Golf Swing Trainer

Abstract

A trainer is formed of a handle joined to an end of an elongated tubular chamber containing a charge of metal beads. A longitudinal tension rod unites chamber and handle to protect the integrity of the trainer and enable it to be constructed from light weight material such as PVC plastic tubing. The charge of beads weights the trainer to match the feel of a real club. The beads shift in the chamber during a practice swing so that the player sees, feels and hears the shift of the metal beads at appropriate points during the swing, to alert the player when he has swung with proper lag. The beads self-generate a signal by their relative movement in the tube, even without reaching an end of the tube. The player can adjust his swing in increments to alter the point at which the charge of beads shifts in the chamber.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to games using a tangible projectile. More specifically, the invention relates to the game of golf and to a practice swingable implement or indicator associated with a swingable implement. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a device that is attachable to or integral with a swingable implement and that includes a swing or position indicator that provides an audible signal that is heard by the player.

2. Description of Prior Art

In the game of golf and in several other games that involve swinging an implement to strike a ball, the form of the swing must be correct for the player to hit the ball with consistency, accuracy and maximum distance. Consistency is important because golf is a progressive game, where one shot is the basis for the next at each hole, which requires that each shot be reasonably good. Accuracy in a golf swing is particularly challenging because a golf club is relatively long as compared to other popular swingable implements, such a baseball bats. Further, only the head of the relatively long club can strike the ball. Because the head is at the far end of the club from the player's grip, the head is the most likely portion of a golf club to be in the wrong position. A proper swing is necessary for the player to accurately and consistently deliver the club head to the ball's position, in order for the player to make a good shot. The swing not only must be accurate and consistent, but it must be delivered with power in order to drive the ball a fair distance on drives down the fairway. Accordingly, it is well recognized that a golf swing is a demanding motion that requires coordinated movement of the player's entire body.

Developing a consistently good swing requires extensive practice, so that the player's body executes a proper swing each time. Players can practice in many ways. Playing the game of golf is helpful because all types of shots are encountered. Practice on a golf driving range is helpful for honing a particular part of the game. However, much of the time a player is not at a golf course or driving range but needs to practice his swing, regardless. To meet this need, various swing trainers are available. A player may wish to practice without regard to the weather, which results in the player's needing a swing trainer that is adaptable for indoor practice. An indoor swing trainer can be shorter than a normal golf club, to better allow indoor use with assurance that the shorter swing trainer won't strike walls and ceilings.

In addition to enabling more practice time, a swing trainer can serve as a coach by alerting the player to the correctness of his swing. A good swing is formed by a series of properly coordinated, sequential motions. The swing starts when the player addresses the ball or the theoretical position of the ball, which entails standing in a proper position, facing the ball position, with a golf club held by a proper grip, and with the club head located slightly behind the ball. The player's shoulders are aligned parallel with the intended path of the ball. From this starting position, the player executes a backswing in which he brings the club head in a smooth arc around his trailing shoulder, bringing the club head to a position above and behind the leading shoulder.

The backswing requires a cocking of the player's wrists as the club head is swung back. Typically, cocking takes place at approximately horizontal club position and is maintained throughout the remainder of the backswing. From the backswing stance, the player executes the downswing, in which the club stays in a cocked position until just after striking the ball. However, an important feature of the downswing is to maintain the wrists in cocked position until the downswing reaches a proper release point at which the wrists start to release, which is just after striking the ball and while the golfer's body weight is shifting forward to the leading leg.

“Lag” has been defined as the period of time during a downswing when the wrists remain cocked while hands drop straight down and the body moves slightly open and forward, squaring the club face with the ball; followed by a point when the wrists uncock in the process of striking the ball. In abbreviated form, the term “lag” may refer to an element of a golf swing that manages hand and wrist motions in the described manner. Many golfers have difficulty achieving proper lag in their swings. It would be desirable to have a swing trainer that can assist a golfer in executing a proper swing with “lag” by providing audible, visual and kinesthetic signals when the golfer is properly or improperly swinging the trainer. The longer the wrists can stay cocked, the more energy can be transferred from the club to the ball.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,856 to Rainey is an example of a golf swing trainer that is shorter than a standard length #8 iron golf club. This trainer is formed of a tubular body with a grip at one end and a free sliding bearing ball inside the tube. The weight can slide between a plug at the grip end of the tube and a stop at the end opposite from the grip. This trainer operates by selecting the available length of the tube over which the bearing ball slides. The length is determined by the transit time for the weight to slide from the plug to the end stop. This travel distance and weight are coordinated such that the weight strikes against the stop when the trainer is swung to the ball impact point of a properly executed swing. Thus, the length of the tube is selected to time the impact to occur at the precise bottom of a proper swing. The player can evaluate his own swing by judging how closely the audible signal sounds relative to the bottom point of the swing. However, this device fails to teach “lag” in the swing. The Rainey trainer uses high mass components, such as a single, large hardened steel slider to simulate ball impact at the bottom of the downswing. The high mass of the slider is insensitive to execution of a proper swing with “lag.”

It is evident that variables in addition to tube length can influence when the Rainey weight will strike the end stop. Swing speed stands out as a variable that is likely to produce error. It would be difficult for the player to calibrate the Rainey trainer without having his own perfect swing as a reference point. Therefore, a problem with the Rainey approach is for the player to know when the trainer is properly adjusted to his own swing characteristics.

A further problem with many trainers using a shifting slider is that the golfer's swing and the trainer's operation may be seemingly incompatible. This problem might result with a golfer's swing that is so rapid and powerful that the slider in the trainer does not move at all. This problem can be referred to as the power swing deficit. For example, in Rainey the starting position of the slider may be at the distal end of the trainer. A rapid backswing immediately followed by a rapid fore swing may result in the slider being centrifugally trapped at the distal end of the trainer, such that the trainer apparently fails to perform. In such a circumstance, it must be realized that a golf swing can appear to be proper and produce seemingly good strokes. However, in such cases the golfer is benefitting from his own power as a substitute for maximizing the inherent power that can be released with a better swing.

Golfers practice their swings in many settings. For example, a golfer may practice at home or at a driving range, using his own clubs. Because golf clubs tend to be expensive and often are custom fitted to the individual golfer, golfers often have a strong affinity for using their own clubs. There can be a resultantly strong temptation for the golfer to practice with his own clubs, rather than purchase a trainer. To be accepted, a trainer needs to show its value in teaching features of the golf swing that practice with the golfer's own club does not teach.

In convincing a golfer to practice with a trainer, it can be helpful if the trainer is less costly than a golf club. Thus, producing a trainer from inexpensive materials and commercially available components is an advantage, as compared to the use of custom roll formed metal parts as found in Rainey. The use of light weight materials such as plastics in the body of a trainer is another advantage, which permits the elements of the trainer that shift position to be a proportionately greater part of the trainer's weight. A trainer also should produce an easily generated and detected signal so that, for example, a golfer working to solve the power swing deficit will begin to receive a corrective signal even before his new swing is perfected. For this reason, a single high mass slider as found in Rainey may set too high a threshold before the trainer begins to deliver feedback.

It would be desirable to have a trainer formed of a light weight plastic body, using a movable charge of small beads instead of a single high mass slider for sending corrective signals.

It would be desirable to have a short swing trainer that delivers a signal indicative of the progress of the swing, rather than just the ball impact point. For example, a player should consider wrist action, with cocking and uncocking at suitable times. A player can improve his swing by learning to employ proper lag throughout his swing, thereby marshalling the power of his swing to maximize at the point of impact with the ball.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the method and apparatus of this invention may comprise the following.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against the described background, the object of the invention is to provide a golf swing trainer that teaches the concept of “lag” in a golf swing. This concept is used by many, if not all, professional golfers.

According to the invention, a golf swing trainer is considerably shorter than a real golf club, where real golf clubs might be as long as forty-eight inches. The trainer is formed of a handle joined to an end of an elongated plastic chamber, which may be transparent. The chamber contains a charge of small beads, BBs, ball bearings, or shot. The chamber and handle are united by a longitudinal tension rod that protects the integrity of the handle and chamber. The tension rod may be calibrated for weight of the charge according to depth measured on the rod. Although the trainer is considerably shorter than a real golf club, the charge of beads weights the trainer to a desired degree, such as to match the feel of a real club. The weight of a real golf club might be twelve ounces, with considerable variation above or below that weight to suit the user. However, because the weight of a golf club might be concentrated at the head, where it is swung on a long shaft, a shorter trainer may require greater weight to produce a similar dynamic feel. The volume of beads can be changed to alter weighting, such as for different golfers, i.e., men, youths and women.

In use, the golfer swings the trainer like a regular club. The beads self-generate a signal as they move, without the necessity of striking an end of the chamber. Due to the self-generated signal, a golfer can both feel and hear any shift in position of the beads at various points during the swing, which tells the golfer when he has swung with proper lag. The beads self-generate a signal by their relative movement in the tube, even without reaching an end of the tube. The sound of the shifting charge of beads is an indicator of performance, although the feel of the beads is a substitute for audible signals among users who can't hear the moving charge, such as among users having limited hearing ability. Through feel and sound, the trainer helps the golfer to properly move a golf club through backswing and downswing, as well as to set, maintain, and release the golfer's wrists with respect to cocked position.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the swing trainer.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the swing trainer, showing the charge of beads in an unloaded position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the charge of beads in a travel position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the charge of beads in a loaded position.

FIG. 5 is a first developmental view in the series of FIGS. 5-10, showing a player using the swing trainer in a position addressing the ball.

FIG. 6 is a second developmental view of the series of FIGS. 5-10, showing the player using the swing trainer in a position of mid-backswing and showing the player's wrists having assumed cocked position.

FIG. 7 is a third developmental view in the series of FIGS. 5-10, showing the player using the swing trainer in a position of full backswing with wrists still cocked.

FIG. 8 is a fourth developmental view in the series of FIGS. 5-10, showing the player using the swing trainer in a position of initial downswing, and showing the wrists still cocked.

FIG. 9 is a fifth developmental view in the series of FIGS. 5-10, showing the player using the swing trainer in a position of mid-downswing, and showing the wrists still cocked and the charge of beads initiating shifting movement toward the distal end of the trainer.

FIG. 10 is a sixth developmental view in the series of FIGS. 5-10, showing the player using the swing trainer in a position of immediately after ball impact, with wrists uncocked and with beads thrown to the distal end of the chamber with a force that can be felt and heard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a golf swing trainer 10 that a player may use for practice to refine his golf swing into a consistently reproducible, power-releasing swing. The trainer 10 is sensitive to aspects of a golf swing that other known trainers do not meaningfully detect and respond to. Trainer 10 issues a visual, audible and haptic signal when the player swings with proper lag. In the context of this invention, the term, “lag,” refers to a period of time in a downswing when cocked wrists and hands drop straight down and the body position shifts to slightly open position and forward to square the club face with the ball. At that point the wrists uncock to strike the ball. The longer the wrists can stay cocked, the more energy can be transferred from the club to the ball. Thus, the trainer 10 teaches delayed uncocking of the player's wrists on the downswing. The trainer 10 is designed to teach a downswing where the player's wrists uncock after reaching the impact position with the ball. Accordingly, both the method and apparatus of the invention are directed toward improving a player's golf swing by helping to manage his swing during the period of lag.

The trainer employs a large number of small weights such as a charge of beads or metal spheres that self-generate a training signal as they move en masse. By such self-generated signal, this charge can respond to stages of such a proper swing in order to guide the golfer to develop a progressively better swing. It is not necessary for the charge to shift into contact with a terminal wall of the trainer in order to provide an impact signal. Many players employ a swing that is a continuous fan motion that highlights ball impact at the bottom of the swing. Focus on the ball impact event can encourage the player to try to generate power by centrifugal swing speed, alone. Often a fan swing fails to observe optimum wrist action, where uncocking of wrists should not occur too soon. The swing trainer 10 responds to the timing of when wrists are uncocked to help the player position this event for maximum power in his swing. The swing trainer might issue additional audible and physical signals at other parts of the swing, such as at full backswing and at ball impact position, or at any position where the swing is improper. Of these signals, the lag signal is the goal for better and consistent golf for the advanced player.

The swing trainer 10 is formed of two elements arranged in longitudinal series. As best shown in FIG. 1, a handle 12 is positioned at a proximal end or top end of the club, near where the player holds the trainer 10. A tubular weight transfer chamber 14 is positioned at an opposite, distal end of the trainer. The two elements are longitudinally strung on a threaded rod 16 that places both elements in compression, prevents stress failure despite repeated lateral and longitudinal stress imposed by a shifting mass, enables construction using prefabricated plastic parts, ensures against joint failure, and secures the trainer against impact failure. The trainer 10 is able to employ a shifting charge of relatively high mass, bead-like components, which detects and responds to subtleties in swing motion, including lag. The response provides a signal to the player when wrists are cocked or uncocked at proper times, thereby helping the player to know when he has achieved correct form and to avoid practicing incorrect form.

The swing trainer has a handle or grip 12. The handle 12 has a core and a wrap that is applied around the core. Together, core and wrap simulate the grip of a typical golf club. The handle core may be formed of a rod or tube approximately ten inches in length, which is similar to the grip length of a golf club. The preferred material of the trainer grip is three-quarter inch PVC plastic pipe. This material offers the advantage of being a commodity that is not overly expensive and which is extremely lightweight. The covering wrap is a leather-like material to provide a similar feel to a regular golf club grip.

The proximal end of the handle 12 is engaged with a proximal end cap 18. The cap 18 is suitably secured to the proximal end of the grip, such as to the core, by a bonding agent or by friction. The cap 18 is a prefabricated plastic pipe cap that can be fastened to the pipe core by solvent welding or other means. A rod 16 is engaged with, through, or at the cap 18 in a manner that prevents the cap from lifting away from the end of the rod. For example, a fastener such as a mushroom-headed nut or an acorn nut 20 is threaded to the end of the metal rod 16 outside the cap to serve as a longitudinal retainer and compression element for the cap. Optionally, a relief element is used in association with the nut 20 to absorb shock and avoid excess compression on the cap. For example, the relief element may be a washer 22 placed under the nut and formed of compressible, resilient material such as rubber or elastomeric material.

An opposite or distal end of the handle 12 is attached in longitudinal alignment with the proximal end of the tubular weight transfer chamber 14. A suitable size for a weight transfer chamber 14 is about twenty-four inches in length and about one inch in diameter. A suitable junction connects the relatively larger diameter of the weight transfer chamber 14 with the relatively smaller diameter of the handle 12. An example of such a suitable junction is a prefabricated, PVC plastic, three-quarter inch to one-inch coupler fitting 24. The proximal end of fitting 24 is a junction that receives the distal end of handle 12. The fitting may be secured to the distal end of the handle core by means similar to those described for securing cap 18 to the proximal end of handle 12.

An opposite end of fitting 24 is a junction that receives the proximal end of weight transfer chamber 14. The fitting may be secured to the weight transfer chamber by threads, solvent welding, rod 16, or any other means, including all methods described for securing cap 18 to handle 12. The weight transfer chamber 14 may be a tubular plastic pipe, which may be formed of clear plastic to enable visual observation and measurement of the tube's contents. Where the tube 14 has a one-inch diameter, a reduction coupler fitting 24 may be available to interconnect the tube 14 with the handle core. If such a reduction fitting is not available, it may be fabricated from other standard, prefabricated plastic fittings. For example, a standard fitting size has a one-inch female slip socket and a one inch female threaded socket. Another standard fitting size has a three-quarter inch female slip socket and a one-inch male threaded end. The two slip sockets can be joined to the ends of respective tube 14 and handle 12, while the two threaded ends can be joined by threaded engagement. Such a fabricated reduction fitting 24 is desirable because the threaded engagement provides at least one junction that can be opened for access to the interior of the tube 14, if required.

A distal end fitting or cap 26 is applied to the distal end of tube 14. The end cap 26 may be secured to the end of tube 14 by any suitable means, including any of those described for securing cap 18 to handle 12. Metal rod 16 is engaged with, through, or at the cap 26 in a manner that prevents cap 26 from separating from the distal end of the metal rod 16. A mushroom headed nut or an acorn nut 28 is threaded to the distal end of the metal rod 16 outside of cap 26 to serve as a longitudinal retainer for cap 26. At least one of the various suitable fasteners that can be applied to rod 16 can be adjusted to place the side walls of handle 12 and weight transfer chamber 14 in compression.

During assembly of swing trainer 10, a charge 30 of metal beads such as BBs, shot, or steel ball bearings is placed in the weight transfer chamber 14 and is sized to only partially fill the chamber so that the charge can shift from end to end within the chamber and generate an aural signal while shifting. Typically, when compacted at one end of the chamber, a charge will occupy a minor portion of the length of the chamber. As an example, the charge occupies about fifteen to twenty-five percent of the chamber length. The size or mass of the charge is coordinated with the size or musculature of the intended user. For example, when the user is a male of normal size, the charge may weigh about 14 ounces and the remainder of the trainer 10 may weigh about 20 ounces, producing an overall weight of 34 ounces. The charge 30 is composed of a large plurality of bead-like members, which typically will be steel balls, to enable the charge to self-generate readily perceived sounds as the charge moves in the weight transfer chamber. As an example, an ounce of a first brand of commercially obtained 4.5 mm steel BBs contained about forty pieces, while another brand of 4.5 mm BBs contained about one hundred pieces. Members of about 4.5 mm diameter are preferred because this size performs well and is inexpensive due to the ready commercial availability of BBs. These weights suggest that a charge formed of about 4.5 mm diameter balls will contain a hundred or more members or even a thousand or more. Other types of components may come in different sizes and different component weights. The charge should consist of a large plurality of component pieces, where the minimum is more than a dozen pieces to ensure that a perceptible aural result is self-generated by interaction between members during movement en masse. Likewise, the charge components are to be large enough or massive enough to self-generate a perceptible aural result by interaction between the members during mass movement. At the same time, the components should be small enough to move freely and without jamming between the rod 16 and the inner face of the tube 14. In the format of the trainer structure, the example weight feels and performs typically to certain golf clubs used by men. If the user is smaller, such as a female or youth, the charge may be smaller in order to correlate the overall weight with certain golf clubs used by females or youths.

After assembly, it remains possible to change the mass of the charge. Cap 26 or fitting 24 serve as means for selectively sealing and opening an end of tube 14. Either may be threaded or simply attached to tube 14 by compression, such that either may be removed to open an end of chamber 14 even after remaining junctions may optionally have been permanently sealed, such as by solvent welding. An advantage of using rod 16 to capture and secure fittings 24 or 26 to the weight transfer chamber is that the fittings 24, 26 need not be permanently attached. Instead, the rod 16 can be released for removing the fittings 24, 26 to open the chamber and modify the charge of beads. For example, the distal end nut 28 may be removed and cap 26 may be removed, revealing the distal open end of tube 14 and allowing the addition or removal of charge members. Markings or indicia 31 may be incorporated into the structure of the weight transfer chamber to offer suggested fill levels of the charge 30 for different users, such as for men, women, or children. Suitable locations for such markings 31 are rod 16 or clear tube 14. In this manner, the weight of the trainer 10 can be adjusted to suit the needs of different users, such as men, women, and children. The mass of the charge in a single trainer may be altered as described, or trainers may be manufactured containing various selectable charges that allow user choice.

A typical charge 30 is composed of metal beads having a diameter of about three-sixteenths inch or about four millimeters. It is desirable for the charge 30 to constitute a large portion of the swing trainer's mass, which is aided by the ability to construct the body of the swing trainer from a light weight substance such as PVC plastic. It is desirable for the charge of beads or balls 30 to weigh almost as much as the remainder of the trainer, so that movement of the charge 30 is physically detectable when the trainer is used. As an example, the mass of a typical charge 30 for a swing trainer 10 intended for use by a male might be 14.2 ounces, while all remaining portions of the swing trainer might have a mass of 20 ounces. This charge 30 weighs about 40% of the total, while lighter charges might weigh twenty-five to thirty percent of the weight of the trainer. The use of plastic, or plastic pipe, to form grip and weight chamber contributes to the high ratio of weight located in the charge. The relatively large proportion of mass attributable to the movable beads self-generates a physical signal when the beads do, in fact, move. When the charge is reduced to a smaller mass such as 10 ounces, suited for smaller users, the charge remains a substantial proportion of the overall weight.

In addition to providing a self-generated signal due to shifting mass, the beads self-generate an audible signal from the noise of rubbing against one another during any mass movement, even without the beads fully accumulating at an end of the tube 14. Thus, end caps on the tube are not essential to performance of the trainer, although they contribute to the generated signals when struck by the shifting charge. The beads also provide an aural signal by non-movement or partial movement, which may indicate a condition in the golfer's swing if some other type of signal is appropriate at the point of the signal. In all of these ways, a charge of movable beads generates a greater number and variety of signals to the player, or self-generates a signal of greater sensitivity to detected conditions, than found with other types of moving weights. A further advantage of using rod 16 is that the rod is placed in tension, which creates a unique aural signal as the beads interact with the rod.

The distal end cap 26 closes one end of the trainer while also closing one end of the weight transfer chamber 14. Optionally, the opposite end of the weight transfer chamber can be closed to prevent the charge of metal beads from entering the hollow handle 12. The proximal end of the weight transfer chamber can be permanently sealed by applying a suitably sized washer 32 against the proximal end of tube 14 and securing the washer by a threaded nut 34. A suitable size for the washer 32 matches the size of the socket of coupler fitting 24 that receives the proximal end of tube 14.

The handle 12, cap 18, coupler 24, tube 14 and cap 26 are mounted in end-to-end abutment so that these components establish a fixed column length that is not subject to further compaction of length. The nuts 20 and 28 are applied to the opposite ends of the threaded rod 16 to place the rod 16 in tension from end-to-end. The resulting structure is highly resistant to failure due to stress from swinging or due to shifting mass in the chamber 14. The stability of the swing trainer 10 is great enough that substantially the entire trainer 10, apart from the handle wrap, rod and minor hardware such as washers and nuts, can be manufactured from prefabricated plastic pipe and plastic fittings. Thus, tube 14 may be formed of one inch PVC plastic pipe. Handle 12 may be formed from three-quarters inch plastic pipe. The caps 18 and 26 and coupler 24 may be plastic fittings sized to fit the respective pipe ends.

The charge 30 of metal beads can move through tube 14 over the full length of the tube, which may be about two feet. FIGS. 2-4 show three possible positions of the ball charge 30 in the tube 14, considering only the tube volume. In FIG. 2, the ball charge 30 has moved in the direction of arrow 36 to be concentrated at the distal end of the tube 14 in what can be called an unloaded position. In FIG. 3, the ball charge 30 is movable in either longitudinal direction within tube 14, in the direction of either opposed arrow 38 or 40. In FIG. 3, the ball charge 30 has moved in the direction of arrow 42 to be concentrated at the proximal end of the tube 14 in what can be called a loaded position.

A normal golf swing often is broken down into five parts: address, backswing, downswing, impact, and follow through. Consideration of these five components of a golf swing will demonstrate how to swing with proper lag. With reference to FIGS. 5-10, the swing trainer 10 is used in a method of practicing a player's 44 golf swing and achieving proper lag. The trainer 10 reacts to the dynamics of a golf swing by shifting the charge of beads 30 to provide visual, audible and haptic signals. When a player has been provided with a trainer 10, he can learn proper lag by following the sequence of motions suggested by FIGS. 5-10.

A practice swing begins in the position of player 44 in FIG. 5, addressing the ball position with a back shoulder 46 and a forward shoulder 48 approximately aligned with the intended path of the ball. The trainer is in front of player 44 in downward position, as though addressing the ball. The charge of beads 30 is in unloaded position, at the distal end of chamber 14. The player's wrists 50 are in uncocked position.

In FIG. 6, the player 44 begins his backswing around his back shoulder 46, bringing the trainer through an arc that extends from the theoretical position of the ball to the backside of the player's head. As the player raises the trainer through about one-half of this arc, he cocks his wrists as shown in FIG. 6. In addition, the charge of beads 30 shifts through a travel position to the loaded position at the proximal end of chamber 14. The look, sound and feel of the shifting beads informs the player of the transfer of position, by the continuous noise of the self-generated signal due to shifting beads tumbling over each other and rolling against the chamber walls and tension rod 16. The player also senses the change in position of the massive charge of beads. The backswing continues to the position of FIG. 7, where the distal end of trainer 10 is approximately behind the player's forward shoulder 48. The player maintains his cocked wrists 50 as the backswing progresses.

In FIGS. 8-10, the player executes the beginning of his downswing, approximately following the reverse path of the backswing. In FIG. 8, the player has brought the trainer around his back shoulder 46 with wrists 50 cocked. A key feature of the swing occurs between FIGS. 8 and 9. Rather than moving his hands in a free arc, the player drops his hands and wrists, while retaining a cocked position. This dropping of the hands and wrists prepares the club to be brought into contact with the ball with a release of maximum power. In contrast, a player bringing his hands through a free arc, which would uncock between FIGS. 8 and 9, loses a significant amount of power before reaching the ball position. The mass of small beads in the trainer is especially effective in signaling, by an absence of noise, that the hands are dropping in cocked position, rather than uncocking, between FIGS. 8 and 9. The presence of rod 16 in the weight transfer chamber 14 establishes an annular retention volume where the beads are concentrated in the weight transfer chamber, such that some beads can fall against the rod while other shifting beads fall against the walls of the chamber 14. The two types of contact with different materials in different states of tension and compression establish a sound pattern that effectively signals when proper hand and wrist motion has been achieved.

In FIG. 9, the player's hands have dropped, and his arms are nearly finished with their arc and are at the bottom of the swing. However, the player's wrists 50 remain cocked and the trainer is nearly horizontal, suggesting that the trainer still must turn through about 90° of arc. The charge of beads 30 largely remains in loaded position at the proximal end of chamber 14.

FIG. 10 illustrates impact position. The trainer 10 has returned to approximately vertical position, although the golfer's body is now in a forward shifted position and the trainer is in motion. To reach ball impact position, the trainer 10 has moved through approximately the final quarter arc of the downswing. At impact position, the player's primary action is to uncock his wrists 50 as he accompanies the uncocking with a forward shift of body weight to the player's leading leg. Thus, it is evident that the significant difference between FIGS. 9 and 10 is wrist position rather than arm position. Where retaining cocked wrists 50 in FIG. 9 allowed the beads 30 to remain in loaded position, the uncocking of the wrists 50 in FIG. 10 has caused the beads to move through travel position and into unloaded position. The beads have been thrown to the end of the chamber with a force that can be felt and heard while the position of the beads can be seen. Thus, the trainer delivers its signal in three modes, by being heard, felt, and seen. The final motion caused by uncocking the wrists 50 delivers power to the swing and takes place almost entirely at the ball impact position.

The trainer 10 is configured to resemble a golf club in weight and feel, while being shorter that a typical club in order to achieve several advantages. One advantage is that the swing trainer 10 can be used in many indoor locations where the length of a normal golf club would prohibit use. Another advantage is that the swing trainer is more convenient to carry and transport than a typical golf club. It can conveniently accompany the player on travels so that he can maintain his golf swing on a daily basis. Finally, the length of the trainer is compatible with the timing of bead travel in the chamber 14.

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 regarded as falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. In a golf swing trainer for teaching a player to swing a golf club with proper lag during downswing, wherein the trainer is formed of a body having both a proximal hand grip and a distal hollow weight transfer chamber arranged in longitudinal series, the improvement comprising: a rod longitudinally passing through said hand grip and weight transfer chamber, having a fastener located at least at one of the opposite ends of the rod, holding the rod in tension and placing the hand grip and weight transfer chamber in compression; and a charge formed of a large plurality of bead-like components housed in the weight transfer chamber, having a component size allowing free movement between said rod and chamber wall, and occupying a minor portion of the chamber length when compacted at one end of the chamber; whereby the charge self-generates aural and haptic signals during mass movement within the chamber over distances less than the full length of the chamber.

2. The golf swing trainer of claim 1, wherein said weight transfer chamber further comprises an access opening allowing modification of said charge through said access opening; and a means for selectively sealing and opening the access opening.

3. The golf swing trainer of claim 2, wherein said means for selectively sealing and opening the access opening is a cap located at a longitudinal end of said weight transfer chamber.

4. The golf swing trainer of claim 2, wherein said means for selectively sealing and opening the access opening is a cap located at a longitudinal end of said weight transfer chamber; and said fastener is adjustable on said rod to secure or release said cap with respect to the weight transfer chamber.

5. The golf swing trainer of claim 1, wherein said weight transfer chamber is formed of a clear wall allowing visual perception of said charge, whereby the charge generates visual signals during mass movement within the chamber over distances less than the full length of the chamber.

6. The golf swing trainer of claim 1, wherein said charge occupies a minor portion of the volume of said weight transfer chamber, whereby a majority of the volume within the weight transfer chamber is available for the charge to self-generate aural signals during en masse longitudinal movement within the weight transfer chamber.

7. The golf swing trainer of claim 6, wherein said charge occupies less than twenty-five percent of the volume of said weight transfer chamber.

8. The golf swing trainer of claim 1, wherein said hand grip and weight transfer chamber are formed of plastic pipe.

9. The golf swing trainer of claim 8, wherein said charge comprises at least twenty-five percent of the weight of the trainer.

10. The golf swing trainer of claim 1, wherein said large plurality of bead-like components comprises at least one hundred components.

11. The golf swing trainer of claim 1, wherein said bead-like components are steel balls.

12. The golf swing trainer of claim 1, wherein said bead-like components are of a diameter no less than 4 mm.

13. The golf swing trainer of claim 1, wherein said bead-like components are of a diameter no less than about 4.5 mm.

14. The golf swing trainer of claim 1, wherein said charge comprises at least twenty-five percent of the weight of the trainer.

15. The golf swing trainer of claim 14, wherein said hand grip and weight transfer chamber are formed of plastic.

16. The golf swing trainer of claim 1, wherein said charge is suitably formulated of sufficient size, shape, mass, and quantity to self-generate audible signals upon movement en masse within said weight transfer chamber.

17. In a golf swing trainer for teaching a player to swing a golf club with proper lag during downswing, wherein the trainer is formed of a body having both a proximal hand grip and a distal hollow weight transfer chamber arranged in longitudinal series along a common center line, the improvement comprising:

a rod with opposite threaded ends longitudinally passing through said hand grip and weight transfer chamber, aligned with said common center line, and with said ends extending beyond the hand grip and weight transfer chamber;

a threaded fastener located at each of the opposite ends of the rod, engaging the rod, hand grip, and weight transfer chamber sufficiently to hold the rod in tension and to place the hand grip and weight transfer chamber in compression, thereby sufficiently stabilizing the assembled hand grip and weight transfer chamber to enable the use of plastic pipe to form both the hand grip and weight transfer chamber; and

a charge formed of a large plurality of balls housed in the weight transfer chamber, wherein said balls are suitably formulated of sufficient size, shape, mass, and quantity to self-generate audible signals upon movement en masse within said weight transfer chamber.

18. The golf swing trainer of claim 17, wherein said charge is of a volume occupying a minor portion of the chamber length with respect to a positioning compacted at one end of the chamber, whereby the charge self-generates aural and haptic signals during mass movement within the chamber over distances less than the full length of the chamber.