Golf swing training device

• US 5,836,829 A
• Filed: 03/25/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Campo, John E., Robert Van Cott
• Original Assignee: Campo, John E., Robert Van Cott
• Inventors: Campo, John E., Van Cott, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/823,832
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 473/220, 473/223, 473/224, 473/234
• US Class Current: 473/224
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• 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 device. The training device provides audible indications of the orientation of the club face as it reaches a point where a ball would be positioned, thereby helping a golfer develop a swing where the club face meets the ball squarely. The audible indication tell the golfer if the club face is open, closed, or square to the ball at the moment of impact. An unsmooth swing can be detected during upswing or downswing, and an indication of such is provided. A pendulum is provided in the club head with a pair of sensors located on either side of the pendulum to sense the position of the pendulum. A velocity switch senses the peak velocity of the club and activates an electronic circuit at that point so that outputs of the pair of sensors provide data which indicate the orientation of the club face at the moment of peak velocity. The audible indication of the club orientation is provided based upon the output of these sensors.

Claims

1. A golf swing training device, comprising:

a golf club having a grip, a shaft, and a club head;

a power source;

a velocity switch for sensing when said club is at peak velocity;

a pendulum, disposed in said club head;

a pair of sensors disposed on either side of said pendulum for sensing a position of said pendulum; and

an electronic circuit which activates said pair of sensors when said velocity switch senses peak velocity, outputs of said pair of sensors providing data indicating orientation of a club face of said club head at said moment of peak velocity, said electronic circuit having a speaker and utilizing said outputs to produce audible indicators of said orientation of said club face at said moment of peak velocity.

2. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 1, wherein said pendulum is disposed in a plane perpendicular to an axis of said club shaft.

3. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 2, wherein a pivot of said pendulum is disposed closer to said club shaft than a free end of said pendulum.

4. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 2, wherein a width of said pendulum increases from said pivot to said free end.

5. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 4, wherein sensitivity of said electronic golf swing training device is adjustable by moving said pair of sensors toward and away from said shaft of said club.

6. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 2, wherein said pair of sensors each comprise a transmitter and a receiver, and when said pendulum pivots reception of a signal from one of said transmitters to a corresponding receiver of either one of said sensors is blocked at said moment of peak velocity, indicating that said club face is in one of a closed and open orientation.

7. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 6, wherein when said pendulum does not block either of said pair of sensors at said moment of peak velocity, said electronic circuit provides an audible indication of straight club face orientation.

8. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 7, wherein said audible indication of straight club face orientation is a sound of a ball being struck.

9. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 6, wherein when said pendulum blocks one of said pair of sensors closer to said club face, at said moment of peak velocity, said electronic circuit causes said speaker to emit an audible indication of a slice, said orientation of said club face being open.

10. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 9, wherein said audible indication of a slice is a rising whistle.

11. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 9, wherein said electronic circuit modulates said audible indication of a slice to provide an audible representation of a degree to which said club face is open.

12. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 5, wherein when said pendulum blocks one of said pair of sensors farther from said club face, at said moment of peak velocity, said electronic circuit causes said speaker to emit a audible indication of a hook, said orientation of said club face being closed.

13. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 12, wherein said audible indication of a hook is a descending whistle.

14. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 12, wherein said electronic circuit modulates said audible indication of a hook to provide an audible representation of a degree to which said club face is closed.

15. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 1, wherein said power source is at least one battery disposed in said grip.

16. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an on/off switch disposed on said grip.

17. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 9, further comprising a power on indicator.

18. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 1, wherein said electronic golf swing training device has a size weight and balance of a conventional club.

19. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a smoothness switch which senses when said club exceeds a preset acceleration, wherein when said golf swing training device is swung unsmoothly during one of an upswing and a downswing, said electronic circuit provides an indication of an unsmooth swing.

20. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 19, wherein said indication of said unsmooth swing is produced by disconnection of said pair of sensors from ground when said unsmooth swing occurs.

21. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 1, wherein said moment of peak velocity corresponds to a point in a golf swing where said club face meets a ball.

22. A golf swing training device, comprising:

a golf club having a grip, a shaft, and a club head;

a pendulum, disposed in a plane perpendicular to an axis of said club shaft, said pendulum being rotatable about a pivot parallel to said axis of said club shaft, and said pivot being offset from said club shaft outward toward said outer end of said club head; and

means for generating an audible indication of straight orientation of a club face of said club head, at point in a swing path where a ball would be in a drive swing.

23. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

a fulcrum pivotably attached to said club by a bearing so that said fulcrum pivots up and down relative to said club head;

a hinge pivotably connecting said pendulum to said fulcrum, said hinge being disposed on an end of said fulcrum opposite said bearing;

a pin disposed on said a free end of said pendulum;

a hole in a surface below said fulcrum disposed so that when said pendulum is parallel to said fulcrum said pin is free to move into said hole; and

a diaphragm disposed below said fulcrum,

wherein when said pin and said hole are aligned and said club is swung so as to create sufficient centrifugal force, said fulcrum swings downward causing said diaphragm to buckle and produce an audible indication of a straight swing.

24. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 23, further comprising an arm disposed above said club head, said fulcrum being pivotably attached to said arm, and said diaphragm being disposed below said arm.

25. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 24, wherein said hole is disposed in said arm.

26. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 23, further comprising a ring disposed on said diaphragm for transferring force from said fulcrum to said diaphragm.

27. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 23, further comprising a weight movably attached to said fulcrum to adjust a minimum speed with which said golf swing trainer must be swung to produce said audible indication.

28. A golf swing training device as recited in claim 23, wherein when said club face is not oriented perpendicular to said swing path said pin and said hole are misaligned, said misalignment preventing said fulcrum from rotating about said bearing so that said diaphragm does not buckle and no audible indication is produced.