Abstract:
A golf swing training device to aid a golfer in keeping their wrists in a proper position throughout a golf swing includes a golf club grip clip, an adjustable spacer rod, and a wrist strap. The wrist strap includes an adjustable and securable fabric strap which engages the golfer&#39;s wrist. The wrist strap is affixed to the length adjustable spacer rod which is in turn attached to the grip clip. The grip clip engages the grip end of the golf club such that the golfer&#39;s wrists are confined to a predetermined distance and angle during a golf swing for purposes of training. The device may be used singularly or as a pair, if desired, to allow for simultaneous training of both wrists.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Jun. 17, 2010, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to golf training devices, and in particular, to a training device for practicing a golf swing to reinforce a correct position of an arm relative to a golf club during the golf swing. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The game of golf has become one the most technologically advanced sports in the world. Experts in science and physics have combined state of the art materials with ergonomic and aerodynamic principles in order to produce golf clubs and golf balls that produce more accurate and consistently longer golf shots. Even with all of this technology people still have difficulty in mastering the basics of the game. One (1) of these basics is the ability to keep one&#39;s wrists in the correct position throughout the entire swing. The wrists of many or even most golfers move about haphazardly during a swing. This movement then causes the face of the club to move wildly, resulting in balls that slice off to the left or right. While various coaching methods exist to help combat this condition, it remains a problem for many golfers. 
     Various training devices have attempted to provide assistance with this problem and train golfers how to properly maintain the position of the hands and forearms relative to the golf club during the golf swing. Many of these devices focus on setting the distance between and holding the position of the arms while gripping the club. Other devices provide extension members of varying complexity which attach to the club to reinforce the position of the club within the golfer&#39;s hands. Many of these devices focus on putting and are intended for use with a golf putter. 
     While these devices may achieve their purported objective each suffers from one or more disadvantage or deficiency related to design or utilization. Particularly, these devices lack a simple way to adjust and secure the distance between the golfer&#39;s forearm and wrist portions relative to the golf club. Depending upon the specific type of club being used, the location of the hands on the club and the relative distance and angle between the arms and the club varies. Prior devices do not account for this variation or require different training aids for different types of clubs. Additionally, these devices do not provide for a way to automatically disengage from or release the club at the appropriate time during execution of the swing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has therefore recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a device and method of use in which a golfer&#39;s wrists can be properly placed during a golf swing. In accordance with the invention, it is an object of the present disclosure to solve these problems. 
     The inventor recognized these problems and has addressed this need by developing a golf swing training device that aids golfers in developing a better golf swing in a quick, easy, and effective manner. The inventor has thus realized the advantages and benefits of providing a grip clip which is releasably connected to a grip of a golf club. A lower rod is affixed to an exterior surface of the grip clip and an upper rod is adjustably coupled to the lower rod opposite the clip grip. A wrist strap is affixed to an end of the upper rod opposite the lower rod and is fastened around at least one wrist of the golfer. Use of the device ensures that at least one wrist of the golfer is securely positioned in relation to the golf club grip during a golf swing. 
     The lower rod is a cylindrical member having male thread on an exterior surface and the upper rod is a tubular member having female thread on an interior surface. The lower rod is threadingly inserted within the upper rod to define an adjustable distance between the golfer&#39;s wrist and the golf club grip. 
     The clip grip is formed of a durable plastic material capable of deforming outwardly for connection of the grip clip to the golf club grip and returning to a non-deformed state in compressive contact around the golf club grip prior to the golf swing. At an appropriate point in the golf swing when the arms naturally move in relation to the golf club, the clip grip disengages from the golf club grip. 
     Furthermore, the described features and advantages of the disclosure may be combined in various manners and embodiments as one skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The disclosure can be practiced without one (1) or more of the features and advantages described in a particular embodiment. 
     Further advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a golf swing training device, according to a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the golf swing training device depicted in an in-use state, according to the preferred embodiment; and, 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the golf swing training device, according to the preferred embodiment. 
       
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                    10 
                   golf swing training device 
                 
                 
                    20 
                   grip clip 
                 
                 
                    21 
                   clip gap 
                 
                 
                    25 
                   lower rod 
                 
                 
                    30 
                   upper rod 
                 
                 
                    35  
                   wrist strap 
                 
                 
                    80 
                   fastener 
                 
                 
                    85a 
                   first fastener section 
                 
                 
                    85b 
                   second fastener section 
                 
                 
                   100 
                   golfer 
                 
                 
                   105 
                   wrist 
                 
                 
                   107 
                   hand 
                 
                 
                   115 
                   golf club 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, the disclosure is not limited to a single described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only one particular configuration may be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , depicting a golf swing training device (herein described as a “device”)  10 , where like reference numerals represent similar or like parts. In accordance with the invention, the present disclosure describes a device  10  that aids in training a golfer  100  during practice of a golf swing to keep the golfer&#39;s wrist  105  in a proper position throughout the golf swing. The device  10  provides a rigid connection between the wrist  105  and a golf club  115 , thereby setting the distance and angle of the wrist  105  in relation to the golf club  115  while gripping the golf club  115  in the hands  107  during the swing. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an environmental view and a top view of the, device  10 . It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the device  10  acts as an equally effective aid when used on a variety of different types of golf clubs  115  such as drivers, irons, and putters. The device  10  provides a rigid mechanical attachment between a grip of the golf club  115  and the golfer&#39;s wrist  105  through a respective grip clip  20  and a wrist strap  35 . The grip clip  20  is releasably attached to the golf club  115  allowing automatic detachment during a follow-through of the golf swing. The device  10  can be used singularly on either a right or left wrist  105  or as a pair of devices  10  used on both wrists  105  coincidentally. 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the golf swing training device  10 . The device  10  includes the grip clip  20 , a lower rod  25 , an upper rod  30 , and the wrist strap  35 . The grip clip  20  is a cylindrically-shaped ring preferably made of a durable plastic material manufactured in an injection-molding process and is preferably introduced in a variety of attractive colors. The ring of the grip clip  20  has an open center diameter of approximately one (1) inch and a clip gap  21  disposed on the perimeter of the ring of approximately one-half (½) of an inch wide. The grip clip  20  is engaged around the circumference of the golf club  115  and is in compressive contact with the upper grip portion of the club  115 . The clip gap  21  allows for the golf club  115  to be released and for the detachment of the grip clip  20  from the golf club  115  during the follow-through of the golf swing. The grip clip  20  also includes an integrally molded lower rod  25  which extends perpendicularly outward at a location opposite the clip gap  21 . 
     The lower rod  25  is a male portion having an exterior threaded surface for threading engagement with the upper rod  30 . The upper rod  30  is a female portion having an interior threaded surface for threadingly receiving the lower rod  25 . The rod  25 ,  30  threadingly attached along a common linear axis and rotation of the lower  25  relative to the upper rod  30  provide for a length adjustment capable of varying the distance between the grip clip  20  and the wrist strap  35  from approximately two (2) to three (3) inches. A flat end of the upper rod  30  provides a mounting surface for attachment of the wrist strap  35  by a fastener  80  such as a rivet, screw, or similar mechanical fastener. The fastener  80  securely affixes the wrist strap  35  to the end of the upper rod  30 . 
     The wrist strap  35  extends laterally from the end of the upper rod  30  in both directions providing a total length of approximately eleven (11) inches. The wrist strap  35  is preferably made using a durable and washable textile material such as, but not limited to: vinyl, canvas, nylon, or the like, and being introduced in a variety of colors and patterns based upon a user&#39;s  100  preference. The wrist strap  35  is capable of encompassing the wrist  105  of the golfer  100 . The wrist strap  35  also includes a securing first fastener section  85   a  and a second fastener section  85   b  disposed on opposing end portions. The fastener sections  85   a ,  85   b  are preferably communication sections of a hook and loop fastener sewn to the wrist strap  35  on opposing top and bottom surfaces of each end portion. The fastener sections  85   a ,  85   b  are intended to allow the golfer  100  to loop and secure the wrist strap  35  around the appropriate wrist  105  when using the device  10 . It can be appreciated that other fasteners can be utilized to secure the wrist strap  35  around the wrist  105 , including but not limited to, snaps, hooks, slip fit fasteners, and the like. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure and only one particular configuration has been shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     In accordance with the invention, the preferred embodiment can be utilized by the user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The method of installing the device  10  can be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the device  10  having a desired color; selecting an golf club  115  for application of the device  10 ; attaching the device  10  to the grip portion of the golf club  115  by flexing the grip clip  20  open and forcing the clip gap  21  over the grip portion of the golf club  115 ; wrapping the wrist strap  35  around a right or left wrist  105 ; attaching the wrist strap  35  securely around the wrist  105  by attaching the fastener sections  85   a ,  85   b ; adjusting the combined length of the lower rod  25  and upper rod  30  as needed to obtain a desired angle and distance between the golf club  115  and the wrist  105  while grasping the golf club  115  in the hands  107 ; adjusting the length of the device  10  by disconnecting the grip clip  20  from the golf club  115 ; rotating the lower rod  25  with respect to the upper rod  30  until obtaining the desired length; and, replacing the grip clip  20  upon the golf club  115 . The device  10  is now ready for a user  100  to practice the golf swing. 
     The method of utilizing the device  10  to practice the golf swing is performed in a similar fashion as a normal unaided golf swing; however, use of the device  10  will maintain the distance and angle of the golf club  115  in relation to the wrist  105  during the practice golf swing. The clip gap  21  of the grip clip  20  will automatically allow detachment of the device  10  from the golf club  115  during the follow through of the swing, as needed. The device  10  may be used singularly on either wrist  105  or a pair of devices  10  can be used on both wrists coincidentally to obtain desired golf ball striking results. With the device  10  properly positioned, the wrist  105  is effectively connected to the golf club  115  making it nearly impossible to change a distance or angle of the wrist  105  in relation to the golf club  115  during the ball contact of the swing. The device  10  produces golf club swings which produce longer, more accurate and more consistent results. The use of the device  10  aids golfers  100  in developing a better golf swing in a quick, easy, and effective manner. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit to the precise forms disclosed and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain principles and practical application to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.