Golf swing alignment system
A golf swing alignment system having a base rod and a centering rod that extends primarily perpendicular from the base rod, to allow a golfer to center themselves with the ball and the target. Blocks of different shapes and sizes allow the rods to connect. Additional rods are provided in some embodiments to be used for other alignment purposes, for example: a support rod and a backswing rod to assess backswing; a support rod and a follow-through rod to assess follow-through; a support rod and an inside/outside rod to assess inside-out or outside-in swing; two support rods and two hip sway rods to assess hip sway during a swing.
The invention relates to golf swing alignment systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFrom the recreational player to the professional, golfers continuously work to improve or maintain their swing. The smallest adjustment can throw off a consistently good swing, or be all the difference in perfecting a flawed swing. A successful golf swing involves the perfect combination of a number of factors: body angles, balance, strength, speed, joint movement, etc.
Given that golfers often invest a great deal of money and time in search of a perfect swing, many coaching techniques and devices have been created. Some devices are meant to correct specific alignment issues, such as target alignment or center alignment only. Sometimes one or two rods are set on the ground parallel to each other to help the golfer line his or her body up properly, but these rods are not anchored and can easily move. These rods result in a great deal of human error, since they could be placed incorrectly so that they are not parallel or not lined up correctly. Many of these rods are made with plastic, which can break very easily if accidently struck by a golf club. Also, rods that are made with plastic pipes can be very heavy and not very portable. Plastic rods can also lose their shape if left in the sun for a short time, and become very brittle.
Some devices do not work for all golfer sizes or experience levels. Additionally, some devices are not easily adjusted to different golfers and their requirements. Some devices are difficult or time-consuming to set up.
The approaches described in this section could be pursued, but are not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, the approaches described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe disclosed subject matter relates to a golf swing alignment system.
A first aspect of the disclosed subject matter provides a base rod having a centering rod that extends primarily perpendicular from the base rod, to allow a golfer to center themselves with the ball and the target. Blocks of different shapes and sizes allow the rods to connect. Additional rods are provided to be used for other alignment purposes.
In some embodiments, a support rod and a backswing rod allow a golfer to assess his or her backswing.
In some embodiments, a support rod and a follow-through rod allow a golfer to assess his or her follow-through.
In some embodiments, a support rod and an inside/outside rod allow a golfer to assess his or her inside-out or outside-in swing.
In some embodiments, two support rods and two hip sway rods allow a golfer to assess his or her hip sway during a swing.
These and other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as additional novel features, will be apparent from the description provided herein. The intent of this summary is not to be a comprehensive description of the subject matter, but rather to provide a short overview of some of the subject matter's functionality. Other systems, methods, features and advantages here provided will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following FIGURES and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages that are included within this description, be within the scope of any claims filed later.
The novel features believed characteristic of the disclosed subject matter will be set forth in any claims that are filed later. The disclosed subject matter itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In the FIGURES, like elements should be understood to represent like elements, even though reference labels are omitted on some instances of a repeated element, for simplicity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTSReference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numbers are used throughout the different figures to designate the same components.
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Other embodiments may include the rods at different angles relative to each other by using a different type of connector in place of any of the blocks. In some embodiments the basic blocks 124, 122, 126, 128, 130 are capable of sliding along the base rod 102, such that the rods 114, 108, 116, 112 may connect at any location on the base rod 102, as can be seen in
The angle blocks 118, 120 and the basic block 124, 122, 126, 128, 112 of some embodiments have holes that run through them allowing the blocks to slide along the rods and be positioned. In other embodiments, there may be obstructions that allow for a controlled portion of the rod to be inserted, such that the block fits on the end of a rod, etc. Additionally, some embodiments may include locking holes and locking devices to secure the block onto the rod in a given location. Any locking device could be used, for example, a pin, a golf tee, etc.
In some embodiments, the alignment system 100 may include a set number of rods of set dimensions.
The rods of some embodiments are fiberglass, while the rods of other embodiments may be made out of other materials, for example wood, metal, other composite materials, etc. Some embodiments may include a coating over the rods for any number of reasons, for example to preserve, prevent wear, prevent rust, allow for more portability, allow for easier assembly, etc. Some embodiments may include boots 210 on the rods for a number of reasons, for example to allow the rods to be hollow without letting dirt, bugs and animals get inside, to make potentially jagged or rough edges safer, to make the rods more sturdy, etc. In some embodiments, the boots 300 are about three inches long and are made of rubber, while other embodiments may include boots of other dimensions, for example shorter or longer, of any material, for example plastic, elastic, cloth, wood, metal, composite materials, etc.
The diameter of any given rod may differ, and may differ in different embodiments. For example, in some embodiments the outside diameter of the rod may be 5/16 of an inch, while other embodiments may include smaller or larger outside diameters, for example 3/16 of an inch or 1-inch. In some embodiments, some or all of the rods are extendable or otherwise adjustable in length. In some embodiments, the rods have elastic shock cords inside, allowing them to breakdown into pieces for easy storage and transport.
The alignment system 100 allows for a number of arrangements and can be adjusted and transformed to achieve any number of arrangements. Additionally, the arrangements can be reversed to allow use by left-handed golfers in addition to right-handed golfers. The alignment system 100 allows for flexibility in the size of the golfer as well.
While the disclosed subject matter has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, the specific features of one embodiment should not be attributed to other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. No single embodiment is representative of all aspects of the disclosed subject matter. Moreover, variations and modifications therefrom exist. For example, the disclosed subject matter described herein may comprise other components. Various additives may also be used to further enhance one or more properties. In some embodiments, the disclosed subject matter is substantially free of any additive not specifically enumerated herein. Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter described herein consist of or consist essentially of the enumerated components. In addition, some embodiments of the methods described herein consist of or consist essentially of the enumerated steps. The claims to be appended later intend to cover all such variations and modifications as falling within the scope of the disclosed subject matter.
Claims
1. A golf aid comprising, in combination; a series of alignment rods and a number of blocks with machined holes to allow rods and golf tee's to pass through to allow the rods and blocks to be assembled into different configurations to assist the golfer in developing a proper golf swing.
2. The golf aid of claim 1, said further comprising; when two of the said alignment rods are assembled with one 90 degree block, the 90 degree block could be placed in the center of the shot path rod, connected to one rod placed in the center of the golfer's legs, this will give the golfer a proper target line and a center ball placement. (FIG. 9A)
3. The golf aid of claim 2, said further comprising; when four said alignment rods are assembled with two 90 degree blocks, one angle block, one rod placed on the shot path, one rod at the center of the golfers stance, one rod placed to the right of the golfers foot and one rod placed vertical to the rod at the right of the golfers foot, using the one angle block, this will assist the golfer in detecting hip sway during the golf swing. (FIG. 9B)
4. The golf aid of claim 3, said further comprising; when six of the said alignment rods are assembled with three 90 degree blocks and two angle blocks, one rod on shot path, one rod at center of stance, one rod at the left and one rod at the right of the golfers feet, two rods installed vertically in the angle blocks at 50,60,70,or 90 degrees, by using the machined holes in the angle blocks, this set-up is used to check shot path, ball position, backswing and follow through in the golf swing.(FIG. 9C)
5. The golf aid of claim 4, said further comprising; when the rods and blocks are assembled as described in line 4, and two rods, two 90 degree blocks are added, one horizontally and one vertically on the opposite side of the shot path rod away from the golfer, as shown in FIG. 9E, the set-up will check shot path, ball position, back swing, follow through and inside to outside swing path.
6. The golf aid of claim 5, said further comprising; the two rods and two 90 degree blocks which were added in claim 5 are now set-up on the same side of the shot path as the golfer, so that the vertical rod will detect an outside to inside path in the golf swing. (FIG. 9F)
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 5, 2013
Publication Date: May 1, 2014
Inventor: Jeff Ronald Maddox (Las Vegas, NV)
Application Number: 14/019,145
International Classification: A63B 69/36 (20060101);