Golf swing training device and method

• US 7,798,910 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leadbetter Golf Academies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Swing King, LLC
• Inventors: Shew, F. Blaik, Leadbetter, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Legesse; Nini
• Application Number:
  US11/625,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20070178986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 473203-206, 473/219, 473220-226, 473231-234, 473/256, 473/257, 473/266
• US Class Current: 473/215
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/005 with a weight movable along the longitudinal axis of the club due to centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0633 without electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• 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 aid includes a shaft having two sliding elements magnetically attached to fixed positions on the shaft. The sliding elements slide along the shaft from initially coupled positions to impact positions during a backswing and downswing movement simulating a golf swing for providing distinctive sounds at selected impact positions along the shaft to aid in setting the shaft when executing the backswing and lagging of the shaft during the downswing. Grip protrusions are biased against webs of the fingers for enhancing power generated during the swing.

Claims

1. A swing training apparatus comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal portion, an opposing distal portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween; and

first and second elements carried at the proximal and the intermediate portions, respectively, each of the first and second elements having a fixed portion fixedly attached to the elongate shaft, a slidable portion for sliding movement along the shaft, and a preset magnetic attraction therebetween, wherein the sliding portion is magnetically coupled to the fixed portion prior to a swinging of the shaft and released therefrom by a centrifugal force exerted on the sliding portion during a swinging motion of the shaft, wherein each of the first and second elements includes;

at least one of the fixed and slidable portions having a magnetic portion;

at least one of the fixed and slidable portions having a metallic portion operable with the magnetic portion; and

an adjustment member carried by at least one of the fixed and slidable portions, the adjustment member establishing a separation distance between the magnetic and metallic portions, thus providing the preset magnetic attraction.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic portion comprises a magnet, and wherein the metallic portion comprises a metallic plate.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elements comprises a spherical shape, and wherein the adjustment member comprises a ring extending about perimeters of the first and second portions, the adjustment member having threading engagement with the fixed portion, and wherein rotation of the adjustment member modifies the separation distance between the fixed and slidable portions, thus modifying the preset magnetic attraction therebetween.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment ring comprises a plurality of indexed settings.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the fixed a\d slidable portions comprises a hemispherical shape.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the metallic plate comprises a metal ring having an aperture therein receiving the shaft therethrough.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stop affixed to the distal portion of the shaft.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the stop receives the sliding element from the second element, and wherein the fixed portion of the second element forms a stop for receiving the sliding portion of the first element.

9. A swing training apparatus comprising:

a shaft having a proximal portion and an opposing distal portion;

an element carried on an outside surface of the shaft between the proximal and distal portions, the element having a fixed portion fixedly attached to the elongate shaft and a slidable portion for sliding movement along the outside surface of the shaft, wherein the sliding portion is magnetically coupled to the fixed portion through a preset magnetic attraction, wherein the element includes at least one of the fixed and slidable portions having at least one of a magnetic portion and a metallic portion operable with the magnetic portion;

an adjustment member carried by at least one of the fixed and slidable portions, the adjustment member establishing a separation distance between the magnetic and metallic portions, thus providing the preset magnetic attraction; and

a stop fixedly attached at the distal portion of the shaft, wherein a centrifugal force exerted on the sliding portion during a swinging motion of the shaft results in the sliding portion moving along the outside surface toward the stop.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic portion comprises a magnet, and wherein the metallic portion comprises a metallic plate.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of the first and second elements comprises a spherical shape, and wherein the adjustment member comprises a ring extending about perimeters of the first and second portions, the adjustment member having threading engagement with the fixed portion, and wherein rotation of the adjustment member modifies the separation distance between the fixed and slidable portions, thus modifying the preset magnetic attraction therebetween.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the adjustment member comprises a plurality of indexed settings.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11. wherein each of the fixed a\d slidable portions comprises a hemispherical shape.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the metallic plate comprises a metal ring having an aperture therein receiving the shaft therethrough.

15. A swing training apparatus comprising:

a shaft having a proximal portion and an opposing distal portion;

a first element carried on an outside surface of the shaft between the proximal and distal portions, the first element having a fixed portion fixedly attached to the elongate shaft and a slidable portion for sliding movement along the outside surface of the shaft, wherein the sliding portion is magnetically coupled to the fixed portion through a first preset magnetic attraction;

a second element carried on an outside surface of the shaft between the first element and the shaft distal portion. the second element having a fixed portion fixedly attached to the elongate shaft and a slidable portion for sliding movement along the outside surface of the shaft, wherein the sliding portion is magnetically coupled to the fixed portion through a second preset magnetic attraction; and

each of the first and second elements having an adjustment member carried by at least one of the fixed and slidable portions, the adjustment member establishing a separation distance therebetween for providing the first and second preset magnetic attractions, respectively.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a stop fixedly attached at the distal portion of the shaft, wherein a centrifugal force exerted on each of the sliding portions for the first and second elements during a swinging motion of the shaft results in the sliding portion moving along the outside surface toward the stop.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each of the first and second elements includes at least one of the fixed and slidable portions having at least one of a magnetic portion and a metallic portion operable with the magnetic portion.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each of the first and second elements comprises a spherical shape, and wherein the adjustment member comprises a ring extending about perimeters of the first and second portions, the adjustment member having threading engagement with the fixed portion, and wherein rotation of the adjustment member modifies the separation distance between the fixed and slidable portions, thus modifying the preset magnetic attraction therebetween.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the adjustment member comprises a plurality of indexed settings.