Golf swing training device

• US 5,588,919 A
• Filed: 07/17/1995
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yoshikazu Nakamura
• Original Assignee: Yoshikazu Nakamura
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/503,242
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 273/187.2, 473/212, 473/213, 473/214, 473/215, 473/216, 473/224, 473/223
• US Class Current: 473/212
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• 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 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence

Abstract

A golf swing training device actuated by golf club back swing and down swing by the golfer and comprising arm angle detecting means which includes a support member mounted on a golfer'"'"'s arm for movement therewith as the golfer makes a swing, a direction indicator mounted on the support member and for indicating a direction in a plane including the gravitational direction or a direction at a fixed angle to the gravitational direction, and a direction indicator detecting means for detecting the direction indicator when an angular position set as desired with respect to the direction indicator is reached by the support member, and a means for informing the golfer of the arm angle detected by the arm angle detecting means through the controller. The informing means including means for initiating a signal and transmitting such signal to the golfer or knee, waist and/or ankle of the golfer for causing slight twisting of the golfer'"'"'s body in a down-swing start direction and starting down swing.

Claims

1. A golf swing training device comprising upper arm angle detecting means mounted on a golfer'"'"'s upper arm for movement therewith as the golfer makes a swing, thereby detecting the angle of the upper arm, and informing means for informing the golfer of the upper arm angle detected by the upper arm angle detecting means.

2. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, wherein the upper arm angle detecting means includes a direction indicator mounted on the golfer'"'"'s upper arm and for indicating a predetermined absolute axis direction, and direction indicator detecting means for detecting the direction indicator upon reaching of an angular position set as desired with respect to the direction indicator.

3. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, wherein the upper arm angle detecting means includes a support member mounted on the golfer'"'"'s upper arm for movement therewith as the golfer makes a swing, a direction indicator mounted on the support member and for indicating a direction in a plane including the gravitational direction or a direction at a fixed angle to the afore-mentioned direction, and direction indicator detecting means for detecting the direction indicator when an angular position set as desired with respect to the direction indicator is reached by the support member.

4. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, wherein the upper arm angle detecting means includes a support member mounted on the golfer'"'"'s upper arm for movement therewith as the golfer makes a swing, a rotatable member mounted rotatably on the support member and capable of being fixed at an angular position set as desired, a direction indicator capable of being moved along a guide provided on the rotatable member to a position corresponding to minimum position energy, and direction indicator detecting means provided on the guide of the rotatable member and for detecting the direction indicator when an angular position set as desired is reached by the support member.

5. The golf swing training device according to claim 1, wherein the upper arm angle detecting means includes a support member mounted on the golfer'"'"'s upper arm for movement therewith as the golfer makes a swing, a direction indicator for indicating a horizontal direction at all times, and a direction indicator detecting means for detecting the direction indicator when an angular position set as desired with respect to the direction indicator is reached by the support member.

6. The golf swing training device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the informing means for informing the golfer is by pre-recorded speech of instructions of operation selectively activated by said angle detecting means, such as "Start from the lower half of body,", "Start from the waist,", "Start from the knee,", "Start from the legs,", "Do not move the axis,", "Do not hasten to hit the ball,", "Do not move the head,", "Just meet,".

7. The golf swing training device according to claim 6, wherein the upper direction indicator detecting means of the arm angle detecting means is set such as to detect a golfer'"'"'s upper arm angle corresponding to the top position or a position slightly before reaching the top position in the back-swing, the informing means informing the golfer of an instruction to start the down-swing from the lower half of the body when the aforementioned position is detected.

8. The golf swing training device according to claim 6, wherein the upper arm angle detecting means is set such as to detect an angle set as desired during the back-swing from the address to the top position, the top angle position being determined or the approach swing being started according to an instruction from the informing means when the aforementioned angle is detected as a fixed angle.

9. The golf swing training device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the informing means includes transmitting means to transmit start timing by giving mechanical or electrical vibration or stimulation onto the knee and/or the waist on the side of the support foot after body weight shift.

10. The golf swing training device according to claim 9, wherein the direction indicator detecting means of the upper arm angle detecting means is set such as to detect a golfer'"'"'s upper arm angle corresponding to the top position or a position slightly before reaching the top position in the back-swing, the informing means informing the golfer of an instruction to start the down-swing from the lower half of the body when the aforementioned position is detected.

11. The golf swing training device according to claim 9, wherein the upper arm angle detecting means is set such as to detect an angle set as desired during the back-swing from the address to the top position, the top angle position being determined or the approach swing being started according to an instruction from the informing means when the aforementioned angle is detected as a fixed angle.

12. The golf swing training device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the informing means is a down-swing start instructor provided on a portion of clothing or belt worn by the golfer and for forcibly causing a slight twisting of a portion of the golfer'"'"'s body in a down-swing start direction or giving a shock on the golfer'"'"'s body.

13. The golf swing training device according to claim 12, wherein the direction indicator detecting means of the upper arm angle detecting means is set such as to detect a golfer'"'"'s upper arm angle corresponding to the top position or a position slightly before reaching the top position in the back-swing, the informing means informing the golfer of an instruction to start the down-swing from the lower half of the body when the aforementioned position is detected.

14. The golf swing training device according to claim 12, wherein the upper arm angle detecting means is set such as to detect an angle set as desired during the back-swing from the address to the top position, the top angle position being determined or the approach swing being started according to an instruction from the informing means when the aforementioned angle is detected as a fixed angle.

15. The golf swing training device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the direction indicator detecting means of the upper arm angle detecting means is set such as to detect a golfer'"'"'s upper arm angle corresponding to the top position or a position slightly before reaching the top position in the back-swing, the informing means informing the golfer of an instruction to start the down-swing from the lower half of the body when the afore-mentioned position is detected.

16. The golf swing training device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the upper arm angle detecting means is set such as to detect an angle set as desired during the back-swing from the address to the top position, the top angle position being determined or the approach swing being started according to an instruction from the informing means when the afore-mentioned angle is detected as a fixed angle.

17. A golf swing training device comprising a down-swing start instructor including a flexible member mounted on a portion of clothing or belt worn by the golfer and for forcibly causing a slight twisting of a portion of the golfer'"'"'s body in a down-swing start direction and a driver for causing a slight movement of the flexible member in the down-swing start direction, position detecting means for detecting a down-swing start position;

and a controller for transmitting a detection signal from the position detecting means to the down-swing start instructor.