Golf swing training aid

Abstract

A golf swing training device is presented where the device is constructed of inexpensive plastic and easily assembled. The training aid helps golfers swing down the line of the flight of the ball, correcting slices and hooks. The device can be used by right or left-handed golfers and can be used alone or in combination with driving range equipment.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application completes and extends Provisional Patent Application 60/674,095, filed Apr. 25, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many golf training aids in the current state of the art, including many directed at producing straight shots off the tee. The training aids range from complex to simple in scope and execution, but there are no training aids that accommodate the standard practice range tee and its equipment. This device provides that capability.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is the principal object and advantage of this invention to help golfers of all skill levels straighten out their tee shots, particularly stopping inside out and outside in swings that result in slices and hooks. Secondarily, it is an object of this invention to provide a low-cost, easily manufactured system for straightening tee shots. It is an an additional goal of this invention to make this training aid compatible with standard golf practice range equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Perspective view of the invention

FIG. 2. Side view of the invention

FIG. 3. End view of the invention

FIG. 4. Close-up perspective view showing ball holder feature

FIG. 5. Close-up view with ball holder over tee

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, this invention 100 consists of a cast plastic “wall” 101 that is roughly one foot long by six inches high by one-quarter inch thick, standing on its long side. The wall 101 is attached to an extension 102 that is roughly ⅝ inch wide by ⅛ inch thick, said extension 102 possessing a ball holder ring 103 in the center of one of its long sides that is sized to fit snugly over a standard golf range practice tee 105.

The wall 101 in the preferred embodiment is inserted into the extension 102 by means of pressing the wall 101 into a slot 104 that runs the length of the extension 102, permitting the wall 101 to be pressed down until the edge of the wall 101 is seated solidly into the slot 104. In the preferred embodiment, the wall 101 is made of soft plastic and the extension 102 is made of rigid plastic.

The entire device is cast from a single pieces of rubber or plastic, for low cost manufacture, and is decorated to look like a short “wall”. In the preferred embodiment, both the wall 101 and the extension 102 are cast from a single mold each. The materials are soft enough to prevent marring or damage to any golf club that encounters them.

In FIG. 5, the device is used by placing the ball holder ring 103 on the side of the extension 102 over a rubber practice range tee 105, lining the wall 101 up with the direction of flight for the ball 106, and than hitting the ball 106 off of the practice tee 105 without striking the wall 101 with the club.

Alternatively, in FIG. 4, the invention 100 can be placed directly on the ground and a ball 106 can be place without a tee on the cut out hole 107 of the ball holder ring 103. The golfer can then strike the ball 106 off of the ground without touching the wall 101 to practice his swing.

The invention 100 can be positioned for left and right-handed golfers, and can be positioned to practice reducing both inside-out and outside-in swings. Both irons and metals can be used.

This invention has other applications, potentially, and one skilled in the art could discover these. The explication of the features of this invention does not limit the claims of this application; other applications developed by those skilled in the art will be included in this invention.

Claims

1. A golf swing training aid, the training aid comprised of a wall and a wall extension,

the wall in the shape of a long rectangle approximately one foot long by six inches wide by one half inch thick, the wall made of a soft material that holds its shape,

the wall extension possessing a rectangular slot and an attached ball holder ring, the wall extension approximately one foot long by three inches wide by one half inch thick, the rectangular slot running the length of the wall extension,

the ball holder ring a loop of material the same as that comprising the wall extension attached fixedly to and projecting away from the long side of the wall extension at the edge of the wall extension away from the slot opening, the ball holder ring possessing a concentric hole in the center of the loop,

the training aid assembled by inserting the wall into the slot of the wall extension such that the wall is firmly gripped by the sides of the slot, the training aid then placed on the ground such that the ball holder ring is resting on the ground with the closed edge of the wall extension, the wall extending vertically upward.

2. As in claim 1, a method of using the golf swing training aid comprising the steps of placing the assembled golf swing training aid on the ground such that the ball holder ring concentric hole fits over the permanent rubber tee of a golf practice range mat, lining up the long axis of the golf swing training aid with the desired line of flight of a ball, placing a ball on the permanent rubber tee, and then swing a golf club such that the golf club does not contact the wall.

3. A golf swing training aid as in claim 1 where the wall is comprised of styrofoam and the wall extension and ball holder ring are comprised of polystyrene plastic, the wall extension and ball holder ring cast together as a single piece.