Abstract: A “Swing Trainer” provides a transverse slide mechanism that generates an audible and/or haptic click in response to a smoothness of a swing of a sports-related implement. In other words, the Swing Trainer clicks in a way that a user can either or both hear and/or feel during a swing of the sports-related implement. Such sports-related implements include, but are not limited to, golf clubs, tennis racquets, hockey sticks, baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, cricket bats, or any other sports-related implement wherein smoothness of a user swing is desirable. The Swing Trainer rotatably couples a proximal end to a distal end of the sports-related implement. Further, the Swing Trainer generates the audible and/or haptic click when a sliding force imparted to the Swing Trainer by the swing exceeds a static holding force of the transverse slide mechanism. Typically, the sliding force exceeds the static holding force during an improper user swing.

Abstract: A universal swing training apparatus is provided that includes a sports-related implement and a slide mechanism. The implement includes a proximal section and a distal section that are spaced apart to form a gap there-between. The slide mechanism is inserted within this gap and is connected to the upper end of the proximal section and the lower end of the distal section. The slide mechanism includes a rail guide, a plurality of front ball bearings, a plurality of rear ball bearings, and a sliding rail assembly that are cooperatively configured to insure that this upper end and this lower end are coaxial when the sliding rail assembly is situated in a coaxial position on the rail guide, and permit a lateral shift of this lower end relative to this upper end during a swinging of the implement.

Abstract: A baseball bat swing training apparatus is provided that includes a bat and a slide mechanism. The bat includes handle and barrel sections that are spaced apart to form a gap there-between. The mechanism is inserted within this gap and is connected to the upper end of the handle section and the lower end of the barrel section. The mechanism includes a sliding rail assembly and a rail guide that are cooperatively configured to insure that these upper and lower ends are substantially coaxial when the sliding rail assembly is situated in a rightmost position on the rail guide, and permit a lateral shift of this lower end relative to this upper end during a swinging of the bat. A tennis racket swing training apparatus is also provided where the mechanism is inserted within a gap that is formed between upper and lower portions of the racket's handle section.

Abstract: A universal swing training apparatus is provided that includes a sports-related implement and a slide mechanism. The implement includes a proximal section and a distal section that are spaced apart to form a gap there-between. The slide mechanism is inserted within this gap and is connected to the upper end of the proximal section and the lower end of the distal section. The slide mechanism includes a rail guide, a plurality of front ball bearings, a plurality of rear ball bearings, and a sliding rail assembly that are cooperatively configured to insure that this upper end and this lower end are coaxial when the sliding rail assembly is situated in a coaxial position on the rail guide, and permit a lateral shift of this lower end relative to this upper end during a swinging of the implement.

Abstract: A golf club swing training apparatus and a method for fabricating it are provided. The apparatus includes a golf club shaft and a slide mechanism. The shaft includes an upper portion and a lower portion that are spaced apart to form a gap there-between. The slide mechanism is inserted within this gap and is connected to the lower end of the upper shaft portion and the upper end of the lower shaft portion. The slide mechanism includes an upper connector, a sliding rail, a rail guide block, and a lower connector that are configured to permit a lateral shift of this lower portion relative to this upper portion during a swinging of the club. The method uses an axial alignment apparatus to maintain the elongated axis of the upper shaft portion in substantial alignment with the elongated axis of the lower shaft portion when the slide mechanism is being connected.

Abstract: A baseball bat swing training apparatus is provided that includes a bat and a slide mechanism. The bat includes handle and barrel sections that are spaced apart to form a gap there-between. The mechanism is inserted within this gap and is connected to the upper end of the handle section and the lower end of the barrel section. The mechanism includes a sliding rail assembly and a rail guide that are cooperatively configured to insure that these upper and lower ends are substantially coaxial when the sliding rail assembly is situated in a rightmost position on the rail guide, and permit a lateral shift of this lower end relative to this upper end during a swinging of the bat. A tennis racket swing training apparatus is also provided where the mechanism is inserted within a gap that is formed between upper and lower portions of the racket's handle section.

Abstract: A golf club swing training apparatus designed to help golfers learn to selectively control a golf ball trajectory shape so that the ball is made to “bend” from right to left, or left to right. The apparatus is configured as an otherwise conventional golf club such as a driver, but wherein the shaft is spliced at a location along its length between the butt end and the head end. After removing a short piece of shaft to retain the overall length of the club, a slide mechanism is inserted to mate with the shaft's upper and lower portions. The slide mechanism permits limited transverse movement of the lower portion that is connected to the golf club head relative to the upper portion that includes the butt end or grip of the club.

Abstract: A golf club swing training apparatus designed to help golfers learn to selectively control a golf ball trajectory shape so that the ball is made to “bend” from right to left, or left to right. The apparatus is configured as an otherwise conventional golf club such as a driver, but wherein the shaft is spliced at a location along its length between the butt end and the head end. After removing a short piece of shaft to retain the overall length of the club, a slide mechanism is inserted to mate with the shaft's upper and lower portions. The slide mechanism permits limited transverse movement of the lower portion that is connected to the golf club head relative to the upper portion that includes the butt end or grip of the club.

Abstract: A golf club swing training apparatus and a method for fabricating it are provided. The apparatus includes a golf club shaft and a slide mechanism. The shaft includes an upper portion and a lower portion that are spaced apart to form a gap there-between. The slide mechanism is inserted within this gap and is connected to the lower end of the upper shaft portion and the upper end of the lower shaft portion. The slide mechanism includes an upper connector, a sliding rail, a rail guide block, and a lower connector that are configured to permit a lateral shift of this lower portion relative to this upper portion during a swinging of the club. The method uses an axial alignment apparatus to maintain the elongated axis of the upper shaft portion in substantial alignment with the elongated axis of the lower shaft portion when the slide mechanism is being connected.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for setting up a golf shot. According to one embodiment, a visual-alignment tool is placed at an identified position that is along a line between (i) a first location corresponding to at least one of a position of a golf ball to be hit and a position from which a golfer is to hit the golf ball and (ii) a target location. The visual-alignment tool also is aligned with the line between the first location and the target location. After sighting with the visual-alignment tool from the position from which the golfer is to hit the golf ball, the golf ball is hit. According to this embodiment, the identified position of the visual-alignment tool is at least 4 feet from the first location.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for setting up a golf shot. According to one embodiment, an audio-emitting device is placed at an identified position that is along a line between (i) a first location corresponding to at least one of a position of a golf ball to be hit and a position of a golfer who is to hit the golf ball and (ii) a second location corresponding to a position within 4 feet of a target hole into which the golf ball is desired to be hit. The audio-emitting device is activated so that an audio signal is emitted by the audio-emitting device at a time during which at least a portion of the current golf shot occurs.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for assembling an elevated stand, in which is obtained a platform assembly having a number of legs and a number of golf clubs, each golf club having a distal end for a golf club head and a proximal end that includes a small opening. A stand is constructed by inserting each of the legs into the small opening in a different one of the golf clubs, and the stand is positioned so that the distal ends of the golf clubs rest on a supporting surface.

Abstract: Provided is a training device that can be useful in connection with sports training, such as helping a golfer to improve his or her golf putting stroke. The device is worn on the user's wrist or forearm and uses an active sensor, such as a laser rangefinder, to measure motion with respect to a point on the user's hand.