Patent Publication Number: US-5026064-A

Title: Golf club swing training device

Description:
This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for training the movements of the body to properly execute a golf swing and, in particular, to a method and apparatus which enables the golfer to simulate a full golf swing with natural relaxation and increased velocity of the club head at impact and beyond, ending in a balanced finish, and which provides observable feedback to the player. 
     In the game of golf a player knows that he or she has swung the golf club correctly if the body at the finish of the swing is in proper position. Ideally, for a right-handed player, at the finish most of the weight is balanced on the left foot, the right heel is raised so that the player is also balanced on the right toe, the body (stomach and hips) is facing the target, and the arms and hands are in a position such that the club shaft extends generally over the left shoulder and across the back with the club head directly above the spot on the playing surface where the ball originally lay. 
     Achieving this ideal finish, however, is very difficult for most golfers. Conventional instructional approaches tend to emphasize the individual elements of the golf swing rather than the overall objective. Various types of mechanical apparatus have been proposed heretofore to train the path of the swing, but these devices generally encumber the player rather than permit him to move freely and swing the club in a natural manner. 
     It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for training a golfer to properly execute a full golf swing, which advantageously promotes the use of the player&#39;s natural instincts and allows the player to move and swing freely unencumbered by any restraints. 
     As a corollary to the foregoing object, it is an important aim of this invention to provide such a method and apparatus which simulates hitting the ball by striking a movable target which then adheres to the training head of the practice club to provide desired resistance at impact and thereafter through to the finish of the swing. 
     Another important object of the present invention is to provide a target as aforesaid which is yieldable and lightweight and which presents a relatively large target surface that the player strikes with the head of the training club, thereby encouraging the player to relax due to the size of the target (as compared to a golf ball) and the absence of any special requirements other than to naturally strike it. 
     Still another important object of the invention is to provide a club provided with a training head having a ball-like configuration and presenting opposed, toe and heel portions, the heel having identifying indicia thereon for providing visual feedback to the player at the finish of the swing. 
     Yet another important object of the invention is to provide such a ball-like training head which presents a curved face for striking the target surface, both the face and the target surface being at least partially covered with materials which adhere to each other such as mating Velcro fabrics. 
     Other objects will become apparent as the specification proceeds. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of a training club and target in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the target alone. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the target on an enlarged scale as compared with FIGS. 1 and 2, with parts broken away to reveal details of construction. 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section through the head of the training club taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1, showing the head and the lower end of the shaft fragmentarily on an enlarged scale. 
     FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the training head taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4, looking directly at the toe of the head. 
     FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the training head taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 4, looking directly at the heel of the head. 
     FIGS. 7-11 are progressive views illustrating the use of the training club and target by a player and the practice of the method of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a plan view taken along line 12--12 of FIG. 11, looking downwardly on the player and showing his position at the finish of the swing. 
     FIGS. 13-16 are progressive views illustrating the use of the present invention to perfect the swing with the left arm alone. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring initially to FIGS. 1-6, a training club 10 of the present invention has the usual elongated shaft 12 which, at the upper end thereof, is provided with a handle 14 adapted to be grasped by the player in the normal manner. The particular training club 10 illustrated is provided with a reminder grip so that the player, regardless of his or her degree of skill, will properly grasp the handle 14 in the fingers and palm of the left hand and the fingers of the right hand. The lower end of the shaft 12 is provided with a training head 16 in the form of a solid ball as revealed in FIGS. 4-6. Typically, the length of the shaft 12 would be somewhat less than the length of a comparable golf club because the training head 16, as will be discussed hereinbelow, is designed to be held above the playing surface rather than to lie directly thereon as is the case with a playing club. 
     A light-weight, movable target 18 rests on the ground or other playing surface and includes a base 20, a pair of laterally-spaced, tubular pillars 22, and a sheet of fabric or other flexible material 23 spanning the pillars 22 and, on the front side of the target (seen in FIG. 1), presenting a target surface 24 for receiving the impact of the training head 16 when the club is swung. The entire target 18 is composed of yieldable material and is not affixed to the ground, as will become apparent. 
     It should be particularly noted that the target surface 24 extends upwardly from the base 20, the latter resting on the ground or other playing surface. Furthermore, as is clear in FIG. 1, the target surface 24 also extends front-to-rear relative to the player addressing it in order to present a relatively broad, laterally facing target area to be struck with the training head 16. As compared to the size of a golf ball, the components 16 and 24 (head and target surface) are purposely relatively large; for example, the preferred outside diameter of the head 16 is approximately three inches (7.6 cm.). Accordingly, the relatively large target is easy to hit using a relaxed swing so the player in using the apparatus does not have to concentrate on a small target of golf ball size. 
     To minimize weight and promote response to impact, the pillars 22 may be composed of tubular, foam material as illustrated and serve simply to maintain the target surface 24 in an upright position, preferably tilted away from the training head 16 at an angle of approximately ten degrees. As will be discussed hereinafter, the region bounded by the target surface 24 and the base 20 defines a strike zone, the base 20 presenting an apron to facilitate alignment of the head 16 with the target surface 24 when addressed by the player. 
     The lower end of the shaft 12 is embedded in the head or ball 16 as is clear in FIG. 4. A strip of Velcro material 26 circumscribes the head 16 and lies generally in the vertical plane of the intended flight of a golf ball, if the same were present. The Velcro strip 26 is secured to the surface of the head 16 by adhesive or other suitable means. At right angles to the circumscribing strip 26, the head 16 presents opposed toe and heel portions 28 and 30 respectively. 
     The center of a striking face is defined by the intersection 31 of the Velcro strip 26 and Velcro elements 32 and 34 as best seen by a comparison of FIGS. 5 and 6. Velcro element 32 extends from intersection 31 to the toe 28 of the head 16, and Velcro element 34 extends from the intersection 31 to the heel 30 thereof. The sheet 23 of the target 18 is covered with a mating Velcro material to present the target surface 24 and provide the target with the ability to stick firmly to the face of the head 16 upon contact. 
     It should also be noted, as revealed in FIG. 6, that the heel 30 of the head 16 has a circular spot 36 thereon for visual identification. Spot 36 should be of a contrasting color so that it can be readily seen by the player at the finish of the swing, as will be appreciated hereinafter. 
     Practice with the training club 10 and the target 18 of the present invention is illustrated by the sequence of views of FIGS. 7-11. In FIG. 7 the player is addressing the target. The head 16 is not grounded on the playing surface but is held thereabove in approximate alignment with the center of the target surface 24. FIG. 8 shows the player at the top of his backswing; FIG. 9 shows the strike, i.e., the instant of impact of the head 16 with the target 18. Upon impact, the Velcro material on the face of the head 16 is brought into contact with the Velcro facing on the target surface 24 thereby causing the target to become instantly attached to the head. 
     Once the target 18 is united with the head at the strike, it is carried with the head throughout the remainder of the swing. Accordingly, both air and weight resistance is added at impact and beyond to the finish of the movement. This is illustrated in FIG. 10 where the player is shown during the follow-through, and in FIG. 11 where the player is shown at the finish of the swing. Due to its collapsible nature, the target 18 essentially envelopes the head 16 at the finish as shown in FIG. 11 where the target is illustrated in broken lines. 
     Besides providing a relaxed environment for practice as discussed above, the target by adding resistance at impact and beyond also serves to increase club head speed at impact and during the follow-through in actual play when, of course, the player is swinging a golf club and the target is no longer present. This trains the golfer that the correct place for an increase in club head speed is at impact and beyond, not at the top of the swing prior to impact. 
     FIG. 12 shows the visual feedback provided by the spot 36 on the head 16. In a proper finish the spot 36 will present the top of the head 16 as shown and will be clearly visible to the player. Also, additional feedback at the finish is provided by the present invention as follows: 
     (1) As shown in FIG. 11, the target will have stuck on the head with its back side facing opposite to the direction of aim; 
     (2) The head and the attached target will have arrived at a position generally over the strike zone; 
     (3) The player will have finished in balance as described above, with the stomach and hips facing the direction of aim; and 
     (4) When the player removes the target from the head, he will see from the mating areas of adhesion whether the face of the head struck the target surface squarely or was open or closed. 
     FIGS. 13-16 are progressive views similar to FIGS. 7-11, but illustrate practice with the left arm only. The target as addressed as before (FIG. 13) and a full swing is taken through to the finish (FIG. 14). Then, as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, the right hand is brought up to the left hand to complete the proper positioning of the body at the finish. This exercise strengthens the left arm and may be employed in similar fashion for the right arm only. Preferably, a somewhat smaller target 18 would be employed to reduce the resistance when practicing the swing with one arm.