Golf training device

• US 5,230,512 A
• Filed: 05/08/1992
• Issued: 07/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tattershall H. David
• Original Assignee: Tattershall H. David
• Inventors: Tattershall, H. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/880,640
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 273/194 R, 273/194 A, 273/194 B, 273/186.2, 273/186.3, 273/186.4, 273/187 R, 273/187 A, 273/187.1, 273/DIG. 30
• US Class Current: 473/220
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• 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: Y10S 273/30 Hooked pile fabric fastener

Abstract

In order to help a golfer to develop "muscle memory" for consistently executing an ideal swing, there is provided a grid plate on which is defined a ball contact zone. Enabling the golfer to see the head of the club as it is swung through the contact zone is a battery-powered L.E.D. mounted on a Velcro-fitted wrap-around jacket. By installing the jacket on the club head and illuminating the L.E.D., instantaneous visual feedback is provided so that aberrations from the ideal path defined by the ball contact zone are detected, interpreted and can immediately be corrected in subsequent swings. Both the jacket and the grid plate possess special features helping to protect against the harmful results of forceful, inadvertent impact between the clubhead and the grid plate.

Claims

1. In combination with a golf club including a handle, a shaft, a hosel and a head, the head having a front face, a rear bulge, a top and a bottom, a golf training device comprising:

a. an elongated band having a width sufficient to cover at least a portion of the width of the golf club head and a length sufficient to cover at leat a portion of the perimeter of the golf club head in a fore and aft plane perpendicular to the top and bottom;

b. means for securing said band in wrapped position around the club head in a fore and aft direction;

c. a light source;

d. means for mounting said light source on said band;

e. a battery connected to said light source; and

,

f. a compressible impact absorbing glide strip mounted to said band so that when said band is in said wrapped position, said glide strip extends the full length of the bottom in a fore and aft direction and over at least a major portion of the bottom in a transverse direction, said glide strip thereby affording protection against abrasion and impact damage in the event of contact between the bottom of the club head and an underlying surface during the course of a swing with the golf club.

2. A golf training device as in claim 1 in which said band is of elastic material, said band securing means includes loop and hook facings on said band and said compressible impact absorbing glide strip is of acrylic false fur material.

3. A golf training device as in claim 1, including means for preventing rotational movement of said band in a fore and aft plane as the bottom of said club head encounters a glancing blow with a stationary object in the course of a golf swing.

4. A golf training device as in claim 3 in which said rotational movement preventing means is an L-shaped strip of rigid material mounted on said band and having a short leg overlying the face of the club and a long leg engaging the bottom of the club.

5. A golf training device as in claim 1 including means for preventing lateral movement of said band in a direction away from the hosel.

6. A golf training device as in claim 5 in which said lateral movement preventing means is a side retainer mounted on one edge of said band, said side retainer including an opening large enough to accommodate the diameters of the club handle shaft and hosel as said opening in said band is inserted over the upper end of the club handle and said band is moved down to abut the junction of the hosel and the club head;

and means for securing said side retainer to said band.

7. A golf training device comprising:

a. a light source;

b. means for detachably mounting said light source on the head of a golf club with said light source oriented upwardly toward the eyes of the trainee when said club head is located in the bottom portion of the arc of the golf swing;

c. a transprent, resilient, ground-supported plate positioned horizontally on a surface located below said bottom portion of the arc of the golf swing, said plate being of smooth, scratch-resistant and impact-resistant material;

d. a sheet having delineated thereon an elongated grid pattern visible through said plate with the longitudinal axis of said pattern oriented in a fore and aft direction and with the transverse axis located approximately at said bottom portion of the arc of the golf swing so that the trainee simultaneously views said grid pattern and the path of the light source at said bottom portion of the arc of the golf swing;

e. a battery detachably mounted on said club head and connected to said light source for illuminating said light source during the golf swing; and

,

f. a compressible impact absorbing glide strip detachably mounted on the bottom of said club head, said glide strip being constructed of soft, fur-like material to mitigate the effect of impact between said club head and said plate in the event of contact during the golf swing.

8. A golf training device as in claim 7 including a band of elastic material stretched over and detachably secured to said club head to cover portions of said club head;

said light source, said battery and said gluide strip being mounted on said band for installation on and removal from said club head together with said band.

9. A golf training device as in claim 8 including means for preventing rotational movement of said band in a fore and aft direction as the bottom of said club head strikes said plate in the event of contact during the golf swing.

10. A golf training device as in claim 9 in which said fore and aft movement preventing means is an L-shaped strip of rigid matrial mounted on said band and having a first leg overlying the face of said club head and a second leg engaging the bottom of said club head.