Golf training device

• US 7,780,542 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark C. Ross, Philip K. Mathias
• Original Assignee: Mark C. Ross, Philip K. Mathias
• Inventors: Mathias, Philip K., Ross, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US12/383,327
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 473/219, 473/223, 473/226, 473/228, 473231-234, 473/238, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/226
• 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 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence

Abstract

A golf training device and process are disclosed for assisting a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball. The golf training device comprises a plate including a face side and a back side. The face side of the plate has a first color. The back side of the plate has a second color. An exterior edge of the plate has a third color. A coupler extends between the interior edge of the plate and the shaft of the golf club for securing the plate to the golf club. The third color alone is visible during the golf player swinging the golf club for producing a perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball. The perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball propels the ball in a straight trajectory.

Claims

1. A golf training device for assisting a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball, the golf club having a shaft interposed between a head and a grip, the head having a face surface for contacting the golf ball, the golf training device, comprising:

a plate including a face side and a back side;

said plate having a thickness for defining an interior edge and an exterior edge;

said face side of said plate having a first color;

said back side of said plate having a second color;

said exterior edge of said plate having a third color;

a coupler extending between said interior edge of said plate and the shaft of the golf club for securing said plate to the golf club;

said plate aligning parallel to the face surface of the golf club;

said third color visible during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing a perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball;

said first color and said second color not visible during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball propelling the golf ball in a straight trajectory.

2. A golf training device for a golf player as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plate defines a trapezoid shape.

3. A golf training device for a golf player as set forth in claim 1, wherein said interior edge of said plate defining an interior trapezoid base having an interior base length;

said exterior edge of said plate defining an exterior trapezoid base having an exterior base length;

said interior trapezoid base and said exterior trapezoid base being in a parallel orientation;

said plate defining an upper trapezoid leg having an upper leg length;

said plate defining a lower trapezoid leg having an lower leg length;

said upper trapezoid leg and said lower leg trapezoid being in a non-parallel orientation;

said interior trapezoid base, said exterior trapezoid base, said upper trapezoid leg and said lower trapezoid leg defining a trapezoid shape;

said interior trapezoid base and said upper trapezoid leg defining an upper acute angle;

said interior trapezoid base and said lower leg trapezoid defining a lower acute angle;

said upper acute angle greater than said lower acute angle and said interior base length greater than said exterior base length for positioning said upper trapezoid leg in a more horizontal orientation than said lower trapezoid leg; and

said upper trapezoid leg including said third color.

4. A golf training device for a golf player as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first color includes yellow, said second color includes green and said third color includes red.

5. A golf training device for a golf player as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coupler including an upper clip and a lower clip;

said upper clip having a shaft clamp oppositely opposing a plate clamp;

said shaft clamp of said upper clip including a first arm and a second arm for defining an upper shaft chamber;

said first arm and said second arm of said upper clip yielding for positioning said shaft into upper shaft chamber;

said plate clamp of said upper clip including a primary arm and a secondary arm for defining an upper plate chamber;

said primary arm and secondary arm of said upper clip yielding for positioning said plate into upper plate chamber;

said lower clip having a shaft clamp oppositely opposing a plate clamp;

said shaft clamp of said lower clip including a first arm and a second arm for defining a lower shaft chamber;

said first arm and said second arm of said lower clip yielding for positioning said shaft into lower shaft chamber;

said plate clamp of said lower clip including a primary arm and a secondary arm for defining a lower plate chamber; and

said primary arm and secondary arm of said lower clip yielding for positioning said plate into lower plate chamber.

6. A golf training device for a golf player as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first color and said third color visible during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing an open non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball;

said second color not visible during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing said open non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

said open non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball propelling the golf ball in a left to right curving trajectory.

7. A golf training device for a golf player as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second color and said third color visible during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing a closed non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball;

said first color not visible during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing said closed non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

said closed non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball propelling the golf ball in a right to left curving trajectory.

8. A golf training device for a golf player as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first color partially visible during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing a rear incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball;

said second color and said third color not visible during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing said rear incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

said rear incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball propelling the golf ball in a straight trajectory with the golf ball having a reverse rotation.

9. A golf training device for a golf player as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second color partially visible during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing a forward incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball;

said first color and said third color visible not visible during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing said forward incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

said forward incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball propelling the golf ball in a straight trajectory with the golf ball having a forward rotation.

10. A golf training device for assisting a golf trainer in instructing a golf player to align a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball, the golf trainer aligning in a face to face orientation with the golf player, the golf club having a shaft interposed between a head and a grip, the head having a face surface for contacting the golf ball, the golf training device, comprising:

a plate including a face side and a back side;

said plate having a thickness for defining an interior edge and an exterior edge;

said face side of said plate having a first color;

said back side of said plate having a second color;

said exterior edge of said plate having a third color;

a coupler extending between said interior edge of said plate and the shaft of the golf club for securing said plate to the golf club;

said plate aligning parallel to the face surface of the golf club;

said third color visible to the golf trainer with the golf club in a vertical position of the arcuate path for producing a perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball;

said first color and said second color not visible to the golf trainer with the golf club in said vertical position of the arcuate path for producing said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball propelling the golf ball in a straight trajectory.

11. A golf training device for assisting a golf trainer as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first color visible to the golf trainer with the golf club in a rear horizontal position of the arcuate path for indicating said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball;

and

said second color and said third color not visible to the golf trainer with the golf club in said rear horizontal position of the arcuate path for indicating said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball.

12. A golf training device for assisting a golf trainer as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second color visible to the golf trainer with the golf club in a forward horizontal position of the arcuate path for indicating said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball;

and

said first color and said third color not visible to the golf trainer with the golf club in said forward horizontal position of the arcuate path for indicating said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball.

13. A process for training a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball, the golf club having a shaft interposed between a head and a grip, the head having a face surface for contacting the golf ball, a plate having a face side and a back side, the plate having a thickness for defining an interior edge and an exterior edge, the face side of the plate having a first color, the back side of the plate having a second color, the exterior edge of the plate having a third color, a coupler extending between the interior edge of the plate and the shaft of the golf club for securing the plate to the golf club, the plate aligning parallel to the face surface of the golf club, the process comprising the steps of:

aligning the plate for viewing the third color during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing a perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball;

aligning the plate for not viewing the first color and the second color during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

striking the golf ball with the face surface of the golf club with said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball for propelling the golf ball in a straight trajectory.

14. A process for a golf trainer to assist a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of:

aligning the plate for viewing the first color and the third color during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing a open non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball;

aligning the plate for not viewing the second color during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing said open non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

striking the golf ball with the face surface of the golf club with said open non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball for propelling the golf ball in a in a left to right curving trajectory.

15. A process for a golf trainer to assist a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of:

aligning the plate for viewing the second color and the third color during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing a closed non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball;

aligning the plate for not viewing the first color during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing said closed non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

striking the golf ball with the face surface of the golf club with said closed non-perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball for propelling the golf ball in a right to left curving trajectory.

16. A process for a golf trainer to assist a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of:

aligning the plate for partially viewing the first color during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing a rear incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball;

aligning the plate for not viewing the second color and the third color during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing said rear incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

striking the golf ball with the face surface of the golf club with said rear incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball for propelling the golf ball in a straight trajectory with the golf ball having a reverse rotation.

17. A process for a golf trainer to assist a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball as set forth in claim 13, further including the step of:

aligning the plate for partially viewing the second color during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing a forward incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball;

aligning the plate for not viewing the first color and the third color during the golf player swinging the golf club through the arcuate path for producing said forward incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

striking the golf ball with the face surface of the golf club with said forward incline perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball for propelling the golf ball in a straight trajectory with the golf ball having a forward rotation.

18. A process for a golf trainer to assist a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball, the golf trainer aligning in a face to face orientation with the golf player, the golf club having a shaft interposed between a head and a grip, the head having a face surface for contacting the golf ball, a plate having a face side and a back side, the plate having a thickness for defining an interior edge and an exterior edge, the face side of the plate having a first color, the back side of the plate having a second color, the exterior edge of the plate having a third color, a coupler extending between the interior edge of the plate and the shaft of the golf club for securing the plate to the golf club, the plate aligning parallel to the face surface of the golf club, the process comprising the steps of:

aligning the plate for viewing the third color by the golf trainer during the golf club in a vertical position of the arcuate path for producing a perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball;

aligning the plate for not viewing the first color and the second color by the golf trainer during the golf club in said vertical position of the arcuate path for producing said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball; and

striking the golf ball with the face surface of the golf club with said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball for propelling the golf ball in a straight trajectory.

19. A process for a golf trainer to assist a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball as set forth in claim 18, further including the step of aligning the plate for viewing the first color by the golf trainer during the golf club in a rear horizontal position of the arcuate path for producing said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball;

and

aligning the plate for not viewing the second color and the third color by the golf trainer during the golf club in said rear horizontal position of the arcuate path for producing said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball.

20. A process for a golf trainer to assist a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball as set forth in claim 18, further including the step of aligning the plate for viewing the second color by the golf trainer during the golf club in a forward horizontal position of the arcuate path for producing said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball;

and

aligning the plate for not viewing the first color and the third color by the golf trainer during the golf club in said forward horizontal position of the arcuate path for producing said perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the golf ball.