Abstract:
A golf swing practice and training towel comprising a cloth golf towel having a plurality of longitudinal and transverse lines forming a grid with indicia identifying each line. The towel is placed on the ground with one edge in linear alignment with the target towards which the ball is to be hit and the golfer uses the lines as reference points regarding ball placement, stance, hand position, club face alignment and the like to incrementally adjust and consistently repeat such critical aspects of a golf swing.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to golf training devices and, more specifically, to a golf swing practice and training towel comprising a golf towel having a plurality of spaced apart lines extending longitudinally and transversely thereacross that are visible when the towel is placed on the ground to afford the user a plurality of alignment positions for foot, hand, ball and club head placement relative to the target and the desired trajectory thereof. The transverse lines serve as reference points for how far the golfer&#39;s feet are separated during the swing thus allowing for incremental adjustments to find the optimum positioning for balance and transferring the weight from one leg to another and subsequently performing precise repetitions of the swing from that specific stance.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     While there are other golf practice devices, they are not as suitable as the present invention. The present invention serves to provide a simple effective practice and training towel for a golfer to develop consistency in their stance and swing. The present invention serves to function as an ordinary golf towel when not in use as a training and practice aid thereby eliminating clutter in the golf bag by not adding an additional accessory.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0005]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a golf swing practice and training towel comprising a golf towel with grid-like indicia that is placed on the ground to act as an alignment tool for practicing a consistent golf swing.  
         [0006]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf swing practice and training towel that serves as a reference for developing a proper stance to optimize balance when transferring weight from one leg to the other during the swing.  
         [0007]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a golf swing practice and training towel that will enable a golfer to establish a target line that is parallel to the tips of the user&#39;s shoes.  
         [0008]     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a golf swing practice and training towel that will assist the user in setting up a stance relative to the position of the ball.  
         [0009]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf swing practice and training towel that will assist in proper club face alignment relative to the golfer, the ball and the target.  
         [0010]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a golf swing practice and training towel that can provide a reference of the distance that the golfer is setting up away from the ball.  
         [0011]     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a golf swing practice and training towel that is simple and easy to use.  
         [0012]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf swing practice and training towel that is inexpensive to manufacture and operate.  
         [0013]     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.  
         [0014]     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.  
         [0015]     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0016]     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the uses of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a top view demonstrating function one of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a top view demonstrating function two of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a top view demonstrating function three of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a top view demonstrating function four of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a top view demonstrating function five of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a top view demonstrating function six of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a top view demonstrating function seven of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a top view demonstrating the first part of function eight of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a top view demonstrating the second part of function eight of the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a top view demonstrating the third part of function eight of the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 14  is a top view demonstrating the first part of function nine of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 15  is a top view demonstrating the second part of function nine of the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 16  is a top view demonstrating the third part of function nine of the present invention; and  
         [0033]      FIG. 17  is a top view demonstrating function ten of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS  
       [0034]     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Golf Swing Practice and Training Towel of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures. 
         10  Golf Swing Practice and Training Towel      12  flexible sheet      14  target      16  golfer      18  body line      20  target line      24  longitudinal lines      26  transverse lines      28  indicia      30  numeric indicia      32  alphabetic indicia      33  foot position      34  ball position      36  club head      38  hand position      40  grid      42  closed stance line      44  open stance line      46  divot        
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0054]     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.  
         [0055]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the uses of the present invention. The present invention is a multi-function rectangular towel having one set of spaced apart parallel lines longitudinally extending along one side with spaced apart parallel lines extending latitudinally between the other two sides thereby providing means to assist a golfer in various critical aspects of the game. The towel provides means to establish an intended trajectory line between a starting point, such as a tee, and intended ball location, such as a greens&#39; flag; along with club alignment relative to the line of sight trajectory, ball position, hand position, distance the user stands from the ball and divot analysis. The towel also serves as a golf towel that one would use during normal play.  
         [0056]      FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use. Depicted is the present invention  10  in use illustrating the myriad variables that determine the location of the ball  34 . After club selection, how a golfer  16  addresses the ball  34  determines the location of the ball  34 . Addressing the ball  34  includes using the target line  20  to draw an imaginary line to the target  14  location parallel to the tips of the shoes placed proximal to the body line  18  in conjunction with coplanar club head  36  placement in the vertical and horizontal with corresponding hand placement, along with distance from the ball  34 . Currently a golfer  16  tries to mimic variables resulting in favorable ball  34  play while changing one or more during unfavorable ball  34  play. It is virtually impossible to mimic such diverse intertwined fluctuating functions. The present invention  10  provides means whereby multiple references can be established duly noting other mutable variables enabling a golfer to reposition their stance consistently thereby providing knowledgeable cause and effect judgment of changes to the established variables.  
         [0057]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the present invention  10 . Shown is the golf practice and training towel of the present invention  10  comprising a flexible sheet  12  with spaced apart longitudinal and transverse parallel lines  24 , 26 . Each transverse line  26  has numeric indicia  30  that assist the golfer with ball position, hand position, divot analysis and club head alignment and foot location. The longitudinal lines  24  also have indicia  28 , such as alphabetic indicia  32  to differentiate from the transverse line  26  numeric indicia  30 , on which the sheet  12  can be folded to change the distance between the golfer and the golf ball.  
         [0058]      FIG. 4  is a top view demonstrating function one of the present invention  10 . To more clearly explain the functions of the present invention  10 , the following illustrations will be referred to as functions  1  through  10 . Function number one shows the target line  20  at the edge of the sheet  12  away from the golfer  16 . The target line  20  is aligned to the target  14 . This provides the golfer  16  with a straight line from their present position to the target  14 . The golfer  16  uses this line to align the ball to the target  14 . The golfer  16  can be left or right handed.  
         [0059]      FIG. 5  is a top view demonstrating function two of the present invention  10 . In function number two, the body line  18  is indicated by the near edge of the sheet  12 . The body line  18  is automatically aligned parallel to the intended target  14  thus providing the golfer  16  with a straight parallel line from their present position parallel to the target  14 . The golfer  16  uses the body line  18  to align their feet, knees, hips and shoulders parallel to the target line  20 . The golfer  16  can be left or right handed. The purpose of functions  1  and  2  is that the target line  20  and body line  18  are used by the golfer  16  to make a perfect aligned stance to the target  14 . The golfer  16  is aligning the ball  34  along the target line  20 , with their body along the body line  18  therefore aiming straight at the target  14 .  
         [0060]      FIG. 6  is a top view demonstrating function three of the present invention wherein transverse lines  26  with corresponding numerical indicia  30  numbered  1  through  12  are used by the golfer  16  as a reference from where to place the ball  34  in their stance. The transverse lines  26  will indicate if they are playing the ball  34  in the front, middle or back of their stance relative to their feet. The purpose of this function is that the golfer  16  can play the ball  34  from different positions in their stance and use the relevant feedback from the ball&#39;s flight to decide optimum ball placement relative to their stance.  
         [0061]      FIG. 7  is a top view demonstrating function four wherein the transverse lines  26  have corresponding indicia numbered  1  through  12  that are used by the golfer  16  as a reference as to the hand position  38  when addressing the ball  34 . The transverse lines  26  will indicate if they are addressing the ball  34  with their hands in front of the ball  34  or on the ball  34  or the back of the ball  34 . The purpose of this function is the golfer  16  can play the ball  34  with their hands in different positions and use the relevant feedback from the ball&#39;s  34  flight to decide optimum hand placement.  
         [0062]      FIG. 8  is a top view demonstrating function five of the present invention  10  wherein by using the transverse lines  26  as a reference, the golfer  16  can easily see if the clubface is open or closed on address. The purpose of this function is that the golfer  16  can play the ball  34  with an open or closed clubface and use the relevant feedback from the ball&#39;s  34  flight to decide if they prefer hitting the ball  34  with an open or closed clubface.  
         [0063]      FIG. 9  is a top view of function six of the present invention  10  wherein the sheet  12  can be folded at one of longitudinal lines a, b, c, d to accommodate longer and shorter club selection and distance that the golfer  16  stands away from the ball  34 . The purpose of this function allows the golfer  16  to fold the sheet  12  to play the ball  34  with their stance closer to or further from the ball  34  and use the relevant feedback from the ball&#39;s  34  flight to decide how far they prefer to stand from the ball  34  at address.  
         [0064]      FIG. 10  is a top view demonstrating function seven of the present invention  10  wherein the longitudinal lines a, b, c, d and the transverse lines  26  form a grid  40  that enable the sheet  12  to be folded at different angles. For example, the golfer  16  can fold the sheet  12  from a1 to b2. This will give the golfer  16  a defined closed stance line  42  to demonstrate the proper foot position  33  for a slightly closed stance. Folding the sheet  12  from a2 to b1 will give the golfer  16  a defined open stance line  44  to achieve a slightly open stance. The purpose of this function is to enable the golfer  16  to fold the sheet  12  to play the ball  34  with their stance slightly open or closed and use the relevant feedback from the balls  34  flight to decide if they prefer to play the ball  34  with their stance slightly open, closed or square.  
         [0065]      FIG. 11  is a top view demonstrating the first part of function eight of the present invention  10 . Function number eight is a three-part function providing divot analysis wherein the present invention  10  denotes the target line being parallel with the desired direction of the ball when hit. The ensuing divot  46  should be parallel with the target line  20 . The first part indicates an inside to outside swing to the right of the target  14 . The purpose of this function is that the golfer  16  can use this information to get the desirable downswing of the club during the hitting of a golf ball  34 .  
         [0066]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the second part of function eight of the present invention  10  providing divot analysis. The angle of the resultant divot  46  indicates an outside to inside swing to the left of the target  14 . The purpose of this function is that the golfer  16  can use this information to get the desirable downswing of the club during the hitting of a golf ball.  
         [0067]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the third part of function eight providing divot analysis. The angle of the resultant divot  46  indicates a swing parallel to the target  14 . The purpose of this function is that the golfer  16  can use this information to get the desirable downswing of the club during the hitting of a golf ball  34 .  
         [0068]      FIG. 14  is a top view of the first part of function nine of the present invention  10  providing divot analysis-ballstriking. Function number nine is a three-part function wherein the divot  46  serves to inform the golfer  16  where they are hitting with regard to the ball  34  position. The resultant divot- 46  shown in the first part indicates that the golfer  16  is hitting behind the ball  34 . The purpose of this function is that the golfer  16  can use this information to get a desirable strike of the ball  34 .  
         [0069]      FIG. 15  is a top view of the second part of function nine of the present invention  10  providing divot analysis-ballstriking. The resultant divot  46  shown in the second function indicates that the golfer  16  is hitting slightly in front of the ball  34 . The purpose of this function is that the golfer  16  can use this information to get a desirable strike of the ball  34 .  
         [0070]      FIG. 16  is a top view of the third part of function nine of the present invention  10  providing divot analysis-ballstriking. The resultant divot  46  shown in the third part indicates that the golfer  16  is hitting the ball  34  good and clean. The purpose of this function is that the golfer  16  can use this information to get a desirable strike of the ball  34 .  
         [0071]      FIG. 17  is a top view of the present invention  10 . Function ten of the present invention  10  is for use as a standard golf towel during practice and play for the golfer  16  to use to wipe their hands and equipment.  
         [0072]     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.  
         [0073]     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0074]     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.