Golf alignment aid

Abstract

A golf stroke alignment aid of particular use during putting, comprises a rectangular marker on the ball ( 2 ) and one or more similar markers on the club ( 2 a, 2 b, 2 c ) so as to be visible by the player from above. Each rectangular marker has a forward line of increased thickness ( 4, 4 a, 4 b, 4 c ) relative to that of other lines defining the rectangle. By aligning the marker(s) on the club with that on the ball improved visual alignment and visual memorising is obtained to assist in squaring the club face at impact.

1 . A golf ball having an alignment system, the system comprising a rectangular marker, the sides of which are defined by lines, the line defining one of the sides of the rectangle being thicker than the lines defining other sides of the rectangle, the rectangle being of such a size that the entirety of the rectangle can be viewed from above by a player with the ball in a playing position, and a direction alignment marker extending forwardly relative to the thicker line of the rectangular marker and at right angles thereto whereby when the ball is positioned with the alignment marker extending in the intended direction of the shot, the thicker line of the rectangular marker will be at the forward side of the rectangle and perpendicular to the intended direction of the shot. 
   
   
       2 . A golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the line thickness of the line defining the said one side of the rectangle is within the range of substantially 1.8 to 2.5 mm. 
   
   
       3 . A golf ball according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the line thickness of the lines defining said other sides of the rectangle is within the range of substantially 0.5 to 0.75 mm. 
   
   
       4 . A golf ball according to  claim 2  or  claim 3 , wherein the line thickness of the line defining the said one side is substantially 2.0 mm and the line thickness of the lines defining each of the other sides is substantially 0.5 mm. 
   
   
       5 . A golf ball according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the rectangle is of oblong shape, with the longer sides extending at right angles to the intended direction of the shot. 
   
   
       6 . A golf ball according to  claim 5 , wherein the rectangle has a length dimension as considered in the intended direction of the shot within the range of substantially 9.0 to 12.0 mm and a width dimension as considered at right angles to the intended direction of the shot of substantially 20.0 to 25.0 mm. 
   
   
       7 . A golf ball according to  claim 6 , wherein the length dimension of the rectangle is substantially 11.0 mm and the width dimension is substantially 23.0 mm. 
   
   
       8 . A golf ball according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the rectangle is of a square shape. 
   
   
       9 . A golf ball according to any one of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein the area of the rectangle is approximately 250 mm 2 . 
   
   
       10 . A golf ball according to any one of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein the lines are black or dark blue in colour and the interior of the rectangle bounded by the lines is white in colour. 
   
   
       11 . A golf club having an alignment system for co-operation with that of the golf ball according to  claim 1 , the alignment system of the club comprising a rectangular marker visible by a player from above with the club in the address position, the sides of the rectangle being formed by lines, with the line defining one of the sides of the rectangle being thicker than the lines defining other sides of the rectangle, the rectangular marker being so arranged that the thicker line is immediately adjacent to, and parallel to, the club face when viewed from above and is forwardly of the other lines defining the rectangle, the width of the rectangular club marker as considered in a direction perpendicular to the intended direction of the shot being substantially the same as that of the rectangular ball marker as considered in the same direction. 
   
   
       12 . A golf club according to  claim 11  having a plurality of such rectangles arranged in parallel formation in a row extending at right angles to the face of the club. 
   
   
       13 . A golf club according to  claim 11  or  claim 12 , wherein the line thickness of the line defining the said one side of the or each rectangle is within the range of substantially 1.8 to 2.5 mm. 
   
   
       14 . A golf club according to any one of  claims 11  to  13 , wherein the line thickness of the lines defining said other sides of the or each rectangle is within the range of substantially 0.5 to 0.75 mm. 
   
   
       15 . A golf club according to  claim 13  or  claim 14 , wherein the line thickness of the line defining the said one side is substantially 2.0 mm and the line thickness of the lines defining each of the other sides is substantially 0.5 mm. 
   
   
       16 . A golf club according to any one of  claims 11  to  15 , wherein the or each rectangle is of oblong shape, with the longer sides extending at right angles to the intended direction of the shot. 
   
   
       17 . A golf club according to  claim 16 , wherein the or each rectangle has a length dimension as considered in the intended direction of the shot within the range of substantially 9.0 to 12.0 mm and a width dimension as considered at right angles to the intended direction of the shot of substantially 20.0 to 25.0 mm. 
   
   
       18 . A golf club according to  claim 17 , wherein the length dimension is substantially 11.0 mm and the width dimension is substantially 23.0 mm. 
   
   
       19 . A golf club according to any one of  claims 11  to  15 , wherein the rectangle is of a square shape. 
   
   
       20 . A golf club according to any one of  claims 11  to  19 , wherein the area of the or each rectangle is approximately 250 mm 2 . 
   
   
       21 . A golf club according to any one of  claims 11  to  20 , wherein the lines are black or dark blue in colour and the interior of the rectangle bounded by the lines is white in colour. 
   
   
       22 . A golf club according to any one of  claims 11  to  21 , wherein the or each rectangular marker is of approximately the same size as that of the ball. 
   
   
       23 . A golf club according to any one of  claims 11  to  22 , wherein the club is a putter. 
   
   
       24 . A golf club according to any one of  claims 11  to  22 , wherein the club is a wood. 
   
   
       25 . A golf club according to any one of  claims 11  to  22 , wherein the club is an iron. 
   
   
       26 . A golf club according to any one of  claims 11  to  22 , wherein the club is a utility club. 
   
   
       27 . In combination, a golf ball according to any one of  claims 1  to  10  and a golf club according to any one of  claims 11  to  26 . 
   
   
       28 . In combination, a golf ball according to any one of  claims 1  to  10  and a golf club according to  claim 12  or any claim dependent on  claim 12 , wherein adjacent rectangular markers in the row are spaced by a distance approximately the same as the spacing between the forwardmost marker of the row and that of the ball when the ball is against the club face with its marker uppermost. 
   
   
       29 . A combination according to  claim 28 , wherein said distance is approximately 10 mm. 
   
   
       30 . A marker applicable to an upwardly facing surface of a golf club to provide a golf club marked as defined in any one of  claims 11  to  26 , the marker providing one rectangle, or a row of more than one rectangles, wherein the sides of the or each rectangle are formed by lines, with the line defining one of the sides of the rectangle being thicker than the lines defining other sides of the rectangle. 
   
   
       31 . A stencil for producing a rectangular marker on a golf ball to provide a ball according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 , wherein the stencil serves to produce a rectangle formed by lines, with the lines defining one of the sides of the rectangle being thicker than the lines defining the other sides of the rectangle, and a direction alignment indicator extending forwardly at right angles to the thicker line. 
   
   
       32 . A golf ball having a first marking for alignment with the face of a golf club, and a second marking transverse to the first marking for alignment with the intended direction of a shot. 
   
   
       33 . A golf ball according to  claim 32 , wherein the first marking is a line marking arranged to extend parallel to the face of the golf club. 
   
   
       34 . A golf ball according to  claim 32 , wherein the first marking includes a rectangle having a pair of opposite lines for alignment with the face of the golf club. 
   
   
       35 . A golf ball according to  claim 34 , wherein the second marking includes a direction alignment marker extending perpendicularly from one of said pair of opposite lines. 
   
   
       36 . A golf ball according to  claim 35 , wherein the direction alignment marker extends perpendicularly from a location substantially midway along the length of said one of the opposite lines. 
   
   
       37 . A golf ball according to  claim 35  or  claim 36 , wherein the direction alignment marker extends forwardly from said one of the opposite lines. 
   
   
       38 . A golf ball according to  claim 37 , wherein the direction alignment marker extends forwardly from a front one of said pair of opposite lines. 
   
   
       39 . A golf ball according to  claim 38 , wherein said front line is thicker than the lines defining other sides of the rectangle. 
   
   
       40 . A golf ball according to any one of  claims 34  to  39 , wherein a similar rectangle is provided on the head of the golf club for alignment with the rectangle of said first linear marking.