Golfing Aid

The present invention relates to golfing aids.

Problems are often encountered by golfers in maintaining a correct grip on a golf club when a stroke is played, setting the wrists to a correct attitude during the swing, and attaining a full hip/shoulder turn during the swing. Golfing aids aimed at overcoming these problems have previously been proposed; for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,336 describes a golf swing aid which assists in keeping the golfer's wrists together during a swing.

I have now developed a golfing aid which, in addition to obviating incorrect wrist movement and grip pressure, also ensures that for a full and well balanced stroke to be played, a full shoulder and hip turn must be achieved.

According to the present invention, there is provided a golfing aid comprising an elongate strap which can be arranged to fit snugly around a wrist of a user, securing means for securing said strap in position around the wrist of said user, and a side-arm which can be arranged to be secured to the butt end of the shaft of a golf club.

Typically, the strap's length is such that the strap can extend around a user's wrist and further have its longitudinal end portions overlapping. Generally, the strap is padded, and preferably of synthetic material.

Preferably, the golfing aid further comprises a tongue which is generally movable relative to the strap along at least part (usually most) of its length and which extends from a fixed position relative to, or on, a first surface of the strap. The tongue extends in substantially the same direction as the strap having, in use, at least part of its length abutting the first surface of the strap.

Generally, the fixed position from which the tongue extends comprises an anchor member attached to the first surface of the strap. Typically, the anchor member is either an annular member of substantially rectangular shape or a buckle. Preferably, the anchor member is of metal or any other suitably substantially rigid material.

Preferably, the securing means either comprise such a buckle or a multiplicity of hooks or loops arranged to engage a complementary multiplicity of respective loops or hooks. The securing means may, of course, comprise any other suitable fastening device which would allow rapid release of the golfing aid from the user's wrist.

In the case where the securing means comprise a buckle, the strap may be retained in position around the user's wrist by threading the tongue through the buckle. The buckle and tongue are relatively dimensioned such that in use the tongue can be held in a fixed position within the buckle. It is further preferred that a transversely extending band is provided on the first surface of the strap. Typically the band is at least partly spaced from the strap such that, in use, the tongue can be retained contiguous with the strap by passing between opposed facing surfaces of the band and strap.

Alternatively, where the securing means comprise the hook and loop arrangement, the latter are provided on the tongue, the loops and hooks being respectively located at first and second positions along the length of the tongue. Preferably, the tongue comprises opposed outer surfaces connected by edge portions, the loop and hook arrangement being provided on a common outer surface thereof which does not abut the strap in use.

It is preferred that the length of the tongue is greater than that of the strap, so that in use the tongue can extend around the strap (located around the user's wrist) and partially double back on itself.

Preferably, the side-arm extends from the strap and is provided with at least one aperture therethrough. In order to enable a standard golfing aid to be produced which can be used by golfers of any wrist size, the side arm is either adapted to be movable relative to the strap or is provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough. Typically, attachment means are provided which can be arranged in use to extend through an aperture of the side-arm so as to secure the side-arm of the golfing aid to a golf club. Preferably the attachment means comprises a tee or any other device suitable for securing to the golf club (usually by entering a hole normally provided in the butt end of the shaft).

There is further provided by the present invention a kit which comprises a golfing aid as described above and a securing device suitable for attaching said golfing aid to the butt end of a golf club shaft, the securing device being generally attachment means as described above (for example, a tee or the like).

In an alternative embodiment, the side arm may be attached or secured to the butt end of the golf club by means of a resilient annular ring provided on the side-arm and arranged to pass over the butt end of the club. In a further embodiment, a cap having a resilient skirt portion may be provided on the side arm for "press fit" engagement with the butt end of the golf club. In these alternative embodiments, the respective cap and annular ring are typically of a plastics or rubber material.

The invention will now be further illustrated by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are denoted by like numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a planar view of a first embodiment of golfing aid according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the golfing aid of FIG. 1 when arranged for use;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the golfing aid of FIG. 1 when arranged for use;

FIG. 4 is a planar view of an alternative embodiment of a golfing aid according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side views of alternative arrangements of part of a golfing aid according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a golfing aid generally designated 1 comprises a wrist strap 2 having a rectangular ring 3 attached thereto, a tongue 4 and a side-arm 5 extending from strap 2. Ring 3 has edge portions 3a and 3b spaced from strap 2 so that tongue 4 can pass around these edge portions. Side-arm 5 is provided with three apertures 5a, 5b and 5c therethrough for receiving a golf tee 6 located in the butt end 7 of a golf club shaft 8. Tongue 4 comprises two sections 4a and 4b; these sections are typically provided with attachment means (not shown). Typically, the attachment means are of the hook and loop type, whereby a multiplicity of hooks or loops on 4a could be arranged to complementarily engage a multiplicity of respective loops or hooks on 4b. An example of a suitable material for this purpose is commercially available under the trade mark "Velcro". In use, the strap 2 is arranged around a user's wrist, such that end portions 2a and 2b usually overlap, tongue 4 extends from edge 3b of loop 3 around the surface of strap 2 and passes around edge 3a, so that section 4b can be folded back on itself whereby the hooks or loops thereon can engage with the complementary respective loops or hooks of 4a.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the arrangement shown, strap 2 and tongue 4 are secured in position for use as previously described; strap 2 being held in position by means of a hook and loop fastener, in which the hooks and loops are brought into contact by tongue 4 folding back on itself. Numeral 2c denotes the region of strap 2 from which side-arm 5 extends.

Referring to FIG. 3, golfing device 1 is shown secured around a user's wrist; the device has tee 6 passing through an aperture provided in side-arm 5 and entering a hole (not visible) in the butt end 7 of a golf club shaft 8. This arrangement helps to prevent the wrist of the user's leading arm hinging over excessively when a stroke is played and also helps prevent the butt end of the club shaft moving away from the palms of the user's hand.

Referring to FIG. 4, a golfing aid generally designated 1 comprises a wrist strap 2 having a buckle 9 attached thereto, a tongue 4 and a side-arm 5 extending from strap 2. Strap 2 is retained around a user's wrist by threading tongue 4 through buckle 9, buckle 9 being dimensioned relative to tongue 4 such that in use buckle 9 holds tongue 4 in a fixed position therein. Band 10 is provided on strap 2 so that tongue 4 can be retained contiguous with strap 2 by passing underneath band 10 between the opposed facing surfaces of band 10 and strap 2. Side-arm 5 is provided with an aperture 5a therethrough and is movable relative to strap 2. Side-arm 5 is held in a required position relative to strap 2 by means of cam lock 11.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there are shown alternative means of securing the side arm 5 to the butt end of the golf club. The securing means shown in FIG. 5 comprises an annular rubber ring 12 bonded to the end of the side arm 5. The internal diametrical dimension of the ring 12 is approximately equal to the diametrical dimension of the butt end of a golf club. The securing means shown in FIG. 6 comprises a hollow plastics or rubber cap 13 connected to the side arm 5 and arranged to be press fitted to the butt end of a golf club.