Patent Publication Number: US-7914388-B2

Title: Golf swing training apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to golf swing instruction and training means and devices relating thereto. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many combinations of various biomechanical actions capable of maneuvering a golf club for a successful strike on a golf ball providing that they are relevantly related to a viable underlying concept. 
     Generally, golf swing instruction has been based on obvious aspects of the techniques of elite golfers as elicited from direct observation, photographs, films, and videos and as interpreted from their own descriptive writings. 
     That process envisages the actions associated with those technique aspects as relating directly to an ideal universally applicable single “swing plane” concept based on the slanted plane of action of the golf club head and assumes therefore that those actions are selectively adaptable to any other technique. 
     Ground rules of instruction evolving out of those perceptions are flawed because it is not within the biomechanical capabilities of the human form to appropriately perform actions relating directly to the slanted “swing plane” which, for an elite golfer, is actually the result of the observed actions being performed, either consciously or accidentally, in the context of a non-observable underlying secondary concept adapted to accommodate the biomechanical limitations. 
     For that reason the many devices that have been provided in the past for practicing aspects of golf strokes in accordance with those principles of instruction, without reference to a biomechanically appropriate underlying concept, have had limited effectiveness in inducing worldwide improvement in ball striking capability among ordinary golfers. 
     Those shortcomings in the prior art are overcome in the present invention which provides means for instruction and training in the execution of a golf swing method based on a concept of there being a lower phase related predominantly to a vertical virtual axis about which the body rotates and which melds smoothly through transitions with an upper phase related predominantly to a horizontal virtual axis which is tied to the vertical virtual axis and about which the arms swing. 
     When a golfer adopts an appropriate stance for a golf stroke the vertical virtual axis rises from midway between the ankles passing through the front of the lower body and out of the upper body midway between the shoulder blades at which point the horizontal virtual axis is tied to the vertical virtual axis in the vicinity thereof. 
     The combined action of the body turning around the vertical virtual axis and the arms swinging around the horizontal virtual axis results in the slanted “swing plane” 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In this Brief Summary and in the following Descriptions;
         the terms “leading” and “trailing” refer to the forward ball striking action;   the terms “golf club” or “club” refer to a real or representation of a golf club   “wrist cocking plane” refers to a reference plane bisecting the club shaft longitudinally in which the club is rotated whilst cocking the wrists and which stands vertically and right angled to the target direction alignment when the said golf club is held by a user in the position of readiness for the commencement of a golf stroke.   “vardon” refers to a universally recognized method for gripping a golf club       

     The invention resides in interrelated positioning, indicating and guidance means which are co-operable structurally and functionally with a golf club to provide for learning, practicing and performing any, some, or all of the essential aspects of the previously described golf swing method, those essential aspects being:
         positioning and setting of the hands while gripping the club in a “vardon” style formation in respect to the wrist cocking plane,   cocked wrist configuration,   alignment of the grip formation and consequently the club shaft at the ball address and transition positions,   relationships of the arms, wrists, hands, and club shaft in respect to the vertical virtual axis by reference to the lower body in the lower phase and the transitions, and   configuration at the top of the backswing in respect to the said vertical virtual axis and the said horizontal virtual axis by reference to the extremity of the trailing shoulder.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c  and  1   d  illustrate, sequentially, the performance of the golf swing method in accordance with the previously described concept wherein the line of action of the golf club within a slanted “swing plane” derives from the combined actions relating to a vertical virtual axis about which the body rotates and to a horizontal virtual axis which is tied to the vertical virtual axis and about which the arms swing. 
         FIG. 2  is a typical embodiment of the invention arranged to suit right handed use. 
         FIG. 3  shows the associated gripping arrangement of the leading or first placed hand in respect to the typical embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows the completed “vardon” style gripping arrangement in respect to the typical embodiment with the second placed hand in place over the first placed thumb. 
         FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c  and  5   d  are sequential illustrations of the lower swing phase in overhead view of the relationship of the apparatus to the lower body and to a target line. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the use of the typical embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  elaborates the configuration at the end of the backswing position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     To properly understand the basis of this invention a description of the method relating to the said concept is now provided with reference to  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c  and  1   d  of the drawings. 
       FIG. 1   a  illustrates that in the lower phase of the backswing the club is moved away from the ball address position  1  to a phase transition position  2  wherein the club shaft is disposed with the proximal end of the handle substantially in forward alignment with the outside of a user&#39;s trailing thigh  3  and substantially on a line  4  which includes the location of the said proximal end as it was at the ball address position and which is parallel to the ground and to the line  5  extending away from a golfing target through the ball location. This is achieved biomechanically by cocking the wrists vertically within the “wrist cocking plane”  6  accompanied by the body turning in unison with longitudinal rotation of the leading arm effectively around a vertical virtual axis  7 . During this turning action the trailing elbow folds back to the side of the body while the grip setting of the hands on the club and the relationship between the “wrist cocking plane” and the leading arm are maintained as they were established at address. 
       FIG. 1   b  illustrates that at the phase transition  2  the leading arm starts to carry the club upwards around a horizontal virtual axis  8  which is tied to the vertical virtual axis  7  in the vicinity of the upper torso. As the arms rise towards the top of the backswing position  9  the grip setting and the relationship between the “wrist cocking plane” and the leading forearm are maintained while the trailing arm continues to fold at the elbow. “The wrist cocking plane”  6  becomes slanted away from the vertical due to continuation of longitudinal rotation of the leading forearm. It is essential that the correct configuration is achieved at the top of the backswing  9   
       FIG. 1   c  illustrates the upper phase of the downswing which is conceptually the reverse of the upper part of the backswing but different in the synchronisation of some of the movements due to biodynamic effects as muscular power is applied to acceleration of the club head and due to the effects of centrifugal forces developed therefrom. It is essential that those effects are controlled particularly in respect to maintenance of the grip setting and the relationship between the “wrist cocking plane” and the leading arm such that the configuration through the transition  10  from the upper to the lower phase is the same as it was in the transition  2  from the lower to the upper phase in the backswing as described previously. 
       FIG. 1   d  illustrates the lower part of the downswing in which the club sweeps from the transition  10  through ball impact  11  and on to a follow through transition  12  where the club points at the target in essentially a mirrored configuration of the backswing transition  2 . As in the upper phase of the downswing it is essential that the biodynamic and centrifugal force effects are controlled particularly in respect to maintenance of the grip setting, the relationship between the “wrist cocking plane” and the leading arm and the relationship between the hands and the club to the lower body as the body turns in unison with longitudinal rotation of the leading arm effectively around the vertical virtual axis  7  whilst straightening the trailing elbow. 
     The arms then carry the club upwards into the follow through from the transition  12  around the horizontal virtual axis  8  while the body continues to turn around the vertical virtual axis  7  to finish facing the target. 
     The effect of the arms swinging around the horizontal virtual axis  8  combined with the body&#39;s rotation around the vertical virtual axis  7  whilst maintaining the relationship between the “wrist cocking plane”  6  and the leading arm is to produce the line of action of the club head  32 . within a slanted plane. 
     The crux of this invention is constituted in the functional form of the various positioning, indicating and guidance means and their interrelated functional and structural relationships to an associated golf club and the “wrist cocking plane”. 
       FIG. 2  of the drawings illustrates the assembly of the means for learning, practicing and performing all of the essential components of the said method in a typical embodiment of the invention in which:— 
     The means for positioning and setting of the hands in gripping a golf club  13  with the assembly attached thereto are by thumb base positioning portions  20  and  21  which are located such that with a “vardon” style gripping formation while holding the club at the ball address position; a user&#39;s thumb bases will press firmly against the positioning portions  20  and  21  when the thumb of the first placed hand is set longitudinally on the club handle and offset to more or less 30 angular degrees from the “wrist cocking plane”  6  towards the trailing side around the club handle and the forearms are presented so as to set the top end of each wrist hinging axis inwards to more or less 30 angular degrees from the vertical. 
     The means for aligning the grip formation and consequently the club handle and shaft  13  in the address and transition positions is by reference to a visibly prominent alignment indicator  14  consisting of linear sections extending either in continuity or offset on each side of and at right angles to the “wrist cocking plane”  6  in the vicinity of the said proximal end of the club handle such that correct alignment is indicated at the ball address position when the linear portion  14  is horizontal and parallel to the line from a golfing target through the ball position and horizontal and at right angles thereto at the transitions whereat the lengths of each section are such that a segment of the free end thereof will be in contact relevantly with the outside of a user&#39;s thigh. 
     The means for establishing the cocked wrist configuration is by reference to the visibly prominent linear portion  14  which, when at the position of readiness to commence a golf stroke, is kept in horizontal alignment and parallel to the line from a golfing target through the ball position so as to keep the “wrist cocking plane”  6  vertically right angled thereto while raising the club head by a wrist cocking action of progressively and equally increasing the angular inward setting of the wrist hinge axes and hinging the hands backwards while maintaining the previously described grip setting with the leading arm in continuous extension and with slight bending of the trailing elbow. 
     The means for guiding the operational relationship of the arms, wrists, hands, and club handle and shaft relative to the lower body in the lower phase and transitions is provided by a lower swing phase guide portion  17  in the form of an arc spaced convexly and symmetrically away from the said proximal end of the club handle on the extended axis  18  of the club shaft and within the plane containing the visibly prominent linear portion  14  and the axis  18  of the club shaft whereby the lower swing phase guide portion  17  may be maintained in contact with a user&#39;s lower body while maneuvering the club  13  through the lower swing phase and when at a phase transition whereat a relevant end section of the linear portion  14  may also be in abutment contact with a relevant side of the lower body. 
     The means for establishing the top of the backswing configuration is provided by a backswing position guide  25  being in the form of a concave shoulder contact portion spaced from and concaved towards the club shaft  13  and set symmetrically crosswise to the “wrist cocking plane”  6  at a projected distance from the said proximal end of the club handle such that with the club raised to outside and above a user&#39;s trailing shoulder with the user&#39;s hands at more or less eye level and with the leading arm close to the upper body with the wrists cocked to 90 degrees, the “wrist cocking plane”  6  will be at more or less 45 angular degrees to the through line of the user&#39;s shoulders when the concavity of the backswing position guide  25  is resting in conformity over the rounded form of the extremity of the user&#39;s trailing shoulder. 
     The means of support to the portions of the assembly may be in any suitable non-interfering form capable of rigidly maintaining the structural relationships as would be readily conceivable by any person with appropriate engineering design skills and including adjustment means as deemed necessary to suit individual user physiques as well as any method of releasable attachment to any golf club or for fixed attachment to a dedicated golf club. 
     In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect in regard to the golf swing method which is based on the concept as elucidated in  FIGS. 1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c  and  1   d  of the accompanying drawings, reference will now be made to the remaining drawings. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2  which illustrates a typical embodiment of the invention; it will be seen that the form of the constituent functional portions of the assembly (highlighted by crosshatching) relate structurally to each other and to an attached golf club  13  and the “wrist cocking plane”  6 . One form of suitable support means is shown being a triangular frame wherein the visibly prominent linear portion  14  is adapted as the base member and incorporates a clamp  15  or other suitable means for attachment to the proximal end of the club handle. An ancillary member  16  provides longitudinally adjustable support to the lower body guide  17  in reference to the said proximal end and within the plane  32  containing the linear portion  14  and the club shaft axis  18 . A second ancillary member  19  rises from the vicinity of the said proximal end within the “wrist cocking plane”  6 , and at right angles to the linear portion  14  and the club shaft axis  18  in support of the thumb base positioning portions  20  and  21 . The two side members of the frame  22  and  23  extend from the base member/linear portion  14  to meet in the apex of the triangular form at the distal end of the club handle whereat a third ancillary member  24  rises within the “wrist cocking plane”  6 , at right angles to the club shaft  13 , in adjustable support of the concave backswing position guide  25  in reference to its spacing from the club shaft  13 . The third ancillary member  24  incorporates a second clamp or a clip for attachment to the club shaft  13  at that point. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a user&#39;s view of the grip setting by the first placed hand in respect to the thumb base positioning portions  20  and  21  with the linear portion  14  horizontal and the thumb located longitudinally at more or less  30  angular degrees  26  around the club handle from its longitudinal top centre towards the trailing side and with the wrist hinging axis  27  set at more or less  30  angular degrees from the vertical. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the complete “vardon” style gripping set up with the thumb bases against the thumb base positioning portions  20  and  21  and the wrist hinging axes  27  and  28  set inwards to each other at more or less  30  angular degrees from the vertical. 
       FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c  and  5   d  are sequential illustrations of the lower swing phase in overhead view of the relationship of the apparatus to the lower body  31  and to a target line  5 . 
       FIG. 5   a  illustrates the ball address position with the lower body guide  17  against the front of the lower body  31  and the linear portion  14  horizontal and visibly parallel to the line  5  extending from a golfing target through the ball position. 
     In  FIG. 5   b ; the lower body guide  17  has rolled across the front of the turning lower body  31  with longitudinal rotation of the leading arm and some folding of the trailing elbow to bring the club into the backswing/downswing transition wherein the linear portion  14  is horizontal and visibly right angled to the target line  5  with a relevant end section of the linear portion  14  abutting the trailing side of the lower body and with the club shaft disposed substantially on the line  4  which extends through the proximal end of the club handle at the ball address position  FIG. 5   a  and which is parallel to the ground and to the target line  5 . 
       FIG. 5   c  illustrates the ball impact position which is substantially the same as the ball address position except that due to dynamic effects the lower body  31  is turning targetwise. 
       FIG. 5(   d ) illustrates the follow through transition which substantially mirrors the backswing/downswing transition while the lower body  31  has continued to turn towards the target. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the apparatus in full forward swing ball striking performance wherein, at the top of the backswing  9 , the wrists are fully cocked with the concavity of the backswing position guide  25  resting in conformity on the rounded form of the user&#39;s trailing shoulder extremity. At the downswing phase transition  10  the visibly prominent linear portion  14  is horizontal and right angled to the line from a golfing target through the ball with the relevant end section abutting the outside of the user&#39;s trailing hip and the lower body guide  17  against the front of that hip. The lower body guide  17  then rolls across the front of the lower body as the wrists uncock through ball impact and then recock into the follow through transition  12 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a rearward view of the configuration at the top of the backswing position with the user standing upright, wherein the concavity of the backswing position guide  25  is resting in conformity over the rounded extremity of the user&#39;s trailing shoulder so that the “wrist cocking plane”  6  and thus the wrist cocking direction are set at more or less  45  angular degrees to the vertical and with the hands more or less at the user&#39;s eye level  29  with the support  24  adjusted to provide the appropriate spacing between the club and the user&#39;s trailing shoulder such that the club shaft would be substantially parallel to the ground and right angled to the line of the shoulders.