Golf swing exercise system and method of use

A golf swing exercise machine allows a player to develop their golf swing by forcing the head of an adapted golf club to follow a preferred wing path. The path is marked by a rail. The rail is held by a rail support that is oriented with respect to the ground by a frame. The frame is made up of a base with side, front and back support members and horizontal supports. The golf club head has slots to allow the head to follow the rail.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally the sport of golf, and more specifically, to a golf swing exercise machine and method of use.

2. Description of Related Art

The sport of playing golf is well known in the art and a popular competitive activity.FIG. 1depicts an oblique view of a golfer101rotating his torso105while swing a golf club103. It should be understood that conventional methods to practice golf include the physical exercise of playing golf and/or practice swinging the club103as depicted inFIG. 1.

A common disadvantage with conventional exercise routines is that a golf game does not provide the golfer with the necessary repetition necessary to perfect the swing and merely swinging the golf club also fails to teach the muscles the required swing path for a perfect swing. It is therefore desired to create a system and method to teach the required muscle groups to achieve a perfect golf swing. Although great strides have been made in the area of training golfers for a perfect swing, many shortcomings remain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views,FIGS. 2-6depict various views of the system and method of use in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present application. It will be appreciated that system201overcomes one or more of the above-listed problems commonly associated with the conventional systems and method for golf swing exercise.

FIG. 2depicts an oblique view of a golf swing exercise system201having a frame including a base having two side members211rigidly attached to a back support member209and a front support member235. The base has four horizontal support members205,207,223and brackets213configured to engage with a rail support203at a desired orientation relative to the ground surface. A plurality of fasteners225,227,229, and231are utilized to secure the supports and brackets to the base211. Joints221are utilized to secure the rail support203at an angle relative to the ground surface. The angle of orientation is desired to provide the golfer with the optimal golf swing movement during use.

InFIG. 4, a detailed view of joint221is shown having nuts and bolts401,403,405, and407configured to secure the rail support in a fixed position relative to the ground surface. InFIG. 3, a detailed view of an assembly is shown adapted to secure the rail to the rail structure. The assembly include an elongated rod301having bolts303,305, and307configured to secure the rail at a distance relative to the rail support.

The rail support203peripherally surrounds and secures to a circular elongated rail219. The head505of a golf club217is adapted to slidingly engage with the elongated rail in the direction indicated by arrow229.

InFIGS. 5-7detailed features of the golf club217are shown. In the contemplated embodiment, the golf club217includes a gripping handle501adapted to slidingly engage with a shaft503. As depicted inFIG. 7, a spring701is disposed between the handle501and the shaft503. Accordingly, the spring701provides an opposing force as the shaft slides within the handle. The spring is attached to the top of the shaft at534and to the handle at533.

The shaft503is pivotally attached to the head505via a housing507adapted to provide rotational movement of the head relative to the shaft503. To achieve this feature, the housing507includes an inner cavity603adapted to receive a ball601section rigidly secured to the shaft503. This feature provides rotational movement of the golf club during the swing as the head slides along the elongated rail. It will be appreciated that the opening of the housing also allows the golf club/shaft to move from a perpendicular angle relative to the rail at the start of the swing to past parallel at the top of the swing. In the contemplated embodiment, there is also a bolt extending through the plate of the housing to prevent the ball of the shaft from falling outside the housing cavity.

The golf club head505includes an opening forming two opposing slots609adapted to slidingly engage with the rail. In one embodiment, the slots could include elastomeric liners511removably attached to the slots. The liners could be removed for maintenance. In one contemplated embodiment, it is desired to have different weighted elastomeric liners511that provide adjustment of the weight disposed within the housing. Accordingly, the changes in weight further enhances the muscle exercised during the swing. A plurality of fasteners605and607could be utilized to secure the head and liners in a fixed position and later removed for maintenance.

During use, the user will move the golf club along the rail as indicated by arrow229, which will train the user's muscles with the proper swing motion. The spring disposed between the handle and the shaft of the golf club will provide a distance relationship between the user and the rail during the swing motion. Also, the housing carried on the club head will allow rotational movement during the swing motion. The framing orients the rail at a desired rotational movement for optimal swinging motion. And, the changing of elastomeric liners provides effective means to change the weight of the shaft head, which in turn exercises the muscle groups during the swinging movement. In yet another embodiment, it is contemplated changing the weight of the head to have more or less weight. This feature could be achieved by having the upper and lower members of the head being removably attached and thereafter replacing the one or both members with a member505A,505B with greater or lesser weight. Accordingly, utilizing the system201discussed above provides effective means to train the user's muscles to achieve the optimal swing motion.