DE10119740A1 - Golf putting training device has plane mirror with rear surface on striking surface, laser transmitter, receiver, switch near marked position to switch device on when putter swings over - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a transmitter of laser light to a reflector on the putter. Light is reflected to a receiver with a horizontal row of sensors on both sides near a central sensor so putter deviation of from the target direction is indicated by their response. The reflector is a plane mirror with its rear surface on the striking surface of the putter. A switch near a marked position outputs a switch-on signal when the putter swings over the position. The device has a transmitter of light to a reflector on the putter (7,8). The light is reflected to a receiver with a horizontal row of sensors arranged on both sides near a central sensor so that a deviation of the putter from the direction to the target is indicated by their response. The reflector is a plane mirror with its rear surface on the striking surface of the putter. The transmitter contains a laser and a switch (11) near a marked ball position (3) outputs a signal when the putter swings over the position to switch on the training device.

Description

The invention relates to a training device for putting when playing golf, in which a buffer ge over a ball position towards a target position is swinging (putting swing) and to control the direction of the face of the buffer light emitted by a transmitter to a reflector on the put ter is directed and reflected to a receiving device that with a horizonta len series of sensors is provided on both sides next to a central sensor are arranged in such a way that a response of the Rich direction of the putting stroke from the direction to the target position is displayed.

Such a training device is known from US Pat. No. 5,303,488. With the be known training device is an electromagnetic wave, which is also can act on visible light, for the propagation of electromagnetic Typical waves, widening with distance, emitted by a transmitter, partially by one at the buffer using special Re attached attachments requiring adjustment is reflected over a ball position in the direction of the transmitter. at the ball position is the position that may be intended, in which there is or can be a ball. Practice can also going on without a ball. A receiver is combined with the transmitter, with a horizontal row of sensors that are relatively far apart is provided. These sensors extend on both sides of the front of the receiver advises lying target position. By responding to the sensors when the portion of the propagating electromagnetic reflected by the reflector Wave is to be displayed whether the Re  The reflector and thus the putter's face are sufficiently accurate to the target position sition was aligned. With regard to the wave propagation and with it connected reflection of a widening wave results at the reception If a wave strikes with a relatively long extension, an acti crossing of sensors in the receiving device each over a relatively large Area is done d. H. that despite the considerable distance between the sensors in detail if several sensors can address at the same time. An exact Measurement of the angle of the club face in relation to the target position is also with the known training device not because of the distance between the sensors possible.

In a training device for which is also known from US Pat. No. 6,149,537 There is a laser on the side of the golf club when putting on golf screw that throws a beam of light onto the floor in the direction of the shaft can be followed by the golfer with his eye. Because of this light The golfer can beam with regard to the direction of his putting swing orientate additionally. Any measurement of a deviation from the ideal Position of the putter is not possible with this known arrangement.

The invention has for its object a compact training device for the Putt when playing golf with which a golfer can create accuracy can control his putting strokes very precisely with regard to their direction, without that this requires a particularly large technical effort. Fiction according to this is done with a training device with transmitter, reflector on Putters and receivers in that the reflector is included as a flat mirror ner back surface lying on the face and directly through the face aligned, attached to the putter and the transmitter contains a laser, whose bundled light beam reflected by the mirror from in the receiving device sensors arranged directly next to one another can be detected, in the area a activatable switching element is arranged in a marked ball position  when putting on the ball position gives a signal that the training device turns.

Due to the attachment of the flat mirror to the buffer, which with its back surface che rests on the face and thus through the face without adjustment the need for direct alignment, there is a reflection on the game gel, which is precisely defined by the direction of the face when putting without prak through the mirror on the weight distribution of the putter something changes table. The use of the laser in the transmitter ensures that emits a bundled beam of light for any widening of the Transmitter outgoing radiation can not enter at all, so that both in the mirror and reflected by the receiving device a limited illuminated area is given which is a particularly narrow arrangement of the individual sensors. Because of this close arrangement of un indirectly adjacent sensors result in a correspondingly large one Resolution of an angular deviation of the face from the ideal direction and thus the light beam to the central sensor, so that the training device be golfers using very small deviations from the one he swings Putters from the ideal direction to the target position and also with a large ge accuracy further deviation steps are displayed on the receiving device. With this arrangement, the central sensor and target position lie vertically exactly above prepared other. The player can therefore very precisely match his putting swings trolling and is able to constantly improve itself to improve the direction of his putting swing.

In order to capture and close that position as closely as possible during the putting swing control in which if a golf ball was put it would be hit, the control period is expediently only started when the putt swing the marked ball position is swept so that just in the ent exiting moment, namely when the ball position is reached, the training  device indicates whether in this position a ball is exactly in the desired position Direction would have been hit or not. The training device is namely by means of an activatable switch arranged in the area of the ball position goose is only switched on for a short time, immediately before the putter at Putts swing is moved over the ball position. That in this position generated signal then briefly switches on the training device, which then the measurement solution as described above. This exercise can hitting a ball can be excluded.

With the switching device that briefly switches on the training device, it can z. B. act as a light barrier through the monitoring area of the putter is swung through. The switching element is advantageously used to Switch on the laser for a short time, since this mode of operation is only in Ak tion occurs when the putter is swinging over the ball position, in which also the measurement of the correct position of the putter is necessary to be held. Immediately after passing through the ball position takes then the putter's face in a position in which the mirror is on light beam is directed upwards so that it detects the sensors of the Can no longer influence the receiving device.

However, it is of course also possible to briefly switch on the training ge advises to bring about that the receiving device for a short time is switched on, which also takes the measurement to the moment of Passing through the ball position is focused.

For structural reasons, it is advisable to have the transmitting and receiving device in an egg to combine an assembly.  

To intensify the training, especially of good golfers, can one expediently design the training device so that the row of sensors optionally on different lengths symmetrical to the target position ak can be activated. If with this design, the sensors located further out cannot be activated, the measurement concentrates on ge only rings angle deviations from the ideal target direction, so that the trai golf players using the device if the device does not respond immediately knows that his putting swing is outside the chosen accuracy range hit rich. This design of the training device is particularly then useful if a count should be displayed in the receiving device how many times a putsch would have been successful because it was sufficiently accurate the target position was aimed and how many putts were performed in total were. In this way, you can also directly indicate in percent how successful rich the golfer using the training device would have been. hereby can be followed over a certain period of time, whether a be the training device golf player has improved his shape.

To indicate the response of the sensors to the training golf player expediently each sensor has a light emitting diode that responds to its activation de assigned so that the golfer thereby immediately executes his golf can control visual impact.

To extend the period of the evaluation of the putting swing, in particular an additional measurement after the overshoot over the ball position possible, you can match two identical receivers in the module arrange differently. This allows the horizontal with each of these receivers Deflection of the reflected light beam can be displayed. When swinging through the putter over the ball position at which the vertical angle of the reflective th light beam increases compared to the incident beam, the reflector crosses beam from bottom to top over the assembly and thus reaches the top  Receiver in a later phase of the putting swing. Through this double Measurement of the horizontal deflection of the reflected light beam is the Player displayed whether the putter has twisted the putter horizontally and in which direction such a twist has occurred.

In the design of the training device described above, the Transmitters emitted light directed over the ball position. It is also possible that the light emitted by the transmitter parallel to the connecting line is directed from the center of the ball position to the target position. It must be natural Lich the mirror and the assembly are laterally offset, by that same measure, so that the parallelism between the above-mentioned verb line and the light emitted by the transmitter is retained. at this design it is possible to place a golf ball on the ball position and to beat this with the buffer. It is, of course, appropriate to do this before Assembly a catcher or deflector for the struck ball to install.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the figures. Show it:

Fig. 1, the exercise machine in a side view in a schematic illustration of the Puttschwungs,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the exercise machine according to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 provided with the mirror face of the relevant end of the putter, ie of the putter head,

Fig. 4 shows the putter head in a perspective view;

Fig. 5 shows the resultant when putting angular relationships of Puttschläge,

Fig. 6 is a view of the construction contained the transmitter and receiver unit group from the perspective of the player,

FIG. 7 shows an expansion of the assembly according to FIG. 5 by doubling the receiving device.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the training device as in Fig. 2, but in a staggered arrangement, as it is used for hitting a golf ball.

Fig. 1 shows the complete training device with its transmitting and receiving device containing assembly 1 and a sectioned bottom plate 2 on which the ball position 3 is marked as a thin pad. The assembly 1 and Bo denplatte 2 are placed on a substantially flat floor 4 , which can be the floor in a house in which the training device is to be used as an exercise bike. The distance to be maintained between module 1 and base plate 2 is defined by two bands 5 and 6 (see FIG. 4) which stretch when the module 1 and base plate 2 are placed on the floor 4 and in this position the distance between module 1 and Hold the base plate 2 . Any rigid connection can also be used instead of the straps.

When the training device is used, a training player, who is not shown here, swings the putter 7 in the usual manner, the putter head 8 traversing a vertical circular path. This is the usual handling of a putter when hitting a ball position. In Fig. 1, in addition to the central position of the putter 7 , in which the putter head 8 is close to the ball position 3 , the start position 7 'and the end position 7 "is drawn, with the buffer between the two positions 7 ' and 7 " 7 is moved back and forth. The actual putting stroke results from the movement of the putter 7 from the position 7 'to the position 7 ".

Fig. 2 shows the top view of the training device of FIG. 1 with the bottom plate 2 , the assembly 1 and the putter head 8 in the position in which a player usually prepares for the putting stroke. As can be seen, the mirror 10 is attached to the putter head 8 . The assembly 1 and the base plate 2 are connected to each other via the two bands 5 and 6 and are kept at a distance from the sem. On the base plate 2 , the ball position 3 is represented by a circle, the circle having approximately the diameter of a normal golf ball.

In Figs. 1 and 2 is still a further component 11 is shown, which is discussed the function in more detail below.

Fig. 3 shows the putter head 8 with its striking surface 9 , on which the plane mirror 10 is attached, with its rear surface lying directly on the striking surface 9 , on which the mirror 10 z. B. can be glued. This putter head 8 is thus used in the handling of the training device according to FIG. 1 in the arrangement shown in FIG. 3. The face 9 has a "loft" which is determined by the angle β between the face and the vertical plane.

FIG. 4 shows the putter head 8 in a perspective view, specifically in the position that the putter head 8 according to FIG. 1 is currently occupying during the putting swing.

The Fig. 4 clearly shows the attached in the middle of the putter head 8 Spie gel 10 which rests directly on the impact surface 9. The mirror has a limited width and is located in the center of the face 9 ("sweet spot"), where a player should normally hit the ball (in the area of the "sweet spot" according to line 26 ). If the light beam 15 does not hit the mirror 10 because the player has executed the put stroke so that the ball would not have been hit precisely enough in the vicinity of the "sweet spot", then the light beam is not reflected in a mirrored manner and it takes place no display on the receiving device.

With reference to FIG. 5, the actual training function of the OF INVENTION to the invention the training device is now explained.

FIG. 5 shows, starting from the ball position 3, various horizontal angular positions of the putter head 8, of which the middle drawn with continuous lines to the position of the putter head 8 shows the ideal impact position at which the buffer would impinge on an imaginary ball in the ball position 3 , Depending on the skill of the training player, the putter head 8 is, however, also kept rotated into the angular positions 12 or 13 , which would then lead to strikes which deviate from the ide direction. The measurement of these deviate chung now takes place by the fact that is emitted from the assembly 1 through the built-in transmitter 14 laser (see also FIG. 6 and 7) a collimated light beam 15 in the direction of ball position 3, the sition exactly over the center of this Ballpo 3 leads. This light beam 15 then strikes the mirror placed on the putter head 8 (see FIG. 4) and is reflected by this in its bundling in the direction of assembly 1 , where it is then received and evaluated by the receiver 16 . If the putter 8 is held in the central position shown in FIG. 5, the reflected light beam in the vertical plane which runs through the light beam 15 is sent back to the receiving device 16 , while the putter head 8 is rotated horizontally according to reference number 12 or 13 a corresponding lateral reflection by the mirror on the buffer head 8 , which is shown by the reflection lines 17 and 18 . Here, 5 is indicated an interrupt the sake of brevity of the drawing in the middle between the module 1 and the putter head in Fig. 8. In fact, of course, the reflection lines 17 and 18 merge into one another. From Fig. 5 it can be clearly seen that a horizontal rotation of the position of the buffer head 8 and thus its mirror leads to sensitization of laterally external sensors in the receiving device 16 , which is explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 6. In Fig. 5 for clarity of the drawing, the twisting of the putter head 8 in the positions 12 and 13 is shown with an α exaggerated large angle. Since the reflection lines 17 and 18 have the angle 2 α to the incident beam 15 , they would no longer hit the receiver at the angle α shown in the drawing. A practiced player assumes a maximum deviation angle α of approximately 2 to 3 degrees.

Fig. 6 shows a view of the assembly 1 with the transmitter 14 and the receiver 16 Emp with the arranged above the laser in the transmitter 14 horizontta len row of circles indicated by sensors 19 , which are arranged directly next to each other, with which each respond of a sensor when a reflected light beam strikes results in a very precise detection of the angle at which the light beam was reflected from the putter head 8 with its mirror back to the receiving device 16 . In practice, photo transistors are used as sensors, which have a transverse dimension of approximately 2.5 mm and are arranged directly next to one another, ie their distance from center to center also contributes approximately 2.5 mm. About 21 pieces or more are arranged on such a row of sensors 19 , with one sensor lying exactly in the middle of the row due to the odd number, directly above the transmitter 14 .

Above the sensors 19 , light-emitting diodes 20 are arranged, which, with the activation of their respective sensors arranged below, light up for a predetermined time and thus visually indicate to the training player how exactly his putting stroke was just when the ball position was overshot and in which direction a deviation occurred was. The further outside the LEDs light up, the greater the angle of deviation from the ideal direction, which is denoted by α in FIG. 5. At a predetermined distance between the ball position and Emp catcher of z. B. 50 cm each sensor can be assigned a certain angular deviation α.

In the assembly 1 , the laser contained in the transmitter 14 is also installed, which radiates its focused light in the direction of the ball position 3 . Starting from the laser, the thick marking mark is attached to the front plate of the assembly 1 as the target position 21 , which is intended to visually show the training player what his exact target position is.

Furthermore, two counters 24 and 25 are installed in module 1 , the counter 24 indicating how often the reflected light beam has hit one of the activated sensors and the counter 25 registering each putting swing, ie, every signal which is triggered by the switching element 11 . The percentage success rate can thus be determined for each test series from the ratio of the displayed numbers.

In order on the one hand to prevent a measurement in preparation for the putting swing and on the other hand to enable the measurement of the putter position during putting stroke in the period in which the putter head 8 is passed over the ball position 3 , the switching element 11 is provided. The switching element, for which a phototransistor can be used, is embedded in the base plate 2 and reacts to the darkening that occurs when the putter head 8 is transferred. With this activation of the switching element 11 , the laser contained in the transmitter 14 is brought to light for a predetermined period of time. Due to the activation of the laser, the measurement of the horizontal angular position of the putter head 8 is made possible, which takes place when the mirror 10 attached to the putter head 8 reflects light onto the sensors 19 . The relevant angle position is then, as explained above, indicated by the lighting of the relevant light emitting diodes 20 .

The angular position of the putter head 8 and thus of the mirror 10 has an influence on the measurement in two ways. On the one hand, it can be a rotation of the putter head 8 in the sense of the illustration according to FIG. 5, that is, such a rotation by the angle α that the light reflected by the mirror 10 strikes the module 1 laterally outside the sensors 19 . In addition, the putter head 8 can also be guided such that the reflected light beam strikes the assembly 1 above or below the sensors 19 . In these cases, no measurement can be made. If a measurement should still be possible, the laser is designed so that it produces a vertical, short line that leaves the position of the putter head 8 in the sense of the loft angle β a certain amount of leeway when putting.

The vertical arrangement of the components of the device is set up so that the reflected laser beam sweeps over the row of sensors when the putter face has a small azimuthal angle of approximately 5 degrees, ie when the face is approximately 5 degrees from the vertical plane is turned up. This takes into account the fact that most putters have a "loft", which according to FIG. 3 is characterized by the angle β, which is approximately 3 degrees. On the other hand, it is taken into account that some players take such a position on the ball that the ball comes into contact with the club head 8 when the club head 8 has already reached its lowest point during the putting swing (see FIG. 1) and is slightly rising, as a result of which the azimuthal angle between the face and the vertical plane is slightly larger than the "loft" of the putter.

It is assumed that the putter is moved like a pendulum with the Pivot point at shoulder height, for which approx. 130 cm are assumed, d. H. the buffer head moves on a circular path with a radius of approx. 130 cm. In order to the reflected laser beam can trigger a measurement, the player is held, perform a clean pendulum-like movement with the buffer.

In order to measure the horizontal deviation of the putter head, 8 as shown in FIG. 5, not only in one position during the putting swing, for example in position 7 according to FIG. 1, but to make an additional measurement at a somewhat later time the arrangement according to FIG. 7 is provided, in which two identical receiving devices are accommodated in the assembly 1 , in such a way that the receiving devices 22 and 23 are arranged exactly one above the other. The horizontal deflection of the reflected light beam can be displayed with each of these receiving devices. When the putter swings over the ball position 3 , as shown in FIG. 1, the vertical angle of the reflected light beam with respect to the incident beam will inevitably increase when the putter 7 moves in the direction of the putter position 7 ″, with which the reflected beam moves from below sweeps upwards over the assembly 1, and thus the measurement of the receiving apparatus 23 in a later stage of Puttschwunges takes place than in the receiving device 22nd This double measurement of the horizontal deflection of the reflected light beam shows the player whether he has tendency that Ten when Puttschwung, the turkey to rotate horizontally and in which direction such a possible rotation takes place, which is also important for a comprehensive training program.

The training device may be used in the design according to Fig. 8 in the manner ver applies to that placed on the ball position and a golf ball 28 that is struck with the buffer 7. In this application of the training device, the mirror 10 must be attached laterally offset on the putter face 9 , so that the center of the putter head 8 ("sweet spot 26") is free for hitting the ball. The assembly 1 is laterally offset in the same way, namely by the same distance by which the mirror 10 has been offset from the "sweet spot 26" on the putter head 8 . Both the emitted and the reflected light beam are therefore not blocked by the ball 28 . Finally, the target position on the module 1 is offset laterally in the opposite direction (target point 27 in Fig. 8). The imaginary connecting line 29 thus never runs (target point 27 - center of the ball 28 ) parallel to the emitted light beam 30 . When the putter is in the ideal position, the reflected light beam 30 again hits the central sensor and the horizontal angular deviation of the putter head 8 is measured in the same way as described above. In this application, it is also useful to install a catcher or deflector for the struck NEN ball in front of the assembly 1 .

In the assembly 1 , a switch is also provided, which switches a laser to permanent radiation. This is initially a help to facilitate the alignment of the base plate 2 before training. This is done in the version according to FIG. 1 to 7, without the use of a ball, in such a way that the light beam is S 1 exactly over the center of the ball 3-position. This can be checked very easily by collecting the light beam with a small rectangular screen (e.g. a business card) that has a vertical line mark that is brought into line with the center of ball position 3 .

The permanent light beam can, however, also be used to practice the alignment of the putter before performing the putting swing, the so-called "addressing the ball". Since the putter head 8 is positioned in front of the ball when the ball is "addressed" and the striking surface is oriented perpendicular to the target direction, as shown in FIG. 2, a signal from the receiving device 16 is continuously obtained with a permanent laser beam when the putter is in a vertical direction Position just held, or is moved only a little over the ball position, that the reflected light beam sweeps over the horizontal line of the sensors 19 . At the same time, you can also observe the light spot that the reflected beam generates on the front plate of module 1 , which, among other things, enables one to immediately recognize when the putter head has such a large deviation from the ideal position that the reflected beam outside the sensor area is the housing of the Module 1 meets.

In addition one can by means of the laser beam the permanent reflektier th beam during a long period of Puttschwunges before and after the Ü berstreichen observe the ball position 3 by just prior to assembly 1, a screen such. B. a white cardboard is built up, which has a hole for the outgoing light beam. Appropriately, you will attach this screen at an angle towards the ball position and markie a center line on the screen, which the reflected beam with ideal alignment of the putter head 8 sweeps during the entire putting swing. In this way, the player can observe during the putting swing whether and in which phase of the movement there is a deviation from the orientation of the playing surface from the ideal position and, by repeated practice, achieve a more precise alignment during the entire swing movement.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

module

2

baseplate

3

ball position

4

ground

5

/

6

bands

7

buffer

8th

putter head

9

Playing surface

10

flat mirror

11

switching element

12

/

13

Positions of the putter head

14

transmitter

15

beam of light

16

receiving set

17

/

18

reflection lines

19

sensors

20

LEDs

21

target position

22

/

23

receivers

24

/

25

counter

26

"Sweet spot"

27

(not used)

28

ball

29

Ball-target position connecting line

30

beam of light

Claims (9)

1. Training device for putting during golf, in which a putter ( 7 , 8 ) is swung over a ball position ( 3 ) towards a target position ( 21 ) (putting swing) and to control the direction of the club face ( 9 ) of the putter ( 7 , 8 ) light emitted by a transmitter ( 14 ) is directed to a reflector on the putter ( 7 , 8 ) and is reflected to a receiver ( 16 ) which is provided with a horizontal row of sensors ( 19 ) which are ne on both sides ben a central sensor are arranged such that with their response a deviation of the direction of the putting stroke from the direction to the Zielpo position ( 21 ) is indicated, characterized in that the reflector as a flat mirror ( 10 ), with its rear surface on the face ( 9 ) lying on top and directly aligned through the face ( 9 ), is attached to the buffer ( 8 ) and the transmitter ( 14 ) contains a laser, which is reflected by the mirror ( 10 ), reflected, bundled Li The beam ( 17 , 18 ) can be detected by sensors ( 19 ) arranged directly next to one another in the receiving device ( 16 ), an activatable switching element ( 11 ) being arranged in the area of a marked ball position ( 3 ), which switches over the ball position ( 3 ) during the putting swing. emits a signal that switches the training device on. 2. Training device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the trai device is switched on briefly. 3. Training device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the training device, the receiving device ( 16 ) is briefly switched on. 4. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transmitter ( 14 ) and the receiver ( 16 ) are combined in one assembly. 5. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the row of sensors ( 19 ) can be activated selectively to different lengths depending Weil because symmetrical to the target position. 6. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each sensor ( 19 ) with an activation responsive light emitting diode ( 20 ) is assigned. 7. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the receiving device ( 16 ) is arranged several times one above the other. 8. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the light emitted by the transmitter ( 14 ) on the ball position ( 3 ) is guided. 9. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the light emitted by the transmitter ( 14 ) is guided parallel to the connecting line from the center of the ball position ( 3 ) and target position ( 21 ).