Abstract:
A user swings a putter head ( 154 ) that is connected to a putter shaft ( 156 ) about a pivot of a pendulum ( 24 ). The putter head includes an opening ( 190 ) and a lower marker ( 186 ) located beneath the opening and spaced from the opening. The user attempts to maintain the marker within the opening ( 190 ) when swinging the club.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to golf clubs, a method of using golf clubs and to golf training aids and in particular golf training aids for improving a golfers putting stroke and, more particularly, to golf training aids for facilitating correct positioning of a golfers head relative to the golf ball to be struck. 
     Improvement of a golfer&#39;s swing towards a predetermined preferred method is known to improve the directional accuracy and the accuracy of the length of a golf shot. This is particularly so for the putting stroke. However, even though a golfer may be instructed theoretically and practically on how to perform a determined preferred putting stroke, every golfer will perceive these instructions differently and will not be able to experience how a predetermined preferred putting stroke should physically feel. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is therefore desirable for there to be means and a method for enabling golfers to physically experience a predetermined preferred putting stroke. 
     According to the present invention there is provided a golf training aid comprising a pivot member having pendulum attachment means, the pendulum attachment means being raised above the ground by at least one support leg, and a pendulum having pivot member attachment means, for attachment of the pendulum to the pivot member, and a golf club attachment means. 
     The golf club attachment means is advantageously disposed at, or adjacent to, the distal end of the pendulum. 
     The club attachment means may comprise an attachment pin. 
     The golf training aid advantageously further comprises a head position member extending from the pivot member in a substantially opposite direction to which the pendulum extends such that, in use, it provides correct positioning of the user&#39;s head. 
     The pendulum is advantageously extendable in length and is preferably telescopic. 
     The golf training aid preferably comprise a pivot member base portion mounted on the at least one leg. 
     The golf training aid preferably comprises a pivot member stem extending between the base portion and the pivot member. 
     The pivot member stem is preferably movable along its longitudinal axis, relative to the base portion, to thereby adjust the distance between the base portion and the pivot member. 
     The base portion may comprise an aperture suitable for receiving a portion of the pivot member stem. 
     The golf training aid preferably comprises three legs, to form a tripod. The, or each, leg is preferably adjustable in length and is preferably hingedly attached to the base portion. 
     The golf training aid advantageously further comprises a golf club head having pendulum attachment means for attachment of the club head to the pendulum. 
     The golf training aid may further comprise a golf club shaft suitable for attachment to the golf club head. The golf club shaft may be adjustable in length. An example of such a shaft may be, for example, a telescopic shaft. 
     Also according to the present invention there is provided a golf club head having attachment means for attaching the head to the above-mentioned golf training aid. 
     The attachment means may comprise an attachment hole operable to slideably receive the golf club attachment means, of the training aid, therein. The golf club attachment means and the attachment hole may be shaped to cooperably prevent rotational displacement between the golf club attachment means and the golf club head. 
     The attachment means, disposed in the club head, is advantageously operable as an interchangeable ballast weight. 
     The golf club head advantageously comprises a ballast weight hole operable to receive the ballast weight. 
     The ballast weight and the ballast weight hole are advantageously cooperatively operable to prevent rotation displacement therebetween. 
     The golf club head advantageously comprises an alignment plate and an alignment marker cooperatively operable to provide a line-of-site indicative of an optimum user head position during a putting stroke. 
     The alignment plate advantageously comprises an alignment aperture. 
     The golf club head advantageously comprises shaft linkage for attaching a shaft to the club head and operable to pivot an attached shaft relative to the club head in at least one dimension. 
     The shaft linkage is advantageously operable to pivot an attached shaft relative to the club head in two dimensions. 
     The shaft linkage advantageously comprises a double ended clevis joint. 
     Also according to the present invention there is provided a golf club having a club head as described in the preceding paragraphs. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention a golf club includes upper and a lower spaced markers, the markers being located at a lower region of the club with the relative orientation of the upper and lower markers which are spaced from each other being arranged to be monitored by a user of the club. 
     The upper marker may comprise an opening which opening may comprise an aperture. 
     The lower marker may comprise a mark. 
     At least one of the markers may be located on the head of the club and both markers may be so located. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention a method of using a golf club including an upper marker and a lower, spaced maker with the markers being located at lower region of the club comprises a user swinging the club and the user monitoring the relative positions of the markers. 
     The user may monitor the relative locations of the markers and attempt to maintain the relative position of the markers constant. 
     The present invention includes any combination of the herein referred to features 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a golf training aid according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the golf training aid of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a golf putter head according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is drawing of the toe-end view of the golf putter head of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a ballast weight for use with the golf putter head of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a drawing of the rear view of the golf putter head of  FIG. 3 , and 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are respectively, a view of one embodiment of a golf club guide in a separated and assembled position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a golf training aid  10  according to the present invention has a hub  12  having a side face  14 , an upper surface  16  and an under face  18 . A pivot member  20  extends outwardly from the side face  14 . 
     On its peripheral end, the pivot member  20  has a pendulum attachment means  22  which may be in the form of either a pivot pin or a suitable hole for receiving a pivot pin. A pendulum shaft  24 , formed from an elongate member, has on one end pivot member attachment means  26  and on the other end golf club attachment means  28 . The pivot member attachment means  26  may be formed from either a pivot pin or a suitable hole for receiving a pivot pin such that it cooperates with the pendulum attachment means  22 . The golf club attachment means  28  has an attachment pin  30 . The pendulum  24  is mounted on the pivot member  20  such that the end having a golf club attachment means  28  is able to swing in an accurate or arcuate manner. In a preferred embodiment the pendulum is formed from three telescopic members  24   a,    24   b  and  24   c  such that it is adjustable in length. 
     A base portion  31  is formed from a plate  32  having three hinges  34 ,  36  and  38  spaced apart around the peripheral circumference thereof. Each hinge is connected to a supporting leg  40 ,  42  and  44 , respectively. The supporting legs are telescopic such that their length can be extended to raise the height of the base portion  31  and also to spread their distribution on the ground and account for uneven ground surfaces to provide stability. A spirit level (not shown) may also be disposed on the base  31  to enable the training aid to be correctly set up. 
     A stem  46  extends downwards from the under face  18  of the hub  12  and through a hole in the base portion  31  such that it is able to pass there through under the control of a worm and wheel mechanism  48 . It will be appreciated that other types of mechanism may be used which function to provide control Controlling the worm and wheel mechanism such that the stem  46  moved downwards through the hole in the base portion  31  reduces the height of the pivot member  20  relative to the ground surface. Similarly, controlling the worm and wheel mechanism such that the stem  46  moves in an upwards direction increases the height of the pivot member  20  relative to the ground surface. 
     An adjustable member  50  extends upwardly in a direction substantially opposite to the direction in which the pendulum extends and has a head position member  52  fixed to its peripheral end. The head adjustable member  50  is angled such as to position the head position member  52  directly above the golf club attachment means  28  and may be adjustable to alter the extent towards and away from a user. The training aid may be operated with or without the adjustable member and the head position member  52 . 
     A specially adapted golf club head  54  may be detachably attachable to the golf club attachment means  28  such that is fixed in position thereto. The golf club head  54  is attachable to the attachment means at different angles such as to provide different angles of loft on the club head face. The loft may range from approximately 0 to 70°. The golf club head  54  may either have a permanently attached shaft  56  or, alternatively, a shaft which is attachably detachable to the golf club head  54  to form a golf club  58 . The golf club  58  may be used attached to the golf training aid before being detached therefrom to be used on a golf course. 
     In use, the golf training aid is set up by extending the legs  40 ,  42  and  44  to suitable lengths to provide stability. The height of the pivot member  20  is set by adjusting the height of the stem  46  relative to the base  31 , by using the worm and wheel mechanism  48 . The pendulum  24  is then adjusted in length such that the golf club attachment means  28  overlies the practice putting surface  60  without significantly contracting it. A golf club head  54  is attached to the golf club attachment means  28  such that the shaft  56  extends upwardly in a normal position suitable for practising the putting stroke. The golf club head may be a golf club that can be used in normal play in which case, for example, the toe end of the club head may have attachment means that permit the head to be detachably connected to the golf club attachment means  28 . The attachment means on the toe end of the head may be detachable from the head which may allow the club to be more readily used in normal play. 
     A user grips the golf club  58  in the normal manner before undertaking a putting stroke. In undertaking a putting stroke the club head  54  is guided by the arc which the pendulum determines and draws with the club attachment means  28 . This arc is the predetermined preferred arc for undertaking a correct putting stroke. Accordingly, the user experiences the biomechanical feedback in his own body as to how he should be undertaking a putting stroke and also experiences how it should feel. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 6 , a preferred golf club putter head  154  comprises a toe  157 , a heel  159 , a front ball-striking surface  160 , a rear portion  162  and a top surface  164 . 
     The putter head  154  may further comprise shaft linkage  166  for attaching and linking a golf club shaft  156  to the putter head. The shaft linkage  166  has a pivot member  168  fixed to the top surface  164  such that it extends therefrom in a substantially upward direction. The shaft linkage further comprises a double ended clevis joint  170 . The double ended clevis joint  170  is a rectangular tube having a first clevis joint  172  disposed at one end and a second clevis joint  174  disposed the other end. 
     The first clevis joint  172  has an open end which is orthogonal relative to the open end of the second clevis joint  174 . 
     The pivot member  168  is disposed within the open end of the first clevis joint  172  and is pivotably attached thereto by means of a pivot pin  176  which extends through the pivot member  168  and the first clevis joint  172 . The pivoting action of the first clevis joint  172  relative to the pivot member  168  may allow the golf club shaft  156  to be pivoted in a forward and backward direction relative the putter head  154  and may thereby allow the angle between the longitudinal axis of the shaft  156  and the plane of the ball-striking surface  160  to be adjusted and fixed at a desired angle—i.e. the loft of the ball-striking surface  160  can be adjusted as desired. 
     The shaft  156  has a distal end  178  which is disposed within the open end of the second clevis joint  174  and is pivotably attached thereto by means of a pivot pin  180  which extends through the distal end  178 , of the shaft, and the second clevis joint  174 . The pivoting action of the shaft  156  relative to the clevis joint  170  allows the shaft  156  to be pivoted in a direction perpendicular to the direction of pivot between the first clevis joint and the pivot member. The pivoting action provided by the second clevis joint  174  therefore allows the free end (handle) of the shaft to be pivoted in a plane formed between the toe  157  and the heel  159  and thereby allows the angle of the shaft to be adjusted to suit the height and putting style of the user. 
     Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the rear portion  162  comprises a shoulder  180  having an upwardly extending surface such as a substantially vertical surface  182  and a surface transverse thereto such as a substantially horizontal surface  184 . Suitably disposed on the surface  184  is a marker  186  and extending outwards such as substantially perpendicularly outwards from the upwardly extending surface  182  in a suitable relationship such as a substantially parallel relationship relative to the horizontal surface  184  is an alignment plate  188 . The alignment plate  188  has an alignment aperture  190  extending therethrough such as to provide a preferred line of sight  192  from the user&#39;s eye, through the alignment opening which may comprise an aperture  190  to the marker  186 . The marker  186  may be, for example, a coloured mark or raised or indented portion disposed on the surface  184 . The marker  186  is preferably spaced from the opening  190 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  disclose an alternative form of a marker and guide that may be affixed to a club head such as a putter. In this embodiment an upper marker  290  may include downwardly extending spigots  292  that are arranged to be received in aligned openings  294  in a lower marker  280  possibly by being a friction fit therein. The lower marker includes a recess  295  into which the upper marker may fit. 
     The upper marker  290  includes an aperture  296  which may have a first markings  298  extending in the direction of the intended swing of the club and may have a second marker  300  at right angles to the first marker. The lower marker may have a first marking  298 A spaced from the upper marking  298  and may have a second marking  300 A at result angles thereto which marker  298 A and  300 A may cross each other. 
     In use it is desired to attempt to keep the first marking  298  and  298 A aligned with each other as shown in  FIG. 8  when swinging the club. It may also be desired to keep the second markers aligned with each other when swinging the club, as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention a club is provided having the opening  190  and the marker or the upper and lower marker  290  and  280  which club may or may not be used with the training aid. 
     In use, the putter head  154  is adjusted relative to the shaft  156 , to suite the user, using the shaft linkage  166 . The shaft may be adjustable in length such as by comparing telescopic shaft for instance. The user then practices their putting stroke and in doing so maintains the line of sight  192 , such that they are able to see the marker  186  through the alignment aperture  190  at all times during the putting stroke. This, along with the training aid allows the optimum putting stroke to be achieved for greater directional and length accuracy. 
     Referring to particularly to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a ballast hole  192  is formed in the toe  157 , of the putter head  154 . The hole  192  extends in a direction towards the heel  159  and is shaped to slideably receive and cooperate with a ballast weight  194  (see  FIG. 5 ). The hole  192  has a first diameter for receiving the main body of the ballast weight and a second smaller diameter for receiving an extended portion of the ballast weight. The hole  192  has a circumferentially discrete region of increased diameter extending longitudinally along the length of the hole to provide a receiving groove  196 . 
     The ballast weight  194  provides for adjustable putter weights to suite the user. The ballast weight  194  is a cylinder having an outer diameter which corresponds with the first diameter of the hole  192 , such that the weight  194  is slideably received within the hole  192 . The weight has an inner end  198  and an outer end  200 . The inner end  198  has an extended portion in the form of an alignment projection  202 , which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the weight  194  and is dimensioned to have a diameter which corresponds with the second smaller diameter of the hole. The outer end  200 , of the ballast weight  194 , has an attachment hole  204  extending along the longitudinal axis of the ballast weight  194 . The attachment hole  204  is operable to slideably receive the attachment pin  30  of the golf training aid  10  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The attachment hole  204  is shaped to prevent rotational displacement of the attachment pin  30  relative to the hole  204 . Accordingly, the hole  204  has one or more flat portions, which may be machined, and which cooperate with flat portions disposed on the attachment pin  30  to prevent rotation displacement. 
     The ballast weight  194  also has a raised portion of increased diameter to form a locking member  206 , which extends along the outer surface of the weight in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction thereof. The locking member  206  is dimensioned to be slideably receiving in the groove  196  such that when the weight  194  is disposed within the hole  192  the locking member  206  cooperates with the groove  196  to prevent rotational displacement of the weight  194  relative to the hole  192 . 
     Although the golf training aid, club head and club described above are illustrated in the drawings as suitable for right-handed use, it will be appreciated that the golf training aid, club head and club is equally applicable to left-handed use within the scope of the present invention.