Golf Training Apparatus

The invention relates to an apparatus for training in sports, particularly golf. For training in this sport, in which a ball has to be struck by a club manipulated by the player, various types of simulators are known which, without the ball having to travel its full trajectory, indicate the characteristics of what the trajectory would have been in accordance with the parameters recorded in the striking area (essentially distance and angle of dispersion), these simulators in the present state of the art often being electric or electronic devices.

The invention relates to a new type of training equipment serving the abovedescribed purpose, which comprises a net (or cloth) which is suspended and stretched in such a manner that it absorbs the greater part of the kinetic energy of the ball striking against it and acts to provide appropriate data. This apparatus has an important advantage over known devices in that it comprises only fully reliable, sturdy mechanical equipment insensitive to weather and enabling the simulator to be used outdoors without special precautions.

The apparatus according to the invention comprises a net or cloth suspended vertically at the top and having its two bottom ends fixed to two calibrated weights whose displacement in an inclined plane varies in dependence on the force of the impact of a golf ball on said net.

FIG. 1 is a general view of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows a device for the displacement of the weights on inclined planes.

FIGS. 3 and 7 show two systems for evaluation of the results.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show the graphic determination of the components on impact of the balls on the net of the apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a general view including protective nets.

FIG. 1 shows a cloth 1 stretched vertically. This cloth is composed of a wear resistant woven fabric or net, or of a plastics or similar material, on which golf scenery or any other marking permitting aiming may be depicted. The cloth is fastened at the top to a cross member 2, which in turn is fixed on the two uprights 3 of the simulator frame, which ensures the stability of the whole arrangement. The right-angled bends at the top of the uprights 3 hold the cloth 1 away from said uprights. The bottom corners of the cloth are fixed on two identical calibrated weights 4 which are free to move on the inclined plane formed by two ropes 5 stretched between fixed points on the frame and forming an angle of 45.degree., which is the ideal ballistic angle for obtaining the optimum trajectory.

The kinetic energy to be absorbed is considerable if it is considered that a golf ball, which weighs about 46 grams, may arrive at a speed of 220 kilometers per hour, and the beginning of the description given above makes it possible to explain one of the characteristics of the invention. When the golf ball arrives on the net 1, the latter is deformed and raised, the bottom corners of the net moving along the inclined plane formed by the ropes 5 through the action of the weights 4 to which they are fixed and which they displace. It is then sufficient to measure the displacement of the weights to obtain information permitting determination of the trajectory which the ball would have followed if it had not struck the net.

FIG. 2 shows a device enabling the calibrated weights 4 to move on the ropes 5 without slipping or braking detrimental to good operation. The rope 5 is stretched between a point on the upright 3 and a point on the base 6. On the latter a two-pronged fork 7 holds the end of the rope captive by means of the knot 8. At the other end a ring 9 provided with a stop screw enables the rope to be tensioned, the ring bearing against the two-pronged fork 10 fixed on the upright 3. A pulley 11 identical to those used in boat rigging runs on the rope. The swivel 12 of the pulley is fixed on the weight 4. The latter is provided with a hook 15 enabling it to be fastened to the corner of the net 1.

In order to ensure that the distance between the weights will not be dependent on the elasticity of the net, the weights may be connected by a rope or cable 13. A rope 16 attached to the top cross member 2 supports the weight 4, so that the net does not permanently support it. In order to evaluate the displacement of the weights on the inclined planes, a cord 17 is fixed to the weight 4, passing through the eye 18 and extending towards two graduated rules, as shown in Figure 3. The cord 17 is connected to a marker 19 which is free to move on a rod 20. The latter is fastened to an elongated U-shaped frame 21 provided with a rule 22, which is graduated after calibration and in front of which the marker moves. A spring 23 pressing against the rod 20 provides a slight, equitable braking action to ensure that the marker will not continue its travel because of inertia after the weights 4 have halted. The marker therefore stops immediately in front of a graduation which can easily be read by the golfer and which because of the calibration corresponds to the distance that the ball would actually have traveled.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show the graphic determination of the forces and displacements resulting from the impact of the ball on the net, with their incidences on the receiver and evaluation mechanisms. Since in mechanics the displacement of a mass on an inclined plane is proportional to the force applied, the displacement of the weights 4 is also proportional to the force of the impact of the ball on the net 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view illustrating how the displacements D of the masses 4G and 4D are identical when the impact is perfectly centered (the forces FD and FG being equal).

FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which the impact of the ball is on the left side of the net. As in mechanics it is demonstrated that F.times.(A - B)=(FD.times.B)+(FG.times.A) and that FD.times.B=FG.times.A, this means that the displacements D' and D" of the masses 4G and 4D are different, D" being greater than D' in the case of this example. If the respective displacements are evaluated, it is therefore possible to determine with a certain degree of accuracy the lateral distance between the target and the supposed point of impact, this evaluation being obtained direct from the reading on the graduations of the rules at the points where the markers come to rest. However, in order to obtain comparable results, it is important that the player should always play at the same distance from the net. With regard to the distance which the ball would have traveled in the case of a badly centered trajectory, it is sufficient to take the mean of the left-hand and right-hand readings to obtain a satisfactory result.

FIG. 7 illustrates another solution to the problem of evaluating results. There is here only one rule, which is identical to those shown in FIG. 3. The two cords 17G and 17D fastened at one end to the weights 4G and 4D are connected at the other end to the cord 17, which moves the marker 19 under the same conditions as those defined above. The mean between the reciprocal displacements of the weights 4G and 4D is obtained automatically, and direct reading of the result is achieved. If one of the weights has a displacement greater than the other (in the case of a badly centered shot), the angular dispersion .beta. can be read in clear in dependence on the position of the cord 17 on the graduated, calibrated vector 14 (in dot-dash lines in FIG. 7). The rule must be disposed at the correct distance and so positioned in relation to the apparatus that the cord 17 will be the breakless bisector of the angle formed by the cords 17G and 17D. All this can easily be done on the site by accurate determination of the lengths of the different vectors. The footprints 25 define the position of the player in relation to all the components.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing that, since the ideal trajectory is that defined by a 45.degree. inclined plane, any trajectory different from that angle will generate a different resultant force, F' being smaller than F; this corresponds to the actual situation on the ground.

It is obvious that the deformations of the net which, as has been shown, derive directly from the characteristics of the trajectory, can be indicated and recorded by an electric or electronic device making it possible to display in clear (for example by liquid crystals) the precise results of the shot concerned.

FIG. 8 is a general view showing the addition of two side nets 24 forming a cage for the sake of greater safety; it should be noted that these two nets could be integral parts of the main net 1.

It is clear that this golf training apparatus has been described and illustrated solely by way of explanation without constituting a limitation, and that various modifications could be made to the embodiment indicated without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.