| AU104225B | ||||
| US1399761A | 1921-12-13 | |||
| AU8012082A | 1982-08-12 |
| 1. | defining the invention are as follow : _L _3.he...m &.. §.i£.i^^^ — c.l.Q.ge.ly_„fc.he....a c t uaj P._.th.i..gan5..ca.t_;.d....by....th.e......a.p o ..Q./£.i.a£&....g.Q.i. ..Ql:»i< / s ,c.lιώ....he.a&„..wh£.n.„s.w g.J y.^ p.r.α.&ucing_.a..__px.Q.f.essiQ.nally_^^ hitt ing_a___.gαl£ _J>all.._f or.._a...par.ticular._.dis.tanc e....in„.a_ ■predater i πftfi . ' ren i on ." ■guide.__3.txips or come off the profile pnthe„≤Miιg....p.afciiJ.≤ iacoxxeci.. >. A paratus r.n _■•**■ training the mnv.&ment.Qf th&^go_l£.__ιLub rh**r*i**.g a <*t τ*r_g ifl nn *r_*q.n τ<=_d *fh_*> srwi rig ■.ar.ff..i .___ p_._ ___y__. ϋue. to .the ..effor s of the .golfer... |
| 2. | 4 The angle of inclination of the swing plane is swing., ie.,, a rnyima p y: betvppn an angle nf,,4,5.° tn 7**?° frnm . h ..horiτ.nπta.1 pi Pin . JΪ ! Thfaaa Tig** O *f ^ j 11 g fl ^ t ^ f l **_ ■ fl *& B t" 1 J g f 3 j "h _ f V* ^ fl ^Q t" ^ arcrτιatιo gh i B fnrm.ng ha q**ι i fl o pafq t * r> floFi *■*•> *t_«a g *| f ATS ailnvah1 » nTPrana?** nf ΓIT a <*■ rrrr.* <•**■_ gy?__ pahh nτ» hhat of fho 'perfec 1 — wing prith . TE S 8HHE«ET. . . |
This invention relates to a golf swing guide which may be used by a golfer to allow him to develop a golf swing which is considered correct for that person.
Apparatus is known which allows a golfer to practice his swing. For some time it has been known to practice golf swings using light weight' or restrained practice balls. These allow the golfer to judge the effect of his swing on the ball but do not really encourage the development of a correct swing.
Of course, there has also been apparatus designed to allow the user to develop a correct golf swing. Such apparatus constrains the movement of the golf club during a swing so that a correct swing is maintained. Such apparatus has the disadvantage that the swing of the club is not completely due to the efforts of the golfer, but is due to the efforts of the golfer modified by the constraints applied
_ by the apparatus. Also such apparatus comprises complicated attachments between the golf club and a frame, resulting in an expensive piece of equipment.
1 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a golf swing guide which will overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate, the foregoing disadvantages.
Accordingly, in one broad form, the present invention may be said to consist of a golf swing guide comprising: a guide path defined by at least one arcuate strip; and support means adapted to adjustably maintain said guide path in a fixed position; wherein said at least one arcuate strip, when in said fixed oosition, is adapted to allow a person standing behind said guide path to swing a golf club so as to ITUTESHEET
maintain contact between the head of said club and said guide path.
Preferably che arcuate strip is of varying radii at corresponding portions thereof and extends through an angle substantially greater than 360° along a fine helical path so that the ends of said strip are somewhat axially separate, and said radii are selected so that when the guide path is correctly positioned for a person, that person will perform a good golf swing if during that swing he maintains the contact between the golf club head and the guide path.
Preferably the arcuate strip is produced in fibre reinforced plastic. By way of example only, one preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which:
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of the embodiment of this invention while in use.
* Fig. 2. is a front elevation of the device of
Fig. 1. with t swing guide in a vertical plane for clarity.
Fig. 3. is a view through III-III of Fig. 4. showing the pivot shaft, brackets and attachment to one support post and the swing guide arcuates. The other side would be the same but opposite hand.
Fig. 4. is a part side elevation of the hinged section and is typical of the connections.
The golf swing guide consists of a number of arcuate strips 11., 12., 13., 14., Fig. 2. which are attached by means of bolted flanged joints so as to form a substantially smooth continuous guide path 16., Fig. 2.
Fig. 2. shows the arcuate strip as being relatively
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narrow in some portions, yet significantly wider in other portions 'to allow for the different "take away" arc and "downswing -1 arc baken by the golf club during the complete golf swing.
People of significantly different build a -4 size have a different 'correct J swing. It is therefore necessary to have guide paths which are of varying dimensions. This can be achieved if necessary by the fixing of plastic self adhesive strips 17. Fig. 2. to the face of the guide to act as an indication to the golfer that when the club head contacts these strips the swing is not 'correct'. These strips 17. may also act as guides when different clubs are used which may produce different swing paths.
In operation the golf swing guide is supported from two posts 1. each with a flanged sleeve 3. which can slide vertically on the post 1. and is located by a removable dowel pin which passes through drilled holes in sleeve 3. and post 1. The position of the sleeve 3. on the post 1. can be varied by removal of the dowel pin 2. sliding the- sleeve 3. vertically and insertion of-the dowel pin 2. in different drilled holes in the post 1. The height of the sleeve 3. above ground or base level will vary wit " h the angle of inclination the arcuate plane if desired. This angle of inclination can be adjusted to suit the individual's 'correct* swing plane. The pivot shaft 5. and brackets 7. allow the lower half of the golf swing guide 13. 14. to fold back to back onto the upper half 11. 12. This attains for easier transport and storage.
The golf swing guide, after assembled as shown in
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Figs. 1., 2., 3. and 4., adjusted for angle of inclination and firmly positioned, is ready for use.
The golfer, with his golf club, ent___ he inner space created by the golf swing guide and approaches it as if addressing a golf ball which is close to the point of
* contact 18. of the guide path and the ground (or base) . The club head is brought into contact with the guide path 16. and a practice swing is made while attempting to maintain the contact between the club head and the guide path 16. Should the golf club head come off the path 16. or contact the adhesive strip 17. the golfer would be able to tell whether the club head was too close or too far away from the centre of the correct swing. The golfer can therefore correct his error until he obtains a satisfactory -swing.
It will be seen from the preceding description that the golf swing guide of the present invention provides a golf practice aid which can be used with an actual golf ball, a practice ball or without any ball at all. Further, any errors in swing which a golfer may exhibit must be corrected by his own movements as there is no attachment between the golf club and the swing guide.
The atcuate strips 11., 12., 13., 14. of the golf swing guide may be produced from any suitable material such as metal, plastic or preferably glass or carbon reinforced plastic * The cross sectional shape of the arcuate strips 11., 12., 13., 14. can be varied according to the material used but is preferably two dimensional such as » ' shaped, so as to provide the necessary stiffness and strength. The posts,
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- flanged sleeves, brackets and bolts shall be of metal or plastic suitable for all weather application.
The actual configuration of the arcuate strip 16. is determined by tests and calculations and can be designed to suit a range of clubs used by persons of different height, weight and size. These tests and calculations could be done with the co-operation of persons who already possess a • correct' golf swing.
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