US3459428A - Practice golf tee including mirror means - Google Patents

Description

g 5, 1969' N. MILLER 3,459,428

PRACTICE GOLF TEE INCLUDING MIRROR MEANS Filed Nov. 15, 1967 INYHYTOR. NATHAN MILLER A 'ITORNE Y United States Patent 3,459,428 PRACTICE GOLF TEE INCLUDING MIRROR MEANS Nathan Miller, 60 Hempstead Ave., Lynbrook, N.Y. 11563 Filed Nov. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 683,360 Int. Cl. A63b 69/36 U.S. C]. 273-183 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf tee carries an adjustable planar mirror. The mirror may be adjusted, to reflect a portion of the golfers head, permitting the golfer visually to check the stability of his head throughout the golf swing by noting any movement of that portion of his head reflected in the mirror.

Background of the invention Field 07 the invention.This invention is in the field of golf training devices. It is well known and accepted golf theory that the proper execution of any golf stroke, from the shortest putt to the longest drive, should be accomplished without movement of the head. Golfers may not be conscious of head movements, and when it is considered that a mirror movement of the head can result in a major displacement of the swing are from the desired one, the advantage of bringing to the golfers attention the fact of his head movement will be readily apparent.

Description of the prior art.When a beginning or advanced golfer finds his shots straying, he will typically visit his professional. The professional may spot swing flaws, including head movement, and report the same to the golfer, who will thereupon attempt, by practice, to eliminate the previously spotted errors, It is diflicult, however, without the attention of a skilled professional, for the golfer to maintain the proper habits which he developed during supervised instruction.

To assist the golfer in his self-analysis, various apparatuses which physically constrain the head from movement have been suggested. These devices, which include slings, harnesses, braces, etc., are not only expensive and cumbersome but are not subject to use under actual golfing conditions.

Applicant is also aware of complex mirror devices calculated to permit the golfer, while looking downwardly in the general direction of the ball, to observe his swing.

While such devices are helpful in the sense of permitting a golfer to obtain an overall picture of his swing, they are not effective to alert the golfer to small head movements. Also, they are not susceptible of being utilized under actual playing conditions, and require the golfers attention to be directed to an area remote from the actual target, i.e., to the mirror, not the golf ball.

Summary of the invention The present invention may be summarized as comprising a planar mirror member of significant size, namely about one-half inch or more, on a tee calculated to support a golf ball. The mirror is oriented so that when the golfer looks down at the ball, the mirror will reflect a given, specific part of his head at address. The golfer may then execute an actual swing, concentrating his attention on the reflection in the mirror. If, in the course of the swing, the reflected image changes, i.e., if a first part of the head is visible at address and during the course of the swing a second part of the head is visible, the golfer will be aware that he has moved his head. Contrariwise, if the same part of the golfers head is visible throughout the back swing and through actual contact of the club with the ball, then the golfer will be assured that he has maintained a stable head position.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a golf practice device which is inexpensive and which may be used under actual playing conditions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a golf practice device of the type described comprising a mirror adjacent the ball position, which mirror reflects a portion of the golfers head, whereby minor movements of the head in the course of the swing may be readily detected.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a golfer at the top of the back swing position, displaying the proper orientation of the golf practice device with respect to the golfer.

FIGURE 2 is a magnified section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a golf ball used in conjunction with a further embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawing, as shown in FIGURE 1 a golfer has executed a body turn and has drawn a conventional golf club 10 to an essentially correct back swing position. The golf practice device '11 is shown oriented in proper relation to the golfer.

The practice device of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2 comprises a conventional golf ball 12, having a flat portion 13 formed thereon, the flat portion 13 being prm vided with a mirrored surface. The mirrored or planar portion 13 is preferably comprised of a thin metallic film applied by the vacuum deposit method so as to form a light Weight but durable reflective coating.

As shown, the ball 12 is seated on a golf tee 14 having the usual ball receiving socket 15 which permits adjustment of the position of the ball in both vertical and horizontal planes.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, the ball is adjusted on the tee so that the mirror is substantially normal to a line extending from the eyes of the golfer to the ball. It will be observed that variations, particularly in a vertical plane, from the precise normal position are permissible so that, for instance, a golfer may adjust the ball so that the eyes, when directed toward the ball, will be able to perceive a reflection of the nose or the chin of the golfer. When the swing is executed with the golf ball thus positioned, the golfer will be permitted to concentrate his attention where it belongs, on the golf ball, while at the same time being able to perceive any head movements inherent in his swing. Even the slightest deviations of head position will be observed from the fact that the initial reflection, for instance the nose or the chin, will disappear from view if there has been any movement or displacement of the head.

The golf swing may be completed and the ball actually struck, permitting the golfer to execute not only a practice swing but an actual golf stroke.

Due to the off-balance nature of the golf ball and the nonaerodynamic or eccentric configuration thereof provided by the planar portion, the flight pattern of the ball will not be comparable to the flight of a normal ball. However, this is an advantage from the instructional standpoint in that the nonaerodynamic or eccentric condition of the ball will overemphasize the effects of any improper spin imparted to the golf ball, If a clockwise or slice spin is imparted to the golf ball, for instance, the

ball will exhibit a more marked slicing tendency than would a conventional ball. This function, coupled with the head movement detection function, render the golf ball a particularly useful and informative teaching tool susceptible to use under actual play conditions.

It will be observed that the utility of the device is not limited to conditions in which the ball is placed on a tee since obviously, by proper manipulation while the golf ball is in a grassy lie, the mirror component may be oriented toward the user in proper position to function in the movement detecting capacity set forth.

As will be apparent, the golf ball, by the addition of the planar mirror component, will not be suitable or permitted for use in championship play but is intended to be used as a fault detecting, corrective apparatus.

In FIGURES 3 to 5 there is shown an embodiment of the invention wherein the planar mirror portion 20 is pivotally mounted on a conventional golf tee 21. In this embodiment, a wire support member 22 includes an extension arm 23 physically attached to the tee 21, the member including an offsetting portion 24 carrying a friction bushing 25, about which the mirror 20 is pivotally mounted. In this instance the mirror may be fabricated of a thin, plastic member, with a vacuum-deposited reflective metal layer or foil applied thereto.

By a pivotal movement about the horizontal pivot axis provided by the bushing 25, the angle of the mirror with respect to the golfer may be adjusted, the usual rotatable connection provided between the tee and the turf permitting pivotal movement of the tee about a vertical pivot axis, thus assuring any necessary adjustments of the mirror.

When properly set up for a right handed golfer, the mirror is in trailing position of the golf tee, as shown in FIGURE 4, so that the club head will strike the ball in the mirror may be set up in trailing position for a left handed golfer. By reason of the very light weight and, consequently, low inertia construction of the golf tee, there is no danger of damage to the golf club.

While the tee and mirror may break after multiple uses, this fact is of no consequence in view of the inexpensive nature of the device and the fact that tees are expected to be broken or lost.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A golf training device comprising a golf tee including a downwardly tapering lower portion and an enlarged upper portion adapted to support a golf ball, mirror means carried by said tee, means for adjustably positioning said mirror means about a horizontal axis when said tee is in a golf ball supporting position, the characteristics of said mirror means being such that as a golfer addresses a golf ball supported on said tee, said golfer may view in said mirror means a specific part of his head and observe movement thereof while executing a golf club swing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,817,896 8/1931 Henderson 273163 2,121,113 6/1938 Barr.

3,110,495 11/1963 Carter 273-187 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,088,445 10/ 1967 Great Britain.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

Images