Patent Publication Number: US-8109839-B2

Title: Golf swing training device and method

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to golf swing training devices. 
     Golf swings are one of the simplest yet most complex athletic movements in sports. Golfers spend hours practicing their swings, trying to refine them to perfection, so that golf shots can be accurately repeated. Fundamentally, good golf swings include a coordinated leg/body/arm/wrist rotation and movement, including weight transfer, timed to provide a controlled speed and power transfer to a golf club head. There are several difficulties in trying to optimize a golf swing. One problem is that golfers (new and experienced) can&#39;t get real-time feedback on the timing of their leg/body/arm/wrist rotation and movement. Another problem is that novice (and experienced) golfers don&#39;t have a feel for when the leg and body turn should occur during a golf swing. Still another problem is that it is amazingly difficult to both perform a golf swing and also pay attention to what is being done wrong. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a swing aid apparatus includes a base forming a sound chamber configured to reflect sound upwardly, a cover movably supported on the base and configured to matably receive a foot, a noisemaker positioned in the sound chamber and configured to generate a sound when released, and an actuating member extending from the cover and causing the noisemaker to generate sound when the cover moves due to the foot moving during a swing, thus providing feedback on timing of the swing relative to movement of the foot. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a golf swing aid apparatus comprises a chamber including a noise-making clicker configured to reflect sound upwardly, and a cover shaped to be temporarily depressed by a golfer&#39;s foot and movably supported over the clicker; the cover including an actuating member for causing the clicker to generate a sound when released; thus providing feedback on timing of the swing relative to movement of the foot. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a golf swing aid apparatus includes a base, a cover movably supported on the base for movement between a depressed position when depressed under a golfer&#39;s foot and a released position, a noisemaker on one of the base and cover that is configured to generate a sound when released, and an actuating member on the other of the base and cover for causing the noisemaker to generate sound when the cover moves to the released position. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a golf swing aid apparatus includes a base and cover configured to matably receive a golfer&#39;s foot and configured to generate a sound when the cover moves from a foot-depressed position to a foot-released position; the base including at least two holes opening downwardly, and golf ball tees extending through the at least two holes and adapted to anchor the base on the ground surface. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a golf swing aid apparatus includes a base and cover configured to matably receive and engage a golfer&#39;s first foot and configured to generate a sound when the cover moves from a foot-depressed position to a foot-released position, and an alignment accessory attached to base and having a cord for extending from the base, the cord having a length and being configured to assist with placement and alignment of a second foot of the golfer. 
     These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-2  are front and rear perspective views of an apparatus embodying the present invention. 
         FIGS. 3-4  are side cross-sectional views showing un-depressed and depressed positions of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective exploded view showing the apparatus of  FIG. 1  opened and with its noise-maker clicker subassembly exploded away. 
         FIGS. 6-7  are perspective views of the base, cover and clicker subassembly, with the cover being in an open position. 
         FIG. 8  is an end view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing use of the present apparatus during a golf swing. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing use of the alignment accessory with the present apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A golf swing aid apparatus  20  ( FIGS. 1-2 ) includes a base  21  forming a sound chamber  22 ′ configured to reflect sound upwardly, a cover  22  movably supported on the base  21  and configured to matably receive a golfer&#39;s foot  23  ( FIGS. 9-10 ), a noisemaker  24  (also called “clicker subassembly”) ( FIGS. 1-2 ) positioned in the sound chamber  22 ′ ( FIG. 4 ) and configured to generate a sound when released, and an actuating member  25  ( FIGS. 3-5 ) extending from the cover  22  into engagement with the clicker  26  of the noisemaker  24  to generate sound when the cover  22  moves due to the foot  23  ( FIGS. 9-10 ) moving/lifting during a golf swing. The present apparatus  20  provides a click noise immediately prior to ball impact, thus providing feedback on the synchronized timing of leg/body/hip/arm/wrist movement and weight transfer, including movement of a golfer&#39;s foot, during a golf swing. The feedback is real time, and is of a nature whereby a golfer can recognize its feedback without disrupting the golf swing itself. Further, a triangular shape of the apparatus  20  causes the golfer&#39;s foot to cant and knee to bend slightly, leading to a better turn (i.e., less “sway”). 
     The base  21  ( FIG. 5 ) includes side walls  30  and  31 , angled top wall  32 , short horizontal top wall  34 , rear wall unlabeled, longitudinal bottom rib  35  ( FIG. 6 ) and aperture bosses  36 , as well as side-wall-stiffening ribs  39  forming a pocket inside of the base  21 . The pocket forms a sound chamber, but also the clicker subassembly  24  forms a sound chamber as discussed below. 
     The cover  22  ( FIGS. 5-6 ) is movably supported on the base  21  and configured to matably receive a golfer&#39;s foot  23  ( FIGS. 9-10 ). As illustrated, the cover  22  is integrally molded as a single molding with the base  21 , and further is made without slides or pulls in the molding dies, such that cost is reduced substantially. The cover  22  and base  21  are connected by a living hinge  40 , which allows the cover  22  to pivot from the as-molded “open” position shown in  FIG. 5  to the closed “assembled” position shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . The cover  22  includes top angled wall  42 , top horizontal wall  43  with slots  44  (also called openings) for allowing sound to pass upwardly, perimeter rib  45  extending around walls  42 - 43  for stiffening, a boss forming the actuator  25 , and guidance tabs  45 . 
     The clicker subassembly  24  ( FIG. 5 ) is positioned in the sound chamber of the base  21  and includes top and bottom housing members  47  and  48  which clamping hold a sheet of metal forming the clicker  26 . The sheet of metal (i.e. clicker  26 ) is relatively flat when not depressed, includes a fixed end held by the members  47 / 48  and a free end, and includes an embossment  49  at its bend point. The boss actuator  25  is positioned to engage the free end when the cover  22  is depressed by a golfer&#39;s foot. When the foot is lifted, the clicker  26  has sufficient force and resiliency such that the clicker  26  lifts the cover  22  and also creates a “click” noise due to the flexing movement of the sheet of metal. Notably, there are a variety of clicker subassemblies that are commercially available, and also such devices are publically known, such as for training dogs. 
     When depressed, the clicker  26  creates a “click” noise indicating to the golfer that the aid is set and ready. When the golfer swings, there is a natural movement of the golfer&#39;s body and weight transfer, such that the foot is lifted. As noted above, when the foot is lifted, the clicker  26  has sufficient force and resiliency to lift the cover  22  and also create a “click” noise due to the flexing movement of the sheet of metal. This click noise should occur at a specific time immediately prior to the golfer&#39;s club against a golf ball. If the noise occurs too soon or too late, the golfer knows that the swing is not optimized. Notably, this sound is sufficient so that it can be easily heard and reacted to, yet it does not tend to disrupt the golf swing, and further the golfer can concentrate on his swing rather than the teaching aid. 
     An alignment accessory  55  ( FIG. 10 ) is provided comprising two cords interconnected to form Y shape. The first cord  56  connects to the apparatus  20  and extends to a second foot of the golfer, so as to indicate a best distance/spacing and also a direction of the golfer&#39;s stance. The second cord  57  includes a first end loop that connects to the first cord  56 , and a second end that extends to approximate a position of a golf ball  59  relative to the stance. The first cord  56  is preferably about 24″ long, and the second cord  57  is about 18″ long. For example, a gold professional can position the second cord  57  on the first cord  56  to show a novice golfer a proper ball position relative to the golfer&#39;s feet for different golf clubs, such as a driver, a long iron, a short iron, etc. 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise. For example, it is contemplated that a scope of the present invention includes substituting an electronic noisemaker in place of the mechanical noisemaker  24 . 
     It is also contemplated that the present apparatus can be used in any sport where weight transfer as part of an athletic movement (i.e., swing) is important, such as baseball or softball.