Patent Publication Number: US-4317569-A

Title: Golf practice rod

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is directed to a flexible shaft which may be supported by an anchor located in the ground and the shaft offers a target for a golfer desiring to improve his golf swing and train his eyes to keep them on the golf ball when the ball is hit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention in general is directed to a flexible shaft which is supported by an anchor located in the ground. The shaft extends through an elongated hole in the anchor and has an abutment which engages the bottom of the anchor to prevent the shaft from coming out of the anchor when it is struck by a golf club. 
     In order to aid in implanting the anchor in the ground a corresponding implant tube receives the upper end portion of the flexible shaft and abuts against the upper end of the anchor. The latter can then be driven into the ground a predetermined distance by hitting the implant tube on the top with a tool such as a hammer or the like. The implant tube is removed from the flexible shaft when the anchor is finally in place. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the parts of the practice rod assembled with the anchor having been driven into the ground to the desired depth. 
     FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the golf practice rod with the implant tube removed and disposing the flexible rod in a position to be engaged by a golf club. 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing a wafer or chip inserted through a slot in the flexible shaft. 
     FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The golf practice rod of the invention has an elongated cylinder which serves as an anchor 1 for insertion in the ground and which has an elongated hole 2 therethrough to receive the lower end portion of a flexible shaft 3 which may be of various colors. The lower end portion of shaft 3 has an abutment or flange 4 disposed over the bottom end of anchor 1 and this prevents flexible shaft 3 which is very resilient from pulling out of the top of anchor 1. 
     Anchor 1 is located in the ground at a predetermined depth and the flexible rod extends above the ground a predetermined distance normally depending upon the golf club which will be used by the person desiring to practice by use of the golf practice rod. 
     In order to locate anchor 1 in the ground an implant tube 5 corresponding in size to anchor 1 is provided. Implant tube 5 has an elongated hole 6 to receive the upper end portion of flexible shaft 3 and the bottom end of tube 5 abuts against the top of anchor 1. 
     By using a tool such as a hammer or the like which engages the top of implant tube 5 anchor 1 may be driven into the ground to the depth desired. After this is accomplished implant tube 5 is removed which leaves flexible shaft 3 in a position above anchor 1 as shown in FIG. 3 ready to be engaged by a golf club and to flex when hit and then return to its initial position. 
     Anchor 1 may be located at various heights in the ground to support the upper portion of flexible shaft 3 above the ground and the depth of anchor 1 and the height of flexible shaft 3 above the ground wall normally depend upon the golf club which will be used to hit flexible shaft 3. 
     The golf practice rod is designed to improve the swing of the golfer as well as to train the golfer to keep his eyes on the target he is hitting both of to improve the golfer&#39;s golf game in actual play. 
     The golf practice rod can be made of various lengths depending upon the golf clubs with which it is to be employed. 
     Flexible resilient shaft 3 which can be made of nylon or like material is easily replaceable in the event it loses its flexibility by use or is injured so that it no longer will flex when engaged by a golf club. 
     A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing. In this embodiment after anchor 1 is located in the ground a wafer 7 to simulate a golf ball is inserted through the slot 8 in flexible shaft 3. After insertion wafer 7 is held in place by the clips 9 as illustrated in FIG. 5 which are located opposite to the side of the wafer which will be hit by a golf club during practice. The clips may be of various shapes and configurations. Because the shaft 3 is inherently resilient this feature provides all the flexibility in the shaft which is required without the addition of any other member thereto. Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims, particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.