GOLF TRAINING DEVICE AND METHOD THEREFOR

Abstract

A golf training device has a substantially rigid, sleeve-type member. The substantially rigid, sleeve-type member is configured to be secured over a forefinger of a user's lower hand and a palm area of the user's lower hand directly below the forefinger. The substantially rigid member is adapted to limit the user's ability to bend the forefinger.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to U.S. patent application filed May 8, 2007 and having Ser. No. 11/800,759 and in the name of the same inventor. The present application claims the benefit of the aforementioned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to golf training devices and method and, more particularly, to a device and method for promoting improved hand positioning during a golf stroke.

BACKGROUND

Proper shot-making in the sport of golf depends on a variety of factors. One of these is hand positioning on the grip of the golf club. According to one view, a preferred position requires a user to orient the fingers of the lower hand so that the forefinger is slightly extend, with an upper interior portion of the forefinger not in contact with the handle, and with the pad of the thumb of the lower hand more or less squarely in contact with the handle.

It can be difficult to maintain these positions during play. A player may when swinging the club bring the top of the forefinger into contact with the handle and/or may shift the pad of the thumb away from square contact with the handle. Such shift(s) may cause less than optimum striking of the ball, with the result being a slicing or hooking of the shot.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that overcomes the above.

SUMMARY

A golf training device has a substantially rigid, sleeve-type member. The substantially rigid, sleeve-type member is configured to be secured over a forefinger of a user's lower hand and a palm area of the user's lower hand directly below the forefinger. The substantially rigid member is adapted to limit the user's ability to bend the forefinger.

A golf training device comprising a substantially rigid, sleeve-type member configured to be secured over a forefinger of a user's lower hand and a palm area of the user's lower hand directly below the forefinger. The substantially rigid, sleeve-type member comprises: an upper section, the upper section being partially semi-circular in shape; and a lower section, the lower section being a plate member positioned in an area just below the forefinger where the forefinger and palm intersect.

The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golfer's hands in position on a golf grip, showing the forefinger of the bottom hand in a preferred orientation;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the palm side of a golf training device consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 2, taken along line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 3, taken along line 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the forefinger portion of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of a golf training device consistent with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7a is a side view of a golf training device consistent with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a top cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 7a, taken along line 8-8;

FIG. 9 is an elevated perspective view of a portion of a golf training device consistent with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the golf training device of FIG. 9 on a palm of a user; and

FIG. 11 is a front view of the golf training device of FIG. 9 on a palm of a user used with a golf glove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6, a golf training device 10 consistent with an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. In this embodiment, a substantially rigid, sleeve-type member 12 (“member 12”) is provided for a user's forefinger 15, to be positioned in the interior of a forefinger portion 14 of a golf glove 16. The member 12 is positioned over and extends above and below a knuckle portion of the forefinger 15, and is open at both ends.

As used herein, the word “anterior” refers to the visible surface of the forefinger 15 when a hand is held in a palm forward orientation as shown in FIG. 2, while the term “posterior” refers to the rear (non-visible) surface of the forefinger 15 in this orientation.

The member 12 has a slight forward bend, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6. The member 12 restricts bending of the forefinger about its central portion. This placement keeps at least the upper anterior portion of the forefinger 15 from contacting the surface of a golf club handle 18, as illustrated in FIG. 1, without placing the forefinger 15 in an absolutely perpendicular orientation. The member 12 restricts bending of a user's forefinger 15, in an amount greater than the restriction provided by a prior art golf glove. In one embodiment, the member 12 is rigid, so as to prevent a user from bending the forefinger 15 during the striking of a golf ball (not shown) with golf club 20. The member 12 may be comprised of rigid rubber, plastic, or other desired material.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5-6, the member 12 may be open along a portion of a length of a posterior portion thereof. Because the posterior portion does not need to be closed to restrict bending of the forefinger 15, provision of an opening along the posterior can provide improved comfort and breathability, without sacrificing functionality. Alternatively, it may be desired to provide a member 12 that lacks the posterior opening.

FIG. 1 illustrates a golfer's hands in position on a golf club handle 18, with the user having a rigid member 12 inside the golf glove 16. As shown, an upper portion of the user's forefinger 15 extends away from the handle 18, with the rigid member 12 preventing the user from encircling the handle 18 with the forefinger 15.

In one embodiment, a thumb pad 22 may also be provided. The thumb pad 22 may comprise cotton or other pliable and relatively comfortable material and is adapted to cover an upper surface, pad portion of a thumb 24, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. An underside of the thumb pad 22 may be adhered directly to a user's thumb 24, using an adhesive surface such as that provided on a band aid. Alternatively, the thumb pad 22 may be positioned in an interior portion of the golf glove 16, so that it will be in the desired location relative to the thumb 24 when the golf glove 16 is worn by the user. The thumb pad 22 is intended to promote proper positioning of the thumb 24 in relation to the handle 18, with the thumb pad 22 being placed squarely in contact with the handle 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-8, in one embodiment, the rigid member 12 is secured to the interior of the forefinger portion 14 of the golf club 16. In one embodiment, the rigid member 12 may be glued or otherwise secured within a sleeve 17, with the sleeve 17 then being sewn or otherwise secured to the interior of the forefinger portion 14. In another embodiment, the rigid member 12 may be directly secured to the forefinger portion 14 by gluing or other means. In another embodiment, the rigid member 12 may be secured to the outside of the forefinger portion 14.

In one embodiment, the rigid member 12 may be provided separate from the gold glove 16. In this embodiment, a user may position the rigid member 12 in place, and thereafter position a golf glove 16 thereover.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-11, another embodiment of the rigid member 12′ is shown. In this embodiment, the rigid member 12′ will function in a same or similar manner as described above. In the current embodiment, the rigid member 12′ is formed of a body member 12A. The body member 12A may have an upper section 30 and a lower section 32. The upper section 30 is positioned over and extends approximately a length of the forefinger 15. The lower section 32 is positioned on a palm 34 in an area just below the forefinger 15 where the forefinger 15 and the palm 34 meet.

The body member 12A is formed of an elongated piece of material. Opposite side sections of the upper section 30 may be curved upwards to give the body member 12A a partial semi-circular appearance. The upper section 30 is shaped to conform to the shape of the forefinger 15. The upper section 30 is sufficiently rigid, so as to prevent a user from bending the forefinger 15 during the striking of a golf ball (not shown) with golf club 20 (FIG. 1). The body member 12A may be formed of a material such as plastic, rubber, carbon fiber, light weight metal such as aluminum or the like. The listing of the above is given as an example and should not be seen in a limiting manner.

In accordance with one embodiment, foam 36 or other suitable material may be applied to in interior section of the upper section 30. The foam 36 may be used to further restrict movement of the forefinger 15. The foam 36 may further be used to provide a more comfortable setting for the forefinger 15 when the forefinger is positioned in the upper section 30.

The lower section 32 extends down from the upper section 30. The lower section 32 is positioned on a palm 34 in an area just below the forefinger 15 where the forefinger 15 and the palm 34 meet. The lower section 32 prevents the forefinger 15 from bending and or rotating about the joint where the for forefinger 15 attaches to the carpel bones in the upper part of the palm. The lower section 32 may be a plate 32A. The plate 32A is designed to conform to a shape of the area just below the forefinger 15 where the forefinger 15 and the palm 34 meet.

The body member 12A restricts bending of the forefinger 15. This placement keeps at least the anterior portion of the forefinger 15 from contacting the surface of a golf club handle 18, as previously illustrated in FIG. 1. Further, since the body member 12A restricts bending of the forefinger 15, certain muscles in the forearm are restricted in movement. This limits the rotation of the golfer's wrist. By limiting the rotation of the golfer's wrist, one may be able to reduce slicing and hooking of the golf ball.

While embodiments of the disclosure have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A golf training device comprising:

a substantially rigid, sleeve-type member configured to be secured over a forefinger of a user's lower hand and a palm area of the user's lower hand directly below the forefinger;

wherein the substantially rigid member is adapted to limit the user's ability to bend the forefinger.

2. The training device of claim 1, wherein the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member comprises:

an upper section, the upper section being partially semi-circular in shape; and

a lower section, the lower section being a plate member positioned in an area just below the forefinger where the forefinger and palm intersect.

3. The training device of claim 1, further comprising a foam material applied to an interior section of the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member.

4. The training device of claim 1 wherein the substantially rigid member is comprised of plastic.

5. The training device of claim 1, further comprising a golf glove and wherein the substantially rigid member is concealed within a forefinger portion of the golf glove.

6. A golf training device comprising, in combination:

a substantially rigid, sleeve-type member configured to be secured over a forefinger of a user's lower hand and a palm area of the user's lower hand directly below the forefinger;

wherein the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member comprises:

an upper section, the upper section being partially semi-circular in shape; and

a lower section, the lower section being a plate member positioned in an area just below the forefinger where the forefinger and palm intersect.

7. The training device of claim 6, further comprising a foam material applied to an interior section of the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member.

8. The training device of claim 6, wherein the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member is secured to an interior portion of a golf glove.

9. The training device of claim 6, wherein the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member is comprised of rubber.

10. The training device of claim 6, wherein the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member is comprised of plastic.

11. The training device of claim 6, further comprising a golf glove and wherein the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member is concealed within a forefinger portion of the golf glove.

12. A golf training device comprising, in combination:

a substantially rigid, sleeve-type member configured to be secured over a forefinger of a user's lower hand and a palm area of the user's lower hand directly below the forefinger;

wherein the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member comprises:

an upper section, the upper section being partially semi-circular in shape;

a lower section, the lower section being a plate member positioned in an area just below the forefinger where the forefinger and palm intersect; and

foam material applied to an interior section of the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member.

13. The training device of claim 12, wherein the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member is secured to an interior portion of a golf glove.

14. The training device of claim 12, wherein the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member is comprised of rubber.

15. The training device of claim 12, wherein the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member is comprised of plastic.

16. The training device of claim 12, further comprising a golf glove and wherein the substantially rigid, sleeve-type member is concealed within a forefinger portion of the golf glove.