Auditory feedback for golfers' face closure rate

• US 7,857,705 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US12/627,830
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 473219-224, 473/226, 473/231, 473/232, 473/234, 473/457, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/224
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• 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 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence

Abstract

A device to improve the feedback to the golfer relative to the rotation of the club head and thus provide valuable feedback to the golfer on the rate and timing of the club head rotation to golf ball impact is disclosed herein. The device is a training and practice aid to accomplish such auditory feedback.

Claims

1. A device for attachment to a golf club to provide auditory feedback to a golfer, the device comprising:

a housing;

a rate sensor disposed within the housing, the rate sensor generating an electronic signal corresponding to an angular momentum generated by the golfer during a golf swing;

an amplifier circuit disposed within the housing, the amplifier circuit in electrical communication with the rate sensor, the amplifier circuit amplifying the electrical signal generated by the rate sensor to create an amplified signal;

a speaker disposed within the housing, the speaker in electrical communication with the amplifier circuit to generate an audible signal corresponding to the amplified signal, the audible signal having a pitch based on the angular momentum generated by the golfer during the golfer swing; and

a power source disposed within the housing, the power source providing power to the rate sensor, the amplifier circuit and the speaker;

wherein a frequency of the generated audible signal corresponds to the rotation rate of the golf club when swung by a golfer.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the device is removably attached to a shaft of a golf club.

3. A method for using the device to provide auditory feedback to a golfer to improve the golfer'"'"'s swing by closure of the face;

the method comprising;

swinging a golf club having a device removably attached thereto, the device comprising

a housing,

a rate sensor disposed within the housing, the rate sensor generating an electronic signal corresponding to an angular momentum generated by the golfer during a golf swing,

an amplifier circuit disposed within the housing, the amplifier circuit in electrical communication with the rate sensor, the amplifier circuit amplifying the electrical signal generated by the rate sensor to create an amplified signal,

a speaker disposed within the housing, the speaker in electrical communication with the amplifier circuit to generate an audible signal corresponding to the amplified signal, the audible signal having a pitch based on the angular momentum generated by the golfer during the golfer swing, and

a power source disposed within the housing, the power source providing power to the rate sensor, the amplifier circuit and the speaker;

generating a first audible signal based on a first rotation of the golf club during the swing;

swinging the golf club a second time with a second rotation of the golf club during the swing; and

generating a second audible signal based on a second rotation of the golf club during the swing.