Golf Practice Tether Mechanism for Ball Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf practice devices are inflexible, costly, and fail to accurately simulate actual ball flight dynamics due to their use of dense standard golf balls, magnetic complexity, and limited versatility, with many being unsuitable for indoor use.
Innovation Solution
A golf practice device featuring a lightweight, perforated ball attached to a tether that rotates around a post at a non-zero angle, utilizing a single rare-earth magnet and magnetic element for auto-return, allowing for safe indoor use and simulation of real ball flight, with a spring clamp for temporary attachment to any surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard golf ball is fixedly secured onto the linking arm, then the ball position is restored by magnetic force, but the ball does not rotate about a ball axis and the device complexity increases due to requiring four magnets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ball from the rigid linking arm structure and attaches it to a flexible tether instead. This allows the ball to rotate freely about its own axis while being pulled back by magnetic force, eliminating the need for complex four-magnet configurations and achieving realistic ball rotation without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static rigid linking arm to a dynamic flexible tether system. The tether can bend and rotate, allowing the ball to naturally rotate about its axis during the pull-back motion, while the magnetic force acts along the tether length to restore the ball to the starting position
2Reliability
If a standard golf ball is used, then the ball is dense and heavy, but it may cause damage or injury if detached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive and dangerous standard golf ball with a cheap, lightweight foam ball that can be easily replaced if damaged. This foam ball maintains the aerodynamic properties needed for realistic flight simulation while eliminating the safety hazards of using dense standard golf balls indoors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the ball from dense and heavy to lightweight and foam-based. This parameter change maintains the ball's ability to simulate flight dynamics while dramatically reducing its mass to eliminate injury risk if the ball detaches during operation
3Ease of operation
If the linking arm rotates in a plane parallel to the mat or grass yard, then the ball position is restored, but the ball trajectory deviates from actual play where balls hit with an iron or wood would assume an angled loft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a vertical dimension to the ball's motion by allowing the tether to pull the ball back along an angled path rather than horizontally parallel to the mat. This enables the ball to assume a lofted trajectory similar to actual golf play, while the magnetic force continues to effectively restore the ball to its starting position
4Reliability
If the device is secured to a mat or yard, then the ball position is restored by magnetic force, but the device flexibility and versatility decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the device with a universal base that can be temporarily attached to various surfaces including mats, grass, and indoor floors using velcro or adhesive. This allows the magnetic ball restoration mechanism to function reliably across multiple environments and surfaces, greatly enhancing device versatility and placement flexibility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides a cost-effective, versatile, and safe simulation of golf ball flight dynamics, enabling effective practice for hitting, pitching, and chipping, while minimizing the risk of accidents and accurately replicating the trajectory of actual golf ball swings.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic coupling between the tether and the post structure causing the ball to come to rest in the same general position on the playing surface following the rotation after the ball is struck
Data Source
AI summary
A golf practice device uses magnetic attraction to implement a ball return function. A ball is fastened to a tether coupled to a post enabling the ball and tether to rotate in a plane around the post when the ball is struck by a golf club. The plane of rotation is at a non-zero angle relative to the ground plane to simulate a launch angle. The magnetic coupling causes the ball to come to rest in the same general position on the playing surface following the rotation. The device is adapted for temporary attachment to a playing surface such as a typical artificial grass mat, and the ball may be a hollow, plastic ball such as a perforated wiffle ball. The ball is also rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the tether to further mimic actual ball flight dynamics. The device can be used for hitting, pitching and chipping practice.