GB1245192A - Golf instruction device - Google Patents

Abstract

1,245,192. Golf instruction device. R. B. FOX and E. F. STURM. 8 Jan., 1969 [8 Jan., 1968], No. 1112/69. Heading A6D. A device for improving the user's golf swing comprises a simulated golf club including hand grip means which can be grasped by a user for swinging the device, and a member which can be releasably secured to the simulated golf club and which can be released therefrom in the course of a simulated golf swing of the device. In addition the device may comprise a target means for receiving the impact of the releasable member for determining the correctness of a simulated golf swing. As shown in Fig. 1 to 5, the device comprises a simulated golf club 24 having a magnetic micrometer assembly 26 constituting the lower end thereof, an aim-ball unit 28, a plastics ball assembly 30, and a target assembly 32. The assembly 26 includes a lower end portion 38 of the shaft 34 as a support, a magnet vernier coupler 40 that surrounds and is locked to the shaft and portion 38 by a spring pin 42 which forms a base, a cylindrical permanent magnet 44 below the end of the shaft 34 and a ferrule 46 having an upper flange engaging a shoulder of the coupler 40 and a lower flange engaging the magnet 44 to maintain a firm assembly. The coupler 40 includes an upper portion 50 provided with external threads 52, an intermediate cylindrical portion 54 of smaller diameter and a lower cylindrical portion 56. An internally threaded heavy cylinder 48 is screwed on the coupler portion 50 and surrounds the ferrule 46, its upward movement being limited by the stop 39. The magnet 44 has a flat top and a chamferred bottom 60 provided with a flat face 62. The weight of the cylinder 48 simulates that of a conventional golf club. The bottom face 72 of the cylinder 48 is provided with a circular series of calibrated markings, such as the numerals 1 to 9 (Fig. 6) and a pointer 76. The aim-ball unit 28 (Fig. 2) comprises a hollow plastics ball 78 simulating a conventional golf ball, and is permanently secured to the top of a support 80. The assembly 30 (Figs. 3 and 7) comprises a hollow lightweight plastics ball 84 simulating a conventional golf ball (except for the openings 94), a cup-shaped outer housing 86 of relatively soft resilient plastics material, an inner housing 88 of semi-rigid plastics material, a disc 90 of ferrous material and means 92 and screw 118 for integrating the elements 84 to 90. The upper face 112 of the disc 90 is bevelled from left to right (as viewed in Fig. 3). As shown in Fig. 8, the permanent magnet 44 and the disc 90 are held together in overall engagement by the full magnetic force of the magnet. When the cylinder48 is rotated the disc 90 is separated from the magnet face by a distance depending in the extent to which the magnetic micrometer assembly 26 is rotated and the force required to release the ball assembly 30 from the head 48 of the simulated golf club 24 is thereby adjusted. Uncocking the wrists during the swing of the simulated golf club 24 at a simulated point of club contact with a golf ball dislodges the assembly 30 from the club 24 as the wrists are uncocked and flings it towards the target in an effort to strike a predetermined correct swing zone.