Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/168,617, filed Jul. 7, 2008, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/474,751, filed Jun. 26, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,537,525, the specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention generally relates to training aids for athletes and players and methods of using the same. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of training a golfer using a training aid. Specifically, the invention relates to a method of training a golfer to correctly position their hands on a golf club grip and to apply the correct pressure on the grip while learning to accurately play a stroke in a particular direction. 
     2. Background Information 
     It is the opinion of some professional golfers that most amateur golfers hold their golf clubs improperly and this tends to impede the accuracy of their swing. They way they hold the club needs to be corrected before the amateur golfer can really work on their swing and see substantial improvement. However, the golfer may have improperly held their club for many years and a few hours lessons with a golf professional cannot correct years of improper habit. A number of devices and training methods have been proposed in the prior art to aid in correcting the golfer&#39;s hold on the club grip. A number of these training aids assist the golfer in holding the club correctly while the aid is attached to the club, but as soon as the aid is removed, the golfer returns to their old habits. If the golfer is able to play many games over a period of time with a suitable training aid, the golfer&#39;s muscle memory would be reset and corrected and the training aid would only be required occasionally to verify that the golfer&#39;s hold on the grip has been corrected. 
     There is therefore a need in the art for an improved golf training aid that will enable a golfer to position their hands on the club&#39;s grip correctly and will, over the course of time, retrain the golfer&#39;s muscle memory to maintain the correct hold on the grip even when the training aid is removed therefrom. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method of using a golf training aid to train a golfer to correctly position their hands on the grip of a golf club. The training aid is temporarily engaged on the grip in the correct position by aligning a positioning aid on the training aid with the ball-striking of the club. The correct positioning of the hands is ensured by providing thumb and finger placement indicators on the training aid. The golfer is trained to use the correct amount of force to hold the club by heeding pressure sensors provided in the training aid. 
     The golf training aid includes a first positioning aid having an indicator that is visually alignable with a portion of the club. When the indicator is so aligned, the training aid is used to correctly position the golfer&#39;s hands around the circumference of a club handle. The device further aids in setting the correct interrelationship between the golfer&#39;s upper and lower hands and correctly sets the rotation of the hands to the heel of the golf club head. The training aid further corrects the placement of the golfer&#39;s hands along the linear axis of the club and aids in training the golfer to apply the correct pressure to the golf grip throughout their swing. 
     A first embodiment of the training aid is designed for use on full-swing clubs such as irons and drivers. This first embodiment incorporates a pop-up rotation gauge to assist in setting the training aid at a neutral position. The second embodiment of the training aid is designed for use on clubs that will not pass through a full swing, specifically putters. All putter grips have a planar section that is aligned with the club face. The training aid for putters has a corresponding planar section to automatically align the training aid to the neutral position. The second embodiment does not have a pop-up rotation indicator. 
     Each of the first and second embodiments of the present invention may include one or more electronic pressure sensors that will generate an audible sound through a speaker when the pressure exerted by the golfer&#39;s fingers exceeds a preset limit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a golf training aid in accordance with the present invention engaged with the grip of a full-swing golf club; 
         FIG. 2  is a left side view of the golf training aid engaged with the golf club and having a pop-up member thereon in a “flipped down” or play position; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view of the golf training aid in accordance with the present invention with the pop-up member in the play position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the golf training aid of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the golf training aid of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of the golf training aid of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a left side view of the golf training aid with the pop-up member in a “flipped up” or non-play position; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the golf training aid shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the golf training aid with the exploded away from the body thereof; 
         FIG. 10  is a top end view of the golf training aid with the pop-up member in the non-play position and showing the connection between the pop-up member and the body; 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom end view of the golf training aid with the pop-up member in the play position; 
         FIG. 12  is a right side view sectional view of the golf training aid with the pop-up member in the non-play position; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the golf club showing the training aid engaged therewith and showing the pop-up member on the training aid in a non-play position; 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of the golf training aid engaged on the grip and showing the placement of the upper hand of the golfer thereon; 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of the golf training aid of  FIG. 14  with the lower hand placed thereon and with the pop-up member in a play position; 
         FIG. 16  is a left side view of the golf training aid gripped by the upper and lower hands and with the pop-up member in the play position; 
         FIG. 17  is a right side view of the golf training aid of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a left side view of the golf training aid gripped by the upper and lower hands and with the pop-up member in a non-play position; 
         FIG. 19  is a right side view of the golf training aid of  FIG. 18 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a bottom end view of the golf club and golf training aid of  FIG. 18  where the shaft is cut through a short distance from the training aid; 
         FIG. 21  is a front view of a second embodiment of a golf training aid in accordance with the present invention and shown engaged with the grip of a golf putter. One of the rubber pads on the device is shown partially detached to reveal a pressure sensor disposed beneath the pad; 
         FIG. 22  is a left side view of the second embodiment of the golf training aid in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  is a right side view of the golf training aid of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a rear view of the golf training aid of  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the training aid of  FIG. 22 ; and 
         FIG. 26  is a top view of the golf putter showing the second embodiment of the golf training aid engaged therewith and showing the planar surface on the training aid being complementary configured and seated on a planar face of the putter&#39;s grip. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-13  there is shown a golf training aid in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at  10 . Training aid  10  is designed to be used on a golf club  14 . Club  14  includes a head  18 , a shaft  16  and a grip  12 . Grip  12  has an uppermost end  26  and an innermost end  70  and is generally circular in cross-sectional shape. Grip  12  therefore has a circumferential component and a linear component. The linear component is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis “X” of club  14 . The circumferential component is generally at right angles to the longitudinal axis “X” of club  14 . 
     The training aid  10  in accordance with the present invention is designed to be engaged around the exterior surface  12  of the pre-existing grip  12  of club  14 . Training aid  10  is not permanently affixed to grip  12  but is temporarily engageable therewith when the golfer wishes to practice his or her game. Specifically, training aid  10  is designed to aid the golfer in correctly positioning their upper and lower hands on grip  12 . The term “upper hand” as used herein is meant to identify the one of the golfer&#39;s hands that is closest to the uppermost end  26  of club  14 . The term “lower hand” as used herein is meant to identify the one of the golfer&#39;s hands that is closest to the head  18  of club  14 . Specifically, training aid  10  is designed to aid the golfer to correctly place their fingers around the circumference of the grip  12 . Furthermore, training aid  10  is designed to aid the golfer to correctly position the fingers and thumb of their upper hand in relationship to the fingers and thumb of their lower hand. Still further, training aid  10  is provided to correct the rotation of both upper and lower hands relative to the heel of the golf club head. The upper and lower hands may have a strong, weak or neutral grip rotation and only the neutral rotation is correct. Training aid  10  is designed to aid the golfer in having this neutral rotation. Training aid  10  is additionally designed to aid in teaching the golfer to correctly position their hands along the longitudinal axis of the golf grip and to apply the correct pressure to the grip throughout the swing of club  14 . 
     In accordance with the present invention, training aid  10  comprises a body  20  that is molded to include components that will aid the golfer in correctly positioning both the upper and lower hands, and more specifically to correctly position the fingers and thumbs thereof. Body  20  is provided with a first positioning aid in the form of a pop-up member  22 . Pop-up member  22  is used to correctly position the training aid on the circumference of grip  12  so that training aid  10  and therefore the golfer&#39;s hands are correctly positioned relative to a portion of the club. Specifically, pop-up member  22  enables the golfer to engage training aid  10  on grip  12  in a neutral position relative to the heel of the club. 
     Preferably, body  20  is manufactured from a flexible plastic such as polypropylene and pop-up member  22  is manufactured from a clear plastic such as a polycarbonate so that an indicator on pop-up member  22  can be visually aligned with a portion of club  14 . Pop-up member  22  is pivotably mounted onto body  20  as will be hereinafter described and is movable between a play position, shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , and a set-up or non-play position, shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     Body  20  has a proximal end  20   a  and a distal end  20   b  and is of a length “L” as measured between proximal and distal ends  20   a ,  20   b . Body  20  also has a longitudinal axis “X” that extends between proximal and distal ends  20   a ,  20   b  and is substantially alignable with the longitudinal axis “Y” ( FIG. 2 ) of golf club  14 . Body  20  further has a first and a second side edge  20   c ,  20   d  that are spaced a distance away from each other and are generally equidistant from a centerline “A” ( FIG. 6 ) of said body  20 . Centerline “A” is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis “X” and when body  20  is engaged on grip  12 , the longitudinal axis “X” of body  20  is generally coaxial with the longitudinal axis “Y” of golf club  14 . 
     Body  20  is a thin, flexible member that is substantially C-shaped in cross-section and has an interior surface  28  and an exterior surface  30 . At least interior surface  28  is configured to be complementary in cross-sectional shape to a portion of the circumferential exterior surface  12   a  of grip  14  and to be frictionally engaged therewith. Exterior surface  30  is molded with contoured features that designate the correct positions and orientations for the golfer&#39;s thumbs and fingers, and therefore the correct positions for both the upper and lower hands. 
     The first of such contoured features provided on body  20  is a protrusion  32  that extends upwardly and outwardly away from exterior surface  30 . Protrusion  32  is useful for positioning the thumb of the upper hand. Protrusion  32  is disposed proximate to proximal end  20   a  and may be disposed immediately adjacent proximal end  20   a  or spaced a distance inwardly therefrom. As shown in  FIG. 1 , protrusion  32  preferably is oriented at an acute angle relative to centerline “A” with a first end  32   a  thereof disposed closer to centerline “A” and a second end  32   b  disposed further away therefrom. Protrusion  32  thus angles away from centerline “A” and toward one of first and second side edges  20   c ,  20   d . The training aid illustrated in  FIGS. 1-13  is designed for use by a right-handed male golfer. Consequently, protrusion  32  angles away from centerline “A” and toward first side edge  20   c . If the training aid were designed for a left-handed golfer, which is not shown, the protrusion would angle away from centerline “A” and toward second side edge  20   d . Protrusion  32  is formed with gently rounded edges so that it is comfortable for the golfer to position the side of his or her thumb thereagainst. Specifically, protrusion  32  has a gently rounded inner side wall  32   c  that acts as a rest for the inner side of the thumb of the golfer&#39;s upper hand and substantially prevents lateral motion of that thumb. Protrusion  32  extends outwardly away from exterior surface  30  for a distance that is sufficient to prevent the golfer&#39;s thumb from accidentally riding vertically over protrusion  32  when a stroke is played. 
     A second feature provided on training aid  10  for correct placement of the golfer&#39;s hands is an aperture  34 . Aperture  34  is an elongate oval shape that is defined in body  20  in such a manner that it is generally oriented substantially parallel to longitudinal axis “X” and extends for a distance generally along centerline “A”. Aperture  34  extends through both of the exterior and interior surfaces  30 ,  28  so that when a golfer positions his thumb therein, the thumb comes into direct contact with the exterior surface  12   a  of grip  12 . Preferably, and as shown in  FIG. 1  herewith, aperture  34  is defined such that a first end  34   a  thereof is disposed adjacent protrusion  32 . Preferably, first end  34   a  is situated intermediate the first and second ends  32   a ,  32   b  of protrusion  32  or is at least adjacent second end  32   b  thereof. A second end  34   b  of aperture  34  is disposed a distance away from second end  32   b  of protrusion  32  and further inwardly from end  20   a  of body  20 . Thus, second end  32   b  of protrusion  32  is a greater distance away from end  20   a  of body than is second end  32   b  of protrusion  32 . Preferably, second end  34   b  of aperture  34  is proximate a midpoint of the length “L” of body  20 . 
     Body  20  is further provided with one or more other contoured features to aid in correct placement of the fingers and thumbs. Specifically, body  20  is further provided with a first pad  36  for placement of the thumb of the lower hand. In this instance, because training aid  10  is designed for use by a right-handed male golfer, first pad  36  is for placement of the right thumb. First pad  36  may be formed as a groove in exterior surface  30  or a contoured region that is clearly delineated in some way so that the golfer can easily identify the same. Body  20  further includes a second pad  38  for placement of a portion of the side of the right index finger. Additionally, body  20  includes a third pad  40  for receiving the tip of the index finger of the lower hand. Pads  36 ,  38  and  40  are formed in a region of device  10  that is contoured so that it is raised outwardly relative to the region surrounding and defining aperture  34 . First pad  36  is generally oval-shaped and extends generally parallel to longitudinal axis “X”. First pad  36  has a first end  36   a  that is spaced a distance away from second  34   b  of aperture  34  and a second end  36   b  disposed a distance from first end  36   a . First end  36   a  is also disposed proximate centerline “A” and first pad  36  extends outwardly from centerline “A” and toward first side edge  20   c.    
     Second pad  38  is generally oval in shape and extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis “X”. Second pad  38  has a first end  38   a  disposed a spaced distance from second end  34   b  of aperture  34  and proximate centerline “A”. First end  38   a  of second pad  38  is disposed generally adjacent first end  36   a  of first pad  36 . First end  38   a  of second pad  38  preferably is spaced further from second end  34   b  of aperture  34  than is first end  36   a  of first pad  36 . Furthermore, second pad  38  extends outwardly from centerline “A” and toward second side edge  20   d . Consequently, second ends  36   b ,  38   b  are spaced laterally further apart from each other than are the first ends  36   a ,  38   a . A ridge  42  is formed intermediate first pad  36  and second pad  38  with the ridge  42  being generally aligned with longitudinal axis “X”. Ridge  42  does not extend outwardly beyond protrusion  32  but is still raised relative to the adjacent portion of body  20 . 
     Third pad  40  is disposed adjacent first side edge  20   c  and extends upwardly toward first pad  36 , preferably terminating a short distance away therefrom. Third pad  40  is oriented such that it angles generally from centerline “A” outwardly toward first side edge  20   c.    
     It will be understood that protrusion  32 , aperture  34 , first, second and third pads  36 ,  38  and  40  are all provided so that when golfer holds club  14  and places the appropriate fingers and thumbs on, in and against these features, their fingers and thumbs, and therefore their hands, will be correctly positioned around grip  12  and will be correctly oriented relative to each other. 
     Pop-up member  22  is provided to enable the golfer to set the position of his or her hands so that the correct rotation relative to the heel of the club is attainable. Pop-up member  22  preferably is pivotably secured to distal end  20   b  of body  20 . Distal end  20   b  includes a pair of spaced-apart buttresses  44  that are separated from each other by a gap  46 . Each buttress  44  defines a hole  48  therein and the pair of holes  48  are aligned with each other and are oriented substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis “X” of body  20 . Pop-up member  22  includes a boss  50  on one end that is separated from a pair of spaced-apart abutments  52  by a pair of spaced-apart slots  54 . Slots  54  are complementary in size and shape to buttresses  44  and boss  50  is complementary in size and shape to gap  46 . Each abutment  52  defines a hole  56  therein that is oriented substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis “X” and is alignable with holes  48  in buttresses  44 . A pin  58  extends through aligned holes  48 ,  56  to secure pop-up member  22  to body and a spring  60  is engaged with pin  58 . This arrangement permits pop-up member  22  to be pivoted between a play position ( FIG. 2 ) and a non-play position ( FIG. 7 ), as will be hereinafter described. Pop-up member  22  is configured so that the inner end  22   a  thereof is complementary to distal end  20   b  of body  20 . Outer end  22   b  of pop-up member  22  is generally arcuate in shape. 
     In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, pop-up member  22  is provided with a plurality of first indicator lines  62  and a plurality of second indicator lines  64  thereon. First indicator lines  62  are provided to identify the correct hand position relative to the heel of club  14 . First indicator lines  62  identify angles that are useful for the golfer to correctly position training aid  10  on the circumference of grip  12  relative to a portion of the club head  18 . The lines  62  are useful for positioning training aid  10  correctly relative to the heel of the club so that the golfer can hit a substantially straight ball and can correct the tendency to either hook or slice a ball. First indicator lines  62  include a first line  62   a  that indicates a neutral position or an angle of zero degrees. First indicator lines  62  also include a plurality of first indicator lines  62   b  that indicate a weak, or negative position relative to the heel of the dub as is signified by the negative angle identifiers  63  associated with lines  52 . Each line  62   b  as illustrated indicates an angle of an additional negative five degrees off neutral. Finally, first indicator lines also include a plurality of indicator lines  62   c  that indicate a strong, or positive, position relative to the heel of the club as is signified by the positive angle identifiers  65  associated therewith. Each first line  62   c , as illustrated, indicates an angle of an additional positive five degrees away from neutral. Preferably, pop-up member  22  includes first indicator lines  62  which indicate angles that are as much as 20 degrees positive and 20 degrees negative rotation. The method of using first indicator lines  62  will be described hereinafter. 
     Second indicator lines  64  are provided on pop-up member  22  to correctly and consistently position training aid  10  linearly on grip  12  and relative to axis “Y” of club  14 . Second indicator lines  64  include a primary indicator line  64   a , one or more second lines  64   b  that are provided on a first side of line  64   a  and one or more second lines  64   c  that are provided on the other side of line  64   a . Second lines  64   b  and  64   c  indicate possible distances away from the primary indicator line  64   a  and are provided with positive and negative markers to identify their position relative to primary indicator line  64   a.    
     In order to engage golf training aid  10  on grip  12 , pop-up member  22  is moved into the play position ( FIG. 2 ). The first end  20   a  of body  20  is positioned adjacent a lower end  70  of grip  12  and body  20  is pushed inwardly to snap-fittingly engage outer surface  12   a  of grip  12 . Grip  12  is received within the C-shaped channel formed by interior surface  28  of training aid  10 . Body  20  is slidingly moved in the direction of arrow “A” ( FIG. 1 ) along exterior surface  12   a  of grip  12  and toward uppermost end  26 . Grip  12  is tapered from uppermost end  26  down toward lower end  70 . Consequently, as body  20  slides along grip  12 , body  20  becomes frictionally engaged therewith and is thereby retained on club  14 . Training aid  10  is moved in the direction of arrow “A” until primary indicator line  64   a  is aligned with lower end  70  of grip. This places training aid  10  at a set and repeatable position on grip  12 . Should the golfer decide that he wishes to raise or lower training aid  10  on grip  12 , training aid can be moved in the direction of arrow “A” or in the opposite direction thereto until the desired one of the other second lines  64   b ,  64   c  is aligned with lowermost end  70 . The golfer then needs to only remember which of the second lines is aligned with lowermost end  70  to enable him or her to consistently position training aid  10  on grip  12 . It will be understood that changing the second line that is aligned with lowermost end  70  of grip  12  will adjust the angle of the heel relative to the ground and will therefore change the golfer&#39;s swing accordingly. 
     The golfer then has to set the position of the training aid  10  on the circumferential surface of grip  12  so that when the golfer holds club  14 , the rotation of the golfer&#39;s hands relative to the heel of club  14  will be correct. In order to do this, the golfer moves pop-up member  22  from the position shown in  FIG. 2  to the position shown in  FIG. 7 . Pop-up member  22  therefore pivots from the play position where it is substantially coplanar with exterior surface  30  of body, to the non-play position where it is disposed substantially at right angles to exterior surface  30  and to longitudinal axis “X” of body  20 .  FIG. 13  shows the view the golfer will see when he or she looks at the head  18  of club  14  through the transparent pop-up member  22 . Pop-up member  22  includes the plurality of first indicator lines  62  that are selectively alignable with the front face  80  of club head  18 . The position of training aid  10  on the circumference of grip  12  may be changed by grasping body  20  with one hand and rotating device  10  around at least a portion of the circumference of grip  12 . This rotational motion allows the golfer to align any one of the first indicator lines  62  with front face  80  which sets the training aid  10  in a particular orientation relative to the heel of the club  14 . Consequently, when the golfer positions his or her hands around training aid  10 , their hands will have a particular orientation relative to the heel of the club and this orientation will affect the way they hit the ball. Preferably, training aid  10  should be positioned so that primary first indicator line  62   a  is aligned with front face  80  as shown in  FIG. 13 . This position of training aid  10  on grip  12  places the golfer&#39;s hands in the neutral position relative to the heel of club  14 . When the golfer grips the club and strikes the ball when his or her hands are in this neutral position, the flight of the ball should be straight and true. 
     Training aid  10  may, alternatively, be positioned on the circumference of the grip  12  so that another of the first indicator lines  62   b ,  62   c  is aligned with front face  80 . This is accomplished by rotating body  20  around the circumference of grip  12  in one of two directions until the desired one of the other indicator lines  62   b  or  62   c  is aligned with the face  80  of the club. This different one of the first indicator lines  62   b ,  62   c  could be selected to correct a known problem in the golfer&#39;s game. So, for example, if the golfer knows that he or she habitually slices or hooks the ball, they will position the training aid  10  so that an appropriate one of the first indicator lines  62   b  or  62   c  is aligned with front face  80 . Then, when they grasp club  14 , their hands will be positioned and oriented differently to the way they would normally grip the club and the slicing or hooking of the ball will be at least somewhat corrected. If the hooking or slicing issue is not adequately addressed, the golfer can adjust the position of training aid  10  on grip  12  once again to bring another of lines  62   b ,  62   c  into alignment with front face  80 . This will again change the position of the golfer&#39;s hands relative to the heel of the club and will assist in correcting their tendency to hook or slice the ball. When training aid  10  is positioned so that the golfer hits the ball straight instead of hooking or slicing the same, then the golfer may note which one of the first indicator lines  62   b ,  62   c  is aligned with front face  80  and can then consistently place the training aid  10  in that position when they practice. Over a period of time, the tendency to hook or slice a ball will tend to disappear from their game. 
     Once pop-up member  22  has been used to correctly position training aid  10  circumferentially on grip  12  and relative to club head  14 , the golfer pivots pop-up member  22  from the non-play position into the play position. The golfer places his or her hands around training aid  10  and grip  12  in order to hold club  14 . Because the figures illustrate a right-handed golfer gripping club  14 , the golfer positions his or her left hand (the upper hand)  84  first on training aid  10 . This is done by placing the left thumb  86  in aperture  34  so that the surface of left thumb  86  rests on the exterior surface  12   a  of grip  12 . The inner side region of left thumb  86  is positioned so that it abuts surface  32   a  of protrusion  32 . The golfer wraps the fingers  88  of his or her left-hand  84  around the uncovered region  12   b  of grip  12  and possibly back into partial contact with a side region of body  20  adjacent second side edge  20   d . The right or lower hand  90  is then positioned around training aid  10  and grip  12 . This is accomplished by placing the right thumb  92  onto first pad  36  and placing the right index finger  94  onto second pad  38  and wrapping it around grip  12  until the tip thereof rests in third pad  40 . The remaining fingers  96  of right-hand  90  wrap around the uncovered region  12   b  of grip  12  and back into contact with training aid  10  in the region of first side edge  20   c . Training aid  10  has hereby correctly positioned the hands  84 ,  90 , thumbs  86 ,  92  and fingers  88 ,  94 ,  96  on grip  12  and the golfer may now use club  14  to play the stroke. Because training aid  10  was correctly positioned relative to the heel of the club prior to the golfer positioning their hands, the rotation of the hands relative to the heel is preset and is repeatable. Consistent use of training aid  10  will retrain the golfer&#39;s muscle memory and ultimately, through repetitive use, the golfer will correctly grip his club  14  and will play a much improved game. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 21-26 , there is shown a second embodiment of a training aid in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at  110 . Training aid  110  is designed for use in association with non-full-swing golf clubs such as a putter  114 . Training aid  110  comprises a body  120  having a proximal end  120   a , a distal end  120   b , first and second side edge  120   c ,  120   d  and interior and exterior surfaces  128 ,  130 . As shown in  FIG. 26 , putters  114  are manufactured with a planar face  114   a  that is oriented substantially at right angles to the putting face  180  thereof. Body  120  of training aid  110  is designed to be configured complementary to grip  112  on putter  114  and specifically to be configured so that it has a positioning indicator that automatically sets body  20  in a neutral position relative to the heel of the putter  114 . To that end, interior surface  128  is provided with a positioning indicator in the form of a planar face  128   a  complementary to planar face  114   a  of putter  114 . Thus, there is only one orientation by which body  120  may be received and engaged on grip  112 . Training aid  110  is therefore always in the correct neutral position on putter  114 . Training aid  110  is engaged with putter  114  in a substantially identical manner as training aid  10  is engaged with club  14 , with the exception that the planar face  128   a  of body  120  is aligned with the planar face  114   a  of putter  114  before body  120  is slidingly moved along grip  112  in the direction of arrow “A” so as to become frictionally engaged therewith. 
     Body  120  of training aid  110  is configured to correctly position the hands, fingers and thumbs of the golfer on grip  112 . To that end, body  120  is provided with a protrusion  132  proximate proximal end  120   a  and a recessed region  135  adjacent thereto. Recessed region  135  is configured to receive the left thumb (not shown) of the golfer therein. Body  120  is further provided with first, second and third pads  136 ,  138  and  140  that are configured to respectively receive the right thumb, a portion of the right index finger and the tip of the right index finger therein. Each of these first, second and third pads  136 ,  138 ,  140  is positioned and oriented in substantially an identical location and manner to the first, second and third pads  36 ,  38  and  40  on training aid  10 . 
     In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, each of the recessed region  135  and first, second and third pads  136 ,  138 ,  140  are constructed in a similar manner to each other. Body  120  is molded from a flexible plastic as was the case with the first embodiment. However, each of recessed region  135 , first, second and third pads  136 ,  138 ,  140  further includes a rubber overlayer that is secured to the plastic of body  120 .  FIG. 21  shows the rubber overlayer  136   a  of first pad  136  pulled away therefrom. In accordance with another specific feature of the present invention, each of recessed region  135  and first, second and third pads  136 ,  138 ,  140  is provided with a pressure sensor  137  that is positioned beneath the rubber overlayer. Each pressure sensor  137  is connected, either through hard wiring or through wireless connections, to a speaker  139 . Pressure sensors  137  are preset so that if a predetermined threshold of pressure is detected that an audible sound will be emitted from speaker  139  to alert the golfer to adjust the strength of his grip on club  114 . 
     As with the previous embodiment, training aid  110  is provided with a clear pop-up member region  122  proximate distal end  120  thereof. Pop-up member region  122  differs from pop-up member  22  in that it is not articulated to body  120  and therefore cannot be pivoted relative thereto. Instead, pop-up member region  122  is fixedly coplanar with body  120 . Pop-up member region  122  does not need to pivot, however, in that planar face  128   a  of body  120  complementary engages planar face  114   a  of putter  114  and thereby correctly orients training aid  110  on putter  114 . Training aid  110  does, however, still need to be correctly positioned linearly on grip  112  relative to the axis “Y” of the putter  114 . To that end, pop-up member region  122  is provided with a plurality of linear indicators  164  that are oriented at right angles to longitudinal axis “Y”. When training aid  110  is engaged on putter, the golfer slides body  120  along grip  112  and in the direction of arrow “A” until the primary linear indicator  164   a  is aligned with the inner end  170  of grip  112  and adjacent shaft  116  as previously described with respect to training aid  10 . Other of the indicator lines  64  may, however, be selected to alter the position of the hands relative to the linear axis of the putter  114 . 
     Training aid  110  is engaged with putter  114  and used in much the same manner as training aid  10  on club  14 . Finger pressure has been a long sought-after feature in golf training aids. It is difficult to determine where the center of the key gripping fingers and thumbs should be on grip  112 . The training aid  110  of the present invention is sized appropriately for the hand of the user. Training aid  110  is manufactured for left-handed and right-handed adult males, left-handed and right-handed adult females, as well as for left-handed and right-handed male and female youths. The golfer simply has to select the appropriate size device and then the location of the various features of training aid  110  will result in the golfer correctly gripping training aid  110  and grip  112  in an accurate and repeatable fashion. 
     When golfer grips training aid  110  around grip  112  of putter  114 , pressure sensors  137  are activated. If, as mentioned previously, the incorrect pressure is applied to any one of the sensors  137 , an audible sound is emitted from speaker  139  to alert the golfer to alter his grip on device  110 . The sound(s) will be emitted from speaker  139  until the golfer adjusts his grip on device  110 . 
     It will be understood that pressure sensors  137  and a recessed region  135  with a rubber overlay may be utilized instead of aperture  134  on training aid  10  without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Similarly, it should be understood that an aperture may be provided in training aid  110  without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Technology Category: 1