WO2007034405A1

WO2007034405A1 - Practising a golf shot

Info

Publication number: WO2007034405A1
Application number: PCT/IB2006/053358
Authority: WO
Inventors: Conrad Van Niekerk
Original assignee: Conrad Van Niekerk
Priority date: 2005-09-21
Filing date: 2006-09-19
Publication date: 2007-03-29

Abstract

A golf practise ball which includes a core ball conforming generally to a conventional golf ball and bristles extending outwardly from an outer surface of the core ball.

Description

PRACTISING A GOLF SHOT

THIS INVENTION relates to practising a golf shot. More particularly, the invention relates to a practise ball for practising golf shots and to a method of practising a golf shot, especially bunker shots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The applicant believes it would be desirable for a golfer to be able to practise a specific shot needed for a specific hazard, without such hazard being available. In particular, such a hazard may be a sand bunker, which is usually only available for practise at golf courses and at certain driving ranges. In order to improve a golfer's game, it is necessary for a golfer to be able to practise certain shots to consistency, and at a time and venue suitable to him or her. The applicant believes that the invention will address some of these requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention accordingly provides a golf practise ball which includes a core ball conforming generally to a conventional golf ball; and bristles extending outwardly from an outer surface of the core ball.

The bristles may be sparsely spaced so as not to obscure the core ball, which is to remain visible between the bristles. The core ball and the bristles may be of different colours.

The bristles may be secured to the core ball individually or in tufts. Inner ends of the bristles or of the tufts may be seated in recesses or sockets provided in or beneath the outer surface of the core ball. Alternatively or additionally, the bristles or tufts may be adhesively or otherwise mechanically secured to the ball.

The bristles may have an elasticity of between 100N/m for a ball weighing 50% less than a typical practise ball, to 300N/m for a ball weighing 50% more than the typical practise ball. Typically, the bristles may have an elasticity of about 200N/m.

This is measured when applying force perpendicular to radially positioned bristles, at the outer edge of the extended bristles, typically 28mm from the outer surface of the base ball. When bristles of different lengths are used, elasticity will vary linearly to the change in length.

Typically the elasticity of the bristles is such that no sagging is visible to the naked eye of bristles is present under gravity. The bristles provide a sprung and damped surface such that the golf club used would not come into contact with the inner core of the ball when hit in the technically correct manner, simulating the desired golf shot resulting in a realistic ball flight. When hit too thin or in the teeth as referred to in golf terms, the club may come into contact with the inner core, resulting in the ball coming off the face much faster and lower, significantly different than the flight of the ball when hit technically correct.

The bristles may be fairly stiff, having a similar stiffness to scrubbing brush bristles. The same type of bristles used for scrubbing brushes may be used for tufts/bristles. Alternatively, other types of bristles could be used depending on the physical properties required i.e. stiffness, durability, memory (keeping of its original shape). Typically, nylon bristles are used to provide durability and memory (i.e. to return to its original shape after being hit).

In an embodiment, the core ball may be a plastic golf practise ball. In another embodiment the core ball may be a conventional golf ball.

The mass of the practise ball may fall in a range of 50% more than the typical golf ball and 50% less than the typical golf ball, depending on the specific shot that is being simulated. The typical practise ball mass is about 66 gram. The weight of the practise ball may therefore be similar to the weight of a conventional golf ball. Also, the stiffness of the bristles in different embodiments may vary depending on the weight of the core ball.

The invention extends also to a tuft having a plurality of bristles extending outwardly from a base member having a seat to seat on a core ball.

The invention further extends to a method of practising a golf shot, the method including providing a golf practise ball as described; addressing the ball by aiming to hit behind the ball at a point of impact spaced from the core ball; and hitting the ball at the point of impact.

Addressing the ball may include focussing on an imaginary point at a distance of about 50mm behind the ball on the same level as the underside of the base of the core ball resting on protruding bristles thereby simulating the point of impact when a conventional golf ball lies in a bunker. The imaginary point may for example be located a distance of about 50mm from the core ball.

The length of the bristles and/or tufts may vary between 20mm and 35mm.

In another embodiment, the practise ball may include bristles and/or tufts of different lengths and stiffness.

Further aspects of the invention will now be described, by way of a non- limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a practise golf ball in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a tuft of bristles in accordance with the invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a golf practise ball in accordance with the invention. The ball 10 has a core ball 12, which has dimensions and mass corresponding generally to a conventional golf ball. A plurality of tufts 14 of bristles 16 extend outwardly from the outer surface of the core ball 12.

A tuft 14 has a base member 18 attachable to the outer surface of the core ball 12. Individual bristles 16 extend outwardly, radial or angled, from the base member 18. Each tuft 14 has about 26 (or 13 sets of 2 etc) bristles included therein (bristles are normally folded in half before shot into a brush or other bristled product). This may vary depending on bristle thickness (1 mm each typically), length (28mm typically) and stiffness (200N/m typically) required for the specific shot being simulated. For example the bristles may have a stiffness of about 200N/m for a 66 gram ball with bristles of 28mm in length to practise a sand bunker, Similarly to practise a flop shot from grass, with the difference that the bristles used are 32mm long and flare out significantly more.

The base member 18 has a concave seat surface 20 to seat snugly on the outer surface of the core ball 12, to which it is adhesively attached in this example.

The applicant believes that about thirty two evenly spaced tufts 14 would be a sufficient number not to obscure the core ball 12.

In use, ball 10 is placed on a practise mat (not shown). A golfer can then address a golf ball by aiming to hit behind the golf ball at a point of impact corresponding with the outer ends of bristles extending from the golf ball, or an imaginary point behind the ball being similarly located from the golf ball to the bristle contact area on a golf swing arc. which is about 50mm spaced from the core ball. This method simulates practising of bunker shots by focussing on the core ball while aiming to hit into the sand some distance behind the core ball 12. The method simulates hitting of a golf ball from a bunker which is practised by aiming at the sand behind the ball thereby indirectly to drive the ball from the sand.

The applicant believes that practising with the ball 10 by hitting behind the core ball 12 will increase a golfer's confidence in playing amongst others, greenside bunker shots, flop shots and shots from deep roughs.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A golf practise ball which includes a core ball conforming generally to a conventional golf ball; and bristles extending outwardly from an outer surface of the core ball.

2. A ball as claimed in claim 1 in which the bristles are sparsely spaced so as not to obscure the core ball, which is to remain visible between the bristles.

3. A ball as claimed in claim 2 in which the core ball and the bristles are of different colours.

4. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the bristles are secured to the core ball individually.

5. A ball as claimed in claim 4, in which inner ends of the bristles are seated in recesses provided in the outer surface of the core ball.

6. A ball as claimed in claim 4, in which inner ends of the bristles are adhesively secured to the ball.

7. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the bristles are secured to the core ball in tufts.

8. A ball as claimed in claim 7, in which the number of bristles per tuft range between 10 and 40.

9. A ball as claimed in claim 8, in which the number of bristles per tuft is about 26.

10. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, in which inner ends of the tufts are seated in recesses provided in the outer surface of the core ball.

11. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, in which inner ends of the tufts are adhesively secured to the ball.

12. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 in which the bristles have an elasticity of between 100N/m to 300N/m when force is applied 28mm radially from the outer face.

13. A ball as claimed in claim 12 in which the bristles have an elasticity of about 200N/m when force is applied 28mm radially from the outer face.

14. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 in which the core ball is a golf ball manufactured from any one of a plastic, polymer and a composite material.

15. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 in which the core ball is a conventional golf ball.

16. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 in which the weight of the practise ball is between 33 gram and 99 gram.

17. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 in which the weight of the practise ball about 66 gram.

18. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 which includes bristles of different lengths.

19. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18 in which the length of the bristles vary between 20mm and 35mm.

20. A ball as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19 in which the bristles are covered with a soft substance to reduce risk of injury to anyone in range of its probable ball flight.

21. A method of practising a golf shot, the method including providing a golf practise ball as described in any one of claims 1 to 20; addressing the ball by aiming to hit behind the ball at a point of impact spaced from the core ball; and hitting the ball at the point of impact.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21 in which addressing the ball includes focussing on an imaginary spherical surface defined by the ends of the bristles extending from the core ball.

23. A method as claimed in claim 21 in which addressing the ball includes focussing on an imaginary point behind the ball, the imaginary point being located a distance of about 50mm from the core ball.

24. A golf practise ball as claimed in claim 1 , substantially as herein described an illustrated.

25. A method of practising a golf shot as claimed in claim 21 , substantially as herein described an illustrated.

26. A new golf practise ball, substantially as herein described.

27. A new method of practising a golf shot, substantially as herein described.