Improvements in Means and Appliances for Learning, Practising, and Playing the Game of Golf.
Year: 1891

page_text: The decision of the Chief Examiner, acting on behalf of the Comptroller, of the
12th day of February 1895, allowed, under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act,
1883, an Amendment of this Specification.
Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr.. 1392
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATIVAR
Improvements in Means and Appliances for Learning, Practising,
and Playing the Game of Golf.
I, JOHN FISHER, of Matlock, in the County of Derby, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
It is well known that the game of golf can only be played in situations specially
adapted for it, and having a great extent of ground available, and my present
invention has for its object improved means and appliances by means of which
players can practise the game in any ordinary garden or space or even in a room.
In order that the art of striking the ball with the club or implement used for the
purpose, may be practised and learned within a space of restricted limits, as for
instance on a garden lawn, I use a support for the ball to be struck equivalent tu
the ordinary "tee" upon which it is placed. For this purpose I use an iron pin,
preferably tubular, the lower pointed end of which can be driven into the ground
whilst into its upper hollow end I insert a short moveable piece of tube, preferably
india rubber, which can be raised or lowered as desired by the player until its upper
And in order to avoid the
edge is exactly at the proper height to carry the ball.
risk of injury to the floor or lawn or to the implement used for striking when
striking at the ball, I arrange a small inclined platform or floor upon the grass.
behind the support for the ball described. This platform consists of a hollow
cushion of india rubber or other sufficiently flexible air-tight material, of sufficient
width and of any desired thickness at its front end whilst its back edge tapers down.
to nothing. This cushion is inflated with air through a suitable nozzle or valve
and is placed upon the ground behind the iron pin first described, which preferably
fits in a notch or passes through an opening near the front or thicker end of the
cushion, such opening being provided with eyelets or otherwise strengthened.
Or the iron pin may be permanently cemented or otherwise attached to the front
end of the cushion.
If now the striker misses the ball with his club and strikes the elastic cushion,
no harm is done as would be the case if he were to strike the grass of the lawn.
Instead of the cushion being formed of hollow clastic material as described, it
may be made of any suitable clastic or other material.
The ball may be struck with any desired force, and in order to prevent it from
being propelled to too great a distance or causing damage, 1 connect it by a string
or cord of sufficient length (which will depend upon the size of the place where
the apparatus is used) to a second iron pin which is driven into the ground at a
sufficient distance in front of that first described. The ball therefore can be pro-
pelled to a distance equal to twice the length of the cord, and in order to stop it

page_text: gradually and prevent the cord from being broken, I make the latter elastic for the
whole or part of its length by forming it of indin rubber or other elastic material.
The pin to which the end of the cord is attached is formed with a groove roun
its upper end to receive a loop or ring upon the cord, and a ring or eye is als
jointed to the pin below the groove by which the pin can be withdrawn from the
ground when required, the ring at other times lying Hat upon the ground. A
similar ring or loop is also attached to the other pin for the same purpose.
The cushion described is fixed upon the ground by pins at the corners of its
thin edge.
In order that the art of striking the ball in the exact direction required and
with the proper amount of force may be practised and learned, I use a tent or
chamber, which may consist of a wooden or other frame covered with canvas, and
which may have a roof preferably sloping down toward one end which is open.
The other end is double, a space being left between the two canvasses which form
it, and in the inner one I make a hole of any desired diameter, through which the
player endeavours to strike the ball from a position at any distance beyond the other
open end.
The floor is preferably made to slope somewhat down towards its outer end, so
that any balls falling upon it will roll down it, thence passing into the opening
described first falling down the space between the two thicknesses of canvas or
other material.
A bell or other device may be arranged to sound, or show when a ball passes
through the opening.
Or behind the same, or another similar opening, a spring buffer or
striking board
may be arranged, which when struck by a ball indicates the strength of the stroke
and the equivalent distance to which the ball would have travelled if free.
It is evident that the details and proportions of the appliances described my
be varied more or less according to the conditions and circumstances under which
they are to be used.
By my invention players at golf will be able to learn, practise, and even play.
without reference to the weather or season, and without the necessity for
resorting to the extensive grounds or "links" ordinarily used for such play.
Dated this 16th day 1901
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Means and Appliances for Learning, Practising,
and Playing the Game of Golf.
1, JOHN FISHER, of Matlock, in the County of Derby, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
It is well known that the game of golf can only be played in situations
especially adapted for it, and having a great extent of ground available, and my
present invention has for its object improved means and appliances by means of
which players can practise the game in any ordinary garden or space, or even in
a room.
In order that the art of striking the ball with the club or implement used for
the purpose may be practised and learned within a space of restricted limits, as
for instance on a garden lawn, I use a support for the ball to be struck equivalent
to the ordinary " tec upon which it can be placed. For this purpose I use an
ordinary metal or wood pin with an indin-rubber cup B for receiving the ball
33

page_text: firmly secured to the top of the said pin, &t the lower pointed end of which can
with the thumb and finger be forced into the ground, which can be raised or lowered
as desired by the player until its upper edge is exactly at the proper height to carry
the ball E.
And in order to avoid the risk of injury to the floor or lawn or to the implement
used for striking, when striking at the ball EI arrange a small incline platform A
or floor upon the grass behind the support for the ball E described, which is
securely fastened down to the grass at each corner by an iron pin C. D. e. f.
This platform A consists of a hollow cushion of india-rubber, leather or other
flexible material of sufficient width and of any desire thickness at its front edge
whilst its back edge tapers down to nothing.
"
This cushion A may or may not be inflated with air through a suitable nozzle or
"tee B first describe 1,
valve and is placed upon the ground behind the pin or
which preferably fits in a notch or passes through an opening, near the front or
thicker end of the cushion A such opening being provided with eyelets or otherwise
strengthened.
Or the "tee" B may be permanently attached to the front end of the cushion A,
or pricked into the ground near the front edge of the said cushion A.
If new the striker misses the ball with his club and strikes the elastic cushion A
no harm is done as would be the case, if he were to strike the grass of the lawn.
The ball E may be struck with any desired force or angle, and in order to
prevent it from being propelled to too great a distance or causing damage, I connect
it by a very light, strongly woven string or cord of sufficient length (which will
depend upon the size of the place where the apparatus is used, to a second metal
pin or stake G, which has a bow or ring at the top preferably hinged, to this is
attached the clastic and line F and is driven into the ground at a sufficient distance
in front of that first described.
The ball E therefore can be propelled to a distance equal to twice the length of
the cord F, and in order to stop it, gradually bring the ball E back to the striker
and prevent the cord F from being broken, I make the latter elastic for the whole
or part of its length by forming it of india-rubber or other elastic spring H.
The pin or stake to which the end of the elastic H and cord F is attached
is formed with a ring or hinged bow at the top end to receive same and by
which the pin G can be withdrawn from the ground when required, the ring at
other times lying flat on the ground.
Or, sometimes, instead of an elastic string or cord, I use an inelastic one and
instead of fastening its end to a pin as described, I attach it to a spring (similar
to an ordinary spring balance) which is fixed to the ground, preferably upon an
universal joint, in the same position as the holding pin G in the arrangement
first described.
This spring balance is provided with a moveable indicator, which is drawn
forward and indicates the exact extent to which the pin has been drawn out,
and consequently the force with which the ball has been struck, either by a
pencil and moveable paper or by an index showing the distance to which (had it
been free) it would have travelled.
more
After the indication has been noted, the indicator is returned to its original
position. In this way the distances to which a ball struck by two or
players in succession would have travelled can be compared.
The tee B may be connected to the leather A or other cushion by a string b2,
so that it, in play, is not liable to be lost if accidentally struck out of the ground.
The tee B described may be used with or without the cushion A, in any position
from which the ball is to be struck. It may be used to support the ball E in
ordinary play upon the usual links.
In order that the art of striking the ball E in the exact direction required, and
with the proper amount of force may be practised or learned, I sometimes use a
tent or chamber which may consist of a wooden or other frame covered with
canvas, and which may have a roof, which preferably slopes down towards one

page_text: end which is open.
The other end is double, a space being left between the two
canvasses which form it, and in the inner one, I make a hole of any desired
diameter, through which the player endeavours to strike the ball E from a
position at any distance beyond the other open end.
The floor is preferably made to slope somewhat down towards its outer end,
so that any ball falling upon it will roll down it, thence passing into the opening
described, first falling down the space between the two thicknesses of canvas or
other material. A bell or other device may be arranged to sound, or shew when
a ball passes through the opening.
Or behind the same, or another similar opening, a spring buffer or striking board
may be arranged, which when struck by a ball E indicates the strength of the
stroke and the equivalent distance to which the ball E would have travelled if
free.
It is evident that the details and proportions of the appliances described may
be varied more or less, according to the conditions and circumstances under which
they are to be use<l.
By my invention players at golf will be able to learn, practise and even play
without reference to weather or season and without the necessity for resorting to
the extensive grounds or links ordinarily used for such play.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is―
In means and appliances for learning, practising, and playing the game of Golf:-
1. Attaching the ball E to a line F or string and the use of an india-rubber or
other elastic material H in connection with the same. HISO H
2. A leather A or cushion as described above for protecting the lawn or grass.
also n
3. combination tee B formed of wood and india-rubber or metal an
india-rubber pointed at the lower end, and an india-rubber cup B securely
fastened to the top, which can be raised or lowered in the ground to suit the
players wishes, by pressing the same more or less into the ground. Also u
4. An arrangement similar to a spring balance for indicating the strength of the
blows, as described above.
In witness whereof, 1, the said John Fisher, have hereunto set my hand and
scal this 11th day of January in the year of our Lord 1892.
JOHN FISHER.

page_text: Second Edition.]
The decision of the Chief Examiner, acting on behalf of the Comptroller, of the
12th day of February 1895, allowed, under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act,
1883, an Amendment of this Specification.
NOTIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means and Appliances for Learning, Practising,
and Playing the Game of Golf.
I, JOHN FISHER, of Matlock, in the County of Derby, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is well known that the game of golf can only be played in situations specially
adapted for it, and having a great extent of ground available, and my present
invention has for its object improved means and appliances by means of which
players can practise the game in any ordinary garden or space or even in a room.
In order that the art of striking the ball with the club or implement used for the
purpose, may be practised and learned within a space of restricted limits, as for
instance on a garden lawn, I use a support for the ball to be struck equivalent to
the ordinary "tee" upon which it is placed. For this purpose I use an iron pin,
preferably tubular, the lower pointed end of which can be driven into the ground
whilst into its upper hollow end I insert a short moveable piece of tube, preferably
india rubber, which can be raised or lowered as desired by the player until its upper
edge is exactly at the proper height to carry the ball. And in order to avoid the
risk of injury to the floor or lawn or to the implement used for striking when
striking at the ball. I arrange a small inclined platform or floor upon the grass
behind the support for the ball described. This platform consists of a hollow
cushion of india rubber or other sufficiently flexible air-tight material, of sufficient
width and of any desired thickness at its front end whilst its back edge tapers down
to nothing. This cushion is inflated with air through a suitable nozzle or valve
and is placed upon the ground behind the iron pin first described, which preferably
fits in a notch or passes through an opening near the front or thicker end of the
cushion, such opening being provided with eyelets or otherwise strengthened.
Or the iron pin may be permanently cemented or otherwise attached to the front
end of the cushion.
If now the striker misses the ball with his club and strikes the elastic cushion.
no harm is done as would be the case if he were to strike the grass of the lawn.
Instead of the cushion being formed of hollow elastic material as described, it
may be made of any suitable elastic or other material.
The ball may be struck with any desired force, and in order to prevent it from
being propelled to too great a distance or causing damage, I connect it by a string
or cord of sufficient length (which will depend upon the size of the place whero
the apparatus is used) to a second iron pin which is driven into the ground at a
sufficient distance in front of that first described. The ball therefore can be pro-
pelled to a distance equal to twice the length of the cord, and in order to stop it
[Price 1s.]

page_text: gradually and prevent the cord from being broken, I make the latter elastic for the
whole or part of its length by forming it of india rubber or other clastic material.
The pin to which the end of the cord is attached is formed with a groove round
its upper end to receive a loop or ring upon the cord, and a ring or eye is also
jointed to the pin below the groove by which the pin can be withdrawn from the
ground when required, the ring at other times lying flat upon the ground. A
similar ring or loop is also attached to the other pin for the same purpose.
The cushion described is fixed upon the ground by pins at the corners of its
thin edge.
In order that the art of striking the ball in the exact direction required and
with the proper amount of force may be practised and learned, I use a tent or
chamber, which may consist of a wooden or other frame covered with canvas, and
which may have a roof preferably sloping down toward one end which is open.
The other end is double, a space being left between the two canvasses which form
it, and in the inner one I make a hole of any desired diameter, through which the
player endeavours to strike the ball from a position at any distance beyond the other
open end.
The floor is preferably made to slope somewhat down towards its outer end, so
that any balls falling upon it will roll down it, thence passing into the opening
described first falling down the space between the two thicknesses of canvas or
other material.
A bell or other device may be arranged to sound, or show when a ball passes
through the opening.
Or behind the same, or another similar opening, a spring buffer or striking board
may be arranged, which when struck by a ball indicates the strength of the stroke
and the equivalent distance to which the ball would have travelled if free.
It is evident that the details and proportions of the appliances described may
be varied more or less according to the conditions and circumstances under which
they are to be used.
By my invention players at golf will be able to learn, practise, and even play,
without reference to the weather or season, and without the necessity for
resorting to the extensive grounds or links ordinarily used for such play.
Datad this 16th day of Aneil 1801
::
22
EDWARDS & CO.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Means and Appliances for Learning, Practising,
and Playing the Game of Golf.
1, JOHN FISHER, of Matlock, in the County of Derby, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to he particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
It is well known that the game of golf can only be played in situations
especially adapted for it, and having a great extent of ground available, and my
present invention has for its object improved means and appliances by means of
which players can practise the game in any ordinary garden or space, or even in
a room.
In order that the art of striking the ball with the club or implement used for
the purpose may be practised and learned within a space of restricted limits, as
for instance on a garden lawn, I use a support for the ball to be struck equivalent
to the ordinary
upon which it can be placed. For this purpose I use an
ordinary metal or wood pin with an india-rubber cup B for receiving the ball
tee
"

page_text: firmly secured to the top of the said pin, b1 the lower pointed end of which can
with the thumb and finger he forced into the ground, which can be raised or lowered.
as desired by the player until its upper edge is exactly at the proper height to carry
the ball E.
And in order to avoid the risk of injury to the floor or lawn or to the implement
used for striking, when striking at the ball E I arrange a small incline platform A
or floor upon the grass behind the support for the ball E described, which is
securely fastened down to the grass at each corner by an iron pin C. D. e. f.
This platform A consists of a hollow cushion of india-rubber, leather or other
flexible material of sufficient width and of any desired thickness at its front edge
whilst its back edge tapers down to nothing.
This cushion A may or may not be inflated with air through a suitable nozzle or
valve and is placed upon the ground behind the pin or tee "B first described,
which preferably fits in a notch or passes through an opening, near the front or
thicker end of the cushion A such opening being provided with eyelets or otherwise
strengthened.
Or the "tee "B may be permanently attached to the front end of the cushion A,
or pricked into the ground near the front edge of the said cushion A.
If now the striker misses the ball with his club and strikes the elastic cushion A
no harm is done as would be the case, if he were to strike the grass of the lawn.
The ball E may be struck with any desired force or angle, and in order to
prevent it from being propelled to too great a distance or causing damage, I connect
it by a very light, strongly woven string or cord F of sufficient length (which will
depend upon the size of the place where the apparatus is used, to a second motal
pin or stake G, which has a bow or ring at the top preferably hinged, to this is
attached the elastic and line F and is driven into the ground at a sufficient distance
in front of that first described.
The ball E therefore can be propelled to a distance equal to twice the length of
the cord F, and in order to stop it, gradually bring the ball E back to the striker
and prevent the cord F from being broken, I make the latter elastic for the whole
or part of its length by forming it of india-rubber or other elastic spring H.
The pin or stake G to which the end of the clastic H and cord F is attached
is formed with a ring or hinged bow at the top end to receive same and by
which the pin G can be withdrawn from the ground when required, the ring at
other times lying flat on the ground.
Or, sometimes, instead of an elastic string or cord, I use an inelastic one and
instead of fastening its end to a pin as described, I attach it to a spring (similar
to an ordinary spring balance) which is fixed to the ground, preferably upon an
universal joint, in the same position as the holding pin G in the arrangement
first described.
This spring balance is provided with a moveable indicator, which is drawn
forward and indicates the exact extent to which the pin has been drawn out,
and consequently the force with which the ball has been struck, either by a
pencil and moveable paper or by an index showing the distance to which (had it
been free) it would have travelled.
After the indication has been noted, the indicator is returned to its original
position. In this way the distances to which a ball struck by two or more
players in succession would have travelled can be compared.
The tee B may be connected to the leather A or other cushion by a string 62,
so that it, in play, is not liable to be lost if accidentally struck out of the ground.
The tee B described may be used with or without the cushion A, in any position
from which the ball is to be struck. It may be used to support the ball E in
ordinary play upon the usual links.
In order that the art of striking the ball E in the exact direction required, and
with the proper amount of force may be practised or learned, I sometimes use a
tent or chamber which may consist of a wooden or other frame covered with
canvas, and which may have a roof, which preferably slopes down towards one

page_text: end which is open. The other end is double, a space being left between the two
canvasses which form it, and in the inner one, I make a hole of any desired
diameter, through which the player endeavours to strike the ball E from a
position at any distance beyond the other open end.
The floor is preferably made to slope somewhat down towards its outer end,
so that any ball falling upon it will roll down it, thence passing into the opening
described, first falling down the space between the two thicknesses of canvas or
other material. A ball or other device may be arranged to sound, or shew when
a ball passes through the opening.
Or behind the same, or another similar opening, a spring buffer or striking board
may be arranged, which when struck by a ball E indicates the strength of the
stroke and the equivalent distance to which the ball E would have travelled if
free.
It is evident that the details and proportions of the appliances described may
be varied more or less, according to the conditions and circumstances under which
they are to be used.
By my invention players at golf will be able to learn, practise and even play
without reference to weather or season and without the necessity for resorting to
the extensive grounds or links ordinarily used for such play.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is―
In means and appliances for learning, practising, and playing the game of Golf :-
1. Attaching the ball E to a line F or string and the use of an india-rubber or
other elastic material H in connection with the same. also-a
2. A leather A or cushion as described above for protecting the lawn or grass.
also a
3. A combination tee B formed of wood b1 and india-rubber or metal and
india-rubber pointed at the lower end, and an india-rubber cup B securely
fastened to the top, which can be raised or lowered in the ground to suit the
players wishes, by pressing the same more or less into the ground. Also un
4. An arrangement similar to a spring balance for indicating the strength of the
blows, as described above.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Fisher, have hereunto set my hand and
seal this 11th day of January in the year of our Lord 1892.
JOHN FISHER.