Abstract:
Teaching a golfer a golf movement by applying a force to the muscles of the student while the student is performing the golf movement. The force being applied is either assistive or resistive in order to teach and train the student&#39;s muscles. Mechanisms for applying these forces are attachable to the body and typically extend from a portion of the body to a stationary object.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/780,393 filed Mar. 7, 2006 entitled G OLF  T RAINING  M ECHANISM  A ND  M ETHOD  which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Most people who have tried to learn the game of golf will agree that it constitutes one of the most challenging, frustrating, and demanding pastimes enjoyed, or at least practiced, by millions of people. The level of difficulty adds to the popularity of the sport. Most would also agree that enjoyment of the game increases with ability. Few golfers forget an unusually low scoring round they played during a given year.  
         [0003]     The difficulty of the game is easy to explain. There are a number of factors that make the physics of hitting a golf ball understandably complex: (1) A golf club is longer than most of the racquets or bats used in other sports. (2) The contact area (club face) on a golf club is significantly smaller than the contact area of other sports-related striking implements. (3) A golf ball is smaller than almost any other ball found in striking sports. (4) The ball converts nearly all of the energy imparted on it to kinetic energy. (5) The ball spins at a high rate of speed. (6) The club head strikes the ball at over 100 miles per hour when swung correctly. (7) The golf swing uses nearly every muscle in the human body. (8) The ball flies hundreds of yards, leaving the margin for error very small for a decent following shot. (9) A good golfer uses fourteen different clubs during a round, each having a different length and a different club head. (10) A good golfer must be able to hit numerous different types of shots with each of his or her fourteen clubs. With all of these factors adding to the difficulty of the proper golf swing, it becomes easy to understand the healthy market for golf swing aids and instruction techniques.  
         [0004]     Heretofore, however, the most popular training technique involves swing analysis by a golf professional, often with the aid of a video camera and a computer, followed by corrective instruction. Corrective instruction has involved verbal instruction, sometimes accompanied by a demonstration, followed by subsequent attempts by the student at correcting an identified problem.  
         [0005]     There may be no substitute for the trained eye of a golf professional in identifying swing problems. However, the aforementioned correcting instruction technique is inefficient. Few people possess the athletic ability to listen to verbal instruction from a golf professional and then implement a swing change immediately thereafter. Golf swings, by necessity, are objects of habit. Like playing a complex musical piece on a piano, hitting a golf ball properly requires practice. Through practice, the muscles begin to receive repeated messages stored in the long-term memory of the brain, rather than immediate cognitive notions from the cerebral cortex. This “muscle memory” makes a long time golfer&#39;s swing look fluid while a beginner who has not yet memorized a swing, has an awkward swing. Changing a golf swing brings the swing instructions back from deep memory to the cerebral cortex. This is because the swing change is received aurally and must then be interpreted by the cerebral cortex to craft new swing instructions to the muscles. The result is an awkward-feeling swing, even if the golfer is executing the professional&#39;s instructions correctly.  
         [0006]     Swing changes made in this manner, as mentioned above, feel awkward at first. The golfer usually leaves a golf lesson and heads for a driving range where he or she tries to “teach the muscles” the new swing through repetition. Hopefully, the new instruction set will work its way back into the memory of the brain, after hitting hundreds of golf balls, such that the golfer can eventually swing the golf club using the new swing without actively thinking about the differences. The swing becomes ingrained and the golfer becomes better.  
         [0007]     However, quite often the new instructions being taught to the muscles get changed during the “memorizing phase” on the range. Swing changes necessary to correct a problem often seem counterintuitive. The golfer trying to implement a swing change battles the natural tendency of the brain to send its old memorized signals to the muscles rather than the new instructions from the cerebral cortex. Without substantial, frequent practice in the presence of a professional, the new swing that gets implemented is often different than the one the professional verbalized. Hence, usually swing changes are effectively made only in small, easy to remember increments.  
         [0008]     A great many golf training tools are designed to provide the feedback necessary to keep a golfer focused on the proper new technique when a golf professional is not present. Some tools give visual feedback, others give aural feedback. Still others are result-based negative feedback. If a swing is improper, an obviously undesirable event happens. One example is a club with a hinged shaft that bends if swung improperly.  
         [0009]     Though many of these tools are helpful teaching aides, none replaces or speeds the difficult conversion of verbal instruction into memorized muscle response. There is thus a need for teaching device and/or method that provides direct information to the muscles rather than through the ear of the golfer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention is directed to a device and technique that addresses the aforementioned need. Specifically, the present invention is a device and a teaching method that teaches a golfer to implement a swing change by teaching the golfer&#39;s muscles, rather than relying solely on educating the golfer&#39;s brain and the hoping the golfer properly trains his or her own muscles with the information provided. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a component of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation of the component of  FIG. 1  with a golfer standing thereon;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a component of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a component of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a component of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a component of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a component of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the present invention being used on a golfer; and,  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the present invention being used on a golfer. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     Turning now to the Figures and first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a floor component  10  of the present invention. The floor component  10  includes a platform  12  on which a golfer stands when using the present invention. A back arm  14  extends in the direction of the backswing of the golfer and a fore arm  16  extends in the direction of the follow through of the golfer&#39;s swing. The arms  14  and  16  are angled away from the platform  12  and positioned such that they do not interfere with the golfer&#39;s swing. Each of the arms  14  and  16  has a plurality of attachment points  18 , the function of which is explained below. Preferably, the floor component  10  includes attachment points  18  that are vertically in line with the golfer&#39;s waist, knees, and ankles, at a minimum. The back arm  14  and fore arm  16  are shown as having telescopically adjustable lengths, an optional feature. To further enhance adjustability, the back arm  14  and fore arm  16  may be made to slide in the directions of arrows  15  and  17 , respectfully, or pivot around axes  19  and  21 , respectfully. Additionally, the floor component  10  also includes an optional attachment point  20  on or near the platform  12 , the function of which is also explained below.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a belt  30  of the present invention. The belt  30  is sized to fit around the waist of a golfer and has a plurality of attachment points  32  placed in various positions around the outside of the belt  30 .  
         [0022]     The present invention also includes one or more straps  40  like the one shown in  FIG. 4 . The strap  40  is sized to fit around the ankle or knee of a golfer and is preferably adjustable such that it may also be used to fit around the wrist, arm, or thigh of a golfer as well. The strap  40  includes at least one attachment point  42 .  
         [0023]     Turning now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a practice club  50  of the present invention. The practice club  50  is like a standard golf club with an attachment point  52  at the toe of the club head  54 . Attachment point  52  is shown as a loop though it could just as effectively be formed as a hole through the club head  54  or as a clamp-like device that attaches to a standard golf club. Using a band like the band  70  shown in  FIG. 7  and explained below, the practice club  50  may be attached to an attachment point  18  on the back arm  14 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  shows another practice club  60  of the present invention. The practice club  60  is like a standard golf club with an attachment point  62  at the end of the grip  64 . Using a band like the band  70  shown in  FIG. 7  and explained below, the practice club  60  may be attached to the attachment point  20  of the floor component  10 . Though the attachment point  20  is shown extending from a front side of the floor component  10 , it may optionally be placed somewhere on the platform  12  in either a removable fashion or in a place that will not otherwise interfere with a golf swing.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  shows a band  70  of the present invention. Band  70  is formed of a stretchable material such as rubber, latex, or the like. Using the method of the present invention, explained below, a golf professional uses the band  70  to attach a golf club, such as practice club  50  or  60 , or a golfer wearing either a belt  30 , strap  40 , or combination thereof to an attachment point  18  or  20  of the floor component  10  of the present invention.  
         [0026]     The physical components of the training technique of the present invention, explained above, provide a numerous ways in which a golfer may be attached to the floor component  10  of the present invention. However, a golf professional is needed to identify a swing flaw and use the present invention to correct that swing flaw using the training method of the present invention.  
         [0027]     The method of the present invention thus begins with a swing analysis, not unlike those presently done by many golf professionals around the world. A golfer swings at a golf ball while a golf professional looks for swing flaws. Often, the golf professional will utilize video cameras and replay software so that he or she may review the swing in slow motion to analyze the swing more closely and show the golfer the flaw being corrected. However, a video camera is not crucial to practicing the method of the present invention.  
         [0028]     Once a flaw is identified, the golf professional may decide to use assistive or resistive training, or both, to “teach the muscles” how to swing correctly. Both assistive and resistive training are made possible by the aforementioned components of the present invention. Each of these training techniques is now explained individually.  
         [0029]     Assistive Training  
         [0030]     Assistive training is a term used herein to describe a technique whereby a golfer&#39;s body is urged in a desired direction or configuration by the bands  70  of the present invention. Doing so shows the golfer what it feels like to correct a swing flaw rather than simply providing verbal instructions or showing the golfer the flaw on a video tape and expecting the golfer to reinstruct his or her muscles to correct the flaw. By guiding the muscles in the correct direction, the golfer is able to immediately imitate the proper swing after the bands  70  are removed. Hence, the golfer&#39;s muscles are “taught” rather than the golfer&#39;s brain, so to speak.  
         [0031]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 8  to demonstrate an example of where a golf professional might find assistive training useful. One common swing flaw is a failure to rotate the hips “through the ball” such that the hips face the target on the follow through. This is a flaw that is difficult to fix because concentrating on hip motion distracts the brain from making an otherwise fluid swing. The hips are a large component of a golf swing and affect almost all of the other components. Thus, simply telling the golfer to rotate their hips “through the ball” usually results in a hip slide, rather than a rotation, or throws of the timing of the swing enough so that the golfer can no longer make adequate contact with the ball.  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  shows how a golf professional might attach a band  70  of the present invention between a golf student having a problem rotating his hips to the floor component of the present invention such that assistive training shows the golfer how to properly rotate his hips. The golfer  80  is shown in a cutaway through the torso for clarification. Hence, the golfer  80  stands on the platform  12  and addresses a ball  82 . A belt  30  is placed around the golfer&#39;s waist and a band  70  is wrapped around the golfer and attached to an attachment point  32  on the belt at one end, and at the other end to an attachment point  18  on the fore arm  16  of the floor component  10 . The band  70  is wrapped around the golfer in the manner shown such that the golfer&#39;s body will be urged to rotate in a counter clockwise direction, appropriate for a right-handed golfer.  
         [0033]     The golf professional has many attachment points  18  and  32  from which to choose. Hence, the professional must decide which attachment points  18  and  32  to use based on the height of the golfer, the length of the band  70  and the desired strength of the assist. Stretching the band further results in stronger assistive training.  
         [0034]     Furthermore, the example shown in  FIG. 8  merely provides one assistive training technique for one golf flaw. The golf professional will quickly realize that between the plurality of attachment points  18  on both arms  14  and  16 , and the attachment points  32  and  42  provided by the belt  30  and straps  40 , almost every aspect of the golf swing can be taught through assistive training.  
         [0035]     Additionally, the example shown in  FIG. 8  provides only one way to use assistive training for that particular swing flaw. For example, if the golf professional noticed that the configuration of  FIG. 8  results in a forward hip slide, another swing flaw, the band  70  could be wrapped further around the golfer&#39;s waist and attached to an attachment point  18  on the back arm  14 . Doing so would not only urge the golfer&#39;s torso to rotate in a counter clockwise direction, it would also urge the golfer rearward, thus preventing a forward hip slide.  
         [0036]     Hence, the extreme flexibility of the device and method of the present invention is demonstrated. The need for knowledgeable professional assistance is also shown.  
         [0037]     Resistive Training  
         [0038]     Whereas assistive training “teaches” the muscles by showing the golfer what a flaw correction should feel like, resistive training “trains” the muscles by exercising them to work harder than they would during a normal golf swing. Resistive training works on the principle that if a muscle or muscle group performs a series of repetitions against unusually high strain or load, the muscle group will perform that same motion effortlessly when the strain or load is removed. This principle is practiced often by athletes. For example, many baseball players swing two bats, or one bat with weights attached prior to approaching the plate when it is their turn to bat. Having swung two bats or a heavy bat, swinging a normal bat will seem easy and effortless at the plate.  
         [0039]      FIG. 9  shows an example of how resistive training might be used to correct the previously mentioned swing flaw whereby the golfer fails to rotate his hips “through the ball.” As in  FIG. 8 , the golf professional has placed a belt  30  around the waist of the golfer, who is standing on the platform  12  of the floor component  10 . A band  70  is attached at one end to an attachment point  32  of the belt  30  and at the other end to an attachment point  18  on the back arm  14 . The band  70  is configured around the golfer  80  such that the golfer must exert extra force against the band  70  in order to rotate the hips properly. Doing so several times strengthens the necessary muscles and makes it obvious to the golfer what the desired result is. After a predetermined number of repetitions have been completed, the band  70  is removed and the golfer naturally rotates his hips properly during the next several swings.  
         [0040]     Further Examples  
         [0041]     The above description has discussed the basic premise of the present invention, and one skilled in the art will quickly realize the endless possibilities the present invention provides for unprecedented training capabilities. By way of example only, the following attachment combinations are also provided:  
         [0042]     Knee Attachments for Right Handed Player:  
         [0043]     1. Assistive right knee: A band  70  is attached between a strap  40  on the right knee and the fore arm  16 . This teaches a player to feel how the knees should work together through the impact position and into the finish. This also assists in getting the hips to turn.  
         [0044]     2. Resistive right knee: A band  70  is attached between a strap  40  on the right knee and the back arm  14 . This trains the right knee to stay flexed on the takeaway. Most people straighten the right knee. This exercise illuminates how it should feel pushing off the right leg on the downswing. This also aids in hip turn when cord  70  is removed.  
         [0045]     3. Assistive left knee: A band  70  is attached between a strap  40  on the left knee and the fore arm  16  of the floor component  10 . This shows a golfer how it feels to have their left hip and knee bump forward on the downswing.  
         [0046]     4. Resistive left knee: A band  70  is attached between a strap  40  on the left knee and the back arm  14  of the floor component  10 . This forces the left knee to move forward on the downswing. Automatic implementation occurs after the strap  40  is removed after performing numerous repetitions with the strap  40 .  
         [0047]     Hip Attachments for Right Handed Player:  
         [0048]     1. Assistive left hip: A band  70  is attached between a belt  30  near the left hip and the fore arm  16  of the floor component  10 . This promotes the left hip “bump” or initial move on the downswing.  
         [0049]     2. Assistive right hip: Shown in  FIG. 8  and described above.  
         [0050]     3. Assistive left hip wrap: Combines #1 and #2 together using two bands  70 , one attached to the left hip and the other wrapped around the golfer as shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0051]     4. Resistive left hip: Shown in  FIG. 9  and described above. This forces a player to bump and rotate through the ball. It also promotes correct weight shift to the left side. Also aids in a better turn on the backswing by pulling left hip back with left shoulder.  
         [0052]     5. Resistive right hip wrap: A band  70  is attached between a belt  30  near the right hip and is fed around the back of the golfer to the fore arm  16  of the floor component  10 . This forces a player to bump and rotate through the ball. More tension around hips makes for a more prominent bump and rotation through the ball.  
         [0053]     6. Resistive right hip: A band  70  is attached between a belt  30  near the right hip and the back arm  14  of the floor component  10 . Promotes weight shift off of right side during the swing.  
         [0054]     Ankle Attachments for Right Handed Player:  
         [0055]     1. Assistive right ankle: A band  70  is attached between a strap  40  on the right ankle and the fore arm  16 . This demonstrates a correct “rolling” motion of the right foot into the ball and through impact. A player is prevented from “squashing the bug” as in baseball/softball players.  
         [0056]     2. Resistive right ankle: A band  70  is attached between a strap  40  on the right ankle and the back arm  14 . This promotes correct “rolling” motion of right foot into the ball at impact after the band  70  is removed.  
         [0057]     Using the Practice Club  50   
         [0058]     1. A band  70  is attached between the club head  54  at the attachment point  52  and the back arm  14 . Doing so is a resistive technique that promotes the golfer to turn the club over at impact after performing numerous repetitions using the practice club  50 .  
         [0059]     Using the Practice Club  60   
         [0060]     1. A band  70  is attached between the end of the shaft at the attachment point  62  and the attachment point  20  on the floor component  10 . Doing so is a resistive technique that promotes the golfer to move back in the back swing and extend the club away from the body after performing numerous repetitions using the practice club  60 .  
         [0061]     One skilled in the art will quickly realize that the invention has been shown and described for a right-handed golfer. A left-handed version of the present invention will simply be a mirror image of that shown and described. Moreover, as the floor component  10  is preferably symmetric along on axis through the center of the device, a left handed golfer may use the floor component  10  as described by simply hitting the ball in the opposite direction or turning the floor component  10  around.  
         [0062]     Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.