WO1996010448A1

WO1996010448A1 - Putting practice aid

Info

Publication number: WO1996010448A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/002356
Authority: WO
Inventors: Malcolm Eley
Original assignee: Putt-Rite Limited
Priority date: 1994-10-04
Filing date: 1995-10-04
Publication date: 1996-04-11
Also published as: AU3612395A; GB9419941D0; GB2293771A

Abstract

The putting practice aid comprises at least one radiation (light or infrared) source arranged to produce a pair of parallel beams, the spacing between the beams being such as to accommodate a putter club head swung along a centre line between the beams; a sensor arranged to sense radiation passing along the or each beam; and an alarm arranged to initiate an identifiable warning signal when a sensor senses that a respective beam has been interrupted.

Description

Putting Practice Aid

The present invention relates to a putting practice aid for use by a golfer when practising a putting stroke.

It is important for a golfer to develop a putting stroke incorporating a straight backward and forward movement (or swing) of the putter club head so that when a golf ball is struck by the putter club head, it travels in the direction of the hole. The most frequent problem encountered by golfers during the putting stroke is an inconsistent swing of the putting stroke, either backward or forward.

Devices are known which include a light source and a coacting sensor, which are arranged to detect improper movement of the putter club head. Examples of such devices are disclosed in, for example, US Patents 4342455-6, in which the light source is embedded in a playing surface and the sensor is arranged to detect reflection from the bottom surface of the club head.

This arrangement is difficult to set up, and involves disadvantageous modification of, and inserts in, the putting surface.

It is the purpose of the present invention to alleviate such problems and to provide a practice putting aid facilitating the development of a straight backward and forward putting swing.

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a putting practice aid which comprises means for producing a pair of substantially parallel radiation paths in a substantially horizontal plane above a putting surface, the light paths being spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate a putter club head swung along a centre line therebetween; sensor means arranged to sense radiation beams passing along said paths; and alarm means for initiating an identifiable signal when either of said beams is interrupted. Thus, advantageously, when a golfer deviates the putting stroke from the centre line by a predetermined amount, an alarm will be initiated, so as to warn the golfer to adjust his putting stroke.

In one embodiment of the invention, the means for producing the pair of radiation paths comprises a radiation source (such as a light source or an infra-red source) arranged to emit radiation beams along the radiation paths.

The means for producing the radiation paths may comprise a radiation source mounted on a first arm of the putting practice aid, with reflectors arranged to create two radiation paths from the single source, a coacting sensor being mounted on a second arm of the putting practice aid, the second arm being substantially parallel to the first arm, both arms being arranged to be laid on the putting surface.

In another embodiment of the invention, the means for producing the pair of radiation paths may comprise at least one radiation source mounted on first arm of the putting practice aid, and at least one radiation source mounted on a second arm thereof, which second arm is substantially parallel to the first arm; in this embodiment, the sensor means may comprise a first sensor mounted on one of the arms and a second sensor mounted on the other of the arms.

In either embodiment, parallel beams of radiation can be established along the respective paths so that interruption of either radiation beam by the putter club head actuates the alarm.

In one embodiment of the invention, two radiation sources are provided on each of the respective parallel arms, each of the radiation sources being arranged to emit a radiation beam for reception by a coacting sensor mounted suitably distant from the respective radiation source on the respective arm. Preferably, one of the radiation sources and its coacting sensor are provided in the region of the backswing on each of the parallel arms, and the other light source and its respective sensor are provided in the region of the forward swing on each of the parallel arms. Thus, advantageously a parallel beam of radiation can be established on each of the parallel arms to detect deviation from a predetermined path or centre line of the golfer's backswing, and similarly a further two parallel beams of light can be established to detect deviation in the golfer's forward swing from a predetermined path. Therefore the aid allows any problems in a golfer's putting to be specifically identified.

Preferably, the parallel arms further comprise means for conducting a signal initiated on interruption of a respective radiation path, to the alarm means.

Preferably, the radiation beams are transmitted outside the visible spectrum; it is preferred that the radiation ic#s in the infra-red region of the spectrum. This enables the golfer to perfect the stroke without any visual reference aids, thereby advantageously simulating the situation encountered on a putting green.

In a preferred embodiment, the putting aid according to the invention further comprises a golf ball target detachably connectable to at least one of the ends of the parallel arms. Preferably, the target is mounted on mounting fingers, which are typically adjustable in length. Thus advantageously, the putting swing can be practised to simulate varying distances from a golf hole and to ascertain the force of the swing required to reach the golf hole.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a perspective view of an illustrative putting practice aid according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a putting practice aid comprising a flat panel A consisting of two rectangular portions hinged together at B. On one of these portions, there is mounted a housing F containing an electronic control system for the practice aid. Two parallel arms Cl and C2 extend from the panel A, one from each of its hinged portions. Arm Cl is fixed to the panel A and arm C2 is adjustably screwed to the panel so that its spacing from the arm Cl may be selected; thus the panel A is formed with a series of grooves D into which teeth carried at the end of arm C2 selectively engage. On each of the arms Cl and C2, there are provided fixings El, E2, E3 and E4, each of which houses a light (or infra-red) transmitter or a receiver respectively. Fixings El and E2 are located on the arms Cl and C2 such that they can assist in detection of deviations in the backward movement of the putting swing. Similarly E3 and E4 are provided on the arms Cl and C2 such that they can assist in detection of deviations in the forward movement of the putting swing from a predetermined centre line.

Conductors H extend between the electronics housing F and the respective transmitters and receivers, for carrying power and signals. An on/off switch G is provided on the housing F; and this housing is also provided with an alarm (e.g. an audible or visual alarm) .

In use, the practice aid illustrated in the drawing is laid out on top of a putting surface. The arm C2 is positioned at an appropriate spacing from arm Cl, according to the width of the putter club head being used. A practice ball is placed on the putting surface between the two arms Cl, C2 and the golfer practises his putting by trying to swing the putter so that the club head moves along a centre line midway between the arms Cl, C2. If the putter club head deviates transversely by more than a predetermined amount from the centre line, it will interrupt one or more of the parallel radiation beams established between the pairs of fixings El and E2, or between E3 and E4, thus (via the electronics control) causing a signal to initiate an appropriate alarm. Depending on which of the parallel beams is interrupted, the golfer can adjust his putting stroke accordingly.

It will be appreciated that panel A may be folded up about the hinge B to reduce the overall size of the aid ready for storage or transit.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A putting practice aid which comprises means for producing a pair of substantially parallel radiation paths in a substantially horizontal plane above a putting surface, the radiation paths being spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate a putter club head swung along a centre line therebetween; sensor means arranged to sense radiation beams passing along said paths; and alarm means for initiating an identifiable signal when either of said beams is interrupted.

2. A putting practice aid according to claim 1, wherein said means for producing said pair of radiation paths comprises a radiation source arranged to emit radiation beams along both said radiation paths.

3. A putting practice aid according to claim 2, wherein said means for producing said radiation paths comprises a radiation source mounted on a first arm of said practice aid, with reflectors arranged to create two radiation paths from the single source, a coacting sensor being mounted on a second arm of said practice aid, said second arm being substantially parallel to said first arm, both said arms being arranged to be laid on a putting surface.

4. A putting practice aid according to claim 1, wherein said means for producing the pair of radiation paths comprise at least one radiation source mounted on first arm of the putting practice aid, and at least one radiation source mounted on a second arm thereof, which second arm is substantially parallel to the first arm.

5. A putting practice aid according to claim 4, wherein the sensor means comprise a first sensor mounted on one of said arms and a second sensor mounted on the other of said arms.

6. A putting practice aid according to claim 4 or 5, which comprises two said radiation sources on each of said first and second arm, each of said radiation sources being arranged to emit a radiation beam for reception by a coacting sensor mounted suitably distant from the respective radiation source on the respective arm.

7. A putting practice aid according to claim 6, wherein a first one of said radiation sources, together with a respective receiver, are provided in the region of the back swing on each of said first and second arms, and a second one of said radiation sources, and its respective receiver, are provided in the region of the forward swing on each of said first and second arms.

8. A putting practice aid according to any of claims 3 to 7, wherein said first and second arms further comprise means for conducting a signal initiated on interruption of a respective radiation path, to said alarm means.

9. A putting practice aid according to any of claims 3 to 8, wherein said first and second arms are adjustable in length.

10. A putting practice aid according to any of claims 3 to 9, which further comprises a golf ball target detachably connectable to at least one of the ends of said first and second arms.

11. A putting practice aid according to any preceding claim, wherein said radiation is in the infra-red region.