball may be provided for recording on the record card the position of the golfer's feet and the position of the ball noted from the mat.

In a further preferred embodiment, wherein the ball is placed in use on said first region between the position of the feet, a mirror is placed or attached on said second region, the said mirror being specially shaped and calibrated so that the position of the image of the ball disposed

OMP on said first region is effective to indicate to the user the correctness or incorrectness of the position of the user's head during practice swings. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred practice aid for golfers is illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The aid 5 comprises a flexible mat, a fragmentary detailof which is shown in Figure 1, and in full, but on a smaller scale, in Figure 3. The mat is e.g. of rubber, rubber-like or plastics material having a first region 10 with a rectangular grid or array of lines defining at their intersections a plurality of positions 15, preferably in the form of small holes (e,g. " diameter) into which tubes serving as "tees" may be set. A second region 20 has a similar rectangular grid or array of lines. In addition, the mat surface has a heavier central line 30 and heavier transverse lines 40 and 50. The mat may be 150 cm by 90 cm with the arrays of lines in the regions 10 and 20 being at one-inph intervals. In use, the golfer places the mat on the ground and places his feet in the region 10 on respective sides of the central lines 30

-ξ JRE OMP and on or adjacent the line 40, which therefore serves as a toeline. The ball is placed at one of the locations in the second_region 20. By varying the positions of his feet, the position of the ball, the golfer can determine through practice where his feet and the ball should be placed to achieve the best results. These positions can be recorded on a separate record card (or chart) 60 for future reference. The card 60 is shown in Figure 2. It is a small- scale replica (e.g. 12.5 cm by 7.5 cm) of the mat 5. The lines on the card 60 have been given the same reference numbers as in Figures 1 and 2, but with the addition of an apostrophe. The positions can be recorded by adhesive labels, e.g. sole-shaped or by writing on the card with a pen, in which latter case the card may be of the well-known wipe-clean variety. In Figure 2, 15' represents a dot or point to simulate a hole 15.

The mat illustrated can be used by right- handed and left-handed players.

A substantial advantage of the present invention is its simplicity, its cheapness of manufacture and its versatility. The mat can be used in conjunction with aids for teaching the various shots of the game of golf e.g. driving, putting, pitching and chipping.

O Putting may be practised with the aid of an attachment 100 (shown in Figures 4, 4a and 4b)posi- tionable on the mat, preferably in a predetermined location defined on the mat by thickened lines 102. The putting attachment 100 comprises a putting path defined by a base 104^ two side walls 106 and an end wall 108. In each of the side walls 106, a slot 110 is formed which constitutes a guide track for a carriage 112. The carriage 112 is freely movable in the slots 110. The carriage comprises a clamp 114 or other means for holding the head of a golf putter rigidly on the carriage. In use, the carriage is located on the mat in the place defined by the lines 102 and the head of the putter (not shown) is clamped to the carriage 112. The golfer then takes up his stance on the mat with the putting path extending in a direction approximately parallel to a line joining his feet. Putting can then be practised by drawing the putter to and fro along the track. This teaches the correct putting stroke since if the golfer feels the handle trying to twist in his hand, he should change his action until he feels no such twisting motion. This will then be the correct action for putting.

The position of the golfer's feet may be recorded on the record card. The putting attachment may also comprise a strip 116, preferably of artificial or plastic grass, extending beyond an open end 118 of the putting path. This strip simulates the putting green and the golfer can vary the strength of his putting stroke and ascertain the distance travelled by the ball along the strip. In this way he can practise the strength as well as the action of his puttin .

A second attachment 200 (see Figures 5, 5a, and 5b) that may be used in conjunction with the golf mat is a device for indicating the path of the head of a club (an iron or a wood) so that a golfer can determine whether his swing takes the correct line immediately prior to the club striking the ball. This attachment comprises two parallel lines of indicators 202 and 203 and a plurality of ball positions 204 defined in the region between the lines. Each indi- cator is capable of giving a response when a golf club passes in its vicinity. The indicators may be mechanical or electronic in nature; mechanical indicators may be, for example, pegs which, when touched by the golf club, are displaced to give the said response. Such pegs should, of course, be such that they do not suffer damage when displaced and are returnable to their original position for a further practice swing.. Alternatively, the indicators may each comprise an electronic sensor and means for giving a visible response that thesensor has been activated by the passage of a club in the vicinity of the sensor. By noting which of the indicators in the two lines of indicators have given a response, it is possible to

__ OM ^L plot the path that the golf club head took immediately prior to and immediately after striking the ball (see Figures 5a and 5b). Thus, if indicator A in row 203 gives a response and indicator B in row 202 gives a response and if the ball was in position C, the path 206 of the club can be plotted. If this path is incorrect, the swing can be practised until the correct path is achieved. It will be appreciated that more than two rows of indicators may be provided. The position of the feet and the ball in which the correct swing is achieved may be recorded on the record card for future reference and for adoption on the golf course.

A third attachment (see Figures 6 and 6a) that may be used in conjunction with the mat is designed to teach a golfer the correct position of the club at the top of the swing. This attachment comprises a pair of telescopic stands 300 positionable, preferably in a predetermined position indicated by scale 302, in front of and behind a golfer standing on the mat. A barrier is establishable between the stands slightly above the golfer's shoulder level, which barrier can sense the presence of a golf club in the vicinity of the barrier. In one embodiment of this third attach- ment, the barrier is a cord 302 stretching between the tops 304 of the two stands. In this case, the golfer can sense the club contacting the cord and hence knows that his club is at the correct top limit of the swing. In another version (not shown), the barrier is a beam of light, e.g. infra-red light, shining from a source on one stand to a sensor on the second stand. A visual or aural signal can indicate when the beam is broken by the club e.g. at the correct top limit of the swing. A second beam may also be provided which, when broken by the golf club, gives a second signal to indicate that the club has been swung too far. Preferably, the distance between the two beams is adjustable. Since the back-swing varies depending on which club is being used, preferably the height of the barrier is variable e.g. by adjusting the height of the telescopic stands, each of which preferably carries a scale. By constant practice the golfer gets a feel for the correct top limit to his swing. This third attachment can only be operated consistently if the golfer takes up an identical position each time he practises. Thus, the stands are positioned in a known location relative to the mat and a scale is provided along the edge of the mat for this purpose. The position of the golfer's feet on the mat can be noted and recorded on the record card.

A fourth attachment (Figures 7, 7a and 7b) that-can be used in conjunction with the mat is a device for practising pitch and chip shots. This device comprises a frusto-conical net 400 pivotally mounted on a stand 402, which is positionable along the side of the mat. The mouth 404 of the net pointing towards the mat is open, while at the other end 406 of the net, there is a slot 408. The golfer standing

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on the mat hits a ball into the net attempting to direct it through the slot. The angle of the net may be adjustable by a locking device 410 provided with a scale to- practise for different distances of shot using different clubs. The distance and height of the ball travel will depend on the club used and the device can be adjusted for each individual golfer. Once the correct position for each shot has been determined outdoors and the angle of net tilt noted from the scale,a catching net (not shown) can be attached to the slot so that these shots can be practised in a confined space e.g. at home. The position of the golfer's feet and the position of the golf ball can be recorded on the record card for future reference.

A fifth attachment (Figures 8, 8a and 8b) that may be used is a head movement indicator. This takes the form of an elongated prismatic mirror device 500, preferably triangular in section, having a mirrored image surface 502 inclined to the vertical that is calibrated into a plurality of (preferably 12) zones A to L. The device 500 is placed or secured centrally about, the line 30 on the region 20 of the mat and to one side^"of line 40, as shown. A ball is placed on a tee between the feet 504 in position 506. The golfer then proceeds to swing the golf club as if to hit a ball but keeps looking in the mirror device 500 at the image of the ball. Depending on where the

OMPI image is seen in the backswing or downswing i.e. the extent of the deviation of the image from the ideal zone positions E and H, it is possible to determine if the player's head is tilting, dipping, swaying, or rocking excessively. Thus, e.g. if the player is hitting too hard, his head will tend to rock back on the downswing and so the image moves up to one of the zones A, D, G or J.

The angle that the image surface of the mirror makes with the vertical is variable by means not shown.

The described mat enables a golfer, whether high or low handicap, beginner or expert, to eliminate some of the variables encountered in hitting a golf ball. The mat enables the golfer to practise using known and constant locations for his foot placements and ball positions relative to his stance. These positions vary according to the club used and the type of shot to be played; by relating the positions on the grid of the mat to the results obtained in practice, and using the plurality of the record cards, these ball and foot positions can be marked on the record cards, giving the golfer a permanent record for each club in the bag, and for different types of shot. These results should only be plotted when consistency is obtained from a large number of shots in practice, since variations in swing, grip, shoulders etc. will occur. The mat enables the golfer to ensure constant positions for foot and ball placings only. Any variations in the results of hitting the ball will therefore be due to other factors. This is especially important when the mat is used in conjunction with any one of the attachments because the exact position of the golfer with respect to the attachment is recordable on the record card and hence reproducible at a later date to ensure a consistent practising position.

During practise sessions the golfer may wish to practise shots from different 'lies'. The mat is flexible and this enables it to be used on uneven ground, giving the golfer the opportunity to play shots with balls positioned above or below his stance.

During all these practise sessions the record cards should be used to plot results only after a degree of consistency has been obtained over a large number of shots.

The aid is also useful for plotting bad or undesirable results, since it is always useful to know when a shot can be 'tailored' for a particular purpose. Therefore, if a certain ball location and foot placement always gives a heavy 'slice or hook' then these positions should be plotted on the record cards with the appropriate comments on the results and used for future reference. By continuous use in practice the golfer will find that the ball positions and foot placements will tend to become more automatic and there will be no need to refer to the grid on the mat. However if things start to go wrong again the mat grid should be used to see whether any variation has occurred in that part of the stance.

Claims

1. A practice aid for golfers which comprises a mat (5) having a first region (10) provided with a rectangular grid-like matrix of lines for defining different placements of the feet of a golfer standing on the mat, and a second region (20) provided with a plurality of positions for defining different positions of a ball to be struck, whereby the golfer can practise his shots with different placements of his feet on the mat and different positions of the ball on the mat and can note the positions of his feet with reference to the grid and the position of the ball giving a desired result, to facilitate the position of his feet and the position of the ball being repeated in a real game of golf.

2. A practice aid as claimed in claim 1, which further includes a record card (60) that is a representation of the mat on a reduced scale.

3. A practice aid as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, the plurality of positions in the second region of the"mat (5) form rectangular arrays defined at the intersection of a grid-like matrix of lines.

4. A practice aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lines on the surface of the

OMPI mat (5) are moulded so as to project from, or be impressed in, the rest of the surface of the mat or are drawn on the surface of the mat.

5. A practice aid for golfers which comprises a combination of a mat (5) and a record card (60), the mat having a first region (10) provided with a plurality of positions for defining different placements of the feet of a golfer standing on the mat, and a second region (20) provided with a plurality of positions for defining different positions of a ball to be struck, the card (60) being a represen¬ tation of the mat on a reduced scale, whereby the golfer can practise his shots with different placements of his feet on the mat and different positions of the ball on the mat and can note the position of his feet and the position of the ball giving a desired result and record positions on the card to facilitate the position of his feet and the position of the ball being repeated in a real game of golf.

6. A practice aid as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first region (10) of the mat is composed of a rectangular grid-like matrix of lines for defining different placementa of the feet.

7. A practice aid as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the plurality of positions in the second region (20) of the mat (5) form rectangular arrays defined at the intersection of a grid-like matrix of lines.

8. A practice aid as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the lines on the surface of the mat (5) are moulded so as to project from, or be impressed in, the surface of the rest of the surface of the mat or are drawn on the surface of the mat.

9. A practice aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first region (10) includes or is bounded by a line forming a toe line (40) on or adjacent to which the golfer places his toes, while the plurality of positions for the ball are provided with locating means for locating the golf ball at a selected one of the positions, and the locating means are adjustable in height to simulate different heights of tee.

10. A practice aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, which includes a mirror (500) that can be placed or attached on the said second region of the mat, the mirror being so shaped and calibrated that the position of the image of a golf ball placed on the first region (10) of the mat between a user's feet is effective to indicate to the user the correctness or incorrectness of the position of the user's head.

11. A practice aid as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mirror (500) is in the shape of a triangu¬ lar prism.

OMPI

12. A practice aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, which includes a putting attachment (100) which comprises a putting path, a carriage (112) movable along the putting path and means (114) for clamping the head of a putter to the carriage.

13. A practice aid as claimed in claim 12, wherein the putting attachment includes a strip (116) of artifical grass forming an extension of the putting path.

14. A practice aid as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the mat includes lines (102) in the first region for defining the desired position of the putting attachment.

15. A practice aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, which includes andetachment comprising two parallel lines of indicators (202, 203) defining, in a region between the lines, a plurality of ball positions (204), each indicator being capable of giving a response when a golf club passes in its vicinity.

16. A practice aid as claimed in claim 15, wherein each indicator comprises a peg which is so mounted that when touched by a golf club it is displaced to give the said response.

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17. A practice aid as claimed in claim 15, wherein each sensor is electronic and there is provided means for giving a visible response to indicate that a sensor has been activated by the passage of a golf club in the vicinity of that sensor.

18. A practice aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17, which includes a pair of stands (300) positionable in front of and behind a user standing in the first region (10) of the mat, and means for establishing a barrier (302) between the stands that is capable of sensing the presence in the vicinity of the barrier of a golf club.

19. A practice aid as claimed in claim 18, wherein the barrier is a cord (302) stretched between the stands (300).

20. A practice aid as claimed in claim 18, wherein the barrier is a light beam and there is also provided means for giving an indication that the light barrier has been broken.

21. A practice aid as claimed in claim 19, which includes means for establishing a second light barrier located ata level below the first light barrier and means for giving an indication when the second light barrier has been broken.

OMPI

22. A practice aid as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, which includes a net (400) having an open mouth (404) and a slot (408) in the net which is capable of allowing golf balls to pass therethrough.

23. A practice aid as claimed in claim 22, wherein the net (400) is tiltable about a horizontal axis.

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