Apparatus and method of indicating a stance for a golfer

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for indicating a golf stance. The apparatus includes foot markers configured to provide an indication of where on the ground the golfer should place his feet and a reference grid arranged on the ground in a predetermined relationship relative to the foot markers, the reference grid including a plurality of points arranged in labelled rows and columns, thereby to identify each point in the reference grid. The apparatus has a golf club attachment including an attachment formation for attachment to a shaft of a golf club and an aiming aperture or reticule, wherein the golfer is able to align his eye with one of the points on the reference grid using or through the aiming aperture. The apparatus further has a ball marker and a support stand which supports the ball marker at an elevated position above the ground where the ball is intended to be placed, wherein the golfer is able to align his eye with the ball when placed on the ground using the ball marker. In use, (1) placement of the golfer's feet, (2) alignment of the golfer's eye (and accordingly head) with one of the points on the grid and the golf club using the aiming aperture, and (3) aligning the golfer's eye (and accordingly head) with the ball using the ball marker causes a desired or predictable stance of the golfer.

1 . An apparatus for indicating a golf stance, the apparatus including:
 foot markers configured to provide an indication of where on the ground the golfer should place his feet;   a reference grid arranged on the ground in a predetermined relationship relative to the foot markers, the reference grid including a plurality of points arranged in labelled rows and columns, thereby to identify each point in the reference grid;   a golf club attachment including:
 an attachment formation for attachment to a shaft of a golf club; and 
 an aiming aperture or reticule, wherein the golfer is able to align his eye with one of the points on the reference grid using or through the aiming aperture; 
   a ball marker; and   a support stand which supports the ball marker at an elevated position above the ground where the ball is intended to be placed, wherein the golfer is able to align his eye with the ball when placed on the ground using the ball marker;   wherein (1) placement of the golfer's feet, (2) alignment of the golfer's eye (and accordingly head) with one of the points on the grid and the golf club using the aiming aperture, and (3) aligning the golfer's eye (and accordingly head) with the ball using the ball marker causes a desired or predictable stance of the golfer.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the foot markers are a pair of foot markers and are provided by two guided members attached to a base unit;   the base unit defines a guide track; and   the guided members are displaceable within, or relative to, the base unit.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the base is configured to be arranged in a predetermined orientation relative to the reference grid and the base unit has measurements or graduations thereon. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the foot markers are provided by a single marked member which is configured to be arranged at a predefined orientation relative to the reference grid and which includes numbered or coloured markings to indicate absolute or relative foot position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the points of the reference grid are dots and the reference grid is labelled with colour; for example. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the points in the reference grid are labelled with indicia based on rows and/or columns. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the reference grid includes at least one upstanding wall provided at a side which is intended to be between the reference grid and the golf ball, wherein the wall includes a target marking. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes reference guide marker configured to align the reference grid with the support stand. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the support stand is inverted L shaped and includes an upright post having a free end for engaging the ground. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , which includes a cantilever arm connected to the upright post and in which the ball marker is supported at a free end of the cantilever arm. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the ball marker is displaceable relative to the support post in one or more of the following ways:
 the cantilever arm and/or the upright post is extendible; and/or   the cantilever arm is pivotable and/or swivelable relative to the upright post.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the support stand include a stroke guide element which projects forwardly in a direction of the stroke and/or rearwardly in a direction of a backswing. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes an angular indicator to indicate an angular relationship between the support stand and the reference grid. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the golf club attachment formation is in the form of a clip, which can be attached and removed by hand, and which is held frictionally in place when attached to the club. 
     
     
         15 . A stance recreating unit which includes:
 the apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 ; and   a plurality of light beam generators configured to generate light beams, wherein the plurality of light beam generators are adjustably mounted relative to the support stand such that the light beams can be directed towards one or more of the following locations on the ground:
 a foot location or feet locations; 
 an item on the reference grid position; and/or 
 a ball position. 
   
     
     
         16 . A method of indicating a golf stance, the method including:
 providing foot markers configured to indicate where on the ground a golfer should place his feet;   providing a reference grid arranged on the ground in a predetermined relationship relative to the foot markers, the reference grid including a plurality of points arranged in labelled rows and columns, thereby to identify each point in the reference grid;   attaching a golf club attachment, using its attachment formation, to a shaft of a golf club, the golf club attachment having an aiming aperture or reticule, wherein the golfer is able to align his eye with one of the points on the reference grid using or through the aiming aperture;   supporting a ball marker, by means of a support stand, at an elevated position above the ground where the ball is intended to be placed, wherein the golfer is able to align his eye with the ball when placed on the ground using the ball marker;   wherein (1) placement of the golfer's feet, (2) alignment of the golfer's eye (and accordingly head) with one of the points on the grid and the golf club using the aiming aperture, and (3) aligning the golfer's eye (and accordingly head) with the ball using the ball marker causes a desired or predictable stance of the golfer.   
     
     
         17 . A method of calculating custom settings for a golfer based on the apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , the method including:
 receiving a measurement relating to a characteristic of the golfer;   receiving an indication of predefined reference settings to be used for the golfer;   determining a conversion factor based on a relationship between the measurement of the characteristic of the golfer and a corresponding predefined characteristic associated with the predefined reference settings; and   adjusting the reference settings by the conversion factor thereby to generate the custom settings for the golfer.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , in which:
 the characteristic is golfer height;   the conversion factor is (golfer height/reference height of predefined reference settings); and   adjusting includes multiplying or dividing the reference settings by the conversation factor.