Golf swing aid

A golf swing aid comprises a glove having a thumb and a substantial wrist band integrated with the open end of the glove. A flexible tie is connected at one of its ends to the end portion of the thumb and has a length sufficient to overlie the back of the thumb. An adjustable fastener is mounted on the wrist band substantially aligned with the thumb in the use position of the glove. In use, the free end of the tie is secured in the address position, becomes limp during the back swing because of cocking of the wrist, and becomes taut during the down swing, assisting the golfer to unflex his wrists to their address position, thereby assisting in hitting the ball squarely.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention pertains to golf swing aids. It pertains particularly to a 
glove-type golf swing aid which assists the golfer in hitting the ball 
squarely. 
As is well known, when a golfer addresses the golf ball and makes his shot 
there occur two movements of the wrist: lateral and vertical. The lateral 
movement is involved in the short swing, such as is used in making a chip 
or putt or even a short pitch when the back swing is short. However, as 
the back swing is lengthened, the wrist action changes from lateral to 
vertical. 
To illustrate, if the club is held in address position and the wrists 
flexed without moving the arms, the clubhead raises directly upwardly. 
This is vertical wrist movement. 
This same movement occurs during a long back swing. 
When making a full swing, it is easy for the golfer to picture and control 
the lateral movement of the arms and hands as they move on the projected 
line of flight. However, it is difficult for him to control vertical wrist 
movement. Such movement is of the greatest importance, however, since as 
the wrists are flexed vertically on the top of the back swing, so they 
must be unflexed accurately on the down swing. If they are not unflexed 
enough, the club will make contact too high on the ball. If they are 
unflexed too much, the club will strike the ground under the ball. 
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a simple, effective 
golf swing aid which enables the golfer to control the vertical movement 
of his wrists on the down swing so that they assume exactly the address 
position at the moment of impact with the ball, thereby helping the golfer 
to hit the ball squarely. 
Other objects of the invention are the provision of a golf swing aid which 
is relatively simple in construction, easily put on and taken off, easily 
and accurately adjustable, comfortable when worn, effective, and 
relatively inexpensive. 
In essence, the golf swing aid accomplishing the foregoing and other 
objects of the invention comprises a glove having a thumb and a 
substantial wrist band integrated with or attached to its open end. A 
flexible tie is connected at one of its ends to the end of the thumb. The 
tie has a length sufficient to overlie the back of the thumb to the wrist 
band. Adjustable securing means on the wrist band maintain the tie 
substantially aligned with the thumb. In use, the securing means is 
fastened in the address position. It then will flex as the golfer's wrists 
flex during the back swing. However, it will become taut on the down 
swing, assisting the golfer to return the club to the position of address.

Referring to FIG. 1: 
The golf swing aid of my invention includes a glove indicated generally at 
10. As illustrated, this is the left hand glove worn by a right handed 
golfer. The invention is equally applicable, however, with suitable 
modification, to a right hand glove worn by a left handed golfer. 
The glove is conventional and indeed may comprise a commercial glove 
adapted for the present purpose. 
Thus the glove includes a back portion 12, a front or palm portion 14, 
fingers 16 and a thumb 18. As is conventional, the back portion may be cut 
away at 20 to facilitate putting on the glove. 
A substantial wrist band 22 may be integral with the upper open end of the 
glove or, as illustrated, is attached to the upper end of the palm portion 
by sewing. The wrist band preferably comprises a strip of canvas or other 
strong, durable, flexible fabric. It is provided with fasteners, 
preferably burr type ("Velcro") fasteners 24, 26. Conceivably, suitably 
positioned snap fasteners could be used, the object being to be able to 
fasten the wrist band snugly and securely about the wrist, because it is 
the anchor point for the instrumentality achieving the desired aid in 
guiding the down swing. 
This instrumentality comprises flexible tie means 30. The tie means 
advantageously may comprise a strap of woven fabric of such a character 
that it will not stretch appreciably when subjected to tension. One end of 
the strap is connected by sewing or otherwise to the end of the thumb. The 
tie is of sufficient length to overlie the back of the thumb, aligned 
therewith, and to reach the central portion of the wrist band. There it 
may be secured in a position of measured tension at address. 
However, in order to make the strap adjustable to suit different golfers, 
having different sized hands, cocking their wrists differently during 
address and back swing, it is preferred to provide on the wrist band at 
the indicated location a guide through which the tie passes. The guide is 
indicated at 32. It comprises a loop of flexible material. For example, it 
may comprise the same material as is used in fabricating the tie, sewn or 
otherwise affixed to the wrist band in a central location. 
In the illustrated embodiment, tie 30 is of sufficient length so that after 
passing it through guide 32 it may be bent reversely and extended to a 
selected location on the back of the glove. A preferred location is the 
area between the base of the thumb and the base of the index finger. 
Fastening means are provided for fastening the end of the tie to the back 
of the glove. Again burr type fastening means are preferred, there being 
one such fastener 34 on the end of the tie and another 36 on the back of 
the glove. 
Further to brace a hand and increase the accuracy with which the tie strap 
may be adjusted, there optionally is provided a brace strap 38. One end of 
the strap is connected to the glove at the seam between the face and back 
portion, opposite the thumb. The free end mounts a fastener 40, again a 
burr type fastener. A companion fastener 42 is mounted in an appropriate 
location on the back of the glove. 
In the use of the golf swing aid, glove 10 is placed on the left hand. 
Brace strap 38 is secured snugly across the back of the hand. Wrist band 
22 is secured snugly about the wrist. Tie strap 30 is inserted through 
loop 32 with its end hanging free, as in FIG. 1. 
The golfer then assumes the position of address. In this position he or a 
companion fastens the end of tie strap 30 to fastener 36 in such a manner 
that the tie strap is comfortably under tension. At this point there will 
be a feeling of reduced weight of the club head. If the tie strap is 
pulled too taut, there is a tendency for the club head to be raised 
vertically. The normal, taut position of the tie strap is illustrated in 
FIG. 2. 
Next the golfer makes his back swing. At the top of the back swing the tie 
strap condition of FIG. 3 prevails. It will be noted that the tie strap is 
loose, because the wrists have been flexed upwardly. 
During the downswing the wrists are flexed downwardly. As they approach the 
address position of FIG. 2, the tie strap again will become taut. The 
golfer will feel this and accordingly will desist from bending his wrists 
downwardly any further. Conditions thus are set for hitting the ball 
squarely. In this manner the device assists the golfer in grooving his 
swing so that with time and practice his wrists will flex and unflex 
correctly.