Golf swing training device and method

• US 20050009618A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leadbetter Golf Academies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Swing King, LLC
• Inventors: Shew, F. Blaik, Leadbetter, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,115,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/257
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/005 with a weight movable along the longitudinal axis of the club due to centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0633 without electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/58 slideably retracted in a housing when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/12 contoured according to the anatomy of the user's hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/20 with two handgrips
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/34 with the handle axis different from the main axis of the implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3635 with sound-emitting source

Abstract

A golf swing training aid includes a shaft having two sliding elements which are moved from initially coupled positions on the shaft to impact positions during the backswing and downswing make distinctive sounds at impact positions to aid in setting the club and hinging the shaft when executing the backswing and lagging of the club during the downswing. Grip protrusions are biased against webs of the fingers for enhance power generated during the swing.

Claims

1. A golf swing training device comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal end for holding by a user, an opposing distal end, and an intermediate portion therebetween;

a grip carried by the proximal end, the grip having a plurality of protrusions outwardly extending therefrom and arranged for receiving multiple finger webs thereagainst in guiding a hand of the user for gripping the shaft proximal end;

a first coupling fixedly attached to the shaft proximate the proximal end thereof;

a second coupling fixedly to the shaft within the intermediate portion thereof;

a stop fixedly attached to the shaft at the distal end thereof;

a first sliding element carried by the shaft for sliding movement between the first and second couplings, wherein the first sliding element is coupled to the first coupling prior to a swinging of the shaft and released therefrom by a first centrifugal force exerted thereon during a first swinging motion of the shaft, and wherein the first sliding element accelerates to the second coupling for making contact therewith and creating a first sound thereby; and

a second sliding element carried by the shaft for sliding movement between the second coupling and the end stop, wherein the second sliding element is coupled to the second coupling prior to a swinging of the shaft and released therefrom by a second centrifugal force exerted thereon during a second swinging motion of the shaft, and wherein the second sliding element accelerates to the stop for making contact therewith and creating a second sound thereby.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a circular cross section.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the shaft comprises a generally constant cross section from the proximal to distal ends.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the grip comprises:

a first plurality of protrusions for receiving a top hand of the user, wherein three protrusions extend from a first side of the grip for receiving three webs between four fingers of the top hand ; and

at least one protrusion for receiving at least one web between fingers of the bottom hand of the user.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein a longitudinal axis of the shaft and an a centerline through a palm of the top hand form a forty five degree angle therebetween.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein the first plurality of protrusions includes a fourth protrusion extending from a second side radially offset from the first side for receiving a thumb of the top hand.

7. A device according to claim 4, further comprising an indentation for receiving a thumb of the bottom hand.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second couplings and the first and second sliding elements comprise at least one of a magnet and a metallic portion for removably attaching one to the other to be coupled.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second couplings and the first and second sliding elements comprise at least one of a friction connection, a magnetic connection, and a latching connection for removably attaching one to the other to be coupled.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein a first coupling force between the first coupling and the first sliding element is less than a second coupling force between the second coupling and the second sliding element, thus less centrifugal force is required for releasing the first sliding element than for releasing the second sliding element.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second sliding elements comprise a body having a bore extending therethrough dimensioned for sliding along the shaft.

12. A device according to claim 11, further comprising friction means for modifying the friction between the first and second sliding elements and the shaft, thus modifying the sliding therealong.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the friction means comprises at least one of the first and second sliding elements being formed from two parts having the shaft slidably received therebetween, and wherein compressing the shaft between the two parts provides a desired sliding friction between the sliding element and the shaft.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first swinging movement simulates a backswing movement of a golf club and the second swinging movement simulates a downswing movement of the golf club, and wherein coupling forces between the first coupling and the first sliding element and between the second coupling and the second sliding element are preset for swinging movements.

15. A device according to claim 1, further comprising an alignment element carried by the shaft proximate the grip.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the alignment element comprises a shape of a golf club head.

17. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a rod longitudinally extendable from the proximal end of the shaft for viewing by the user during a swinging movement for identifying a swing plane therefor.

18. A golf swing training device comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal end, an opposing distal end, and an intermediate portion therebetween;

a first coupling fixedly attached to the shaft proximate the proximal end thereof;

a second coupling fixedly to the shaft within the intermediate portion thereof;

a stop fixedly attached to the shaft at the distal end thereof;

a first sliding element carried by the shaft for sliding movement between the first and second couplings, wherein the first sliding element is coupled to the first coupling prior to a swinging of the shaft and released therefrom by a first centrifugal force exerted thereon during a first swinging motion of the shaft, and wherein the first sliding element accelerates to the second coupling for making contact therewith and creating a first sound thereby; and

a second sliding element carried by the shaft for sliding movement between the second coupling and the end stop, wherein the second sliding element is coupled to the second coupling prior to a swinging of the shaft and released therefrom by a second centrifugal force exerted thereon during a second swinging motion of the shaft, and wherein the second sliding element accelerates to the stop for making contact therewith and creating a second sound thereby.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein the shaft comprises a circular cross section.

20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the shaft comprises a generally constant cross section from the proximal to distal ends.

21. A device according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and second couplings and the first and second sliding elements comprise at least one of a friction connection, a magnetic connection, and a latching connection for removably attaching one to the other to be coupled.

22. A device according to claim 18, wherein a first coupling force between the first coupling and the first sliding element is less than a second coupling force between the second coupling and the second sliding element, thus less centrifugal force is required for releasing the first sliding element than for releasing the second sliding element.

23. A device according to claim 18, wherein each of the first and second sliding elements comprise a body having a bore extending therethrough dimensioned for sliding along the shaft.

24. A device according to claim 23, further comprising friction means for modifying the friction between the first and second sliding elements and the shaft, thus modifying the sliding therealong.

25. A device according to claim 24, wherein the friction means comprises at least one of the first and second sliding elements being formed from two parts having the shaft slidably received therebetween, and wherein compressing the shaft between the two parts provides a desired sliding friction between the sliding element and the shaft.

26. A device according to claim 18, wherein the first swinging movement simulates a backswing movement of a golf club and the second swinging movement simulates a downswing movement of the golf club, and wherein coupling forces between the first coupling and the first sliding element and between the second coupling and the second sliding element are preset for swinging movements.

27. A device according to claim 18, further comprising a grip carried at the proximal end of the shaft, the grip having a plurality of protrusions outwardly extending therefrom and arranged for receiving multiple finger webs thereagainst in guiding a hand of the user for gripping the shaft proximal end.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein the grip further comprises:

a first plurality of protrusions for receiving a top hand of the user, wherein three protrusions extend from a first side of the grip for receiving three webs between four fingers of the top hand ; and

at least one protrusion for receiving at least one web between fingers of the bottom hand of the user.

29. A device according to claim 28, wherein the first plurality of protrusions includes a fourth protrusion extending from a second side radially offset from the first side for receiving a thumb of the top hand.

30. A golf swing training device comprising:

a shaft defined by a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween;

a first stop carried within the intermediate portion of the shaft;

a second stop fixedly attached to the distal end portion of the shaft;

a first element slidably carried by the shaft for movement from the proximal end portion of the shaft toward the first stop, wherein the first sliding element accelerates to the first stop for making contact therewith and creating a first sound thereby; and

a second element slidably carried by the shaft for sliding movement from the intermediate portion toward the second stop, wherein the second element accelerates to the second stop for making contact therewith and creating a second sound thereby.

31. A device according to claim 30, wherein each of the first and second elements comprise a body having a bore extending therethrough dimensioned for sliding along the shaft.

32. A device according to claim 31, further comprising friction means for modifying friction between the first and second sliding elements and the shaft, thus modifying the sliding therealong.

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein the friction means comprises at least one of the first and second elements being formed from two parts having the shaft slidably received therebetween, and wherein compressing the shaft between the two parts provides a desired sliding friction between the sliding element and the shaft.

34. A device according to claim 30, further comprising a grip carried by the proximal end portion, the grip having a plurality of protrusions outwardly extending therefrom and arranged for receiving multiple finger webs thereagainst in guiding a hand of the user for gripping the shaft proximal end.

35. A device according to claim 30, further comprising a first coupling fixedly attached to the shaft within the proximal end portion thereof and a second coupling fixedly to the shaft within the intermediate portion thereof, wherein a first swinging movement simulates a backswing movement of a golf club and a second swinging movement simulates a downswing movement of the golf club, and wherein coupling forces between the first coupling and the first sliding element and between the second coupling and the second sliding element are separated therefrom by a preset swinging movement.

36. A device according to claim 30, wherein at least one of the first and second couplings and the first and second sliding elements comprise at least one of a magnet and a metallic portion for removably attaching one to the other to be coupled.

37. A device according to claim 30, wherein at least one of the first and second couplings and the first and second sliding elements comprise at least one of a friction connection, a magnetic connection, and a latching connection for removably attaching one to the other to be coupled.

38. A device according to claim 30, wherein a first coupling force between the first coupling and the first sliding element is less than a second coupling force between the second coupling and the second sliding element, thus less centrifugal force is required for releasing the first sliding element than for releasing the second sliding element.

39. A golf swing training device comprising a grip to be carried by a proximal end of a shaft, the grip having a plurality of protrusions outwardly extending therefrom and arranged for receiving multiple finger webs thereagainst in guiding a hand of the user for gripping the shaft proximal end.

40. A device according to claim 39, wherein the grip further comprises:

a first plurality of protrusions for receiving a top hand of the user, wherein three protrusions extend from a first side of the grip for receiving three webs between four fingers of the top hand; and

at least one protrusion for receiving at least one web between fingers of the bottom hand of the user.

41. A device according to claim 40, wherein a longitudinal axis of the shaft and an a centerline through a palm of the top hand form a forty five degree angle therebetween with the web of the top hand biased against the first plurality of protrusions.

42. A device according to claim 40, wherein the first plurality of protrusions includes a fourth protrusion extending from a second side radially offset from the first side for receiving a thumb of the top hand.

43. A device according to claim 44, further comprising an indentation for receiving a thumb of the bottom hand.

44. A device according to claim 39, further comprising:

a shaft;

a first sliding element carried by the shaft for sliding movement between first and second positions, wherein the first sliding element slides along the shaft in response to a first centrifugal force exerted thereon during a first swinging motion of the shaft, and wherein the first sliding element accelerates to the second position for creating a first sound thereby; and

a second sliding element carried by the shaft for sliding movement toward the shaft distal end in response to a second centrifugal force exerted thereon during a second swinging motion of the shaft, and wherein the second sliding element accelerates to shaft distal end for creating a second sound thereat.

45. A device according to claim 44, further comprising first and second couplings operative with the first and second sliding elements for removably fixing the first and second sliding elements at preset positions along the shaft.

46. A device according to claim 45, wherein at least one of the first and second couplings and the first and second sliding elements comprise at least one of a friction connection, a magnetic connection, and a latching connection for removably attaching one to the other to be coupled.

47. A device according to claim 45, wherein a first coupling force between the first coupling and the first sliding element is less than a second coupling force between the second coupling and the second sliding element, thus less centrifugal force is required for releasing the first sliding element than for releasing the second sliding element.

48. A device according to claim 45, wherein each of the first and second sliding elements comprise a body having a bore extending therethrough dimensioned for sliding along the shaft.

49. A device according to claim 48, further comprising friction means for modifying the friction between the first and second sliding elements and the shaft, thus modifying the sliding therealong.

50. A device according to claim 49, wherein the friction means comprises at least one of the first and second sliding elements being formed from two parts having the shaft slidably received therebetween, and wherein compressing the shaft between the two parts provides a desired sliding friction between the sliding element and the shaft.

51. A device according to claim 45, wherein a first swinging movement simulates a backswing movement of a golf club and a second swinging movement simulates a downswing movement of the golf club, and wherein coupling forces between the first coupling and the first sliding element and between the second coupling and the second sliding element are preset for swinging movements.

52. A swing training method comprising:

holding a shaft by a user from a proximal end, the shaft having a first sliding element releasably coupled to a first position on the shaft and a second sliding element releasably coupled to a second position on the shaft;

swinging the shaft in a backswing movement away from the object for generating a first centrifugal force to release the first sliding element from the first position, wherein the first sliding element travels along the shaft to a first stop, making a first distinctive sound upon contacting the first stop;

transitioning swinging the shaft from the backswing movement to a downswing movement; and

swinging the shaft in a downswing movement toward the object for generating a second centrifugal force to release the second sliding element from the second position, wherein the second sliding element travels along the shaft to a second stop, making a second distinctive sound upon contacting the second stop.

53. A method according to claim 52, wherein an un-cocking of wrists of the user during the downswing affect the releasing of the second sliding element.

54. A method according to claim 52, wherein a setting of the club going back and the desired releasing, or un-cocking, on the downswing provides a desirable maximum club head acceleration.

55. A method according to claim 52, further comprising modifying a frictional contact between the sliding elements and the shaft.

56. A method according to claim 52, further comprising modifying the coupling of the elements for requiring a preset centrifugal force to effect the releasing thereof.

57. A method according to claim 56, wherein the first sliding element requires less centrifugal force to allow it to be released the first position than does the second sliding element from the second position.