Golf swing training club with adjustable weight

Abstract

The training club has a shaft which is of uniform diameter between a grip end and a head end and is provided with a plurality of spaced holes which extend through the shaft substantially perpendicular to the length of the shaft. A weighted cylinder is slidably mounted onto the shaft between the grip end and a head end. The weighted cylinder height is slightly less than the spacing between the shaft holes so that a pair of retainers each having a pin, may be removably positioned into the holes immediately above and below the weight thereby preventing movement of the weight along the shaft. With the weight secured along the shaft at any one of several locations by the retainers, a golfer may freely swing the training club without any fear of dislocating the weight. The weighted cylinder may be selected from a range of different weighted cylinders so that the actual total weight of the training club may be selected for the size and strength of the golfer. A small female golfer may for example choose to use a weighted cylinder of one pound or less while a large male golfer may select a weighted cylinder of several pounds or more. A manufacturer may choose to offer training clubs with different respective cylinder weights or make the club user-alterable such as by providing a removable golf club head (such as by threaded engagement with the head end of the shaft) and a plurality of different weight cylinders. In either such configuration, the preferred embodiment hereof provides the unique feature of changing weight location along the shaft by simply removing the retainers to different holes, thereby permitting adjustment of the swing inertia of the training club.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention pertains generally to the field of golf swing training aids and more specifically to a weighted golf club having a weight which is adjustable in location along the club shaft.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] It is well known in the golf club art that training aids which help develop muscle memory can help a golfer develop a more consistent swing. Moreover, it is generally accepted that a weighted golf cub that is considerably heavier than standard clubs used to actually play a round of golf, can be beneficial in developing muscle memory. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,407 to Sorenson discloses one such golf swing training club which is homogeneously weighted along its length. One potential problem associated with such prior art weighted clubs is that their weight is generally fixed and non-adjustable. Thus, while they may be useful in developing muscle memory, they may not be optimum for all golfers of varying upper body strengths. Thus for example, a two hundred pound male golfer and a hundred pound female golfer would have radically different needs in a weighted golf club training aid. Moreover, as a given golfer develops increased muscle memory, he or she may wish to increase the inertia of the swing training club to further the process. However, a training club of fixed and non-adjustable inertia does not provide such an opportunity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention solves the aforementioned problem associated with prior art weighted golf club training aids. The solution is provided in the form of adjustability of weight and weight distribution. In a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the training club has a shaft which is of uniform diameter between a grip end and a head end and is provided with a plurality of spaced holes which extend through the shaft substantially perpendicular to the length of the shaft. A weighted cylinder is slidably mounted onto the shaft between the grip end and a head end. The weighted cylinder height is slightly less than the spacing between the shaft holes so that a pair of retainers each having a pin, may be removably positioned into the holes immediately above and below the weight thereby preventing movement of the weight along the shaft. With the weight secured along the shaft at any one of several locations by the retainers, a golfer may freely swing the training club without any fear of dislocating the weight. The weighted cylinder may be selected from a range of different weighted cylinders so that the actual total weight of the training club may be selected for the size and strength of the golfer. A small female golfer may for example choose to use a weighted cylinder of one pound or less while a large male golfer may select a weighted cylinder of several pounds or more. A manufacturer may choose to offer training clubs with different respective cylinder weights or make the club user-alterable such as by providing a removable golf club head (such as by threaded engagement with the head end of the shaft) and a plurality of different weight cylinders. In either such configuration, the preferred embodiment hereof provides the unique feature of changing weight location along the shaft by simply removing the retainers to different holes, thereby permitting adjustment of the swing inertia of the training club. Those having skill in the relevant art will readily appreciate that because angular inertia depends upon both the weight and the distance between the center of gravity and the fulcrum, movement of the cylinder toward the head end of the shaft, significantly increases the swing inertia of the training club.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The aforementioned objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more fully understood hereinafter as a result of a detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

[0007] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment also illustrating two alternative weight positions in phantom;

[0009] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the slidable weight installed along the shaft of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectioned view of the weight and shaft as seen along lines 44 of FIG. 1, with only the shaft in section; and

[0011] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a retainer used in the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] Referring to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a training club 10 having a shaft 12 upon which there is positioned co-axially a weight 14. The shaft 12 terminates at one end in a grip 16 and at the other end in a head 18. In the illustrated embodiment, shaft 12 is substantially solid except for a plurality of thru-holes 20 which are equally spaced along a substantial portion of the length of the shaft. The spacing between holes 20 along the length of shaft 12 is selected to be slightly greater than the height of cylindrically-shaped weight 14. It will be understood that while the weight is cylindrical in shape in the illustrated embodiment, the invention need not be limited to a weight having a regular circular cylinder shape. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment, while weight 14 is made of solid steel except for a central shaft passage 15, it could be readily made of other high specific gravity materials such as lead, iron or tungsten which would permit different weight sizes as compared to the weight illustrated herein. The actual weight magnitude may be virtually any practical amount depending on the size, shape and material selected. In the preferred embodiment, a weight in the range of about 0.5 to 3.5 pounds is contemplated.

[0013] Adjustment of the position of weight 14 along shaft 12 is easily accomplished in the illustrated embodiment to selectively alter the swing inertia of training club 10. Such adjustment is facilitated by removable retainers 22. In the preferred embodiment, each retainer 22 comprises an elongated pin 24 secured to a finger ring 26 and having a spring-biased bearing member 28 closer to the pin end opposite the ring. The diameter of pin 24 is slightly smaller than the diameter of holes 20 in shaft 12 so that the pins may be easily inserted in and removed from the holes to permit repositioning of weight 14 along shaft 12. By way of example, to move the weight 14 to another location along the shaft, such as either of those shown in phantom in FIG. 2, retainers 22 are pulled out of their respective holes 20, the weight is repositioned, and the retainers are reinserted in corresponding holes above and below the new weight location.

[0014] Having thus disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be apparent that many variations may be made without altering the principal features of the invention. By way of illustration, weight 14 and shaft 12 may be configured to permit a ratcheting adjustment feature which would obviate retainers 22 and permit more discrete adjustment positions of the weight along the shaft. Thus, it will be understood that the invention scope is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A weighted golf club training aid comprising:

a shaft having a grip end and a head end; and

a selectively moveable weight located on said shaft for slidable engagement therewith, said weight being adjustably secured to said shaft at any one of a plurality of different locations along the shaft between said grip end and said head end.

2. The golf club training aid recited in claim 1 wherein said weight comprises a cylinder having a passage for receiving said shaft.

3. The golf club training aid recited in claim 1 wherein said shaft is substantially solid.

4. The golf club training aid recited in claim 1 wherein said weight is substantially solid.

5. The golf club training aid recited in claim 1 wherein said shaft comprises a plurality of selectively spaced thru-holes, said training aid further comprising at least one retainer having a pin for extending into any of said thru-holes for securing said weight to said shaft at a selected location.

6. The golf club training aid recited in claim 5 which said at least one retainer comprises a finger ring to facilitate removal and insertion of said pin.

7. The golf club training aid recited in claim 1 wherein said weight has a mass in the range of about 0.5 to 3.5 pounds.

8. A weighted golf club comprising:

a shaft having a grip end and a head end; and

a weighted member selectively positionable onto said shaft at either of at least two spaced locations along said shaft between said grip end and said head end.

9. The golf club training aid recited in claim 8 wherein said shaft is substantially solid.

10. The golf club training aid recited in claim 8 wherein said weight is substantially solid.

11. The golf club training aid recited in claim 8 wherein said weight has a mass in the range of about 0.5 to 3.5 pounds.

12. A method for providing a golf club training aid having an adjustable swing inertia; the method comprising the steps of:

providing a golf club shaft having a grip end and a head end;

affixing a weight onto said shaft, said weight being slidable along said shaft between said grip end and said head end; and

providing a retainer for selectively securing said weight to said shaft at any one of a plurality of locations between said grip end and said head end.