GAMES STROKE PRACTISING APPARATUS

Abstract: A games stroke practising apparatus comprising a guide rail (14) along which slides an adjustable bearing mount (15) which pivotally supports an arm (20). The arm (20) supports a fixed club guide bar (24) mounted substantially in swing plane (8), a pivot mounting (29) for a shoulder yoke (25) pivotable about axis (28), a head cap locator (21) adjustable along axis (19) and pivotal mounting (22) for a hand guide (23). The shoulder yoke (25), head cap locator (21) and hand guide (23) are interconnected, for example, by pairs of cables (37, 39), for selected relative movement, to coordinate the player's movements in a preselected manner. A leg guide bar (42) is optionally provided.

Description: GA ES STROKE PRACTISING " APPARATUS This invention relates to games stroke practising apparatus. Particular reference will be made hereinafter to practising golf strokes, but apparatus according to this invention could be used for practising other types of games strokes, such as cricket strokes or baseball strokes. In the past many devices have been provided for practising golf. The general aim of such devices is to enable a player to perfect the stance for addressing the ball and the swing. It is generally considered that the correct swing is performed in a single plane, called the swing plane and to date all sorts of rules for stance and body alignment have been formulated to enable a golfer to achieve the correct swing For example those who have become successful golfers have attempted to define arbitary rules by reference to their own body positions and feelings. During a game of golf many different strokes are performed, often under less than ideal conditions and of course the greater the number of variables, the less the chance of performing consistently. It follows that if a constant swing can be mastered and used for all strokes, the number of variables are greatly reduced and more consistent results can be obtained. Different strokes may be played according to the situation by selecting the correct " .ball -position relative to the player, ie. to be hit upon the ?down ' stroke, at the bottom of the swing or on the up stroke, the correct club and the correct angle of the striking face of the club relative to the swing plane. This angle may be selectively varied to produce inswingers or outswingers. A typical prior art device used for guiding players included a circular guide for a club head adapted to be placed in the swing plane so that a golfer could practice swinging in the correct plane. However to achieve the correct club movement the player could make all sorts of body compensations and thus the player would not necessarily practice a correct ≤wing. Furthermore as the club was supported by the apparatus the feel during practice was not the same as when playing. OMPI fa WIPO \ - 2 - This invention aims to alleviate the disadvantages associated with such prior art devices and to provide prac¬ tising apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent. With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in apparatus for practising strokes, said apparatus including support means adapted to be associated with a player and hand guide means supported thereby for guiding movement of a players hand in a selected motion. The support means may be supported on a stand assembly whereby.it may be disposed to restrain a players body for movement in a selected manner. Alternatively the support means may be associated with a harness adapted to be secured about the players body so as to support the hand guide means in a suitable manner. In one form, the support means is adapted for. selective connection to a stand or to a body harness whereby it can be used indoors in association with the stand to enable the player to practice strokes or connected to the body harness for " outdoor practice. Of course separate practising devices could be used for both indoor and outdoor practice. The support stand may be height adjustable to suit different players and it may include an adjustable mounting for the support means whereby the latter can be supported at various inclinations. In this respect it will be appreciated that in in the game of golf, the inclination of the swing plane varies with the length of the various club used such that a golfer stands more upright when driving, compared to putting using a relatively short club. The guide means may be a frame fixed to the support means and adapted to provide a guide path in the swing plane along which the players hand may move when practising strokes with a club or bat or the like or it may be in the form of hand restraining means pivotally secured to the support means for movement with the hands in the desired motion. - 3 - Alternatively the hand guide means may be in the form of a club or bat portion supported for pivotal motion in the desire manner and adapted to be grasped by the player. If desired the guide means may be in the form of sensors adapted to provi an alarm or indication when the players hands move incorrectly. In a preferred form the support means includes an inclined pivot frame extending away from a pivotal support on a stand and body restraining means are utilized to control pivotal movement of the upper body portion during stroking to pivotal movement about the axis of said pivotal support. The body restraining means may include a shoulder yoke and/or head location means. Suitably the shoulder yoke is pivotable about a central pivot axis which intersects the axis of said pivotal support. These axes may be disposed at any suitable angle to the swing plane, depending on the configuration of the stroke to be performed. If desired the shoulder yoke may be universally mounted. The yoke may be adapted to pivot freely about its mounting on the inclined pivot frame or it may pivot in a controlled manner relative to pivotal movement of the pivot frame. Preferably the latter is mounted on a bearing assembly adjustably secured to an arcuate guide frame on the stand whereby the angle of inclination of the swing plan axis may be selectively varied and there being provided height adjustment means on the guide frame. If desired the arcuate guide frame may be formed concentrically about the intersection of the central pivot axis and the inclined axis. It is also preferred that the support means includes an abutment frame disposed substantially in the swing plane and adapted to guide a players hand and/or club for movement in the swing plane when the players hands are disposed at the extremeties of the swing. In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:- - 4 - Fig 1 is a side view of a preferred form of practisin apparatus made according to one aspect of the present invention; Fig 2 is a corresponding view illustrating the apparatus with the player in the backswing position; Fig 3 Is a view of the apparatus from the opposite side and illustrated with the player in the follow through position; Fig 4 is a rear view of the apparatus with the player in the follow through position; Fig 5 is a front view of an alternate form of the invention, and Fig 6 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention. Fig 7 is a perspective view illustrating an arm restraint mechanism for use with the various embodi¬ ments of this invention. Referring to Figs 1 to it will be seen that the practising apparatus 10 comprises a base stand assembly 11 including a base board 11a upon which a player can stand and which supports a vertical post 12 having clamping means 13 at its upper end for adjustably securing a curved guide rail 14 integral with a stem 14a which engages telescopically in the post 12. An adjustable bearing mount 15 is slidable along the guide rail 14 and it is provided with lever operated eccentric clamping means 16 for securing it in any selected position along the curved guide rail 14 such that the inclina¬ tion of the bearing mount may be varied. The inclination of the axis 19 of the bearing mount 15 may be read directly from the scale marked on the guide rail 14. Furthermore the centre of curvature of the rail is at a point 9 on tne axis * 19 such that the height of this point does «- , nt vary with adjustments in the inclination of the bearing mount 15- If desired the guide rail 14 could be provided with a rack engaged by a hand wheel operated pinion on the mount 15 whereby the hand wheel could be rotated to move the "mount 15 along the rail 14. The bearing mount 15 supports a stub axle 17- on which - - a hub 18 is supported by suitable bearings. The hub 18 support a crank arm 20 which extends away from the rail 1^ to support a head cap locator 21 and an adjustable pivotal mounting 22 for a hand guide assembly 23. The arm 20 also provides an intermediate mounting for a fixed club guide bar 24 substantially in the swing plane 8 and a pivotal mounting for the shoulder yoke 25. The latter includes a cross bar 26 having curved shoulder straps 27 at each end and adapted to rest about a players shoulder. It will be seen that the hand guide assembly 23 maintains the hands in a swing plane 8 disposed at right angles to the pivot axis 19 and that the axis 28 of the shoulder yoke pivot mounting 29 intersects the axis 19 at the point 9 , being the point of intersection between the inclined axis 19 and the swing plane 8. The head locator 21 includes a cap portion 30 which is mounted on the hub 31 for reciprocation along the axis 19 against a spring bias to provide adjustment for different players. The hand guide assembly 23 is pivotable about an axis 32 spaced from but parallel to the axis 19 whereby the hand abutment bar 33 carried at the free end of the guide 23 will pivot in the swing plane 8. The guide 23 includes a top mounting portion 34 which may move through the releasable mounting 29 for adjustment to suit various players arm lengths.. Also if desired the supporting member 35 may be pivotally secured at 36 to the hub 31 whereby the angle.;of the swing plane, in which the hand guide assembly 23 moves, relative to the inclined axis 19 may be selectively varied to non- parallel positions with respect to the axis 19. The shoulder yoke 25 may be connected by a pair of cables 37 (shown in dotted outline) extending from a respective side of the yoke 25 about guide pulleys 38 to a fixed point on the mounting 15 such that pivotal movement of the arm 20 about the stub axle 17 will cause the shoulder yoke 25 to pivot. A further pair of cables 39 may pass from opposite sides of the yoke 25 about pulleys 40 to the mounting 22 from the guide 23 whereby pivotal movement of the yoke 25 relative to the arm 20 will cause the hand guide 23 to pivot about its support - 6 - axis 32. It will be seen that the central bar 41 of the hand guide assembly extends beyond the curved cross bar 33 to provide a stop against which the players hands may be restrained. During initial practice, the cables 37 are connected to the yoke 25 in order to provide a positive guide to the pivotal co-ordination between movement of the shoulders and the body during practice. At the same time the cables 39 cause the hand guide assembly 23 to move in co-ordination with the shoulder yoke 25. This arrangement causes the yoke 25 to pivot about its inclined axis 28 in controlled manner as the players upper body portion swivels between the back swing position and the follow through position, causing the arm 20 to pivot about its support axis to opposite sides of the central position illustrated in Fig 1. If desired the device can be used effectively without either or both sets of cables secured. Additionally the distance of the points of connection of the cables on the shoulder yoke 25 may be varied to achieve the desired relative pivotal movements between the arm 20 about the inclined axis ιg, the pivoting of the shoulder yoke 25 and the pivoting of the hand guide assembly 23. The abutment bar 33 may be adapted for attachment of removable extension pieces thereto. Because the abutment bar 33 moves in the swing plane, such extension pieces could be adapted to extend into the path of the club head to provide a further indication or guide for performing the stroke in the swing plane. The extension pieces could be of any desired shape or form to provide coincidence with the club head or shaft at desired stations along the club swing path. The extension pieces could be fitted to either end of the abutment bar 33. Such extension pieces could be used for example, for slow motion training. The practising apparatus 10 also provides a leg guide b α r 42 having a hooked outer end portion 43 which extends abou the appropriate leg to ensure the correct stance, as illustrated. T h e bar 42 may be supported adjustably at either side of the post 12 for use by left or right hand players. As will be seen in Figs 2 to 4 the cross bar 24 provides a OMPI - - gui d e or stop for the club shaft in the backswing and follow- through positions. In use, adjustment of the bearing mount 15 along the guide rail 14 will vary the inclination of the guide plane but it will not vary the height of the point of intersection 9 of the axes 19 and 28 which will remain a fixed position reference for the players body. Of course the radius of the guide rail 14 may be varied from that illustrated. For example the radius of the rail or the form of its curve may be arranged whereby the shoulder yoke 25 is elevated as the apparatus is adjusted for use with longer clubs. When practising, the player first adopts a stance position as illustrated in Fig 1. The player then pivots to the backswing position as shown in Fig 2 with the hands held against the hand abutment bar 33 and the extension of the central bar 41 and with the club shaft abutting the club guide bar 24. The player then performs a stroke whereby the body pivots to the opposite side as shown in Figs 3 and 4 with the club shaft abutting the opposite portion of the club guide bar 24. During this action the upper body portion is restrained for pivotal movement about the swing plane axis 19, the shoulders pivot about a fixed axis 28 relative to the swing plane axis 19 and the hands move in the swing plane 8. Accordingly it will be seen that the players hands and shoulders are controlled for movement about a fixed swing axis 19 and by practising strokes guided by the apparatus' 10 a player will learn to swing accurately in a controlled manner about a single swing axis such that the player may concentrate on placement of the ball, club choice and angle of strike to achieve the desired stroke. Also if desired the base board 11a may provide indications 44 for feet placement, so that the players feet are correctly placed relative to the ball target. The device can be used with a target ball such as a squash ball or without a target ball if desired. The latter could be associated with sensing apparatus to provide an indication of the distance and/or direction of the probable b.all motion resulting from a practice stroke. - 8 - If desired the shoulder yoke assembly 25 could be interconnected with either or both the bearing mount 15 and the hand guide assembly by suitable mechanical linkages or with gear linkages in lieu of the cable linkages illustrated. Referring to Fig 5 it will be seen that the apparatus is generally similar to the previously described embodiment except that the swing plane guide assembly 50 comprises a rigi frame having a top rail 51 fixed to the pivot arm 20 and which acts as a club shaft guide bar, and a curved guide rail 52 10 integral with the rail 51 and along which the players hands may move for guided movement in the swing plane. For this purpose the mounting 53 for securing the rail 51 to the pivot arm 20 is adjustable for pivotal movement about the rail 51 whereby the inclination of the swing plane relative to the 15 upper body pivot axis 19 may be varied as well as for movement along the arm 20. An intermediate rail 54 is provided for forearm guidance. In use, the players hands move in abutting relationship along the curved rail 52 for motion in the swing .Diane. 20 The practising apparatus described in the above embodiments may be used for right and left hand golfers. In order to convert the apparatus illustrated in Figs 1 to 5 for left hand practice the leg guide is swapped to the opposite side of the stem so as to hol ' Vthe left leg in the correct • 25 attitude. The leg bar 42 is folly adjustable as illustrated. In both the above described embodiments the club is held freely by the player. However in the embodiment illus¬ trated in Fig 6, the swing plane guide assembly 60 supports a golf club handle simulator 61 for movement in the desired 30 swing plane. This is achieved by forming the guide assembly 60 in two parts which are pivotally connected together at 62. One end of the assembly 60 connects pivotally at 63 to the inclined arm 64 while the opposite end connects pivotally to the handle 61. These pivotal connections are arranged for 5 pivotal movement about parallel axes whereby the handle 61 is restrained for movement in the desired swing plane. Furthermore it will be seen that the inclined arm 64 is - 9 - supported fixe d ly by an adjustable pivot mounting 65 and that the shoulder yo k e assembly 66 and the head locator can pivot ""' a b out an axes parallel to the pivot axes of the swing plane guide assembly. Height adjustment of the shoulder yoke 66 5 is a d justable independantly of the pivot mounting 65 by relative movement of the two part adjustor 67 mounted between the pivot mounting 65 and the yoke 66. Fig 7 illustrates an arm restraint assembly 70 which may be attached to either side of the shoulder yoke 25, as 10 shown in dotted outline in Fig 1, for movement therewith and adapted to prevent lifting of the elbow of the rear arm when the latter is moved to the backswing position and to guide movement of the arm through the stroke. For this purpose the restraint assembly includes a slotted mounting bracket 71 15 which may be secured to the cross bar 26 by engagement of the slot 72 about the studs 73 fixed to the cross bar 26. The bracket 71 may be clamped in the selected position by tighten¬ ing the finger nuts 74 when the bracket 71 is positioned to suit the user. The bracket 71 includes an arm 75 which is 20 cranked forwardly and downwardly to provide a pivotal mounting for the guide assembly 76. As illustrated, the guide assembly 76 includes a central support strut 77 and a curved arm saddle 78 which in use engages about the upper portion of the player ' s arm. The 25 guide assembly 76 is pivotable about the axis 79 which extends parallel to the shoulders whereby in use the upper arm portion including the elbow is restrained for movement in a plane at right angles to the shoulders. The upper end of the support strut 77 is provided with an adjustable stop 80 adapted to 30 limit rearward movement of the guide assembly 76. If desired a counterweight may be fitted to the opposite end of the shoulder yoke 25 to balance the weight of the restraint assembly 70. The apertures 81 in the cross bar 26 provide alternate mountings for the cables 37 and 39 whereby the 35 relative pivotal movement between the support stand, the shoulder yoke 25 and the hand guide assembly 23 may be varied to suit individual requirements. -ξ-TϊlEAt O PI - 10 - In a further aspect of this invention the support means is supported by a universal joint so that it can pivot and rotate freely to follow the players movements and sensing means are provided to monitor the movements. The shoulder yoke may also pivot freely and be provided with monitoring means. The universal joint may be provided with locking means to enable the practising apparatus to be used as described above, or after a player has gained confidence in his stance and swing he may unlock the universal joint and other con¬ straints, switch on the monitoring apparatus and play some strokes. The apparatus will not guide the player but the monitoring apparatus will show up variations from the ideal stroke thus a player may use the apparatus to correct faults in play. The monitoring apparatus may be electronic or mechanical as appropriate. The practising apparatus described above may also incorporate guide means for the lower body portion. This could be in the form of a hip yoke or rest mounted for adjustment to suit various players and pivotable about both horizontal and vertical axes so that the hip yoke is guided for the desired movement. The pivotal mountings for the hip yoke may be formed by linkages to enable preselected movement, other than circular, to be achieved by the hip yoke. Such pivot assemblies could also be used elsewhere-in the apparatus to achieve any desired guiding motion. In a simple form the hip yoke could be supported for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis at the upper end of an arm pivotally secured to the base for movement about an upwardly extending axis. The practising apparatus may also be used to assist golfers to determine correct club lengths when purchasing new clubs since the club lengths may be arranged so as to maintain the stance dictated by the practising apparatus. It will of course be understood that the above has been given by way of illustrated example only and all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims O PI

Claims: - n - THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:- 1. Apparatus for practising strokes, said apparatus including support means adapted to be associated with a player and hand guide means supported thereby for guiding movement of a players hand in a selected motion. 2. Practising apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said support means includes a shoulder yoke supported for pivotal motion substantially about a central pivo axis. 3. Practising apparatus according to " Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said support means further includes head location means adapted to co-operate with said shoulder yoke to maintain operative association of said support means with said body. '•* . Practising apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hand guide means includes a guide frame along which a players hands may move. 5. Practising apparatusϊaccording to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein saidihand guide means is supported pivotally for guiding "" .. " "players hand for movement in the selected motion. >. Practising apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein said hand guide means and said shoulder yoke are interconnected for pre-selected relative motion with respect to one another. Practising apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support means further includes a stop member against which a club or bat, may abut when the latter is supported at or adjacent - 12 " either extremity of its swing. 8. Practising apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support means is adapted to be secured to a players body for movement therewith. 9. Practising apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein said support means is supported on a stand assembly. 10. Practising apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein said support means is supported for pivotal movement about an inclined axis. 11. Practising apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein said inclined axis passes through said central pivot axis. 12. Practising apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said hand guide means is adapted to guide a players hand for movement in a selected swing plane. 13. 9P-ractising apparatus according to Claim 12, when ^appended to Claim 10 or Claim 11, wherein said inclined axis is normal to said swing plane. 14. Practising apparatus according to any one of Claims 9 to 13, wherein the stand assembly is adjustable whereby the height and inclination of the support means may be slectively varied. 15. Practising apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein the inclination adjustment means provides pivotal adjustment about an axis passing through said central pivot axis. Practising apparatus according to Claim 15, wherein said inclined axis and said central pivot axis inter¬ sect in the selected swing plane. Practising apparatus according to any one of the Claims 10 to 16, wherein said head location means includes a locating cup disposed concentrically about said inclined axis. Practising apparatus according to any of Claims 9 to 17, wherein said stand is provided with leg guide means. Practising apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings

Inventors: COX ROBERT WILLIAM, COX, ROBERT, WILLIAM
Applicants: KENMORE SQUASH CENTRE, KENMORE SQUASH CENTRE PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1984
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A63B69