Weighted Golf Club Training Device

Abstract

A golf club training device is provided for strengthening the wrists of a player and thereby increasing the speed of his or her golf swing. The device comprises a club shaft, a handle and a club head. The club shaft is shorter than a standard golf club to permit use of the device in areas where a full-size club would be impossible. A standard golf club handle is disposed the club shaft upper end such that a user may utilize the same grip on the device as he or she would use on a standard club. The head of the club is removably secured to a lower end of the club, allowing club head replacement with differing weight to promote strength training of a user's wrists and arms. Repeated use of the device with increasing weight results in stronger wrist muscles, thereby providing greater swing control and club head speed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/386,620 filed on Sep. 27, 2010, entitled “Power Swing.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golfing accessory. More specifically, it relates to a training tool for strengthening the wrists and improving a golfer's swing.

In the game of golf, success of a shot is primarily determined by the form and strength of a player's swing. The golf swing follows an “inside to outside” swing path that starts above the player's head and creates an arc as it swings downward and around the body. To maximize the effectiveness of force transfer during a swing, a player uses specific muscle groups to control the path of the club and propel it forward. A smooth, fluid transfer from inside to outside takes trained muscle memory and control. Proper club swing results in effective strokes that accurately direct a ball towards the target region of the green. Players who lack the muscle strength to execute well-controlled swings will often hook or slice to a side of the target region. To improve their overall golf game, players will sometimes train at home by swinging clubs in an open area. Weight can be added to the training exercises to improve wrist strength beyond that which is needed to swing a standard club. The introduction of too much initial weight during training could result in in injury to the wrists or arms of a player. It is therefore desirable to have a golf club swing training device that allows a user to gradually increase the weight of the device as wrist strength improves.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The prior art contains a variety of golfing exercise accessories for providing golf swing training. These devices have familiar design and structural elements for the purposes of facilitating the practice of golf swings; however they are not adapted for the task of strengthening the wrists and improving a golf swing by providing interchangeable club heads of varying weights.

Loredo, U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,116 discloses a weighted golf club system for use as a training device. The device comprises a housing having a first and second section and a plurality of weights. The first and second section have upper and lower surfaces that are generally planar and have channels extending axially from the upper surface to the lower surface of each. The channel of the first section aligns with the channel of the second section to form a bore adapted to receive the shaft of a golf club. A plurality of bores is disposed throughout the first and second sections and extending axially therethrough. Weights of varying size may be affixed to the first or second section by insertion into the bores. This device attaches to the shaft of a golf club and the weight is therefore disposed along the golf club shaft rather than in the head of a golf club like the present invention. The addition of weight to the shaft portion of the club can offset a user's natural swing and is therefore not appropriate for swing speed training.

MacGregor, U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,686 discloses a golf club swing training device for practicing the swinging of a golf club. The device comprises an elongated flexible member of predetermined length, a proximal end of said flexible member, a distal end of said flexible member, a weight and a cap covering for the weight. A grip is disposed along the proximal end of the flexible member to allow a user to hold the device. The weight is secured to the distal end of the device. The weight may have bores disposed throughout its area to allow air to pass through the weight. A cap covering is placed over the weight and removably secured to the elongated, flexible member to provide resistance to air passing through the bores in the weight, thereby simulating the feel of air passing over a golf club head. The weight of MacGregor is not shaped like the head of a golf club and therefore does not provide proper swing balancing. The present invention offers a weighted golf club head that accurately reflects the aerodynamic motion of a standard golf club head through the air. Additionally MacGregor discloses an elongated, flexible member in lieu of the golf club shaft of the present invention. MacGregor is not suited for wrist strengthening because the elongated flexible member does not require wrists to exert the same force as is necessary to swing a golf club shaft.

Blundo, U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,925 discloses a weighted golf club swing training device. The device comprises a short, angled shaft and a plurality of weights of varying size. A standard golf club grip is disposed along the upper portion of the device. At least one weight is rotatably mounted along the lower, angled portion of the shaft. When a user swings the club the weights rotate, providing a dynamic swing experience. The size and number of the weights may be changed to suit the needs of a user. The weights of Blundo are disc shaped, unlike the present invention that features a weight shaped like the head of a golf club. The weights of Blundo mount to the shaft, and are not screwed into the shaft to create a more realistic experience, like the weight of the present invention.

Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,975 discloses a golf club swing training device having a shaft, a weight slideably mounted thereon, a stop located at a lower end of the shaft and a spring coil. A golf club handle is disposed at an upper end of the shaft so that a user may comfortably grip the device. A spring coil is mounted on the shaft, between the weight and the stopping means. When a user swings the device, the weight slides along the shaft and compresses the coil. The sliding weight provides a dynamic change in force as the user swings the device. This action is not consistent with the distribution of force and airflow experienced by swinging a real golf club. The present device is formed in the shape of a standard golf club to provide a user with wrist strengthening exercises corresponding to the actual wrist motions used to swing a golf club.

Bishop, U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,765 discloses a golf swing training apparatus having a short shaft, a handle grip disposed thereon, a golf club head and an elevated tee. The club head is secured to the shaft at an end opposing the club handle. A slot extends across the length of the club head and is positioned behind a striking portion of the same. Weight plates may be placed within the slot and fastened into place with screws or wingnuts. In this manner a user may adjust the weight of the club head to obtain the desired weight. The user may then use the elevated tee for the placement of practice balls. The device of Bishop does not have a symmetrical golf club head that permits use by both left and right handed users. Nor is the weight evenly displaced in the club head disclosed by Bishop. The present invention provides a symmetric club head that accommodates use by both left and right handed users, as well as providing even distribution of the club head weight.

The devices disclosed by the prior art do not address the need for realistic modeling of a golf club swing during exercises. The current invention relates to a device for strengthening the wrists and increasing the speed of a golf club swing. It substantially diverges in structural elements from the prior art, consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to the golfing exercise accessories present in the prior art. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of golf exercise accessories now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new interchangeable golf club head wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when building wrist strength by gradually increasing the weight used during swing practice.

The present golf exercise accessory comprises a club shaft, a club head and a handle. The overall shape of the device is approximately the same as a standard golf club driver. Both the left and right sides of the club head have planar strike regions. These dual strike regions facilitate use of the device by both left-handed and right-handed users. The club head is removably secured to a lower end of the club shaft by threading means. To exchange club heads, a user simply unscrews the current club head and replaces it with another. Club heads are available in a variety of weights to accommodate the different training needs of users. In alternate embodiments the club head may be shaped like an iron or wood to provide the user with a variety of weight shapes. In another alternative embodiment the club head may be permanently secured to the lower end of the club shaft.

The club shaft is similar to a standard golf club shaft but is shorter in length. The device may be offered with several club shaft lengths to accommodate users across an extensive height range. A handle is disposed at the upper end of the club shaft and is a standard golf club handle. Having a standard golf club handle permits the user to grip the device in the same manner that he or she would grip a golf club. Alternatively, the handle may have a contoured grip to increase comfort to a user during exercises. When a user grips the device by the handle and performs a full golf swing, he or she exercises the wrists and arms. Over time, this exercise increases wrist strength and thereby improves the speed and force of a user's golf swing. These increases may result in improvement to a user's overall golf game.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved golf exercise accessory having all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved golf exercise accessory having interchangeable club heads so that a user may increase or decrease the weight of the device according to his or her exercise needs.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved golf exercise accessory having strike regions disposed on both a left and right side of the club head, to accommodate right-handed and left-handed users.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved golf exercise accessory having a shortened club shaft to allow the device to be used indoors and in spaces where use of a full-sized golf club may be undesirable, impossible or dangerous.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved golf exercise accessory having durable and resilient construction.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The above invention will be better understood and the objects set forth above as well as other objects not stated above will become more apparent after a study of the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes use of the annexed drawings wherein like numeral references are utilized throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present golf exercise accessory.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the present golf exercise accessory while being used to practice a golf swing.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present golf exercise accessory with the club head detached from the club shaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the golf exercise accessory. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for strengthening a user's wrists and increasing the speed of their golf club swing. This is for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the golf exercise accessory. The accessory comprises a club shaft 11, a club head 12 and a handle 13. The handle 13 is disposed at an upper end of the club shaft 11 and provides a user with a high-friction surface for gripping the device. The handle 13 may be a standard golf club handle or may be contoured to fit a user's fingers, thereby increasing comfort. The club shaft 11 is shorter than the shaft of a standard club; however, the length of the club shaft may vary to accommodate users of different proportions. The shortened size of the club shaft 11 permits a user to exercise with the device in indoor areas where a full-sized club would be hazardous to nearby persons and the surrounding environment. The club head 12 is disposed at a lower end of the club shaft 11 so that the device has the look of a standard golf club, with a shortened shaft length.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a view of the golf exercise accessory in use. The user is depicted during the backswing and the follow-through. The club head 12 is weighted to facilitate strengthening of a user's wrists and thereby increase his or her golf club swing speed when using a normally weighted club. Because the club head 12 is heavier than that of a standard golf club, a user must exert greater force to move the club through the full range of a golf swing. Over time, this motion increases the strength of a user's wrists and may increase the quality of their golf performance by allowing them to drive further, with greater speed and accuracy. It is important that users adhere to proper body form while training with the device to ensure that all parts of the upper body and legs exert force in the same manner that they would if the golf club were standard size and weight.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of the golf exercise accessory with the club head 12 detached from the club shaft 11. In a preferred embodiment, the club head 12 is removably secured to the club shaft 11 by threading means. Male threading 14 is disposed at the lower end of the club shaft 11 and a corresponding female threading 15 is disposed near the rear of the top of the club head 12. Removable securement of club heads 12 allows a user to change the club head and resultantly change the weight of the device. This is ideal for users who desire to start off with a lesser amount of weight and build up wrist strength by gradually increasing the weight of the club head 12. The removable head is also advantageous for multiple user households. One user in a family may have different weight needs than another user.

In a preferred embodiment, the club head 12 is shaped like a driver with strike regions on both sides of the club to provide proper strike face direction for either left or right-handed users. Alternative embodiments may feature club heads shaped like irons or woods, according to the preference of a user. In another alternative embodiment, the club head 12 may be permanently secured to a lower end of the club shaft 11.

In use, an individual selects the desired club head based on weight and or shape. The club head is then secured to the club shaft by screwing the club head onto the lower end of said club shaft. An area clear of nearby objects and bystanders is selected as an exercise space. The user then grips the device by the handle in the same manner that he or she grips a standard golf club. While standing in a driving stance, the user begins to go through the motions of a golf swing (see FIG. 2) from the backswing to the follow-through. Multiple repetitions of the exercises will build wrist strength and result in an increase to the user's swing speed.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) A golf exercise accessory, comprising:

a club shaft with an upper and lower end;

a handle disposed along said club shaft upper end;

a weighted club head removably secured to said club shaft lower end and having planar strike regions disposed on both sides of said club head.

2) The device of claim 1, wherein said handle is a standard golf club handle.

3) The device of claim 1, wherein said handle is contoured to fit a user's fingers.

4) The device of claim 1, wherein said club head is shaped like a driver head.

5) The device of claim 1, wherein said club head is shaped like an iron head.

6) The device of claim 1, wherein said club head is shaped like a wood head.

7) The device of claim 1, wherein said club head is removably secured to said club shaft via a securing means.

8) The device of claim 7, wherein said securing means comprises a threaded engagement of said shaft lower end into said club head.

9) A golf exercise accessory, comprising:

a club shaft with an upper and lower end;

a handle disposed along said club shaft upper end;

a weighted club head secured to said club shaft lower end and having planar strike regions disposed on both sides of said club head.

10) The device of claim 9, wherein said handle is a standard golf club handle.

11) The device of claim 9, wherein said handle is contoured to fit a user's fingers.

12) The device of claim 9, wherein said club head is shaped like a driver head.

13) The device of claim 9, wherein said club head is shaped like an iron head.

14) The device of claim 9, wherein said club head is shaped like a wood head.