Abstract:
A golf swing training apparatus is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a support structure for supporting the golf swing training apparatus in a support plane, and a telescopic swing training arm connected to the support structure and further connectable to a golf club shaft. The telescopic swing training arm is biased toward a predetermined length, whereby the swing training arm is urged toward the predetermined length in response to axial movement thereof in either first or second directions away from the predetermined length. The predetermined length is such as to accommodate a preferred path of travel for a golf club through a portion of a golf swing.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/016,198, filed Jan. 30, 1998, and the entirety or that specification is incorporated herein by reference.  
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a golf swing training apparatus and more particularly, to an adjustable golf swing training apparatus that indicates whether a golfer&#39;s swing is in error and repeatedly aligns the golfer in a consistent and proper location.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In developing a proper golf swing, most professional golfers would admit that the proper golf swing technique is to bring the club back in a consistent, customized swing plane and swing down and through the ball in another swing plane by pivoting the body, moving the arms and hips forward, following through the swing, and shifting the weight towards the target. Other golf pros contend that the golf club head actually follows one swing plane in both the back swing and the follow through but that the angle between the golfer&#39;s hands and the golf club shaft change during the follow through thus creating a different swing plane at the golfer&#39;s hands. Either way, to develop a consistent and effective golf swing, a golfer must develop a repeatable swing that follows the swing planes described above. Errors occur in striking the ball when the golfer deviates from the swing plane created in the back swing, and thus, the club is not returned properly to the originating position behind the ball. If an improper or inconsistent swing is used, practiced and repeated, the golfer will make inconsistent and unpredictable contact with the ball resulting in erratic performance.  
           [0004]    Many golf swing training apparatuses have been developed in an attempt to teach the proper swing plane and allow for an effective golf swing. Some of these training devices utilize a “swing arm” or “radius arm” that attaches to the golf club shaft, golf club head or hands of the golfer in order to encourage or force the golfer to swing along a predetermined arc dependent upon the length, position and method of attachment of the swing arm. Golf swing training apparatuses have been developed using flexible swing arms, such as a cable, or rigid swing arms which utilize a rod or tubing to guide the golf club in the ascending and descending portions of the swing. Other golf swing training apparatuses have been developed utilizing a pendulum motion along a proper swing plane or arc in order to encourage a swing that is consistent and repetitive.  
           [0005]    Almost all of the golf swing training apparatuses which utilize rigid swing arms force the golfer to swing the club in a predetermined plane. Such devices do not require any conscious input by the golfer, and thus, the apparatus becomes a teaching crutch which lessens the effectiveness of the training device. The disadvantage of such devices is that the path of the club is completely controlled by the apparatus, and therefore, the golfer&#39;s swing becomes dependent on the training apparatus, thus diminishing the golfer&#39;s ability to play the game without the benefit of the training apparatus. These apparatuses do not provide any feedback to the golfer that he may be trying to force his swing in or out of the predetermined swing plane. In addition, those training apparatuses which utilize flexible swing arms, such as cable, do not ensure that the proper swing plane is being maintained since there is no indicator that the cable is taut throughout the entire swing.  
           [0006]    Most all of the golf swing training apparatuses that utilize swing arms require that the back swing and the follow through swing be in one predetermined swing plane. Most professional golfers agree that the back swing of a golf swing occurs in one swing plane and the follow through of a golf swing occurs in a second swing plane. This change in swing planes requires an adjustment in the length of the swing arm as the golfer&#39;s swing makes the transition from the back swing to the follow through swing. Most golf swing training apparatuses which utilize rigid swing arms do not provide any compensation for the length of the swing arm as the golfer moves from the back swing to the follow through swing. Thus, these devices do not allow the golfer to perform or practice the optimal swing which will ensure the most effective play.  
           [0007]    None of the golf swing training apparatuses provide an alignment mechanism or set-up procedure to ensure that the golfer is properly and repeatedly aligned with respect to the golfer&#39;s stance and the golf ball. In order to assure a consistent and repetitive swing, it is necessary to ensure that the golfer maintains a consistent and repetitive stance so that the feel of the swing remains consistent to the golfer. Most all of the training devices simply require the golfer to approach and utilize the device without considering where or how the golfer is or was aligned from swing to swing or from training session to training session. Some of the golf training apparatuses do provide for a vertical height adjustment of the swing arm to adjust for varying heights of the golfers, and other devices have utilized markings for indicating the spacing between the golfer&#39;s feet. Still, none of these devices ensure a consistent and repetitive positioning of the golfer relative to the golf swing training apparatus.  
           [0008]    It would be desirable to provide a golf swing training apparatus that provided a golfer with a proper swing while providing a response to the golfer that the proper swing plane was or was not maintained. It would also be desirable to provide a golf swing training apparatus that allowed a golfer to utilize one swing plane in his back swing and utilize a second swing plane in his follow through swing. It would further be desirable to provide a golf swing training apparatus that provided an apparatus for consistently and repeatedly aligning a golfer with the golf swing training apparatus.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention provides an adjustable golf swing training apparatus that provides a support structure having a vertical support member, a horizontal support member, and a support plane. The apparatus also provides a telescopic swing training arm having one end articulately coupled to the vertical support member for rotational movement thereabout and an opposite end articulately connectable to a golf club shaft. The swing training arm is biased toward a predetermined length wherein the swing training arm may contract and expand from a predetermined length in response to a golfer&#39;s swing. The present invention also provides a stance support for properly and repeatedly aligning a golfer in a two dimensional stance plane substantially perpendicular to the support plane.  
           [0010]    In the preferred form, the swing training arm is connected to the vertical support member by a universal joint. The swing training arm is telescopic and has an inner rod and an outer tube wherein the inner rod slides axially within the outer tube. The outer tube of the telescopic swing training arm has at least one magnetic portion connected thereto, and the inner rod has a magnetically attracted member that is axially alignable with the magnetic portion of the outer tube. The magnetic portion of the outer tube and the magnetically attracted member of the inner rod are radially spaced so that the magnetically attracted member is magnetically attracted to the magnetic portion. The magnetic attraction biases the inner rod to a predetermined position with respect to the outer tube thus creating a predetermined biased length of the telescopic swing arm. In another embodiment, a piezo-electric switch, which is responsive to the magnetic portion being axially misaligned relative to the magnetically attracted member, may be utilized to actuate an audio signal responsive to the piezo-electric switch to indicate to the golfer that the telescopic swing arm has varied from its predetermined length.  
           [0011]    In the preferred form, the present invention provides that the swing training arm is connectable to a golf club shaft by a swivel clamp assembly. The swivel clamp assembly provides a first clamp connectable to the golf club shaft wherein the golf club shaft is allowed to rotate about and move axially along its longitudinal axis relative to the first clamp. The first clamp is positioned just below the grip of the golf club, wherein the grip prevents the grip end of the golf club from passing through the first clamp. A second clamp is connectable to the golf club shaft in a fixed position relative to the golf club shaft just below the first clamp. The second clamp prevents the golf club shaft from moving along the longitudinal axis of the golf club shaft toward the golf club head. A third clamp is fixedly connected to the end of the swing training arm, and a reinforced flexible material is utilized to connect the first clamp to the third clamp in order to provide limited multi-directional movement of the golf club shaft relative to the swing training arm.  
           [0012]    The present invention also provides a stance support that is adjustably connected to the horizontal support member of the support structure. The stance support provides a front portion which is adjustably connected to the horizontal support structure by a pair of releaseable fasteners. A first indicia is located on the front portion of the stance support to indicate the position of the stance support with respect to the vertical support member of the support structure. The stance support also provides a pair of substantially parallel side rails which are substantially perpendicular to the front portion of the support structure. The side rails of the support structure slidably receive a stance mat, whereon a golfer stands, and a tee mat, whereon the golf ball is placed. A second indicia is located on at least one of the side rails for indicating the distance of the stance mat from the support plane. A third indicia is located on the stance mat for indicating the spacing between the golfer&#39;s feet. The third indicia corresponds to the first indicia to properly align the golfer with respect to the vertical support member of the support structure. A fourth indicia is also placed on the side rails to indicate the distance of the tee mat from the support plane, and a fifth indicia is provided on the vertical support member of the support structure to indicate the vertical height of the swing training arm.  
           [0013]    The present invention also provides a knee pad for restricting improper movement of the golfer&#39;s knee during the golf swing. A planar support structure is connected to the side rails of the support structure and is located behind the golfer. The planar support structure rises vertically from the side rails and substantially parallel to the vertical support member. A rectangular padded section is adjustably connected to the planar support member and extends outward from the planar support toward the support plane. The pad is adjacently positioned on the outside of the right knee of a right handed golfer (left knee of a left-handed golfer) to limit outwardly swaying of the right knee.  
           [0014]    In another form of the invention, the support structure may be self-supporting, as commonly seen in self-standing basketball nets. This embodiment of the support structure includes a weighted base which is commonly filled with sand, water, or weight, and the vertical support member and the horizontal support member are connected to the weighted base to provide a similar support structure as defined in the preferred embodiment.  
           [0015]    To this end, the objects of the present invention are to provide a new and improved adjustable golf swing training apparatus that provides a training aid for indicating a proper golf swing while indicating any errors that may occur during the golfer&#39;s swing; to provide a new and improved adjustable golf swing training apparatus that allows a golfer to swing in one swing plane during the back swing and a second swing plane during the follow through swing; and to provide a new and improved golf swing training apparatus that provides a mechanism to repeatedly align a golfer to utilize the golf swing training apparatus.  
           [0016]    Other objects, advantages, and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and wherein:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the adjustable golf swing training apparatus being utilized by a right-handed golfer.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a side view of the adjustable golf swing training apparatus being utilized by a left-handed golfer.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a plane view of the swivel clamp assembly.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the horizontal support member and the stance support.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a side view of the vertical adjustment bracket.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a second embodiment of the vertical adjustment bracket and articulating coupling for the swing arm.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a plane view of the swing training arm.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the magnetic coupling of the swing training arm.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the knee pad of the adjustable golf swing training apparatus.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the support structure wherein the support structure is self-standing.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the horizontal support structure and the stance support.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the magnetic coupling.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0030]    Referring to the drawings, the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiment.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 1 and 2 shows the adjustable golf swing training apparatus  10  in its preferred form. The golf swing training apparatus  10  provides a support structure  12  having a vertical support member  14  and a horizontal support member  16 . The support structure  12  may be connected to any reinforced foundation (not shown) such as the studs or steel beams of a building, concrete walls, self-standing poles that are reinforced by struts or a foundation, or any other foundation which may provide for a rigid support structure. A telescopic golf swing training arm  18  has one end  20  adjustably and articulately connected to the vertical support member  14  and an opposite end  22  connectable to a golf club  24 . A golfer  26  is properly positioned on a stance support  28  through the aid of golf pro (not shown), video tape, or written instruction. The stance support  28  properly aligns the golfer  26  in a two-dimensional stance plane which is substantially perpendicular to a support plane  32  provided by the support structure  12 . Indicators are provided on the stance support  28  to allow the golfer  26  to repeatedly align himself on the swing training apparatus  10  between swings and between practice sessions. As seen in FIG. 2, a knee pad  34  is provided adjacent and outside the left-handed golfer&#39;s left leg to prohibit improper movement of the knee during the golfer&#39;s swing.  
         [0032]    In order to support the swing training apparatus  10 , the vertical support member  14  is preferably fabricated from an aluminum “unistrut” railing having an open ended C-shaped cross-section wherein the ends of the cross-section curve inward toward the opening (horizontal unistrut member  48  has a similar cross-section as shown in FIGS. 4 and 11). The vertical support member  14  is connected to a foundation by lag screws (not shown). A pair of smaller vertical support members  36  are also connected to the foundation by lag screws (not shown) and are substantially parallel to the vertical support member  14 . The smaller vertical support members  36  are also fabricated from aluminum having the same “unistrut” cross-section as vertical support member  14 . The horizontal support member  16  is connected to both the vertical support member  14  and the smaller vertical support members  36  by bolts  34 . As seen in FIGS. 1, 2,  4 , and  11 , the horizontal support member  16  is fabricated from sheet metal or aluminum and has a top portion  40  that extends across and is substantially parallel to the three vertical support members  14 ,  36 . The horizontal support member  16  also has a mid-portion  42  which extends outwardly away from and substantially perpendicular to the vertical supports  14 ,  36  and the top portion  40  of the horizontal support member  16 . A bottom portion  44  of the horizontal support member  16  extends downward substantially perpendicular to the mid-portion  42  of the horizontal support member and substantially parallel to the top portion  40  of the horizontal support member  16 . The bottom portion  44  of the horizontal support member  16  either contacts or is slightly above the floor or ground. The top portion  40  of the horizontal support member  16  may have a plurality of apertures (not shown) extending therethrough to accommodate for studs that are spaced at eight inch, twelve inch, sixteen inch, and twenty-four inch intervals.  
         [0033]    In order to adjustably connect the stance support  28  to the horizontal support member  16 , a horizontal “unistrut” member  48 , having a cross-section similar to the vertical support members  14 ,  36 , is connected to the bottom portion  44  of the horizontal support member  16  by bolts (not shown). The stance support  28  has a front portion  50  that is fabricated from sheet metal. The front portion  50  has a top  52  and a bottom  54  that are substantially parallel to one another and a mid-portion  56  that connects the top  52  and the bottom  54  and is substantially perpendicular to both the top  52  and the bottom  54 . The front  50  of the stance support  28  abuts and overlies the horizontal “unistrut” member  48  so that the mid-portion  56  overlies and covers the open side of the horizontal “unistrut” member  48 . A pair of knobs  58  having threaded apertures therein receive threaded fasteners  57  that extend through apertures provided in the mid-portion  56  of the front  50  of the stance support  28 . Small steel plates  59  having apertures extending therethrough are positioned behind the curved ends of the horizontal “unistrut member”  48 . The threaded fasteners  57  extend through the apertures provided in the steel plates and thread into the threaded apertures provided in knobs  58 . By threading the knobs  58  onto the threaded fasteners  57 , the front  50  of the stance support  28  can be releaseably fastened to and adjusted along the horizontal support member  16 . A pair of pointers  60  (only one shown) are notched into the top  52  of the front  50  of the stance support  28  to indicate the position of the stance support  28  along the horizontal support  16  with respect to the vertical support member  14 . The pointers  60  point to a first indicia  62  which is located on the mid-portion  42  of the horizontal support member  16 . The first indicia  62  is scaled sequentially in inches wherein right handed golfers utilize the numbers to the left of the vertical support member  14  and left handed golfers use the numbers to the right of the vertical support member  14 . Labels may be provided to indicate which numbers are to be utilized for right and left handed golfers.  
         [0034]    To align the golfer  26  in the two-dimensional stance plane, the stance support  28  provides a pair of side rails  64  connected to the bottom portion  54  of the front  50  of the stance support  28 . The side rails  64  are fabricated from aluminum and have a similar “uninstrut” cross-section as the vertical support members  14 ,  36 . Slots (not shown) are provided near the ends of the bottom portion  54  of the front  50  of the stance support  28  to receive the ends of the side rails  64 . Apertures are provided in the bottom portion  54  of the front  50  of the stance support  28  to receive a threaded fastener  68  for securing the side rails  64  to the bottom portion  54  of the front  50  of the stance support  28 . The side rails  64  are substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the support plane  32 . The bottom surfaces of the side rails  64  rest on or are supported by the floor or ground.  
         [0035]    To position the golfer  26 , the stance support  28  provides a stance mat  70  slidably connected to the side rails  64 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The stance mat  70  is fabricated from a rectangular plastic molding that overlies the edges of the side rails  64 . The underside of the stance mat  70  has a shape which complements the side rails  64  of the stance support  28  so as to prohibit lateral movement of the stance mat  70  with respect to the side rails  64 . The underside of the stance mat  70  also has a tongue portion (not shown) which extends into the open ended portion of the side rails  64  to enhance the sliding of the stance mat  70  along the length of the side rails  64 . A second indicia  72  is located on the outside surface of at least one of the side rails  64  and/or inside the open ended portion of the side rails  64  to indicate the distance of the stance mat  70  from the support plane  32 . The second indicia  72  is scaled sequentially in inches, but the second indicia  72  may comprise of any numerical or alphabetic orientation which allows a golfer  26  to repeatedly locate the orientation of the stance mat  70  relative to the support plane  32 .  
         [0036]    The top surface of the stance mat  70  has a separate portion for each foot of the golfer  26 . In the case of a right handed golfer  26 , a raised corner  74  is provided for locating the left heel of the golfer  26 . A raised border  76  outlines a second area on the stance mat  70  for locating the right foot of the golfer  26 . Both the first area and the second area are slightly recessed for receiving a section of artificial turf or indoor/outdoor carpeting  78  to provide for good traction and footing.  
         [0037]    To indicate the distance between the golfers feet, a third indicia  80  is provided adjacent to the raised border  76  of the stance mat  70 . The third indicia  80  provides a scaled sequential numbering of every two inches. The two inch sequential numbering of the third indicia  80  corresponds and correlates with the first indicia  62 . Thus, when setting up the swing training apparatus  10 , the number on the third indicia  80  is to be set at the same number as the first indicia  62 . It should also be noted that a similar raised corner, raised border, and third indicia are provided on the opposite side of the stance mat  70  so that the stance mat  70  may be turned 180° relative to the side rails  64  and utilized for left handed golfers  26 .  
         [0038]    In order to indicate the position of the tee or golf ball, the stance support  28  provides a rectangular, plastic molded tee mat  82  which similarly complements and overlies the side rails  64  as described for the stance mat  70 . The top surface of the tee mat  82  is slightly recessed to allow for the fitting of artificial turf or indoor/outdoor carpeting  78 . Apertures may be provided in the artificial turf  78  to allow for rubberized tees  83  to extend through the artificial turf  78 . The tee mat  82  slides along the side rails  64 , and the distance of the tee mat  82  from the support plane  32  is determined by indicating the location of the tee mat  82  on a fourth indicia  84  which may be located on the side of the side rails  64  and/or inside the open end of the side rails  64 . Preferably, the fourth indicia  84  and the third indicia  80  are combined into one indicia on the side rails  64 .  
         [0039]    To prohibit improper movement of the golfer&#39;s knee, the knee pad  34  is adjacently mounted on the outside of a left-handed golfer&#39;s left knee or the outside of right-handed golfer&#39;s right knee. As seen in FIG. 9, the knee pad  34  is supported by a planar support  91  having a pair of rectangular and substantially parallel posts  93  and a planar plate  95  extending between and connected to the posts  93 . The bottoms of the posts  93  are adjustably connected to the side rails  64  by releasable fasteners  97 .  
         [0040]    The planar plate  95  has a plurality of tear shape apertures  99  for receiving bolt heads or screw heads (not shown) that extend from a mounting bracket  101  of the knee pad  34 . The mounting bracket  101  provides a base plate  103  that is substantially parallel to the planar plate  95  and an extension  105  that extends at an upward angle from the base plate  103 . The knee pad  34  is connected to the extension  105 . By adjusting the posts  93  relative to the side rails  64  and the base plate  101  relative to the planar plate  95 , the knee pad  34  may be positioned adjacent the golfer&#39;s knee regardless of the golfer&#39;s size or location.  
         [0041]    In order to secure the swing training arm  18  to the vertical support member  14 , a vertical adjustment bracket  86  is slidably adjustable along the vertical support member  14 , as seen in FIGS. 1, 2,  5  and  7 . The vertical adjustment bracket  86  has a U-shaped cross-section which overlaps and complements the open ended side of the vertical support member  14 . The vertical adjustment bracket  86  provides a knob  88  having a threaded aperture therein. A steel plate  89  having an aperture extending therethrough extends behind the turned-in ends of the “unistrut” cross-section of the vertical support member  14 , and a threaded fastener  87  extends through the aperture of the steel plate  89  and into the threaded aperture in the knob  88 . By threading the fastener  87  into the knob  88  and tightening the steel plate  89  against the vertical support member  14 , the vertical adjustment bracket  86  can be secured to the vertical support member  14 . By loosening the steel plate  89  from the vertical support member  14 , the vertical adjustment bracket  86  can be slidingly adjusted along the vertical support member  14 . A pointer  90  is notched into a side of the vertical adjustment bracket  86 , and the pointer  90  indicates the position of the vertical adjustment bracket  86  on a fifth indicia  92  located on the side of the vertical support member  14 . The fifth indicia  92  is a sequential scale in inches starting from the ground or floor and extending to the top of the vertical support member  14 . It should be noted that none of the indicia in the present invention are limited to a linear scale in inches, but rather, the indicia may comprise any numeral, alphabet or label which would allow for the recordation and repeated alignment of the golfer&#39;s positioning of the golf swing training apparatus  10 .  
         [0042]    To provide articulating motion of the swing training arm  18  relative to the vertical support member  14 , the vertical adjustment bracket  86  has an end portion  94  which is bent outward at an acute angle relative to the vertical support member  14 . A universal joint  96  has one end connected to the end portion  94  of the vertical adjustment bracket  86  by a bolt  98  and a lock washer  101 . The opposite end of the universal joint  96  is connected to the swing training arm  18  by a bolt  100 , lock washers  101 , and a jam nut  102 .  
         [0043]    In order to allow the swing training arm  18  to automatically adjust its length, the swing training arm  18  is telescopic and biased toward a predetermined length. As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the swing training arm  18  provides a telescopic shaft  104  having an outer tube  106  and an inner rod  108 . The outer tube  106  may be fabricated from any suitable material, including poly-vinyl chloride, aluminum, graphite, steel, fiberglass, or any other rigid or semi-rigid material. Although not critical, the outer tube  106  is preferably fabricated from a non-magnetically attractable material. The one end of the outer tube  106  has a cap  109  and is connected to the universal joint  96  by bolt  100 . The inner rod  108  slides axially into the opposite end of outer tube  106  along the longitudinal axis of the telescopic shaft  104 , and the inner rod  108  is allowed to extend outward from the outer tube  106 . The inner rod  108  may be fabricated from steel (sheltered from magnets by sleeve  118 ), graphite, fiberglass, aluminum or similar material that is non-magnetically attractable, sufficiently rigid, and has a suitably low coefficient of friction. If a magnetically attractable material is utilized, a non-magnetically attractable extension  118 , as will be discussed supra, may be utilized to extend the inner rod  108  which is fabricated from a magnetically attractable material.  
         [0044]    To bias the telescopic shaft  104  to a predetermined length, a magnetic housing  110  is disposed along the mid-portion of the outer tube  106  and is fabricated from a non-magnetic and non-magnetically attractable material. The magnetic housing  110  has a cylindrical configuration with a slightly larger mid-portion. The magnetic housing  110  has a stepped aperture extending axially therethrough wherein the magnetic housing  110  actually receives the ends of two separate segments of the outer tube  106  to form a continuous outer tube  106 . The stepped aperture has two larger diameter segments  107  for receiving the ends of the outer tube segments  106  and a smaller diameter segment  113  connecting the two larger diameter segments  107 . The smaller diameter segment  113  is slightly larger than the diameter of the inner rod  108  in order to slidingly receive the inner rod  108  and to provide a consistent bore through the outer tube  106 . The magnetic housing  110  also has six cylindrical apertures  111  that are bored radially through the mid-portion of the magnetic housing  110 . The radial apertures receive permanent magnets  112  that slip fit into the cylindrical apertures and are restrained by three o-rings  115 .  
         [0045]    The inner rod  108  has a steel slug  114  that is screwed onto the end of the inner rod  108  by screw  116 . An aluminum or plastic sleeve  118  is press fit or glued onto the inner rod  108  adjacent the steel slug  114 . The aluminum or plastic sleeve  118  is not necessary where a non-magnetic material is utilized for inner rod  108 . The steel slug  114  is magnetically attracted to the magnets  112  in the magnetic housing  110 , and the steel slug  114  rests in the center of the magnetic housing  110  to provide the predetermined biased length of the telescopic shaft  104 . The aluminum or plastic sleeve  118  prohibits any magnetic attraction from the inner rod  108 .  
         [0046]    To provide articulating movement between the swing training arm  18  and a golf club  24 , a swivel clamp assembly  120  is provided to connect the inner rod  108  of the telescopic shaft  104  to a golf club shaft  122 , as best seen in FIG. 3. The swivel clamp assembly  120  provides a first clamp  124  connected to the golf club shaft  122 . The first clamp  124  has a clam shell design wherein two halves having hemispherical reliefs formed therein are connected together by two fasteners  125  to receive and hold the golf club shaft  122 . The aperture formed by the two hemispherical reliefs in the first clamp  124  is slightly larger than the diameter of the golf club shaft  122  so that the shaft  122  may rotate and move axially along a longitudinal axis of the golf club shaft  122 . The aperture formed in the first clamp  124  is also small enough so that the grip  126  of the golf club  24  cannot pass through the aperture in the first clamp  124 . A second clamp  128 , having the same configuration as the first clamp  124 , is secured to the golf club shaft  122  on the opposite side of the first clamp  124  as the golf club grip  126 . The second clamp  128  is tightly secured to the golf club shaft  122  so that the golf club shaft  122  does not move relative to the second clamp  128 . The second clamp  128  abuts the first clamp  124  to prevent the golf club shaft  122  from sliding through the first clamp  124  toward the golf club head  130  (not shown in FIG. 3). A third clamp or connecting bar  132 , is secured to the inner rod  108  so that the inner rod  108  cannot move relative to the connecting bar  132 . The connecting bar  132  is a rectangular aluminum block having an aperture extending therethrough for receiving the inner rod  108 . A pin is inserted through the rectangular block and the inner rod  108  to prevent relative movement between the inner rod  108  and the rectangular block of the connecting bar  132 . A reinforced flexible material  134  fabricated from a reinforced rubber is connected to the first clamp  124  and the third clamp or connecting bar  132  to provide limited multi-directional movement of the golf club  24  relative to the swing training arm  18 .  
         [0047]    In operation, the golfer  26  preferably utilizes the golf swing training apparatus  10  in conjunction with a golf pro, video, or written instructions. The golf pro positions the golfer on the stance mat  70  by having the golfer  26  place his feet on the appropriate areas on the stance mat  70 . The pro evaluates the position of the golf club  24  relative to the golfer  26  and determines whether the vertical height of the swing training arm  18  needs to be adjusted based on the height of the golfer  26 . In addition, the golf pro evaluates the position of the tee mat  82  to determine the proper positioning of the golf ball relative to the golfer  26 . Once the golf pro has determined a proper stance for the golfer  26 , the numerical values on the second, third, fourth, and fifth indicia  72 ,  80 ,  84 ,  92 , respectively, are recorded. As a starting point, the first indicia  62  is set at the same value as the third indicia  80 , which corresponds to the spacing of the golfer&#39;s feet. The golf pro may then adjust the alignment further to fit the golfer&#39;s particular swing. The numerical values on the indicia should be recorded and retained so that the golfer  26  may return to the apparatus  10  and obtain consistent results without the aid of the golf pro.  
         [0048]    When the golfer  26  utilizes the golf swing training apparatus  10 , the golfer  26  tries to develop a back swing that follows a particular swing plane  152 , as seen in FIG. 1. If the golfer  26  correctly follows the swing plane  152 , the telescopic shaft  104  of the swing training arm  18  will maintain its length. If the golfer  26  takes the golf club  24  in or out  154  of the swing plane  152 , the telescopic shaft  104  of the swing training arm  18  will automatically expand or contract to compensate for the golfer  26  placing the golf club  24  in or out  154  of the swing plane  152 . When this occurs, the golfer  26  feels the steel slug  114  give way from the magnetic pull of the magnets  112 , and the golfer  26  realizes that his swing is in error. The golfer  26  may then reposition the swing training arm  18  by relocating the steel slug  114  back in the magnetic housing  110 . The telescopic shaft  104  will easily retract to the predetermined biased length of the swing training arm  18  as the steel slug  114  is magnetically biased to the magnets  112  in the magnetic housing  110 . The predetermined length of the swing training arm  18  may be identified by attaching a tape or indicia on the inner rod  108  to indicate where the tape should align with the end of the outer tube  106 .  
         [0049]    In an additional embodiment, an audible response mechanism  135  may be provided to indicate to the golfer  26  that an error has occurred in the back swing. As seen in FIGS. 12 and 12A, an audible response may be provided by extending the length of the magnetic housing  110 ′ to house a pair of piezo-magnetic or piezo-electric switches (or photoelectric cells)  136 ,  138 . As shown in housing  110 ′ a magnetic disk (or a gap if photoelectric cells are utilized)  140  is connected to the steel rod  108  and is axially spaced from the steel slug  114 . The magnetic disk  140  is centered between the piezo-magnetic or piezo-electric switches  136 ,  138  when the steel slug  114  is aligned with magnets  112  at the biased predetermined length of the swing training arm  18 . When the golfer  26  errs and the telescopic shaft  104  expands or contracts, the magnetic disk  140  actuates one of the piezo-magnetic or piezo-electric switches  136 ,  138 . The switches  136 ,  138  actuate the audible response mechanism  135  (not shown) by sending a signal through electric wires  156 . An audio signal is generated to notify the golfer  26  that the golf club  24  has been brought in or out of the swing plane  152 . The audible response mechanism  135  (not shown) may be located on the vertical support member  14  or the swing training arm  18 .  
         [0050]    In yet another embodiment, the universal joint  96  may take on other forms which provide similar articulate motion. FIG. 6 shows a spring assembly  142  which may be utilized to provide articulate motion to the swing training arm  18 . The vertical adjustment bracket  86 ′ is similar except that the end portion  94 ′ has a C-shaped cross-section. A bolt  144  extends through the C shaped cross-section wherein a series of bushing  143  and nuts  145  are utilized to secure the bolt  144  to the vertical adjustment bracket  86 ′. A last coupling member  147  provides a rod wherein a coil-type spring  146  is press fit onto the rod. The opposite end of the spring  146  is threaded onto a coupling  148  which engages the end of the outer shaft  106  of the swing training arm  18 .  
         [0051]    In yet another embodiment of the invention, the support structure  12  may utilize a self-supporting support structure  12 ′ as shown in FIG. 10. The self-supporting support structure  12 ′ utilizes a weighted base  148  which may be filled with water, sand, gravel or the like. A vertical support structure  14 ′ is connected to the weighted base  148  and may be supported by a plurality of additional struts  150 . A horizontal support member  16 ′ may then be connected to the front of the weighted base  148 .  
         [0052]    While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to these disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modification and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.