Golf swing and putting stroke training device and method

A golf training device that is equally useful in developing a putting stroke and a swing stroke. A club head is severed in the middle and a ball is rotatably secured between the head segments. A circumferential line is applied at the ball's equator defining a plane perpendicular to a line about which the ball rotates. Rotation of the ball is employed for training certain strokes or segments of strokes, and the circumferential line is employed for training certain strokes or segments of strokes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to golf training devices and methods, and more particularly to a golf training device to provide visual and tactile feedback to the user for golf strokes, both putting strokes and swing strokes.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

There are many methods and devices for improving the golf swing or putting stroke. Some work for putting strokes, some work for swings, with varying degrees of success.

Few, if any, employ a single concept for both swings and putting strokes. Generally, the putting stroke has little resemblance to swing of a non-putter, for example, a five iron. Thus, teaching methods and devices normally separate these two aspects of instruction for golfers.

As used herein, the term “golfer” will be used to refer to anyone having any type of golf club in their hands with the intention of making a golf stroke.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention employs a single, consistent structural concept to train both swing strokes and putting strokes. The respective methods of employing the structure differ in detail but are related.

In its simplest form, a device according to an embodiment of the invention can be an actual putter where the putter head is split in the middle to create an inner segment and an outer segment. A ball, preferably a golf ball, is rotatably mounted on a shaft connecting the two head segments and has a circumferential line around its equator. In use, a golfer employs the thus formed putting training device by developing a stroke where the putter stays on or close to the ground through a significant portion of the putting stroke, both back and through the hitting area.

In an alternative embodiment, an iron, for example, a five iron, is split in a similar fashion with a rotatable ball in the middle between the inner and outer segments. The ball has a line around its equator in the same manner as the putter embodiment. In this case the line enables the golfer to determine proper club head positions, and proper wrist pronation at several different positions of the swing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Various embodiments of the invention and methods of use are described below in conjunction with the drawing figures. The particular golf clubs, and their shapes and sizes are presented for graphical purposes only and are not intended to be limited to a particular style or a particular numbered iron. A five iron was chosen only for exemplary purposes.

Putter21is shown inFIG. 1having shaft22with grip23, and head24. The shaft and grip can be any style and their particularities are not relevant to this discussion of the invention.

Head24is shown in detail, and in two embodiments, inFIGS. 1-6. The embodiment of FIGS.1and4-6is employed where the golfer desires to actually make contact with a ball on a green while making use of the training aspects of the putting embodiment of the invention.

Inner segment25of head24is connected in a conventional manner to shaft22. Outer segment26is connected to inner segment25by rod or shaft31so as to prevent relative movement between the segments. Ball32, normally a standard golf ball but the invention is not so limited, has bore33there through. The bore is countersunk at each end to accommodate bearing34, only one of which is shown inFIG. 6. A line35is applied at the equator of ball32so as to define a plane through the ball which is perpendicular to the axis of rod31.

It is intended that ball32be freely rotatable on rod31, with substantially no radial or longitudinal motion of the ball. Within tolerances, it is not possible to have absolutely no longitudinal motion of ball32on rod31without the possibility of interference and binding in contact with the head segments.

As alternatives to bearings34, which may be roller or ball bearings, the shaft may be coated with a self-lubricating substance such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or a sleeve of PTFE may be inserted into bore33to provide a bearing surface with respect to rod31. There are likely other conventional means for enabling ball32to be freely rotatable on rod31.

As shown inFIGS. 1,4, and5, contact plate36is mounted to front faces37and38of respective inner and outer segments by conventional means. Standoffs41are provided to ensure clearance between plate36and ball32. Bolts42may be employed to contact plate36and standoffs41to faces37and38.

InFIGS. 2 and 3, head24is not equipped with plate36, so this embodiment is a pure training device and is not intended to contact a separate ball on a green. The method of using the putter embodiments will be described below.

It should be noted that ball32is in the center of the putter head, generally at the position of the center of percussion. The head is split so that the club is balanced about ball32, that is, there is not a feeling of torque in the golfer's hands when using this training device.

An alternative embodiment is shown inFIGS. 7-9. This is a long-shafted putter, often termed a “belly” putter or a “chest” putter. With this structure, a rotating ball45is positioned on each end of putter head46. This is a center shafted putter where shaft46is mounted in known fashion to approximately the center of head46. The principle operation is the same for this embodiment as for theFIG. 1embodiment. However, face51of head46is intended to contact a ball52with both balls45in rolling contact with the ground through the contact area. Balls45are mounted for free rotation on the ends of rod or shaft53. Alternatively, stub shafts (not shown) may be mounted to either end of head46. Bearings54or other friction reducing means, as previously described, may be employed to allow free rotation of balls45.

A method of use of theFIGS. 1-6embodiment is shown inFIG. 10. For initial training, the embodiment ofFIGS. 2 and 3is employed inFIG. 10.FIG. 10Ashows putter21at address position. Putting stances vary widely and a common, square-alignment stance is shown for purposes of explanation and is not, itself to be considered part of the invention. For training purposes, as shown inFIG. 10B, the putter head is taken back low to the ground, staying at the ground level until head24is approximately even with rear foot61. During this portion of the putting stroke, ball32is not lifted off the ground and the ball rotates freely along the ground as indicated by arrow62. It is only after head24reaches a position opposite the rear foot that may come up off the ground, to the position shown inFIG. 10B.

On the forward portion of the stroke (FIG. 10C), ball32returns to a position in contact with the ground and holds in that position until head24is approximately even with forward foot63. During this “contact” portion of the stroke, ball32is in contact with the ground and rotates in the direction indicated by arrow64. If the putting stroke is correct, face27of head24stays perpendicular to the intended line of the putt at all times. Most importantly, the putter face remains square to the line at least during the time ball32is in contact with the ground.

For short putts, generally in the range of about ten feet or shorter, ball32never comes off the ground during a proper putting stroke. Ball32, with circumferential line35being clearly visible and aligned in the direction of the intended putt, rolls smoothly in the backstroke and through the forward stroke. By training the putting stroke in this manner with the device of this invention, a proper putting stroke will be established. For longer putts, ball32will be raised off the ground during the backswing (FIG. 10B) and will be raised off the ground during the follow through (FIG. 10D). Again, with a proper stroke, keeping the face27perpendicular to the intended line, ball32will rotate freely after head24passes the contact area at the position shown inFIG. 10C, through to the position shown inFIG. 10D.

After training with theFIGS. 2 and 3embodiment, or as an alternative to theFIGS. 2 and 3embodiment, the embodiment ofFIGS. 1,4, and5may be employed. By having contact plate36, putter21may be used for training by contacting an actual golf ball. The stroke principles outlined above with respect to theFIGS. 2 and 3embodiment enables the person being trained to hit actual putts and get a feel for keeping the putter head low while observing the results of contacting a freely movable ball on a green.

Ball32is mounted in about the center of head24in order to be at the location of what would have been the center of percussion, or “sweet spot,” in order to create the proper “feel” when in use. The ball is mounted so as to project below the bottom edge of face27by approximately 0.125 to 0.25 inch so that the bottom front edge of the face does not engage the ground during the backswing. The distance ball32extends below the bottom of head24may be somewhat less than 0.125 inch, and can be greater than 0.25 inch. In order for plate36to clear the ground, somewhat greater than 0.25 inch may be necessary for the ball to project below the bottom of head24.

The principles of used described above apply equally to the embodiment ofFIGS. 7-9. This long-shafted putter is intended to be employed in a manner that head46is aligned parallel to the ground at address (FIG. 9) and stays parallel to the ground throughout the putting stroke. Balls45are individually rotatable and should rotate equally during the putting stroke. If the head strays off the perpendicular orientation to the intended line of the putt, balls45will rotate differently, or will not rotate freely if the putter head is twisted during the putting stroke in a manner that turns face51so it is off line and not perpendicular to the intended line.

The principle of the embodiments ofFIGS. 1-10carries over to theFIGS. 11-14embodiment. An iron, such as five iron71, is shown with head72split into two segments with ball73rotatably secured between inner segment74, mounted in known fashion to shaft70, and outer segment75. Circumferential line76encircles the equator of the ball in a plane perpendicular to face77A and77B. Ball73is rotatably mounted on shaft81, with bearings82on either end of the bore through the ball, as previously described with respect to the embodiments ofFIGS. 1-10.

Since the ball is rotatably mounted in head72in much the same manner as in the putter embodiment, further detailed discussion of that structure is not necessary with respect to theFIGS. 11-14embodiment.

The manner of use of theFIGS. 11-14embodiment will now be described with respect toFIGS. 14A-14F. At address (FIG. 14A) ball73is in contact with ground81. The backswing starts with ball73moving initially along the ground and then upwardly, as indicated by arrow82. The ball rotates as indicated by arrow83. When shaft70of club71reaches the position shown inFIG. 14B, with the golfer's hands at about hip-height, the golfer's wrists should be pronated so that line76on ball73is horizontal or parallel with the ground. Because the obtuse angle between shaft70and a line through the face of head72is typically about 110-120° for a five iron, shaft70is at about 20-30° above horizontal inFIG. 14Bwith the wrists properly pronated and the hands at about hip height. For a full swing the shaft may reach the position shown inFIG. 14C, that is, about 20-30° past horizontal, with line76on ball73being approximately horizontal, parallel to the ground. This position would typically be reached only when swinging a driver, and not all golfers have that long a backswing. However, for teaching purposes, the device of this invention is instructive even to this extreme. On the downswing, the wrists stay cocked, or pronated, so that face77of head72faces directly away from the golfer when the hands are at approximately hip height and the shaft angle is about 20-30° above horizontal and line76on ball73is again substantially horizontal (FIG. 14D). At the bottom of the swing, the contact area, the club and ball73contact ground81and the ball rotates forwardly, as indicated by arrows83(FIG. 14E). At this point the clubface is perpendicular to the intended line of flight of a ball if it were being hit, and line76is perpendicular to the ground, as it was at the address position. Finally, on the follow though, the wrists continue to pronate so that, at the halfway, or hip height, position (FIG. 14F), the club face is reversed (generally vertical) and faces behind the golfer and approximately parallel to the intended line of flight. Line76on ball73is once again substantially parallel to the ground at this mid-follow through position.

A golfer can practice the swing before a mirror and can immediately see if the positions of line76are correct at the various positions of the full swing of the club. This embodiment of the invention also enables a golf instructor to quickly report deficiencies in the golfer's swing and make corrections that can easily be perceived. As a matter of fact, with line76on ball73, anyone can assist the golfer by merely observing the positions of the line at critical positions in the swing.

While an iron is employed to function as a training device for a golf swing, a single club in the form of the putter inFIGS. 1-10could serve for both the putting stroke and the full swing. The principles can be learned equally well because the shape of the club head makes no difference in the position to be achieved of the circumferential line on the ball which is rotatably mounted in the club head. An exemplary angle of 110-120° between the shaft and the club head was employed in the description ofFIGS. 11-14above. It will be recognized that there is no set angle and in a set of clubs, that angle will vary from the lower numbered irons through the higher numbered irons.

The above description is intended to provide an example of the principles of the invention, through several embodiments. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific examples shown and described. The appended claims are to be construed as covering all reasonable equivalents that are fairly encompassed within their respective structures and limitations.