WO2004033054A1

WO2004033054A1 - Putting practice device

Info

Publication number: WO2004033054A1
Application number: PCT/DE2003/003356
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bradley Thompson; Werner Melchers; Manfred Ochsenfarth; Jochem M. Schumacher
Original assignee: Impact Golf Gmbh
Priority date: 2002-10-08
Filing date: 2003-10-08
Publication date: 2004-04-22
Also published as: DE10247286B4; AU2003281932A1; DE10247286A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a golf practice device (1) comprising a narrow flat metal sheet (2) that is continuously embodied in a flat and stiff manner and has a length which corresponds to the average putting distance on the green, i.e. on the golf course. Markings or a pocket-type borehole (7) is/are disposed on the upper face of the flat metal sheet (2) while sheet metal sections (19, 19', 19 ) that are arranged on the bottom face and are distinguished by means of different colors indicate to the practicing golfer how far back he has to swing, where he has to aim, and how far he has to swing through the ball. The practicing golfer thus has available a practice device (1) which he can use on the golf course, at home, and at the office and which helps him to use significantly fewer putts to complete a course once he has had enough practice.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Training device for putting

The invention relates to a training device for putting on golfing with an artificial track that specifies the putting path, which is designed to be portable and can be combined at the end with a target ring corresponding to the “hole”.

In golf, the golf ball is hit by suitable clubs from the tee-off more or less long distances to the green. A so-called hole is created on the green, which is re-punched at regular intervals and into which the golfer has to punch the golf ball with the putter. Errors are often made, especially when putting, because even if the putter is slightly tilted, the goal will not be achieved as desired. It turns out to be extremely difficult to move the golf ball over the short cut green into the so-called hole. The golfer tries to master this problem by practicing frequently. Since the golf course and therefore also the practice greens are on the outskirts or even further away, practicing with the putter is time-consuming. For this reason, artificial tracks with end rings that correspond to the hole have been available for daily or frequent practice at home or in the office for a long time. This career consists of a felt-like carpet that can be easily laid out. This career can either be aligned horizontally or alternatively with an incline so that exercises similar to reality can be carried out. The hole can also be arranged more or less centrally, so that certain oblique courses of such a career can also be simulated. The short needle felt is similar in structure to the green, so that this also creates a certain optimized training option. It is disadvantageous, however, that this type of training device does not practice the exact straight running of the ball, but more or less a random course of the ball. This is supported by corrugations in the felt. Another disadvantage is that the training device is relatively complex to build and does not offer any striking aid for golfers.

The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a training device which is a simple and effective putter training aid for the golfer, which is easy to set up everywhere and which also provides real aids for the golf coach.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that the raceway is designed as a narrow flat sheet which is continuously flat and rigid and has a length corresponding to the average putting path on the “green”.

Surprisingly, such a narrow and stable or rigid flat sheet offers an optimal training aid for the golfer who wants to practice putting. The golf ball itself is always positioned in the same place with suitable aids that will be explained later, so that the starting point is always the same. Additional auxiliary markings allow the trainee to equalize and precisely adjust their swing so that the golf ball runs exactly over the flat plate and to the end. At this end, a target ring can be provided to give the golfer the feeling of being "punctured". Since the flat sheet is completely flat and smooth, the golf ball rolls so straight that it runs on it until the end of the flat sheet but only succeeds if the putter is swung optimally and if the putter head hits the ball at the right moment, so that it starts and runs smoothly. Surprisingly, it is precisely this narrow flat sheet with its continuously flat surface that defines a career, which leaves the course of the golf ball practically unaffected, so that straight putting is still essential is more difficult than putting on the green. This flat sheet or the career defined by the flat sheet therefore exercises the golfer particularly well and, after a corresponding practice period, he can then successfully implement what he has learned on the green. As already mentioned, he learns to swing evenly, the right stroke moment and the swinging of the putter correctly, because the golf ball will only run on the flat sheet metal if it is designed and implemented correctly.

According to an expedient embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the flat sheet in the middle of the raceway has a characteristic curve which shows the optimal putting path and which is not designed to change the surface of the raceway. This characteristic curve is therefore integrated into the surface of the track or the flat sheet, so that it is a flatter aid, but without influencing the course of the golf ball. The characteristic curve makes it easier for the practitioner to hit the golf ball exactly in the middle of the flat sheet.

It has already been pointed out earlier that the flat sheet is designed at the end receiving and locking the golf ball in such a way that aids are provided for the practitioner in order to always achieve the correct swing. According to the invention, this is further optimized and, at the same time, made easier by the fact that on the underside of the flat sheet is provided a marking which specifies the optimized back swing, hit area and the swing. The trainee places the narrow flat sheet with the colored side up, places the putter in the middle of the red zone, which defines the meeting area, and swings the putter back until it reaches the yellow zone or the end of the yellow zone, ie the backswing comes. It should not swing it any further than this marking corresponding to the starting point in order to then switch to the counter-swing. During the subsequent swing, the putter is guided into the blue zone, ie the swing zone, whereby the correct swing is ensured by the optimized swing. The putter head is always held parallel to the flat sheet, so that the eye can easily and safely follow its path. This Vibration exercise should be carried out 20 to 30 times, with the colored zones red, yellow and blue making this exercise easier. The goal of this exercise is to find a steady rhythm and to achieve the acceleration of the club head through the ball. Then the flat sheet is turned over and the exercise described above is made up or carried out.

In order to always specify the same starting point for the golf ball, the invention provides for a blind hole fixing a golf ball to be formed at the end of the flat sheet metal that can be combined with the target ring. This blind hole ensures that the starting point for the golf ball is always the same, without it being an obstacle for the putter when swinging through it. The diameter of the blind hole is dimensioned so that the golf ball lies securely, but is not held or fixed too much by the blind hole or the edge of the blind hole.

A stroke height marking is arranged in the distance in front of the blind hole. This is usually a simple line or notch that indicates to the trainee when the club head must have reached its lowest point to prevent the ball from being doped. It should be hit by the putter head in such a way that it rolls and does not jump. The said stroke height marking helps here.

It was pointed out earlier that the marking on the underside for swing exercises should be as colored as possible. Accordingly, the invention teaches that the identification of the momentum is realized by correspondingly colored sheet metal sections, it being theoretically also possible here to stick on corresponding labels, that is to say, by appropriate plastic foils, to specify these sections or the label. Since this underside does not serve as a tread, the unevenness caused by the film would not constitute a hindrance. With the help of the training device, the trainee learns or practices a straight stroke on the green. If he manages to keep the ball straight over a certain distance, he has reached the goal of his exercise, experience has shown that the flat sheet should have a length of at least 1.5 m and a width of 30 mm. The golf ball itself usually has a larger diameter, but here the width of 30 mm is sufficient and exercises the exerciser, because this creates an optimally narrow track that forces him to swing the club head precisely and cause it to impact the golf ball , According to an appropriate design, the flat sheet is 6 mm thick in order to ensure the dimensional stability or rigidity mentioned above. The material for the flat sheet is aluminum or a similar material that provides the required properties, but it is important that a completely level track is specified over the 1.5 m in order to specify the criteria described above.

Similar to other training devices, the course of the golf ball on the flat sheet should also be practiced with appropriate inclinations, whereby it is usually important to practice the straight course described uphill. In order to be able to specify these inclinations, the invention provides that an attachment point for a small support frame is provided on one or both ends of the flat sheet. This trestle can be connected to the flat sheet via the attachment points, so that an exact position of the flat sheet is also ensured. With the straight course, a bend to one or the other side is usually not desired and possible, especially since it is about practicing the straight putt.

According to a further expedient embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the starting point is designed to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the flat plate, so that in this way the inclination of the flat plate can be changed according to the wishes or requirements. The starting point will usually be a longitudinal slot, into which the head of the small trestle is inserted and then after the corresponding To be able to slide rotation back and forth in this longitudinal slot, for example in the longitudinal direction.

For optimal guidance of the golf ball on the flat sheet, it is important that the exerciser has his head exactly above the golf ball. Then the meeting point is also optimal, which the putter has to find in order to bring the golf ball straight on the path. This is achieved according to the invention in that a flat mirror is assigned to the end of the flat sheet having the blind hole, which has a marking for the right or left eye of the golfer. The golfer then stands over this end of the training device or flat sheet, tries to bring his own eye in line with that on the flat mirror in the flat mirror, so that he is then sure that his head is perfectly positioned and then also swinging and to ensure swinging through. The flat mirror has a recess that allows it to be pushed over the flat sheet end, so that the exact position of the flat mirror is always predetermined and guaranteed. It also cannot be moved accidentally, which would make it more difficult for the golfer to level it.

The entire training device should be used both at home and in the office as well as on the putting green on the golf course. This is achieved according to the invention in that an inlay is provided which has holders for the flat sheet, a training manual, the flat mirror and preferably three golf balls and a target ring and which is designed to be insertable into an adapted and also a putter with a receiving packaging tube. This means that all of the parts required for practicing can be easily transported in the packaging tube without the risk that one of the parts is not at hand when practicing. The inlay has appropriate brackets that fix the flat sheet, as well as the arrangement of the training manual, the flat game, etc. This allows the golfer to take his training device with him to any location, the total length being no more than around 1.5 m must be in order to arrange the individual parts safely, so that the entire training device remains easy to transport.

The exact point of impact of the putter on the golf ball is important. In order to specify an exercise for this, too, the invention provides that the inlay has an adhesive surface for several impact circles, which are designed to be connectable to the striking surface of the putter via these. These impact circles are nothing more than a small cylinder that is glued to the center of the putter and that only allows the golf ball to run straight when the golf ball hits this cylinder surface in the exact center. After practicing several times, the practicing and training person quickly learns to guide the putter in such a way that the golf ball is always hit in the center.

The invention is characterized in particular by the fact that a training device is created which can be used by the golfer for exercise purposes both at home and in other places, but above all on the green. Above all, the flat sheet with its colored markings offers an optimal training aid, which first shows the correct backswing, meeting area and swing, so that the trainee can start his exercises with it. If he then feels that he has carried out this swing in an optimized manner and can achieve it stably, he takes the same flat sheet, turns it over and places a golf ball in or on the blind hole and then executes the previously practiced stroke. If he has practiced correctly, he immediately sees that the golf ball runs exactly in the middle of the flat sheet to its end and then falls into the target ring arranged there. He can carry out these exercises several times and without much effort, whereby he supports these exercises with the Impact Circle and can also correct and train his head posture with the flat mirror. All in all, a training device is created that enables all the exercises that are important for successful putting and that gives the trainee such security that he can then guide his putts on the green with such accuracy that he can punch in the middle, taking into account the course of the green , Only then, if the ball runs exactly in the middle of the green and reaches it exactly in the middle, it is ensured that it also falls into the hole. Otherwise there is always the risk that the ball will pass the edge of the hole and then a putt will be necessary again. The owner of such a training device can practice all this in such a way that such putts no longer fail. If the trainee makes mistakes and even the smallest mistakes, the trainee will notice this immediately on the run of the golf ball on the flat sheet, so that he can correct this error with appropriate exercises.

Further details and advantages of the subject matter of the invention emerge from the following description of the associated drawing, in which a preferred exemplary embodiment is shown with the individual parts required for this. Show it:

F Fiigguurr 11 is a plan view of a flat sheet,

FIG. 2 top view of the rear end of the flat sheet, specifically on its underside,

FIG. 3 shows a section through this area of the flat sheet,

FIG. 4 shows a section through the front area of the flat sheet,

Figure 5 shows the rear end of the flat sheet with flat mirror and

Manual,

FIG. 6 shows the front end of the flat sheet with the target ring,

FIG. 7 shows a target ring in a side view with an upper incision,

8 shows the preferably same target ring with a lower incision, FIG. 99 shows a plan view of the target ring according to FIGS

Figure 10 shows a putter with a putter head and an attached impact circle.

The training device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 10 consists of

Essentially from the flat sheet 2 specifying the track 3. FIG. 1 shows a plan view, it being recognizable that this flat flat sheet 2 has a characteristic curve 5 in the center, which makes it easier for the golfer, from the blind bore 7 and thus from the opposite end 8, the golf ball 10 towards the end of 25 move. The characteristic curve 5, as shown in FIG. 3, is integrated in the surface 6 of the flat sheet 2 in such a way that the running of the golf ball 10 is not impaired thereby.

The top view according to FIG. 1 shows at a distance from the blind bore 7 in

Towards the opposite end 8 a stroke height marking 9 which makes it easier for the golf player to hit the golf ball 10 in so far as he must have the putter (not shown here) at the height of the golf ball 10 at this point at the latest. A characteristic curve 11 is also present between the blind bore 7 and the stroke height marking 9.

The rear or better the underside 14 of the flat sheet 2 is shown in a detail in FIG. 2, wherein it can be seen that at the level of the blind bore 7 a marking 18, reflecting the meeting area 16, is applied. In the direction of the opposite end 8, the part relating to the recess is marked and 17 is the through swing. The trainee thus receives the indication of how far he has to move the putter from the golf ball 10, ie from the hit area 16, at least backwards and also how far he has to move it forward in order to achieve a uniform stroke. Either these are color-coded sheet metal sections 19, 19 ', 19 "or else glued-on color foils which reflect the corresponding markings 18. The exercising person first exercises in a swinging manner parallel to the flat sheet 2, in order to then turn over the flat sheet 2 after corresponding knowledge and exercises and then to hit or move the golf ball 10 lying on the flat sheet 2 according to Figure 3 with the putter 30. The golf ball 10 then runs on the flat sheet 2 to the end 25 of the flat sheet 2, where on the underside 14 a starting point 23 for a support bracket 24, which is also shown here, is provided, so that an ascending line can be specified for the golf ball 10. The support bracket 24 can be displaced in the attachment point 23, so as to change the inclination of the rigid flat sheet 2 in accordance with the requirements Figure 4 is this starting point 23 as a kind of bracket reproduced, in which the base 24 can be inserted. As a rule, however, it will be the case that a groove is predetermined in the flat sheet 2, in which the support bracket 24 can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the flat sheet 2.

FIG. 5 again shows the top view according to FIG. 1, only that here

Flat mirror 20 is attached, which has a recess 22 so that it can be pushed over the opposite end 8 of the flat plate 2 in order to always maintain the same position. A mark 21 is provided on this flat mirror 20, which then ensures an optimal head posture when the exerciser has brought his right eye or left eye for left-handers to coincide with the mark 21.

It is also indicated in FIG. 5 that in the case of an inlay which is not shown here and which receives the flat sheet 2, a training manual 27 can also be made available to the exerciser, which contains correspondingly written instructions for him.

According to FIG. 6, the end 25 of the flat sheet 2 opens into a target ring 26, so that the feeling of being punched in is also optimized for the exerciser. The target ring 26 can also take over the function of the support bracket 24 by having corresponding recesses 28 and / or 29, so that the flat sheet 2 has a more or less slope in the direction of the target ring 26. These recesses 28, 29 are shown in Figures 7 and 8 and also 9. It can be seen that a secure support and fixation of the flat sheet 2 can be achieved through these recesses 28, 29 in the target ring 26.

Finally, FIG. 10 shows a sketched putter 30, on the striking surface 32 of which an impact circle 31 is arranged, which is applied to the striking surface 32 exactly at the optimum striking point, that is to say, in particular, is glued on. If the exerciser does not hit the golf ball 10 exactly in the middle of the impact circle 31 when using the flat sheet 2, that is to say the training device 1, the golf ball 10 automatically takes the wrong course and falls off Flat sheet 2 down. On the other hand, if it hits the Impact Circle 31 exactly in the center, the golf ball runs exactly as it should, so that the exercise that the training device offers to the exerciser is optimized.

All of the features mentioned, including those that can be seen in the drawings alone, are regarded as essential to the invention, alone and in combination.

Claims

claims

1. Training device for putting on golf with an artificial raceway (3), which is designed to be portable and can be combined at the end with a target ring (26) corresponding to the “hole”, characterized in that the raceway (3) is a narrow flat sheet (2) is formed, which is designed to be consistently flat and rigid and has a length corresponding to the average putting path on the "green".

2. Training device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flat sheet (2) in the middle of the raceway (3) has a characteristic curve (5) indicating the optimal putting path, which is not designed to change the surface (6) of the raceway (3).

3. Training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the underside (14) of the flat sheet (2) an optimized back swing (15), impact area (16) and the swing (17) is provided for identification (18).

4. Training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the end ring (26) which can be combined with the target ring (26) of the flat plate (2) opposite end (8) a golf ball (10) is fixed pocket hole (7).

5. Training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a stroke height marking (9) is arranged at a distance in front of the blind bore (7).

6. Training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the identification of the swing (18) is realized by correspondingly colored sheet metal sections (19).

7. Training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flat sheet (2) has a length of at least 1.5 m and a width of 30 mm.

8. Training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at one or both ends (8; 25) of the flat sheet (2) a starting point (23) is provided for a single small trestle (24).

9. Training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the starting point (23) is designed to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the flat sheet (2).

10. Training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blind hole (7) having the end (8) of the flat sheet (2) is associated with a flat mirror (20) which has a marking (21) for the right or left eye of the Golfers has.

11. Training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an inlay is provided, the holders for the flat sheet (2), a training manual (27), the flat mirror (20) and preferably three golf balls (10) and a target ring (26 ) and which is designed to be insertable into an adapted and also a putter (30) with a receiving packaging tube.

12. Training device according to claim 10, characterized in that the inlay has an adhesive surface for a plurality of impact circles (31) which are designed so as to be detachable and releasably connectable to the striking surface (32) of the putter (30).