GB2266057A - Golfing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A golfing aid has a stand 2 which supports a pair of sights 4 and 6. The stand includes a base 10 on which a golf ball 34 may be positioned, so that the ball appears to fill the upper sight 4 and so that the tip of the lower sight 6 is located centrally on the ball, when viewed from above by a golfer of average height. The sights are adjustable, so as to achieve this arrangement. The golfer then swings a club to strike the ball, aiming to maintain the arrangement of the sights throughout the swing. <IMAGE>

Description

GOLFING AID This invention relates to golfing aids.

Arguably the most important thing a golfer has to learn is to hold her or his head still through the swing and, in particular, not to follow the ball as it is hit. Simple though that may sound to the uninitiated, it is extremely difficult to achieve in practice and, especially for a new player, there is a natural tendency for a player's eye to follow the ball as it is hit. Indeed, it can be entirely clear to others that a player is following the ball with her or his eye as it is struck, but very difficult to correct the fault. It is said that to avoid moving the head in the swing is the biggest improvement a player can or will make in her or his game.

Against this background, there is provided a golfing aid, comprising a stand supporting at least one sight and means for positioning a golf ball relative to the sight such that the sight and ball are aligned to a player's view when s/he is positioned to strike the ball with a club, the or each sight being positioned and dimensioned so as not to interfere with the swing of the club.

In use the stand is erected and the ball is placed correctly relative to the sight. Standing with the ball and sight aligned, the player swings and, as the club strikes the ball, concentrates on the sight which, as the sight stays there, reduces the tendency for the payer's eye, and thus head, to follow the ball.

With a single sight, it would be possible to move the head from side to side and to remain looking at the sight after the ball had been struck. Preferably the aid includes two sights. This enables the player to be completely sure that her or his head has not moved until s/he chooses to do so after the ball has been struck.

In one preferred example the aid includes a base and the means for positioning a golf ball comprises a position marked the base.

Alternatively, or additionally, the aid may include a spike for insertion into a green or other ground.

In order to be adaptable to the use of any club by any player, the position of the sight, or at least one of the sights, is adjustable. Thus the sight does not define a position for the player, but is adjusted so that when the player is in position addressing the ball, the sight or sights is/are aligned there.

Principally intended for practice, once the aid has been set, and used on the first ball, subsequent balls may be placed on the marked position or placed in the correct position by alignment with the sights.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a golfing aid embodying the invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional detail of the golfing aid of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the golfing aid comprises a stand 2 supporting two sights 4 and 6. The stand comprises and upstanding member 8 which may be supported in the upstanding position shown by a base 10 or a spike 12, as will be explained.

At its lower end the member 8 is formed in two parts 14 and 16, see Figure 2, held together by finger nuts 18 and 20 and screws 21 (see Figure 2). The lower ends of the parts 14 and 16 are formed at 22 and 24 generally to conform to a part cylindrical surface so that together they form a generally Y-shaped recess 24 for receiving a cylindrical mounting block 26 fixed to the base 10 e.g. by screws (not shown). Tightening the finger nuts 18 and 20, especially the lower one, clamps the block 26 between the cylindrical lower ends 20 and 22 of the parts 14 and 16, so securing the member 8 in the upright position shown.

The lower sight 6 is also secured to the upright member 8 by the finger nut 18 and screw. A similar arrangement of a finger nut 28 and screw 21 secures the upper sight 4 to the member 8. The spacing between the centres of the finger nuts 18 and 28 is approximately 208 mm. The lower sight 6 terminates at its outer end in an arrow head 30. The distance between the point of the arrow head and the centre of the finger nut 20 is approximately 230 mm. The upper sight 4 comprises a ring 32 at its outer end. The spacing between the centre of the ring 32 and the centre of the finger nut 28 is approximately 350 mm. The diameter of the ring is approximately 72 mm.

With dimensions in these proportions, a golf ball 34 placed on the base 10 and viewed through the ring from a normal standing position will, for a player of normal height, appear to fill the ring approximately.

If the ball is placed at a position where its centre viewed through the upper sight is aligned with the tip of the arrow head 30 when the player is standing ready to strike the ball, it will be in approximately the right position. Minor adjustments can be made, if necessary, to accommodated players of differing heights or different clubs, by raising or lowering the sights from the horizontal positions shown. Thus if a player is too close to the ball, raising or lowering the lower sight 6, by swivelling it about its fixing screw, will increase the distance from the ball at which the ball is aligned with the sights. Conversely, if the player is too far form the ball raising or lowering the upper sight will bring the position at which the ball is aligned with the sights closer to the ball.

Having adjusted the apparatus as necessary, if a player places a golf ball in the position aligned with the sights and plays a stroke s/he can be sure that if after striking the ball, the tip of the arrow head 30 still appears aligned with the centre of the ring 32, her or his head has not been moved during the crucial part of the swing when the ball was struck.

The height of the lower sight 6 above the base 10 is about 100mm, sufficient that a club does not strike it when striking the ball. The length of the lower sight, and thus by implication the upper sight is such that the club does not strike the member 8 when striking the ball.

Although not illustrated in the drawings, placing the ball may be assisted by a mark on the base 10.

With this arrangement, it may be possible to dispense with the lower sight 6. Although it might be somewhat more distracting, since the player would not be able to concentrate on both sights, provided the mark appeared central in the ring 32 after the ball had been struck, the player would know that her or his head had not moved.

Again, although not illustrated, the base 10 may be covered in a pile material e.g. an artificial green material.

Using the base 10, the apparatus may be used anywhere convenient. By unclamping the two parts 14 and 16 from the block 26, the stand may be erected on turf. To this end the spike 12 is secured by the finger nut 18 and its screw, to the parts 14 and 16, and spaced therefrom so as to clear the cylindrical portion 22, by a spacer 30, see Figure 2. Normally the spike would be aligned with the two parts 14 and 16 so as to be unobtrusive to the eye. It is shown angled away from this position in Figure 1, merely for illustrative clarity. The spike has a series of holes 38 by which its position can be adjusted so that an appropriate amount extends beyond the member 8 for insertion into the turf.

Claims (6)

1. A golfing aid, comprising a stand supporting at least one sight and means for positioning a golf ball relative to the sight such that the sight and ball are aligned to a player's view when s/he is positioned to strike the ball with a club, the or each sight being positioned and dimensioned so as not to interfere with the swing of the club.

2. A golfing aid as claimed in claim 1, including two sights.

3. A golfing aid as claimed in claim 2, including a spike for insertion into a green or other ground.

4. A golfing aid as claimed in any preceding claim, including a base and in which the means for positioning a golf ball comprises a position marked the base.

5. A golfing aid as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the position of the sight, or at least one of the sights, is adjustable.

6. A golfing aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.