Golf Training Device

Abstract

The invention relates to a golf training device.

Claims

1-23. (canceled)

24. A golf training device, comprising: a visual guide comprising a tee receiving section for receiving a golf tee and two elongated, deformable elements each having first and second ends, wherein the two elongated elements are connected to the tee receiving section at their first ends; and two tactile markers connected to the two elongated, deformable elements, respectively.

25. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein each of the two tactile markers is removably connected to one of the two elongated, deformable elements, respectively.

26. The golf training device of claim 25, wherein the removable connection is achieved by one or a combination of the following: magnet, hook-and-loop fastener, plug-in connector, clip, indent, or recess.

27. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein each of the two tactile markers is attached to one of the two elongated, deformable elements, respectively, by a string or ribbon.

28. The golf training device of claim 27, wherein each of the two strings or ribbons is attached to one of the two elongated, deformable elements, respectively, by one or a combination of the following: snap fastener, plug-in connector, clip, hook and eye, button. or buttonhole.

29. The golf training device of claim 27, wherein the string or ribbon is elastic.

30. The golf training device of claim 29, wherein the string or ribbon has a spring constant greater than 0.5 N/cm.

31. The golf training device of claim 27, wherein the string or ribbon has a length greater than 3 cm.

32. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein the tactile markers comprise a foam.

33. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein the tactile markers comprise a material having a density of smaller than 300 kg/m.sup.3.

34. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein the tactile markers comprise a material having a compression hardness measured according to DIN EN ISO 3386 between 1 and 20 kPa.

35. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein a weight of each tactile marker is smaller than 10 g.

36. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein the tee receiving section comprises a coupling element configured to engage with the golf tee so that the golf tee is retained within the coupling element during an impact.

37. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein the tee receiving section comprises a hole for inserting a golf tee.

38. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein the tee receiving section comprises two or more holes differing from each other in dimension and/or shape for receiving different golf tees.

39. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein each of the elongated, deformable elements has at the second end a hole for receiving an anchoring member.

40. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein the visual guide is approximately V-shaped or U-shaped.

41. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein a distance between the two tactile markers, in a relaxed state, is at least 15 cm.

42. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein a distance between the two tactile markers can be varied.

43. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein the tactile markers have a height of at least 2 cm.

44. The golf training device of claim 24, wherein the tactile markers have different heights.

45. The golf training device of claim 44, wherein one of the tactile markers has a height of at least 2 cm.

46. The golf training device of claim 45, wherein the other of the tactile markers has a height of at least 5 cm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] In the drawings,

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a golf training device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the golf training device according FIG. 1;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of a golf training device according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of a golf training device according to an embodiment of the invention for practicing drive shots with side spin (draw/fade); and

[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the manufacturing of a golf training device according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a golf training device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The golf training device 100 includes a tee receiving section 102 and two elongated, deformable elements 104, 106. A first end 104a of the elongated element 104 is connected to the tee receiving section 102. A first end 106a of the elongated element 106 is connected to the tee receiving section 102. Two holes 108 and 110, respectively as coupling elements engageable with different golf tees, are formed in the tee receiving section 102. For example, the smaller hole 108 may be suitable to engage with a golf tee typically used on a golf course, while the bigger hole 110 may be suitable to engage with a rubber golf tee typically used with a synthetic mat on a driving range. While the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises two holes 108, 110, only one of the two holes or more holes at different locations or of different types may be provided.

[0043] An optional hole 114 engageable with an anchoring member is formed at a second end 104b of the elongated element 104 and a similar optional hole 116 engageable with another anchoring member is formed at a second end 106b of the elongated element 106. While not shown in FIG. 1, one, some or all of the holes 108, 110, 114 and 116 may be provided with an eyelet for reinforcement.

[0044] The two elongated, deformable elements 104 and 106 together with the tee receiving section 102 form a visual guide which, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, is roughly V-shaped (with rounded legs). Of course, visual guidance could alternatively also be achieved with a U-shaped visual guide or a visual guide having any other shape comprising two elongated, deformable elements which could help to provide optical guidance to the golfer. For example, the visual guide could have the shape of a rectangular U having two parallel elongated, deformable elements and a substantially straight tee receiving section being oriented perpendicular to the two elongated elements. The visual guide does also not need to be symmetric and may have, e.g., two elongated, deformable elements of different shape and/or size.

[0045] The golf training device 100 further comprises two tactile markers 118, 120, which can be better seen in the side view shown in FIG. 2, which tactile markers 118, 120 are connected to the two elongated, deformable elements 104, 106, respectively. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a removable connection between the tactile marker 118 and the second end 104b of the elongated, deformable element 104 is achieved by two magnets 128, 130 being embedded in the tactile marker 118 and the elongated element 104, respectively. This provides for a particularly simple and effective connection means since the golfer may, once the tactile marker 118 has been displaced after being hit by a golf club, easily reattach the tactile marker to the correct position of the elongated element 104 as the two magnets 128 and 130 will guarantee proper positioning due to the magnetic forces. Nevertheless, other means for a removable connection are envisaged as well as discussed above.

[0046] In addition to the removable connection provided by the two magnets 128, 130, the tactile marker 118 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is also attached to the elongated, deformable element 104 by means of a string or ribbon 122. Similarly, the tactile marker 120 is attached to the elongated element 106 by means of a string or ribbon 124.

[0047] One end of the string or ribbon 122 is attached to the tactile marker 118 or optionally directly to the magnet 128 embedded therein, whereas the other end of the string or ribbon 122 is, preferably removably, attached to the elongated, deformable element 104 by means of, e.g., a snap fastener 126. However, as discussed above, a plug-in connector, a clip, a hook and eye connection or a button and a buttonhole may be used instead.

[0048] If the tactile marker 118 as shown in FIG. 2 is struck by a golf club, the impact force will overcome the magnetic force between the two magnets 128 and 130 such that the tactile marker 118 is catapulted away. However, since the tactile marker 118 is attached to the elongated element 104 by means of the string or ribbon 122, which is preferably elastic, the tactile marker 118 does not get lost and remains linked to the golf training device. Ideally, most of the impact onto the tactile marker 118 is compensated by the air resistance and the elastic force of the string or ribbon 122.

[0049] While the tactile markers 118, 120 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have a substantially elliptical cross section, other shapes and sizes of tactile markers are envisaged as well. For example, the cross section of the markers may by round, rectangular or polygonal and the shape of the markers may be cylindrical, pyramidal, spherical and the like.

[0050] In use, the golf training device 100 may be affixed to the ground by inserting anchoring members 200 (see FIG. 3) through the holes 114, 116 at the second ends 104b, 106b of the elongated elements 104, 106, and inserting a golf tee 300 through the corresponding hole 108 in the tee receiving section 102. A golf ball 400 is placed on the golf tee 300. A golfer can then hit a drive with a golf club 500. As a result, the golf tee 300 may held and retained by the golf training device 100, and does not catapult away even if the golf club 500 strikes the golf tee 300.

[0051] As discussed above, the visual guide of the golf training device 100 can be used as a golf training aid. The “drive” is a difficult shot. All golf players, even professionals, struggle with hitting a straight shot and often suffer from producing “slice” or “hook” shots. A cause of a slice or hook shot is that the golf club comes to the golf ball from a wrong direction, imparting a significant amount of sidespin on the golf ball and causing it to take an undesirable, over-curved flight path instead of straight down the fairway. In this context, the golf training device 100 shown in FIG. 3 may provide a golfer with visual guidance to swing the golf club 500 along a correct swing arc/swing direction/swing path, so as to hit the golf ball 400 straight.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 3 (which, for simplicity, does not show the tactile markers), the golf ball 400 is teed up with the golf tee 300 through the hole 108 of the golf training device 100. The two halves of the strip (i.e. elongated elements 104, 106) are pulled apart and optionally anchored to the ground with pegs (i.e. anchoring members 200), forming a V-shape “corridor” for the golf club 500 to pass down. The V-shape corridor, accordingly, defines a hypothetical route 600 (indicated as a dashed line in FIG. 3) that extends from the substantially middle point of the two anchoring members 200 to the golf tee 300. By arranging the route 600 to correspond to an ideal swing path and forcing the golfer to swing the golf club 500 along the route 600, the golf training device 100 provides guidance for the golfer to swing a correct arc for an ideal shot. For example, by following the route 600 that corresponds to a straight (i.e. inside-to-inside) swing direction, a golfer can hit a drive with such swing direction that may eliminate any undesirable sidespins.

[0053] In this context, the golf training device 100 may have a bright color so that it is highly visible against the green color of the grass or artificial grass on the driving range, and its image, therefore, “burns” into the mind of the golfer after repetition of practice. In this way, when playing the game formally, the golfer could take the golf training device 100 mentally with him onto the golf course, thereby helping him to swing the golf club in a correct arc for a good shot, even without the physical presence of the golf training device 100.

[0054] Depending on the golfer's level he may change the opening angle of the V-shape: the closer the two markers 300 are to each other the more challenging it becomes to perform the swing without touching the tactile/audible markers, thus resulting in an even more precise repetition of the swing when striking the ball, and/or gradually increasing the swing precision over time as the player improves.

[0055] In addition, the golf training device 100 can also be laid down in such a way that it guides a correct swing arc for a “draw” or “fade” shot, which is a shot that gently curves from the straight path due to slight sidespin. Contrary to the undesirable slices and hooks, draws and fades are controlled, intended shots that require advanced skills. Golfers usually spend a great deal of time on the driving range with professional trainers in order to perfect the draw and fade shots. With the golf training device 100, golfers may now train themselves to be acquainted with a correct swing for a draw and a fade and learn to hit them consistently, as described below.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 4, the golf training device 100 can further be used to guide a golfer to “shape” his shots, i.e. to hit the golf ball 400 with a controlled amount of sidespin, so that the golf ball 500 has a controlled curve as either a draw or a fade. In particular, in FIG. 4, the golf training device 100 is arranged so that the V-shape corridor only allows the golf club 500 to strike the golf ball 400 coming along an inside-out path (for a right-handed golfer), which generally imparts counter-clockwise sidespin on the golf ball 400, and accordingly generates a controlled draw. Similarly, a fade shot can be created with an outside-in swing path, which generally imparts a clockwise sidespin on the golf ball 400. It is also envisaged that a golfer may hit a first drive with a first swing direction lead by a first route defined by the V-shape, and, should he find the trajectory non-ideal (e.g. due to either too much or not enough side spin), adjust the shape and/or orientation of the V-shape so that the V-shape defines a second route corresponding to a second, improved swing.

[0057] The golf training device 100 of the present invention may be manufactured by bisecting a portion of an elongated strip along the dashed line shown in FIG. 5 and punching the holes 108, 110, 114 and 116 in the elongated strip. A further hole may be punched for the magnet or other connection means and a snap fastener may be provided for attachment by means of the string or ribbon (not shown in FIG. 5).

[0058] The present invention further provides a golf accessory kit including the golf training device 100 of FIG. 1 and two anchoring members 200 as shown in FIG. 3, The anchoring member 200 includes a marker 202 bound to a pin 204. The pin 204 is suitably sized and shaped to be able to pass through hole 114 provided at the end 104b of the elongated element 104. The marker 202 has a dimension greater than a width of the pin 204 (the width being a dimension along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pin 204), and also greater than a diameter of the hole accommodating the pin 204. The marker 202 is not limited to any particular shape.