Golf swing training device
A device that helps a golfer improve his/her swing while at the same time exercising the muscles used during the swing. The device comprises two grips or handles, one at each end, and a flexible center body between the grips. The flexible center body comprises an outer body made of a multiple directional flex material such as a spring and an inner body made of a flexible strip of stainless steel or a durable strip material, or a combination of both which enables the device to bend or flex in two directions and resist a twisting motion.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf swing training and muscle exercising device which teaches a user the proper motion sequence in a golf swing and which also exercises the muscles used by a golfer during a swing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A number of devices related to helping golfers improve their golf swing have been available in the prior art. A search of the concept developed the following references.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,474 to Guibert—this reference discloses an articulated handheld exerciser with left and right hand clubs 10, 11 formed by shafts having replaceable tubular handles 12 which are shaped to simulate the grip of a standard sports appliance. The ends of the shafts are hinged together by a helical spring 38. When gripping handles, the user may hold them in parallel or angle the clubs with respect to the hinge. The user's motions when swinging the handles or rotating them create dynamic tensions which act on the user's muscular system associated with his/her shoulders, arms and wrists.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,673 to Pollard—this reference discloses a pair of training sticks, each stick 12 having a shaft 14 with upper and lower ends, a weight 16, and a flexible elongate means 18 connecting the lower end of the shaft and the weight. Additionally, the device has a means for connecting the shafts at a selected point along their lengths to provide a maximum separation between those points. The connecting means 72 is flexible, connects the shaft upper ends, and provides a variable maximum separation between the shafts at the points. In the exercises, an improper swing is evidenced by a non-parallel relationship between the training sticks during a swing, and a proper swing is evidenced by a parallel relationship.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,317 to Brandell—this reference discloses an isokinetic exercise device that provides maximum resistance throughout the entire range of movements of a user exercising with this device. The pair of handle members 12, 14 is designed to accommodate and to provide the structure and feel of the gripping portion of a golf club. Thus, it reproduces the stresses encountered in playing golf and provides for the development of the wrist and forearm muscles. As seen in FIGS. 1, 3, 10 and 11, spring member 16 applies a maximum force against movement of the pair of handle members away from each other during exercising.
Patent Application Publication 2006/0122000 to Paredes et al—this publication discloses an apparatus having an elongated shaft 22 including a grip 24 at one end and having a clamp 26 attached to the other end. The clamp is removably attached to a shaft of a golf club such that the shaft 22 of the apparatus and the golf club shaft 12 are spaced apart in a parallel relationship to one another. The shaft is adjustable in length, it being a telescopic shaft having a first shaft slidably disposed within a second shaft. Means are provided for locking the first and second shafts relative to one another so that it may accommodate golfers of different sizes and strengths, while enabling the golfer to use both arms in a natural manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,479 to Guibert—this reference discloses an articulated exercise bar having hinged together weighted left hand 10 and right hand 11 arms, each provided with a rotatable handle 12 and 13, respectively. The arms are joined together by a rotatable hinge assembly 14 making it possible for the arms to be held at parallel positions lying within a main plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the arms. By rotating the hinge assembly, the user may grasp the rotatable handles to swing the arms in and out within the main plane or at right angles to the main plane, or the user may rotate the entire bar. This exercise bar is an isotonic exerciser adapted to repeatedly raise or lower a weight using dynamic tension.
Although the above noted references describe various techniques/devices to improve a golfer's swing and/or to exercise the muscles used when golfing, what is desired is a simple, cost effective device which teaches a golfer the proper sequence of a swing and, at the same time, exercise the muscles that are used by a golfer when swinging.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a device that helps a golfer improve his/her golf swing sequence while at the same time exercising the muscles used during the swing. The device is simple in design, easy to use, portable and can be used for exercise indoor or outdoor in a small area.
The device comprises two grips or handles, one at each end, and a flexible center body between the grips. The device (for an average sized male) is approximately between 34 inches and 36 inches in length and weighs in the range between 800 and 900 grams. The device for children, women and males stronger than the average male will vary in size and weight.
The flexible center body comprises an outer body made of a multiple directional flex material such as a spring and an inner body made of a flexible strip of stainless steel or a durable strip material, or a combination of both to control the direction of bend or flex.
The outer body, preferably a spring, provides flexibility, resistance and weight. The pitch of the spring is selected so as to avoid pinching a user's hair when used as wrap around for shoulder exercise. The diameter of the spring and the material used for the spring is determined by the user's preferences. The inner body is made of flexible stainless steel or a durable material and provides for the directional flex and resistance from twisting.
The grips preferably comprise a conventional regular golf grip and a shortened grip. The two grips are different in length and weight and are removable to allow accessories such as a putter or a grooved training grip to be attached. A clamp-on attachment enables the device to be attached to the shaft of a golf club is also disclosed.
One grip is approximately two thirds the length of other grip, and the shorter of two grips is designed to be held by the subdominant side of the user, left hand for a right handed golfer and by the right hand by a left handed golfer, and it is weighted heavier than the other grip, which is normal size grip, giving a sense of balance and feel to the leading hand.
The center body can be different in size, weight, and resistance depending upon the preference of the user.
For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing therein:
Referring now to
Referring now to
Golf club 62 is connected to device 60 by moving jaw portion 66 in a downward direction, which in turn rotates lip portion 67 of jaw portion 66 in a direction that removes it from blocking the space between the legs of the U-shaped channel 61. Shaft 62 is then positioned within the channel 61, jaw portion 66 is released and lip portion 67 then secures shaft 62 within channel 61.
Connector 60 is one of a number of devices which, when coupled to portions 14 and 16, provides a further option for a enabling a golfer to exercise the muscles used in a golf swing.
The following describes in more detail what the exercise positions shown in
A.
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- By keeping device 10 horizontal, wherein the grips are level and front of the body, this exercise provides the following:
- Resistance of the spring makes arms and elbows pressure each other. (essential to keep triangle configuration, which provides direct power transfer from back muscle to club head and give most consistent swing).
- Promotes sequence of motion naturally, which is how the body is supposed to move. At the beginning of take-back, down swing, and impact and follow thru, the role of each sides, leading and supporting, work naturally.
- Ease of detecting active dominant side, which causes the most common mistakes in the golf swing.
- By keeping device 10 horizontal, wherein the grips are level and front of the body, this exercise provides the following:
B.
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- By keeping the device vertical wherein the grips are perpendicular top (subdominant side) and bottom (dominant side) and in front of the body, this exercise provides the following:
- User can concentrate more to keep “triangle” configuration
- Detect false movement by dominant side
- Promotes more shoulder turn (flexibility muscle)
- The hand position can be examined more easily.
- By keeping the device vertical wherein the grips are perpendicular top (subdominant side) and bottom (dominant side) and in front of the body, this exercise provides the following:
C.
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- By keeping device horizontally by arms crossed and elbow tucked inward in front of user's body, which locks elbows in front of the body, provides the following:
- Creates better shoulder turn for muscle flexibility exercise and balancing of body.
- The body position can be more readily observed at impact zone.
- By keeping device horizontally by arms crossed and elbow tucked inward in front of user's body, which locks elbows in front of the body, provides the following:
D.
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- By keeping device wrapped around neck and elbows tucked inward in front of user's body, better shoulder turn exercise is provided and a user can feel back muscle more easily. By elbows tucked-in, body position is close to keeping “triangle” configuration.
E.
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- The exercise is commonly performed by players today by using a golf club for warm-up and stretch. By holding device against the direction of bend, this exercise can be performed with the device 10.
F.
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- By holding the long grip (dominant side) and swinging the device as a golf club, the user quickly is able to examine his/her own swing rapidly for false movement. The device will bend to the turn of device and maintain straight through out take-back and downswing. It will flex or bend at entering impact zone and snap at impact. The exercise can be performed simultaneously with other exercises with ease.
Grips 14 and 16 are different in length to provide a distinctive visual difference to tell which handle is to hold by which hand. In particular, shorter grip 14 is meant to be held only by the leading hand, the left hand for right handed persons and right for left handed persons. Grip 14 is heavier than grip 16 since the leading side in golf is the subdominant, or weaker, side. The hand, by having more weight in the subdominant side hand enables the brain to automatically concentrate more on the heavier side thus making it is easier to define the leading hand that has to be in control and makes the user work a little harder, resulting in better ways to achieve muscle memory. In essence, the main purpose of grips 14 and 16 is to be able to detect the movement of each hand of the user.
Handle 16 is same size as a normal golf grip and it is meant to be held with two hands when utilizing swing device 10 like golf club. Having handle 14 heavier makes the end of device 10 somewhat heavier and helps device 10 to feel like a golf club. The clamp-on device 60 provides the following advantages: 1) Provides similar training as using device 10 by itself but enables a user to use a real club; 2) Those players who like to conduct one hand drills (practice swing to check body movement by one side at time). The player can use the other hand to support the club while being able to move that hand similar to a training hand or arm. 3) Since it is easy to attach and remove the device, the user can switch back and forth at practice and retain the exercise feeling.
Outer body 18 and inner body 17 is the flexible part of center body 12 and provides flexibility and resistance to twist; inner body 17 preferably comprises a strip of flexible chrome or stainless steel metal which provides flexibility and a strong resistance to twist. As noted hereinabove, outer body 18 preferably comprises a resilient metal, such as a chrome spring. By creating increased resistance when a user exercises using the device 10, the arms and elbows of a user are automatically forced to tuck inwards which creates a triangular shaped position of the arms and body that is a key foundation of a consistent golf swing.
Center body 12 is assembled as follows: Inner body 17 is fitted into a slot formed in grip connector 29, the holes in inner body 17 and grip connector 29 being aligned. Two spacers 37 and 39 (
While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.
Claims
1. A multi-functional golf swing training device comprising:
- a member having a flexible metal inner body and a resilient outer body, said inner body being positioned within said outer body, said inner body be selected to provide flexibility and resistance to twist said outer body having first and second ends;
- first and second grip members coupled to said first and second ends of said outer body, respectively; and
- means for securing said device to the shaft of a golf club during training swings and being removable from the golf club shaft when the golf club is to be used to address a golf ball.
2. (canceled)
3. The training device of claim 1 wherein said flexible metal is stainless steel.
4. The training device of claim 1 wherein said resilient outer body comprises a spring.
5. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 13, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 15, 2009
Inventor: Kazuo Kurisu (Thousand Oaks, CA)
Application Number: 11/827,622
International Classification: A63B 69/36 (20060101);