Abstract:
A golf setup training device for training a golfer to take the best possible setup in relation to a ball when addressing the ball prior to hitting the ball. The device includes a pair of axially aligned foot-positioning bars and extending therefrom at right angles a ball-positioning bar that includes a fixed section and an extendable section. The extendable section is adjustably mounted to the fixed section to adjust the length of the ball-positioning bar according to the height of the golfer and/or for a chosen iron. The device may be easily partially disassembled for compact storage.

Description:
This invention relates in general to a golf setup training device for training a golfer to have the best possible setup or stance for swinging at a ball depending on the height of the golfer, and more particularly to a golf setup training device including foot-alignment means and ball-placement means for setting the ball at a proper position for swinging at the ball with a given club. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Heretofore, it has been well known to provide golf training devices for adjusting the stance of a person in addressing the ball before making contact between the club head and the ball during swinging of the club. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,010 discloses a rather complex training device having several adjustable members to assist a golfer in determining the correct stance to take before swinging at a ball. Additional stance devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,180,170; 2,777,697; 4,384,718; 4,647,048; 5,322,288; 5,362,060; 5,482,284; and 6,752,724. 
   It is well known that the posture, balance and stance of a golfer have a direct bearing on the ability of the golfer to swing properly and make the best contact with the golf ball. Indeed, it is important that substantially the center of the club face strikes substantially the center of the ball to produce the best possible results for a shot. The alignment of the feet is significant for directional control of the ball flight, and the distance the ball is placed from the feet is significant to provide the proper posture for striking the ball and promote the most efficient swing. Accordingly, a training device for accomplishing these skills so that the proper setup is made will significantly assist the golfer in producing the best possible shot, as well as the best possible swing. 
   The distance a ball is placed from the feet of a golfer that takes the proper posture depends upon and is directly related to the height of the golfer and the club chosen for striking the ball. For example, a golfer 5 feet 7 inches in height when using a 6 iron would position the ball 22 inches from the feet, while a taller golfer would position the ball closer to the feet, and a shorter golfer would position the ball farther from the feet. Also, the feet-to-ball distance would be related to the particular club chosen. The lower numbered club would require placement of the ball farthest from the feet, while the higher numbered club would require placement of the ball much closer to the feet. The present invention includes the feature of setting the placement of the ball from the feet of the user, along with the alignment of the body for ball flight direction. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The golf setup training device of the present invention is not only simple in structure to enable the golfer to easily adjust the device for the golfer&#39;s stance depending on the golfer&#39;s height and the club chosen for a practice session. It is simply constructed with a minimum number of parts to be easily adjusted for use, and disassembled for compact storage in the golfer&#39;s golf bag. The device of the invention includes a pair of foot-aligning bars and a ball-positioning bar extending from the foot-aligning bars that is adjustable depending on the height of the golfer and the club selected for a particular training exercise. The device of the invention is particularly suited for use with irons such as the irons 2 to 9, the pitching wedge, the sand wedge, the gap wedge, and the lob wedge. It should be appreciated that it could be made for use with other clubs. 
   As above noted, the adjustable ball-positioning bar is adjustable not only for the height of the golfer but also for the particular club chosen for a practice exercise. Graduations relating to a golfer&#39;s height are provided on the extendable section of the ball-positioning bar that coact with the end of the fixed section to enable the proper extension of the extendable section for the golfer. The graduations are preferably labeled for adjusting the bar by one-quarter inch increments, and height values, but may be labeled in any suitable manner. 
   A twist connector or other suitable device is provided on the fixed section to coact with and selectively lock the adjustable section to the fixed section at a predetermined location during use of the device. The extendable section is telescopically received by the fixed section such that it may be substantially fully received in the fixed section when preparing the device for storage. Also, the foot-alignment bars are removably connectable to a fitting and may be disassembled from the fitting so that the alignment bars may be positioned adjacent to the fixed section and thereafter stored in a suitable container or bag. Then the device in the bag can easily be stored in the golf bag of the golfer. Cord that is either non-elastic or elastic may be provided to assist in keeping the foot-alignment bars associated with the fitting for reassembly. Thus, the device includes a minimum number of parts that can easily be manipulated for assembly, disassembly, and adjustment for use by a golfer. Wings or tabs are provided on the ball-positioning bar to facilitate engagement by the head of a club to swing the ball-positioning bar to the back of the golfer when swinging at the ball. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the golf setup training device of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the device and showing in phantom the position of a golfer with a golf club and where the extendable section of the ball-positioning bar is at a predetermined position; 
       FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , to illustrate the adjustability of the extendable section of the ball-positioning bar when adjusted for a golfer of a different height; 
       FIG. 4  is an end elevational view of the training device resting on the ground and a depiction of a golfer in a stance with a club positioned to strike a ball; 
       FIG. 4   a  is an end elevational view of the device for the golfer where the ball-positioning bar has been flipped from the sight of the golfer to a position behind the golfer; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear elevational view of the training device of the invention and illustrating in phantom the feet of a golfer at the foot positioning bars; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the ball-positioning bar and showing the structure of the twist connector for locking the extendable section of the ball-positioning bar to the fixed section; 
       FIG. 9  is an elevational view of the device with the foot-alignment bars removed from the fitting on the ball-positioning bar and positioned along the ball-positioning bar to illustrate disassembly of the foot-positioning bars for storage purposes; and 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a bag into which the device is inserted for storage purposes. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The golf setup training device of the present invention is T-shaped and generally designated by the numeral  15  when assembled and ready for use, as seen particularly in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , and includes a ball-positioning bar  16  and a pair of foot-alignment bars  19  and  20 . As will be more particularly described below, the foot-alignment bars are employed for positioning the feet of a golfer or user, while the ball-positioning bar is employed for alignment of the body of the user along the foot-alignment bars, and to position the golf ball the proper distance from the feet of the user. 
   The foot-alignment bars  19  and  20  may be tubular or solid and are suitably mounted in a fitting  22  positioned at one end of the ball-alignment bar. While any suitable means may be provided for mounting the foot-alignment bars in the fitting, they may be merely frictionally held in place and removable easily when storing of the device, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Preferably, the foot-alignment bars are each about twenty inches long but may be of any suitable length to provide a reference for placement of the feet of the golfer using the device. Optionally, the foot-alignment bars may be provided with an elastic or inelastic cord  25 , as seen in  FIG. 9 , where the opposite ends are connected to each of the foot-alignment bars  19  and  20  and then threaded through the fitting, as seen in  FIG. 9 . The foot-alignment bars  19  and  20  are preferably tubular in structure and fit into circular openings on the fitting  22 . However, it can be appreciated that the outer shape of the bars may be otherwise if desired. 
   The ball-positioning bar  16  includes a hollow fixed section  27  and an extendable section or extension  28 . The extendable section  28  may be solid or tubular and is telescopically received by the fixed section. It is adjustable to the fixed section  27  for purposes of adjusting the length of the ball-positioning bar in accordance with the height of a golfer and/or the chosen club to be used for a setup exercise, as will be more clearly described below. 
   The fixed section  27  of the ball-positioning bar  16  is preferably tubular in form as is the extendable section  28 . However, it can be appreciated that it may be made of other structural shapes so long as the extendable section is mounted to be adjustably carried by the fixed section. 
   Moreover, as noted above, the extendable section  28  may be solid rather than tubular, if so desired. The extendable section  28 , telescopically received within the fixed section  27 , as particularly seen in  FIG. 10 , is selectively lockable to the fixed section by a twist connector  32  at a predetermined location for adjusting the total length of the ball-positioning bar. As seen in  FIG. 8 , the twist connector includes a threaded portion  34  on the fixed section  27  for receiving a threaded collar  35 . The threaded section  34  includes fingers  36  that will tightly engage and grip the adjustable extendable section  28  upon twisting the collar  32  in the tightening direction to lock the extendable section to the fixed section. Similarly, by twisting the collar in the untightening direction, the fingers will release the grip on the extendable section  28  to allow it to be slidably positioned in the fixed section  27  to a desired location. As will be explained more particularly below, the ball-positioning bar  16  will be adjusted by the user according to the height of the user and the club chosen for determining ball placement. To adjust the ball-positioning bar it is only necessary to manipulate the twist connector  32  and slide the adjustable section  28  into or away from the fixed section  27  and thereafter manipulate the twist connector to lock the extendable section in position on the fixed section. It should be appreciated that any suitable twist connector may be used, or that a simple set screw system may be used for locking the extendable section at a predetermined position on the fixed section. 
   When preparing the device for storage, the foot-alignment bars  19  and  20  are removed from the fitting  22  and placed alongside the ball-positioning bar  16 , as seen in  FIG. 9 . Further, the extendable section  28  of the ball-positioning bar is retracted into the fixed section  27  sufficiently to have the length of the ball-positioning bar substantially equal to the lengths of the foot-alignment bars, as seen in  FIG. 9 . Then the setup device is preferably inserted into a bag or package  40  which can then be stored in a golf bag, or wherever desired. 
   In operation, the golf setup training device  15  is first removed from the carrying bag  40  and then assembled by inserting the foot-alignment bars  19  and  20  into the fitting  22  that is integral with the fixed section  27  of the ball-positioning bar. These bars are sized to the openings in the fitting so as to frictionally interfit. Mounting of the foot-alignment bars to the ball-positioning bar disposes the foot-alignment bars at right angles to the ball-positioning bar. The golfer next adjusts the length of the ball-positioning bar in accordance with the golfer&#39;s height by manipulating the position of the extendable section  28  relative to the fixed section  27 . The following chart is provided with the device to guide the golfer in properly adjusting the ball-positioning bar to the proper length. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
                 
               Ball 
             
             
                 
               Golfer Height 
               Positioning 
             
             
                 
               (feet &amp; 
               Bar Length 
             
             
                 
               inches) 
               (Inches) 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               5′4″ 
               23½ 
             
             
                 
               5′5″ 
               23 
             
             
                 
               5′6″ 
               22½ 
             
             
                 
               5′7″ 
               22 
             
             
                 
               5′8″ 
               21½ 
             
             
                 
               5′9″ 
               21 
             
             
                 
               5′10″ 
               20½ 
             
             
                 
               5′11″ 
               20 
             
             
                 
               6′ 
               19½ 
             
             
                 
               6′1″ 
               19 
             
             
                 
               6′2″ 
               18½ 
             
             
                 
               6′3″ 
               18 
             
             
                 
               6′4″ 
               17½ 
             
             
                 
               6′5″ 
               17 
             
             
                 
               6′6″ 
               16½ 
             
             
                 
               6′7″ 
               16 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   The extendable or adjustable section  28  of the ball-positioning bar will include incremental inch graduations, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Further, it will be understood that numerical inch indicia will be applied to the extendable section to facilitate adjustment. The length of the ball-positioning bar according to a particular height is measured from the center of the fitting  22  to the outer free end of the extendable section  28 . For example, a golfer five feet seven inches tall will adjust the position of the extendable section such that the dimension from the fitting to the tip end of the extendable section is 22 inches for taking a stance with a 6 iron. It will be appreciated that the 6 iron is the standard, and that when taking a stance with a higher or lower iron, the position of the extendable bar will be adjusted accordingly. It will also be appreciated that when adjusting the position of the extendable bar relative to the fixed bar, the fixed connector  32  will be untightened to allow sliding movement of the extendable section in the fixed section and then tightened to lock the extendable section to the fixed section in establishing the total length of the ball-positioning bar as desired. 
   The distance from the center of the fitting to the end of the fixed section of the ball-positioning bar is 13½ inches. So, for a golfer five feet seven inches in height, the extendable section would be set to add another 8½ inches to total 22 inches. With respect to numerical indicia on the extendable section, markings from 16 to 23½ inches will cover the adjustments identified in the above chart. The incremental graduations would include inch, one-half inch, and one-quarter inch markings, although the one-quarter inch markings would only be used for adjusting to set the bar for wedges. 
   When using the device for a setup with other irons, the extendable section is adjusted to make the ball-positioning bar longer for the lower number irons and shorter for the higher number irons. When adjusting for clubbing down from the 6 iron to the 9 iron, the extendable section is moved into the fixed section one-half inch per club. Thereafter, when clubbing down to the pitching wedge, sand wedge and lob wedge, the extendable section is moved one-quarter inch inward per club from the set point for the height of the golfer. When adjusting the device to club up from the 6 iron to the 2 iron, the extendable section is extended from the fixed section one-half inch per club from the set point for the height of the golfer. 
   Another guide for adjusting the position of the extendable section relative to the fixed section for using different irons is illustrated by the following chart:
         2 iron: +2″   3 iron: +1½″   4 iron: +1″   5 iron: +½″   6 iron: standard   7 iron: −½″   8 iron: −1″   9 iron: −1½″   PW: −1¾″ (48-52 degrees)   SW: −2″ (54-56 degrees)   LW: −2¼″ (58-60 degrees)       

   With respect to the above chart, it will be seen that from the standard position for a particular height the 6 iron is usable in the initial setup. Since the irons are of different lengths, the length of the ball-positioning bar will be adjusted when going to a lower or higher lofted club. Going from the 6 iron to the 2 iron, the extendable section is extended one-half inch per club. Going from the 6 iron to the 9 iron, the extendable section is shortened one-half inch per club, and from the 9 iron to the lob wedge, the extendable section is shortened one-quarter inch per club. 
   When the golfer has properly adjusted the device for the golfer&#39;s height and for use of a particular club, the device is placed on the ground and the golfer is positioned so that the golfer&#39;s feet are behind and in alignment with the foot-alignment bars, and the body of the golfer is centrally positioned relative to the ball-positioning bar for a 6 iron, as seen in  FIGS. 2-4 . In this position, the ball-positioning bar extends out away from the end in front of the golfer. The ball is then placed at the tip end of the ball-positioning bar, as seen in  FIGS. 2-4 . The golfer&#39;s setup is established by posturing the golfer&#39;s body with the club, as shown by the club  40 , so that the head  41  of the club is aligned with the ball  42 . Thus, the setup is established for a given club and a given height of the golfer. Further, adjustment of this setup is made for the golfer in accordance with the club chosen for the stance, as in the above chart. 
   Once the setup is established, the golfer may then use the head of the club to engage one of the wings  45  or  46 , depending on whether the golfer is right-handed or left-handed, to raise the ball positioning bar and swing it between the legs of the golfer and to a position behind the golfer, as shown in  FIG. 4   a . This removes the ball-positioning bar from the front of the golfer to remove any possible distraction during swinging of the club to strike the ball. This also trains the golfer to take the proper setup without reliance on the setup device when engaged in the playing on a golf course. 
   It will be appreciated that the setup training device  15  can easily be used for a left-handed or right-handed golfer without otherwise considering a need to change or adjust the training device. Moreover, with respect to establishing a setup for an iron other than a 6 iron, in addition to adjusting the overall length of the ball-positioning bar, a golfer can shift position along the feet-alignment bars to establish a setup for a different iron. Normally, a golfer would shift position such that the center of the golfer&#39;s body would be adjusted to the right of the ball-positioning bar for longer irons and to the left of the ball-positioning bar for shorter irons. 
   It is most significant that the setup training device of the present invention is particularly useful in order to teach a proper setup for the use of irons such that the feet of the golfer will be positioned at the proper distance from the ball when the swing is made to strike the ball. 
   It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.