Golf practice device

• US 5,401,030 A
• Filed: 07/21/1993
• Issued: 03/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald Halliburton
• Original Assignee: Ronald Halliburton
• Inventors: Halliburton, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/094,434
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 273/186.3, 273/186.2
• US Class Current: 473/220
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club

Abstract

A golf practice device for attachment to a golf club having a club head and a shaft, includes a swing speed-sensing device and a direction indicating device attached to the shaft. The swing direction indicating device is coupled to the swing speed-sensing device for indicating a swing speed set to given speed value. A light emitter provided in the swing speed indicating device is activated by different inertial masses and indicates with a light trace of a visible light beam directed at the golf player'"'"'s eyes a swing speed reaching the given speed value, and the direction of the club head compared with a line on the ground. Two light emitters positioned in line with the swing direction can be provided to indicate if the club head is swung squarely in the swing direction.

Claims

1. A golf practice device for attachment to a shaft of a golf club having a head having a drive side for engaging a golf ball, the device comprising swing speed sensing means for sensing swing speed of said golf club, light emitting means coupled to and activated by said swing speed sensing means for indicating a swing speed being equal to at least a given swing speed, and wherein said light emitting means form a visible light path indicating swing direction, and said swing speed sensing means including a plurality of weights of different masses calibrated to activate said light emitting means at different predetermined club head speeds.

2. A golf practice device according to claim 1, wherein said light emitting means include a light beam adapted to be directed to the eye of the player swinging the golf club.

3. A golf club practice device according to claim 1, including an inertial mass composed of said calibrated weights in said swing speed sensing means, a first switch in said speed sensing means coupled to said inertial mass to activate said switch with a centrifugal force generated by said inertial mass during the swing.

4. A golf club practice device ,according to claim 3, wherein said device further comprises a second light emitter connected to said first switch, said second light emitter spaced apart from said first light emitter, and disposed in direction from said first light emitter on a line indicating the direction of a golf ball driven by said golf club.

5. A golf practice device according to claim 4, including a mat having a target line thereon and a simulated golf ball on said target line.

6. A golf practice device according to claim 1, wherein said first switch is a snap switch.

7. A golf club practice device according to claim 1, including an electric power source connected to said light emitting means via said first switch.

8. A golf club practice device according to claim 7, wherein said light emitting means include at least a first light emitting diode.

9. A golf practice device according to claim 8, further comprising in said device a curved tubular light extender, said light extender having a distal end for supporting at least said first light emitting diode in vertical alignment with a sweet spot on the drive side of the club head.

10. A golf practice device according to claim 1, including said golf club head having a face side for impacting a golf ball, wherein said face side has a sweet spot, and wherein said light emitting means include a first light emitter disposed above the club head in alignment with said sweet spot.

11. A golf practice device according to claim 1, including a clip on said practice device for detachably attaching said practice device to the shaft of the golf club.

12. A golf practice device according to claim 1, including an upper tubular part on said device for containing said calibrated weights, and a removable cap on said tubular part for accessing said calibrated weights.

13. A golf practice device according to claim 12, wherein said calibrated weights are axially slidable in said tubular part.

14. A golf practice device according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of calibrated weights have differently weighted masses, each of said weights adapted to be slidably inserted in said tubular part.

15. A golf practice device according to claim 1, wherein said calibrated weights are calibrated in terms of yardage.