INSTRUCTIONAL GOLF METHOD AND CLUB

Abstract

An instructional golf club for a user having a swing orientation includes a shaft having a first end and a second end. A club head is secured to the second end. A grip is secured to the first end and includes a first portion configured to receive a first hand of the user and a second portion configured to receive a second hand of the user. The second portion is spaced from the first portion such that the first and second hands of the user are spaced from one another along the grip. A level indicator indicates when the shaft extends parallel to the ground.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Appln. Ser. No. 61/525,526, filed Aug. 19, 2011, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an instructional golf club and method that reverses the swing direction of the user and spaces the user's hands apart.

BACKGROUND

Virtually every golfer regardless of age or skill level that has worked on their golf swing by taking lessons or on their own eventually ingrains in their golf swing the same bad habits and shows little to no ultimate improvement on the golf course. Unless one is a professional golfer and therefore has endless time to commit to working on or improving their golf swing, very few players have the time and/or the correct tools to improve their game significantly.

Every golfer has a unique swing, e.g., swing plane, approach angle, speed, etc., that directly relates to his or her specific body type and flexibility. Accordingly, it can be difficult to develop a universal tool capable of helping the user regardless of body type, swing, etc. to unlearn the bad habits developed over time. Compounding the problem, the actual golf swing is typically taught as a series of positions that are not natural and are impossible to feel and replicate during play on the golf course. As a result, unless one is a professional golfer, what the golf swing feels like on the practice range is not matched with what it actually is doing on the golf course. Therefore there is a need in the art for an instructional golf device that helps a golfer unlearn the bad habits ingrained in his or her swing and replace those bad habits with a more natural and/or powerful golf swing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes an instructional golf club for a user having a swing orientation that includes a shaft having a first end and a second end. A club head is secured to the second end. A grip is secured to the first end and includes a first portion configured to receive a first hand of the user and a second portion configured to receive a second hand of the user. The second portion is spaced from the first portion such that the first and second hands of the user are spaced from one another along the grip. A level indicator indicates when the shaft extends parallel to the ground.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an instructional golf club for a user having a swing orientation includes a shaft having a first end and a second end. A club head is secured to the second end and has an orientation opposite the swing orientation of the user. A grip is secured to the first end and has a first portion configured to receive a first hand of the user and a second portion configured to receive a second hand of the user. The second portion is spaced from the first portion such that the first and second hands of the user are spaced from one another along the grip.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of adjusting a golf swing of a user having a swing orientation includes providing a golf club having a grip and a club head having a swing orientation opposite the swing orientation of the user, the grip having a first portion for receiving a first hand of the user and a second portion for receiving a second hand of the user. The first portion is grasped with the first hand and the second portion is grasped with the second hand to space the first hand from the second hand along the grip. The golf club is swing with the first hand on the first portion of the grip and the second hand on the second portion of the grip.

Other objects and advantages and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an instructional golf club in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the golf club of FIG. 1 in use;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an alternative instructional golf club in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a golfer in a ball-addressing position using the golf club of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the golfer of FIG. 4 during a backswing;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the golfer of FIG. 4 at the top of the backswing;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the golfer of FIG. 4 following through on the golf swing;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the golfer of FIG. 4 in his conventional swing;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method of using the golf club of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an instructional golf club and method that reverses the swing direction of the user and spaces the user's hands apart. FIG. 1 illustrates an instructional golf club 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The golf club 10 extends in a longitudinal direction from a first end 14 to a second end 16. An elongated shaft 12 made of a metal such as, for example, steel, graphite, titanium or a composite thereof, extends between the first end 14 and the second 16. Insignia 20 (see FIG. 3) such as a brand name, trademark or the like may be provided on the shaft 12 to designate the manufacturer of the golf club 10. One or more weights (not shown) may be secured to or positioned within the shaft 12 such that the golf club 10 is heavier than a normal golf club. The weights may be permanently or releasably attached to the shaft 12. Alternatively, the shaft 12 may be thicker and/or formed a material that is heavier than a traditional golf club shaft in order to add weight to the golf club 10.

A club head 24 having a heel 25 and a toe 27 is secured to the shaft 12 at the second end 16 of the golf club 10. The club head 24 may constitute any conventional golf club head, e.g., an iron or wood, and may have a left-handed or right-handed orientation. In other words, the club head 24 may be configured to allow a right-handed or left-handed golfer to strike the golf ball in a conventional manner. As shown in FIG. 1, the club head 24 has a left-handed orientation such that a ball-striking surface 26 of the club head 24 faces rightward as the user looks in front of their feet towards the ground while in his or her stance. The club head 24 may be weighted or made from a material that is heavier or thicker than conventional golf club heads.

A grip 30 for receiving the hands of the user is secured to the shaft 12 at the first end 14 of the golf club 10. The grip 30 may be made of a polymer such as rubber and may have an ergonomic configuration suitable for grasping. The grip 30 includes a first portion 32 for receiving one hand of the user and a second portion 34 for receiving the other hand of the user. The first and second portions 32, 34 may be configured to split or space the user's hands apart along the length of the grip 30 or may be configured such that the user's hands abut one another or overlap/interlock with one another when placed around the first and second portions.

The first portion 32 may have bumps, protuberances, contours, recesses or the like to configure and orient the fingers and thumb of the user's right hand in a particular manner. Likewise, the second portion 34 may have bumps, protuberances, contours, recesses or the like to configure and orient the fingers and thumb of the user's left hand in a particular manner. Since the left and right hands of the user extend around the grip 30 in opposite manners, i.e., the hands each have a unique orientation around the grip, namely, clockwise and counterclockwise, the first portion 32 cannot receive the fingers and thumb of the left hand and the second portion 34 cannot receive the fingers and thumb of the right hand without the user experiencing discomfort, i.e., the grip is not universal or accommodating of both a left and right-handed golf swing grip.

A level indicator 40 may be positioned along the golf club 10 in order to provide visual feedback of the position of the shaft 12 relative to the ground as the user swings the golf club. As shown in FIG. 1, the level indicator 40 is positioned along the shaft 12 and spaced from the grip 30. The level indicator 40 includes a housing 42 formed of a clear material such as plastic and substantially filled with a fluid such that a bubble 46 remains therein that can travel within the housing to provide visual indication or feedback to the user. Indicia 44 are provided on the housing 42 such that a position of the bubble 46 between the indicia indicates that the shaft 12 extends substantially parallel to the ground. The level indicator 40 is configured to be readily visible by the user when the shaft 12 extends substantially parallel to the ground. As will be discussed, the split grip 30 cooperates with the level indicator 40 and the added weight of the golf club 10 to provide a split-level grip and swing for teaching the golfer to feel the takeaway while engraining a stress-free move away from the ball to start the swing.

FIG. 2 illustrates a right-handed golfer or user 50 using the left-handed instructional golf club 10 of FIG. 1. To use the golf club 10, the user 50 stands on ground 60 such as grass, concrete, carpeting, artificial turf, etc., and grasps the grip 30 such that the right hand 54 extends over and around the first portion 32 closer to the first end 14 and the left hand 52 extends over and around the second portion 34 closer to the second end 16. This configures the hands 52, 54 of the user 50 in the traditional hand placement for a left-handed golf swing. The user 50 then swings as he or she would normally swing—in this case a traditional left-handed golf swing.

The “split-level” grip 30 gives the user 50 instant feedback and allows the user to get a sense or feeling of a one-piece takeaway with the arms and shoulders moving together, i.e., no weight shift, along with a perfectly on-plane swing. The user 50 knows that the swing is on-plane because the level indicator 40 is lined up with the bottom edge of the club head 24. In other words, when the user 50 sees the level indicator 40 positioned on top of the shaft 12 (see FIG. 2), he/she knows that the shaft is perfectly on-plane and the club head has rotated properly to this key moment in the swing—the takeaway. The user 50, seeing this alignment, has a more natural way to prevent the club head 24 from swinging inside and prevents the “over-the-top” backswing.

FIG. 3 illustrates an instructional golf club 10a in accordance with an alternative aspect of the present invention. Features in FIG. 3 that are identical to features in FIGS. 1-2 have the same reference numbers whereas features in FIG. 3 that are similar to features in FIGS. 1-2 have the suffix “a”In FIG. 3, the instructional golf club 10a has a right-handed configuration and, thus, the club head 24a has a ball-striking surface that faces leftward as the user looks in front of their feet towards the ground while in his or her golf stance. Since the club head 24a has a right-handed configuration, the grip 30a is configured such that first portion 32a receives the left hand of the user while the second portion 34a receives the right hand of the user. In other words, the palm of the user's right hand, which faces the same direction as the ball-striking surface of the right-handed club head 24, is positioned further from the user's body while the palm of the user's left hand, which faces in the opposite direction from the ball-striking surface of the right-handed club head, is positioned closer to the user's body.

The first portion 32a has bumps, protuberances, contours, recesses or the like to configure and orient the fingers and thumb of the left hand of the user in a particular manner. Likewise, the second portion 34a has bumps, protuberances, contours, recesses or the like to configure and orient the fingers and thumb of the right hand of the user in a particular manner. Since the left and right hands of the user extend around the grip 30a in opposite manners, namely, clockwise and counterclockwise about the grip, the first portion 32a cannot receive the fingers and thumb of the right hand and the second portion 34a cannot receive the fingers and thumb of the left hand without the user experiencing discomfort, i.e., the grip is not universal or accommodating of both a left and right-handed golf swing grip.

Furthermore, the level indicator 40 in the instructional golf club 10a of FIG. 3 is embedded within the grip 30a on the first end 14 of the golf club. The level indicator 40 is positioned between the first portion 32a and the second portion 34a of the grip 30a such that the user's hands do not engage or visually obstruct the level indictor during use of the golf club 10a. In any case, the left-handed user swings the right-handed golf club 10a as he or she would normally swing with the traditional right-handed grip. The level indicator 40 cooperates with the club head 24 and shaft 12 of the golf club 10a in the same manner as the club head and shaft of the golf club 10. The left-handed user thereby experiences or feels the takeaway and perfectly in-plane swing just as the right-handed user 50 does with the left-handed golf club 10.

FIGS. 4-9 illustrate an instructional golf method that uses the golf club 10 of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the normally right-handed user 50 is oriented in a left-handed configuration such that the user's right shoulder 70 faces the target line with the right hand 54 grasping the second portion 32 of the grip 30 and the left hand 52 grasping the second portion 34 of the grip. In the ball-address position, the user's head 74 is substantially aligned with the inside ankle of the left foot 76 and both the left foot and the right foot 78 remain flat on the ground 60. In the take-back position shown in FIG. 5, with a gentle push away from the target line with the front shoulder 70, i.e., the toe line of the user 50, the shoulders 70, 72 and arms work together as one, moving away from the ball and target.

The golf club 10 is taken back away from the ball in a counterclockwise direction while the wrists gently open the club head 24 face until the toe 27 of the club is pointing upwards towards the sky as shown. The club 10 is held in this position parallel to the ground 60 while the toe 27 of the club head 24 faces the sky and the shaft 12 is on the target line of the user 50. In this position, the user 50 can see the level indicator 40 on the shaft 12 along with a center-line 80 down the club 10 from the middle of the bubble 46 to the bottom edge of the club head 24. The user 50 holds the golf club 10 in this position to a count of ten seconds and returns the ball-striking surface 26 back to the normal address position of the ball (see FIG. 4) by swinging in the clockwise direction. This process is repeated six to ten times with the user 50 performing the opposite swing motion than what he or she customarily uses.

If the user 50 typically watches the club head 24 all the way to the toe-up position of the club head 24, this should be avoided and the user 50 should instead look down at the ball position. In other words, during that toe-up movement, the user's head 74 should remain still and positioned just inside the left foot 76. Due to this swing movement by the user 50 the weight of the user does not shift. Rather, the user 50 notices or feels the shoulders 70, 72 moving about the spine axis and nothing else. When the user 50 holds this moment or feeling of the toe-up position of the club head 24, the user begins to get a sense of the positioning of the feet 76, 78, which remain flat on the ground 60, without any weight shift or sway back. In other words, there is no weight shift towards the user's 50 left away from the ball.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the golf club 10 is taken back further in the counterclockwise direction towards the top of the swing, the wrists hinge significantly compared to the previous club head 24 toe-up feeling. This further counterclockwise movement also causes the back 82 of the user 50 to turn towards the target and around the left foot 76. With the feet 76, 78 flat on the ground 60, the left hip 83 turns back towards the target and the weight of the user 50 loads up onto the user's left side and, more specifically, all on the inside of the ankle of the left foot 76. From this moment or feeling, the user 50 knows that to get to the top of the swing, the left hip 83 and back 82 turn toward the target while there is no movement of the head 74 from the initial ball-addressing position just inside the ankle of the left foot 76 (see FIG. 4). One way to help the user 50 understand the feeling of a complete backswing is to turn the shoulders 70, 72 back until the eyes see the criss-cross of the shirt collar move behind or away from the ball position. In other words, the user 50 may keep turning the back 82 toward the target while keeping the head 74 in the same spot just inside the ankle of the left foot 76. If the user 50 needs more turn in the body, the emphasis on turning is in the left hip 83 back around the body and toward the target on the same spine axis, i.e., the left foot 76.

FIG. 7 illustrates the follow-through of the user 50 in the clockwise direction from the top of the swing. In the swing technique of the present invention, the goal or finish of the swing is established when the corner of the user's 50 eye sees the club head 24 at the end of the swing in the periphery (illustrated by the line 84). By performing the aforementioned swing steps for about 5-10 minutes daily the torso of the user 50 is stretched out to create the widest, most on-plane swing with more power. The wider swing arc balances the angle of attack on the golf ball and creates a more powerful swing for the user 50.

As shown in FIG. 8, following the training method of present invention the user 50 returns to his or her normal swing orientation and direction. In this case, the user 50 returns to a right-handed golf swing with a standard right-handed club 90. In this view of the user's 50 customary or real swing the user's head 74 faces forward to watch the ball as the swing is completed. At the finish of the swing, the user should also be able to see the club head 24 in his periphery, illustrated by the line 86 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart 100 for performing the method of the present invention. At step 110, a golf club is provided that has a swing orientation, i.e., club face, which is opposite to the swing orientation that the user typically or customarily uses. For example, a right-handed user is provided with a left-handed golf club and vice-versa. At step 120, the user places their hands on the golf club with the hand configuration commensurate with the swing orientation of the golf club, e.g., a right-handed golfer assumes a left-handed grip on the left-handed golf club. The hands are placed on the club in a spaced-apart configuration. At step 130, the user performs the golf swing that is commensurate with the swing orientation of the golf club and which is opposite to the user's normal golf swing, e.g., a right-handed golfer performs a left-handed golf swing with the left-handed golf club.

Although the golf club 10, 10a of the present invention is described and illustrated as using the reverse or opposite swing of the user 50, it will be appreciated that the split-level training, i.e., spaced-apart hands 52, 54 and level indicator 40, can be used by a right-handed user with a right-handed swing or a left-handed user with a left-handed swing in accordance with the present invention.

The golf club 10, 10a of the present invention is advantageous over prior instrumental devices for several reasons. First, by learning to swing a heavier golf club 10 in the opposite or reverse direction relative to the user's 50 normal swing direction on a regular basis, e.g., 5-10 minutes a day, the body of the user learns to feel and develop a more natural golf swing. More specifically, the reverse swing ingrains the feeling of a shallow (versus a steep) swing and a wide (versus an upright) arc. Furthermore, using a heavier, weighted golf club 10, 10a strengthens the user's core and improves flexibility.

In addition, body kinetics, i.e., energy, is able to change with all of the feeling of a good golf swing. Swinging the golf club 10, 10a the reverse or opposite way dramatically improves strength and flexibility and allows the user 50 to re-connect, re-set, and re-energize all of their muscles used in the golf swing—not just the ones they have been using swinging in the normal direction. This energy change occurs naturally and without the tension or frustration associated with hitting numerous golf balls in an attempt to make golf swing corrections or adjustments.

Furthermore, by using the golf club 10, 10a of the present invention, the user 50 now senses the body or hip turn associated with a proper golf swing more naturally around the body by practicing their normal or customary golf swing in reverse. He or she can now feel the weight shift throughout the golf swing more readily by adhering to the reverse swing training method. By feeling the swing in the opposite direction, the mind and body become synchronous or linked and, thus, when the user 50 switches back to his or her normal swing direction and grip configuration and adheres to the swing method of the present invention the golf swing becomes more natural and powerful.

Along the way, users using the golf club 10 of the present invention become stronger and more flexible as new muscles develop. In the process, the mind learns what the golf swing feels like and results are dramatic. When the user switches back to their normal grip in which the hands 52, 54 are not spaced-apart, the swing arc is wider, which equates to longer distance, and the player generates more club head speed due to the new “feeling” inside the body of the proper weight shift. In essence, the player is now more synchronized with their arms and body. From grip, address position, and all the way through the swing to a full, perfectly balanced finish, the user 50 using the golf club 10, 10a of the present invention immediately becomes a better ball striker since they are making better contact with the club face on the ball, which results from feeling the swing correctly in the mind and body and aggressively making a full swing.

The preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail. However, the present invention is not to be considered limited to the precise construction disclosed. Various adaptations, modifications and uses of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the intention is to cover hereby all such adaptations, modifications, and uses which fall within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An instructional golf club for a user having a swing orientation comprising:

a shaft having a first end and a second end;

a club head secured to the second end,

a grip secured to the first end, the grip having a first portion configured to receive a first hand of the user and a second portion configured to receive a second hand of the user, the second portion being spaced from the first portion such that the first and second hands of the user are spaced from one another along the grip; and

a level indicator for indicating when the shaft extends parallel to the ground.

2. The instructional golf club of claim I, wherein the first portion is contoured to position fingers of the first hand in a predetermined manner and the second portion is contoured to position fingers of the second hand in a predetermined manner.

3. The instructional golf club of claim 1 further comprising a level indicator for indicating when the shaft extends parallel to the ground.

4. The instructional golf club of claim 3, wherein the level is positioned along the shaft.

5. The instructional golf club of claim 3, wherein the level is positioned between the first portion and second portion of the grip.

6. The instructional golf club of claim 1 further including at least one weight secured to the shaft.

7. An instructional golf club for a user having a swing orientation comprising:

a shaft having a first end and a second end;

a club head secured to the second end, the club head having an orientation opposite the swing orientation of the user, and

a grip secured to the first end, the grip having a first portion configured to receive a first hand of the user and a second portion configured to receive a second hand of the user, the second portion being spaced from the first portion such that the first and second hands of the user are spaced from one another along the grip.

8. The instructional golf club of claim 7, wherein the first portion is contoured to position fingers of the first hand in a predetermined manner and the second portion is contoured to position fingers of the second hand in a predetermined manner.

9. The instructional golf club of claim 7 further comprising a level indicator for indicating when the shaft extends parallel to the ground.

10. The instructional golf club of claim 9, wherein the level is positioned along the shaft.

11. The instructional golf club of claim 9, wherein the level is positioned between the first portion and second portion of the grip.

12. The instructional golf club of claim 1 further including at least one weight secured to the shaft.

13. A method of adjusting a golf swing of a user having a swing orientation comprising the steps of:

providing a golf club having a grip and a club head having a swing orientation opposite the swing orientation of the user, the grip having a first portion for receiving a first hand of the user and a second portion for receiving a second hand of the user;

grasping the first portion with the first hand;

grasping the second portion with the second hand to space the first hand from the second hand along the grip; and

swinging the golf club with the first hand on the first portion of the grip and the second hand on the second portion of the grip.

14. The golf swing adjustment method of claim 13, wherein the first portion is contoured to position fingers of the first hand in a predetermined manner and the second portion is contoured to position fingers of the second hand in a predetermined manner.

15. The golf swing adjustment method of claim 13 further comprising holding the golf club such that the golf club extends parallel to the ground.

16. The golf swing adjustment method of claim 13, wherein the user has a customary swing motion, the step of swinging the golf club comprising swinging the golf club with a swing motion that is opposite to the customary swing motion.