GOLF TRAINING DEVICE

Abstract: A golf training device including a mounting member (10) which is stationary in use and having a longitudinal axis defined by a plurality of slots or apertures (13, 14). There is also provided a circular plate (19) rotatably attached to the mounting member (10) by pivot means (24) coinciding with the centre of the circular plate (19). The circular plate (19) has primary identifying indicia (21, 23) designating a target line (22) and the mounting member (10) includes marked graduations (20). In use upon rotation of the circular plate (19) relative to the mounting member (10) the target line (22) assumes an angular relationship to the longitudinal axis of the mounting member (10). When this is achieved angle to pin shots for chipping and pitching development may be simulated.

Description: GOLF TRAINING DEVICE THIS INVENTION relates to a golf training device suitable for correct alignment of a golfers swing. One such device is described in Australian Patent Specification 30668/84 which refers to a device comprising a first direction finding member having a plurality of apertures coinciding with a longitudinal axis thereof and a second direction finding member pivotally attached to the first member at a pivot point coinciding with one of the plurality of apertures. There was provided a recess within the first member which accommodated part of the second member for movement about the pivot point. The second member included a reference point which could be aligned with graduated indicia located on an adjacent end of the first member. The second member also included a plurality of apertures aligned with the longitudinal apertures of the first member when the second member was in a neutral or zero position. The first member also included additional apertures surrounding the pivot point and not aligned with the longitudinal apertures. The aforesaid device could be utilized for determining an optimum location of the ball relative to a golfers feet so that the ball position coincided with the bottom of his swing using the plurality of longitudinal apertures. However, the device could also be used to enable a golfer to obtain an improved perception in regard to offset and angular relationships in regard to a target line coinciding with the longitudinal apertures. In this regard a golfer could mentally co-ordinate an angle relative to a target line and a transverse stance line. In this regard the ball could be placed on a tee located in a selected longitudinal aperture or simply on the selected longitudinal aperture and the first member moved relative to the second member to a predetermined angular displacement indicated by the graduated indicia. In this regard the second member was fixed relative to a target line and a golfer could then develop a perception of fine angular relationships by driving the ball along a number of angular positions coincident with the longitudinal axis of the first member. The aforesaid device could also be used to develop skills in controlled draw and fade shots as well as for correction of uncontrolled tendencies to draw or fade (ie. "look" or "slice") by keeping the first member fixed relative to a target line and moving the second member to a' predetermined angular relationship therewith. However, it was found in practice that the use of the aforesaid prior art device was confusing to some golfers in that in one case as explained above, the first member was fixed and the second member was moved thereto and in another case the reverse happened. Thus the aforesaid prior art device was considered to be unduly complicated and relatively difficult to follow in achieving the desired result. It was therefore believed that the aforesaid prior art device may only appeal to experienced golfers and not to the beginners. It is an object of the invention to provide a golf training device which is simple in construction and efficient in operation which alleviates the problems associated with the aforesaid prior art device.- The golf training device of the invention includes a mounting member which is fixed in use and a movable member rotatably mounted thereon. The mounting member may have a longitudinal axis which may be defined by a plurality of slots or apertures. The movable member is suitably a circular plate rotatably attached to the mounting member at a pivot point by pivot means suitably coinciding with the centre of the circular plate. The circular plate may have identifying indicia suitably designating a target line and a transverse line designating a stance line. Preferably surrounding the periphery of the circular plate is marked graduations identifying angular values between 0 degrees and 180 degrees or more suitably between 0 degrees and 360 degrees. The centre of the circular plate may also have a tee aperture. in a more preferred form the circular plate has a target line bounded by arrowheads and a transverse stance line also bounded by arrowheads. However, it will be appreciated that other suitable identifying indicia could be utilized if required. The mounting member is suitably elongate and may include a nose end portion in one side of the circular plate and a tail end portion on the other side thereof. Preferably, the nose end portion includes a single elongate slot although this could be replaced by a plurality of apertures if desired. Preferably, the tail end portion also includes a single elongate slot although this could also be replaced by a plurality of apertures if required. Both the nose slot and tail slot may coincide with the target line of the circular plate when the plate is in the neutral or zero position. The pivot means between the circular plate and the mounting member may be of any suitable type such as a pin or lug of the plate engaging in a retaining aperture of the mounting member. Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings wherein:- FIG 1 is a plan view of a golf training device constructed in accordance with the invention; FIG 2 is a view along line A-A of FIG 1 showing the mating member separated from the rotatable plate and both members in an aligned relationship; and FIG 3 is detailed sectional view showing the inter-engagement between the mating member and the rotatable plate. In the drawings there is shown mounting plate 10 having a nose end 11 and tail end 12. There is also shown nose slot 13 and tail slot 14 as well as nose marking stripes 15 and tail marking stripes 16. Also shown are projections 17 including anchor apertures 18 for insertion therethrough by a spike (not shown) which may be embedded in the ground. Circular plate 19 is shown surrounded by graduated indicia 20 marked off in intervals of.10 degrees. The plate 19 has a stance line 20A designated by affixed arrowheads 21 and target line 22 designated by fixed arrowheads 23. Also- shown is central pivot 24 having tee aperture 25. As best shown in FIG 3 designating a detailed view of area X of FIG 2, the boss 31 engages with the underside of plate 19 and both boss 31 and web 35 together with socket 29 form a ring like cavity 33 for a snap ring 34 to releasably retain plate 19 on mounting plate 10. The snap ring 34 which may be made from resilient material has a peripheral recess 36 for engagement with projection 37 of plate 19. The plate 19 is freely rotatable within recess 26 and thus target line 22 may be rotated to any desired angle as well as stance line 20A. This means that a golfer may practice chip shots at an angle between a simulated line between golf tee and the pin of a green. Slots 13 and 14 can accommodate tees at any desired position and a tee may be placed in aperture 25 for practice of angle shots. In this regard one of the most difficult tasks in golf is to visually assess the angular relationship between the stance and the intended flight path of the ball. In this respect the feet should be parallel to the target line and initially in use of the golf training device of the invention a golfer should practice so that he is standing parallel to his line of flight rather than to the ball itself. By initially practising with the angle selector 19 set at zero and then 5 by rotation of selector 19 to adopt a new target line and subsequent realignment of the stance a golfer may simulate angle to pin shots for chipping and pitching development close to the green. This may be done indoors using a plastic golf ball and a wedge club. ' 10 From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the golf training device of the invention is- extremely simple in construction as well as in operation compared to the aforesaid prior art device. This means that a novice golfer will readily appreciate how to use the golf taining device 15 of the invention in contrast with the prior art device. 20 -_o

Claims: The claims defining the invention are as follows; 1. A golf training device including a mounting member which is stationary in use and having a longitudinal axis defined by a plurality of slots or apertures and a circular plate rotatably attached to the mounting member by pivot means coinciding with the centre of the circular plate wherein said circular plate has primary identifying indicia designating a target line and said mounting member includes marked graduations whereby on rotation of the circular plate relative to the mounting member the target line may assume an angular relationship to said longitudinal axis whereby in use angle to pin shots for chipping and pitching development may be simulated. 2. A golf training device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mounting member includes a plurality of slots or apertures identifying said longitudinal axis. 3. A golf training device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said circular plate has a central tee aperture collinear with said plurality of slots or apertures. 4. A golf training device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said circular plate also has secondary identifying indicia located normal to said primary identifying indicia designating a ball or stance line. 5. A golf training device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the.pivot means comprises a lug of the rotatable plate engaging in a retaining aperture of the mounting member. 6. A golf training device as claimed in claim 5 wherein there is also provided a locking ring which is engageable in said retaining aperture in snap fit relationship to releasably attach the rotatable plate to the mounting member. 7. A golf training device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting member also includes securement slots or apertures whereby said mounting member may be secured to the ground or other support surface by pins or tees engaging in said securement slots or aperture.

Inventors: CROSSLEY WILLIAM JAMES, CROSSLEY, WILLIAM, JAMES
Applicants: CROSSLEY WILLIAM JAMES, CROSSLEY, WILLIAM, JAMES
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A63B69