Golf training apparatus

A golf training apparatus constructed in the form of a golf club and having a handle, a shaft and a head wherein the head is constructed to have an elongated rod having one end affixed to the shaft and a flat, blade-like weight affixed to the end portion of the rod opposite the shaft. The weight of the rod and blade-like weight is substantially the same as the weight of a typical golf club head, but the center of mass of the head is displaced from the axis of the shaft by a distance of at least about four inches. The blade-like weigh advantageously is somewhat rectangular in plan view with a narrowed neck portion intermediate its ends or trapezoidal with its minor and major bases extending transverse to the rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a golf training apparatus, and more 
particularly, the invention relates to a training apparatus generally 
configured in the form of a golf club but having a unique club head to 
facilitate the conditioning of a golfer's swing. 
It is generally acknowledged that the development of a consistent and 
repeatable swinging motion of a golf club is perhaps one of the most 
important factors in enabling a player to improve his proficiency at the 
game. Golf professionals and golf teaching instructors have, therefore, 
examined and analyzed practically every conceivable movement which occurs 
during the swinging motion of a golf club as it is brought into contact 
with the ball. The golfer's hand grip on the club, the extent and nature 
of the golfer's backswing, the movement and position changes of the 
golfer's body during the foreswing, and the golfer's arm and wrist motion 
during the foreswing are all factors which have been extensively studied 
and analyzed. In fact, a golfer who is attempting to learn the game is 
frequently frustrated in attempting to put together all of the suggested 
motions and positions which together constitute an effective and 
proficient swinging of the club. Once a basic understanding of the proper 
club grip, backswing and foreswing has been achieved, it is usually 
recommended that the beginning golfer simply engage in extended practice 
sessions in order to train the muscles of the body to become properly 
coordinated for this purpose. However, even professional golfers will 
acknowledge that the unintended deviations from the perfect swing 
frequently creep into the golfer's habits over time, and professional 
golfers are forced to continuously practice to improve the development of 
their swing. 
Practicing can take the form of actually driving golf balls on the range or 
merely practicing the swinging motion with a golf club but without the use 
of a golf ball. Various exercises have also been recommended to improve 
the conditioning of the important muscles which are used during the course 
of a golf swing. A number of mechanical training aids have been devised to 
assist this purpose and such training aids have had varying degrees of 
success. Frequently, a training aid which is useful for one form of 
development of the golfer's skills is not useful for another form of 
development. Therefore, certain training aids have been specialized to 
deal with only particular and minute increments of skill development. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention comprises training apparatus for improving muscle 
development and coordination with respect to the full range of movement 
involved in a golfer's swing. The invention utilizes a golf club shaft, 
which is virtually identical to the conventional golf club shaft, attached 
to a head which is positioned at an angle greater than 90.degree. relative 
to the shaft. The head is an elongated, weighted member having a center of 
gravity displaced a considerable distance from the axis of the shaft. The 
weight of the member has a blade-like configuration and is preferably 
covered with a plastic material which is heat shrunk over the entire 
blade-like surface. The materials of the training apparatus are selected 
so as to yield a total weight for the training apparatus which is 
substantially equal to the weight of a conventional golf club, but the 
dimensions and weight of the club may be scaled to match any particular 
conventional club and may also be scaled for use by children or adults. 
Because the, center of mass of the golf head is displaced away from the 
axis of the shaft, an angular inertia is developed when the club undergoes 
a swinging motion and the golfer must overcome this angular inertia during 
the gold swing, thereby developing muscular coordination and strength. 
A principal object of the present invention is to provide new and novel 
golf training apparatus for improving a golfer's swing and developing 
muscular coordination and strength in the golfer's arms, wrist and hands. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide new and novel golf 
training apparatus having the approximately the same weight as a normal 
golf club but providing an exaggerated angular momentum during the golf 
swing. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide new and novel means 
for muscular training and visual training working at the same time to have 
a synergistic effect to improve the golf swing of a user. 
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent from 
the following specification and claims, and with reference to the appended 
drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The training golf club of the invention includes a shaft 12 that has a 
handle 14 affixed at one end and a head, generally designated 15 of the 
first embodiment, affixed at the other end (see FIGS. 1 to 8); or a head, 
generally designate 35 of the second embodiment, affixed to the other end 
(see FIGS. 9 and 10) or a head, generally designate 50 of the third 
embodiment, affixed to the other end (see FIGS. 11 and 12). Shaft 12 may 
be made from a conventional golf club shaft of either graphite or steel 
materials. Handle 14 is a conventional golf club grip which may be applied 
to the shaft 12 in any of the ways which are conventionally known. The 
head of the respective embodiment is affixed to the lower end of shaft 12 
by a welding or brazing process so as to be fixedly positioned relative to 
the shaft 12 or formed as a single unitary unit with the shaft. The head 
15, or 35, or 50 is preferably positioned at an angle A relative to the 
shaft axis of elongation 18, wherein the head is elongated to have an axis 
of elongated 28, 28. 70 respectively that extends at an angle A which is 
greater than 90.degree.. Advantageously, the angle A may be about 
117.degree.-130.degree.. 
In each of the embodiments, the weight of the training apparatus has been 
selected to be equal to the weight of a conventional golf "4" or "5" iron, 
and the angle A has been selected to be same or nearly the same as the 
angle presented by the lower edge of a "4" or "5" iron relative to the 
shaft 12. The distance between the handle 14 and the head 15, or 35, or 50 
of this invention is chosen to be the same as the corresponding distance 
between the handle and head for a related standard golf club. For example, 
if the weight of the head 15, or 35, or 50 is chosen to be the same as a 
standard golf "5" iron, the distance between handle 14 and head is 
selected to be the same as the corresponding distance for a standard golf 
"5" iron, etc. 
One of the features of the present invention is to help develop the 
strength of the wrist and forearm muscles by causing the player to work 
against the inertia of the head 15, or 35, or 50 during the golf 
downswing. The inertia of the head 15, or 35, or 50 which must be overcome 
during the turning motion and downswing is greater than that provided by a 
normal (conventional) club, because the center of mass of the head 15, or 
35, or 50 is further displaced from the axis of the shaft. Therefore, even 
though the weight of head 15, or 35, or 50 is selected to be identical to 
the weight of, say, a standard golf "4" or "5" iron, the inertia required 
to be overcome by the player during the downswing is much greater, for the 
weight center of mass is spaced considerably farther from the shaft axis 
as more fully set forth below. 
FIG. 4 shows a top view of the training apparatus of the first embodiment, 
taken along the central axis 18 of the handle 14 and shaft 12. The center 
of mass of head 15 is defined by dotted line 19, and the dimension M 
denotes the distance between the axis 18 and the center of mass line 19, 
the dimension M being taken along the central axis 28 of the rod 25 which 
will be described hereinafter. During the downswing of the training 
device, or of any golf club, the player turns the club about the shaft 
axis in the direction indicated by arrow 20. This turning motion is 
accomplished by rotation of the player's wrists as the player swings the 
club downwardly, with the object being to rotate the club axis so that the 
club head is perpendicular to the player's body at the instant of impact 
of the club head against the golf ball. This turning motion accelerates 
the motion of the club head just prior to the point of impact, and creates 
the maximum momentum of the club head which may be transferred to the ball 
at the instant of impact, and thereby creates the longest possible drive 
of the ball. The turning motion required by the use of the wrist and 
forearm muscles will enhance the player's ability to deliver a strong 
impact to the ball. 
FIG. 5 shows the position of the training apparatus of the first embodiment 
15 relative to the ground, at a position which corresponds to the point of 
impact of a club against a golf ball. It is apparent that other than the 
bent portion 25c, the head 15 is parallel to the ground at this point, 
spaced at or slightly above ground level. Although the head may be cast or 
otherwise formed as one integral unitary single piece, advantageously the 
head 15 is formed of three components: a rod 25 bent at an angle A and has 
its bent portion 25c affixed to the bottom of a shaft 12, a blade or bar H 
welded to rod 25, preferably in the position shown so that the bottom 
surface of the blade H passes very close to the surface of the ground 
during the swing and an outer protective plastic covering or coating 27. 
The outer plastic covering 27 is applied over the rod 25 and blade H for 
protective purposes, and to provide an aesthetic enhancement to the 
appearance of the apparatus. Plastic covering 27 may be formed from heat 
shrink plastic or from any other convenient coating material which 
provides the desired effect. The top surface of the blade H is welded or 
otherwise suitably joined to rod 25 proximate the end of rod 25 which is 
furthest from the shaft 12 while its bottom surface is advantageously 
flat. The blade (bar) may be of a somewhat rectangular block shape, other 
than side cutouts, and elongated in the direction of elongation of the rod 
portion 25b which extends away from the bent (turned) portion 25c that is 
joined to the shaft. The bar or blade H is elongated in the same direction 
as the direction of elongation of the rod portion 25b which extends away 
from the bent (turned) portions 25c that is joined to the shaft. The blade 
H has front and rear sides 23 and 24 respective that are arcuately curved 
at 23b, 24b respectively, for example elliptically or circumferentially 
about radii much greater than the width of the bar, but much less than the 
length of the bar. Advantageously, the points of emanation of the points 
of curvature are in a plane(s) perpendicular to the axis 28 of elongation 
of the rod and equally spaced from and on opposite sides of the axis 28. 
Further, it is desirable that the dimension of each cutout parallel to the 
axis 28 is substantially greater than the combine dimensions of the side 
edge linear portions 23c, 24c on the respective side of the blade. As a 
result, in plan view, the blade H has a narrow neck portion intermediate 
its distal and proximal edges 22 and 21 respectively with linear side edge 
portions 23c, 24c respective extending between respective arcuate portion 
and the adjacent proximal and distal edges and, in plan view, desirably is 
substantially transversely centered relative to the central axis of rod 
portion 25b. Advantageously, the length of the blade is many time greater 
than its maximum width while the minimum width may be about 80 per cent or 
less of the maximum width. Additionally as may be seen from FIG. 5, rod 
portion 25b has a cylindrical part 25' that spaces the proximal edge of 
the blade H from the bent portion 25c a substantial longitudinal distance 
(distance x in FIG. 5). The top part 25" of rod portion 25 is joined to 
cylindrical part 25' to extend more remote therefrom and may or may not 
extend to the distal edge 22. The blade H is dependingly joined to the top 
part 25". 
As an example of one preferred embodiment, the training apparatus is made 
to correspond to a normal golf "5" iron, other than for the head, the head 
of a normal golf "5" iron being of a weight being approximately 280 grams. 
Advantageously, the weight of the head for a "5" iron invention is about 
275-285 grams and desirably approximately 280 grams. Thus, the head of 
this invention may have a blade that weighs about 215 grams and a rod 25 
of about 65 grams. The length of the blade H advantageously may be about 
41/2-61/2 inches and desirably about 51/2 inches, while the length of the 
rod 25 advantageously is about 8-10 inches and desirably about 91/4 inches 
and the dimension x may be about 3 to 3 3/4". The center of mass of the 
head along rod axis (head central axis of elongation) 28, of the elongated 
part 25b of the rod which extend away from the rod bend 28c, is, 
therefore, approximately 4-6 inches along the axis 28 from the axis 18 of 
the shaft 12 and desirably about 5 inches but below the axis 28. By 
comparison, a standard (conventional) "5" iron, which has the same total 
weight, has a center of mass spaced less than 2 inches from the axis of 
the shaft. The axes 18, 28 and 70 of the embodiments of this invention are 
preferably contained in a single plane for the respective embodiment while 
the center of mass is located in said plane, but below the respective axis 
28, 28 70. It is therefore, apparent that due to the provision of the 
heads 15, 35, 50 the invention greatly increases the rotational inertia of 
the head about the shaft axis when compared with a standard golf club of 
the same weight. It is preferred that in plan view, each of the heads is 
symmetrical relative to the plane referred to in this paragraph. 
According to the teachings of the invention, it is desirable that the 
center of the mass of the head 15, or head 35, or head 50 in the direction 
of elongation of rod portion 25b and rod parts 58, 71 be displaced at 
least about four inches from the axis of the shaft 12 and preferably about 
4-6 inches. It is also desirable that the weight of the blade H be at 
least about three to four time the weight of the rod 25, in order to 
obtain the desired inertial resistance during a golf swing. The weight 
distribution of the blade can be uniform along its length or can be 
nonuniform, so long as the center of mass is displaced as described. The 
length of the blade H, when positioned at the distal end of the rod 25, 
should be about 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the rod 25 in order to provide 
the necessary inertial resistance; and of course, it is desirable that the 
total weight of both the rod 25 and the blade H be substantially equal to 
the weight of a normal golf club head. 
As one example of blade H, but not otherwise as a limitation thereon, the 
length of the blade may be 51/2", edge portions 23c, 23c, 24c, 24c may 
each be about 1 to 11/4" and the cutouts arcuately curved to have a 
minimum neck dimension of 3/4" and the distal and proximal edges each of 
1", and a thickness of 3/16"; however, it is to be understood these 
dimensions can be varied to fall within the parameters set forth herein. 
A further feature of the invention which assists in training a golfer's 
swing is the configuration of the head. The rod 25 and blade H are 
elongated and aligned at the angle A relative to the shaft 12, with the 
object of training the golfer to swing so as to position the blade 
horizontal to the ground at the point of impact with a golf ball. The 
shape and configuration of the head 15 provides a ready visual indicator 
of its position, and the golfer can immediately see if he is swinging 
properly to provide the preferred head position at the point of impact. If 
the golfer tends to swing too close to the ball or too far from the ball, 
the blade B, or H, or N, will provide an obvious visual indication of this 
problem each time the golfer makes a practice swing, and the golfer can 
adjust his stance to make certain that the blade H passes over the ground 
in a parallel relationship during each downswing. 
Referring to Figures nine and ten, the second embodiment of the head 35 
includes a rod 25 and protective coating such as describe with the head 15 
together with-a bar or blade N, which also may be referred to head bottom 
portion. The top surface of the blade N, which advantageously is 
substantially flat, is welded or otherwise suitably joined to rod top part 
25" proximate the end of rod 25 which is furthest from the shaft 12 while 
the blade has a generally flat bottom surface. The blade (bar) may be of a 
generally isosceles trapezoidal block shape that has its major base 37 
remote from the shaft 12 and a minor base 38 adjacent to, but 
substantially spaced from the rod bent portion 25c, and is elongated in 
the direction of elongation of the rod portion 25b. The bar or blade N is 
elongated in the same direction as the direction of elongation of the rod 
portion 25b which extends away from the bent (turned) portions 25c and in 
plan view is desirably substantially transversely centered relative to the 
central axis 28 of rod portion 25b. The blade N has front and rear sides 
39 and 40. Advantageously the length of the blade is many time greater 
than its maximum width while the minor base is of a dimension greater than 
the diameter of the rod portion 25b. Further, the center of mass of the 
head 35 is located relative to the shaft axis such as described relative 
to head 15 and the length and location of the blade N relative to the rod 
may be about the same as that indicated for blade H. With the second 
embodiment, the rod may be shorter than that of the first embodiment in 
that the major base of the blade is furthest from the shaft. 
As one example of the blade N, the perpendicular spacing of the minor and 
major bases may be 51/2", the minor base 3/4", the major base 1" and the 
thickness about 1/8"; however, it is to be understood the dimensions may 
be varied, for example the minor base narrower and/or the major base 
wider, as long as the center of mass is maintained in the desired 
relationship to the shaft axis as set forth herein. Further, the diameter 
of the cylindrical part 25' for each of the first and second embodiments 
may be about 5/16" but again may be varied as long as the center of mass 
is retained in the desired relationship to the shaft axis as set forth 
herein. 
Referring to FIGS.11 and 12, the third embodiment of the head of the 
invention, generally designated 50, includes a rod T having a bent portion 
57 joined to the lower end of a shaft 12 and a cylindrical part 58 having 
a proximal end joined to the bent portion, and a top part 71 that at its 
proximal end is joined to the distal end of the cylindrical part. A blade 
or bottom portion B is joined to the top part 71 in transversely centered 
relationship. The bottom portion in plan view may be rectangular or either 
one of the shapes shown in plan view in FIGS. 8 and 10. Advantageously, 
the bottom portion is substantially rectangular in transverse cross 
section and has a flat bottom 51 and front and rear side edges 74, 55 
respectively. The longitudinal length of the top part 71 may be the same 
as that of the bottom portion and extend transversely approximately 
through an arc of 180 degrees with a radius of curvature emanating from an 
axis 70 that constitutes a straight line extension of the central axis of 
the cylindrical portion 58. The axis of elongation 70 of the elongated 
portion of the rod that extends away from bent portion 57 advantageously 
is located in the plane of the top surface 72 of the bottom portion B. 
Further, it is desirable that the distal end of cylindrical part 58 is 
integrally joined to proximal end 53 of the bottom portion as a single 
unitary unit while the top portion is likewise integrally joined to the 
bottom portion B. The blade B has a distal edge 54 and an opposite edge 
53. The length and diameter of cylindrical part 58 may be the same as that 
of part 25' of the first embodiment. 
The center of mass and weight of the head of the third embodiment is within 
the parameters set forth relative the first and second embodiments. 
With reference to the rod of each of the embodiments in transverse cross 
section is arcuately curved along, at least, substantially its entire 
length that is most remote from the blade is located in the plane of the 
shaft axis and the central axis of the longitudinally elongated rod 
portion 25b of the first and second embodiments and axis 70 together with 
the generally flat top surface of the respective blade provides a line of 
sight 30, 41, 73 for the first, second and third embodiment respectively 
that serves as a visual aid during the use of the club. Even through the 
line of sight in some of the Figures is shown at the top of the rod 
elongated portion, it is to be understood it would be at the top of the 
coating 27 if provided on the respective embodiment. That is, there is 
provided a visual line, not necessarily a mark or a line formed on the top 
of the arcuate surface, at the top of the elongated rod portion. With the 
heads of this invention, the combination of the line of sight and the 
location of the center of mass, there is developed better coordination 
between the eyes and muscles of the user. 
Advantageously, for each embodiment, the angle A is about 117 to 130 
degrees, the central of mass is about 4 to 6 inches from the shaft axis 
and the weight of the head would be about 265 to 285 grams. Further, the 
head of each embodiment has a longitudinally elongated top portion (part) 
that is transversely arcuately curved through an angle more than 130 
degrees for at least a major portion of its length. 
It is believed the use of the second and third embodiments is apparent from 
the more detailed description set forth relative the first embodiment. 
advantageous that the dimension of the spacing of the proximal edge of the 
blade from the bent portion (length of the rod cylindrical portion--shown 
as X in FIG. 5) is at least 21/2 inches or more, depending on the weight 
of the blade relative to the rod. 
It is to be understood the shape of the head may be varies as long as the 
center of mass, length and the shape of the bottom of the head are 
generally the same as that of head 15, or 35, or 50, and functions the 
same as the rod, blade and coating described herein. 
The foregoing preferred embodiment provides the best mode presently known 
for exemplifying the inventive principles describe herein, although other 
constructions may well be possible within the scope of the claims 
presented herewith.