GOLF TEACHING AID

Abstract: A golf teaching aid in which there is provided a mouthpiece portion (10) or other portion which can be attached or connected to the head (15) of a golfer, there also being provided an actuating element (13) which is movable relative to said portion (10) if in use the golfer's head (15) to which the portion is attached moves with an unacceptable degree of acceleration from a stationary position. In the event of such movement occuring the actuating element (13) is arranged either to make physical contact with the golfer so as to provide a direct tactile indication that movement has occurred or alternatively, or in addition, said actuating element is arranged when the aforesaid movement occurs to actuate means which provides a visual and/or audible signal to indicate that the movement has occurred.

Description: "GOLF TEACHING AID" TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a golf teaching aid. In the playing of golf, it is most desirable that the head of the player shall be kept as still as possible whilst a shot is played. Usually beginners (and often more experienced players as well ) find such a requirement difficult to carry out and consequently teachers of the game commonly have to spend some time in trying to ensure that their pupils' heads are kept still or reasonably still whilst shots are played. BACKGROUND ART It is known in fact to use cine or video cameras when golf lesso ' ns are being given in order that a visual record of a player's swing can be obtained and of course such a record will show whether, or to what extent, the head has remained stationary during the ' swing of a golf club but obviously the equipment . required for the making of such .a visual record is expensive and there is also a need for at least one other person apart -from the player to be present during the lesson or practice session as of course is t e case anyway when a teacher is giving a lesson without the use of any recording equipment. The object of the present invention therefore is to provide, in a simple and relatively inexpensive construction, a new form of golf teaching aid which can be used to determine whether or not the head is being kept still or reasonably still whilst playing or practic sing a shot and which can be operated by the player alone without having to have any other person present. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION In accordance with the invention there is provided a golf teaching aid characterised in that there is provided a mouthpiece portion or other head-connectibl e portion which can be attached or connected to the head of a golfer, together with an actuating element which is mounted on said aid so as to be movable relative to said portion if in use the golfer's head to which the portion is attached moves with an unacceptable degree of acceleration from a stationary position, said actuating element being arranged, in the event of such movement occurring, either to contact the golfer and thereby provide a direct tactile indication that movement has occurred or, alternatively or in addition to actuate means for providing a visual and/or audible- signal which will similarly indicate that movement has occurred. The aforesaid actuating element may take the form of a pendulum member pivoted at its upper end to one end of a stay which is itself pivotally connected at its other end to the mouthpiece portion or other head- connectible portion, the pendulum member being arranged so that if in use an undesirable degree of accelerat on is imparted to the golfer's head then the lower end of said pendulum member will swing and lightly engage the golfer's cheek. Alternatively, said actuating element may comprise a ball or roller mounted on a supporting track or surface in a container and being arranged so that if it moves from an initial, at rest, position (corresponding to the initial stationary position of the golfer's head) then an electrical or luminous circuit will thereby be established to energise a lamp and/or buzzer to provide a visual and/or audible signal . Thus, in one arrangement, the ball or roller can be arranged in its initial position to interrupt a beam of light issuing from a light source to prevent it from impinging on a photo-electric device, any movement of the ball or roller to-a predetermined degree resulting in said photo-electric device receiving light and thus generating a current to actuate the lamp and or buzzer. Alternatively, instead of using a photo-electric device, movement of said ball or roller may be arranged to close electrical contacts which will then complete an electric circuit so as again to energise the lamp and/or buzzer. As a further alternative (and in a preferred embodiment) the actuating element comprises a sensor which incorporates material having pi ezo-el ectri c properties - i.e. material which s capable of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. In this case the sensor would be arranged so that if in use it moves (relative to said head-engaging portion) with an unacceptable degree of acceleration then electrical signals will be generated to energise an audible and/or visual signal . Conveniently, in such an arrangement, means may be provided for varying the sensitivity of the sensor or the signal producing means associated with said sensor. Furthermore, a golf teaching aid in accordance with the invention may be arranged so that it is sensitive to movement of the head in one generally linear direction (i . e. the di ection along wh ch t is intended that the ball shall be struck) or alternativel the aid may be arranged so that it is sensitive to head movement in more than one direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a view in diagrammatic form of one example of a golf teaching aid in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of another embodiment in accordance with the invention, Figure 3 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the actuating element which is seen in Figure 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a further (and preferred) embodiment in accordance with the invention, Figure 5 is a c rcuit di gram relating to the electrically operated apparatus shown in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view (to an enlarged scale) of the sensor used in the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, and Figures 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of alternative embodiments of a sensor which can be used in a golf teaching aid in accordance with the invention. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown therein one embodiment of a golf teaching aid in accordance with the invention, said aid incorporating a mouthpiece portion 10 which is mounted on or connected to a rod 11 which is pivotally connected at that end remote from the mouthpiece portion to the lower end of a stay 12 which is also pivotably connected at its upper end to an actuating element 13 in the form of a rod which is enlarged at its lower end 14 or otherwise provided with a weight so that said actuating element will act in use as a pendulum device. As shown the pivot between said stay 12 and the pendulum device 13 will enable the pendulum device to pivot in a generally vertical plane which is parallel to the direction in which in use a golf ball is intended to be struck by a golfer whose head is shown in Figure 1 and indicated by reference numeral 15. The pendulum device 13 will thus be sensitive to movement of the golfer's head 15 in a generally fore-and-aft direction i .e. the aforesaid direction in which the ball is intended to be struck and if desired said pivot (indicated by reference numeral 16) between said stay 12 and the pendulum device 13 can be provided with a device such as a spring washer which can be adjusted as by means of a screw in order to vary the freedom of the pendulum device 13 to swing when such movement of the golfer's head does occur. In use the aid as above described is arranged so that the aforesaid rod 11 extends in a generally horizontal direction towards that side of the golfer which is remote from the side to which the golf ball will be struck and accordingly if in effecting a stroke the golfer's head moves in a rearward direction then the pendulum device 13 will swing and the free end of said device 14 will then make contact with the adjacent cheek of the golfer warning him that an undesirable degree of head movement has occurred. In an alternative arrangement as shown in Figures 2 and 3 the pendulum device 13 is replaced by an actuating element generally indicated by reference numeral 17 which comprises a cylinder in which a curved tube 18 is mounted. Within said tube is disposed a ball (or roller) 19 which in an initial , at rest, position will occupy the lowest point of said tube 18 which is centrally disposed along the length of the tube so as to lie generally on the axis of said cylinder 17. The base portion 20 of the cylinder 17 contains an electric lamp (not shown) which can be energised on closure of a suitable switch by means of a battery (also not shown) mounted in said base portion 20 and said lamp is arranged so that a beam of light is directed upwardly through an optical fibre 21 which is turned over at its upper end so that such beam of light is directed generally horizontally across the interior of the cylinder 17. In the initial , at rest, position the aforesaid ball 19 will interrupt said beam of light issuing from the optical fibre 21 and thereby prevent it from entering the upper end of another optical fibre 22 which terminates in a lower end 23 extending to the exterior of said base portion 20 on that side thereof adjacent to the head of the golfer 15. If however the golfer's head moves rearwardly during the back swing of the golf club then the aforesaid ball 19 will ' move within the tube 18 to permit light issuing from the upper end of the optical fibre 21 to enter into the optical fibre 22 and thereby provide an optical signal which will issue from the lower end 23 of the optical fibre 22. As an alternative the optical fibre 22 can be replaced by a photo-electric device such as a photo-electric cell which, on being exposed to light issuing from the optical fibre 21 w ll then generate an electric current which will be arranged to energise a further lamp which may be disposed in the position indicated in Figure 2 by the lower end 23 of the optical fibre 22. As a further alternative an electrically operated buzzer may replace or be provided in addition to the aforesaid lamp which will be energised in use by the aforesaid photo¬ electric cell . As a still further alternative the aforesaid ball 19 can be mounted on a dished surface of generally part-spherical form and the pivot between the cylinder 17 and stay 12 can be in the form of a universal joint so that in this case said cylinder 17 will be sensitive to a movement of the golfer's head 15 in any direction. Furthermore instead of arranging that actuation of the visual and/or audible signal is provided when the ball or roller 19 ceases to block the transmission of light from the optical fibre 21, such a signal may be provided by arranging that any predetermined movement of the ball or roller will close electrical contacts to energise a lamp and/or buzzer as required. In the above described examples the golf teaching aid . is held in position by virtue of the mouthpiece 10 being placed in the mouth of the head of the golfer 15.. As an alternative however said mouthpiece portion may be replaced by a head engaging portion which may for example take the-form of a strap or band which can be secured to the head or even the neck of the golfer. It will also be understood that the provision of the pivot between the rod 11 and the stay 12, as well as the pivot between the actuating element 13 or 17 and the rod 12 will enable the whole golf teaching aid to be folded neatly when not in use so that it can be carried in a suitable container. Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 5 there is shown therein a preferred embodi ent of the invention in which the golf teaching aid is housed in a convenient housing 24 which may be formed for example from any convenient synthetic resin material and which is arranged by means of projecting ears such as ear 25 to be attached to a cap or headband 26 by conventional "press-on" fastening means, the headband 26 being preferably adjustable in diameter so as to be capable of adjustment to suit the head of a user. Thus the container 24 is readily attachable to or detachable from the headband 26 and accordingly need only be attached to said headband (so as to be movable with the head of the wearer) when it is desired that the golf teaching aid should be used. The front of- the container 24 may be provided with an aperture 27 behind which a "bleeper" may be mounted and there may also be provided a further aperture indicated by reference numeral 28 through which can project in use either a slider switch or a series of independently actuable switches for adjusting the sensitivity of the actuating element of the teaching aid when required. Said housing 24 is also provided with a socket 29 into which an earphone 30 can be plugged when desired, in which event the aforesaid "bleeper" would be disconnected. The aforementioned housing 24 serves to house within its interior an electronic circuit (see Figure 5) which includes a sensor generally indicated by reference numeral 31. The sensor incorporates material which has piezo-electric properties and one material which exhibits such properties and which has been found to be particularly effective is the material known as polyvi nyl i dene fluoride (PVDF). In the embodiment shown in Figure 6 a strip or foil of such PVDF material 32 is sandwiched between and secured, as by adhesive, to a pair of supporting members 33 and 34 and one end of the assembly thus made is connected to a convenient support which provides a single pivotal axis such as is indicated n Figure 5 by reference numeral 35. The other end of said assembly (which is free to flex) 31 is provided with a mass 36 so that acceleration imparted to the head (and therefore to the golf teaching aid also) will result in a flexing movement of the sensor 31 about its connected end 35. Such movement of the sensor, because of the piezo-electric properties of the PVDF material , will result in the generation of electrical signals which are conveyed by means of leads 37 and 38 to a differential amplifier 39 which is connected to a ba ' tery 40, the signals generated in said leads 37 and 38 providing the inputs to said differential amplifier 39. The output of said differential amplifier is fed to a full-wave rectifier 40a_ and the output of said full-wave rectifier forms one input 41 to a comparator 42. The other input 43 of said comparator is connected to a variable resistance 44 which can either be infinitely varied*- by the user to set the threshold at which the aforementioned bleeper starts to operate or alternatively which has a number of preset positions corresponding to the independently actuable switches which will be accessible from the aforesaid aperture 28 of the housing 24. The output of said comparator 42 is connected to a lamp driver 45 which is itself connected to a lamp 46 or al ernatively to a sound generator 47 which may either produce a sound in the aforesaid bleeper mounted in the housing 24 or alternatively may be connected to the earphone 30 when it is desired that an audible signal produced by the golf teachi ' ng aid shall only be audible to the wearer himself. The aforementioned lamp 46 may be mounted in any convenient position (for example on the underside of said container 24) so that it will be visible through a suitable aperture or grid formed in the peak 48 of the headband 26 if in use such lamp becomes illuminated because of an unacceptable degree of acceleration imparted to the head of the user. The degree of acceleration (caused by movement of the golfer's head) which is unacceptable can of course be adjusted by the user as mentioned above and can also have an initi ' al value which s determined by the "stiffness" of the sensor and the 5 size of the mass 36. The sensor 31 as depicted in Figure 6 of the drawings (which in use will be flexible in a generally horizontal plane) will be capable of detecting movement of the golfer's head in one line such as a generally 10 fore-and-aft direction namely a direction which is parallel to the intended direction in which the golf ball s to be hit. Thus an audible or visible signal will then be generated if the golfer's head moves with an unacceptable degree of acceleration either forwards 15 or backwards relative to the direction of his stroke. Alternati ely a sensor can be used in which the PVDF material comprises a cylindrical core (see Figure 7) 49 which is mounted in a tubular support 50, such a sensor being flexible in a plurality of planes so as to 2.0 be capable of detecting movement in a variety of directions such as for example up and down as well as fore-and-aft. In either case, the sensor may be electrically connected to apparatus, which may include a visual display unit, and which is arranged to analyse 25 a golfer's swing to the extent that the magnitude of any undesirable head movement is measured and the position in the swing at which such movement occurred is indicated. Furthermore, where it is arranged that the sensor is capable of responding to head movement 30 in more than one direction, the electrical circuits can be arranged so that the aforesaid bleeper (or earphone) emits notes of different frequencies or beats of different frequencies to indicate which one of the various possible directions of head movement has occurred 35 Similarly, when visual signals are employed, a series of differently coloured lights can be used to indicate the particular direction in which head movement has occurred. Figure 8 shows a further alternative form of sensor in which the support 51 is of generally square or rectangular configuration in cross-section, a strip or foil of piezo-electric material being secured to each of the four faces of the support as indicated by reference numerals 52, 53, 54 and 55. These four strips or foils can be connected in electronic circuits such as is shown in Figure 5 and can be used to indicate respectively movement of the head in, say, horizontal (e.g. left and right) directions and vertical (up and down) directions. Furthermore, any conventional form of switching means may be provided in order that any one or more of the four possible directions of head movement can be monitored as may be required. As yet a further alternative (not shown) a sensor such as is shown in Figure 6 can be mounted so that it can be turned through 90° when desired and in this case it can be set to flex in either a horizontal or vertical plane. INDUSTRIAL APPLICAB ITY A golf teaching aid constructed in accordance with the present invention can be used either indoors or outdoors (on or off a golf course) and either with or without a golf ball or indeed a golf club and it will be able to indicate to a golf player whether or not he or she moves his head during the execution of a golf swing or a practice swing. The aid can be used, without any special or additional equipment, by either right-handed or left-handed golfers and insofar as it is not necessary to have any other person present the aid will be able to assist in the teaching or correcting of a golf swing without any person other than the player being involved, it being understood that t is important that the head of the golfer should remain still or reasonably still so as to act as a focal point around which the golf club can pivot whilst the swing is being executed.

Claims: Clai s: 1. A golf teaching aid characterised in that there is provided a mouthpiece portion or other head- coπnectible portion which can be attached or connected to the head of a golfer, together with an actuating element which is mounted on said aid so as to be. movable relative to said portion if in use the golfer's head to which the portion is attached moves with an unacceptable degree of a.ccel eration from a stationary position, said actuating element being arranged, in the event of such movement occurring, either to contact , the golfer and thereby provide a direct tactile indication that movement has occurred or, alternatively ' or in addition to actuate means for providing a visual and/or audible signal which will similarly indicate that movement has occurred. 2. A golf teaching aid as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the actuating element comprises a pendulum member pivoted at its upper end to one end of a stay which is itself pivotally connected at its other end to the mouthpiece portion or other head-connectible portion. 3. A golf teaching aid as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the actuating element comprises a ball or roller mounted on a supporting track. or surface in a container and arranged so that movement of said ball or roller to an unacceptable degree from an initial , at rest, position will serve to complete an electrical or luminous circuit to energise a lamp and/or buzzer to provide a visual and/or audible signal 4. A golf teaching aid as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the actuating element comprises a sensor which incorporates material having piezo- electric properties. 5. A golf teaching aid as claimed in Claim 4 character sed in that the sensor comprises an assembly including a strip or foil or piezo-e-1 ectric material and support means therefor, said assembly being pivotally mounted at one end and being free at its other end. 6. A golf teaching aid as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 characterised in that the assembly is flexible in a single plane. 7. A golf teaching aid as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 characterised in that the assembly is flexible in a plurality of planes. 8. A golf teaching aid as claimed in Claim 4 characterised in that the sensor is connected in an electrical circuit which also includes signal- producing means. 9. A golf teaching aid as claimed in Claim 8 characterised in that the electrical circuit also includes means for adjusting the sensitivity of the s i gnal -produci ng means. 10. A golf teaching aid as claimed in Claim 8 characterised in that the signal -produci ng means is arranged to provide in use signals of different characteristics corresponding respectively to movements of the sensor in different directions whereby the direction of sensor movement can be identified by the corresponding characteristics of the emi tted signal . 11. A golf teaching aid as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the sensor incorporates a plurality of elements formed of piezo-electric material and adapted respectively to monitor in use a plurality of possible directions of head movement, switching means being provided to- activate any one or more of said elements as may be required. 12. A golf teaching aid as claimed in Claim 4 characterised in that there is provided a housing in which the aid is -mounted and which is detachably connecti le to a cap o r headband.

Inventors: MAXWELL JOHN, MAXWELL, JOHN
Applicants: MAXWELL JOHN, MAXWELL, JOHN
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A63B69