Golf Club Swing Aid and Method of Use
Described is a golf club swing aid and method of use. The golf club includes an elongated shaft having a handle on a first end, and having a weighted attachment permanently secured to a second end. The weighted attachment is substantially cylindrical in shape and has a hollow bore at least partially therethrough and in which the second end of the elongated shaft is secured. Several golf club swing aids having weighted attachments of different weights can be used to help a golfer increase his or her swing speed. A first weighted attachment is the same weight as a traditional driver, a second weighted attachment is heavier than a traditional driver, and a third weighted attachment is lighter than a traditional driver. In this way, the golfer can practice swinging with golf club swing aids of different weight in order to improve his or her golf club swing speed.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/840,249 filed on Jun. 27, 2013, entitled “Power Golf System.” The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to golf club accessories. More specifically, the present invention provides a golf club swing aid having a weighted attachment thereon. The golf club swing aid comprises an elongated shaft with a handle on one end and a weighted attachment on the other end. The weighted attachment comprises a cylindrical rod having a hollow interior adapted to be secured to the end of the elongated shaft of the golf club swing aid. The weighted attachment may be the same weight as a standard driver head, or may be slightly heavier or lighter than a standard driver head.
Many golfers desire to increase their swing speed so as to improve their golfing abilities. By swinging at an increased speed, the golfer is able to hit the ball a farther distance. However, it may be difficult for a golfer to increase his or her swing speed simply by practicing swinging his or her driver. Further, while trying to increase the golfer's swing speed, the golfer must maintain his or her technique in order to maintain accuracy.
One way to increase a golfer's swing speed is to practice swinging weighted golf clubs. After practicing swinging a heavy golf club, the user can return to using a conventional golf club, and the conventional golf club will feel relatively light. In this way, the user may be able to swing the conventional golf club faster than he or she was previously able to accomplish.
However, golfers may detrimentally affect their technique by using weighted golf clubs wherein the weight of the club is disposed along the length of the shaft. Adding weight to the shaft of the golf club changes the weight distribution of the golf club. Typically, most of a golf club's weight is in the golf club head, whereas with the weighted shaft, the weight is shifted onto the club shaft. Thus, the user may unknowingly adjust his or her swing path and overall technique to compensate for the different weight distribution of the weighted club.
Further, using a weighted club that is too heavy may negatively impact the golfer's performance. If the golf club is too heavy, the golfer's swing speed may decrease as result of the increased weight of the golf club. Thus, while a weighted club may help a user to generate club head speed and improve swing speed, an overly heavy golf club may hinder the golfer's performance.
The present invention discloses a golf club swing aid. The golf club comprises an elongated shaft having a first end on which a handle is disposed, and a second end on which a weighted attachment is permanently attached. The weighted attachment comprises a cylindrical rod having a hollow interior and an open upper end adapted to receive the second end of the elongated shaft. A user can practice his or her swing in order to increase his or her swing speed by practicing swinging the golf club swing aids of the present invention. A first golf club swing aid includes a weighted attachment that is the same weight as a conventional driver. The cylindrical shape of the weighted attachment, however, reduces drag and allows a user to swing the golf club swing aid faster than he or she would be able to swing a conventional golf club of the same weight. A second golf club swing aid includes a weighted attachment that is heavier than a conventional driver, and allows the golfer to practice swinging with a heavier club. A third golf club swing aid includes a weighted attachment that is lighter than a conventional driver so that the golfer can practice swinging the club very quickly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to golf clubs adapted to improve swing speed. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to golf clubs constructed to improve the golfer's swing speed. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art.
One such prior art device is U.S. Pat. No. 7,625,295 to Gutierrez, which discloses a training golf club having a hollow shaft with an opening on an end thereof. One or more weights can be inserted into the hollow shaft through the opening. The weights have a length similar to the length of the shaft. Various club heads may be positioned on the second end of the shaft to allow a user to hit golf balls using various club heads. Thus, Gutierrez discloses a weighted golf club wherein the user inserts weights into the interior of the shaft, which creates a weight distribution that differs from standard golf clubs. Further, Gutierrez discloses a golf club wherein the user can add weights to the interior of the shaft. Thus, Gutierrez fails to disclose a golf club swing aid having a weighted attachment secured on an end of the shaft, corresponding to the location of a club head on a traditional golf club.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,139 to Gagarin discloses a golf training device having a shaft with a grip on which a tubular elastomeric member is positioned. The tubular elastomeric member includes a first end attached to the grip and a second end that is weighted. The tubular elastomeric member is unsupported by the shaft so it is free to flex and bend. The weighted end is preferably shaped like a ball. Thus, Gagarin discloses a golf club swing aid, but does not disclose a device that has a rigid, elongated shaft. Instead, Gagarin discloses a flexible elastomeric shaft that bends as the user swings the device. The Gagarin device does not allow a user to swing a golf club in the traditional manner due to the flexible shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,040 to Umazume discloses a golf club that can be swung faster than conventional golf clubs, wherein the golf club has a shaft with an arcuate cross section on the face side of the club head and a square cross section on the back of the club head. Thus, Umazume does not disclose a golf club swing aid having a weighted attachment on an end thereof in place of a club head, and instead discloses a golf club having a shaft with a cross section adapted to improve the swing speed of the golf club.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,270 to Allen discloses golf clubs having a face wall designed so that the modulus of elasticity thereof increases from a low modulus for low swing speeds to a high modulus for higher swing speeds. A second wall is parallel to and closely spaced from the face wall. The golf clubs disclosed by Allen are thus tailored to the swing speed of the golfer. Therefore, Allen does not disclose a golf club having a cylindrical weighted attachment secured at the end of the shaft in the location a club head is positioned on conventional golf clubs. Instead, Allen discloses a specialized club head to be used for hitting golf balls.
U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2008/0188322 to Anderson et al. discloses a golf club having a hollow club head that is filled with pressurized gas. The interior of the golf club is coated with plastic material, which serves as a sealant to prevent the pressurized gas from escaping the interior of the club head. By pressurizing the interior of the club head, thinner face plates can be used to construct the club head. The club head includes a valve thereon to allow pressurized gas to enter the interior of the club head. Thus, Anderson et al. does not provide a golf club having a weighted attachment on an end thereof, wherein the golf club swing aid is adapted to train a golfer to increase his or her swing speed.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,969 to Cadorniga discloses a golf club having a hollow metal head filled with a thermoplastic material that has a dense outer skin adjacent to the surfaces of the cavity, and a cellular central area. In this way, the golf club reduces the undesirable metallic sound made during hitting. Thus, Cadorniga does not disclose a weighted golf club that helps a user increase his or her swing speed.
These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. While several devices in the prior art are directed towards improving a golfer's swing speed, such devices accomplish this by improving the shape and construction of the golf club. Although the club is able to be swung faster, such clubs do not teach a golfer to increase his or her swing speed. Other devices disclose weighted training clubs having interchangeable weights. However, such devices arrange the weight along the shaft of the golf club, creating a substantially different weight distribution than is found in conventional golf clubs. Thus, by training with such clubs, the golfer may unknowingly alter his or her stroke as result of the differing weight distribution of the training club.
In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing golf club swing aid devices adapted to increase a user's swing speed. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of golf club swing aids now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new golf club swing aid wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when learning to increase his or her swing speed.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved golf club swing aid device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf club swing aid having a weighted attachment permanently secured on the end of the shaft.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club swing aid that helps a user to increase his or her swing speed by allowing the user to practice swinging golf club swing aids having different weights.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club swing aid that maintains the weight distribution of conventional golf clubs, wherein the majority of the weight of the club is disposed on the end of the shaft opposite the handle.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club swing aid that comprises a cylindrical weighted attachment on the end thereof that reduces drag, allowing a user to swing at an increased speed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club swing aid that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.
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 club swing aid. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for training a golfer to increase the golfer's swing speed. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
Referring now to
The first end 14 of the elongated shaft comprises a handle thereon. The handle provides a comfortable, padded surface for the golfer to comfortably grasp the golf club 13. The handle may include one or more fabric strips, such as leather, wrapped around the first end 14 of the golf club 13. Alternatively, the handle may include a tubular sleeve of rubber or other similar material that is secured about the first end 14 of the golf club by an adhesive.
Thus, the elongated shaft 13 and handle disposed on the first end 14 thereof, have the look and feel of a traditional golf club. In this way, the present invention provides a golfer with a golf club swing aid 12 that resembles a traditional golf club. Thus, the golfer can practice his or her grip, set-up, back-swing, and swing using the golf club swing aid 12 of the present invention.
The second end 15 of the golf club 13 comprises a weighted attachment 18 thereon. The weighted attachment 18 comprises a substantially cylindrical body and is composed of cast iron, steel, chrome, or any other similar suitable material. The cylindrical body has a first end 16 opposite a second end 17. The first end 16 comprises a bore that extends at least partially into the interior of the cylindrical body. The bore is preferably centrally located on said cylindrical body and extends along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. Thus, the cylindrical body comprises an interior volume 19 adapted to receive a portion of the second end 15 of the elongated shaft 13 therein. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the bore extends only partially through the weighted attachment 18. In other embodiments of the present invention, the bore extends from the first end 16 to the second end 17 of the weighted attachment 18.
In some embodiments of the present invention, the second end 15 of the golf club 13 comprises threading thereon and the weighted attachments comprise a threaded interior adapted to engage therewith. In this way, a weighted attachment 18 can be screwed onto the second end 15 of the golf club 13 in order to secure the weighted attachment 18 thereto. In some embodiments of the present invention the weighted attachment 18 is secured to a second end 15 of the elongated shaft 13 by means of epoxy or another suitable adhesive. The epoxy or adhesive may be used in combination with a threaded securement means in order to securely attach the weighted attachment 18 to the elongated shaft 13.
Referring now to
The weighted attachment 18 may be provided in various weights to enable the golfer to train using several golf club swing aids 12, each having different weights. A first weighted attachment 18 is substantially the same weight as a conventional driver club head. Conventional driver club heads are provided in a variety of weights and most driver club heads weigh roughly between 270 and 330 grams. However, no claim is made to the exact weight of the weighted attachment 18 of the present invention. By providing a weighted attachment 18 having the same weight as a conventional driver, the golf club swing aid 12 of the present invention has the feel of a conventional driver and has the same weight distribution. However, the cylindrical body of the weighted attachment 18 provides a more aerodynamic shape than the shape of a conventional club head, reducing drag, and allowing the golfer to swing the golf club swing aid 12 more quickly.
A second weighted attachment 18 is heavier than the first weighted attachment. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second weighted attachment is twelve percent heavier than the first weighted attachment. Thus, the second weighted attachment allows a golfer to practice swinging with a heavier golf club swing aid, such that when the golfer returns to using a conventional golf club, the conventional club will feel relatively light. The second weighted attachment may help a user to increase his or her strength and power. If the second weighted attachment was substantially more than twelve percent heavier than the first weighted attachment, the increased weight of the weighted attachment may hinder the golfer's performance. If the golf club swing aid is too heavy, the golfer may have difficulty swinging the golf club swing aid while maintaining proper technique.
The third weighted attachment is lighter than the first weighted attachment. Preferably, the third weighted attachment is twelve percent lighter than the first weighted attachment. The third weighted attachment allows a golfer to swing the golf club swing aid very rapidly. The light weight of the golf club swing aid allows a user to swing the club faster than he or she would be able to with a heavier club. In this way, the golfer can become accustomed to swinging at a higher rate of speed.
The golfer may practice his or her golf swing using a set of golf club swing aids of the present invention in order to increase his or her swing speed. A first golf club swing aid comprises a weighted attachment that has a weight similar to a traditional driver. A second golf club swing aid comprises a weighted attachment that is heavier than a conventional driver. And the third golf club comprises a weighted attachment that is lighter than a conventional driver.
The golfer may practice his or her golf swing using any of the golf club swing aids with different weight attachments. The golfer can practice by swinging any of the golf club swing aids as quickly as possible while maintaining proper technique. The golf club swing aids comprise weighted attachments with cylindrical bodies so that the weighted attachments are aerodynamic and produce little drag, relative to a conventional club head. Further, the golfer may practice swinging the golf club swing aids using one or both hands. The golfer can practice his or her swing while using the golf club swing aid having the first weighted attachment in order to practice swinging a golf club having the same weight and weight distribution as a conventional driver, but having a more aerodynamic shape. This allows the golfer to swing more rapidly.
The golfer can use the golf club swing aid having the second weighted attachment in order to develop power and strength. The second weighted attachment is heavier, which will make the golfer's conventional driver feel relatively light when the golfer returns to using the conventional driver. Further, the third weighted attachment that is lighter than the first weighted attachment, and allows a golfer to swing rapidly in order to practice swinging the golf club swing aid at an increased pace. In this way, the golfer can practice using the various golf club swing aids in order to increase his or her overall swing speed.
Thus, the present invention provides a golfer with a simple and cost-effective means for improving his or her golf swing speed. The present invention provides an elongated shaft with a handle at one end, and a second end having weighted attachment permanently secured thereon. In this way, the present invention resembles a traditional golf club, but includes a weighted attachment rather than a traditional club head. The weighted attachment is cylindrical and comprises a bore therethrough such that the second end of the elongated shaft can be inserted therein. The weighted attachment is provided in three different weights, wherein a first weighted attachment is the same weight as a traditional driver, the second weighted attachment is heavier than a traditional driver, and the third weighted attachment is lighter than a traditional driver.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 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 club swing aid, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having a first end opposite a second end;
- a handle disposed on said first end of said elongated shaft;
- a weighted attachment having a substantially cylindrical body and comprising a bore at least partially therethrough;
- wherein said second end of said elongated shaft is secured within said bore of said weighted attachment.
2. The golf club swing aid of claim 1, wherein
- said handle comprises a tubular sleeve.
3. The golf club swing aid of claim 1, wherein
- said bore extends from a first end of said weighted attachment to a second end of said weighted attachment.
4. The golf club swing aid of claim 1, wherein
- said second end of said elongated shaft comprises threading thereon;
- wherein said bore of said weighted attachment comprises threading therein such that said weighted attachment can be threadedly engaged with said second end of said elongated shaft.
5. The golf club swing aid of claim 1, wherein
- said weighted attachment is composed of steel.
6. The golf club swing aid of claim 1, wherein
- said elongated shaft tapers from said first end towards said second end.
7. The golf club swing aid of claim 1, wherein
- said elongated shaft has a circular cross section with a diameter that is uniform over its length.
8. A method of increasing a golfer's swing speed, comprising the steps of:
- utilizing one or more golf club swing aids each comprising an elongated shaft having a handle on a first end thereof, and having a weighted attachment on a second end thereof;
- wherein a first golf club swing aid is similar in weight to a traditional driver;
- wherein a second golf club swing aid is heavier than said first golf club swing aid;
- wherein a third golf club swing aid is lighter than said first golf club swing aid;
- practicing a golf swing using said first golf club swing aid;
- practicing a golf swing using said second golf club swing aid;
- practicing a golf swing using said third golf club swing aid.
9. The method of increasing a golfer's swing speed of claim 8, wherein
- said second golf club swing aid is twelve percent heavier than said first golf club swing aid; and
- said third golf club swing aid is twelve percent lighter than said first golf club swing aid.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 24, 2014
Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
Inventor: Donnie Parker (Albany, GA)
Application Number: 14/313,449
International Classification: A63B 69/36 (20060101);
