Golf Training Aid and Golf Training Assembly

Abstract

A golf training aid (20) which comprises a support member (100) which defines a first axis (102), a support arm (200) which extends from a first side (110) of the support member (100) and defines a second axis (202) at an angle (A1) to the first axis (102), and a pendulum (300) which extends from the support arm (200) to a golf club connector (400) which defines a free end (304) of the pendulum (300). The pendulum (300) is rotatably mounted to the support arm (200) such that the pendulum (300) is rotatable about the support arm second axis (202). The support arm (200) is pivotably attached to the support member (100) by a hinge (210) such that the angle (A1) is variable.

1 . A golf training aid ( 20 ) which comprises:
 a support member ( 100 ) which extends along a first axis ( 102 );   a support arm ( 200 ) which extends from a first side ( 110 ) of the support member ( 100 ) and extends along a second axis ( 202 ) at an angle (A1) to the first axis ( 102 );   a pendulum ( 300 ) which extends from the support arm ( 200 ) to a golf club connector ( 400 ) which defines a free end ( 304 ) of the pendulum ( 300 ), the pendulum ( 300 ) being rotatably mounted to the support arm ( 200 ) such that the pendulum ( 300 ) is rotatable about the support arm second axis ( 202 );   wherein the pendulum ( 300 ) extends along a third axis ( 302 );   the golf club connector ( 400 ) extends along a fourth axis ( 402 ); and   wherein the support arm ( 200 ) is pivotably attached to the support member ( 100 ) by a hinge ( 210 ) such that the angle (A1) is variable.   
     
     
         2 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support arm hinge ( 210 ) comprises:
 an angle adjustment mechanism ( 214 ) configured to permit adjustment of the angle of the support arm ( 200 ) relative to the support member ( 100 ); and further comprises   a locking mechanism ( 216 ) operable to lock the position of the support arm ( 200 ) relative to the support member ( 100 ) at a user defined angle.   
     
     
         3 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the angle adjustment mechanism ( 214 ) is operable to limit the adjustment of the angle A1 of the support arm ( 200 ) relative to the support member ( 100 ) to be no less than 65 degrees and no more than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the angle adjustment mechanism ( 214 ) comprises an indicator ( 220 ) configured to indicate the angle of the support arm ( 200 ) to the support member ( 100 ). 
     
     
         5 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the golf club connector ( 400 ) is pivotable relative to the support member first axis ( 102 ) to alter the angle between the support member first axis ( 102 ) and golf club connector fourth axis ( 402 ). 
     
     
         6 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the golf club connector ( 400 ) is pivotable relative to the pendulum third axis ( 302 ) to alter the angle between the pendulum third axis ( 302 ) and golf club connector fourth axis ( 402 ). 
     
     
         7 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pendulum ( 300 ) comprises a first section ( 310 ) which extends from the support arm ( 200 ), a second section ( 312 ) which extends at an angle to the first section ( 310 ) and a third section ( 314 ) which extends at an angle from the second section ( 312 ) and terminates at the golf club connector ( 400 ). 
     
     
         8 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the pendulum ( 300 ), the first section ( 310 ), the second section ( 312 ), the third section ( 314 ) and the golf club connector ( 400 ) define a common plane ( 1000 ). 
     
     
         9 . A The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the golf club connector ( 400 ) is connected to the pendulum ( 300 ) by a pivot coupling ( 410 ) which is constrained to pivot in the common plane ( 1000 ). 
     
     
         10 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the golf club connector ( 400 ) comprises an attachment pin ( 440 ). 
     
     
         11 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pendulum ( 300 ) is adjustable in length. 
     
     
         12 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pendulum ( 300 ) is rotatably mounted to the support arm ( 200 ) by a support assembly ( 330 ) comprising:
 a bearing assembly ( 332 ,  334 ) which permits rotation between the pendulum ( 300 ) and the support arm ( 200 ); and   a support member ( 336 ) which extends between the pendulum ( 300 ) and the bearing assembly ( 332 ,  334 ).   
     
     
         13 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a mount ( 600 ) configured to carry the support member ( 100 ). 
     
     
         14 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the support member ( 100 ) is:
 locatable in and/or on the mount ( 600 );   slideable relative to the mount ( 600 ) along the support first axis ( 102 ); and/or   rotatable relative to the mount ( 600 ) around the support first axis ( 102 ); and   a clamp or lock ( 610 ) is provided to fix the support member ( 100 ) relative to the mount ( 600 ).   
     
     
         15 . The golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the support member ( 100 ) comprises a first location feature ( 130 ) and the mount ( 600 ) comprises a second location feature ( 630 ), the first location feature ( 130 ) and second location feature ( 630 ) operable to engage and fix the position of the support member ( 100 ) and mount ( 600 ) relative to one another around the first axis ( 102 ). 
     
     
         16 . A golf training assembly ( 10 ) comprising a golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , and a mount ( 600 ), wherein the mount  600  forms part of a tripod ( 700 ), the tripod having three legs ( 702 ,  704 ,  706 ) spaced apart around the support member first axis ( 102 ); wherein:
 the support arm ( 200 ) extends away from the support member ( 100 ) at an angle of 180 degrees around the support member first axis ( 102 ) from the first leg ( 102 ); 
 the second leg ( 704 ) is spaced apart from the first leg ( 702 ) around the support member first axis ( 102 ) in a first angular direction by at an angle of T3 degrees, and spaced apart from the support arm ( 200 ) around the support member first axis ( 102 ) in the first angular direction by an angle of T1 degrees; 
 the third leg ( 706 ) is spaced apart from the first leg ( 702 ) around the support member first axis ( 102 ) in a second angular direction by at an angle of T4 degrees, and spaced apart from the support arm ( 200 ) around the support member first axis ( 102 ) in the second angular direction by an angle of T2 degrees; 
 the second leg ( 704 ) is spaced apart from the third leg ( 706 ) around the support member first axis ( 102 ) by an angle of (T1+T2) degrees, wherein: 
 T3 has the same value as T4; 
 T1 has the same value as T2; and 
 the value of the sum of (T1 and T2) is greater than the value of T3 or T4; 
 the value of the sum of (T1+T2) is at least 1.2, but not more than 1.5, times the value of T3 or T4. 
 
     
     
         17 . The golf training assembly ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein:
 T1 has a value of 72.5 degrees;   T2 has a value of 72.5 degrees;   T3 has a value of 107.5 degrees;   T4 has a value of 107.5 degrees.   
     
     
         18 . The golf training assembly ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the length of the pendulum ( 300 ), the angle of the pendulum ( 300 ) relative to the support member first axis ( 102 ), length of second leg ( 704 ), and the length of third leg ( 706 ) are such that the pendulum ( 300 ) is spaced apart from the legs ( 704 ,  706 ) as it rotates about the support arm second axis ( 202 ). 
     
     
         19 . The golf training assembly ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the tripod comprises an orientation indicator to indicate the orientation of the support member ( 100 ) relative to a vertical and horizontal direction. 
     
     
         20 . A golf training assembly ( 10 ) comprising a golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , and a mount ( 600 ) wherein the mount ( 600 ) forms part of a pole ( 800 ); and the pole extends from a base unit ( 802 ) configured to secure the pole ( 800 ) to a substrate. 
     
     
         21 . A golf training assembly ( 10 ) comprising a golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , and a mount ( 600 ) wherein the mount ( 600 ) forms part of a wall mount ( 900 ) and comprises wall mounting members. 
     
     
         22 . A golf training assembly ( 10 ) comprising a golf training aid ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , and a golf club ( 500 ), wherein the golf club ( 500 ) has a head ( 502 ) with an engagement feature ( 504 ) for attaching the head ( 502 ) of the golf club ( 500 ) to the golf club connector ( 400 ) of the pendulum ( 300 );
 the engagement feature ( 504 ) comprising a passage ( 506 ) in the golf club head ( 502 ) having a longitudinal axis ( 508 ) and configured to slidably receive the golf club connector ( 400 ) therein; and   the golf club connector ( 400 ) head passage ( 506 ) being shaped so that the golf club connector ( 400 ) and golf club head ( 502 ) are rotatable relative to one another about the passage longitudinal axis ( 508 ).