WO2018020265A1

WO2018020265A1 - An improved golf aid

Info

Publication number: WO2018020265A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/052210
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Irvine
Original assignee: John Irvine
Priority date: 2016-07-28
Filing date: 2017-07-28
Publication date: 2018-02-01
Also published as: GB201613017D0

Abstract

A golf aid (10, 100) is provided. The golf aid (10, 100) is positionable relative to a golf ball, and comprises an elongate sight line member (20, 112), which defines a sight line between a ball to be addressed and a target. The golf aid (10, 100) also comprises an elongate aligning member (12, 122) for aligning a golfer with the ball, the aligning member (12, 122) defining a line which intersects the sight line at a position where the ball is located. The golf aid (10, 100) also comprises a spacer member (21, 110) offset from and slideably connected to the aligning member (12, 122), such that the offset of the spacer member (21, 110 ) perpendicular to the aligning member (12,122) can be varied. The spacer member (21, 110) is adapted to support the sight line member (20, 112) in a position such that the sight line member (20, 112) extends perpendicular to the aligning member (12, 122). The golf aid (10, 100) also comprises a marker means (26, 142) adapted to mark a position for a golfer's feet. The marker means (26, 142) is adjustably connected to one of the elongate aligning member (12, 122) and the spacer member (21, 110) such that the distance between the marker means (26, 142) and the sight line is adjustable.

Description

AN IMPROVED GOLF AID

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to golf aids, and in particular golf aids which are positioned relative to a golf ball to improve a golfer's stroke and/or targeting ability.

Background of the Invention

A golfer may employ a number of different golf training aids to improve their stroke and/or targeting ability. One such golf aid is disclosed in GB2259860A.

The golf aid disclosed includes a sight line means, aligning means and a marker means. The sight line means defines a sight line between the ball and the target, and the aligning means defines a line that intersects the sight line at the position of the ball. The marker means is provided for locating the golfer's feet.

In use, to strike an accurate shot, the golfer must strike the ball with a golf club such that a face of the golf club strikes the ball parallel to the line defined by the aligning means, thereby ensuring that the face of the golf club is perpendicular to the sight line. It can be difficult to align the golf aid of GB2259860A accurately to ensure that the face of the golf club is parallel to the aligning means at the point of striking the ball.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved golf aid. Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf aid positionable relative to a golf ball comprising:

an elongate sight line member defining a sight line between a ball to be addressed and a target;

an elongate aligning member for aligning a golfer with the ball, the aligning member defining a line which intersects the sight line at a position where the ball is located; a spacer member offset from and slideably connected to the aligning member, such that the offset of the spacer member perpendicular to the aligning member can be varied, the spacer member being adapted to support the sight line member in a position such that the sight line member extends perpendicular to the aligning member; and

a marker means adapted to mark a position for a golfer's feet, the marker means being adjustably connected to one of the elongate aligning member and the spacer member such that the distance between the marker means and the sight line is adjustable.

The present invention allows the golfer to vary the distance the sight line member is from the aligning member, to ensure that it does not interfere with the club head when the golfer hits the ball. The aligning member may have a longitudinal edge defining the line which intersects the sight line at the position where the ball is located.

The width of the elongate member may be in the range of 40-45mm. The golf aid may comprise an elongate arm connected to the aligning member for aligning a longitudinal edge of the aligning member with an edge of the golf ball.

This allows the golfer to quickly align the longitudinal edge of the aligning member with an edge of the golf ball by placing the elongate arm against one edge of the ball. The opposite edge of the elongate member is then

automatically aligned with the opposite edge of the ball.

The elongate arm may be hingedly connected to the aligning member,

wherein the elongate arm may be rotatable between a stowed position in which the elongate arm is stowed along the length of the aligning member and an aligning position in which the elongate arm extends from the aligning member to provide an alignment surface parallel to the longitudinal edge of the aligning member. This allows the golfer to more quickly align the longitudinal edge of the aligning member with an edge of the golf ball, and to remove the elongate member without moving the rest of the golf aid, to allow the shot to be played.

The elongate arm may include a plurality of positioning marks adapted to enable the positioning mark to be positioned adjacent to a golf ball.

This allows the aligning member to be placed nearer to or further from the ball, as required, but in a repeatable manner.

The spacer member may be a spacer plate.

The golfer can move the sight line member and spacer plate to the other side of the aligning member, to cater for both left and right handed players.

The spacer plate may be connected to the aligning member by a connecting rod, at least one of the spacer plate and aligning member being slideably engaged by the connecting rod.

This allows the golfer to vary the distance of the sight line member from the aligning member by simply sliding the connecting rod, and to disconnect the components of the golf aid by a simple sliding disconnection. The elongate arm may be hingedly connected to the aligning member by an aperture in the elongate arm in which the connecting rod is rotatably engaged.

This provides a simple hinge connection method, which allows the elongate arm to be fixed on either side of the aligning member, and reduces the number of components required to manufacture the golf aid. The spacer plate may comprise a plurality of passages extending across the plate perpendicular to the aligning member adapted to receive selectively the sight line member in one of a plurality of positions.

This allows the sight line member to be positioned nearer to or further from the aligning member, as required, but in a repeatable manner.

The passages may comprise a plurality of transverse holes extending across the plate perpendicular to the aligning member.

The passages may comprise a plurality of slotted channels extending across the plate perpendicular to the aligning member.

Preferably the positioning marks are arranged to align with the passages in a direction perpendicular to the aligning member.

This ensures that the ball and the sight line member can both be accurately positioned together in a number of positions.

The spacer plate may comprise a passage adapted to receive the connecting rod.

This passage may be the same as the passage for the sight line member, which simplifies manufacture and assembly of the golf aid.

The marker means may be located along a length of the aligning member.

The aligning member may comprise a longitudinal guide slot, wherein the marker means may comprise:

a guide rod extending transverse to the aligning member; and

a traveller body slideably receivable in the guide slot and adapted to receive the guide rod in a plurality of non-parallel positions. The guide slot may further comprise a plurality of position indicators or indicating labels for locating the traveller body.

This allows the golfer to locate their feet in a correct position relative to the aligning member for the particular shot they are playing.

The traveller body may comprise a plurality of apertures for receiving the guide rod, the apertures comprising transverse through holes, each through hole extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the aligning member of between 80° and 100°.

In one preferred embodiment the traveller body may comprise three apertures for receiving the guide rod, the apertures comprising transverse through holes extending at angles to the longitudinal axis of the aligning member of 84°, 90° and 96°.

This allows the golfer to locate their feet in the best position according to the particular club they are using, or the particular shot they are playing. The spacer member may be an elongate mounting rail.

The sight line member may be connected to the elongate mounting rail.

The golf aid may comprise a golf ball aligning assembly comprising the elongate aligning member and a connecting member, the elongate aligning member being adjustably secured to the elongate mounting rail by the connecting member to hold the elongate aligning member in a position substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the elongate mounting rail. The golf ball aligning assembly may comprise a fixing component for fixing the assembly to a ground surface.

The fixing component may comprise: a pin; and a block fixed to the connecting member, the block having a through hole for receiving the pin. The marker means may be located along a length of the elongate mounting rail.

The mounting rail may comprise a longitudinal guide slot. The marker means may comprise:

a guide rod extending transverse to the aligning member; and

a traveller body slideably receivable in the guide slot and adapted to receive the guide rod in a plurality of non-parallel positions. The traveller body may comprise a plurality of apertures for receiving the guide rod, the apertures comprising transverse through holes, each through hole extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the mounting rail of between 80° and 100°.

The traveller body may comprise three apertures for receiving the guide rod, the apertures comprising transverse through holes extending at angles to the longitudinal axis of the mounting rail of 84°, 90° and 96°.

The mounting rail may further comprise a plurality of position indicators for locating the traveller body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a golf aid according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the golf aid of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows a guide portion of the marker means of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 shows a detail plan view of the marker means of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of an alternative spacer plate suitable for use in the golf aid of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a further golf aid according to the present invention; Fig. 7 shows a plan view of the golf aid of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8A and 8B show components of the golf aid of Fig. 6; and Figs. 9A and 9B show the golf aid of Fig. 6 in a stowed position.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

With reference to Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown a golf aid 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The golf aid 10 includes aligning means 12 which is an elongate member that has a width W. The width W is formed to be substantially equal to the width of a golf ball 42. In some examples, the width W is formed to be 42.7mm wide so as to correspond to the width of a standard regulation golf ball which is often referred to as an "American Ball". However, in some examples of the invention, the width W of the elongate member 12 is formed to be 41.1 mm wide so as to be the same as the width of a "British Ball". In some examples, the width W is formed to be in the range 40-45mm.

Optionally, connected to the elongate member 12 is an elongate arm 14 for aligning a longitudinal edge 16 of the aligning means with an edge of the golf ball 42. The elongate arm 14 is hingedly connected to the elongate member 12 and is rotatable between a stowed position in which the elongate arm 14 is stowed along the length of the elongate member 12 and an aligning position in which the elongate arm provides an alignment surface 15 parallel to the longitudinal edge 16 of the elongate member 12. The elongate arm 14 is hingedly connected to the elongate member 12 by and rotatable about a connecting rod 18 which extends parallel to the width W of the elongate member. In the depicted example, the elongate arm 14 is depicted in the aligning position. The golf aid also includes sight line member 20. In the depicted example, the sight line member 20 is a sight line member in the form of a pointer rod.

Optionally, the pointer rod 20 is supported by a spacer plate 21. The spacer plate

21 is slideably connected to the pointer rod 20 such that the position of the spacer plate along the pointer rod may be varied. The spacer plate 21 also includes a plurality of slotted channels 22. Each channel 22 extends across the spacer plate 21 parallel with the width W of the elongate member 12. One of the slotted channels 22 is for receiving the pointer rod 20 and one of the slotted channels 22 is for receiving the rod 18. In the depicted example, the connecting rod 18 and pointer rod 20 are detachable from the spacer plate 21 , and the pointer rod 20 is received inside the slotted channel 22 that is located at a first end of the spacer plate 21 and the connecting rod 18 is received inside a channel located at a second end of the spacer plate. The channel 22 which receives the connecting rod 18 is adapted to slidingly engage with the rod such that the plate 21 is movable along the length of the connecting rod 18, and all of the channels

22 are suitable for receiving either the connecting rod 18 or the pointer rod 20.

In the depicted example, the elongate arm 14 has the same longitudinal length as the spacer plate 21 and includes a plurality of recesses 24. The longitudinal position of each recess 24 corresponds to the longitudinal position of one of the slotted channels 22.

The golf aid 10 also includes marker means 26 located along the length of the aligning means 12. In the depicted example, the aligning means 12 includes a longitudinal guide slot 28, and the marker means 26 includes a guide rod 30 and a traveller body 32. The guide rod 30 extends transverse to the aligning means 12, and the traveller body 32 is receivable inside the guide slot 28. The traveller body 32 is adapted to slidingly engage with the guide slot 28 such that the longitudinal position of the traveller body 32 along the guide slot may be varied, and to receive the guide rod 30 in a plurality of non-parallel positions. Any suitable shape of traveller body 32 may be provided, but preferably it is shaped so that it is held within a shaped guide slot 28, which may for example be a lipped channel, so that the traveller body 32 cannot be lifted out of the guide slot 28.

Figs. 3 and 4 show views of the traveller body 32. In the depicted example, the traveller body 32 has a uniform cross-section 34 along its longitudinal length.

The cross-section 34 includes a base 36 and a head portion 38. The base portion 36 is wider in width than the head portion 38. Extending through the head portion 38 are a plurality of apertures 40, each aperture being a through hole. In the depicted example, there are three apertures 40 and one of the apertures extends through the head portion at an angle of 96 degrees to the aligning means 12. The other two apertures 40 extend through the head portion 38 at angles of 90 and 84 degrees to the aligning means 12, respectively. The guide rod 30 may be received inside one of the apertures 40 such that it extends transverse to the aligning means 12 at an angle of 84, 90 or 96 degrees. Markings 33 indicating the direction in which the apertures 40 extend through the head portion 38 may be provided on a top surface of the head portion 38. As shown in Fig.3, longitudinal apertures 41 may extend through the traveller body 32. Each of the longitudinal apertures 41 may be configured to receive each of the connecting rod 18, pointer rod 20 and guide rod 30. In the depicted example, the traveller body 32 includes three longitudinal apertures 41.

In the depicted example, the guide slot 28 includes a plurality of position indicating labels 29 for locating the guide portion 32 along the longitudinal length of the guide slot 28. Each label 29 indicates a suitable position for locating the guide portion 32 for a particular club being used by a golfer.

The connecting rod 18, pointer rod 20 and guide rod 30 may all be formed of rods which are the same width and/or material. Further the rods 18, 20, 30 may be formed such that they are the same length.

As shown in Fig 1 , the aligning means 12 may comprise a fixing hole for receiving a fixing for fixing the aligning means to a ground surface. In the depicted example, the aligning means 12 comprises first and second fixing holes 67, 68. The first fixing hole 67 may be provided at the end of the aligning means 12 closest to the elongate arm 14, and the second fixing hole 68 may be provided at the end of the aligning means furthest away from the elongate arm. The fixing may be a pin.

Fig. 5 shows a spacer plate 221 different from the spacer plate 21 described above. The spacer plate 221 includes a spacer plate body 224 and a plurality of apertures 226 for receiving the pointer rod 20. Each aperture 226 comprises a through hole which extends through the spacer body 224. In the depicted example, there are four apertures 226 in the spacer plate body 224, and the spacer plate 221 comprises three cut-out portions 228 to reduce the weight of the spacer plate 221. The apertures 226 serve the same purpose as the slotted channels 22 of the spacer plate 21 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, namely to receive and locate the connecting rod 18.

Each of spacer plates 21 and 221 may be receivable in the guide slot 28. All of components 18, 20, 21 , 30, 32 may therefore be stored within the guide slot 28. For example, the traveller body 32 may be moved along the guide slot 28 such that it is at the end of the aligning means 12 closest to the elongate arm 14. Each of the rods 18, 20, 30 may be received by one of the longitudinal apertures 41. The spacer plate 21 or 221 may then be inserted into the guide slot 28, and slid along the guide slot until it abuts the rods 18, 20, 30.

In use, a golfer positions the golf aid 10 relative to a golf ball 42, and aligns the sight line member 20 with a target 44 such that the sight line member defines a sight line 46 between the sight line member and the target 44. The golfer aligns the longitudinal edge 16 of the aligning means 12 with the longitudinal edge of the golf ball 42 such that the aligning means define a line 48 which intersects the sight line 46 at a position where the ball 42 is located. The golfer aligns themself with the ball 42 using the aligning means 12 and positions their feet 50 relative to the ball 42 using the marker means 26. Once the golfer has correctly aligned the sight line member 20 and aligning means 12, and positioned themselves relative to the marker means 26, they are in a position to strike the ball 42 with a club. When the golfer strikes the ball 42, the golfer uses the aligning means as a visual aid to ensure that when a club face 52 of the club strikes the ball it is parallel with the longitudinal edge 16 of the aligning means 12 and that the club face is perpendicular to the sight line defined by the sight line member.

The golfer may align an edge of the golf ball with the longitudinal edge of the elongate member 12 by rotating the elongate arm 14 from the stowed position to the aligning position. When the elongate arm 14 is in the aligning position, the golfer moves the golf ball or elongate arm such that the ball 42 abuts the alignment surface 15. The golfer can then rotate the elongate arm 14 such that it is in the stowed position and then strike the ball 42.

The golfer may adjust the distance the pointer rod 20 is from the aligning means 12 by sliding the spacer plate along the connecting rod 18.

The golfer may vary the position of the marker means 26 along the aligning means 12 by sliding the traveller body 32 along the guide slot 28, and may locate the guide portion at different positions indicated by the labels 29. The golfer may wish to do this if they are using a different club.

The golfer may choose to locate the pointer rod 20 in one of the channels 22 of the spacer plate 21 such that it is in a position wherein the longitudinal distance between the pointer rod 20 and the connecting rod 18 is substantially the same as the width of the club face of the club they are using. This provides a good visual aid to the golfer when they are practising their putting, as it is desired for the golfer to move the club face of their club between the rods 18, 20 in such a position.

The golfer may fix the aligning means 12 to a ground surface by placing a first fixing in the first fixing hole 67 and a second fixing in the second fixing hole 68. The golfer may first of all place the second fixing in the second fixing hole 68 so that he may pivot the aligning means 12. When the golfer finds the correct position for the aligning means 12, the golfer may place a first fixing in the first fixing hole 67 such that the aligning means is locked in the correct position.

The golfer may use a separate member to align an edge of the golf ball with the longitudinal edge of the elongate member such as a ruler.

With reference to Figs. 6 and 7, there is shown a further golf aid 100 according to the present invention. The golf aid 100 includes an elongate mounting rail 1 10 and an elongate sight line member 1 12 connected to the mounting rail 110. As shown in the depicted example, the mounting rail 110 may comprise a sight line member receiving aperture 1 14, and the elongate sight line member 1 12 may extend through the sight line member aperture 114. As shown, the sight line member 112 may be provided such that it is perpendicular to the mounting rail 1 10. In the depicted example, the sight line member 112 is a sight line rod. The mounting rail 1 10 may also include a longitudinal guide slot 116. As shown, the guide slot 116 may be open at a first end 1 18 of the mounting rail 112, and closed at a second end 1 19 of the mounting rail.

The golf aid 100 also includes a golf ball aligning assembly 120 connected to the mounting rail 110. The assembly 120 includes an elongate aligning member 122. As shown, the elongate aligning member 122 may be parallel with the mounting rail 1 10, and laterally spaced apart from the mounting rail 1 10. As shown, the elongate aligning member 122 may be an aligning rod, and may be connected to the mounting rail 1 10 by way of a connecting member 124. The connecting member may be a connecting rod 124. The assembly 120 includes an assembly traveller body 126 which is receivable in the guide slot 1 16 and is adapted to receive the connecting rod 124. The assembly traveller body 126 may be able to slide along the length of the mounting rail 110 within the guide slot 116.

As shown, at an end of the connecting rod 124 distal from the assembly traveller body 126, there is provided a fixing component 128 for fixing the assembly 120 to a ground surface (not shown). The fixing component 128 may comprise a pin 130 and a fixing block 132 having a through hole 134 for receiving the pin. The pin 130 has a greater length than the through hole 134. As shown, the assembly 120 may comprise an aligning member traveller 136. The aligning member traveller 136 may comprise a rod aperture 138 for receiving the connecting rod 124, and an aligning member aperture 140 for receiving the elongate aligning member 122. The rod aperture 138 may be a longitudinal aperture 137 as described below. The aligning member traveller 136 may be able to slide along the connecting rod 124.

With reference to Fig. 8A, there is shown a block component suitable for use as both component 126 and 136 of the golf aid 100, in greater detail than in Figs 6 and 7.

With reference to Fig. 8B, there is shown a block component suitable for use as component 132 of the golf aid 100, in greater detail than in Figs 6 and 7. The block component 132 may be receivable in the guide slot 116, and slidable along the length of the guide slot 116.

The golf aid 100 also includes marker means 142 adapted to mark a position for a golfer's feet provided along a length of the mounting rail 1 10. The marker means 142 may include a guide rod 144 extending transverse to the aligning member 122, and a traveller body 146 slideably receivable in the guide slot 116 and adapted to receive the guide rod in a plurality of non-parallel positions. The non-parallel positions are non-parallel with respect to the aligning member 122. The traveller body 146 may include a plurality of apertures 148. Each aperture 148 may comprise a through hole which extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the mounting rail of between 80° and 100°. As shown, the traveller body 146 may comprise three apertures 148 for receiving the guide rod 144. The apertures 148 may comprise transverse through holes extending at angles to the longitudinal axis of the mounting rail of 84°, 90° and 96°. The guide slot 1 16 may comprise a plurality of position indicators for locating the traveller body 146. A top surface of the traveller body 146 may be provided with markings 133 indicating the direction in which the apertures 48 extend through the traveller body 146.

Each of the components 126, 132, 136 may be receivable in the guide slot 1 16 such that each of the components 126, 132, 136 may be slidable along the length of the guide slot. Further, each of the components 126, 132, 136 may each comprise one or more longitudinal apertures 137, which are each suitable for receiving the rods 112, 122, 124 and 144. The traveller body 146 may also comprise such longitudinal apertures 137.

In use, a golfer positions the golf aid 100 relative to a golf ball 152, and aligns the sight line member 112 with a target 154 such that the sight line member defines a sight line 147 between the sight line member 112 and the target 154. The golfer aligns the elongate aligning member 122 with the longitudinal edge of the golf ball 152 such that the aligning member 122 defines a line 158 which intersects the sight line 147 at a position where the ball 152 is located. The golfer aligns himself with the ball 152 using the aligning member 122 and positions his feet 150 relative to the ball 152 using the marker means 142. The marker means can be positioned in one of three positions, corresponding to three apertures 148 in the traveller body 146. Typically there may be three apertures, aligned at 84°, 90° and 96° to the longitudinal axis of the mounting rail 1 10. Aligning one's feet along the three different angles will produce a different effect on striking the ball, for example pulling to the left, pulling to the right or hitting straight. Once the golfer has correctly aligned the sight line member 1 12 and aligning member 122, and positioned themselves relative to the marker means 142, they are in a position to strike the ball 152 with a club. When the golfer strikes the ball 152, the golfer uses the aligning member 122 as a visual aid to ensure that when a club face 153 of the club strikes the ball it is parallel with the line 158 defined by the aligning member and that the club face is perpendicular to the sight line defined by the sight line member 112. The golfer may adjust the lateral position of the aligning member 122 by sliding the aligning member traveller 136 along the connecting rod 124. Further, the golfer may vary the longitudinal position of the aligning member 122 by sliding the assembly traveller body 126 along the length of the mounting rail 110. The golfer may vary the position of the marker means 142 along the mounting rail

110 by sliding the traveller body 146 along the guide slot 116. The golfer may wish to do this if they are using a different club. Further, the golfer may vary the alignment of their feet relative to the aligning member 122 by locating the guide rod 144 in different apertures 148. Figs. 9A and 9B show a golf aid 100 in a stowed position. As shown, in the stowed position, each of the components 126, 132, 136, 146 are located in the guide slot 1 16. In the depicted example, the rods 112 and 144 are located in the longitudinal apertures 137 of the components 126, 132, 136, 146.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Slotted channels may be employed instead of the apertures 148 to allow the traveller body 146 to receive the guide rod 144 in a plurality of non-parallel positions.

The golf aid 100 may include fixing holes as described above in reference to the golf aid 10. Further, features of the golf aid 10 may be incorporated in the golf aid 100, and vice-versa.

Claims

1. A golf aid positionable relative to a golf ball comprising:

an elongate aligning member for aligning a golfer with the ball, the aligning member defining a line which intersects the sight line at a position where the ball is located;

a spacer member offset from and slideably connected to the aligning member, such that the offset of the spacer member perpendicular to the aligning member can be varied, the spacer member being adapted to support the sight line member in a position such that the sight line member extends perpendicular to the aligning member; and

2. The golf aid of claim 1 , wherein the aligning member has a longitudinal edge defining the line which intersects the sight line at the position where the ball is located.

3. The golf aid of claim 2, wherein the width of the elongate aligning member is in the range of 40-45mm.

4. The golf aid of claim 2 or 3, wherein the golf aid comprises an elongate arm connected to the aligning member for aligning the longitudinal edge of the aligning member with an edge of the golf ball.

5. The golf aid of claim 4, wherein the elongate arm is hingedly connected to the aligning member,

wherein the elongate arm is rotatable between a stowed position in which the elongate arm is stowed along the length of the aligning member and an aligning position in which the elongate arm extends from the aligning member to provide an alignment surface parallel to the longitudinal edge of the aligning member.

6. The golf aid of claim 4 or 5, wherein the elongate arm includes a plurality of positioning marks adapted to enable the positioning mark to be positioned adjacent to a golf ball.

7. The golf aid of any preceding claim, wherein the spacer member is a spacer plate.

8. The golf aid of claim 7, wherein the spacer plate is connected to the aligning member by a connecting rod, at least one of the spacer plate and aligning member being slideably engaged by the connecting rod.

9. The golf aid of claim 7 or 8, wherein the spacer plate comprises a plurality of passages extending across the plate perpendicular to the aligning member adapted to receive selectively the sight line member in one of a plurality of positions.

10. The golf aid of claim 9, wherein the passages comprise a plurality of transverse holes extending across the plate perpendicular to the aligning member.

1 1. The golf aid of claim 9, wherein the passages comprise a plurality of slotted channels extending across the plate perpendicular to the aligning member.

12. The golf aid of any of claims 9 to 11 when dependent on claim 6, wherein the positioning marks are arranged to align with the passages in a direction

perpendicular to the aligning member.

13. The golf aid of any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the spacer plate comprises a passage adapted to receive the connecting rod.

14. The golf aid of any preceding claim, wherein the marker means is located along a length of the aligning member.

15. The golf aid of claim 14, wherein the aligning member comprises a longitudinal guide slot,

wherein the marker means comprises: a guide rod extending transverse to the aligning member; and a traveller body slideably receivable in the guide slot and adapted to receive the guide rod in a plurality of non-parallel positions.

16. The golf aid of claim 15, wherein the traveller body comprises a plurality of apertures for receiving the guide rod, the apertures comprising transverse through holes, each through hole extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the aligning member of between 80° and 100°.

17. The golf aid of claim 16, wherein the traveller body comprises three apertures for receiving the guide rod, the apertures comprising transverse through holes extending at angles to the longitudinal axis of the aligning member of 84°, 90° and 96°.

18. The golf aid of any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the guide slot further comprises a plurality of position indicators for locating the traveller body.

19. The golf aid of claim 1 , wherein the spacer member is an elongate mounting rail.

20. The golf aid of claim 19, wherein the sight line member is connected to the elongate mounting rail.

21. The golf aid of claim 19 or 20, wherein the golf aid comprises a golf ball aligning assembly comprising the elongate aligning member and a connecting member, the elongate aligning member being adjustably secured to the elongate mounting rail by the connecting member to hold the elongate aligning member in a position substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the elongate mounting rail.

22. The golf aid of claim 21 , wherein the golf ball aligning assembly comprises a fixing component for fixing the assembly to a ground surface.

23. The golf aid of claim 22, wherein the fixing component comprises: a pin; and a block fixed to the connecting member, the block having a through hole for receiving the pin.

24. The golf aid of any of claims 19 to 23, wherein the marker means is located along a length of the elongate mounting rail.

25. The golf aid of claim 24, wherein the mounting rail comprises a longitudinal guide slot and the marker means comprises:

a guide rod extending transverse to the aligning member; and

a traveller body slideably receivable in the guide slot and adapted to receive the guide rod in a plurality of non-parallel positions.

26. The golf aid of claim 25, wherein the traveller body comprises a plurality of apertures for receiving the guide rod, the apertures comprising transverse through holes, each through hole extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the mounting rail of between 80° and 100°.

27. The golf aid of claim 26, wherein the traveller body comprises three apertures for receiving the guide rod, the apertures comprising transverse through holes extending at angles to the longitudinal axis of the mounting rail of 84°, 90° and 96°.

28. The golf aid of claims 24 to 27, wherein the mounting rail further comprises a plurality of position indicators for locating the traveller body.