WO2013049865A2

WO2013049865A2 - Sports practice aid

Info

Publication number: WO2013049865A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2012/000060
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin Leon SMITH
Original assignee: Smith Martin Leon
Priority date: 2011-10-01
Filing date: 2012-10-01
Publication date: 2013-04-04
Also published as: WO2013049865A3; ZA201502078B

Abstract

A sports practice aid is provided for aiding the striking accuracy of a stationary ball by a user. The sports practice aid includes a mat with a plurality of indicators thereon allowing a user to align himself relative a ball and target so as to aid the striking of the ball in a consistent manner and direction.

Description

SPORTS PRACTICE AID

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a sports practice aid. More particularly, the invention relates to a sports practice aid for aiding the accurate striking of a stationary ball by a user. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The striking of a stationary ball by a user is common in the sports of rugby, soccer, golf and the like. The technique generally involves the steps of positioning the ball on the ground, alignment of user, ball and target, and striking of the ball by a ball impact means such as a foot, golf club or the like.

The applicant believes that a sports practice aid as described herein is advantageous in that it aids a user in aligning himself and a ball correctly and consistently relative to a target according to a desired trajectory of flight path to be followed. More particularly, the indicators serve to aid a user in visualizing a path to be followed before during and after impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a sports practice aid including:- a mat which is shaped and configured to be laid on a surface;

a plurality of indicators arranged thereon to allow a user to align himself relative a ball so as to aid the striking of the ball in a consistent manner and direction in use.

The sports practice aid may have an aperture defined in the mat which may be positioned substantially central or operative rearward region of the mat. The aperture may be of any suitable geometrical shape. The aperture may be configured to receive a kicking tee therein. The aperture may be configured to receive a golf ball, typically so as to allow a golf club to impact the golf ball without being impeded by the mat in use.

The mat may be of any suitable geometrical shape, typically shaped. The mat may be formed from any suitable viscoelastic material having Shore hardness preferably of between 60 and 65 degrees.

The indicators may include a target indicator which may extend generally along a longitudinal axis of the mat.

The indicators may include a pair of set up indicators which may be arranged to radiate from a ball positioning location at an angle in the region of 45 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the mat. The indicators may include a first pair of ball striking indicators which may be arranged to radiate from a ball positioning location at an angle in the region of 30 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the mat.

The indicators may include a second pair of ball striking indicators which may be arranged to radiate from a ball positioning location at an angle in the region of 15 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the mat.

The indicators may include a plurality of orientation indicators wherein a first orientation indicator may be arranged to radiate from a ball positioning location at an angle in the region of 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the mat. A second and third orientation indicator may be arranged to radiate from a ball positioning location on either side of the first orientation indicator at an angle in the region of 30 degrees relative thereto. The indicators may be defined by way of of any one or more of the group including arrows, dotted lines and lines and/or any combination thereof. The indicators may be of contrasting colour relative to the mat to improve visibility thereof.

The invention also includes method for using the sports practice aid wherein the method consists of the steps of:- placing the mat on the ground with a target indicator pointing towards a target; positioning of a ball within a ball positioning location in the mat;

aligning the user relative to the ball and the target by means of set up indicators;

the user approaching and impacting the ball at an area aligned with either the first or second ball striking indicators; and

following through with the ball impacting means in alignment with either the first or second ball striking indicators.

a sports practice aid for aiding the striking of a stationary ball by a user, which sports aid includes:

a mat which is shaped and configured to be laid on a surface; and a plurality of indicators or markings arranged on the mat to allow to a user to align himself relative a ball so as to aid the striking of the ball in a consistent manner and direction in use.

Of course, the various indicators can be arranged to extend at any angle relative to the target indicator according to a user's particular requirements.

The indicators may be applied to the mat using any conventional mark applying technique such as painting, screen printing or the like. The target, ball striking, set up and orientation indicators may be of different colours so as to provide a clear contrast for the user and thus improve the likelihood of him following the preferred path or arc while practicing. The sport practice aid may also be in the form of a ring or annular shaped member having arrow shaped target, set up and ball striking indicators as described hereinabove extending radially therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a practice aid in accordance with the invention; and Figures 2 is a three dimensional view of the practice aid as shown in figure 1 incorporating a rugby ball kicking tee and ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally depicts a practice aid for aiding the striking of a stationary rugby ball by a user. More particularly, the sports practice aid includes a generally oval shaped mat

12 which is shaped and configured to be laid on a surface such as the ground, with a plurality of indicators or markings to be described in detail below, arranged on the mat 10, to allow a user (not shown) to align himself relative a ball 14 so as to aid the striking of the ball 14 in a consistent manner and direction in use.

The mat 12 has a generally circular aperture or hole 16 defined therein which is arranged slightly off centre and towards an operative rearward end region of the mat 12. The aperture 16 is configured and/or dimensioned to receive a rugby ball kicking tee 18 complementally therein.

The indicators include a target indicator 20 in the form of a line or arrow which is arranged to extend diametrically the aperture 16 and longitudinally the mat 12 in a so called 6 to 12 o'clock orientation to allow the mat 12 to be aligned towards a target (not shown).

A pair of offset or set up indicators 22 in the form of arrow or lines are arranged to extend radially either side rearwards of the aperture 16 at an angle of 45° relative to the 6 o'clock line of the target indicator 20.2. Typically, the set up indicators 22 are provided to allow a user to orientate or align his kicking foot at an angle of 45° relative to the 6 o'clock target indicator 20.2 at a position slightly rearwards the rugby ball 14 at an address position while lining himself up to kick the ball 14. In the address position, the user's other foot would typically be arranged to extend slightly forward aside of the ball and substantially parallel the target indicator 20 towards the target. A pair of ball striking indicators 24 in the form of lines or arrows are arranged to extend diametrically either side of the aperture at an angle of 30° relative to the target indicator 20 thereby to describe follow through paths or arcs to be followed by the kicker's foot before, during and after impact. More particularly, the ball striking indicators 24 are arranged to extend diametrically the aperture from 7 to 1 o'clock and from 5 to 11 o'clock relative the target indicator 20 for right and left footed kickers respectively to encourage a so called draw ball flight or trajectory towards the target. It is possible to kick a ball straight as well with this technique. The more right of 12 o' clock one kicks, the more it will draw and visa versa for left footed kickers.

Further ball striking indicators 26 in the form of arrows are arranged to extend diametrically between so as to bisect the target indicator 20.1 and the first mentioned ball striking indicators 24. These further ball striking indicators 26 provide a most preferred backswing and follow through path or arc to be followed by the user in use.

Further orientation indicators 28, 30 and 32 are arranged to extend diametrically from 9 to 3, 8 to 2 and 4 to 10 o'clock respectively relative to the target indicator. It is of course to be appreciated that a sports practice aid as herein described is not limited to the precise constructional and functional details and which may be varied as desired.

Claims

1. A sports practice aid including:

a mat which is shaped and configured to be laid on a surface;

2. A sports practice aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein an aperture is defined in the mat.

3. A sports practice aid as claimed in claim 2 wherein the aperture is positioned substantially central the mat.

4. A sports practice aid as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the aperture is of any suitable geometrical shape.

5. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the aperture is configured to receive a kicking tee therein.

6. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the aperture is positioned towards an operative rearward region of the mat.

7. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the aperture is configured to receive a golf ball.

8. A sports practice aid as claimed in claim 7 wherein the aperture is configured so as to allow a golf club to impact the golf ball without being impeded by the mat in use.

9. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the mat is of any suitable geometrical shape.

10. A sports practice aid a claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the mat is oval shaped.

11. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the mat is of a viscoelastic material.

12. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the material has a Shore hardness of between 60 and 65 degrees.

13. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the indicators include a target indicator.

14. A sports practice aid as claimed in claim 13 wherein the target indicator extends generally along a longitudinal axis of the mat.

15. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the indicators include a pair of set up indicators.

16. A sports practice aid as claimed in claim 15 wherein the pair of set up indicators is arranged to radiate from a ball positioning location at an angle in the region of 45 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the mat.

17. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the indicators include a first pair of ball striking indicators.

18. A sports practice aid as claimed in claim 17 wherein the first pair of ball striking indicators is arranged to radiate from a ball positioning location at an angle in the region of 30 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the mat.

19. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the indicators include a second pair of ball striking indicators.

20. A sports practice aid as claimed in claim 19 wherein the second pair of ball striking indicators is arranged to radiate from a ball positioning location at an angle in the region of 15 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the mat.

21 A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the indicators include a plurality of orientation indicators.

22. A sports practice aid as claimed in claim 21 wherein a first orientation indicator is arranged to radiate from a ball positioning location at an angle in the region of 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the mat.

23. A sports practice aid as claimed in claim 21 or 22 wherein a second and third orientation indicator are arranged to radiate from a ball positioning location on either side of the first orientation indicator at an angle in the region of 30 degrees relative thereto.

24. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein at least two of the indicators are defined by way of arrows.

25. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein at least two of the indicators are defined by way of lines.

26. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein at least two of the indicators are defined by way of dotted lines.

27. A sports practice aid as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the indicators are of contrasting colour relative to the mat to improve visibility thereof.

28. A method for using the sports practice aid wherein the method consists of the steps of:

placing the mat on the ground with a target indicator pointing towards a target; positioning of a ball within a ball positioning location in the mat;

29. A sports practice aid, according to the invention, substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.