Golf putting and chipping training device

Abstract

A golf training device (1) primarily for putting and chipping having a circular-shaped first plate (9) for attaching the device on top of a hand grip (17) of a golf club (3) and a second plate (6) extending from the top of the first plate (9) at an angle approximately 45 degrees so that it rests against the lower inner forward forearm of a golfer during putting and chipping. The second plate (6) is narrow on a proximal end (8) and wider on a distal end (7) where it is slightly convex to conform to the shape of the forearm. The device (1) is removably affixable to the golf club (3) by fastening means on the circular first plate (9) consisting of two opposite extensions, an abutment extension (11) having gripping teeth and the opposing extension (10) having a threaded hole (14) with an adjustment screw (12) tightening an inner clamp (15) against the grip of the golf club so that the grip of the golf club is fastened securely between the two extensions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/735,015, filed Dec. 12, 2000, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to golf and more particularly to a golf training device for teaching primarily putting and chipping which can be integrated into a golf club or be separate but removably affixed to the hand grip of a golf club as needed.

[0003] In the game of golf, position and form are very important to achieving an accurate stroke. When swinging a golf club, particularly during putting and chipping, the desired position is one in which the arms form an approximate triangular formation with respect to the golf club. Such a position enables the larger muscles of the upper arm, back and shoulders, not the muscles of the wrist and forearm, to be used throughout a putting or chipping stroke. Unfortunately, what commonly happens is that a golfer uses the smaller muscles of the wrist and forearm when putting and chipping which results in disaster caused by the foreward wrist breaking down in the putt or chip.

[0004] Thus, a need exists for a device to train golfers in the proper form and stroke, particularly in putting and chipping.

[0005] The most pertinent prior art includes numerous patents, but none like the present invention. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,064 issued to Barber on Dec. 20, 1994, discloses a golf club training device that requires a club modification and consists of an attachment which fits over a modified handle of a golf club. U.S. Pat. No. 6,110,054 issued to Rodarte on Aug. 29, 2000, discloses a new golf club grip that attaches to the top of a shaft of the club and is angled forward to rest against the rear arm of the golfer, rather than the forward arm as does the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,146 issued to Viets, et al. on Sep. 28, 1993, discloses a putting trainer that attaches in the hole on top of a putter and has a crossbar with two U-channels at each end to engage both arms and hold them in a proper position during a swing. U.S. Pat. No. 2,273,416 issued to Norwood on Feb. 17, 1942, discloses yet another golf swing training device that wraps around the shaft and has a strap which wraps around the rear wrist. U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,073 issued to Vasquez on Nov. 28, 1995, teaches another device that fits over the top of the shaft and has one or two wrist collars extending therefrom. U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,624 issued to Martinez on May 18, 1999, discloses another arm holding device that attaches to the top of a golf club. U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,780 issued to Marier, Jr. on Aug. 24, 1999, discloses a putting practice device that is secured by a golf tee in the top of the shaft of the club and has a curved front to rest against the wrist of the front arm and holes to adjust the placement thereof. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,892 issued to Karp on Jun. 11, 1996, discloses a golf club positioning and holding training device with a form-fitting grip that attaches to the standard grip of a golf club and uses an audible whistle to indicate a proper swing.

[0006] Although the prior art discloses many golf club training aids that are designed to hold the forearms during the swing, none is like the present invention which rests only against the front forearm to hold the arms in the proper triangular arrangement and anatomical position with respect to the shoulders and spine during putting and chipping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a golf teaching and training tool to teach proper form during a golf swing, primarily putting and chipping.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a golf teaching and training device that does not require golf club modification.

[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide such a golf teaching and training device that can be removably affixed as needed.

[0010] The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a golf training device that has a forearm plate which may be integral or separate and removably attached to a golf club. The forearm plate is preferably narrower at a proximal end from the golf club and is wider at a distal end which is slightly convex at a point of contact with a lower inner forward arm of a golfer. The plate is attached to the top of the handle of a golf club by fastening means. The fastening means may comprise a circular plate having two opposing perpendicular extensions, one having interior ridges and the other having a threaded hole and adjustment screw to secure the plate tightly around the hand grip of the golf club. The angle between the golf club and the arm plate is preferably approximately 45 degrees so as to achieve the proper triangular formation of the arms from the position on the hand grip to a golfer's shoulder.

[0011] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the golf training device of the present invention in use by a golfer;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a top view of the golf training device of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the golf training device of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the golf training device along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

[0017] FIG. 5 is the same cross-sectional view as FIG. 4 showing the device secured to the top of a golf club grip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows: 1 1. training device 2. golfer 3. golf club 4. rear arm 5. forward arm 6. forearm plate 7. distal end of arm plate 8. proximal end of arm plate 9. club attachment plate 10. fastening extension 11. abutment extension 12. adjustment screen 13. knob on adjustment screw 14. threaded hole in 10 15. clamp plate 16. interior ridges on 11 17. golf club grip 18. bottom surface of 9

[0019] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the training device 1 attached to a golf club 3 as it would appear when being used by a golfer 2. The use of the golf training device of the present invention results in the arms 4 and 5 of the golfer being placed in a desired triangular formation so that it is the large muscles of the upper arms and shoulders which participate in the stroke, rather than the smaller muscles of the wrists and lower forearms.

[0020] In FIG. 2 the golf training device 1 is shown to have a forearm plate 6 that is shaped in a manner that is a wider, almost fan-shaped, distal end 7 that is slightly convex so that it wraps around the lower inner forward forearm of the golfer. The forearm plate 6 is narrower at its proximal end 8 where it is connected to a circular plate 9 that abuts or rests on the top of the golf club 3.

[0021] The most notable features of the golf training device 1 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 not previously described in detail are the perpendicular downward extensions from the club attachment plate 9. One extension is the fastening extension 10. The other is the opposing abutment extension 11. The fastening extension 10 contains a hole 14 for inserting an adjustment screw. The opposing abutment extension 11 has upwardly slanted horizontal ridges or teeth 16 on the inside facing the club grip 17. These teeth make contact against the rubber grip 17 of a golf club. The teeth 16 press slightly into the grip 17 to provide a more secure attachment of the device 1 to the golf club.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows the golf training device 1 in cross-section as it would appear attached to a grip 17 of a golf club. The bottom surface 18 of the club attachment plate 9 contacts the top of the golf club grip 17. The device 1 is secured to the grip 17 by turning the knob 13 on the adjustment screw 12 extending through the hole 14 in the fastening extension 10 so that it presses the clamp plate 15 against the side of the golf club grip 17 so the golf club grip 17 is secured firmly between the fastening extension 10 and the abutment extension 11. Once the golf training device 1 is firmly attached, it can be used during play or practice. Once a golfer has completed his or her practice, the golf training device 1 can be easily removed by turning adjustment screw knob 13 in the opposite direction and removing it from the golf club.

[0023] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, all improvements and modifications to this invention within the scope or equivalents of the claims are included as part of this invention.

Claims

1. A golf training device primarily for putting and chipping, said device comprising:

a circular-shaped first plate for attaching the device to a top of a hand grip of a golf club; and

a second plate extending from a top of the first plate at an angle having a narrow proximal end and wider distal end for resting against a lower inner forward forearm of a golfer.

2. The golf training device of claim 1 wherein the device is removably affixable to the golf club by attachment means on the first plate.

3. The golf training device of claim 2 wherein the attachment means comprises two opposing downward perpendicular extensions, an abutment extension for abutting against the hand grip of the golf club and a fastening extension having a threaded hole with a threaded adjustment screw for rotatably tightening a grip of a golf club between the extensions.

4. The golf club training device of claim 1 wherein the first plate is slightly concave-shaped at its distal end at a point of contact with the lower inner forward forearm of the golfer.

5. The golf club training device of claim 2 wherein the first plate is slightly concave-shaped at its distal end at a point of contact with the lower inner forward forearm of the golfer.

6. The golf club training device of claim 3 wherein the first plate is slightly concave-shaped at its distal end at a point of contact with the lower inner forward forearm of the golfer.

7. The golf club training device of claim 3 wherein the abutment extension has a plurality of upwardly-slanted horizontal teeth on an inner surface to assist in securely attaching the device to a golf club grip.

8. The golf club training device of claim 3 wherein the fastening extension further comprises a clamp plate attached to an inner end of the adjustment screw on an inside of the fastening extension so the clamp plate presses against a broader area of the side of a golf club grip when the adjustment screw is rotatably tightened.

9. The golf club training device of claim 1 wherein the angle between the second plate and the first plate is approximately 45 degrees

10. The golf training device of claim 2 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.

11. The golf training device of claim 3 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.

12. The golf training device of claim 4 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.

13. The golf training device of claim 5 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.

14. The golf training device of claim 6 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.

15. The golf training device of claim 7 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.

16. The golf training device of claim 8 wherein the angle between the first and second plates is approximately 45 degrees.