Method and apparatus for golf instruction

• US 20030022725A1
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard B. Mindlin
• Original Assignee: Richard B. Mindlin
• Inventors: Mindlin, Richard B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,743,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/267
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/12 with mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3667 Golf stance aids, e.g. means for positioning a golfer's feet

Abstract

A golf instructional device is provided for designating proper setup positioning for swinging a golf club and for monitoring the location of a user'"'"'s eyes while swinging the club, such a mat being customized for an individual golfer. The device comprises a mat for providing a playing surface upon which foot positioning markers and a club positioning marker are placed. A mirror is coupled to the mat and is preferably located adjacent to the mat surface. The markers are designed to be removably attached to the mat surface. The markers are adjustable to allow a golf instructor to indicate proper location and angle for the user to position themselves and the club which they are swinging. The mirror is of a chosen size such that when properly angled by the instructor, the user can essentially only observe his or her eyes while swinging the golf club. A wedge is also provided to be positioned underneath a portion of the user'"'"'s rearward foot to train the user to maintain a near stationary rear leg during the backswing. The user stands on top of the mat surface and aligns his or her feet with the foot positioning markers, aligns a golf club with the club positioning marker, and positions his or her body such that essentially only his or her eyes are viewable in the mirror. When the user makes practice swings the golf club, excessive lateral and vertical motion can be observed in the mirror.

Claims

1. A golf instructional device configured for customization for an individual user, and for monitoring the location of a user'"'"'s eyes while swinging a club, comprising:

a mat having a support surface;

two or more foot positioning markers removably attached to the mat surface to indicate proper placement of each foot of a user;

a club positioning marker removably attached to the mat surface to indicate proper pre-swing body and club setup alignment; and

a mirror coupled to the mat to indicate proper positioning of a user'"'"'s eyes;

whereby the foot positioning marker, the club positioning marker and the mirror cooperatively provide the user with a properly designated setup position for swinging a golf club.

2. The instructional device of claim 1, wherein the mirror is sized and configured such that a user standing on the mat surface is allowed to essentially only view his or her eyes, the mirror having a length of less than about 6 inches and a width of less than about 2.5 inches.

3. The instructional device of claim 2, wherein the mirror has a length of about 4.5 inches and a width of about 1.75 inches.

4. The instructional device of claim 1, wherein the mirror comprises a frame and a reflective surface mounted onto the frame, and wherein the mirror is positioned adjacent to the mat and coupled thereto with an eye-screw extending laterally from a first side of the frame, the eye-screw configured to be received around a screw-peg extending upwardly from the mat surface.

5. The instructional device of claim 4, further comprising an angular adjustment means for positioning the mirror at a tilt angle relative to the mat surface to allow a user to view his or her eyes in the reflective surface while standing on the mat surface.

6. The instructional device of claim 5, wherein the angular adjustment means is a cam rotatably mounted to a second side of the frame opposite of the first side, the cam being configured to abut a surface located generally below the frame.

7. The instructional device of claim 1, whereby removable attachment of the two or more foot positioning markers and the club positioning marker is accomplished by affixing a hook component of a hook and loop system to a surface of each and having the mat surface configured to serve as the corresponding loop component to allow for adjusting the locations of the two or more foot positioning markers and the club positioning marker on the mat surface.

8. The instructional device of claim 1, further comprising a wedge removably attached to the mat surface for placement under at least a portion of one foot of a user to aid in training the user to maintain a near-stationary back leg during the entire backswing.

9. The instructional device of claim 1, further comprising a centering marker located on the mat for designating a reference position about which a user will position his or her body nearly parallel to a line running from the ball to a target to guide the user in swinging a golf club in the proper fashion.

10. The instructional device of claim 1, further comprising a golf ball marker located on the mat to designate the proper setup position of a golf club head held by the user.

11. The instructional device of claim 1, wherein the support mat has a first end and a second end and further comprises a closure mechanism for coupling the first end to the second end to secure the mat in a folded arrangement.

12. The instructional device of claim 1, wherein the support mat has a first end having a hole and a second end, and further comprising a toggle mechanism connected to the second end of the mat whereby the mat can be secured in a folded position by insertion of the toggle into the hole of the first end.

13. The instructional device of claim 1, wherein the mirror is adjustable to a tilt angle relative to the mat surface, and wherein placement and attachment of the two or more foot positioning markers and the club positioning marker on the support mat, as well as the selection of a tilt angle for the mirror, to designate proper setup positioning for swinging a golf club is conducted only by a golf instructor and not by the individual user of the mat.

14. A golf instructional kit designed to improve a user'"'"'s golf club swing technique by designating proper setup positioning for swinging a club based on the user'"'"'s individual needs, the kit comprising:

a mat having a support surface;

two or more foot positioning markers removably attached to the mat surface to indicate proper placement of each foot of a user;

a club positioning marker removably attached to the mat surface to indicate proper pre-swing body and club setup alignment;

a mirror coupled to the mat to indicate proper positioning of a user'"'"'s head, the mirror being of a relatively small size such that when the mirror is positioned adjacent the mat, the user is allowed to essentially only view his or her eyes while practicing the swinging of a golf club; and

an instructional manual containing teaching methods corresponding to specific lessons taught by a golf instructor, such teachings arranged within the manual in a manner as to facilitate the user reinforcing specific club swing setup positioning and proper club swing techniques learned with the mat, associated markers and mirror outside the presence of the golf instructor.

15. A method of using a golf instructional device, said method comprising the steps of:

placing two or more foot positioning members onto a support surface of a mat to indicate proper placement of each foot of a user for swinging a golf club;

placing a club positioning member onto the support mat surface to indicate proper pre-swing body and club setup alignment;

coupling a mirror to the mat to indicate proper positioning of a user'"'"'s eyes; and

having a user stand on the support mat surface and align his or her feet with the two or more foot positioning members, position the user'"'"'s head such that the user can essentially only view his or her eyes in the mirror, and swing a golf club while the user visually observes any movement of his or her head in the mirror during at least a portion of the golf club practice swing.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of adjusting at least one of the position of the two or more of the foot positioning members and the club positioning member on the support mat surface, and the angle of the mirror relative to the support mat surface, based on at least one of a specific instructional lesson to be taught by a golf instructor, changes in the golf club swing of a user, or improvements in the golf club swing of a user, such adjusting performed only by a golf instructor and not by the individual using the mat.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing the user with an instructional manual containing teaching methods corresponding to specific lessons taught by a golf instructor, such teachings arranged within the manual in a manner as to facilitate the user reinforcing specific pre-swing setup positioning and club swing techniques learned with the instructional device outside the presence of the golf instructor.

18. A method of providing golf instruction, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a user with an instructional device having a surface and markers configured to be positioned on the surface for designating proper setup positioning and stance for the user to swing a golf club, the setup positioning for the user being customized and markers being adjustable for an individual user; and

having a golf instructor position the markers on the device in such locations as to teach the user a proper setup position for swinging a golf club.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

providing a mirror coupled to the instructional device for monitoring the location of a user'"'"'s eyes while making practice swings with the golf club; and

having a golf instructor position the angle of tilt of the mirror in such a location as to teach the user to maintain a near-steady head while making practice swings with the golf club.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing the user with an instructional manual containing teaching methods corresponding to specific lessons taught by the golf instructor, such teachings arranged within the manual such that the user can reinforce a specific club swing technique learned with the instructional device outside the presence of the golf instructor.