Patent Publication Number: US-2018043231-A1

Title: Golf practice arrangement

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/318,861, filed Dec. 14, 2016, which a national stage entry of PCT Application No. PCT/US15/50890, filed Sep. 18, 2015, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62,052,144, filed on Sep. 18, 2014. This application claims priority to each of those related applications and incorporates each by reference thereto. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Learning to swing a golf club properly can be a challenging endeavor. A golf club usually has a small sweet spot from where the cleanest hit will be made when contacting the ball. When the sweet spot is hit with a proper swing, the ball will travel straight. Missing the sweet spot of a club will waste power, reduce distance the ball will travel, and often result in a slice or hook that will send the ball off its intended course. 
     A practice golf club would train a golfer to use only the sweet spot of the club. Having a dub with a small face and where that small face is almost entirely a sweet spot would be a good way to show the golfer where the sweet spot is and consistently hit the sweet spot. Such a practice dub ideally would have its entire small face representative of the sweet spot. 
     Additionally, another challenge associated with learning to develop a swing is being able to harness a repeatable swing. Getting a repeatable swing is best accomplished by developing muscle memory for that action. The more common that swing action becomes for a golfer, the easier it should become to repeat it. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present golf training system relies on a common action for which many people have developed muscle memory development and translating that action into the ability to have a more repeatable golf swing. That common action is the swinging of a hammer to drive in nails or other similar fasteners. Accordingly, the present golf practice arrangement attempts to replicate the hammering of such fasteners using, in one embodiment, a specially designed club to perform the hammering action and providing a driving block carrying at least one of a drivable fastener or peg element, with the drivable fastener or peg element being driven or otherwise hammered into the block using the training club of the present design. 
     The present golf practice arrangement is used to develop a golfer&#39;s swing. In one embodiment of the system, the practice arrangement has a club with a head that has a hosel extending from the head for connection to a shaft. The shaft at one end has a grip attached to it and is connected to the hosel at the opposite end. The head has a striking face that is adapted for striking a fastener. The fastener is driven into a block that is held in place by a holder. In one variation the holder is in the form of a mat or platform, to which the block is affixed. The mat is built for a user of the club to stand upon when striking the fastener into the block with the club. In yet another variation, the block holder is in the form of at least one stake mounted to and/or extending from the block, with a given stake being able to driven into the ground to keep the block in place during driving practice. 
     The fastener may, in a simple form, be a nail that is driven into a wood block. Other variations of the fastener or drivable peg are possible, as well. 
     In another aspect of the present golf practice arrangement, the striking face is round having a circular area with which to strike a nail or another drivable peg element, as carried by the driving block. More particularly, the striking face of the head of the practice club may be configured as a circular hammer face. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf practice arrangement, with the practice club of the arrangement in the ready position; 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the hitting block used as part of the golf practice arrangement shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the golf practice arrangement of  FIG. 1 , after the club has been swung; 
         FIG. 3  is a dose up of a drivable peg, shown in the form of a nail being struck by the club shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the head of the club shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the head shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of the head shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment club head different than that shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an end view of the club shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of another embodiment of the hitting block associated with the present system, the hitting block employing a reusable drivable peg and providing for mounting stakes. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present driving block system, provided with one or more sensors, a digital controller, and a display. 
         FIG. 11  is a side isometric view of a truncated lower portion of another embodiment of the practice golf club, with this version employing an adjustable head. 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded, first-side isometric view of the truncated lower portion of the practice golf club shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded, second-side isometric view of the truncated lower portion of the practice golf club shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view of the golf practice arrangement  10 . The practice arrangement includes, a club  12  having a head  14  with a hosel  16  extending therefrom. The head  14  is of a unitary construction and is essentially configured as a mallet or hammer head. Further, the weight and general balance of a given head  14  may be chosen to replicate that of a standard club size (e.g., wood; 5 iron; wedge; etc.), thus aiding in ability to transfer the skills gained through practice to use of regular clubs on a golf course. 
     The head  14  has a body  18  that, in one embodiment, is generally a rectangular prism in shape, with the body  18  defining a body length BL, a body width BW, and a body height BR, as noted in  FIG. 4 . In this illustrated variant, the body length BL is greater (e.g, at least 2-3 times so) than the body width BW and possibly the body height BH, allowing the head  18  to be configured similar to a hammer or mallet head. More specifically, the body  18  has a square cross section with flat sides  19  and corners  23  that are rounded. The head  14 , as illustrated, includes a pair of striking or hammer faces  24  that integrally extend from opposite longitudinal or lengthwise ends of the body  18  and are adapted for striking a drivable peg  26 , which, in the version illustrated in  FIG. 1 , is a nail. The striking faces  24  may be co-formed (e.g., forged, molded, machined, cast) with the body  18  or otherwise integrally attached thereto (e.g., welded) to yield an effectively unitary head  14 . Each striking face  24 , in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , has a circumference or periphery  28  that defines the area of the striking face  24 . The striking faces  24  are generally aligned perpendicular to the lengthwise direction (per the body length BL) of the body  18  to facilitate a true, square strike against a given drivable peg  26 . 
     The cross section of each striking face  24  may, in one embodiment, be of a uniform diameter for a predetermined distance toward the body  18  until reaching a corresponding reduced portion  34  that is between the body  18  and a given striking face  24 , in a manner generally consistent with a common hammer head design. It is important to note that the present practice club  12  differs, in large part, from a standard golf club (not shown) in that the hammer-head striking face  24  serves as the club face, instead of the typical triangular/trapezoidal hitting face associated with standard non-putter clubs. While the striking faces  24  are illustrated to be circular, it is to be understood that a given striking face  24  could take on another shape (e.g., ellipse, square), so long as that shape provides a compact hitting area (e.g., essentially less than the area of a standard non-putter club face and, more particularly, less than ⅓ the area thereof). 
     The entire area of each striking face  24 , within the circumference/perimeter thereof, is adapted for hitting a given drivable peg  26 . That is to say, at least the striking or hammer faces  24  of the head  14  are sufficiently hard and durable enough formed of hardened steel (like a hammer) or hard rubber (like a mallet)) to transfer the energy of a swing of the club  12  to a given drivable peg  26  and, concordantly, to withstand repeated performance of that action. For issues such as ease of forming, durability, and/or transfer of energy to a given striking face  24 , the entire head  14  may, in one variation, be formed of the same material chosen for the striking face  24 . 
     The body  18 , in the illustrated version, is completely within the circumference/perimeter  28  of the striking faces  24 , as projected toward the body  18 . In this way, the striking faces  24  circumscribe the lengthwise direction of the body  18 . Because of this alignment of the striking faces  24  and the body  18 , the mass of the head  14  is directly aligned with the faces  24 . This arrangement ensures that the linear density and balance of the club  12  are high. Also, if designed in the manner illustrated, the size and shape of the striking faces  24  would establish the clearance needed for a successful swing (i.e., if the striking faces  24  would not “catch” on a nearby surface (e.g., ground) during a swing, the body  16  would not do so either). 
     Each striking or hammer face  24  may further be essentially perpendicular to the body axis BA (i.e., established along the body length BL) of the body  18 . Aligning each striking face  24  in such a manner ensures that a given drivable peg  26  may be struck square with any portion of the given striking face  24 , thus facilitating maximum transfer of energy along the corresponding axis (not labeled) of the drivable peg  26 . If, for example, the drivable peg  26  were a nail and the striking face  24  were instead at an angle (other than essentially perpendicular) to the body axis B, hitting the nail with such an angled striking face  24  could actually promote bending of the nail more so than hammering or pounding it, as desired. Thus, aligning the striking face  24  of the practice club  12  perpendicular or nearly so to the body axis BA distinguishes the striking face  24  of the illustrated embodiment from a typically slanted face of a regular non-putter club, as non-putter clubs are angled to varying degrees to facilitate the generation of a certain amount of lift in addition to forward momentum. 
     The club  12  further has a shaft  38 , defining a shaft axis  5 A (per  FIG. 4 ). that is connected to the hosel  16  and extends upward to a grip  40 . Thus, the club  12  generally includes, in order of arrangement, a head  14 , a hosel  16 , a shaft  38 , and a grip or handle  40 . The hosel  16  may be of the type shown in  FIG. 3 , where the hosel  16  extends upward perpendicularly from the side  19  from which it extends. In this case, the hosel  16  is centrally located on the side  19  from which it extends. The hosel  6 ′ could also be of the type show in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , where the hosel  16 ′ extends upwardly at an oblique with respect to the side  19  from which it extends. The hosel  16 ′ will provide a different feel than that of hosel  16  and may be a matter of preference to a user  44  of the club  12 . As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , the hosel  16 ′ is not centered within the side  19  from which it extends, one side  46  of the hosel  16 ′ is aligned with a bottom side  19 ′. In both designs of the head  14 , the opposite striking faces  24  allow the club  12  to be used by a right or left handed user  44 . It is further noted that a given striking face  24  may further be arranged to be essentially parallel to the shaft axis S A, thus further promoting the hitting of the drivable peg  26  in a “square” manner that promotes maximum energy transfer along the axis of the drivable peg  26 . 
     The shaft  38  of a driver, fairway, or hybrid club  12  is typically made of strong, flexible material such as a graphite composite, aluminum, fiberglass, or another similar material. Having a shaft  38  be made of such a material allows the club  12  to be relatively light, durable, flexible, and able to transfer torque during a swing. This material choice for the shaft  38 , though, is unlike the optimal choice for a putter shaft. For a putter shaft, stiffness and minimal or no torque and twisting during use are desired to promote both accuracy and efficient energy transfer. Thus, putter shafts, unlike a shaft  36  of a non-putter club, are typically made of steel. 
     The club  12 , in one variation, may be used with a mat or platform  50 , with the mat  50  defining a flat surface  52  on which the user  44  is able to stand. The mat or platform  50 , in the version illustrated in  FIG. 1 , carries a driving block system  53 , as particularly shown in  FIG. 1A . The driving block system  53  generally includes a block mount or holder  54  and a block  56 , with the block  56 , in turn, carrying one or more drivable pegs  26 . In the version of  FIG. 1 , the block  56  is in the form of a wood block, and the holder  54  is adapted for holding the wood block  56  within it. The holder  54  has a flange  60  on its bottom end that is used to attach the holder  54  to the mat  50 . The mat or platform  50  may be made of any material that is substantial enough to support and anchor the holder  54  and, by extension the block  56 , even during practice driving, and to withstand the weight of the user  44 . Thus, the mat  50  may be made of plywood, fiberglass, plastic, hard rubber, metal, or similar materials. Where the mat  50  and the driving block system S 3  are desired to constitute a portable system, the components together should further be light enough to carry, and the mat  50  could be provided with a handle (not shown) to facilitate carrying thereof. The holder  54  has a back side  62  and inner side  64 , and an outer side  66 . It is contemplated that the holder  54  may, instead, be moved to the opposite side of the mat  50  as that shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows the holder  54  positioned in a right-handed user&#39;s  44  position, the holder  54  can be placed on the opposite side of the mat  50  to accommodate a left-handed user  44 . The outer side  66  of the holder  54  includes a screw type clamp  70  that is used to clamp the wood block  56  between the outer side  66  and the opposite inner side  64 . The back side  62  is adapted for receiving force as the block  56  is struck. It is to be understood that any holder  54  that adequately anchors and steadies the block  56  to permit striking of the one or more drivable pegs  26  carried thereby is considered to be within the scope of the present driving block system  53 . 
     To use the practice arrangement the user  44  will install the wood block  56  as it is shown in  FIG. 1 . Next the user  44  may use a nail for the drivable peg  26 , first starting the nail  26  into the block  56 . The nail  26  may be sticking out of the block  56  as nearly perpendicular to the block.  56  as possible, in order to facilitate driving and not bending of the nail  26 . It is possible to use a screw in place of the nail  26 , and this would require significantly more force to drive into the block  56 . However, some may wish to enhance the resistance by doing so. With the nail  26  started, the user  44  will stand on the mat  50 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . He/she will then draw the club  12  back as in a traditional swing, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The user  44  will then swing the club  12  as would be normally done in a golf swing to strike the nail  26  with the striking face  24 . The user  44  can see how far the nail  26  has been driven with each hit as a measure of swing strength. When the nail  26  is fully driven into the block  56 , the user  44  may start a nail  26  in another location in the block  56 . When the block  56  has many nails  26  driven into it, the user can flip the block  56  and re-clamp it so that a new face is exposed within the holder  54 . The block  56  may also be replaced with a new block  56 . 
     Other alternatives can be associated with the driving block system  53 . First of all, the driving block system  53 , in variations thereof, may be used without the mat  50 . To do so, it is understood that the block holder  54  would need to include an anchor mechanism (akin to  60  as used in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ) to mount the block  56  stationary while driving a drivable peg  26  into the block  56 . The anchor mechanism can be, by way of example only, anchor weights, a stake  60   s  (as per  FIG. 9 ) for driving into the ground (if being used outdoors), or a latch or vise element to permit anchoring to another stationary object (such variants not shown). 
     Additionally, other variants can be used for the drivable peg  26  to be driven into the block  56 . One such variant can be a reusable through-peg  26   a,  as shown in  FIG. 9  and associated with the driving block system  53   a.  The through-peg  26   a  is of sufficient length sufficient length to extend all the way through the block and still having enough material associated therewith to extend out at least one side of the block  56   a.  The reusable through-peg  26   a  can be driven into one side of the block  56   a  only to have the opposite end of the through-peg  26   a  be driven out the other side of the block  56   a.  To perform the next round of practice driving, the through-peg  26   a  would simply need to be driven from the opposite side of the block  56   a.  In such an instance where some sort of reusable peg  26   a  were to be employed, the block  56   a  would not necessarily have to be made of wood but instead made of, for example, a plastic, composite, or any material sufficiently durable and stiff enough to withstand, repeatedly, the driving action upon the one or more reusable pegs  26   a  and to provide adequate resistance for that driving action. Likewise, the reusable through-peg  26   a  can be made of any material (e.g., metal, composite, etc.) that can withstand repeated hitting and resist wear associated with being driven into/through the block  56 . 
     In yet another variation, the block holder  54  can be provided with a lock-pivot mechanism (not shown), to permit quick reversal of the side of the block  56  to be used for practice driving. Further, as illustrated schematically in  FIG. 10 , the block  56  and/or the drivable peg  26   a  may be provided with one or more sensors  72  (e.g., pressure, force, etc.). The one or more sensors  72  can be linked (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection) to a digital controller  74  (e.g., a computer or PLC) and/or a display  76 . Such a layout can permit, e.g., a readout from a given sensor  72  to be displayed and/or saved to a computer memory. In particular, the readout can be displayed and/or saved in terms of a force generated by the user  44 , or, of course, possibly converted into an approximate drive distance. The generated data can further be manipulated by the digital controller  74  for, e.g., training purposes. 
     Yet further, the driving block system  53  may be provided with additional sound deadening mechanisms (e.g., within the block  56  via foam or some other known sound-absorbing material; and/or on one or more sides (e.g., sides not receiving the drivable pegs  26 ) thereof), one variation of which is shown in  FIG. 9 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  provides for a block  56  with a hollow outer block member  56   o  and interior sound deadening insert  56   i . The outer block  56   o  is configured to provide the structural features (e.g., durability, stiffness, resistance to driving of the through-peg  26   a ) expected of the block, while the interior insert  56   i  is primarily configured to provide sound deadening (e.g., via material choice (e.g., loam or another low-density and/or porous filler material) and/or via structural features such as a honeycomb or other lattice structure that impedes sound travel). Further, the interior insert  56   i  may be chosen so as to target a desired overall resistance associated with the driving of a through-peg  26   a  (i.e., the insert  56   i  might be configured to provide less resistance (possibly little or none) if the outer block  56   o  is intended to provide most of the resistance during hitting). By providing some sort of sound deadening mechanism, it may more readily facilitate the use of this practice system in, e.g., indoor driving range facilities, garages, or, possible even, homes. The insert  56   i  could be provided, by way of example, via co-molding with outer block  56   o;  insertion into a four or five-sided block element  56   o  (i.e., one or two sides open to permit insertion), with the possibility of attaching (e.g., via bolting, welding, etc.) the one or two missing sidewalls, upon insertion; or by any other desired means. It is also to be understood that, while the through-peg  26   a  is shown used with the block  56   a  incorporating a sound-deadening interior  56   i,  it is to be understood that a through-peg  26   a  could be used with a more standard block  56 . 
     The use of the club  12  of this golf practice arrangement teaches a user  44  to hit the sweet spot of a traditional golf club by training the user  44  to hit the small striking face  24  on a nail  26 , which is a small target, and teaches the user  44  to hit the target (i.e., the drivable peg  26 ) square. Feedback is instantly provided every swing by how far the drivable peg (e.g., nail)  26  is driven and by the feel through the swing. The area of the striking face  24  is approximately the size of the sweet spot of an ordinary golf club. Additionally, the alignment of the striking face  24  relative to both the body axis B of the body  18  of the head  14  and relative to the shaft axis A of the club shaft  38  help to ensure that the drivable peg  26  is struck square and true, getting maximum energy transfer to the drivable peg  26 , while minimizing the tendency to bend the drivable peg  26 . In an embodiment, a sensor-feedback system (such as per  FIG. 10 ) may be included, allowing more specific force/driving data to be displayed and/or recorded through use of a display readout, computer, and/or a digital controller. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate another version of the golf practice club in the form of a club  112  having a head  114 , a hosel  116 , and a shaft  138 . Like numbered elements as those set forth above with respect to the club  12  can be expected to have similar construction and function, except where expressly stated to the contrary. Foremost, the head  114 , while still being essentially configured as a mallet or hammer head, is adjustably mounted via a pivot mount system  160 . Further, the weight and general balance of the head  114  may be chosen to replicate that of a standard club size, while the pivot mount system  160  is configured to permit selective positioning of the head  114  in any of various locations so as to mimic the feel and swing of any of a variety of clubs (e.g., wood; 5 iron; wedge; etc.). Thus, a single club  112  and head  114  can be used to train for play with any of a range of regular clubs typically used on a golf course. 
     The pivot mount system  160 , providing a connection between the head  114  and the hosel  116 , includes a mounting pin  162 , a mounting nut  164 , an inset spring  166 , a first pin receiver  168  extending from the hosel  116 , and a second pin receiver  170  extending from the head  114 . The mounting pin  162  includes a cylindrical pin body  172 , a cylindrical head end  174 , and threaded end  176  (distal to the cylindrical head end  174 ). The first pin receiver  168  include a first through hole portion  178  and a second through hole portion  180 , the first through hole portion  178  being in communication with and larger in diameter than the second through hole portion  180 . 
     The first through hole portion  178  is configured to rotatably receive and retain therein the cylindrical head end  174 . Meanwhile, the second through hole portion  180  is able to receive and thereby pivotably retain the cylindrical pin body  72 . Thus, the first pin receiver  168  is configured to rotatably receive yet retain the mounting pin  162 . The retention of the first end portion of the mounting pin  162  relative to the first pin receiver  68  is facilitated by the cylindrical head end  174  being too large to fit through the second through hole portion  180  of the first pin receiver  168 . It is further to be understood that the cylindrical head end  174  may be provided with an internal hex key end, a Phillips and/or flat screwdriver slotting, and/or another means by which the cylindrical head end may be turned and torqued to facilitate threading with the mounting nut  164  via the threaded end  176  of the mounting pin  162 . The attached mounting nut  164  thereby ensures the retention a the second end portion of the mounting pin  162 , relative to the second pin receiver  170 . 
     The second pin receiver  170 , per the illustrated embodiment, may particularly include a two-portion through hole  182 , an inner pin-receiving portion  184  and an outer nut receiving portion  186 . The inner pin-receiving portion  184  faces the first pin receiver  168  and is configured to receive a portion of the cylindrical pin body  172  therethrough (i.e., cylindrical to match the portion of the pin body  172  received thereby). Meanwhile, the outer nut receiving portion  86  is sized and configured to receive the mounting nut  64  therein. For example, both may have a standard hex nut shape. By the outer nut receiving portion  186  and the mounting nut  164  fitting together in such a manner, it helps to reduce the chances of the mounting nut  164  from coming unthreaded from the threaded end  176  of the mounting pin  162 . That nested configuration also reduces the opportunity for wear of those connected portions. It is to be understood that the inner pin-receiving portion  184  and the corresponding portion of the mounting pin  162  received therethrough could be co-sized in a manner to prevent rotation (e.g., polygonal; a shape with a key element, etc.). In essence, an inner pin-receiving portion  184  and the corresponding portion of the mounting pin  162  formed in such a manner would act along with the anti-rotation feature offered by the outer nut receiving portion  186  and the mounting nut  64  to create a redundant locking effect. 
     The inset spring  166  is carried on the mounting pin  162  with one end of the inset spring  166  being inset in the second through hole portion  178  of the first pin receiver  168  and the other end thereof being inset in the inner pin-receiving portion  184  of the second pin receiver  178 . The inset spring  166 , by being so mounted, biases against the first pin receiver  168  and the second pin receiver  170 . Such biasing, in turn, acts on the opposed ends of the mounting pin  162  in manner that resists rotation/pivoting of the pivot mount system  160 . 
     Accordingly, between tightening action offered by the mounting nut  164  and spring force generated by the inset spring  166 , the head  114  can be set a particular angle relative to the hosel  116  and expect to be retained in the desired angular position over the course of number of practice swings and/or until expressly reset by the user. Such resetting may be achieved by loosening the mounting pin  162  relative to the mounting nut  164 , repositioning the head  114  to a desired angle, and the retightening that connection. Alternatively, depending on how tight that connection was originally, it may be possible merely to apply enough force to the head  114  to cause it to pivot relative to the hosel  116  via the mounting pin  162 . 
     Although not shown, it is to be understood that the pivot mount system  160  involve indicia thereon in order to signify particular club settings, lift angles, etc. Further, the pivot mount system  160  can be provided with preferred pivot locations (e.g., click-in locations, not shown) corresponding to those particular club settings or club angles. The user can then further benefit by knowing exactly which type of club the practice club  112  may be set to mimic at a given time. 
       FIGS. 11-13  further illustrate a means by which to attach the hosel  116  to the shaft  138 . In particular, the shaft  138  has a threaded shaft mount hole  190  formed therein, the hosel  116  has a countersunk through hole  192  therein (a portion of which may or may not be threaded), and a small threaded connector  194  may be extended through the countersunk hole  192  so as to threadingly engage with the threaded shaft mount hole  190 . It is to be further understood that a head (not labelled) of the small threaded connector  194  may reside in the countersunk portion of the countersunk through hole  192  in the hosel  116 . Finally, while shown to be a hex-keyed style connector, it is to be understood that small threaded connector  194  may instead be configured to be engaged by a standard screwdriver or another tightening mechanism and still be within the desired scope. 
     The invention is not limited to the details given above, but may be modified within the scope of the following claims. It is further understood that any of the various features described above are not necessarily limited to use with a particular embodiment and may, instead, be used in conjunction with any of the other variations contemplated (i.e., features provided herein may be “mixed and matched” and be within the scope of the present system)