Golf swing training rod with elastic retainer
A training aid device and method for training golfers in the making of drives, pitches, putts, and the like by indicating the rotation of shoulders, waist, and/or hips as backswings, strokes, and follow-throughs are taken. The device is a simple rod with an elastic that passes behind or in front of the golfer to hold the rod in a desired position to indicate the rotation, if any, correct or incorrect, of the body part as the swing is taken.
The present invention relates to golf swing training aids which show whether a person's stance and handling of a golf club, whether a driver, pitch, putter, or the like, is correct or incorrect, by isolating and displaying the direction and rotation of particular body parts as the stroke is prepared for and then made.
BACKGROUND OF THE ARTSeveral prior art patents show use of a rigid rod worn across the shoulders or chest of a golfer, affixed to the front or back of the golfer in various harnesses, for showing rotation of the upper body of the golfer in a drive swing. U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,787 and published US application no 20030220168 show use of a bar strapped to a harness carried on the user's upper chest to indicate the amount of rotation achieved in a golfer's making one particular golf swing, a drive as from a tee. Neither disclosure uses or suggests just a simple elastic strap to hold the bar to the golfer's trunk, limiting utility of the devices in testing the execution of different strokes. A need exists for a simple, inexpensive, easy to use, and informative golf swing training aid that can help to perfect several different, important golf strokes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention provides a golf swing training aid that is simple to make, inexpensive to acquire, easy to use, and helpful in teaching golfers the proper manipulation of their golf clubs and bodies for making driving, pitching, putting, and/or other shots in golf.
The invention comprises a lightweight, relatively stiff rod or bar of about 3.5 feet in length, an inch or so in diameter, with one or more pad eyes or the like near each end. An elastic band or cord, such as a bungee cord, is fastened to one pad eye on each end of the rod via hooks or another convenient device. The band or cord has such a length and elastic force as to hold the bar across the front, back, or hips of a golfer without significant movement away from the desired position during a golf swing.
The device of the present invention comprises a simple rod or bar 10, as in
In use, according to one of the methods of the present invention, in
Once the golfer is positioned properly with respect to the ball 16, the golfer frees his arms from behind bar 10, which then is moved to the golfer's chest, behind the arms, as in
In similar fashion, the bar 10 can be used to show and encourage proper body rotation in a chip, pendulum, bunker, or a run shot, as in
Many variations may be made in the invention and in its method of use as shown, without departing from the principles of the invention as described herein and/or as claimed as my invention. Minor variations will not avoid the use of the invention.
Claims
1. A golfer's training aid for showing proper or improper stance and movement in making any of multiple golf swings, the training aid comprising: whereby when the rod is placed across an indicative part of the body of the golfer and the elastic cord is placed around the golfer while attached to the attachment eyes, the degree of rotation of the indicative part of the body is clearly shown as the golfer executes any of a backswing for a drive or a pitch, a power down stroke for a drive or a pitch, a follow through for a drive or a pitch, and a putt.
- a generally stiff rod having a length of several feet (about a meter) and a diameter of about an inch (2.5 cm);
- at least a pair of attachment eyes on the rod, one of each pair near each end of the rod; and
- an elastic cord connected to and between the two attachment eyes, the elastic cord having a length and strength sufficient to hold the rod in place when the rod is placed across the front or back of a golfer at the chest, shoulders, or hips and the cord is placed respectively behind or in front of the golfer,
2. A golfer's training aid as defined in claim 1, wherein the elastic cord is affixed to attachment eyes, one such eye carried near each opposite end of the rod.
3. A golfer's training aid as defined in claim 2, wherein the tension on the elastic cord is adjustable by means of having a plurality of spaced-apart attachment eyes carried on the rod.
4. A method of training a golfer in the proper stance in addressing a golf ball and in the handling of a golf club in executing a golf swing or putt for striking said golf ball, the method comprising the steps:
- placing a rod across an indicative part of the front of a golfer's arms or body;
- holding the rod in place on said part of the golfer's body with an elastic cord stretched between ends of the rod and passing behind the golfer's body; and
- observing the movement of the rod with respect to the golfer and the golf ball as the golfer prepares for and executes a swing, including any of a drive, a chip, a pitch, a bunker shot, and a putt.
5. The method defined in claim 4, wherein the stroke to be trained for is a drive and the rod is placed first over the golfer's upper arms, for aligning the golfer with the ball and the intended direction of the shot to be made, and the rod is thereafter located behind the golfer's arms and against his or her upper chest for making a backstroke and shot.
6. The method defined in claim 4, wherein the stroke to be trained for is a pitch or a chip or a bunker shot and the rod is initially placed over or in front of the golfer's upper arms and then one of the arms and the rod are or is moved to lie upon the golfer's upper chest and behind the golfer's arms.
7. The method defined in claim 4, wherein the stroke to be trained for is a pitch or bunker shot and the rod is placed under or behind the golfer's lower arms and at about the golfer's waist.
8. The method defined in claim 4, wherein the stroke to be trained for is a putt, and the rod is place in front of the golfer's upper arms and kept there through the putting stroke.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 15, 2011
Publication Date: Mar 21, 2013
Inventor: Nicholas Fortunato (Boca Raton, FL)
Application Number: 13/200,039
International Classification: A63B 69/36 (20060101);