TRAINING GOLF BALL

Abstract

A training golf ball is a truncated sphere having a continuous spherical portion and two truncated sides. The training golf ball has an equator extending around the spherical portion that divides the training golf ball into two congruent sections. The two truncated sides are substantially parallel to each other and are substantially parallel to a plane passing through and intersecting the equator of the spherical portion.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/661,179, filed Jun. 18, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a golf swing training aid, and more particularly relates to a training golf ball that exaggerates the effects of striking the training golf ball off-line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to propel a golf ball along an intended line of travel toward the hole of a golf course or target a driving range, the plane of the striking face of the golf club must be perpendicular to the intended line of travel when the striking face of the golf club contacts the golf ball. Many training aids have been proposed to assist a golfer in perfecting his or her stroke so that the plane of the striking face of the golf club is perpendicular to the intended line of travel of golf ball when the striking face of the club contacts the golf ball. In order to truly assist a golfer in perfecting his or her swing with respect to alignment of the striking face of the golf club with the intended line of travel, the training aid must provide feedback to the golfer so that he or she can recognize a mishit golf shot resulting from striking face misalignment, can recognize the nature and degree of the misalignment, and can thereby make appropriate adjustments to the golfer's swing and striking face alignment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to assist golfers in perfecting their swing with respect to contacting the golf ball with the striking face of the golf club perpendicular to the intended line of travel, the present invention is a training golf ball that is in the shape of a truncated sphere so that the training golf ball exaggerates the effects of striking the golf ball when the striking face of the golf club is not perpendicular to the intended line of travel or the club does not rotate enough or rotates too severely after square impact. Particularly, the training golf ball of the present invention exaggerates the effect of a misaligned stroke by veering more radically off-line than a standard golf ball when the standard golf ball is similarly mishit. Such an exaggerated effect gives the golfer a clear feedback that the training golf ball was mishit and the nature of the striking face misalignment that caused the training golf ball to veer off-line. Consequently, the golfer can immediately recognize the existence and nature of the misalignment of the striking face with the intended line of travel and take corrective action. Without the benefit of the training golf ball of the present invention, small imperfections in swing and ball contact are more difficult to detect such that the golfer may not even be aware that corrective actions arc required. Further, when the training golf ball of the present invention is properly struck with the striking face properly aligned perpendicular to the intended line of travel, the training golf ball of the present invention will follow the intended line of travel and thereby confirm to the golfer that the training golf ball has been properly struck.

Particularly, the training golf ball of the present invention has the shape of a truncated sphere comprising a spherical portion having a continuous circumference and an equator and two truncated sides substantially parallel to each other, located on opposite sides of the spherical portion, and substantially parallel to a plane coincident with and passing through the equator of the continuous spherical portion. The amount of truncation as a percentage of the radius of the truncated golf ball ranges from about 5% to about 90%. For a training golf ball at the lower range of truncation, the effects of a misaligned stroke will not be as exaggerated as for a training golf ball at the upper range of the truncation. The upper range of truncation is primarily determined by the need for the training golf ball to be able to rest on a surface typically associated with a golf course or practice surface without tipping over onto one of its truncated sides. In some cases, the upper range of truncation may be increased if a tee is employed that will engage and hold the training golf ball on its spherical portion without tipping over.

The training golf ball of the present invention can have a variety of constructions that are conventionally used with standard golf balls. For example, the construction of the training golf ball can be one-piece, two-piece, or multiple-piece. In addition, the cover material may include any standard cover material used on a conventional golf ball such as those well known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the spherical portion of the training golf ball can be smooth, have a texture, have any number of different standard dimple patterns or have bramble patterns. The truncated surfaces of the training golf ball may employ the same standard cover materials as the spherical portion. The surfaces of the truncated sides of the training golf ball may be smooth, to accommodate printed promotional material, may have dimples in a conventional dimpled pattern, may have brambles in a conventional bramble pattern, or may have some other textured surface.

The training golf ball of the present invention can be used for practicing with all types of clubs and with all types of golf ball lies including driving form a tee, hitting from grass, hitting from sand, and putting on a green. Also, when the training golf ball is played on its flat truncated side, the training golf ball teaches the golfer to hit down and through the ball and to impart more spin. There is a zip-like sound that is associated with imparting spin to the training golf ball. The louder the zip-like sound is, the more spin on the training golf ball. The training golf ball also helps the golfer when the training golf ball is laid on its flat truncated side in a bunker to simulate a tough “fried egg” lie. The training golf ball also helps the golfer with chip shots when the training golf ball is laid on its flat truncated side. If the golfer does not get underneath the training golf ball, the training golf ball will glide across the surface like a hockey puck on the ice. For both chipping and bunker play, the training golf ball also helps the golfer see the amount of side spin, if any, imparted to the training golf ball. There are those instances in golf that one would only want to impart back spin, without side spin.

Beginning golfers, intermediate skill golfers, and professional golfers can use the training golf ball. The training golf ball can be used on golf courses, practice courses, and at any other safe facility where hitting a golf ball is allowed. The training golf ball can be used indoors against a safety net or as a putting training aid on virtually any surface. The training golf ball does not require individual instruction from trained personnel to benefit from the training golf ball's features because of the feedback the training golf ball conveys to the golfer when the training golf ball is mishit and veers off line.

Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a training golf ball in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the training golf ball in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the training golf ball in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the training golf ball in accordance with the present invention as seen along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section view of the training golf ball in accordance with the present invention as seen along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the training golf ball in accordance with the present invention with the training golf ball resting on its spherical portion.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the training golf ball in accordance with the present invention with the training golf ball resting on its spherical portion.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are top plan views of the training golf ball in accordance with the present invention showing a time sequence of the position of the training golf ball from a rest position to an initial off-line position after being struck.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a training golf ball 10 that is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The training golf ball 10 is a truncated sphere comprising a continuous spherical portion 12 and two truncated sides 14 and 15. The training golf ball 10 has an equator 40 extending around the spherical portion 12 that divides the training golf ball 10 into two congruent sections 44 and 46. The two truncated sides 14 and 15 are substantially parallel to each other and are substantially parallel to a plane passing through and intersecting the equator 40 of the spherical portion 12. While the truncated sides 14 and 15 are preferably flat, the sides may have a slight concave or convex configuration. A rolling centerline or axis 18 extends through the centers of truncated sides 14 and 15, and the rolling axis 18 is therefore perpendicular to truncated sides 14 and 15 and to the plane passing through the equator 40. The rolling axis 18 represents the axis of rotation as the training golf ball 10 rolls along an intended line of travel 36.

The amount of truncation affects the performance of the training golf ball 10 with respect to the amount of off-line veering that occurs as the result of a misaligned stroke. The amount of truncation is defined by the position of the truncated side along the rolling axis 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the amount of truncation is the distance from a point 48 on the axis 18 to the truncated side 14. Truncation is similarly measured with respect to truncated side 15. The point 48 represents the intersection of the circumference 50 of the training golf ball 10 with the axis 18. Consequently, the amount of truncation can be specified as a percentage of the radius of the training golf ball 10 or as the distance from the point 48 to the truncated side 14. In other words, 0% truncation and 0 distance truncation means that the training golf ball is not truncated at all and is therefore perfectly spherical. Particularly, the amount of truncation for the training golf ball of the present invention ranges from approximately 5% (1 mm or 0.16 in. for a standard size golf ball having a diameter of 42.67 mm or 1.68 in.) to approximately 90% (19 mm or 0.75 in for a standard size golf ball having a diameter of 42.67 mm or 1.68 in.) of the radius of the training golf ball along the rolling axis 18 from point 48 to the truncated side 14. Preferably, the amount of truncation is approximately 60% (13 mm or 0.51 in.) of the radius of the training golf ball along the rolling axis 18 from point 48 to the truncated side 14.

As previously indicated, the amount of truncation increases or decreases the amount of off-line veering of the training golf ball 10 when mishit by an improperly aligned striking face 30 of a club head 28 of a golf club 26 (FIGS. 6, 7, and 8A). For a training golf ball at the lower range of truncation (approximately 5%), the off-line effect of a misaligned stroke will not be as exaggerated as for a training golf ball at the upper limit of the truncation (approximately 90%). The upper limit of truncation is primarily established by the need for the training golf ball to be able to rest on a surface typically associated with a golf course or practice surface without tipping over and the ability for the golf club to get under the training golf ball when the training golf ball is lying on its flat truncated side. The truncation also depends on which golf club is used with the training golf ball. The lower limit of the truncation range is designed for longer distance golf clubs, such as drivers through mid-range irons. In some cases, the upper limit of truncation may be increased if a tee is employed that will engage and hold the training golf ball on its spherical portion particularly where the training ball 10 may be employ as a driving range training ball. Depending on the amount of truncation, the training golf ball 10 of the present invention travels off-line between 2 and 12 times the amount of a regular golf ball similarly misaligned and mishit.

With respect construction of the training golf ball 10 of the present invention, the training golf ball 10 may be constructed with similar materials and configurations as a conventional golf ball. Particularly, the training golf ball 10 may have a one-piece, two-piece, or multiple-piece construction. For purposes of illustration, and not limitation, a two-piece construction for the training golf ball 10 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The training golf ball 10 has a solid rubber/plastic core 20 and a cover 22 with dimples 24. The rubber/plastic core 20 and the cover 22 may be formed from any number of conventional core and cover materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art in the golf ball manufacturing industry. The cover 22 that covers the spherical portion 12 may be smooth, may have dimples 24 that may be configured in any number of conventional dimple patterns known to those of ordinary skill in the art, may have brambles in any number of conventional bramble patterns, or may have a textured surface. The truncated sides 14 and 15 preferably use the same cover material as the cover 22 on the spherical portion 12. The surface of the truncated sides 14 and 15 may be smooth, dimpled. bramble, or textured. A smooth surface for the truncated sides 14 and 15 allows for the printing of promotional materials or logos on the truncated sides 14 and 15.

There are numerous alternative embodiments of the training golf ball 10 of the present invention. For example the training golf ball 10 could be made from material of various compositions having different densities and resiliencies to change the feel transmitted through the shaft of the golf club 26 to more closely simulate striking a regulation golf ball and the distance traveled when struck correctly. In addition, the training golf ball 10 could be weighted at the center to more closely approximate the weight of a regulation golf ball to change the feel transmitted through the shaft of the golf club 26 to more closely simulate striking a regulation golf ball and the distance traveled when stuck correctly. Further, the training golf ball 10 could be weighted along the surface of the spherical portion 12 to enhance its slow rolling characteristics while continuing to provide the same training functionality. The training golf ball 10 could be made from a less dense, more lightweight material with less resiliency including hollow core designs to reduce the training golf ball's potential distance traveled yet provide the same training functionality. The training golf ball 10 could be made without dimpling on the spherical portion to change its flight characteristics and yet could provide the same training functionality. The training golf ball 10 could be made with dimples, brambles, or other embossed patterns on the truncated sides 14 and 15 to change the training golf ball's flight characteristics yet provide the same training functionality. The training golf ball 10 could be made with its truncated sides 14 and 15 colored with distinctive colors or patterns to more easily see the manner in which the training golf ball 10 is traveling as an indication of the manner in which the training golf ball 10 was struck by the club head 28.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the proper striking of the training golf ball 10 by the golf club 26. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the plane of the striking face 30 of the club head 28 is aligned perpendicular to the intended line of travel 36 (which coincides with the equator 40), and the striking face 30 is aligned parallel to the rolling axis 18. In addition, during the stroke of the golf club head 28, the golf club 28 moves along a club path 32 in line with the intended line of travel 36 and the equator 40. Consequently, when the training golf ball 10 is struck by the striking face 30 of the club head 26, as aligned in FIGS. 6 and 7, the training golf ball 10 will roll along the surface of a green in the intended line of travel 36. Further, when the training golf ball 10 is properly struck by a driver or an iron, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the loft of the driver or iron will impart lift and backspin to the training golf ball 10. Because the club head 28 (whether a driver or an iron) is properly aligned as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the training golf ball 10 will follow the intended line of travel 36 in the air and, absent cross wind forces, will not wobble or veer off the intended line of travel 36.

By contrast, FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrates improper striking of the training golf ball 10 by the club 26. As shown in FIG. 8A, the plane of the striking face 30 is not aligned perpendicular to the intended line of travel 36 (which coincides with the equator 40) and is not aligned parallel to the rolling axis 18. In addition, during the stroke of the golf club head 28, the golf club 28 moves along a club path 34 that is not in line with the intended line of travel 36 and the equator 40. Consequently, when the training golf ball 10 is struck by the striking face 30 of the club head 28 as aligned in FIG. 8A, the training golf ball will veer to the right along an off-line path 38 that is not coincident with the intended line of travel 36. Likewise, when the training golf ball 10 of the present invention is improperly struck by a driver or an iron, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, the loft of the driver or iron will impart lift and backspin to the training golf ball 10. Because the club head 28 (whether a driver or an iron) is improperly aligned as shown in FIG. 8A, the training golf ball 10 will not follow the intended line of travel 36 in the air and will wobble and veer off the intended line of travel 36 along an off-line path 38.

The training golf ball 10 may be used in other ways to help a golfer improve his or her swing. For example in connection with making chip shots, the training golf ball 10 may be laid flat on one of the truncated side 14 or 15. With the training golf ball 10 laid flat on one of its truncated sides 14 or 15, the golfer is forced to hit down on the training golf ball 10. If the golfer does not hit down on the training golf ball 10, the training golf ball 10 will be propelled along the ground as if a hockey player was passing a puck to a teammate across the ice. When the training golf ball 10 is laid flat for making chip shots, the training golf ball 10 will also teach a golfer how to impart spin to the golf ball. When the training golf ball 10 is struck to impart spin, the training golf ball 10 will make a zip-like sound. The louder the sound is, the more spin the golfer has imparted to the training golf ball 10.

From the sand, the training golf ball 10 can be laid flat on one of its truncated sides 14 or 15 to make the training golf ball 10 look like a difficult “fried egg” lie. Such a use of the training golf ball 10 in the sand will allow the golfer to practice the most difficult kind of sand shot. The training golf ball can also be use out of the rough in the same way. The training golf ball will also allow the golfer to practice a flop shot.

While this invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A training golf ball comprising:

a. a truncated sphere having: i. a spherical portion with a continuous circumferential surface having an equator; and ii. two truncated sides substantially parallel to each other, on opposite sides of the spherical portion, and substantially parallel to a plane passing through the equator, wherein the truncated sphere has a radius and is truncated approximately between 5% and 90% of the radius.

2. The training golf ball of claim 1, wherein the truncated sphere is truncated approximately 60% of the radius.

3. A method of practicing a golf swing by a golfer comprising the steps of:

a. placing a training golf ball on a support surface, wherein the training golf ball is a truncated sphere that has: i. a spherical portion with a continuous circumferential surface having an equator; and ii. two truncated sides substantially parallel to each other, on opposite sides of the spherical portion, and substantially parallel to a plane passing through the equator, wherein the truncated sphere is placed on the support surface with the continuous circumferential surface in contact with the support surface and the equator is aligned with an intended line of travel;

b. striking the training golf ball with a golf club; and

c. observing any deviation from the intended line of travel in order to determine how the training golf ball was struck.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the support surface is a golf course putting surface.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the support surface is a golf course fairway surface.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the support surface is a golf course rough surface.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the support surface is a golf course bunker surface.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the support surface is a golf course tee surface.

9. A method of practicing a golf swing by a golfer comprising the steps of:

a. placing a training golf ball on a support surface, wherein the training golf ball is a truncated sphere that has: i. a spherical portion with a continuous circumferential surface having an equator; and ii. two truncated sides substantially parallel to each other, on opposite sides of the spherical portion, and substantially parallel to a plane passing through the equator, wherein the truncated sphere is placed on the support surface with one of the truncated sides in contact with the support surface;

b. striking the training golf ball with a golf club; and

c. observing any deviation from the intended line of travel in order to determine how the training golf ball was struck.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the support surface is a golf course fairway surface.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the support surface is a golf course rough surface.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the support surface is a golf course bunker surface.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further includes the golfer listening for a sound from the training golf ball as the training golf ball spins after being struck.