Golf swing timing/training device

• US 6,969,257 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry Jay Groen
• Original Assignee: Henry Jay Groen
• Inventors: Groen, Henry Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US10/795,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20050196738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 473/207, 473/212, 473/213, 473/226, 473/233, 473/234, 473/276, 434/247, 434/252, 63/15, 63/157, 63/12, 63/13, 63/23
• US Class Current: 434/252
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/83 characterised by the position of the sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3621 Contacting or non-contacting mechanical means for guiding the swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/146 Golf gloves

Abstract

A golf swing timing training aid for perfecting a golf swing that provides both an audible and vibrational feedback indicator when the apogee of a back swing has been reached, when the swing accelerates downward, and when the apogee of the follow-through swing has been reached. The golf swing training aid is unobtrusive and inconspicuous, and is capable of being hidden within a golf glove.

Claims

1. A golf-swing timing training aid, said training aid including a body, said body comprising

a tubular member and a rod;

wherein

said tubular member comprises first and second ends, said rod is located and movable within said tubular member, said first and second ends of said tubular member are of a diameter that prevents said rod from traveling outside of said tubular member, and said body is coupled to a golfing glove.

2. The golf-swing training aid of claim 1, wherein said body is attached via an attachment device to at least one of a golfing hand and a golf club, said body providing a vibrational impact which is capable of being felt or heard or both by a user, said vibrational impact resulting from said rod striking one of said first and second ends of said tubular member when:

(i) said at least one of a golfing hand and a golf club is at the top of a swing, (ii) said at least one of a golfing hand and a golf club is on the down swing, and (iii) said at least one of a golfing hand and a golf club has followed through.

3. The golf-swing trailing aid of claim 1, wherein said rod is made of metal with a specific gravity greater than 2.

4. The golf-swing training aid of claim 1, wherein said tubular member is made of material selected from a group consisting of:

metal, plastic and ceramic.

5. The golf-swing training aid of claim 1, wherein said tubular member has an inner diameter equal to or less than about ¼

inch.

6. The golf-swing training aid of claim 1, wherein said tubular member has an outer diameter equal to or less than about 5/16 inch.

7. A golf-swing timing training aid comprising:

a tubular member having first and second ends; and

a rod located and free to move within said tubular member;

wherein said first and second ends of said tubular member prevent said rod from traveling outside of said tubular member and said tubular member is attached to a golf glove.

8. The golf-swing timing training aid as defined by claim 7, wherein said tubular member has a length as measured from said first end to said second end that is greater than the length of said rod.

9. The golf-swing timing training aid as defined by claim 8, wherein said tubular member and said rod are operative to provide timing feedback to a golfer.

10. The golf-swing timing training aid as defined by claim 8, wherein said tubular member and said rod are operative to provide audible and/or vibrational timing feedback to a golfer.

11. A method of providing feedback during a golf-swing comprising the steps of:

coupling a tubular member having first and second ends to a hand of a golfer, said tubular member having a rod located and free to move within said tubular member;

addressing a golf ball with a golf club such that said rod moves to said first end of said tubular member;

initiating a golf swing beginning with a backswing and then a forward swing through the golf ball, during which said rod moves from the first end to the second end during the backswing and then said rod moves back to said first end of said tubular member during the forward swing, and then said rod moves to said second end during follow-through of the forward swing; and

sensing movement of said rod within said tubular member to assist in providing timing feedback as a training aid to improve a golf swing.

12. The method of providing feedback during a golf-swing as defined by claim 11, wherein said step of sensing includes feeling vibrational impact of said rod moving from end to end.

13. The method of providing feedback during a golf-swing as defined by claim 11, wherein said step of sensing includes listening for a sound caused by impact of said rod moving from end to end.

14. The method of providing feedback during a golf swing as defined by claim 11, wherein said coupling comprises a golf glove.

15. The method of providing feedback during a golf swing as defined by claim 11, wherein said rod is made of a metal with a specific gravity greater than about 2.

16. The method of providing feedback during a golf swing as defined by claim 11, wherein said tubular member has an outer diameter equal or less than about 5/16 inch.

17. The method of providing feedback during a golf swing as defined by claim 11, wherein said tubular member has an inner diameter equal or less than about ¼

inch.

18. The method of providing feedback during a golf swing as defined by claim 11, wherein said tubular member is made of material selected from a group consisting of:

metal, plastic and ceramic.

19. A sports-swing timing training aid, said training aid including a body, said body comprising

a tubular member and a rod;

wherein

said tubular member comprises first and second ends, said rod is located and movable within said tubular member, said first and second ends of said tubular member are of a diameter that prevents said rod from traveling outside of said tubular member, and said body is coupled to a sporting glove.

20. The sports-swing training aid of claim 19, wherein said rod is made of metal with a specific gravity greater than 2.

21. The sports-swing training aid of claim 19, wherein said tubular member is made of material selected from a group consisting of:

metal, plastic and ceramic.

22. The sports-swing training aid of claim 19, wherein said tubular member has an inner diameter equal to or less than about ¼

inch.

23. The sports-swing training aid of claim 19, wherein said tubular member has an outer diameter equal to or less than about 5/16 inch.

24. The sports-swing timing training aid as defined by claim 19, wherein said tubular member and said rod are operative to provide audible and/or vibrational timing feedback.

25. The sports-swing training aid of claim 19, wherein said body is attached via an attachment device to at least one of a sports hand and a sports club, said body providing a vibrational impact which is capable of being felt or heard or both by a user, said vibrational impact resulting from said rod striking one of said first and second ends of said tubular member when:

(i) said at least one of a sports hand and a sports club is at the beginning of a swing, (ii) said at least one of a sports hand and a sports club is in the middle of the swing, and (iii) said at least one of a sports hand and a sports club has followed through.

26. A sports-swing timing training aid comprising:

a tubular member having first and second ends; and

a rod located and free to move within said tubular member;

wherein said first and second ends of said tubular member prevent said rod from traveling outside of said tubular member and said tubular member is attached to a sports glove.

27. The sports-swing timing training aid as defined by claim 26, wherein said tubular member has a length as measured from said first end to said second end that is greater than the length of said rod.

28. The sports-swing timing training aid as defined by claim 26, wherein said tubular member and said rod are operative to provide timing feedback during a sports swing.

29. A method of providing feedback during a sports-saving comprising the steps of:

coupling a tubular member having first and second ends to a gloved sports hand, said tubular member having a rod located and free to move within said tubular member;

addressing a ball with a sports club such that said rod moves to said first end of said tubular member;

initiating a sports swing beginning with a backswing and then a forward swing through the ball, during which said rod moves from the first end to the second end during the backswing and then said rod moves back to said first end of said tubular member during the forward swing, and then said rod moves to said second end during follow-through of the forward swing; and

sensing movement of said rod within said tubular member to assist in providing timing feedback as a training aid to improve a sports swing.

30. The method of providing feedback during a sports-swing as defined by claim 29, wherein said step of sensing includes feeling vibrational impact of said rod moving from end to end.

31. The method of providing feedback during a sports-swing as defined by claim 29, wherein said step of sensing includes listening for a sound caused by impact of said rod moving from end to end.

32. The method of providing feedback during a sports swing as defined by claim 29, wherein said rod is made of a metal with a specific gravity greater than about 2.

33. The method of providing feedback during a sports swing as defined by claim 29, wherein said tubular member has an outer diameter equal or less than about 5/16 inch.

34. The method of providing feedback during a sports swing as defined by claim 29, wherein said tubular member has an inner diameter equal or less than about ¼

inch.

35. The method of providing feedback during a sports swing as defined by claim 29, wherein said tubular member is made of material selected from a group consisting of:

metal, plastic and ceramic.