Is Their One Best Method of Achieving the Optimal Golf Stance? An Australian Inventor Thinks So and Has Patented It

The patent goes on to explain:

The sequence of steps shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 have been illustrated in a different and perhaps more streamline sequence in FIGS. 8 to 12 that may be more suitable for use on a golf course. Specifically, FIG. 8 illustrates a right handed golfer holding the upper end of the club in their right hand and the striking surface of the club located approximately 3 to 8 cm behind the ball and facing the target.

From the position shown in FIG. 8, the golfer then places his feet side-by-side with the foot of the golfer closest to the target positioned substantially forward of the ball and their other foot furtherest from the target being placed substantially rearward of the ball. The golfer then orients their arm holding the club so as to position their elbow as close as possible to their navel and/or the longitudinal axis of their spine as shown by the bold dotted line in FIG. 9. The position of the golfer as shown in FIG. 9 substantially corresponds with the position of the golfer shown in FIG. 5.

From the position shown in FIG. 9, the next step is then either for the golfer to re-grip the club using a convention grip or alternatively to spread their feet as shown in FIG. 10 while maintaining the orientation of their right arm. The spacing of the golfer’s feet will depend on the type of club being used. In the situation where the club being used is an iron such as a five iron, the feet are separated by a distance such that the inside arch of each foot approximately aligns with the hip joint of each leg as can be seen by the vertical lines shown in FIG. 10.

From the position shown in FIG. 10, the golfer can then re-grip the club by placing their left hand on top of the club shaft as shown in FIG. 11, and re-gripping the club with their right hand lower on the shaft as shown in FIG. 12. It is important, that when the right hand re-grips the club, the right arm is oriented to keep the right elbow as close as possible to the navel or spin of the golfer. Once the stance shown in FIG. 12 has been attained the take away and down swing can then be carried out in the usual manner.

The sequence of steps shown in FIGS. 8 to 12 may be summarized as follows: i) positioning the striking surface of the club behind the ball and facing the target (see FIG. 8); ii) step up to the ball with both feet side-by-side and orienting the right arm (see FIG. 9); iii) separating feet (see FIG. 10); and iv) re-gripping the club with both hands and maintaining orientation of the right arm (see FIGS. 11 and 12).

So, you may be unknowingly infringing this guy’s patent just in the way you address the golf ball! I can just imagine him studying hours of tournament footage to see if he can catch any of the professionals using his method to produce their stance.