Patent Publication Number: US-6910973-B2

Title: Golf swing training device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to the sport of golf, and includes a device to improve the golf swing of the player that assists the user in developing a correct backswing, downswing and follow through. In particular, the present invention relates to a portable golf swing training device with an anchor assembly that allows a golfer to use a door to practice his/her swing. A hook also allows the device to be anchored to a free standing pole. 
   2. Discussion of the Related Art 
   The very popular sport of golf entails a very complex motion to swing a golf club so as to either propel a golf ball a maximum distance in a desired direction, or to propel the golf ball a carefully controlled distance in a precisely determined direction. Almost all golf players strive to improve their skill at the game, and improved skill generally leads to increased enjoyment of the game. 
   Despite the complexity of the golf swing, the usual game of golf typically entails a relatively small number of swings or strokes, generally in the range of 70 to 100 or so, and about a third of these are putting strokes that require an entirely different technique. Because of variations in topography on a golf course, few of the remaining swings are the truly repetitive swings needed for skill improvement. Thus even the most dedicated of golf players must usually resort to off-course practice to improve their golf skills. 
   Many golf players make use of golf driving ranges, which allow the player to practice repetitive swings under virtually identical conditions. While such practice is undoubtedly valuable, it requires a trip, sometimes of some considerable distance, to a golf driving range. Furthermore, simple repetition, as at a driving range, does not assure that the swing is being performed correctly. As a result, many golf training devices have been developed for use in the home (or the garage or backyard) to assist a golf player to improve his/her golf skill. 
   These devices, unfortunately, are often quite complex, require assembly and are not easily transported (e.g., on a business trip). 
   To be useful for the greatest possible number of golf players, a golf training device should also be inexpensive, should not occupy much space in the home when not in use, and should be quickly and easily set up for use, and quickly and easily disassembled after use. 
   Perfecting the golf backswing—the initial part of the golf swing, in which the golfer swings the golf club to a position above and in front of the trailing shoulder (the right shoulder for a right handed golfer) to begin the swing—is an often-neglected activity in efforts to improve one&#39;s golf skill, yet many golf teachers consider the backswing to be the key to a good golf swing. A consistently good swing cannot be developed if the backswing is poor or inconsistent. Therefore, there is a need for an effective training device to assist golfers in perfecting their backswing. 
   Ideally, such a training device should also provide assistance in perfecting the downswing-the phase of the golf swing immediately following the backswing, where the golfer brings the golf club down from the position at the top or end of the backswing to the position of impact on the golf ball. Such a device could thus assist golf players both in the perfection of their backswing and the transition to the downswing. 
   Furthermore, golf players, in striving to improve their golf swing, must learn to use their non-dominant arm and shoulder muscles to produce the major force of the golf swing, particularly of the downswing, and to counteract the tendency to let the dominant side take over. That is, a right-hand-dominant golf player must train himself/herself to use the left arm and shoulder to produce most of the power of the golf swing. Proper use of the non-dominant arm and shoulder must be imprinted on the golf player, and an ideal golf swing training device should assist the user in strengthening the musculature of the non-dominant side, and make the use of the non-dominant side, to provide most of the golf swing&#39;s power, a reflexive action. The dominant-side musculature does, of course, provide important power to the golf swing, in the impact and post-impact phases of the swing. 
   Accordingly, there is a significant and important unmet need in the field of golf training for proper golf swing plane training, and more particularly for a device that is simple yet effective and addresses the issues of development of muscle memory in the upper body for proper lead-side dominance to produce a smooth, consistent and controllable swing plane. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one aspect of the invention, a golf swing training device includes a grip including a grip bore, a tension cord received within the grip bore, a first securing device configured to prevent the tension cord from slipping out of the grip bore, and a second securing device configured to prevent the tension cord from slipping out of the grip bore, wherein the second securing device creates tension on the tension cord by restricting movement of the training device. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a golf swing training device includes a grip including a grip bore, a shaft including a shaft bore, a tension cord received within the grip bore and the shaft bore, a first securing device configured to prevent the tension cord from slipping out of the grip bore and the shaft bore, and a second securing device configured to prevent the tension cord from slipping out of the grip bore and the shaft bore, wherein the second securing device creates tension on the tension cord by restricting movement of the training device. 
   According to yet another aspect of the invention, a golf swing training device includes a grip including a grip bore, a shaft including a shaft bore, a tension cord received within the grip bore and the shaft bore, a first securing device configured to prevent the tension cord from slipping out of the grip bore and the shaft bore, and a second securing device configured to prevent the tension cord from slipping out of the grip bore and the shaft bore, wherein the second securing device creates tension on the tension cord by restricting movement of the training device and is configured to be received within an opening formed in an open door. 
   These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A clear understanding of the various advantages and features of the present invention, as well as the construction and operation of conventional components and mechanisms associated with the present invention, will become more readily apparent by referring to the exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated in the following drawings which accompany and form a part of this patent specification. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of the golf swing training device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an illustration at the top of a backswing using the golf swing training device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an illustration at the top of a backswing using the golf swing training device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is an illustration of a downswing using the golf swing training device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is an illustration of a downswing using the golf swing training device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As described above, there is a need in the field of golf training for proper golf swing plane training, and more particularly for a device that is simple yet effective and addresses the issues of development of muscle memory in the upper body for proper lead-side dominance to produce a smooth, consistent and controllable swing plane. In this regard, a golf swing training device  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes a D-ring clasp  12 , a hog ring  14 , a wood ball  16 , a bungee cord  18 , a golf shaft  20 , a golf grip  22 , a wood ball  24  and a hog ring  26 . 
   D-ring clasp  12  is configured to attached device  10  to a wall or a free-standing pole by applying friction to a movable leg  28  of clasp  12  to open and close clasp  12 . A hook portion  30  of clasp  12  is matingly secured to a ring or some other device (not shown). Training device  10  may also be secured to a wall or pole or some other non-moving surface using other attachment means (e.g., Velcro®, etc.). 
   The operation of training device  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 2–5 . In particular, wood ball  16  is configured to fit in a notch  32  of an open doorway. Ball  16  prevents device  10  from slipping through notch  32  and is restrained from vertical movement in a downward direction by a hinge  34 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2–4 , device  10  is at a preferred height for practicing the backswing that aids in muscle memory and decreases the tendency of the trainee from casting the club. In particular, device  10  stays loaded throughout the swing and restricts the common casting effect. The loading of device  10  ( FIG. 4 ) assists the trainee in building muscles in the forearms, increases flexibility in the wrists, and keeps the device in an ideal swing plane  36  ( FIG. 5 ). 
   The trainee may adapt bungee cord  18  to accommodate varying strengths by using bungee cords with different tensile ratings. 
   The scope of the application is not to be limited by the description of the preferred embodiments described above, but is to be limited solely by the scope of the claims that follow. For example, device  10  may be permanently secured to an object to prevent movement of device  10  without departing from the scope of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.