Golf stance device

A device for setting a player's stance for the game of golf having an elongated base with two elongated arms extending outwardly from one end of the base. Each arm is pivotally attached to the base and is constructed from two telescoping sections so that the length of each arm is adjustable. A pair of stops are adjustably attached to the base and limit the pivotal movement of the arms while a spring urges the arms against the stops. A foot guide is secured to the free end of each arm and the foot guides are adapted to receive the player's feet. With the player's feet positioned in the foot guides and the other end of the base positioned adjacent a golf ball, the player's stance is set for the golf shot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
I. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to the game of golf and, more 
particularly, to a device for setting a player's stance. 
II. Description of the Prior Art 
In the game of golf the player stance, i.e. the position of the player's 
feet with respect to the golf ball, is of the utmost importance in order 
to obtain a good golf shot. If the player's feet are improperly positioned 
when he or she addresses the ball, hooks, slices and other poor shots 
frequently result. 
The proper stance for a player varies from one player and to the next. 
Furthermore, the proper stance also varies depending on the type of shot 
to be made. For example, a proper stance for a tee shot for a player will 
be different than the proper stance for a nine-iron shot even for the same 
player. 
Most players determine their proper golf stance for the various different 
golf shots only through practice and experience. However, even experienced 
golfers adopt improper golf stances after periods of golf inactivity. When 
this occurs, it often takes the golfer several rounds before he or she 
regains their proper golf stance. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention provides a device for setting the stance of a golfer 
which overcomes all of the above-mentioned problems. 
In brief, the golf stance device of the present invention comprises an 
elongated base having a first end which is adapted to the position 
adjacent a golf ball to be struck. A pair of elongated arms are pivotally 
mounted to the other end of the base and each arm includes one or more 
telescoping sections so that the length of each is adjustable. A U-shaped 
foot guide is then secured to the outer or free ends of the arms and each 
foot guide is dimensioned to receive one foot of the golfer. 
In order to use the golf stance device of the present invention, the golfer 
determines his or her proper stance for a particular golf shot in any 
conventional fashion, such as on a driving range. Once the proper golf 
stance has been determined, the golfer adjusts the length and pivotal 
position of the arms so that one end of the base is positioned adjacent 
the golf ball while the golfer's feet are positioned within the foot 
guides at the outer or free ends of the arms. Preferably, means are 
included to lock the arms in their adjusted positions. 
Thereafter, when the golfer wishes to set his stance, for example following 
a period of golf inactivity, the arms are moved to their adjusted 
position, the free end of the base is positioned adjacent the golf ball 
and the golfer's feet positioned within the foot guides. In doing so, the 
golfer's stance is set to the proper position for the golf shot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
With reference first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the golf 
stance device 10 of the present invention is thereshown and comprises an 
elongated and generally flat base 12 having a first end 14 and a circular 
plate 16 at its other end 18. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the base 12 
includes a slide 20 slidably received within the end 14 of the base 12 so 
that the effective longitudinal length of the base 12 can be varied by 
shifting the position of the slide 20. An indicia scale on the slide 20 
(FIG. 2) allows the slide 20 to be set or reset to any desired position 
for a reason to be subsequently described. 
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the golf stance device 10 further 
comprises two elongated and substantially identical arms 22, each having 
an inner end 24 and an outer 26. The inner ends 24 of the arms 22 are 
pivotally mounted to opposite sides of the circular base plate 16 by pivot 
pins 28 which allow the arms 22 to pivot from a first position, 
illustrated in FIG. 2, and to a second position, illustrated in FIG. 6, in 
which the arms 22 are generally parallel to and adjacent the base 12. 
As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each arm 22 is preferably constructed from 
two telescoping sections 30 and 32 so that the overall length of the arms 
22 can be adjustably varied. A wing nut assembly 34 or the like is 
provided for locking the sections 30 and 32 together at their 
longitudinally adjusted position. 
Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, a foot guide 36 is secured to the free or 
outer end 26 of each arm 22. Each foot guide 36 comprises a U-shaped 
member 38 which is dimensioned to receive a front part of the golfer's 
foot. In addition, each foot guide 36 is preferably pivotably secured to 
its respective arm 22 by a wing nut or locking assembly 40 so that the 
pivotal position of the foot guide 36 can be adjusted and then locked into 
its adjusted position by the wing nut assembly 40. 
With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 5, a pair of stops 42 are adjustably 
secured to the base circular plate 16 in between the arms 22. The position 
of the stops 42 can be adjusted to any desired position along the plate 16 
and then locked at their adjusted position by any conventional fastener 
44. These stops 42, furthermore, are dimensioned to abut the side of the 
arms 22 when the arms 22 are in their first pivotal position illustrated 
in FIG. 2. Consequently, the first pivotal position of the arms 22 can be 
adjusted by adjusting the position of the stops 42 along the base plate 
16. 
With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 6, a spring 46 under tension is attached 
between the arms 22 at a position longitudinally spaced from the pivot 
pins 28. This spring 46 resiliently maintains the arms 22 into abutment 
against the stops 42 and thus at their first position. Conversely, when 
the arms 22 are pivoted to their collapsed position shown in FIG. 6, the 
spring 46 resiliently urges the arms 22 together and maintains the arms 22 
in their collapsed position for storage or transportation. 
As is shown in FIG. 2, an indicia scale 50 is preferably provided between 
each arm 22 and the base plate 16 while a similar indicia scale 52 is 
provided between the foot guides 36 and their arms 22. The indicia scales 
50 and 52 thus allow the pivotal position of the foot guides 36 and arms 
22 to be rapidly and easily set to predetermined positions. 
With reference now to FIG. 2, in operation a golfer determines his or her 
proper golf stance for a particular golf shot in any conventional fashion, 
such as on a driving range. Once the golf stance has been determined, the 
slide 20 is adjusted so that its free end 21 is positioned adjacent the 
golf hall 56 which is to be struck. The length of the arms 22 as well as 
the pivotal position of the arms 22 and pivotal position of the foot 
guides 36 are then adjusted by the golfer so that the golfer's feet are 
positioned within the foot guides 36 as shown in FIG. 1. When the device 
10 is properly adjusted to conform to the player's stance, the wing nut 
assemblies 34 and 40 and fastener 44 (FIG. 5) are tightened thus locking 
the arms 22, foot guides 36, and stops 42 in their adjusted position. 
Thereafter, when the golfer desires to set his or her stance for the golf 
shot, the player positions the device 10 on the ground as shown in FIG. 1 
so that the end 21 of the slide 20 is adjacent the ball 56 and the 
player's feet are positioned within the foot guides 36. In doing so, the 
proper stance for the golf shot is established. 
From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a 
simple, inexpensive and yet totally effective means for setting the stance 
of a golfer for a golf shot. Furthermore, the arms 22, slide 20 and foot 
guides 36 can be adjusted, if desired, for different types of golf shots. 
A still further advantage of the present invention is that the arms 22 can 
be compactly collapsed to the position shown in FIG. 6 for easy storage 
and/or transportation of the golf device. 
Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will 
become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without 
deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the 
appended claims.