WO2013083944A1

WO2013083944A1 - A practice golf club

Info

Publication number: WO2013083944A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/000886
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roger John Brooks
Original assignee: Trueplane Golf Ltd
Priority date: 2011-12-07
Filing date: 2012-12-06
Publication date: 2013-06-13
Also published as: GB201121038D0

Abstract

A practice golf club (1) other than a putter is provided for use in training a golfer to achieve a desired swing stroke. The club (1) comprises a shaft (2) and a club head (3). The club head (3) is comprises at least one anchorage point (5) to which one end of an elastic resistance band is attachable. Preferably, the anchorage point (5) comprises a loop (6; 10a, 10b, 10c) or an eye (12a, 12b) defined by the club head (3) or secured to the club head (3). In some embodiments, a resistance band (14) may be permanently attached to the anchorage point (5).

Description

A PRACTICE GOLF CLUB The present invention relates to a practice golf club other than a putter for use in training a golfer to swing a standard golf club to achieve a desired golf swing stroke. The game of golf involves a variety of different strokes which are traditionally either swing shots or, when on the green, putts. Swing shots include long shots made with a full swing, for example when driving off or hitting a long shot to a green, shots made with a shorter swing (such as three-quarter swing or half swing), for example when hitting a fairly short shot to a green, and short shots such as chips, bunker shots and pitches that are usually made close to the green. When playing a long shot with a full swing, the club needs to be swung in such a way that it is moving at high speed when it strikes the ball. The path and orientation of the club head also need to be precise. A straight shot requires the path of the club head at impact to be along the intended direction of the shot and the angle of the striking face to be at right angles to the intended direction of the shot. Small errors in either the path of the club head or the angle of the striking face can cause the shot to miss the intended target by a considerable distance. In addition the ability to hit the ball a long way is a significant advantage and requires the club head to be moving at high speed when it contacts the ball.

When swinging the club the movements of the body must be coordinated so as to move the club in the appropriate way to achieve the desired shot. Improving these movements (i.e. the technique) can make a big difference to a golfer's performance in achieving greater power, accuracy and consistency. Learning and improving at golf is difficult because it can be hard to sense how the club is moving and to identify errors in technique. Training the body to improve the movements is also difficult due to the level of coordination and precision required and also because the movements are fast in the full swing. Providing some resistance to the movement of the club can be very helpful in golf training by giving the golfer a stronger sensation of the movements being made, by giving the golfer clearer feedback of incorrect movements, by helping the body to learn the correct sequence of movements, and by strengthening the appropriate muscles. This can be helpful for all golf shots. The object of the present invention is to provide a practice golf club other than a putter for use in training a golfer to hit swing shots that can be used in a manner that provides resistance to the movement of the club during practice swings.

According to the present invention there is provided a practice golf club other than a putter comprising a shaft and a club head, the club head comprising at least one anchorage point suitable for the attachment of one end of an elastic resistance band to the club head. The use of an elastic resistance band with a practice golf club provides resistance to the movement of the club when a golfer practises golf swings with the club. This assists in training the golfer to hit shots consistently and accurately as indicated above.

Preferably, the club is in the style of an iron club or a wood, with a club head in the former case being either in the form of a blade or having a cavity back.

Preferably also, the anchorage point comprises a loop or an eye defined by the club head or secured to the club head. In the case of the former, the club head may be formed so that the loop or eye is integrally formed in the structure of the club head, for example by moulding or by forging, whereas in the case of the latter, the loop may be secured to the club head, for example by the use of at least one fastener or by welding.

Preferably also, said one anchorage point is located at a toe end or a heel end of the club head or is located intermediate the toe end and a heel end of the club head. As the club is only a practice club, the anchorage point may be located on a striking face of the club or beneath the club head. For example, the anchorage point may comprise either a loop that projects outwards from a striking face of the club head or an eye that passes through the striking face of the club head. Alternatively or in addition, the anchorage point may comprise a loop that projects upwards or downwards from the club head.

In this regard it should be noted that the rules of golf as regards allowable club designs (c.f. A guide to the Rules of Clubs and Balls by R&A Rules Limited, Edition 3.1, January 2010) do not allow holes through the striking face of the club or through the club head unless the club head has a cavity back and the hole or holes cannot be viewed from above. Nor are features allowed that extend into or ahead of the face. Hence, the aforementioned anchorage points of the present invention would not be permitted on a golf club for use in a game as they can be viewed from above and may extend into or ahead of the striking face. However, in the present invention although the anchorage point may comprise a hole through the striking face or a loop that projects outwards from the striking face, the club is only a practice club which would be unsuitable and may be illegal as regards the current rules of golf for use in a game. The club has also not been designed for the purpose of striking a ball.

As an alternative to or in addition to the aforementioned locations of the anchorage point, the anchorage point may be located on a hosel of the club head.

Preferably also, a plurality of anchorage points is provided. Preferably also, the shaft is provided with a training grip.

Preferably also, the club has a length that is less than 860 mm. This means that it is shorter than the length of a standard adult golf club. 4

In some embodiments the club head and/or the shaft are comprised of a moulded plastics material. Advantageously, the shaft and the club head are integrated to form a one-piece construction. In other embodiments the elastic resistance band is permanently secured to the anchorage point.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:-

Fig. l is a side view of a first embodiment of practice golf club according to the present invention;

Figs. 2a and 2b are front and plan views respectively and to an enlarged scale of a club head of a second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3a is a front view of a club head of a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3b is a side view of the club head shown in Fig. 3a that has been modified to show additional anchorage points;

Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2b of a club head of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 5a, 5b and 5c are schematic views showing use of a practice golf club according to the present invention at two alternative starting positions and at the finish of a downswing exercise respectively; Figs. 6a and 6b are schematic views showing use of a practice golf club according to the present invention during the backswing and at the finish of a chipping exercise respectively; and Figs. 7a and 7b are schematic views showing use of a golf club according to the present invention at the start and finish respectively of an exercise for practising the start of a backswing or a takeaway. A practice golf club 1 according to the present invention comprises a shaft 2 and a club head 3. Standard adult golf clubs are usually between 860 and 1220 mm (34 to 48 inches) in length. The club 1 may be of such a standard length but is preferably less than 860 mm in length so that it can be used for practising swings indoors and in other confined spaces. Typically, its shaft 2 will be around 550 mm long. In this regard, although the club 1 could be used to practice actually hitting a golf ball, more usually it will be used for practising swinging the club and no golf ball will actually be struck. Hence, although the shaft 2 and the club head 3 can be made of any materials, for example with a traditional steel shaft 2 and club head 3, it is also possible for the club head 3 and/or the shaft 2 to be made of any suitable material and to be comprised of moulded plastics materials. In particular, in some embodiments the shaft 2 and the club head 3 may be integrated, for example by moulding or welding, to form a one-piece construction and may comprise a one-piece plastics moulding. The club 1 may also comprise any type or style of club other than a putter, for example a wood, an iron or a hybrid of these. In the case of an iron club, the club head may be in the form of a blade or have a cavity back. The club 1 also comprises a grip 4. This may be a standard grip in accordance with the rules of golf. Advantageously, however, the grip 4 is a training grip that is provided with moulded portions such as ridges, grooves or depressions between or in which the golfer can locate his or her fingers so that the golfer is trained to hold the grip 4 in a particular manner suitable for practicing swing shots. In all embodiments of the club l, the club head 3 is adapted to provide at least one anchorage point 5 to which one end of an elastic resistance band is attachable. In a first embodiment of club 1, as shown in Fig. 1, the anchorage point 5 comprises a projecting loop or eye 6 that is located on the striking face 7 of the club head 3 intermediate a toe end 8 and a heel end 9 of the club head 3. This loop or eye 6 may be secured to the club head 3 in any convenient fashion, for example by the use of welding or by at least one fastener, such as a screw, nut and bolt or similar form of securement. Advantageously, however, the club head 3 may be moulded, forged and/or welded such that the loop or eye 6 is integrated into the structure of the club head 3. Such an arrangement is used in the second embodiment of club head 3 that is shown in Figs. 2a and 2b. Here, the club head 3 comprises a plurality of moulded-in loops 10a, 10b and 10c that are located at the toe end 8, on the striking face 7 and on a back surface 11 of the club head 3 respectively. The loops 10b and 10c project respectively outwards from the striking face 7 and the back surface 11 of the club head 3, for example substantially at right angles to the shaft 2 or to the striking face 7.

In a third embodiment of club head 3, as shown in Fig. 3a and with possible modifications in Fig. 3b, the anchorage points comprise eyes or holes 12a and 12b that are formed in and through the club head itself. The eyes 12a and 12b may be formed by boring holes through the club head 3 but advantageously they are formed by moulding them into the structure of the club head 3 when it is cast. Preferably, one of the eyes 12a is located at the toe end 8 of the club head, as shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, or at the heel end 9 of the club head. The other eye 12b may be located intermediate the toe end 8 and the heel end 9 of the club head 3 as also shown in Figs. 3a and 3b. These eyes 12a and 12b pass through the striking face 7 of the club head. In an alternative or in addition, loop 12c and or loop i2d may be formed beneath or above the club head 3 respectively as shown in Fig. 3b. These loops 12c and i2d have the advantage that they can be used for the attachment of a forward or backward extending resistance band. Also, although it makes the club unusable for actually hitting a ball, the loop 12c has the advantage of being hidden from view during use of the club. A club 1 according to the invention also comprises a hosel 13, which is the portion of the club head 3 where it attaches to the shaft 2. In some embodiments of the invention, the anchorage point 5 may be in the form of an eye or loop lod that is located on the hosel 13, for example as shown in Fig. 2a, as an alternative or an addition to one or more of the moulded-in loops 10a, 10b and 10c.

Fig. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of club head 3 wherein the moulded-in loops 10b and 10c take the form of lugs or flanges that project outwards from the club head 3 and that define holes therein.

In the embodiments of golf club 1 shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the anchorage points 5 are intended to be secured to a detachable elastic resistance band of conventional construction. Such bands are conventionally used in exercise work-outs and training regimes to provide a predetermined degree of resistance to movement. Typically, they are provided with a snap hook or safety spring hook on at least one end and this can be used to attach the band to one of the anchorage points 5 of a golf club 1 in accordance with the invention. However, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments of the invention an elastic resistance band may be permanently secured to an anchorage point 5 on the club head 3 by an appropriate fastener or fasteners, for example by screwing into a tapped bore. Alternatively, other clips can be used or the band can be knotted after it has been passed through the loop or eye. In use, the golf club 1 is used for practising various golf shots and parts of golf shots by securing one end of a resistance band 14 to one of the anchorage points of the club 1 if not already attached thereto and by securing the other end of the resistance band to a fixed point. For example, indoors the other end of the resistance band 14 may be secured beneath or above a closed door so that it is clamped between the door and the floor or the door frame whereas outdoors the band may be secured to a post or stake. This end of the band may be appropriately adapted by the provision of a loop, a clip, door stop component or similar so that it can be secured in position. When the golfer practises various shots or parts thereof, the resistance band 14 resists movement of the club and gives the golfer a strong sensation of the movements being made and thereby provides feedback of these movements. This assists the golfer to identify poor movements and to learn a correct sequence of movements for each shot. It also strengthens appropriate muscles. It will be appreciated that during such practice, it is not intended that the golfer hit an actual golf ball but that he or she practises the manoeuvres and movements involved in the various shots. However, for shots with a short swing, such as chip shots, a ball could be struck.

Figs. 5a to 7b show use of the golf club 1 with such a resistance band 14. The free end of the resistance band 14 may be secured at or near ground level at a location 15, for example beneath a closed door, as shown in Figs. 7a and 7b, or to the bottom of a stake or post on one side of a golfer 16. -Alternatively, the free end of the resistance band 14 may be secured at a location 17 above * the golfer 16, as shown in Figs 5a to 6b. Such a location may be at the top of a closed door or near the top of a tall stake or post. The resistance band 14 should preferably remain taut during part of the practice stroke so the golfer 16 should stand a sufficient distance from the location 15 or 17 to ensure that this is the case.

Figs. 5a, 5b and 5c show use of the golf club 1 at two alternative starting positions and at the finish respectively of a downswing exercise for a full swing shot. Here the free end of the resistance band 14 should be secured to a fixed point on the backswing side of the golfer 16. At the commencement of the exercise, as shown in Fig. 5a, the golf club 1 is raised so that the club head 3 is approximately at the level of the golfer's head. This starting position is in the middle of the downswing for a full swing. Alternatively, at the commencement of the exercise, as shown in Fig. 5b, the golf club 1 is held with the club head level with the golfer's waist or hips at the position in the downswing just before striking the ball. In both cases, the resistance band 14 should be taut in these club head positions. The club 1 is then swung to a finish position wherein the club 1 is held directly in front of the golfer 16, as shown in Fig. 5c, at which in a game of golf the club head 3 would impact the ball. During the exercise, the resistance band 14 exerts an increasing pull on the club head 3 which is felt by the golfer 16. Figs. 6a and 6b show use of the golf club 1 to practise short swing shots such as chipping shots. At the start of the exercise, the golf club 1 is preferably held at the address position and then swung to the end of the backswing at an angle approximately 45° to the vertical behind the hypothetical position of the ball as shown in Fig. 6a. The club is then swung through impact to the follow-through position at a similar orientation but on the other side of the golfer 16, as shown in Fig. 6b.

It will be appreciated that in the above examples, the pull exerted by the resistance band 14 increases during travel of the golf club 1 towards and after impact of a hypothetical ball. However, when practising a takeaway or backswing portion of a swing shot, it is advantageous for the pull exerted by the resistance band 14 to increase as the golf club 1 moves away from the ball. Figs.7a and 7b show use of a golf club at the start and finish respectively of such a takeaway exercise. Here, the free end of the resistance band 14 should be secured at a location 15 at or near ground level and the golfer 16 should stand with the location 15 on his or her forward swing side. Then, when the golfer 16 moves from a start position as shown in Fig. 7a with the club 1 in a position addressing the ball to a finish position as shown in Fig. 7b, the resistance band 14 exerts an increasing pull on the club head 3 which is felt by the golfer 16.

It will be appreciated that the practice manoeuvres shown in Figs. 5a to 7b are only examples of many ways in which a practice golf club in accordance with the present invention may be used and persons skilled in the art will be able to devise other suitable manoeuvres, exercises and practice strokes for the club. In particular, in some of these exercises, the resistance band can be used to pull the club through the practice shot or a part of it.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A practice golf club other than a putter comprising a shaft and a club head, the club head comprising at least one anchorage point suitable for the attachment of one end of an elastic resistance band to the club head.

2. A club as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the club is in the style of an iron club or a wood, with a club head in the former case being either in the form of a blade or having a cavity back.

3. A club as claimed in Claim l or Claim 2, wherein the anchorage point comprises a loop or an eye defined by the club head or secured to the club head.

4. A club as claimed in any of Claims l to 3 , wherein the anchorage point comprises a loop or an eye that is integrally formed in the structure of the club head.

5. A club as claimed in any of Claims i to 3, wherein the anchorage point comprises a loop or eye secured to the club head by at least one fastener or by welding.

6. A club as claimed in any of Claims ι to 5, wherein the club head defines a striking face and a back surface and the anchorage point comprises a loop that projects outwards from the striking face or the back surface of the club head.

7. A club as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the club head defines a striking face and the anchorage point comprises an eye that passes through the striking face of the club head.

8. A club as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the anchorage point is located at a toe end or a heel end of the club head or is located intermediate the toe end and a heel end of the club head.

9. A club as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the anchorage point comprises a loop that projects upwards or downwards from the club head.

10. A club as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the club head comprises a hosel and the anchorage point is located on the hosel.

11. A club as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein a plurality of anchorage points is provided.

12. A club as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the shaft is provided with a training grip.

13. A club as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 12, that has a length less than 860 mm.

14. A club as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the club head and/or the shaft are comprised of a moulded plastics material.

15. A club as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the shaft and the club head are integrated to form a one-piece construction.

16. A club as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein an elastic resistance band is permanently secured to the anchorage point.