Abstract:
A golf driving and putting training aid comprises a driving module, a short-putt module, and a long-putt module. The driving module includes a shaft ( 12 ) of telescoping cylinders pivotally secured at one end to a supporting surface ( 50 ) and provided with a driving handle ( 22 ) at the other end. The rate of retraction and extension of all cylinders is controlled by felt strips ( 84 ) restricting the flow of air between the cylinders. The direction of the swing is controlled by pivoting joints ( 20 ) by which the cylinders are connected to the supporting surface and to the handle. The short-putt module includes a telescoping cylindrical shaft that is attached to the user&#39;s putter ( 112 ). When used, the short-putt module includes an arcuate guide to which a putter may be attached, thereby requiring the user to use the proper arcuate stoke for a long put.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/684,643 filed May 25, 2005 and titled “Golf Training Aid.” 

   BACKGROUND 
   This invention relates to a golf training apparatus that develops a golfer&#39;s swing by refining the three components of an effective swing: form, speed and placement. An effective golf swing requires constant practice and refinement of these three components. The apparatus of this invention can be used indoors or outdoors to practice the varied aspects of different golf swings, allowing a golfer to maintain or increase proficiency through a regular training regimen. 
   Many devices for practicing golf swings have been invented, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,016 to Sumegi; U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,346, to Strahan; U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,765 to Bishop; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,486,020 to Kane et al. These inventions allow for the practice of a golf swing, but they lack the adaptability, flexibility, and ease of use of the invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,836 to Nelson. 
   Although the Nelson patent constitutes a marked improvement over prior practice devices, its design is overly complicated and lacks finely tuned guidance. An advanced degree of form correction, combined with flexibility and ease of use, is not taught or suggested by any of the prior patents. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention provides a golf swing training device that corrects form and placement in golf driving as well as in putting. The present invention also provides a golf driving and putting exerciser and training aid for on-course and off-course use. The apparatus of the present invention helps strengthen a golfer&#39;s swing as well as improving the timing, rhythm and positions of the club during the swing. 
   The present invention includes multiple modules enabling use in many environments. The driving module of the present invention includes a series of telescoping cylinders pivotally secured at one end to a supporting surface and pivotally secured at the other end to a handle. The telescoping cylinders are extended in an angled vertical direction to the backswing position. During the downswing, the cylinders collapse with a controlled amount of resistance to provide the “feel” a golfer experiences with a regular golf swing using a club. The joint between the cylinders and the driving handle, as well as the design of the collapsing guiding rod, generally confine the golf swing to an optimized swing pattern. 
   The design of the cylinders, including the interaction and the two pivot points, guides the golfer within the correct swing plane throughout the swing. Relative inflexibility in the device renders an incorrect golf swing difficult if not impossible. Thus, repeated practice with the device helps establish correct muscle memory and assists in limiting incorrect golf swing habits. One embodiment of the present invention includes a strap that can be attached to a golf bag, so that the golfer may use the device as an on-course practice aid. 
   The short-putt module of the present invention includes a horizontal telescoping tube that allows a golfer to practice the straight stroke required for short putting situations. The long-putt module of the invention adds a curved guide tube that allows a golfer to practice the slightly curved stroke required for longer putting situations. Thus, the present invention provides training modules for each general type of swing necessary for playing golf. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from reference to a specific embodiment of the invention as presented in the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an end view of a boxed driving module according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a driving module according to one embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded close-up perspective view of a lower portion of the driving module of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cut-away view of an intermediate section of the driving module of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a exploded close-up perspective view of a lower portion of the driving module according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a housing according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of grip weights according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the driving module of the present invention including a bag strap according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the driving module of the present invention attached to a golf bag according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a short-putt module according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a short-putt module according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a long-putt module according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of putter attachment for the long-putt module of the present invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a golf cart attachment for the driving module of  FIG. 2  according to another embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a right-handed golfer using the driving module, in the address position; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a right-handed golfer using the driving module, in the middle of the back-swing; 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a right-handed golfer using the driving module, at the top of the back-swing; 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a right-handed golfer using the driving module, at the beginning of the downward swing; 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a right-handed golfer using the driving module, in the middle of the downward swing; 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a right-handed golfer using the driving module, in the impact position; and 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a right-handed golfer using the driving module, in the follow-through position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention includes a golf training aid having a driving module  10 , a long putt module, and a short putt module. As depicted in the drawings, and in particular in  FIG. 2 , the driving module  10  of the present invention has a longitudinal shaft  12  formed by a series of nesting telescoping cylinders. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the shaft  12  includes a first cylinder  14  having a relatively large diameter, and second, third, and fourth intermediate cylinders  15 ,  16 , and  17 , each of decreasing diameter, and a fifth cylinder  18  of smallest diameter. 
   According to one embodiment of the invention, the largest cylinder  14  has a diameter of one inch and the smallest cylinder  18  has a diameter of one-half inch. The other cylinders have diameters that decrease by one-eighth inch for each, thus seven-eighths inch for the second intermediate cylinder  15 , three-quarters inch for the third intermediate cylinder  16 , and five-eighths inch for the fourth intermediate cylinder  17 . The cylinders may be made of numerous materials, including titanium alloys or plastic, depending on the desired qualities of the end product. According to one embodiment of the invention, the cylinders are made of 6061-T6 tempered aluminum tubing with a consistent wall thickness of 0.035 inches throughout the length of each. 
   The upper end of the fifth cylinder  18  is attached by a pivotal joint  20  to a handle  22  that has a shape that assists a user in properly gripping a golf club. The pivotal joint  20  allows movement of the handle  22  in only a limited swing plane of movement in relation to the longitudinal shaft  12 . Thus, the pivotal joint  20  causes a user to follow this plane of movement in using the module, thereby largely preventing rolling of the hands or wrists in either direction outside this plane. 
   The handle  22  is made of one-half inch diameter tempered aluminum. As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 8 , the end of the handle  22  opposite the pivotal joint  20  is attached to one or more removable weights  26 . In the embodiment shown, a weight mounting pin  28  retains the weights  26 , but other attachments such as a clip-on, bayonet or other mount, may be used, as is known in the art. Adding weight to the handle  22  progressively limits the breadth of the swing plane by amplifying the effects of the pivotal joint  20 , because incremental weight increases incrementally prohibit the golfer from deviating from the proper swing plane. The increased weight further provides increased physical feedback to the golfer during the swing. 
   As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the lower end of the first cylinder  14  is pivotally attached to a U-shaped bracket  30 . A quick release pin  32  attaches the U-shaped bracket  30  to a mounting housing  34  at a first pivot point  36 . The mounting housing  34  has a plurality of holes  38 , to which a second pivot point  40  of the U-shaped bracket  30  may be mounted. 
   Incorporating a plurality of holes  38  for mounting the second pivot point  40  permits the longitudinal shaft  12  to be affixed to the mounting housing  34  in a plurality of predetermined angular positions. Thus, the driving module permits swings along a plurality of distinct planes of movement, thereby accommodating users having differing heights, limb proportions, and stances. 
   As depicted in  FIGS. 15 through 21 , the mounting housing  34  and U-shaped bracket  30 , together with the pivotal joint  20 , restrict movement of the longitudinal shaft  12  and handle  22  to the directions and planes specific to a proper golf swing. A user  44  begins at what is called the address position (see  FIG. 15 ). As the user  44  begins the back-swing (see  FIG. 16 ), the pivotal joint  20  sets the position, angle, and movement of the wrists. 
   At the top of the back-swing ( FIG. 17 ), and throughout the down-swing ( FIGS. 18 and 19 ), the restrictions on movement inherent in the driving module  10  keep the user&#39;s arms and body in the proper position. At the end of the down-swing, the user  44  passes through the address position to the position the user would have at the moment of impact of the golf club face with the golf ball ( FIG. 20 ) and on through the follow-through ( FIG. 21 ) of the stroke. During this entire stroke, the restrictions on rotation and movement created by the U-shaped bracket  12  and the mounting housing  15  aid the user in maintaining proper swing form, even during the follow-through swing. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the mounting housing  34  may be attached to a driving module base  50  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The driving module base  50  may be folded as shown in  FIG. 1  for storage or travel and carried with a driving module carrying handle or strap  54  such as that shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   In another embodiment of the invention, and as depicted in  FIGS. 5 ,  8 , and  9 , the U-shaped bracket  12  may be removably affixed to a golf bag bracket  60  that may be secured to a golf bag strap  62 . The golf bag bracket  60  is removably attached to the longitudinal shaft  12  by securing the second pivot point  40  of the U-shaped bracket  12  to the golf bag bracket  60 , using the quick release pin  32 . Thus, a user may conveniently carry the driving module onto a golf course, attached to the user&#39;s golf bag, for practice swings during actual play. 
   As depicted in  FIG. 14 , according to another embodiment of the invention, the U-shaped bracket  12  of the driving module  10  may be removably affixed to a golf cart mounting assembly  64  that may be mounted on the side of a golf cart. The mounting assembly  64  includes a front bracket plate  68  having a hinged arm  70  thereon. The longitudinal shaft  12  may be removably attached to the hinged arm  70  by securing the second pivot point  40  of the U-shaped bracket  30  to the hinged arm  70  using the quick release pin  32 . 
   When not attached to the U-shaped bracket  12 , a bracket hinge point  74  permits the hinged arm  70  to swing up against the front bracket plate  68  and thus against the golf cart. Bolts  76  connect the front bracket plate  68  to a back bracket plate  78  and thus to the side of the golf cart. By affixing the unobtrusive golf cart mounting assembly  64  to a golf cart, a user may attach the driving module  10  to the golf cart to permit use of the driving module for practice swings while on a golf course. 
   As depicted in  FIG. 4 , the cylinders  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18  forming the longitudinal shaft  12  each have an upper and lower end and a hollow interior. The lower end of each cylinder fits snugly into the upper end of the adjacent cylinder. Each of the cylinders has a plug  80  inside its lower end. The plug  80  of the first cylinder  14  is attached to one end of a nylon cord  82  that passes through the plugs  80  of the second cylinder  15 , third cylinder  16 , and fourth cylinder  17 . The other end of the nylon cord  82  is attached to the plug  80  of the fifth cylinder  18 . 
   The interior upper ends of the cylinders  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18 , and the exterior lower ends of cylinders  4  through  7  are all lined with felt strips  84 . The felt strips  84  control the air flow between the cylinders and the air flow entering and exiting the cylinders through gaps in the felt strips  84  at the top of each of cylinders  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17  and  18  as the longitudinal shaft  12  telescopes and collapses. The felt strips  84  also add friction in any movement of the cylinders, creating resistance that strengthens a user&#39;s golf swing. 
   As shown in  FIG. 10 , another embodiment of the invention includes a short-putt module  100  used to develop short putting skills. The short-putt module  100  comprises a telescoping assembly  102  that has a stationary tube  102   a  and a movable tube  102   b . Preferably, felt strips  84  are affixed to the interior circumference of the at the point of telescoping of its two sections to control air flow, to add friction, to stabilize the movable tube  102   b  inside the stationary tube  102   a , and to reduce noise. The assembly  102  removably mounts at one end to a first vertical blade  104  of a U-shaped base  106  and passes through an opening  108  in a second vertical blade  110 . 
   A putter  112  may be attached to the other end of the telescoping assembly  102  using a strap  114 . The short putt module  100  permits a golfer to practice a straight putting stroke by moving the putter, thereby causing the end of the telescoping assembly  102  attached to the putter  112  to telescope toward and away from the U-shaped base  106  on a straight horizontal path, putting a ball  118  away from the U-shaped base  106 . The ball  118  may be directed at a ball return wedge  120 , which will receive the ball and return it to the vicinity of the golfer. 
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , according to another embodiment of the invention, the telescoping assembly  102  may be removed from the U-shaped base  106 . By mounting the telescoping assembly  102  to two wire hoops  124 , the user can press the lower ends  126  of the wire hoops  124  into the ground, and thereby set up the short-putt module  100 . This embodiment permits the user to use the short-putt module  100  on a practice putting green or even while on a golf course. 
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , the present invention also includes a long-putt module  200 . The long-putt module  200  includes a stand  202  with an arcuate guide  204  between the two ends of the stand  202 . A bearing assembly  208 , shown in  FIG. 13 , is moveably mounted on the arcuate guide  204  and has a slot  210  to which a putter may be attached. The arcuate guide is designed to simulate the arcuate path of a proper long putt putting stroke. By attaching a putter to the guide  204 , a golfer may practice a putting stroke along the path of the arcuate guide and thus along the proper arcuate path of a long putting stroke that results from the required pivoting movement in longer putting situations. 
   According to another embodiment of the invention, the arcuate guide  204  may be removed from stand  202 . By mounting the arcuate guide  204  to two wire hoops  124 , the user can press the lower ends  126  of the wire hoops  124  into the ground, and thereby set up the long-putt module. This embodiment permits the user to use the long-putt module  200  on a practice putting green or even while on a golf course. 
   Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described, those of skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.