Abstract:
A golf swing training club includes a golf club, with a shaft, a grip and a club head, and a golf swing training aid, with a light beam generator along the shaft placeable in an on state to generate inside and outside light beams directed towards inside and outside positions corresponding to the head and toe of the club head. A golfing stroke can be executed over a surface so that the paths of the inside and outside light beams along the surface can be observed during the golfing stroke. A second light beam can be generated generally parallel to the shaft and away from the club head; the path of the second light beam along the surface can also be observed during a backswing portion of the golfing stroke.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/761,269, filed on 6 Feb. 2013, entitled Swung Implement with Educating Feedback. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A great amount of time and energy has been expended in the pursuit of training techniques, training devices and training aids to help sports enthusiasts, in particular golfers and tennis players and to a lesser extent baseball players and fly fishers, improve their swings and strokes. Although the equipment continues to improve, such as metal woods for golfers and graphite rods for fly fishers, to some extent these improvements have merely increased what is generally considered a basic level of competence in a particular sport. Therefore sports enthusiasts continue to look for ways to improve their skills. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An example of a golf swing training aid is positionable along the shaft of a golf club. The golf club has a club head at a distal end of the shaft, the club head having a striking face extending between a heel and a toe of the club head. The training aid includes a housing and a light beam generator carried by the housing. The light beam generator is placeable in an on state to generate inside and outside light beams directable towards inside and outside positions corresponding to the heel and toe of the club head as the golf club is swung during a golfing stroke. Examples of the golf swing training aid can include one or more the following. The housing can be removably mountable to a golf club shaft or can be an integral portion of the golf club shaft. The light beam generator can include a laser light source. The inside and outside light beams can be oriented to be directed along paths forward of the striking face of the club head. The light beam generator can generate a second light beam directed generally parallel to the shaft and away from the club head. 
         [0004]    An example of a golf swing training club includes a golf club and a golf swing training aid. The golf club has a shaft with a distal and proximal ends, a grip at the proximal end, and a club head at the distal end. The club head has a striking face extending between a toe and a heel of the club head. The golf swing training aid includes a light beam generator along the shaft. The light beam generator is placeable in an on state to generate inside and outside light beams directed towards inside and outside positions corresponding to the head and toe of the golf club head as the golf club is swung during a golfing stroke. In some examples the light beam generator can generate a second light beam directed generally parallel to the shaft and away from the club head. 
         [0005]    An example of a method for improving the golf club swinging motion of a golfer is carried out as follows. A golf swing training club is accessed. The golf swing training club includes a golf club and a golf swing training aid. The golf club has a shaft with distal and proximal ends, a club head at the distal end, and a grip at the proximal end. The club head has a striking face extending between a toe and a heel of the club head. The golf swing training aid has a light beam generator along the shaft. Inside and outside light beams are generated by the light beam generator, the light beams being directed towards inside and outside positions corresponding to the heel and toe of the club head as the golf club is swung during a golfing stroke. A golfing stroke is executed over a surface using the golf swing training club. The paths of the inside and outside light beams along the surface are observed during the golfing stroke. This method can be carried out to include one or more the following. The method can further comprise placing a golf ball on the surface and striking the golf ball with the striking face of the club head during the golfing stroke. The paths observing step can include determining the locations of the paths relative to the golf ball. The paths observing step can include determining the orientation of the striking face of the club head relative to the golf ball. The light beams generating step can be carried out so that the inside and outside light beams are directed in front of the striking face. The method can also include generating a second light beam generally parallel to the shaft and away from the club head, and observing the path of the second light beam along the surface during a backswing portion of the golfing stroke. 
         [0006]    Other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention can be seen on review of the drawings, the detailed description, and the claims which follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a view of a first example of a golf swing training club. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a view in section of the golf swing training aid within the grip of the golf club of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a view of a second example of a golf swing training club generating inside and outside, downward extending light beams. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a view of a third example of a golf swing training club in which inside and outside, downward extending light beams emanate from the central portion of the shaft of the golf club. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view in section of a golf swing training aid within the shaft of the golf club of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a view of a fourth example of a golf swing training club in which inside and outside, downward extending light beams emanate from the shaft of the golf club adjacent to the grip. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration showing various electronic components of the golf swing training club of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    The following description will typically be with reference to specific structural embodiments and methods. It is to be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specifically disclosed embodiments and methods but that the invention may be practiced using other features, elements, methods and embodiments. Preferred embodiments are described to illustrate the present invention, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety of equivalent variations on the description that follows. Unless otherwise stated, in this application specified relationships, such as parallel to, aligned with, or in the same plane as, mean that the specified relationships are within limitations of manufacturing processes and within manufacturing variations. When components are described as being coupled, connected, being in contact or contacting one another, they need not be physically directly touching one another unless specifically described as such. Like elements in various embodiments are commonly referred to with like reference numerals. 
         [0015]    The invention may be embodied in various shapes and forms to various devices or implements that require a user to make a precise swinging motion of the device or implement. Preferred embodiments provide feedback to a user to facilitate education of the user, thereby permitting the user to achieve a desired swing. Desirably, the education process afforded by an embodiment of the instant invention causes faster and/or more complete progress toward mastering a swing than achievable with currently available and conventional training. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first example of a golf swing training club  10  adapted to provide learning feedback for the swinger of a golf club. The training club  10  in  FIG. 1  includes a golf club  12  and a golf swing training aid  14 . Golf club  12  includes a shaft  16  having a grip  18  at its proximal end and a club head  20  at its distal end. Club head  20  has a striking face  22  for striking a golf ball  24  during a golfing stroke. Golf swing training aid  14  includes a light source and battery assembly  26  housed within grip  18  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Assembly  26  includes a light source  27 , typically a laser source  27 , adapted to extend a light beam  28 , commonly referred to as laser beam  28 , aligned with the axis of shaft  16 , and propagating away from the club head  20  through a window  31  at the proximal ends of shaft  16  and grip  18 . Preferably, the laser propagates co-linearly with the central axis of the club shaft. 
         [0017]    The laser beam  28  paints a laser beam path  30  on the ground  32  as the golfer makes a swing. At the top of the swing, the laser beam  28  is pointing almost directly at the ball  24 . The golfer can observe the laser beam path  30  during the backswing and can ascertain whether or not the backswing is staying in the proper swing plane. Also, as the golfer begins the stroke to impact, the golfer can see whether or not the club remains in the proper plane. If it does, the laser beam  28  will trace an overlapping arc shape on the backswing and downstroke. Further, the arc, or an extension of the arc, should pass approximately or actually through the ball. 
         [0018]    A laser type light source  27  is currently preferred for use in generating light beam  28  to provide visual feedback to the user, due to the high visibility of commercially available, low cost, red laser beams. Therefore, the light source  27  of assembly  26  will generally be referred to as a laser, although other light sources are not excluded. 
         [0019]    One way to provide a laser in association with a golf club is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , where laser and battery assembly  26  is structured to be carried inside the grip  18  of the club  12 . Positioning of the assembly  26  may be made by removing a grip end-cap, and sliding the assembly along the inner shaft of the grip to a desired installed position. Gripping structure, such as one or more illustrated O-rings  36 , may be employed in compression to hold the assembly  26  at the desired position. Certain structure, e.g. for recharging the battery, removing the assembly, and details of the window, are not illustrated, being well within the capability of one of ordinary skill to construct. Alternative arrangements are within contemplation, including structuring a laser assembly as one or more add-on module that may be coupled with a commercially available golf club. 
         [0020]    By observing the projected light beam&#39;s impingement on the surface  32  on which a target golf ball  24  rests before, during and after a golf stroke, the user gets immediate visual feedback regarding the path of the club with respect to a target ball. This feedback is beneficial in ensuring proper backswing, proper backswing positioning at its apex, and proper swing path through the swing plane, and proper finish to the golf stroke. 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  illustrates a second example of a golf swing training club  10  in which golf swing training aid  14  is an add-on module that may be coupled with a commercially available golf club  12 . In the illustrated example, golf swing training aid  14  attaches to the approximate mid-shaft of a golf club  12 , and includes an attachment mechanism, a light source  27  (e.g., a laser source  27 ), a pair of light beams, generally referred to as inside laser beam  38  and outside laser beam  40 , and an adjustable component which allows the beams to be projected down in front of the club striking face  22  an arbitrary (and desirably selectable) distance in front of the club striking face  22 . In a preferred embodiment, the assembly  26  is as light as possible so that it minimally affects club performance. Also, the attachment mechanism preferably holds the device rigidly in place at the club shaft&#39;s center of percussion. 
         [0022]    The pair of laser beams  38 ,  40  may be provided from a cost-effective single laser source  27  by way of fiber optic cables, one or more lens, or an angularly variable beam splitter, such as beam splitter  44  shown in  FIG. 5 . Desirably, the spacing between inside and outside laser beams  38 ,  40  is adjustable, as indicated by γ. A preferred device permits positioning the two beams to straddle a golf ball that is disposed at the sweet spot in the club head&#39;s striking face  22 . Also, it is preferred for the line  46  defined between the projected beams  38 ,  40  to be adjustable relative to the striking face, as indicated by β. 
         [0023]    When the club is moved through the golf stroke, the split beams  38 ,  40  pass on both sides of the ball  24  before the club face  22  impacts the ball. The beams  38 ,  40  are positioned such that they provide immediate visual feedback regarding club face position, whether open, closed, or perpendicular to the swing path, at the moment of impact, allowing the golfer to make swing adjustments for the purpose of addressing hooking or slicing or desired fade or draw. The beams  38 ,  40  also enable the golfer to observe where the club face  22  strikes the ball  24  (i.e., toe  48 , center, heel  50 ) and make appropriate adjustments to addressing and stance. 
         [0024]    A third example is illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and may combine one or more selected aspects contained in both of  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Assembly  26  is constructed to create the laser beam  28  extending away from club head  20  and a second laser beam  29 -generally towards the club head. Laser beam  29  is transformed into inside and outside laser beams  38 ,  45  beam splitter  44 . An aperture  52  in the club shaft  16  may be provided as an alternative way to permit projecting the laser beams  38 ,  40  from a propagation location inside the club shaft. Alternatively, an aperture may be provided at the area of handle-to-shaft junction. The assembly  26  illustrated in  FIG. 5  may be disposed inside the grip  18  or at any desired position along the shaft  16 . Since certain components, such as a battery, necessarily adds some weight (and mass), it is sometimes preferable to dispose the assembly  26  inside the grip  18  to minimize change in club response due to inclusion of one or more feed-back devices. Fiber optic cables may be used to advantage to route an interior beam through the wall of the club shaft  16  at a location that reduces reduction of structural integrity of the shaft (e.g., through the larger-diameter shaft near/inside the grip  18 ). A pair of such cables may be employed to split and orient direction of propagation of a beam from a single laser source  27 . 
         [0025]    The examples illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4  provide only visual feedback to the golfer. The embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7  may include none, or any one or more of the aspects illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , and also provide additional feedback to a user of the golf club. In addition to potentially including one or more visual feedback arrangements, the embodiment in  FIGS. 6 and 7  includes one or more data acquisition transducers  56 , a central processing unit (CPU)  58 , and one or more feedback modules . Data acquisition transducers  56  within contemplation include accelerometers and gyroscopes, especially such transducers that are embodied as micro versions. A feedback module  60  may provide physical feedback (such as vibration) or audible feedback (such as a tone). A battery module  62  provides power for assembly  26 . A charging/communication port  68  can be used to charge battery module  62  and to permit stored data to be downloaded. 
         [0026]    The embodiment in  FIGS. 6 and 7  includes as integral parts: a CPU  58 , one or more micro- accelerometers, and/or micro-gyroscope transducers  56 , and a feedback module  60  to provide tactile and/or audible feedback. Such components work together to provide the golfer immediate physical feedback as to the correctness of the golf stroke during the backswing, downswing and follow-through. 
         [0027]    A tactile or audible feedback may be provided by one or more feedback modules  60 , such as a vibrator. An operable vibrator may include an eccentric weight spun by a motor, similar to the vibrator of a cellular telephone. An audible feedback may be provided by a feedback module including a speaker, or other sound producing element. The audio feedback could be selected to be heard by anyone in the area as it emanates from the golf club  12  or training aid  14 . In addition or alternatively, the audio feedback could be transmitted to an earpiece via Wi-Fi or other wireless transmission protocol. Providing the audio feedback only to an earpiece allows the feedback to be available only to one or more of the user, instructor or other third party. 
         [0028]    Certain transducers  56 , such as accelerometers and/or gyroscopes, may be located in the club  12  such that the relative speeds and positions of the club face  22 , shaft  16  and grip  18  are continuously detected through the entire stroke sequence. The CPU  58  typically monitors these respective positions throughout the stroke sequence. If the stroke is executed properly, no tactile or audible feedback may be provided to the golfer. If, at any point in the stroke sequence, the relative speeds and positions of club face  22 , shaft  16 , and grip  18  depart from an acceptable and proper swing plane and swing motion, the CPU  58  may be programmed to instantly signal one or more feedback module to provide a selected sensation to the golfer. The golfer learns to avoid this sensation, and therefore more quickly develops a proper stroke sequence. The frequency and/or intensity of the vibrational feedback can be made to vary. For example, a high frequency and more intense vibration can be used to indicate a larger departure from the desired swing plane, tempo, etc. Similarly, the pitch and/or volume of an audible tone can made to vary according to the accuracy of the golf stroke. 
         [0029]    The educating feedback provided by embodiments structured according to certain principles of the instant invention can be incorporated into wedges, irons, hybrid clubs, woods, and drivers, among other applications. The sensing and feedback system can generally be turned off or on at will by the golfer. The clubs can be used on practice ranges or on the course. The clubs can be used by the golfer alone, or with the assistance of golf pros or coaches. The technology is designed to be as unobtrusive to the clubs&#39; performance as possible, such that they perform identically to similar clubs not incorporating the technology. 
         [0030]    Desirably, a particular base-line, or “desired” swing for the golf club&#39;s CPU  58  is obtained, e.g., programmed with the use of heuristics; e.g., professional golfers could swing the clubs hundreds to thousands of times to create a “profile swing” typical of that golfer. Swing deviation boundaries will be established to trigger actuation of the feedback system. A user can potentially select the professional golfer&#39;s profile most appealing to them. (E.g., the “Bubba Watson” or the “Stacy Lewis” stroke profile). The CPU&#39;s firmware will typically be re-programmable so that a user can experiment with a variety of different professional stroke profiles to determine which profile is most suitable. For back swings, impact swings and follow-through, different tones can be generated to indicate to the user that the golfing stroke is, for example, inside, outside, high, or low relative to an ideal path. This provides the user additional information about what is necessary to correct the swing path. Nine fundamental full swing strokes, including straight, draw, and fade strokes, each selectable for low, medium, and high loft, can be user selectable by the user according to which stroke user wishes to practice. 
         [0031]    It is within contemplation that an alternative embodiment of a golf club may include data acquisition transducer(s)  56  and a communication module  68 . For communicating individual or average swing performance to a remote CPU  64  for swing evaluation. An associated display  66  may be used to provide the golfer with a rigorous printout detailing the specific area(s) of departure of a user&#39;s swing from a desired swing. An on-board memory module may be provided to store data related to one or more swing. Swing data may be uploaded on demand to the remote processing/display device by way of a communication protocol, including wired and wireless. An exemplary wired communication protocol includes micro-USB cable. An exemplary wireless communication protocol includes Bluetooth. Preferred embodiments of the invention may therefore allow a golfer to not only obtain real-time feedback in the course of each swing, but also enable later review for additional learning (e.g., consistent swing errors) and improvement. 
         [0032]    In any case, a club may be programmed by having a professional golfer swing it many, many, times to create an “average” perfect swing in the style of “big name” pros, perhaps even an actual “big name” professional may perform the swinging. By virtue of the instrumentation recording many such strokes, the club may be programmed heuristically to note the preferred path and allowable departures from it within an arbitrarily assigned value. Specific departure values may have to be empirically determined by watching the flight path of the struck balls and correlated to each particular stroke, potentially for each individual user. The golfer can see the result of each ball strike to see what the problem(s) is and can alter subsequent swings accordingly. This is what is done anyway without instrumentation, but with additional feedback inculcation of muscle memory is accelerated. Heuristically derived swing patterns can be adjusted to allow arbitrarily larger or smaller deviations by the user. In this way a less experienced golfer can increase the allowable departure tolerance compared with a more refined and experienced golfer. 
         [0033]    It is envisioned that a golf club with integrated technology according to certain aspects of the invention will be purchasable as single units. Retrofit kits may also be available to allow golfers to have their existing clubs equipped with the technology. 
         [0034]    The instantaneous visual feedback afforded by certain golf-related embodiments of the invention helps beginning golfers more rapidly obtain proper mechanics of the entire stroke sequences for a variety of different golf strokes. It provides reinforcement to other visual, physical, and kinesthetic feedback to enhance and accelerate establishment of muscle memory for optimal stroke mechanics. It can help more advanced golfers isolate issues with their swing mechanics and correct defects correspondingly. The device can be used by the golfer alone, or it can be used as a coaching aid by golf professionals providing instruction. A device structured according to any of  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 ,  6  and  7 , can be used off the course, at driving ranges, or during actual play to maintain high awareness of stroke mechanics and consequences of specific variations from proper club head motion and positioning throughout the entire stroke sequence. 
         [0035]    Embodiments according to certain aspects of the instant invention may be applied to other swung implements. For one non-limiting example, casting in fly fishing includes a timing element that is dependent on amount of line out. A fly rod embodiment of the invention may include one or more sensors adapted to detect proper amount of bending after a back cast (rod loading) before the front cast is initiated. Vibration of the grip if the front cast is started too soon would be a powerful teaching aide. Feedback if the fly fisher fails to maintain the rod in a plane (e.g., perhaps for distance casts) could be also. It is within contemplation that a laser could also have some sort of aiming benefit, and if the beam extends too far in front of you, you know your tip went too low on the back cast. 
         [0036]    Desirably, the inclusion of the feedback-generating equipment according to preferred embodiments of the invention is effected in such a manner that it interferes minimally (or not at all) with proper use and swinging of the implement by the user. That is, the combination of feed-back generating equipment and an associated implement is desirably weighted and balanced such that the feedback-generating equipment has minimal interference with proper use and swinging of the implement. 
         [0037]    It is within contemplation to include means to provide discontinuous output of a laser to avoid causing harm to any bystanders during use of an embodiment of the invention. For example, the laser may be shut off, or its emission path interrupted, under certain circumstances, such as if the beam would not normally contact the ground. As a non-limiting example, one or more on-board data acquisition sensor may be used as one way to provide feedback to a golf club control system effective to regulate laser output and provide a safety over-ride mechanism to resist unsafe laser emissions. One alternative includes a mechanical switch, such as a mercury switch, which only permits laser operation during a “safe” arc of club travel. 
         [0038]    Desirably, certain embodiments of the invention will include a way to initiate implement response (e.g. tell a golf club to pay attention and prepare to evaluate a swing). That is, the user may provide an input that signals to an implement&#39;s control system that a swing is imminent. One potential such signal includes tapping an implement on the ground one or more times to turn the processing system on and prepare to receive and process a swing input. One or more of the on-board data acquisition transducers can provide an initiation signal based on ground-contact induced shock. An alternative includes permitting the user to “waggle” an (e.g. golf club-type) implement a few times (as is the warm-up custom of many golfers). Even a simple contact switch that is actuated by grasping an implement, such as by properly holding the grip of a golf club, may be employed in another variation to communicate initiation of a stroke to the control system. 
         [0039]    It is contemplated that certain embodiments of the invention may be applied to any and/or all swung implements, whether in sports, industry, military applications, video gaming, and so on. For examples, but without limitation, embodiments of the invention may be applied to baseball bats, tennis racquets, cricket paddles, swords, epees, racquetball racquets, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, etc. In each application the utility of each aspect of the invention(s) (i.e., which sensors and feedback mechanisms, CPU, memory) would be evaluated and applied as appropriate. For example, use of light emitting feedback components may have little utility with an epee, but, may have applicability to hockey sticks. In many cases the use of micro triaxial accelerometers or micro gyros may be useful in conjunction with tactile or audible feedback mechanisms. Heuristic programming of the algorithms controlling feedback may have utility with many implements. For example, heuristically derived tennis swing patterns, for example backspin swings, fore spin swings or lob swings, can be adjusted to allow arbitrarily larger or smaller deviations by the user. In this way a less experienced tennis player can increase the allowable departure tolerance compared with a more refined and experienced tennis player. The ability to record through use of on board memory, for example, all of the swings of a tennis racquet in the course of a game, set, or match, may provide the user with substantial information to understand and enhance the learning process. Similarly, the use of transducers and audible and tactile feedback in an instrumented baseball bat, along with recording all swings in the course of a game or practice session for later analysis may have substantial utility, for example regarding the swing path of the bat, or timing of the users “wrist breaking”. 
         [0040]    The above descriptions may have used terms such as above, below, top, bottom, over, under, et cetera. These terms may be used in the description and claims to aid understanding of the invention and not used in a limiting sense. 
         [0041]    While the present invention is disclosed by reference to the preferred embodiments and examples detailed above, it is to be understood that these examples are intended in an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense. It is contemplated that modifications and combinations will occur to those skilled in the art, which modifications and combinations will be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims. For example, various examples could include structure for selecting one or more of audio on/off, vibration on/off, light source  27  on/off. 
         [0042]    Any and all patents, patent applications and printed publications referred to above are incorporated by reference.