US3429577A - Golf practice device - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 25, 1969 1 i X W A2 I ,L/A

\ GB STANCE O E )7 FOR FADE DP OR SUCE STANCE 1 FOR HOOK I A2 7, OR DRAW/ I I I $.13 A)! I KENN INVENTOR ETH B4 GODDEN AT TORNEY United States Patent "ice 3,429,577 GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE Kenneth B. Godden, Box 95, Cornell, Ill. 61319 Filed Aug. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 573,228 US. Cl. 273186 2 Claims Int. Cl. A63b 69/36 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf practice device characterized by a pair of arcuate shaped members adapted to be placed on the ground to the front and rear of a golf ball resting on the ground substantially at the center of the arcs of said arcuate shaped members, each of said members having an indicator extending therefrom in directions corresponding to the normal direction of flight of the golf ball, and structure adjustably positioned on the arcuate members adapted to be struck by the club head when the path of movement of the club head is such as to give a line of flight to the golf ball other than the normal one.

In describing the invention herein, reference will be made to a situation where the golfer is right-handed, but it will be obvious that the device is just as useful for left-handed golfers.

Structure according to the present invention will provide the golfer with a visual and physical guide prior to swinging, and an indicator of results during and subsequent to execution of the swing. Such structure will also enable the golfer to analyze his swing, and inform himself of the swing characteristics causing the ball to hook, slice, or describe a relatively straight trajectory. The structure will aid in teaching him to hook, or slice the ball in varying degrees as desired, or hit an essentially straight ball.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide structure for aiding and instructing a golfer to attain a correct stance, club grip, and execution of the swing to result in the striking of the ball properly, and consequent desired control of the flight of the ball. The device is designed to teach, through actual practice, the golfer to accomplish a proper back swing, follow through and finish swing.

Another object is to teach the golfer to impart desired rotation to the ball to cause it to fade or slice, or rotation of an opposite sense to cause the ball to hook.

Still another object is to provide a device for use in actual play or practice, and which will not impose anything in the path of the ball or provide anything tending to distract the player from his concentration.

Another object is to provide structure which will give an indication of the path of the club head to tell the golfer of the aberrations in his stroke.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparent from a study of the specification following taken with the drawing which together describe and illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and what is now considered to be the best mode of practising the principles thereof. Other embodiments may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein, and such other embodiments are intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device according to the present invention, and showing the varying strokes of a right handed golfer employing the device;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the path taken by the club head;

3,429,577 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the path of a club head in causing the ball to hook or draw;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the device seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view thereof;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of details of the direction pointer; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a target device for the path of the club head.

The golf practice device according to the present invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 and includes two ground engaging arcuate members 11 and 12 placed in confronting relationship and equally spaced from a common diameter D having a golf ball GB placed thereon.

Each arcuate member is preferably formed from light tubular stock and the ends thereof are bent downward and formed to provide ground penetrating extensions 13. The midpoint of each arcuate member 12 has a separable direction pointer DP extending in a direction corresponding to the desired direction of flight of the ball GB.

The direction pointer DP is preferably molded from a resilient elastomer having spaced jaws 14 defined also by an entrant slot 16 to receive the tubular member 12. A ground entering extension 15 holds the pointer DP in position along with arcuate member 12.

At least one target member 17 is mounted on the arcuate member 12 to one side or the other of the direction pointer DP. Each target member 17 is comprised of a support arm 18 having a semi-circular hub 19 in confronting relationship with a similar semi-circular hub 21 made as part of a clamp arm 22. The latter is hingedly connected at 23 to support arm 18, and a torsion spring 24 is constrained between the two arms 18 and 22 to force the hubs 19 and 21 about the arcuate member 12, but enabling the target 17 to swivel when contacted by a club head.

The user of the device will normally employ two identical components of the device, but it would be possible to use but one only. In the latter case, only the finish of the stroke in front of the ball, or the backstroke behind the ball is learned. The direction pointers DP of each arcuate member are placed on a direct line corresponding to the desired direction of flight of the ball. The distance from the ball GB to the arcuate members 12 may vary somewhat, but the distance apart will be substantially the diameter of the arc.

The target members 17 are placed along a line corresponding to the club head path, and the stance taken by the golfer for achieving either a hook or a slice will be determinative also of the position of the target 17.

Consider the closed stance shown in FIG. 1 for a hook or draw, and in such a stance the golfer ordinarily swings from the inside-out, in a swing path indicated by letters A or A The extent of the inside-out swing will be determined by the location of the target members 17 on the arcuate members 12 which will tip if they are in the path of the club.

The open stance shown in FIG. 1 for a fade or slice is one where the golfer ordinarily swings from the outsidein in a swing path indicated by letter A As the ball GB leaves the club head at the time of impact, it ordinarily at first pursues the indicated flight path unless a spin has been placed on the ball by the swings described as A, A and A In FIG. 3 there is shown an inside-out swing causing the ball GB to spin in direction as shown to result in a draw or hook. The deviation from the true flight is somewhat exaggerated in FIG. 3, but the spin described will cause the ball to veer to the left.

The device according to the present invention will aid the golfer to achieve the proper stance and club grip to produce the desired results. When the golfer takes a stance facing at a right angle to a line passing through the direction pointers, with the feet positioned so that a line drawn across the toes would be approximately parallel to the desired club head path, this will automatically produce the proper stance corresponding to the setting of the device. If the device is set to draw or book the ball, the proper closed stance will result. If the device is set to fade or slide the ball, the proper open stance will result. correspondingly, when the stance is assumed, the clubface placed perpendicular to the line through the direction pointers, and a normal grip assumed, this will automatically result in a strong closed clubface, when the device is set to draw the ball. Similarly, a weak open clubface will result when the device is set to fade the ball.

After a period of practicing hitting balls using the device, the user should develop a feel and sense of how the swing must be executed, in order to produce certain effects upon the flight of the ball. This awareness should remain with him without use of the device, and properly guide his actions during actual play. Correction of an objectionable slice or hook, or some other bad habit, should not prove difficult with the aid of the device. The user will probably want to return to practicing with the device periodically as errors may creep into his swing, a problem experienced by most golfers from the best on down to the high handicappers.

While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment thereof, its scope is to be determined only by the claims here appended.

I claim:

1. A golfers practice device comprising a pair of elongated arcuate members adapted to be positioned on a horizontal surface in spaced non-contacting relationship to each other to form diametrically opposed arcuate portions of the path of a circle, an elongated direction pointer mounted on and extending from each of said arcuate members substantially at the midpoint thereof, said elongated direction pointers being adapted to be longitudinally aligned along a diametrical line of said circle to indicate a desired direction of flight of a golf ball parallel to said surface, at least one target member attached to each of said arcuate members on one side of the direction pointer thereon, each said target member being movably adjustable along a length of the arcuate member to which it is attached, said target members being adapted to extend upward from said arcuate members to a height such that, when said arcuate members are positioned along the path of said circle as aforesaid, said target members may be struck and displaced by a golf club head swung at a golf ball positioned on said surface substantially midway between said arcuate members to provide an indication of whether the golf ball will take a flight path other than one indicated by said direction pointers.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said target members are mounted for swiveling movement on said arcuate members from an erect position to, a knocked down position when struck by a golf club head.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 720,406 2/ 1903 Clifford 273186 2,152,381 3/1939 Harpster 273-18'6 2,712,939 7/1955 Harp 273186 FOREIGN PATENTS 383,767 11/1932 Great Britain.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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