GB2084745A

GB2084745A - Golfing aid

Info

Publication number: GB2084745A
Application number: GB8128107A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: CHORLTON JAMES SPENCER
Current assignee: CHORLTON JAMES SPENCER
Priority date: 1980-09-19
Filing date: 1981-09-17
Publication date: 1982-04-15
Also published as: GB2084745B

Abstract

An aid to indicate to a golfer that the golf club is being gripped too tightly comprises a switching device sensitive to the hand pressure on the club. This may be an electrical contact member (24,26) pivotally mounted in an axial bore (21) of the gold club shaft (20) and biassed by a spring (31) so as to protrude through a longitudinally extending slot (22) in the shaft (20). More than a predetermined hand pressure on the golf club causes contact member (26) to contact an adjustable screw contact (29) in an insulated cap (28) on the shaft (20) so that an indicating device, preferably a buzzer, is energised. Alternative embodiments comprise a flexible metal sleeve surrounding the shaft and electrically insulated therefrom except when compressed; or a pressure pad incorporated into a sweat band or glove worn by the golfer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Golfing aid This invention relates to golfing aids, and in particular to devices for indicating faulty handling of a golf club during the making of a stroke.

One of the faults associated with the making of a stroke, particularly in the case of inexperienced golfers, is that of gripping the club too tightly.

Alternatively the golfer may increase the pressure of his or her grip during the swing. In either case the shot made will in general not be as good and controlled as would be the case if the club was gripped correctly throughout the making of the stroke. However it is not always possible for the golfer concerned to detect such a fault and it is very difficult if not impossible for an instructor or coach to detect such a fault in another person. As a consequence the fault may go undetected and hence not be corrected.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby such a fault may be readily detected so that steps may be taken to correct the fault.

The invention provides a golfing aid for indicating a fault in the handling of a golf club comprising, in electrical connection with each other, switching means, an indicating device and a source of electrical power, said switching means being adapted to allow the energising of said indicating device when said golf club is gripped with more than a predetermined hand pressure, and said indicating device being operable when so energised to transmit a signal indicating that said predetermined pressure is being exceeded.

Preferably said indicating device comprises an audible signal transmitting means. Alternatively or additionally said indicating device may comprise a visual signal indicating means. In the former case the indicating device may comprise a buzzer and in the latter case a lamp.

Preferably the source of electrical power comprises a battery, of relatively low voltage such as, for example, 9 volts or less.

The switching means may be mounted in the shaft of a golf club. Alternatively the switching means may comprise a pressure pad switching means formed as a sleeve disposed around the shaft of the golf club, as a sleeve or band adapted to be worn on the wrist of the golfer or as a part of a glove to be worn on the hand of the golfer. In the case of switching means mounted in or on the shaft of the golf club the switching means is operable directly in response to the pressure exerted on the shaft by the golfers' hand. In the case of switching means incorporated in an article worn by the golfer the switching means is operable in response to the tautening of the muscles in the hand or wrist as the shaft is gripped.In the former case the source of electrical power and/or the indicating device may be mounted in or on the shaft of the golf club, whilst in the latter case they may be disposed about the golfer's person or even remote from the golf club or golfer.

Preferably the aid is adjustable whereby the value of the predetermined hand pressure at which the indicating means transmits the signal may be adjusted as desired.

Embodiments of golfing aid in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of a golf club shaft incorporating a first embodiment, Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a second embodiment, Figure 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment, Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a shaft 10 of a golf club having a rubber handle 11 surrounding one end thereof. The shaft 10 is electrically insulated at 12 over a region of, for example 9cm substantially centrally with respect to the rubber handle 11 which may be, for example 27cm in length.Between the shaft 10 and the rubber handle 11 is a springy copper sheath 13 which is prevented from contacting the shaft 10 by the insulation 12 whilst the golf club is not in use or is gripped with less than a predetermined hand pressure. Electrical leads 14 are connected respectively to the copper sheath 13 and the shaft 10 and to a battery 15 and buzzer 16. Alternativelyto buzzer 16, or in addition thereto a lamp may be provided, for example a red lamp. If the rubber handle 11 is gripped with more than a predetermined hand pressure the springy copper sheath 13 will deflect sufficiently to contact the shaft 10 and complete the electrical circuit, thus allowing the buzzer 16 to be energised and transmit a warning signal.

In orderto adjust the value ofthe pressure at which the buzzer 16 will be energised a pair of rubber adjusters 17 are connected two a metal rod 18 located within the hollow shaft 10 and operated by a knurled adjuster 19 at the end of the handle 11.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a shaft 20 of a golf club having an axial bore 21 at an end region thereof and a longitudinal slot communicating with the bore 21. Pivotally mounted at 23 is an elongate contact block 24 which extends along the bore 21 and protrudes through slot 22 when the golf club is not in use or when is gripped only lightly. A rubber handle or grip 25 surrounds the shaft 20.

Attached to block 24 is a contact strip 26 and one of a pair of electrical leads 27 is attached to shaft 20 so as to be in electrical connection with contact strip 26.

An insulated cap 28 is secured to the flanged end 30 of shaft 20 and has a contact screw 29 fitted therein.

The other electrical lead 27 is secured to the contact screw 29 and the leads 27 are also connected to a battery and buzzer and/or lamp as in the previous embodiment. A spring 31 biasses block 24 to protrude through slot 22 and contact strip 26 away from contact screw 29. When the golf club is gripped with sufficient pressure the block 24 will be forced into the bore 21 so that contact strip 26 comes into contact with contact screw 29 and the buzzer and/or lamp is energised. The pressure at which energising of the buzzer and/or lamp occurs may be adjusted by screwing screw 29 further into or out of cap 28 and also by using a spring 31 of differing spring rate or by use of additional springs. As a further alternative a grub screw (not shown) may be located in the shaft 20 in axial alignment with spring 31 to adjust the initial compressive force therein.

In either of the above described embodiments the battery 15 and buzzer and/or lamp 16 may be housed in or on the shaft 10 or 20 if desired, instead of being remote therefrom as shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown a sweatband 32 being-worn around the wrist 33 of a golfer. The sweatband 32 comprises a sleeve 34 of a moisture absorbing material and surrounding sleeve 34 in the central region thereof a pressure pad 35 to which electrical leads 36 are connected. The leads 36 are also connected to a battery and buzzer and/or lamp (not shown) which conveniently may be disposed about the golfers person, for example in a pocket in his jacket, sweater or the like. When the golfer grips a club tightly the muscles in his or her hand and wrist tauten causing an expansion of the sweatband 32. In this way electrical contact within the pressure pad 35 is made thus causing the energising of the buzzer and/or lamp to indicate to the golfer that the club is being gripped too tightly.

In Figure 4, there is shown an alternative embodiments of golfing aid which is similar in concept to that of Figure 3. In this case a pressure pad 37 is incorporated into a glove 38. As in the previous embodiment tautening of the muscles in the golfers hand as the club is gripped with excessive pressure causes electrical contact to be made in the pressure pad 37 and consequent energising of a buzzer and/or lamp.

In any of the embodiments described above a further switch may be provided so that the golfing aid may be operational during practice or instruction but not operational during the playing of a bona fide game.

By means of the invention the golfer may be made aware of the fault of gripping the club too tightly immediately that the predetermined hand pressure is exceeded, if this occurs partway through the making of a stroke. Consequently efforts may be made to correct the fault, which would otherwise go undetected and in all probability uncorrected.

Claims

1. A golfing aid for indicating a fault in the handling of a golf club comprising, in electrical connection with each other, switching means, an indicating device and a source of electrical power, said switching means being adapted to allow the energising of said indicating device when said golf club is gripped with more than a predetermined hand pressure, and said indicating device being operable when so energised to transmit a signal indicating that said predetermined pressure is being exceeded.

2. A golfing aid according to claim 1 wherein said indicating device comprises an audible signal transmitting means.

3. A golfing aid according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said indicating device comprises a visual signal indicating means.

4. A golfing aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said source of electrical power comprises a battery.

5. A golfing aid according to claim 4 wherein said battery has an output voltage not greater than 9 volts.

6. A golfing aid according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said switching means is mounted on the shaft of a golf club.

7. A golfing aid according to claim 6 wherein said switching means comprises a springy metal sleeve mounted around said shaft, and having electrical insulating means disposed therebetween.

8. A golfing aid according to claim 7 wherein said sleeve extends beyond said insulating means with a clearance between said sleeve and said shaft in said extended region, said sleeve being flexible so as to contact said shaft when said golf club is gripped with said predetermined hand pressure.

9. A golfing aid according to claim 8 comprising means for adjusting said clearance to adjust said predetermined pressure.

10. A golfing aid according to claim 6 wherein said switching device comprises a pressure pad formed as a sleeve around said shaft.

11. A golfing aid according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said switching means is mounted within an axial bore of the shaft of a golf club.

12. A golfing aid according to claim 11 wherein said switching means comprises an electrical contact member pivotally mounted in said bore and resiliently biassed so as to protrude through a longitudinally extending slot in said shaft which communicates with said bore.

13. A golfing aid according to any one of claims 6 to 12 wherein said indicating means and said source of electrical power are mounted on said golf club shaft.

14. A golfing aid according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said switching device comprises a pressure pad adapted to be worn by the golfer.

15. A golfing aid according to claim 14 wherein said pressure pad is incorporated in a sweatband adapted to be worn on a wrist of the golfer.

16. A golfing aid according to claim 14 wherein said pressure pad is incorporated in a glove adapted to be worn on a hand of the golfer.

17. A golfing aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.