GB2367013A - A golf club selection device - Google Patents

Abstract

An indicator device for use in playing the game of golf which comprises relatively-movable indicia elements including a first element (10, figure 1) for carrying information regarding distance to target, a second element (20, figure 2) including information relating to selection of clubs, and a third element 30 including a viewing means 32 for viewing selected information, said first and second elements (10, figure 1) and (20, figure 2) include a releasable lock means to enable a player's standard to be pre-set. Said first and second elements (10, figure 1) and (20, figure 2), when releasably locked may move together with respect to the third element 30. Each element may comprise a circular disc, each of which may be mounted for rotation about a common central axis, said first and second elements (10, figure 1) and (20, figure 2) may have interengagable comformations to allow them to be releasably locked together, one of which may have a finger tab or recess (23, figure 2) allowing for the rotation, with the other element, relative the third element 30. In use of the device and having initially set the playing standard by arranging the first and second elements (10, figure 1) and (20, figure 2) for a particular consistently achievable distance with a particular club, the first and second elements (10, figure 1) and (20, figure 2) are moved together relative to the third element 30 until the target distance 33 is shown in the viewing means 32 of the third element 30, whereupon the appropriate club designation 34 will also appear in the viewing means 32.

Description

Indicator Device This invention relates to an indicator device for use in playing the game of golf.

Traditionally, golfers have consulted their caddies for advice concerning the appropriate club selection and type of shot to play, having regard not only to the length of the hole or the remaining distance to the green but also the prevailing weather and particularly wind conditions. However, not every golfer has a caddy and in any event the advice is necessarily subjective and may be more appropriate for the playing standard of the caddy than that of the player, where playing standard means the distance consistently achievable by the player with a given club under windless conditions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an indicator device which for any given set of conditions including playing standard will inform the golfer of the appropriate club to be used.

According to one aspect of the invention, an indicator device comprises relatively-movable indicia elements including a first element carrying information relating to target distance, a second element carrying information relating to gradings of golf clubs and a third element including viewing means for grading information relating to a selected target distance, in which the first and second elements include releasable lock means to enable playing standard to be pre-set.

Preferably, the elements are mounted for mutual rotation about a common axis and the first and second elements are releasably lockable so that, when locked, they are movable together with respect to the third element.

The designations"first","second"and"third"in relation to the elements do not necessarily denote that the elements are arranged in that order although, conveniently, the first element is the rearmost, the second element is carried adjacent the first and the third element is carried adjacent the second. The second or intermediate element is preferably transparent or is configured to permit information carried on the first or rearmost element to be viewed through the viewing means of the third or front element.

In use of the device and having initially set the playing standard by arranging the first and second elements for a particular consistently achievable distance with a particular club, the first and second elements are moved together relative to the third element until the target distance is shown in the viewing means of the third element, whereupon the appropriate club designation will also appear in the viewing means.

Preferably, alternative club designations will also be displayed, to take account of wind speed and direction; optionally, other variables such as topography may also be catered for in showing alternative club designations. Indicia relating to such alternatives are preferably carried on the second element.

The first element may, in addition to carrying indicia relating to target distance, also carry indicia relating to aim-off distances for use in crosswind situations, factored if necessary according to any tendency by the golfer to play fading or drawing shots.

The third element may conveniently carry instructional, decorative or advertising material; indeed, the first element may have marginal areas or zones which extend beyond the second and third elements and which also may carry such material.

In a preferred embodiment, each element comprises a circular disc, the discs being mounted for rotation about a common central axis. The first and second discs may have interengagable conformations such as protrusions on one disc which mate with apertures in the other disc to allow them to be releasably locked together at a selected position representative of playing standard and one disc may have a finger tab or recess to allow it to be rotated together with the other disc and relative to the third disc. The finger tab itself may comprise releasable grip means for the peripheral region of the said other disc, as an alternative to the interengagable conformations; the releasable grip means may comprise a peel-off sticky pad which can be applied to the back of the tab and bridging over to the said other discs to hold the discs in fixed relationship for the player involved, or the tab itself may be foldable over the edge of the other disc and adhered thereto.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 shows a back disc for an indicator device; Figure 2 shows a middle disc for the same device; and Figure 3 shows the complete device in a position of use.

With reference firstly to Figure 1, the back disc is shown generally at 10 and is circular with a central aperture 11 for receiving a rivet. Printed around an outer track 12 are indicia representing distances to the target from 60 to 300 yards or meters in increments of 10 yards or meters. Three inner tracks 13 contain indicia representing aim-of distances under different strengths of crosswind, depending on whether the golfer's natural shot is a fade or a draw, and three innermost tracks 14 contain indicia representing aim-of distances under different crosswind strengths for use when the golfer's natural shot is straight.

Turning to Figure 2, the middle disc is shown generally at 20 and is transparent. An outer track 21 contains printed indicia relating to golf club designations ranging from a driver at one extreme to a sand wedge at the other extreme. Under each club designation is printed further indicia in inner tracks 22 and relating to alternative clubs for use under adverse head or tail wind conditions. An outer tab 23 is attached to the circumference of the disc and can be used in conjunction with a self-adhesive peelable pad to attach discs 10 and 20 releasably together at a desired relative position.

With reference to Figure 3, an outer disc shown generally at 30 is rotatably attached to the discs 10 and 20 by means of a rivet 31 and a wedge-shaped aperture 32 extends from the circumference towards the centre. The upper outer face of the disc is printed with explanatory information relating to the indicia displayed in the aperture; the lower part of the disc, shown blank, can be used for any information of a decorative, explanatory or promotional nature. In use, it is necessary initially for the player to determine the usual length over which he can consistently propel a golf ball, under windless conditions, using a club with which he feels comfortable. With the device set up as shown in Figure 3, he would have concluded that, using a 7 iron, he would normally be capable of hitting the ball for 170 to 180 yards and he would have set the figures 170-180 in the area 33 of the aperture 32, by rotation of the back disc 10 in relation to the front disc 30, and the legend"7 iron"in area 34 of aperture 32 by rotation of middle disc 20 in relation to front disc 30. With the middle and back discs thus disposed, they would be temporarily affixed together using tab 23 and a sticky pad, thereby setting the standard of play for that golfer in relation to any conditions which he would then encounter in play. As shown in Figure 3, the player now faces a target distance of 190-200 yards, as shown in area 33 of aperture 32, and he is told that the normal club which he should select for this purpose is a 5 iron as shown in area 34.

However, under head wind conditions he is told by the information appearing in area 35 that he should select a 4,3 or 2 iron according to whether the wind is light, moderate or strong respectively and, if the wind is a tail wind, he should select a 5,6 or 7 iron, again depending whether the wind is light, moderate or strong as shown in area 36. If he naturally tends to play fade or draw shots, he should aim off by the number of yards shown in areas 37 or 38 according to whether the wind is light, moderate or strong and also according to whether the wind will tend to accentuate the fade or draw or to moderate it. If his natural shot is straight, then he would aim off, depending on the strength of the wind, according to the information provided in area 39, the direction of offset obviously being into the wind.

Once the device has been used by one player, the back and middle discs can easily be released from each other and reset to another standard of play for the next player and used in precisely the same way.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS 1. An indicator device for use in playing the game of golf and comprising relatively-movable indicia elements including a first element carrying information relating to target distance, a second element carrying information relating to gradings of golf clubs and a third element including viewing means for grading information relating to a selected target distance, in which the first and second elements include releasable lock means to enable a player's playing standard to be pre-set.
2. 2. A device according to claim 1, in which the elements are mounted for mutual rotation about a common axis, the first and second elements being releasably lockable so that, when locked, they are movable together with respect to the third element.
3. 3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the elements are arranged such that the first element is the rearmost, the second element is carried adjacent the first and the third element is carried adjacent the second.
4. 4. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the second element includes alternative club designations to take account of local variables which affect playing standard.
5. 5. A device according to any preceding claims, in which the first element includes indicia relating to aim-off distances for use in crosswind situations, optionally factored according to any tendency by the player to play fading or drawing shots.
6. 6. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the third element includes instructional, decorative or advertising material.
7. 7. A device according to claim 6, in which the first element includes marginal areas or zones which extend beyond the second and third elements and which carry said material.
8. 8. A device according to any preceding claim, in which each element comprises a circular disc, the discs being mounted for rotation about a common central axis, the first and second discs having interengagable conformations to allow them to be releasably locked together at a selected position representative of playing standard, one disc having a finger tab or recess to allow it to be rotated together with the other disc and relative to the third disc.
9. 9. A device according to claim 8, in which the finger tab comprises releasable grip means for the peripheral region of the said other disc and constituting said interengagable conformations.
10. 10. An indicator device for use in playing the game of golf, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.