Golf swing trainer

• US 5,860,873 A
• Filed: 11/04/1996
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter Karasavas
• Original Assignee: Peter Karasavas
• Inventors: Karasavas, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US08/687,484
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 473/234
• US Class Current: 473/234
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3635 with sound-emitting source

Abstract

A golf swing trainer includes a substantially transparent tubular body having ends for mounting on a free end of a handle of golf club, transverse to the handle. Two chambers within the body are respectively defined by opposed co-axial transparent inner cylinders. A circumferential guide track at an interior surface of the body between opposed ends of the cylinder provides a path for a metal ball. During swinging of a golf club, the ball moves between the chambers and the track, providing an audible indication of movement between the track and the two cylinders, alerting a golfer to alter the golf swing.

Claims

1. A golf swing trainer including:

a tubular body having a central axis, a wall having interior and exterior surfaces, closed ends, first and second opposed chambers disposed along the central axis, and a circumferential guide track at the interior wall, concentric with the central axis and separating the first chamber from the second chamber;

means for mounting the tubular body on a handle of a golf club with the central axis transverse to the handle of the golf club; and

tracking means freely movable within and between the guide track, the first chamber, and the second chamber for following a path along the guide track and moving between the guide track, the first chamber, and the second chamber, wherein, during swinging of the golf club, in response to the swinging of the golf club, the tracking means moves between the first chamber, the second chamber, and the guide track, providing an indication of movement of the tracking means between the guide track, the first chamber, and the second chamber.

2. The golf swing trainer according to claim 1 wherein the guide track extends on the interior surface of the body in a circular path.

3. The trainer according to claim 1 wherein the indication provided by the tracking means is audible.

4. The golf swing trainer according to claim 1 wherein the mounting means includes a centrally disposed mount extending radially from the body, with respect to the central axis, for engaging, in an interference fit, a free end of the handle.

5. The golf swing trainer according to claim 3 wherein the body is cylindrical and including a first end cap and a second end cap respectively defining ends of the body and the first and second chambers, the first and second end caps extending co-axially from respective ends of the body and terminating centrally within the body, thereby defining the guide track.

6. The golf swing trainer according to claim 4 wherein at least one of the first and second end caps is movable with respect to the body for selectively adjusting a width of the guide track.

7. The golf swing trainer according to claim 4 wherein at least one of the first and second end caps threadedly engages the body and including a locking collar for selectively securing the end cap threadedly engaged with the body at a fixed position with respect to the body.

8. The golf swing trainer according to claim 6 wherein the body and the first and second end caps are transparent plastic and the tracking means is a spherical metal body.

9. The golf swing trainer according to claim 1 wherein the tracking means comprises a spherical metal body.

11. The swing trainer according to claim 9 wherein the tracking means comprises a spherical metal body.

10. A swing trainer including:

a tubular body having a central axis, a wall having interior and exterior surfaces, closed ends, first and second opposed chambers disposed along the central axis, and a circumferential guide track at the interior wall, concentric with the central axis and separating the first chamber from the second chamber;

means for mounting the tubular body on a handle of a sporting implement with the central axis transverse to the handle of the implement; and

tracking means freely movable within and between the guide track, the first chamber, and the second chamber for following a path along the guide track and moving between the guide track, the first chamber, and the second chamber, wherein during swinging of the implement, in response to the swinging of the implement, the tracking means moves between the first chamber, the second chamber, and the guide track, providing an indication of movement of the tracking means between the guide track, the first chamber, and the second chamber.

12. A method for practicing a golf swing including:

mounting a golf swing trainer on a handle of golf club, the golf swing trainer including;

a tubular body having a central axis, a wall having interior and exterior surfaces, closed ends, first and second opposed chambers disposed along the central axis, and a circumferential guide track at the interior wall, concentric with the central axis and separating the first chamber from the second chamber; and

tracking means freely movable within and between the guide track, the first chamber, and the second chamber for following a path along the guide track and moving between the guide track, the first chamber, and the second chamber, wherein during swinging of the golf club, in response to the swinging of the golf club, the tracking means moves between the first chamber, the second chamber, and the guide track, providing an indication of movement of the tracking means between the guide track, the first chamber, and the second chamber, the central axis being transverse to the handle of the golf club;

swinging the golf club;

observing the indications provided by the tracking means; and

re-creating or adjusting the swing in accordance with the indications.