GB2234911A

GB2234911A - Golf training aid/stimulator

Info

Publication number: GB2234911A
Application number: GB9016906A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Terence Ashton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-14
Filing date: 1990-08-01
Publication date: 1991-02-20
Also published as: ZA906290B; EP0486558A1; FI94594B; EP0486558B1; CA2064822A1; WO1991002570A1; KR920703157A; DE69018264D1; JPH04507361A; ES2073030T3; AU6172190A; GB9016906D0; ATE120379T1; FI920616A0; GB8918510D0; DE69018264T2; AU648987B2; FI94594C

Abstract

The aid/simulator provides an improvement in known equipment to enable the user to simulate a range of shots he can expect during a round of golf. According to this invention, the aid/simulator comprises a base (1) providing a standing area (4) on which the user takes his stance in relation to a ball playing area (3) which is characterised by the base including a platform (2) adjustably mounted on said base so that it can be tilted to a position in relation to the ball the user wishes to practise or simulate, i.e. an uphill, or downhill lie and/or standing above, or below the ball, drive means (11, 12) being provided for tilting the platform to a selected position. Advantageously, two marked areas (14) are provided corresponding to the user's foot positions, and pressure responsive devices are provided for detecting the weight distribution between the respective feet, signals from which are fed during a golfing swing to comparator means, and thence to indicator means (17) for showing the percentage of bodyweight taken by each foot during a swing.

Description

Golf Training Aid/Simulator This invention relates to a golf training aid/simulator.

Such equipment is known, of which the most basic is a golf practice range where individual booths are provided, each comprising a base normally in the form of a rubber mat alongside of which is provided a strip of artificial grass on which the ball can be placed to be hit. Also, golf training aids/simulators are known which include means for detecting the speed and direction of the ball after impact to provide an indication of the quality of the golf shot.

According to this invention, there is provided a golf training aid/simulator comprising a base providing a standing area on which the user takes his stance in relation to a ball playing area, characterised by the base including a platform which is adjustably mounted on said base so that it can be tilted to a position in relation to the ball the user wishes to practise or simulate, ie an uphill, or downhill lie and/or standing above, or below the ball, and drive means for tilting the platform to a selected position.

Preferably, a folding bellows is provided around the periphery of the platform and is attached to the base to prevent ingress of dirt and yet permit tilting of the platform to be effected.

Advantageously, the standing area of the platform provides two marked areas corresponding to the user's foot positions, which are provided with pressure responsive devices for detecting the weight distribution between the respective feet, signals from which are fed during a golfing swing to comparator means, and thence to indicator means for showing the percentage of bodyweight taken by each foot at address and the transfer of weight during a swing. It will be appreciated here that such information would be most useful in analysing the swing and assessing what changes should be made to improve the swing.

It will be further appreciated that, in accordance with the invention, a training aid/simulator is provided that enables a golfer to practise or simulate the full range of shots he is likely to meet on a golf course and, in conjunction with the advantageous feature referred to above, to be able to review his balance through each swing.

Conveniently, a chart may be provided showing the perfect balance and weight transfer required for the range of shots that can be achieved using the simulator/training aid, so that the user can compare them with his actual results to assess what corrections to his swing are desirable.

To effect tilting of the platform, the latter may be supported over its area by vertically extending telescopic units, which are interconnected so as to be lengthened or contracted relatively to one another, as appropriate, to move the platform to a required angle of tilt, said units being electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically controlled via appropriate control means.

Alternatively, to effect said tilting, the platform may be mounted centrally on a universal joint providing X and Y horizontal pivot axes, and, at least one telescopic unit may be provided for each axis, which units are arranged to act in concert with each other to cause the platform to tilt via the universal joint into a required tilt angle.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the ball playing area on the base is provided with a surface which can be changed as desired by the golfer to represent different course conditions, such as a fairway, semi-rough and rough, where artificial grass would be used, and perhaps sand.

According to a further advantageous feature of this invention, the training aid/simulator may be linked via a suitable Computer/CPU interface to a Computer loaded with a software program providing data of a "golf course", whereby the user can simulate and practise a "round of golf". In this case, as already known in the art, an electronic sensing arrangement would be provided in the base to pick up the speed and direction of the club head on impact with a ball so as to determine the landing position of the ball on the "course".

In order that the invention may be readily understood, and further features made apparent, one embodiment of a golf training aid will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is an overal perspective view of the golf training aid, Figure 2 is another perspective view incorporating a security cover, and Figure 3 (A) to (D) are perspective views showing the aid in use.

Referring to Figure 1, the aid comprises a rectangular base 1 having a tiltable platform 2 providing a ball playing area 3 and a standing area 4. At one, front, end of the base a pedestal 5 is provided on top of which a control panel 6 is mounted.

The platform 2 is of sheet metal appropriately stiffened by internal stiffeners (not shown) and a marginal flange 7 and is mounted on the base 1 via a folding bellows arrangement 8 to enable the platform - to be tilted as described hereinafter and prevent the ingress of dirt. As shown the base, in turn, forms part of, or is mounted on, a plinth 9.

The platform and bellows are cut-away in the Figure to show that the platform 2 is centrally mounted on a vertically extending universal joint 10 the joint halves of which are mounted to pivot around two horizontal pivot axes X, Y whereby tilting can be effected around either axis or a combination of both to cover a complete range of "lies". At least one extending telescopic unit 11, 12 respectively is provided for each pivot axis, each of which is connected between the base and platform as shown and these units are connected by an appropriate network of pipes if hydraulically or pneumatically operated, or wires if electrically operated, whereby they can be moved in unison by different amounts under the control of suitable control means to set the angle of tilt required for the platform 2.

A rubber mat 13 or similar is provided over the standing area 4 and is marked with two outlines 14 to define the foot positions of the user. A control device, which may conveniently be in the form of a joystick 15 is provided on the panel which is operative through a suitable control circuit (not shown) to move the platform 2 as required by the user, in which case a scale (not shown) may be provided to give the user a visual indication of the tilt angle set.

Pressure sensing devices (not shown) are provided beneath the outlines 14 of the standing area 4, which are operative through a suitable comparator circuit (not shown) to sense the weight distribution between the golfer's feet when he addresses the practise ball and the weight transference during his swing, and to pass this information to a balance indicator which in this embodiment comprises a strip 17 of L.e.d's or similar visual indicators as shown along the front of the platform 2.

As mentioned hereinbefore, a chart strip (not shown) may also be provided to show the preferred weight distribution for comparison.

In this embodiment, a computer/CPU interface port 18 is provided on the pedestal 5 (or the control panel if preferred) for connection to a Computer to enable the user to play a simulated round of golf as mentioned hereinbefore.

Also, a coin and/or card meter 19 may be provided by removable squares of "grass" of different height to simulate fairway, semi-rough and rough, as required. Alternatively, the different sufaces could be provided on three sides of a rotatable drum (not shown) mounted beneath the platform 2 in which case the appropriate surface would be rotated into position by a suitable operating member.

When not in use, the complete unit described above can be closed-off and locked by a pair on interfitting covers 20 as shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 3, the platform 2 is shown tilted for practising (A) standing below the ball, (B) standing above the ball, (C) an uphill lie, and (D) a downhill lie.

Claims

1. A golf training aid/simulator comprising a base providing a standing area on which the user takes his stance in relation to a ball playing area, characterised by the base including a platform which is adjustably mounted on said base so that it can be tilted to a position in relation to the ball the user wishes to practise or simulate, ie an uphill or donwhill lie and/or standing above, or below the ball and drive means for tilting the platform to a selected position.

2. An aid/simulator according to Claim 1, further characterised in that a folding bellows is provided around the periphery of the platform and is attached to the base to prevent ingress of dirt and yet permit tilting of the platform to be effected.

3. An aid/simulator according to Claim 1 or 2, further characterised in that the standing area of the platform provides two marked areas corresponding to the user's foot positiOns, which are provided with pressure responsive devices for detecting the weight distribution between the respective feet, signals from which are fed during a golfing swing to comparator means, and thence to indicator means for showing the percentage of bodyweight taken by each foot at address and the transfer of weight during a swing.

4. An aid/simulator according to Claim 3, further characterised in that a chart is provided showing the perfect balance and weight transfer required for the range of shots that can be achieved using the simulator/training aid, so that the user can compare them with his actual results to assess what corrections to his swing are desirable.

5. An aid/simulator according to any preceding Claim, further characterised in that it is linked via a suitable Computer/CPU interface to a Computer loaded with a software program providing data of a "golf course", whereby the user can simulate and practise a "round of golf11.

6. An aid/simulator according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, further characterised in that, to effect said tilting, the platform may be mounted centrally on a universal joint providing X and Y horizontal pivot axes, and at least one telescopic unit may be provided for each axis, which units are arranged to act in concert with each other to cause the platform to tilt via the universal joint into a required tilt angle.

7. An aid/simulator according to any preceding Claim, further characterised in that the ball playing area on the base is provided with a surface which can be changed as desired by the golfer to represent different course conditions, such as fairway, semi-rough and rough, where artificial grass would be used, and perhaps sand.

8. An aid/simulator according to Claim 3 and any preceding Claim dependent thereon, further characterised in that said indicator means comprises a strip of l.e.d's or similar devices provided near to and along the front edge of said platform.

9. An aid/simulator according to any preceding Claim, further characterised in that, to effect tilting of the platform, the latter is supported over its area by vertically extending telescopic units, which are interconnected so as to be lengthened or contracted relatively to one other, as appropriate, to move the platform to a required angle of tilt, said units being electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically controlled via appropriate control means.

10. A golf training aid/simulator constructed, arranged and adapted for use substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.