GB2192797A

GB2192797A - Guiding a golf club

Info

Publication number: GB2192797A
Application number: GB08715427A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Chapman Massie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-16
Filing date: 1987-07-01
Publication date: 1988-01-27
Also published as: GB8715427D0; GB8617312D0

Abstract

A golf practice apparatus, for guiding a golf-club (10) in short- swing strokes such as putting and chipping, consists of a support (13, 14) to which is attached a generally horizontal guide bar (12) approximately 35 cm above the ground and disposed so that a player can swing the club with the shaft thereof in sliding contact with a side of the guide bar remote from the player. The attitude of the guide bar is adjustable, and swing-limiting stops may be position-adjustable along the guide bar. The support means (13) in one embodiment is suitable for standing on a carpet surface, and in another embodiment is spiked for engaging a turf putting surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Guiding a golf club This invention relates to a method and apparatus for guiding a golf club.

The invention is especially, but not exclusively, concerned with guiding a putter in the context of golf practice.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of guiding a golf club, comprising the steps of providing a guide bar supported so that the bar is within approximately 20 of horizontal and is spaced above the ground, and swinging a golf club with the club shaft in guiding relationship with the bar.

Preferably, the club shaft is guided by the bar by virtue of the club shaft being in sliding engagement with the bar on a side thereof distal from a person swinging the club.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for use in guiding a golf club, comprising a support means adapted for sitting on the ground or like surface, and a guide bar mounted on the support means so that the guide bar is within approximately 20 of horizontal and is spaced above the ground for guiding engagement with the shaft of a golf club in a golf swing.

Preferabiy, an adjustable connection is provided between the guide bar and the support means so that the attitude of the guide bar is alterable.

Preferably, the support means incorporates an arm capable of position adjustment about an upright pivot axis, and means for securing or locking the arm at a desired position, the said guide bar being mounted at a free- or outer end portion of the arm.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a putter in guiding engagement with a guide bar in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation in the direction of arrow A in Figure 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation in the direction of arrow B in Figure 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of golf club guiding apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of golf club guiding apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a plan view to a larger scale than Figure 1, showing a modified guide bar.

In Figures 1,2 and 3 of the drawings, a golf putter 10 is gripped by a user whose stance is indicated by foot outlines 11 (see fig. 1), the shaft of the putter being in guiding engagement with a guide bar 12 which is approximately 100 cm long and spaced from the ground by a distance of approximately 35 cm.

The guide bar 12 is substantially horizontal, or is within approximately 20 of horizontal, being adjustable within such range whilst mounted on a support means such as will be described herebelow in relation to Figures 4 and 5.

The purpose of the guide bar 12 is to provide a golfer with a means of performing putting practice or chipping practice using a lofted club whilst becoming familiar with the "feel" of the club swing when the locus of the club head is under precise control as is required for achieving accuracy in short play such as chipping and especially putting. To this end, the shaft of the club 10 is brought into sliding contact with the guide bar 12 on the distal side thereof, that is the side remote from the golfer, and the club 10 is swung in a short arc keeping the shaft in contact with the guide bar. With the guide bar disposed substantially horizontal, a "straight through" club head locus is obtained as indicated by broken line L1 in Fig. 1.If the guide bar 12 is adjusted to lie slightly out of horizontal, and depending upon which way the adjustment is made,the locusof the head of the club 10 can be guided to perform an "in-to-out" path as indicated by broken line L2 in Fig. 1, or an "out-to-in" path as indicated by broken line L3 in Fig. 1.

In Figures 4 and 5, parts corresponding with those described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 are given the same reference numerals.

In Figure 4, the guide bar 12 is mounted on a support means consisting of a base plate 13, and an arm 14 which is mounted on the base plate 13 for swinging about an upright pivot axis 15. A locking screw 16 serves to hold the arm 14 in any desired position. The guide rod 12 is mounted on the free end of the arm by means of a tubular socket 1 7 provided with a locking screw 18. The support means consisting of the base 13 and arm 14 is dimensioned generally to be accommodated comfortably between the feet of a user.

In Figure 5, the guide bar 12 is mounted on a larger support means consisting of a generally rectangular base 19 provided with metal spikes 20 for penetrating a turf surface to provide stability. A suitably stiffened arm 21 is mounted on the base 19 for swinging about an upright pivot axis 22 and incorporates a locking screw 23. The free end of the arm 21 carries a horizontal stub shaft 24, and the guide bar 12 is mounted on the free end of the stub shaft 24 so that the guide bar 12 lies generally in a plane which is parallel with the general plane of the arm 21. The horizontality of the guide bar 12 is adjustable as has previously been described. The dimensioning of the arm 21 is such as to permit a golfer to adopt a stance adjacent the free end of the arm 21 clear of the base 19.Using the Fig. 5 embodiment, the apparatus can conveniently be set-up at a location on a multi-hole putting green and the general direction of the guide bar 12 can be aligned with a selected cup or hole. Thereapart, the manner of use of the Fig. 5 embodiment is the same as that of Fig.

4.

In Figure 6, there is shown a modified guide bar 12A which may be used in place of the guide bar 12 in either of the previously described embodiments. The guide bar 12A is provided with stop members 25 which project from the guide bar for limiting the swing of a golf club. Thus, the guide bar 12A is drilled with a series of holes 26 which are disposed at about 6 cm centres on either side of the centre point of the guide bar. Each of the stop members 25 consists of a tubular slider 27 which is capable of position-adjusting travel on the guide bar, and a projection 28 which is carried by the slider 27 and which itself carries a soft rubber buffer 29. The slider 27 is drilled to receive a locating pin 30 The locating pin 30 is used to hold the stop member at any chosen one of the holes 26.Thus, when using both stop members 25, both the back-swing and follow-through dimensions may be selectively controlled. In putting practice, such swing-control helps in making the user become familiar with the swing-size appropriate to putting distance. Either of the stop members 25 may be dispensed with if desired.

In a modification of the embodiments above described, the guide bar is provided with a lining or surface or strip of low-friction material in order to achieve a smooth sliding relationship between the golf club shaft and the surface of the guide bar.

In a modification of the Fig. 4 embodiment which is suited to use on a carpet surface,and especially when using the swing control stops of Fig. 6, the base plate 13 is adapted to engage the carpet in a non-slip manner. This is achieved, for example, by fixing a piece of carpet tile (not shown) or like tufted fabric to the underside of the base plate with the pile or tufted side facing downwards.

Claims

1. A method of guiding a golf club, comprising the steps of-providing a guide bar supported so that the bar is within approximately 20 of horizontal and is spaced above the ground, and swinging a golf club with the club shaft in guiding relationship with the bar.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the club shaft is guided by the bar by virtue of the club shaft being in sliding engagement with the bar on a side thereof distal from a person swinging- the club.

3. Apparatus for use in guiding a golf club, comprising a support means adapted for sitting on the ground or like surface, and a guide bar mounted on the support means so that the guide bar is within approximately 20 of horizontal and is spaced above the ground for guiding engagement with the shaft of a golf club in a golf swing.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein an adjustable connection is provided between the guide bar and the support means so that the attitude of the guide bar is alterable.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support means incorporates an arm capable of position-adjustment about an upright pivot axis, and means for securing or locking the arm at a desired position, the said guide bar being mounted at a free or outer end portion of the arm.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said adjustable connection is provided between the guide bar and the said arm.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, including a stop member projecting from the guide bar for limiting the swing of a golf club engaging the guide bar when in use.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the stop member is position-adjustable along the guide bar.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the support means is adapted to engage a carpet surface in a nonslip manner.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein an under-surface of the support means has a tufted fabric fixed thereto.

11. Apparatus for use in guiding a golf club, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 4 or Fig. 5 or either of these figures as modified by Fig.

6.

12. A method of guiding a golf club substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1,2 and 3.