Abstract:
A method and means for determining the site of impact of a golf ball on any golf club is disclosed and described. It requires only application to the ball and requires nothing be done to the club.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The current invention discloses a method and means which, when used with a golf ball, and standard golf club, provides a method and means for monitoring the site of impact of the ball on the club.  
           [0002]    The game of golf has, over the years, enjoyed tremendous popularity. Its enthusiasts are constantly searching for ways to improve their skills. There have been numerous attempts at satisfactory methods for monitoring the site of impact of a ball on the golf club. These inventions fall into two categories:  
           [0003]    1) Modifying or adding to the club.  
           [0004]    2) Modifying or adding to the club and ball.  
           [0005]    In the first category of modifications to the club, the prior art discloses such devices as articles which are attached in with an adhesive to the head of the club. Examples of these are disclosed in U.S. Pat Nos. 5,142,309; 5,033,746; 5,597,361; and 5,779,556 which are incorporated herein by reference. These are not suited for an actual game of golf because the adhesive indicators would need to be replaced numerous times during an actual round of golf.  
           [0006]    Another example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,077 which is incorporated herein by reference. It provides for a visual indicator with a visual spark being produced upon impact. The visual indicator is not suitable for an actual round of golf because it alters the hardness characteristics of the golf club face. Additionally, there is no way to monitor and compare the actual point of impact on successive swings.  
           [0007]    Another such invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,508, which is incorporated herein by reference. It involves applying a substance on a golf ball, and subsequently preparing the head of the golf club in order to receive the mark created by the impact. It was not commercially viable due mainly to the hesitation of golfers to make modifications onto clubs and a lack of ease of use, and is limited by only being useful with driver type clubs. A need exists for a method that is easy to apply and use in order to determine the site of impact for those golfers who wish to improve their swing including during their practice rounds of golf. The current invention can be used on a club of any age or material without modification of the golf club head.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The current invention is a method and means, which employs the use of a composition that is applied to golf ball by suitable means. The novelty in the current invention lies in the facts that: 1) there are no modifications made to the club. And 2) it is suitable to be used in an actual round of golf. The composition is particularly suited in that it dries rapidly on the surface of the ball. Drying time is from 1-3 seconds. It will leave a visible mark on the head of any club, regardless of composition. The mark is created by the heat of impact and requires no preparation to the golf club head. This mark can than be easily removed from the head by hand. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0009]    The current invention employs the use of a non-aqueous mixture being applied to a golf ball. The mixture is prepared in the following manner. A suitable resin is dispersed in an organic solvent. Suitable solvents include acetone, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, organic acetates, and methanol. Acrylic resin is particularly suitable for this application. A plasticizer is then added to this dispersion. The plasticizer is of critical importance. It allows for the elasticity of the film, which is critical for withstanding the heat, force, and elongation exerted on a ball and the coating, when struck continuously by a club through out a normal game of golf. The plasticizer can be selected from a group of plasticizers as is commonly known in the chemical arts. These include, but are not limited to: Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Trethyl Citrate, Triacetin, and pthalate esthers. A particularly suitable plasticizer is a mixture of pthalate esters sold under the name Palatinol 71 IP by BASF Corporation, Mt. Olive N.J. A colorant is subsequently dispersed in acetone. Many commercially available colors and dyes can be used. These include, but are not limited to; Aluminum Lake Blends, Iron Oxides, and Titanium Dioxide. A colorant that is preferred is Titanium Dioxide. A major reason this is preferred is that when combined with an optical whitener the color of Titanium Dioxide does not noticeably change the appearance of a standard golf ball. The preferred composition of the solution is showed in Table 1.  
         [0010]    All values are % w/w  
         [0011]    Acrylic Resin 4-20%  
         [0012]    Plasticizer 9-11%  
         [0013]    Titanium Dioxide 1-10%  
         [0014]    Acetone q.s.  
         [0015]    The prepared solution is carried in a container that is small enough to fit inside a golf bag. Most preferably, the container should contain a foam applicator for dispensing and applying to the surface of the golf ball. Upon drying, the ball is ready to be used for the method of determining the site of impact. The coating is resistant to moisture and would not be effected by humidity, precipitation, or the inevitable errant launch, which invariably ends up in the least desirable location. The coating lasts while depleting sacrificially throughout play can last for up to 18 holes, and can be removed by washing with standard rubbing alcohol, or other available organic solvent. Additionally, the coating exhibits the ability to be exposed to the heat, force and elongation of the impact on a ball by a golf swing, and still only deposit a mark on the club at the site of impact. The novelty of the coating lies in the elasticity of the film that is able to deposit a “chalklike” mark on the club and still remain intact on the ball without crumbling or cracking. The plasticizer is present in such an amount that the film is neither too brittle nor too soft. Experimentation has shown that amounts below 5% of plasticizer produces a film that is too brittle. From 5-9% plasticizer, the film does not deposit a mark easily removed from the golf club head. Amounts of 9-11% plasticizer produce the desired effect and also allow the film to remain intact after repeated swings and does not chip or crack. The mark is easily removed from the head of any club by wiping either with a cloth or even with one&#39;s finger. The film remains on the ball for a standard round of golf of up to 100 swings. This mark is present on any golf club regardless of the composition of the golf club head. This formula can be further modified to be used with clubs, which do not get swung with the same amount of force. (I.e. putter.)  
         [0016]    One can leave the marks on the club and examine the impact site of successive swings in order to locate deficiencies in a swing and make corrections.