US3545764A - Training device for golfers - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent Thomas F. Broderick 697 Cambridge St., Brighton, Boston, Massachusetts 02135 Jan. 13, 1969 Dec. 8, 1970 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLFERS 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 273/183 A63b 69/36 Field ofSearch 273/ l 83(All), 191.190. 54(All) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,468,386 9/1923 MacDonald 273/54(B) 2,330,442 9/1943 Nero 2 73/ 18 1. B)X 3,178,187 4/1965 Cardwell 273/183(B) Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Att0rney-Strauch, Nolan, Neale, Nies & Kurz ABSTRACT: A golfer is compelled to hold his head properly by wearing a mask including two apertures through which his field of vision is restricted. A flexible cord has one of its ends secured to the mask centrally of the apertures, while the other end of the cord is connected to a plumblike weight which is suspended below the mask in the golfers restricted field of view while addressing a golf ball.

mm we 3.545764 INVENTOR. I THOMAS F. BRODERICK BYSQQU (1;; W M,

ATTORN EY TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLFERS The present invention relates to a device for assisting a golfer to improve his stance and swing.

Factors required for a smooth golf swing which result in hitting the ball with power and accuracy are well known. Among the principal factors is to aline the head properly with the ball and to keep the head down and substantially still during the swing. When the head is maintained in proper position, the club moves through a substantially fixed path, and the swing is smooth and uniform and the club head meets the ball properly relatively to the golfer.

One of the primary requirements for successful golf is that the swing be substantially uniform, that is that the club and club head be moved through substantially the same path every time. Keeping the feet in proper position at the moment of impact is relatively simple and when the head is kept fixed during the swing, the golfers arms and body will necessarily move through substantially the same path every time with the result that the club head will always meet the ball at the same point and in proper alignment.

Maintaining the head still and in proper position is particularly important in putting where accuracy is most essential.

Numerous devices have been suggested for training golfers to maintain the head still and in proper position during a golf stroke but prior devices have had certain deficiencies. l have found that it is essential to hold the head in a particular position to maintain the head still; during the stroke and to aid concentration by limiting the area of vision.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device to assist a golfer in maintaining proper head position during practice. 1

Another object is to providea device for training a golfer to maintain accurate sighting during a golf swing.

Another object is to provide a device for training a golfer to position his head properly and to maintain such position during a golf swing.

Another object is to provide a device to assist a golfer in developing a consistentlyuniform swing.

Another object isto provide a device to assist a golfer in developing an accurate and uniform putting stroke.

These and other objects and advantages reside in novel features of construction and arrangement and relation of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

FlG. l is a side elevation showing a golfer wearing my novel training device.

PK]. 2 is a front elevation of the head portion of my training device.

FIG. 3 is 'a vertical section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

The training device of the. present invention comprises a mask indicated generally at which may be conveniently formed of plastic or light metal. The mask is preferably opaque or has very low light transmission.

The rear surface 12 of the mask is formed to fit snugly and comfortably against the face and the mask has a recess 14 to fit over the nose. Two relatively small apertures 16 are provided in the front surface of the mask in alinement with the eyes of the user. I have found that apertures about one-half inch in diameter are satisfactory but the size is not critical.

The face portion 12 and the nose recess 14 position the mask so that the apertures 16 are directly alined with the golfers eyes.

A suitable elastic band 18 is secured to the mask to hold it on the user's face. Perforations indicated at 20 may be provided in the sides and top of the mask for ventilation.

When the mask is properly positioned on the users face, the user's vision is confined to the apertures 16. This not only shields the golfers vision from objects or movements which may otherwise distract him, but because of the limited angle of view through the small apertures 16 which are directly in front of the golfer's eyes, the golfer is compelled to face the ball squarely and to hold his head properly in order to see the ball.

A string 221s fastened to the mask, preferably at the top and center of the nose recess 14, and a weight 24 is attached to the free end of the string 22. A notch 26 may be provided in the nose recess 14 so that the string 22 will hang from a point midway between the apertures 16. l have found that a string from 1 to 2 feet in length is satisfactory.

The relatively small apertures 16 compel the golfer to face the ball squarely and when the head is in this position, the string 22 and ball define a vertical plane which contains the center line of the golfers face and body. If the golfer moves his head during the stroke, the fact and the extent of the movement will be indicated by the weight and because of the small size of the apertures 16, the golfer will lose sight of the ball. So long as the golfer can see the ball clearly, and so long as the weight 24 remains still, the golfer knows that his head is maintained in proper position.

The weight 24 not only serves as a pendulum to detect movement of the head but also serves as a sight to enable the golfer to aline his head and bodywith the ball. This is particularly true in putting and-with the shorter clubs where maximum accuracy is required. In putting, the golfers head is almost directly over the ball so that the weight 24 will also be almost directly over the ball. The apertures 16 and weight 16 together form sights for fixing the position of the head relative to the ball.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that i am able to obtain the objects of my invention and provide a training device for use by a golfer in practice to train himself to position and maintain his head in proper position and proper relation to a mask on the golfers face with the apertures in alinement with the golfers eyes, a weight, and a cord securing said weight to said mask between said apertures so that the weight will hang vertically below the mask.

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