Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods of exercise for golf swing training. The methods include providing a training device, comprising a handle and a resistance; grasping the handle with only the forward hand of the user; and moving the handle in opposition to the resistance to simulate at least one of a downswing and a follow-through without striking a golf ball.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to methods of enhancing sports performance and swing training. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for exercising the arm muscles involved in producing power in a golf swing.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Becoming proficient in the game of golf requires practice to improve skills and to overcome weaknesses. Although many popular golf exercises emphasize one or more elements of the game including stance and weight shifting, these exercises do little to directly “deprogram” one&#39;s natural and counter-productive tendencies. More specifically, these exercises often times permit a user to swing a golf club with all the force and speed that one can muster. Typically, the user who employs a training device that permits the user to closely simulate a golf swing does not efficiently “deprogram” but rather simply learns how to modify their swing to compensate for one&#39;s natural and counter-productive tendencies. Accordingly, users who practice “powering” the ball quickly plateau and do not learn to overcome their weaknesses to improve the golf game.  
         [0003]     A weakness that is shared among the majority of golfers is the tendency to use their rearward or trailing hand (i.e., the hand closest to the head of the golf club) and associated arm, which are typically their dominant hand and arm, to provide power to the club during the swing. In this regard, although power is supposed to be provided to the club through the arm that is associated with one&#39;s forward or leading hand (i.e., the hand farthest from the head of the club), many golfers find this awkward, difficult and unnatural because the forward hand is typically their non-dominant hand. Consequently, many golfers are not able to consistently use their forward hand and arm to best effect.  
         [0004]     It would be desirable to provide a golf exercise that emphasizes the use of one&#39;s forward hand and arm.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In one form, the teachings of the present invention provide a method that includes: providing a training device with a handle and a means for providing resistance, the handle being configured to non-slipably engage a forward hand of a user, wherein the handle measures less than about twenty four inches in length, the resistance means being coupled to the handle and simulating a weight of at least about ⅔ of a weight of a selected golf club head that is raised and lowered in response to movement of the handle; grasping the handle with only the forward hand of the user; and moving the handle to simulate at least one of a downswing and a follow-through without striking a golf ball.  
         [0006]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of the training device;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a view of a golfer utilizing the training method of the present invention, the golfer having the handle in a half downswing position;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 2  but illustrating the golfer with the handle approaching the bottom of the downswing and the wrist of the golfer starting to turn over;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 2  but illustrating the wrist of the golfer in a turned over condition; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 2  but illustrating the golfer with the handle in a follow-through swing position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0014]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a training device  10  is provided that includes a handle  12 , a means for providing resistance, which may include a weight  14 , a pulley  16  and a cable  18 , and a mount  19 . The weight  14  and the handle  12  are attached to opposite ends of the cable  18 . The handle  12  may be pivotably coupled to the cable  18  and includes a gripping portion  12   a . The pulley  16  is attached to the mount  19  and the cable  18  is wrapped over the pulley  16 . The mount  19  may include a base  22 , a beam  24  and an attachment means  26 . The base  22  may extend generally horizontally proximate a point at which the training device  10  is attached to a vertical structure  20 , such as a wall or a door. The attachment means  26  couples the training device to the vertical structure  20 . The beam  24  projects outwardly from the base  24  and provides an attachment point at which the pulley  16  is mounted. The attachment means  26  may include clips, hooks, straps or threaded fasteners, for example and may facilitate the temporary attachment of the training device  10  to the vertical structure  20 . It is preferred that the attachment means  26  be made of material that prevent marking on or any damage to the supporting vertical structure  20 .  
         [0015]     The gripping portion  12   a  of the handle  12  is adapted to non-slipably engage a forward hand of a user. Non-slipable engagement includes, but is not limited to, grooves, finger-sized indentations or a textured cover, such as the depicted golf grip. Preferably, the handle  12  is substantially shorter than a golf club and is of a sufficient length to accommodate the single forward hand of a user. Many other exercise devices include a handle or grip that is substantially or exactly the same length as a standard golf club. These exercise devices allow the user to use other muscles that are not targeted by the technique employed herein but rather permit a user to rely on the muscles in their rearward arm and shoulder. Such reliance is prevented with the shorter handle  12  provided herein. Furthermore, a shorter handle  12  prevents the golfer from focusing on other things that are not germane to the technique employed herein, such as the distance of the club head from the ground, etc. The gripping portion  12   a  of the handle  12  measures less than about twenty-four inches, preferably less than about twelve inches, and more preferably, less than about six inches.  
         [0016]     The weight  14  may have a weight that is related to the weight of a selected golf club head. Preferably, the weight  14  is greater than ⅔ of the weight of the selected golf club head. By having the weight  14  heavier than the golf club head, yet lighter than the weight of the entire club, the user is able to improve coordination of the forward hand and also strengthen the internal rotator muscles associated with a corresponding side of their body. While benefits are provided by having the weight  14  lighter than the weight of the entire club, embodiments of this invention may be performed with weights equal to or greater than the weight of the entire club.  
         [0017]     The cable  18  may be any suitable rope, cable or wire and may be formed in part or in whole from an organic, plastic and/or metal material. While the training device  10  illustrated has but a single pulley  16 , those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the training device  10  may be constructed in the alternative with a multi-pulley system, a series of gears, a series of levers or combinations thereof.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , the methods of the present invention involve grasping the handle  12  of the training device  10  with only the forward hand such that the palm of the forward hand substantially surrounds the gripping portion  12   a  of the handle  12 . The gripping portion  12   a  of the handle  12  is placed in the center of the palm, generally perpendicular to the fingers, the fingers are brought towards the palm and sufficient manual pressure is applied such that a closed fist encircles the gripping portion  12   a  of the handle  12 . For example, a left-handed person would utilize their right (i.e., forward) hand to grasp the handle  12 .  
         [0019]     With the handle  12  gripped in their forward hand, the user faces generally away from the training device  10  and simulates a segment of the golf swing and lifting the weight  14 . The weight  14  provides resistance that is transmitted to the handle  12  via the cable  18 . The user may practice a downswing, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , and a follow-through swing, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Significantly, the user may practice a portion of the swing wherein the wrist that is coupled to the forward hand of the user turns over as is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Specifically, the wrist W of the user rotates from the outwardly facing condition illustrated in  FIG. 3  (i.e., so that the palm of the forward hand faces away from the user) to the inwardly facing condition illustrated in  FIG. 4  (i.e., the palm of the forward hand faces the user).  
         [0020]     When practicing the individual components of the swing, the user may position their shoulders, hips and feet in similar positions to the actual posture at that point in the swing. Optionally, the user may practice the continued motion of the downswing and the follow through swing (i.e., downswing and follow-through swing are completed in one motion). The user may also practice the backswing segment of a golf swing using their forward hand and associated arm in a manner consistent with that described above.  
         [0021]     It may be desirable to maintain the rearward hand of the user in close proximity to the user&#39;s body during the performing of the exercise. Maintaining the rearward hand in close proximity includes, but is not limited to, holding the hand against the golfer&#39;s side, placing the hand in a pocket, placing the hand behind the golfer&#39;s back or mechanically maintaining the arm against the body with, for example, a strap or tie. Maintaining the rearward hand in close proximity in this manner ensures that the rearward hand and associated arm will not interfere with the practice swing technique and further reinforces in the user&#39;s mind that the rearward hand and arm are simply “along for the ride” (i.e., are not used to produce power during the swing).  
         [0022]     Depending on the desired end result, the speed of the swing may be altered. While practicing with the training device  10 , the user may perform the simulated downswing and follow-through at the user&#39;s average swing pace, or the same pace they would perform while on the golf course. Using the average swing pace can provide training for positioning, stance and timing with the forward hand.  
         [0023]     The methods of this invention are also useful for providing stretching to prevent injury due to straining of the shoulder muscles. The user may perform the simulated downswing and follow-through at a pace that is substantially slower than the average swing pace. It is preferred that the slower pace is less than about 30% of the speed of the average swing pace for proper stretching.  
         [0024]     Additionally, the exercise methods described herein may also be performed in abrupt sub-segments to provided enhanced stretching, strengthening and to increase the ease of use of the forward hand. For example, ⅓ of the downswing may be performed at the average swing pace and the remaining ⅔ of the downswing may be performed at 15% of the average swing pace.  
         [0025]     It will be appreciated that although the method of the present invention has been illustrated and described in conjunction with a resistance means that includes a pulley, a cable and a weight, the invention in its broadest aspects need not be so limited. Specifically, any means for providing resistance to the handle may be employed. For example, in addition or alternative to the pulley-mounted weight that is illustrated and described, the means for providing resistance may include a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator (e.g., single-acting spring return cylinder that where fluid is metered out of the cylinder during the downstroke), a spring, a flywheel, an electric motor or generator. Such devices are well known in their respective arts and as such, a detailed discussion of them is not needed herein. Accordingly, it will be understood that any mechanical, electrical, magnetic, hydraulic or pneumatic operated device, or a device employing combinations thereof, may be utilized as the resistance means.  
         [0026]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.