Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to a sports training device and method thereof. More particularly, the invention encompasses a flexible panel having a pocket for accommodating a golf club that is secured to the head of a golf club and used as a golf training device (GTD). The present invention is also directed to a novel method of training a golfer using the inventive golf training tool. The inventive golf training device may also be referred to as a lag rag or as a wind speed resistance trainer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   The instant patent application claims priority to and the benefit of pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/083,293, filed on Jul. 24, 2008, titled “Wind Speed Resistance Trainer,” the entire disclosure of which provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a sports training device and method thereof. More particularly, the invention encompasses a flexible panel having a pocket for accommodating the head of a golf club and used as a golf training device (GTD). The present invention is also directed to a novel method of training a golfer using the inventive golf training tool. The inventive golf training device may also be referred to as a lag rag or as a wind speed resistance trainer. 
   BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
   Golf is a very popular sport throughout the world. Each year golfers spend millions of dollars on different aspects of this game. However, each golfer has a strong desire to improve his or her game and they spend substantial amount of monies for such improvements. For example, some golfers try to improve their game by having professionals give them training and lessons, while others try to improve their game by practicing the game on the golf course. Still others use a variety of golf training aids and devices to improve their game. 
   Presently there are numerous different golf swing training devices and tools that are available to the golfers so that they can improve their game. 
   For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,396 (William P. Wendt), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses an exercise device for improving a golf swing comprising a grip on an upper end of a shaft, a series of perforated circular discs weighing one, two, four, eight and sixteen ounces, respectively, adapted to fit securely on the shaft, proceeding geometrically in weight and a system for releasably securing any combination of the perforated discs on a lower end of the shaft. 
   Another golf swing trainer device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,358,157 (James W. Sorenson), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, where a golf swing strength trainer has a shaft of length not greater than that of a standard golf club shaft. A golf grip is fixed to one end of the shaft. A golf club head is fixed to the other end of the shaft. A pair of substantially equal weights is fixed concentrically on the shaft, one on each end of the grip, the center of gravity of the weights taken together being located substantially at a lengthwise center of the grip. Preferably, the weights abut the opposite ends of the grip. The muscles respond to the total weight of the trainer, which serves to increase strength, and which is the primary goal of the strength trainer. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,490 (Teruki Namba), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a golf swing training tool which comprises a plurality of blade portions and an attaching portion for detachably attaching these blade portions to an axial member for golf swinging, wherein the blade portions are radially disposed around an axis of the axial member when being attached to the axial member. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,479,068 (Lynn Ray), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a golf swing training device for improving muscle strength and club head speed. A golf swing training device comprising: a head cover, wherein the head cover further comprises a closure flap; at least one air catch coupled to the head cover, wherein the at least one air catch allows air to flow through; and a sock coupled to the at least one air catch. Alternate embodiments comprising: a head cover, wherein the head cover further comprises a closure flap; and at least one air catch coupled to the head cover wherein the at least one air catch comprises a pocket. Further embodiments comprising: a head cover, wherein the head cover further comprises an opening which allows a club shaft to pass through; at least one air catch coupled to the head cover; and a sock coupled to the at least one air catch. 
   However, there are still many problems with golf swing strength training tools and aids. For example, golf swing strength trainers that presently exist are heavy and/or awkward making them difficult to carry to and from the golf course or driving range. Also, current golf swing strength training aids are independent structures and do not attach to the golfers regular set of golf clubs. The difference between the grip on the golfer&#39;s regular clubs and the grip on any of the golf swing strength training aid may cause the golfer discomfort in switching back and forth between the clubs and the training aid. This discomfort may negatively impact the golfer&#39;s entire swing. 
   Accordingly, what is needed is a golf strength training aid that temporarily attaches to the golfer&#39;s regular set of clubs, and that is light and easy to carry to and from the driving range, and which also allows a golfer to practice their golf swings at most all locations where there is clearance to be able to swing a golf club. 
   Therefore, there is a need for an improvement in a golf training device and for a method thereof. 
   Furthermore, this invention improves on the deficiencies of the prior art and provides an inventive golf training device and a method thereof. 
   PURPOSES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is a novel golf training device and a method thereof. 
   Therefore, one purpose of this invention is to provide a golf training device and a method thereof. 
   Another purpose of this invention is to provide a golf training device that would help in improving a golfer&#39;s game. 
   Yet another purpose of this invention is to provide a robust, yet light weight, golf training device. 
   Still yet another purpose of this invention is to provide a golf training device which can be releasably attached and detached to a golf club head. 
   Therefore, in one aspect this invention comprises a golf swing training tool, comprising a first fold panel having at least one first securing tab, a base panel having at least one second securing tab, wherein said first fold panel is secured to said base panel so as to create a pocket for at least a portion of a golf club head, and wherein at least a portion of said at least one first securing tab is secured to at least a portion of said at least one second securing tab to form said golf swing training tool. 
   In another aspect this invention comprises a golf swing training device comprising:
     (a) a panel having a first panel fold and a base panel;   (b) said first panel fold has at least one first securing tab;   (c) said base panel has at least one second securing tab;   (d) said first panel fold is secured to said base panel so at to form a club head pocket;   (e) said club head pocket receives and secures a golf club head; and   (f) wherein at least a portion of said at least one first securing tab is secured to at least a portion of said at least one second securing tab so as to prevent any rotational movement of said golf club head, and thereby forming said golf swing training device.   

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with drawings. These drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. Like numbers represent like features and components in the drawings. The invention may best be understood by reference to the ensuing detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the inventive golf training device. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a second embodiment of the inventive golf training device where a portion of the head of a golf club is partially enveloped by the inventive golf training device. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a third embodiment of the inventive golf training device as secured to the golf club head. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the inventive golf training device (GTD) or tool  23 . The golf training device  23 , comprises of at least one flat panel  10 , such as, for example, cloth panel  10 . The flat panel  10 , has a first edge  11 , such as, a top edge  11 , a second edge  13 , such as, a bottom edge  13 , a first side edge  41 , such as, a left side edge  41 , a second side edge  43 , such as, a right side edge  43 . Preferably, the side edge  41 , of the flat panel  10 , is lifted and is folded from the first edge  11 , such as, the top edge  11 , to the second edge  13 , such as, the bottom edge  13 , so as to create a first panel fold  12 , having a face portion  19 , and a folded edge  42 . The flat panel  10 , now has a first panel fold  12 , and a non-folded or a base panel  14 . The first panel fold  12 , is then secured to the base panel  14 , via at least one securing means  16 , so as to create at least one club head pocket  18 . The first panel fold  12 , also has at least one first securing tab  17 , wherein the first securing tab  17 , is located between the securing means  16 , and the first edge  11 , and wherein at least a portion of the first securing tab  17 , is located on the face portion  19 , of the first panel fold  12 . For the purposes of illustration this embodiment is shown with the first side edge  41 , folded over, however, one could fold the second edge  43 , in order to form the golf head pocket  18 . Preferably, between the area of the securing means  16 , that the first edge  11 , the non-folded or base panel  14 , has at least one second securing tab  15 . It is preferred that the folded edge  42 , is at an angle and forms an angular edge  42 , between the top edge  11 , and the bottom edge  13 . For some applications the edge  42 , could be formed by securing the first panel  12 , along the edge  42 , to the base panel  14 . The area between the first panel  12 , and the base panel  14 , below the securing means  16 , and the club head pocket  18 , creates a wind pocket  38 , or a wind funnel  38 . The wind funnel  38 , helps channel the wind during the backward and forward swing of a golf club  20 , shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The channeling of the wind by the wind funnel  38 , also acts as one of the components for creating the necessary drag on the golf club  20 , during the swinging movement of the golf club  20 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a second embodiment of the inventive golf training device  23 , where a portion of a golf club head  28 , of a golf club  20 , is partially enveloped by the inventive golf training device  23 . A typical golf club  20 , has a club stem  25 , or club shaft  25 , and on one end of the club shaft  25 , is a grip  35 , or grip area  35 , and on the opposite end of the golf shaft  25 , is the golf club head  28 . Preferably, at least a portion of the golf club head  28 , is inserted into at least a portion of the club head pocket  18 , and the at least one second securing tab  15 , on the base panel  14 , is mated and secured to at least a portion of the at least one first securing tab  17 , so as to prevent the slipping out of the golf club  20 , from within the club head pocket  18 , of the flat panel  10 . For some applications the second securing tab  15 , when secured to the first securing tab  17 , may force a portion of the base panel  14 , to completely wrap around the golf club head  28 , thus making sure that the golf club head  28 , is substantially inside the club head pocket  18 . 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a third embodiment of the inventive golf training device  23 , as secured to a golf club head  28 . As one can see that the club head  28 , is substantially inside the club head pocket  18 , and a portion of the base panel  14 , overlaps a portion of the first panel fold  12 , thus creating a collar  40 . For some applications the collar  40 , may be around the lower end of the club stem or shaft  25 . It is preferred that once the golf training device  23 , is secured to a golf club  20 , that there be no rotation of the panel  10 , around the golf club head  28 . This can be achieved in a number of ways, for example, one could secure the second securing tab  15 , to the first securing tab  17 , so as to create the collar  40 , which is almost flush with the club head  28 , or club stem  25 . Once the golf securing device  23 , is secured to the golf club head  28 , the second edge  13 , is free to hang loose with gravity and which would create a tail  39 , or a trailing edge  39 . 
   After the inventive golf training device  23 , has been secured to the golf club  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , a golfer (not shown) would hold the golf club  20 , by the grip  35 , and lift the golf club  20 , in a typical golf swinging fashion, such that the tail  39 , hangs loosely, due to gravity. When the golfer takes a swing with the golf training device  23 , secured to the golf club  20 , the tail  39 , would substantially follow the golf club head  28 , and create an air friction or air resistance. In some golf swing postures the tail  39 , may not follow the swinging path of the golf club head  28 , but may tend to swing towards a second swinging path, where the second swinging path may be directed towards the outside due to centrifugal forces. 
   For some applications the panel  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , could have at least one panel or strip  22 , wherein the strip  22 , would be formed by a marking edge  21 , and the bottom or second edge  13 . Similarly, the panel  10 , could have at least one additional strip  24 , which would be formed by the marking edge  21 , and a marking edge  27 . The marking edge  21 ,  27 , could be formed by a plurality of means, such as, for example, printing the marking edge  21 ,  27 , creating a plurality of perforations along the marking edge  21 ,  27 , to name a few. The primary purpose of the strips  22 ,  24 , is to allow a golfer to cut or tear away the strip  22 , and/or  24 , as desired so as to change the weight of the panel  10 , or the drag that is created by the tail  39 , during the swinging movement of the golf club  20 . The edge markings  21 ,  27 , are shown as substantially parallel to the bottom edge  13 , however the marking edges  21 ,  27 , could be at an angle between the first side edge  41 , and the second side edge  43 , or could be formed either as a non-continuous edge  21 ,  27 , or as a jagged edge  21 ,  27 . 
   For some applications the panel  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , could have at least one panel or strip  31 , wherein the strip  31 , would be formed by a marking edge  32 , a side edge  41 , an upper marking edge  30 , and the bottom panel edge  13 . Similarly, the panel  10 , could have at least one additional strip  33 , which would be formed by the marking edge  32 , a marking edge  34 , the upper marking edge  30 , and the bottom panel edge  13 . The marking edge  30 ,  32 ,  34 , could be formed by a plurality of means, such as, for example, printing the marking edge  30 ,  32 ,  34 , creating a plurality of perforations along the marking edge  30 ,  32 ,  34 , to name a few. The primary purpose of the strips  31 ,  33 , is to allow a golfer to cut or tear away the strip  31  and/or  33 , as desired so as to change the weight of the panel  10 , or the drag that is created by the tail  39 , during the swinging movement of the golf club  20 . For some applications the strips  31 ,  33 , could be shaped like ribbons  31 ,  33 , that are attached to the cloth material  10 . The edge markings  32 ,  34 , are shown as substantially parallel to the side edge  43 , however the marking edges  32 ,  34 , could be at an angle between the first side edge  41 , and the second side edge  43 , or could be formed either as a non-continuous edge  32 ,  34 , or as a jagged edge  32 ,  34 . A person skilled in the art understands that these markings can be used to form slits or can be used for trimming purposes. For other applications these markings could be used to form a wind tail, slits, ribbons, to name a few. 
   With this invention when a golfer (not shown) takes a swing with his golf club  20 , with the inventive golf training device  23 , attached thereto, there is no rotation of the inventive golf training device  23 , around the golf club head  28 , and thus forces the golf training device  23 , to create the drag that would help improve a golfer&#39;s swing along with the golfer&#39;s game. The drag on the golf training device  23 , is created from a multiple sources, such as, for example, gravity, the material of the golf device  23 , the swinging trajectory of the golf club head  28 , to name a few. Similarly, other sources of resistance are due to, for example, the added weight of the golf training device  23 , which makes the golf club  20 , slightly heavier to swing; the length of the golf training device  23 , which drags behind the swinging club head  28 , creating a centrifugal force as the golf club  20 , swings in a circular motion; additionally, as the golf training device  23 , is swung down, it acts like a parachute to catch air and create wind resistance, to name a few. It is preferred that during the golf swing that there is no rotation of the club head pocket  18 , with respect to the golf club head  28 . 
   As one can appreciate that with this invention a standard golf club  20 , can be turned into a temporary training aid by the attachment of the inventive golf training device  23 , to the club head  28 . Therefore, with this invention a golfer can use their personal set of golf clubs and train with them without hitting a single golf ball. Similarly, the training experience a golfer gets using their own set of golf clubs substantially improves the golfing ability of the golfer. 
   As stated earlier that the golf training device  23 , is attached to the club head  28 , in a fashion that enables the golf club  20 , to be swung vigorously with the golf training device  23 , attached securely to the golf club head  28 , and to be able to repeat the swinging movement without stopping, such as, to place a golf ball for each practice swing. 
   The at least one securing means  16 , could be selected from a group comprising, a stitched seam, a permanent adhesive, a permanent weld, a permanent fusion of the first panel fold  12 , with the corresponding location of the panel  10 , around the area of the at least one securing means  16 , to name a few. 
   The at least one first securing tab  17 , could be selected from a group comprising, a Velcro, a temporary adhesive, a magnet secured to the first panel fold  12 , around the area of the at least one first securing tab  17 , to name a few. 
   The at least one second securing tab  15 , could be selected from a group comprising, a Velcro, a temporary adhesive, a magnet secured to the base panel  14 , around the area of the at least one second securing tab  15 , to name a few. 
   The material for the panel  10 , could be selected from a group comprising, a cloth material, a cotton material, a polyester material, a terry cloth type material, a micro-fibrous material, a fibrous composite material, to name a few. 
   As stated earlier that the inventive golf training device  23 , is basically designed to attach to the club head  28 , of a golf club  20 . The inventive golf training device  23 , works on the concept of speed or wind resistance. With speed, as the golf training device  23 , is swung, it creates resistance through the area of the swing where the golf ball would normally be. Because the golf training device  23 , does not involve the actual hitting of a golf ball, it can be utilized almost anywhere what a golf club  20 , can be safely swung. As one can see that the golf training device  23 , can be easily, and securely attached to a golf club  20 , in a very short time. 
   The golf training device  23 , works extremely well on the golf muscles of a golfer, and in a matter of a very short time the golf muscles will feel the effects of the wind resistance. With this invention a golfer can train their golf muscles using their own set of clubs and at their own convenience. This of course saves a golfer time and monies by eliminating the many trips to the driving range. Another advantage with this invention is that the golfer gets a good workout using the inventive golf training device  23 , without the need to stop and place a golf ball before each practice hit. 
   Additionally, the golf training device  23 , creates such resistance with speed that a good workout is achieved in a very short period of time. This is achieved as the faster the golfer swings the golf club  20 , the more resistance the golf training device  23 , creates, and that force that is created against the golf swing is then displaced or transferred onto the muscles involved. The muscles then respond naturally by applying more force against the wind resistance created by the arcuate movement of the golf training device  23 . 
   With this invention, after a minimal use, a golfer will have more power in their golf swing. A golfer could also use the inventive golf training tool  23 , to help them with the timing between the lower body and waist, through the mid-section to the shoulders and arms, and finally the forearms and wrists for a total rhythmic and powerful golf swing. 
   After the golf training device  23 , is removed from the golf club  20 , it can also be used as golf bag hand towel or as a cleaning device for the golf clubs  20 , golf balls, or similar other items. One could also put corporate logos or similar indicia on the golf training tool  23 . 
   One of the advantages of this invention is that it allows the maximization of a golfer&#39;s swing speed by building up all the muscles involved in the golf swing. Additionally, this invention gives the golfers with limited time the ability to make major improvements to their swing in a minimal amount of time. This invention can be used anywhere where a golf club  20 , can be swung safely, such as, for example, a yard, a driveway, a sidewalk, a park, to name a few. The golf training device can also be used prior to teeing off for a round of golf to loosen up ones golf swing, thus making a golfer more prepared to play. 
   It should be appreciated that the golf training device or tool  23 , fits snugly around the golf club head  28 , and does not rotate around the golf club head  28 , when the golf club  20 , is lifted or during the swinging motion of the golf club  20 . Similarly, any portion of the golf training device  23 , can be adjusted or shaped to change the resistance levels, as desired by the golfer (not shown). 
   This invention also helps at the very start or take off of the club  20 . Similarly, by creating a dragging weight it helps to make the forearms and shoulders drag the club  20 , back to the top of the swing. This prevents too much wrist hinge lifting the club  20 . As one can appreciate that golf training device  23 , helps not only during the rearward or backward movement of the golf club  20 , but also during the forward movement of the golf swing. 
   While the present invention has been particularly described in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.