WO1988009689A1

WO1988009689A1 - A golf putting practice device

Info

Publication number: WO1988009689A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000169
Authority: WO
Inventors: William James Crossley
Original assignee: William James Crossley
Priority date: 1987-06-03
Filing date: 1988-06-03
Publication date: 1988-12-15
Also published as: JPH02503638A; GB8927278D0

Abstract

A device for practising golf putting comprises a base or mat (10) having at least one row of electromagnetic sensors (14, 15, 20, 21) which may be capacitively operated switches or magnetically activated reed relays responsive to the proximity of a magnet (19) placed on the sole of a golf putter head (23). The electromagnetic sensors (14, 15, 20, 21) are arranged on the base or mat (10) parallel to a straight path of travel (16) defined thereon. Audio generators are connected to the output of the electromagnetic sensors (14, 15, 20, 21). If the putter head (23) deviates from the straight path of travel (16) during a putting stroke, the audio signal generators will emit an audible signal indicative of such deviation.

Description

"A GOLF PUTTING PRACTICE DEVICE" THIS INVENTION relates to a device for practising golf putting. In particular, the invention is directed to a device for practising strokes or swings. BACKGROUND ART

Putting is an important and often neglected part of a successful golfing game. It is well known that in order to putt properly, the line of travel of the club head during the back swing and the stroke must be straight. Golfers often spend considerable time practising their putting strokes by repeatedly hitting a ball towards a hole, cup or similar device. However, the golfer must observe the path of travel of the ball after it is hit in order to obtain an indication of whether or not his stroke was correct. That is, the feedback from the practice stroke is received some time after the back swing and stroke have been performed and the golfer may not be able to correlate the path of the ball with the actual back swing and stroke performed.

Various golfing aids and techniques have been proposed for improving golf putting. For example, U.S. Patents Nos. 4,342,455 and 4,345,456 disclose golf putting practice devices each of which comprise a number of pairs of optical sensors arranged in respective parallel rows and embedded in a practice mat. The bottom, or sole, of the putter head is provided with reflective and non-reflective portions, and the interaction of light reflected from the reflective portion with the optical sensors enables the angle of the putter face and the line of back swing and stroke to be monitored by the optical sensors. However, the golf putting devices of the '455 and '456 U.S. patents possess several inherent disadvantages. First, each optical sensor comprises both a light emitting device and a light sensing device, and all of the light emitting devices must be operating in order for the device to operate reliably and properly. As the golf practice device is typically battery operated, the simultaneous operation of all the light emitting devices causes a considerable power drain from the battery and thereby shortens the battery life. Secondly, the light emitting devices must be embedded or recessed into the practice mat to avoid damage by the swinging putter. In use, dust, dirt and other debris accumulate in such recesses and render the optical sensors inoperative since the optical paths from the light emitters to respective light sensors become blocked. The devices will therefore operate correctly only if the recesses in which the optical sensors are mounted are cleaned regularly. Thirdly, in order to operate effectively, a highly reflective surface must be provided on the sole of the putter. The putter is normally rested on its sole and, in use, the sole surface is often scraped along the mat or ground. Accordingly, the reflectance of the reflective surface on the sole of the putter will decrease with use, thereby rendering the prior art golf putting practice device unreliable or inoperative. Fourthly, the output of the prior art devices is a binary digital display, and such feedback is difficult to interpret quickly by the golfer.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate, the disadvantages of the prior art devices by providing an improved device for practising golf putting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one broad form, the present invention provides a device suitable for practising golf putting or the like, said device comprising: a generally planar base member having a straight path of travel defined thereon for a golf club head; a plurality of electromagnetic sensors arranged in at least one line on said base member parallel to said straight path of travel, said sensors being responsive to the proximity thereto of- said "golf club head; and at least one audio signal generator connected to the output of said sensors for audibly indicating whether the golf club head has deviated from said straight path of travel during putting.

Preferably, each sensor comprises a magnetically operable reed relay switch. A magnet is affixed to the head of the golf club or putter, and each reed relay switch is activated by the presence of the magnet within a predetermined distance thereof.

Typically, the sensors are arranged in two rows parallel to the straight path of travel defined on the base, and on opposite sides thereof. The sensors in one row are connected to one audio signal generator, while the sensors in the other row are connected to another audio signal generator which emits an aurally distinguishable signal from the first audio signal generator.

When the golf club head moves along the defined straight path of travel, none of the sensors is activated and no signal is generated. However, if the golf club head deviates from the defined path of travel, it will come closer to the sensors on either side of the path. Such sensors, in turn, activate the respective audio signal generator. Upon hearing the audio signal, the golfer knows immediately not only that he has deviated from a straight path but also whether he has gone above or below the straight line of travel.

Other arrangements of the sensors can also be made within the scope of this invention. For example, the sensors may be aligned in a single row along the path of travel.

Typically, the path of travel has the same width as that of a golf ball.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view of the golf putting practice device of the preferred embodiment,

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of the sensor circuit of the device of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a putter suitable for use with the device of Fig. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in Fig, 1, the golf putting practice of the preferred embodiment comprises a substrate or flat base 10 in the shape of an arrow having a front end 12 and a rear end 11. Electromagnetic sensors are suitably placed on the base 11 in two parallel rows. Typically, the sensors are embedded in the base 10 or placed under the base. The sensors should not protrude above the upper surface of the base 10 in order to avoid damage by the putter.

A first set of sensors 14, 15 is arranged at the forward end 12 of the base, while the remaining sensors 20, 21 are arranged along the length of the shank of the arrow- shaped base 10 as shown in Fig. 1. Sensors 14, 15 are used for monitoring short putting back swings and strokes, while sensors 20, 21 are used for monitoring long putting back swings and strokes.

A preferred straight line of travel 16 is defined on the base 10 by a pair of parallel line markings 17, 18 extending longitudinally along the base 10. Typical dimensions of the base illustrated in Fig. 1 are as follows:-

Dl 16 cms D2 50 cms D3 16 cms D4 2 cms D5 4 cms D6 10 cms

However, the base may be of any suitable size and shape. Furthermore, the number of sensors can be varied to suit the dimensions of the base.

The sensors 14, 15, 20, 21 preferably comprise reed relays having magnetically closed reeds as the contact members. When the reed relays are subjected to a magnetic field greater than a predetermined threshold value, the reed contact members will close. When the magnetic field is removed, the reed contacts will re-open. Each sensor therefore, is a magnetically sensitive switch.

The sensors 14, 15, 20, 21 are connected to audio signal generators as shown in the circuit diagram of Fig. 2 to provide an output indicative of the correctness or otherwise of the putt. As shown in Fig. 2, the electrical circuit of the device of the preferred embodiment comprises positive and negative rails 30, 31 which are connected to the terminals of a power source, typically a battery. Audio signal generators 32, 33 each have a terminal connected to the positive rail 30. The other terminal of each audio signal generator 32, 33 is connected to the negative rail 31 via switch 22 and the reed relays of selected sensors 14, 15, 20, 21. Switch 22 is provided to render sensors 14, 15 operative for short putts, and sensors 20, 21 operative for long putts. When the switch 22 is in the "short putt" position, the audio signal generators 32, 33 are connected to the power supply via the reed relays of sensors 14, 15, respectively. When the switch 22 is in the "long putt" position, the audio signal generators 32, 33 are connected to the power supply via the reed relays of sensors 20, 21, respectively. (Alternatively, the sensors 14, 15 can be permanently wired to the audio generators 32, 33 respectively, and sensors 20, 21 switched in for long putting as required) .

Preferably, the audio signal generators 32, 33 emit different audible tones, for example a "buzz" and a "beep".

A magnet 19 is attached to the sole or underside of the putter 23 as shown in Fig. 3. Typically, the magnet is placed under the "sweet spot" of the putter or if this is unknown, in the centre of the putter. Preferably, the magnet 19 is of flat configuration and is removably attached to the putter 23. For example, it may be attached to the putter 23 magnetically, by threaded fastener, by clip or other suitable means.

In use, the golf ball is placed at the tip 12 of the arrow-shaped base 10. The golfer addresses the ball by placing the face of the putter at the rear of the ball. The golfer then performs the back swing. The magnetic field strength of the magnet 19 attached to the sole of the putter 23, the distance of the sensors from the defined path of travel and/or the sensitivity of the reed relays in the sensors 14, 15, 20, 21 are preselected such that if the back swing of the putter is along the straight path of travel 16, the reed relays of the sensors will remain open and neither of the audio signal generators 32, 33 will operate. However, if the putter head deviates from the predefined path of travel 16, i.e. if it comes closer to the sensors on either side of the path of travel 16, such sensors will be subjected to a higher magnetic field strength and the reed relays of those sensors will close thereby enabling a respective one of the audio signal generators. The golfer obtains an immediate indication that the back swing has deviated from a straight path. Similarly, on the forward stroke, deviation from the defined straight path 16 will cause the reed relays of the sensors on the errant side to close thereby activating a respective one of the audio signal generators 32, 33.

As the audio signal generators 32, 33 produce different tones, the golfer is able to recognize immediately whether he has gone above or below the predefined straight path of travel. During practice, the golfer should abort the back swing or forward stroke immediately upon hearing a signal indicating that the putter head has deviated from the straight path of travel. The golfer should then re-attempt the back-swing or stroke and continue to do so until he is able to putt without causing an audio signal to be emitted by the device.

Note that power is only consumed when a reed relay is closed, i.e. upon detection of deviation from the predefined path of travel 16. As power is only consumed when an error signal is generated, the life of the battery is prolonged.

Furthermore, as the sensors detect the position of the putter magnetically, the sensors can be embedded in the base or even placed under, say a plastic, base 10. In this manner, the sensors are" not susceptible to damage by the putter nor is the operation of the sensors affected by accumulation of dust or dirt on the base 10. The base 10 is preferably made of plastic, but other suitable materials may be used. For example, the base may be made of flexible material so that it can be rolled up when not in use. The base 10 may be coloured, patterned or constructed to represent artificial turf or a piled covering.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the invention, and modifications which are obvious to those skilled in the art may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

For example, although the sensors of the preferred embodiment use magnetically activated reed relays, other proximity switches may be used, such as capacitively operated switches.

In an alternative embodiment, a single row of sensors may be arranged along the predetermined straight line of travel. When the device is operated, it will produce a first (pleasing) tone if the sensors are activated along the straight path of travel and a second (aversive) tone if the putter head deviates from the predetermined straight line of travel. In a further modification, no sound need be produced if the putter head follows the line of sensors along the predetermined path of travel, and a distinctive tone produced if it does not.

Claims

1. A device suitable for practising golf putting or the like, said device comprising: a generally planar base member having a straight path of travel defined thereon for a golf club head; a plurality of electromagnetic sensors arranged in at least one line on said base member parallel to said straight path of travel, said sensors- being responsive to the proximity thereto of said golf club head; and at least one audio signal generator connected to the output of said sensors for audibly indicating whether the golf club head has deviated from said straight path of travel during putting.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said sensors each comprise a magnetically operable reed relay switch, further comprising a magnet affixed to the golf club head and each reed relay switch being activated by the presence of said magnet within a predetermined distance thereof.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said sensors are arranged in two rows parallel to said straight path of travel and on respective opposite sides thereof.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3 and comprising two audio signal generators each connected to the output of the sensors in a respective one of said parallel rows, said audio signal generators emitting aurally distinguishable signals when activated.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 3, further comprising a switch for selectively disabling at least some of the sensors in each row.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said sensors are arranged in a row along said path of travel, said audio signal generator being ^"connected to the output of said sensors for generating an audio signal when the golf club head deviates from said path of travel.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said sensors comprise capacitively operable switches responsive to the proximity thereto of said golf club head.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said base comprises a flexible mat.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said base is substantially arrow-shaped.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said path of travel defined on the base member has a width substantially equal to the width of a golf ball.

11. Apparatus for practising golf putting, said apparatus comprising: a magnet adapted to be affixed to the head of a golf putter; a generally planar base member having a straight path of travel defined thereon for the golf putter head; a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in at least one line on said base member parallel to said straight path of travel, said sensors being responsive to the proximity thereto of the magnet on said golf putter head; and at least one audio signal generator connected to the output of said sensors for audibly indicating that said magnet has come closer than a predetermined distance to at least one of said sensors.

12. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said sensors each comprise a reed relay.

13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said sensors are arranged in two rows parallel to said straight path of travel and on respective opposite sides thereof.