Training Device for Golf Stroke Direction

Abstract

A golf stoke training aide includes a plurality of spaced spherical objects of different colors supported on or above a golf playing surface. The aide is placed between the golfer and golf hole cup. The spaced apart spheres represent the preferred direction to strike the ball based upon the anticipated path of the ball to the hole.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention is directed to a training device for indicating to golfers the correct stroke direction taking into account the slope of the putting green or other terrain in close proximity to the putting green.

[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0004] In the game of golf, putting greens and fringe areas alongside the greens are frequently sloped in several directions in order to add additional skill requirements for golfers. Strokes referred to as chip or lob strokes will not often not travel in a straight line to the hole once they hit the ground. Also the path of the golf ball during a putting stroke will curve according to the slope of the green between the hole and the position of the ball on the green. This concept is sometimes difficult to explain to new golfers. Verbal instruction as to where to initially direct the golf ball such as inside the right edge of the cup or one cup to the left are not readily understood.

[0005] Consequently, there is a need for a training device that will readily assist a new golfer in understanding the need to compensate for the slope of the terrain on or near the green when attempting a stroke.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0006] These and other needs in the art are addressed by an apparatus that includes a plurality of colored balls on a support device. In one embodiment the balls are supported by a vertical shaft that is adapted to be placed within a regulation golf cup and supported in the same manner as a flagstick. In another embodiment, the training device is supported above the ground by a pair of spaced support legs.

[0007] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention adapted to be supported within a conventional golf cup.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a top view of the device placed in a golf cup and showing possible paths of the golf ball to the golf cup.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention adapted to rest upon a golfing surface such as the green or fringe area.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the support member shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the training device 10 which is adapted to be positioned within a conventional golf cup located on the green surface 12. The device includes a vertical shaft 13 which is adapted to be placed in a supporting hole 45 which normally supports a flagstick within the golf cup 11. A horizontally extending shaft having arms 15 and 14 is secured at its mid-point to vertical shaft 13

[0014] A plurality of bodies shown as spherical balls 16-27 are supported by arms 13 and 14. Balls 16-27 may be the approximate size of a golf ball and have a central bore through which arms 15 and 14 pass. The ball closest to vertical shaft 13 may be multicolored, one half 20 being of a different color. The same is true for half ball segments 22 and 23. The remaining balls 16-19 and 24-27 are also of different colors from each other. Balls 22-27 may have the same color pattern of balls 16-21 as they are positioned away from shaft 13. For example balls 19 and 24 may be off of the same color as well as half balls 21 and 22.

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates the use of the training device. The head of a putter 31a may be positioned to be perpendicular to a straight line 29 to the hole which would correspond to a straight put having no break to it.

[0016] On the other hand, if the putt is expected to break to the right, the putter face 31b would be positioned as shown at 31b.

[0017] A golfer must "read" the green to estimate how much the putt will break. Depending on the estimate the instructor would tell the student which ball to aim at.

[0018] The anticipated path of the ball based on the estimate and aiming point is illustrated by the dotted lines 16a-27a. Thus if by reading the green the golf ball would break two balls to the right, the student would be told to aim for ball 19 so that the ball would enter the cup in the middle. If the balls were one inch in diameter and the put was expected to break five inches to the right, then the student would be instructed to aim at ball number 17.

[0019] For putts that were expected to break to the left as illustrated by lines 22a-27a, the same process of instruction would be used with the face of the putter being generally oriented as shown at 31c.

[0020] A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. The device includes a pair of spaced apart supports 41, 43 have ground engaging foot members 42, 44. Members 42 and 4 may have holes 62 such that a golf tee 61 may be used to anchor the supports to the ground. A shaft 45 is supported by supports 41, 43. Shaft 45 would have a length for example between one foot to 10 feet and supports 41, 43 could be one inch to several feet in height. Balls 51-57 are supported on shaft 45. Supports 41 and 43 may consist of two shafts that are vertically adjusted with respect to each other by any known mechanism.

[0021] In this embodiment ball 51 could be a first color and indicate a straight shot. This embodiment is intended to be used for a chip shot in which the ball 32 is struck by a lofted club such that the ball becomes airborne as a result of the stroke. Area 41 may correspond to the fringe area around green surface 12.

[0022] Pair of balls 52-57 may be of the same color but a different color that the other pairs.

[0023] In use, the instructor would again "read" the green or surface to estimate the path of the ball once it lands on the surface of the fringe or green. The student would be instructed to hit the golf ball over or under the pair of balls that would represent the estimated path of the golf ball once it hits that surface. For example, if the estimated path of the ball is 53a, then the student would be instructed to hit the ball 32 either over or under the pair of balls 53.

[0024] FIGS. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the support mechanism of FIG. 1. It includes a first shaft 13 adjustably positioned within support shaft 82 which is adapted to rest in aperture 45 of golf cup 11. A compression fitting 81 may be provided for adjusting the position of shaft 13 within support shaft 82. Any other known adjustment mechanism such as those discussed above may also be utilized.

[0025] Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0026] Bodies 15-27 and 51-57 are shown spherical in shape, however they may be formed as other shapes such as rectangles or other bodies of revolution.

Claims

1. A golf stroke training device comprising; a horizontal shaft supporting a plurality of bodies, at least two of the bodies being of a different color, and means for supporting the shaft on or above a golf course playing surface.

2. A golf stroke training device is claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for supporting the horizontal shaft includes a vertical shaft adapted to be supported in a golf hole cup.

3. A golf stoke training device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said horizontal shaft includes two arms extending outwardly from the vertical shaft.

4. The golf stroke training device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the arms support a plurality of bodies, a body which is closest to the shaft being formed of two pieces of different colors.

5. A golf stroke training device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for supporting the horizontal shaft on or above a golf course playing surface comprise a pair of spaced ground engaging supports.

6. A golf stroke training device as shown in claim 1 wherein the bodies are spherical in shape.

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