Abstract: A swing trainer configured to draw the elbows of the player together by the cocking of the player's wrists. The swing trainer includes arm mounts configured to mount to a player's arms at an intermediate position; and a link with at least a portion connected to the mounts and extending therebetween and arranged such that the portion of the link between the arms is configured to shorten during a swing of a stroke to inhibit splaying of the elbows of the player during the stroke, the link being slidably connected to the one of the mounts so it may slide past. A corresponding method of swing training using said swing trainer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A 3-Dimensional golf game having a horizontal surface, a vertical surface, and a curvilinear surface that interconnects the horizontal and vertical surfaces, wherein at least the vertical surface includes one or more ball-receiving cups. The game of skill is played by one or more players putting or striking a golf ball along the horizontal surface with sufficient force to travel through the curvilinear surface and up the vertical surface. The force of gravity then causes the ball to return back down the vertical surface and—if appropriately aimed and struck—the ball travels downwardly into the opening of the least one ball receiving cup. Players are awarded points for successfully landing the ball into the ball receiving cup and the game may include differently sized and/or positioned cups having different point values.

Abstract: A system that measures a swing of equipment (such as a bat or golf club) with inertial sensors, and analyzes sensor data to create a rotational profile. Swing analysis may use a two-lever model, with a body lever from the center of rotation to the hands, and an equipment lever from the hands to the sweet spot of the equipment. The rotational profile may include graphs of rates of change of the angle of the body lever and of the relative angle between the body lever and the equipment lever, and a graph of the centripetal acceleration of the equipment. These three graphs may provide insight into players' relative performance. The timing and sequencing of swing stages may be analyzed by partitioning the swing into four phases: load, accelerate, peak, and transfer. Swing metrics may be calculated from the centripetal acceleration curve and the equipment/body rotation rate curves.

Abstract: A training apparatus for baseball training includes a base and training attachments that may be attached to the base to allow a user to practice a variety of training techniques. The base may be modular so that it has an adjustable width and disassembles into separate components. At least one training attachment is designed to train a batter to properly incorporate thrust into a swinging motion when swinging a baseball bat. The attachment has a pivotally mounted member with a contact element attached to the top end of the member. The member pivots forward and downward when the user's knee contacts the contact element when properly executing a swinging motion. Thus, the training attachment provides direct and immediate feedback to the user regarding the user's batting form. Other training attachments may be used for hitting balls and for pitching to targets strategically placed around a strike zone.

Abstract: A golf aid for preventing improper wrist bending during a golf stroke. The golf aid provides a wrist wrap with a stabilizer the moves between a retracted position and an extended position spanning the carpal bones, preventing anterior bending of the wrist of a wearer. In the retracted position, the stabilizer is housed in a pocket of the wrist wrap and does not impinge or obstruct the freedom of movement of the wrist.

Abstract: An equipment fitting system that measures swings by a user of different pieces of equipment with inertial sensors, and analyzes sensor data to recommend which piece of equipment is optimal for the user from among those tested. Illustrative applications include fitting of baseball bats and golf clubs. Swing metrics calculated from sensor data may include an acceleration metric, a speed metric, and a momentum metric; these metrics may be combined into a metrics score for each piece of equipment. Other factors may be included in an overall score, such as the user's subjective score for each piece of equipment, and ratings from experts or other consumers. Users may assign the relative importance for the different factors to calculate an overall equipment score.

Abstract: An item holder primarily containing two parts: a ball shaped element and a clip. The clip can be seated neatly into a cutout in the ball shaped element. The clip can also be designed as a divot tool or a spike and contains a clamp that can be used to hold a cigar or cigarette, support a golf club or have other uses. The ball shaped element is sized to fit neatly into the ball bracket on any pull cart or motorized cart equipped with such a bracket.

Abstract: A golf putting swing training aid that may be attached to any golf club that may force a golfer's hands into the proper grip position for various types of golf putting shots is provided. The device and methods of the present disclosure may further allow a golfer to practice these shots to build muscle memory and to ingrain the proper grip and form positions into memory to allow for repeated and consistent shot performance.

Abstract: A holder for securing golf accessories therein and attaching to a belt, golf bag, waist band, piece of clothing or other article that is carried while golfing. The holder includes a housing having a base and a sidewall extending from the base toward an open face defining a compartment that can receive a ball divot repair tool. The sidewall forms a perimeter of the housing, wherein the open face extends the perimeter to allow the ball divot repair tool to be quickly and conveniently removed and inserted therefrom. A divot repair tool fastener is disposed on a surface of the housing to secure the ball divot repair tool thereto. In some embodiments, the divot repair tool is included and comprises a ball marker that is interchangeable with other ball markers in order to allow for a variety of colors or embodiments to be displayed on the divot repair tool.

Abstract: A golf practice tool is provided having a columnar box. The columnar box is provided with a shoulder belt and the columnar box is carried on the back of the golf player. The columnar box has a substantially flat upper surface. A plurality of striped line patterns or striped patterns substantially parallel to a side surface, which touches a back of a person and is called a back touch side surface, of the columnar box are drawn on the upper surface. The degree of inclination of the upper body of the golf player when playing golf can be adjusted by using the striped line patterns or the striped patterns. On side surfaces other than the back touch side surface of the columnar box, a plurality of vertical striped line patterns or vertical striped patterns are drawn substantially at right angles to the bottom surface of the columnar box. The degree of rotation of the upper body at a golf swing can be adjusted by using the vertical striped line patterns or the vertical striped patterns.

Abstract: A batting tee and/or hitting training device is provided that includes a platform, a support extending upwardly from the platform and a holder disposed on the support opposite the platform for holding the ball to be hit. The holder includes a lower tubular member and an upper ball-retaining portion that are integrally formed with one another.

Abstract: A golf flagstick assembly includes a ferrule, a first flagstick portion, a second flagstick portion and a connector fitting. The first flagstick portion has a first cross-sectional dimension. The second flagstick portion is separate from the first flagstick portion and has a second cross-sectional dimension. The second flagstick portion is oriented such that an end of the second flagstick portion is disposed toward an end of the first flagstick portion. The connector fitting extends between and operatively connect the first and second flagstick portions. The connector fitting has a fitting cross-sectional dimension that is less than the first cross-sectional dimension of the first flagstick portion and less than the second cross-sectional dimension of the second flagstick portion. Connector fittings and methods of assembly are also included.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a golf training aid which is designed to orient the player initially to have a correct backswing of the club and then follow through with a fairly natural downswing to produce the desired ball flight characteristics. In an embodiment, there is provided a device that encourages a user to practice a golf swing having a sufficiently steep angle for the plane of the swing.

Abstract: A golf practice device comprises a main frame which contains a compressible energy transfer pad and a flexible turf section which rests atop the energy transfer pad. The turf section is secured in the frame only along a forward end of the turf section. Additionally, the turf section is secured to the energy transfer pad at an end opposite from the forward end or along a length of the energy transfer pad. Thus, when the turf section is struck by a swinging golf club, the turf section will flex, bend and move relative to the frame, thereby simulating the feel of creation of a divot. A tee box may be removably attached to the frame for allowing a golfer to practice teeing off. Multiple main and tee boxes may be attached together, both lengthwise and widthwise.

Abstract: A sports training apparatus includes a flat mat having visible indicia adapted to indicate placement of at least one foot of a user of the apparatus, and a foot restraint adapted to hold a front foot of the user so that the front foot remains in contact with a top surface of the flat mat. The front foot is in an intended direction of a swing of a sports implement.

Abstract: A putting practice assembly for practicing putting on a variety of putting green conditions includes a putting mat that is longitudinally elongated to simulate a putting lane. The putting mat has a plurality of sections and each of the sections has a unique texture with respect to each other. In this way each of the sections facilitates a unique golf ball speed with respect to each other for practicing putting in a variety of putting green conditions.

Abstract: An alignment rod includes a first rod and a second rod movably connected to each other, and a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod connecting the first rod and the second rod. The first rod and the second rod substantially overlap each other in a collapsed configuration, and the first rod and the second rod are spaced apart from each other in an expanded configuration.

Abstract: A golf training aid is described that stabilizes a wrist and an elbow of a golfer during a golf swing. The golf training aid includes a flexible sleeve and an elongated rigid insert. The flexible sleeve is configured to receive the wrist and the elbow of the golfer. The elongated rigid insert is secured to the flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve keeps the rigid insert in contact with the wrist and the elbow of the golfer so as to prevent pivoting of the wrist and pivoting of the elbow.

Abstract: A swing training assembly includes a shuttle, a shuttle travel track, a tensioner, a shuttle displacement line and a shuttle pulley. The shuttle resides in the shuttle travel track and the shuttle pulley and shuttle displacement line are adapted to linearly displace the shuttle to different shuttle positions within the shuttle travel track in response to displacement forces applied to the shuttle pulley by a user pulling on the shuttle displacement line. The tensioner provides an opposing counter-force to control the rate of shuttle displacement. The swing training assembly may also include body positioning limits to maintain proper body alignment while the user pulls on the shuttle displacement line.

Abstract: A football yardage chain apparatus for more accurately detecting first downs includes a unit housing having a pole aperture extending from a top side through a bottom side and a channel extending through to the pole aperture from proximal the bottom side to the top side. A pole is coupled through the pole aperture and a chain connector is coupled proximal a bottom end of the pole. A marker bar has a hinge coupled within the channel and swingingly moves between a stored position parallel with the pole and an alternative extended position configured to extend to a height proximal a nose of a football resting horizontally on the ground. A back side of the marker bar lies coplanar with a tangent plane of the pole at a point of union with the chain connector.