PUTTING TRAINER APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE
A shoulder rotation clip as a putting trainer to assist a golfer in repetitive drills to improve the skills necessary to strike a golf ball in a straight manner and drop the ball into the hole on a putting green. The shoulder rotation clip is used in conjunction with existing alignment rods to prevent twisting of the wrists and arms to improve a golfer's putting stroke.
This application is a divisional patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/013,427 filed on Jun. 20, 2018 entitled PUTTING TRAINER AND METHODS OF USE that claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/616,698 filed Jan. 12, 2018 entitled PUTTING TRAINER AND METHODS OF USE which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a putting trainer to assist a golfer in repetitive drills to improve the skills necessary to strike a golf ball in a straight manner and drop the ball into the hole on a putting green. The putting trainer referred to herein as a shoulder rotation clip is to be used in repetitive drills in conjunction with existing alignment rods to prevent twisting of the wrists and arms to improve a golfer's putting stroke.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn playing golf the ability of a player to reliably putt is paramount to winning the game. While stance, grip and balance are important fundamentals, the stroke and mechanics of hitting the ball with the face of the putter to give the proper direction, angle and speed must be repeatably practiced. Many devices have been developed to reinforce proper skills and improve a golfer's performance. Some having elaborate mechanisms to for example restrict body movement, position the ball or club in proper alignment or use lasers or other electronics to attempt to provide effective methods to train and repetitively drill the golfer in proper technique. What is not known in the prior art is repetitive drill putting trainer that restricts twisting of the arms and wrists and teaches striking of the ball with the face of the club at the “sweet spot” to squarely hit the ball roll at the necessary speed to reach and drop into the hole on the putting green. The prior art further fails to disclose a putting trainer that is of a small enough size that it be easily carried and provide for use both indoors and out.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object and advantage of the present invention to provide a putting trainer that provides a training routine that strengthens putting skills for a golfer.
It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a putting trainer that is small and portable in size so that it can be carried and used both indoors and outdoors.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a putting trainer comprising a shoulder rotation clip to improve specific skills of alignment and stroke as desired by the golfer.
It is an object and advantage of the present invention that the shoulder rotation clip has a support arm that extends from one side and over the front of the body of the shoulder rotation clip, the support arm configured to flex and separate from the body as the shoulder rotation clip is slid over the shaft of the golf club and flexes back to secure the should rotation clip to the golf club without any additional hardware or attachment fixtures.
It is an object and advantage of the present invention that the shoulder rotation clip is configured for the attachment of existing alignment rods to practice balance and alignment and to restrict non-beneficial of movement of the arms and wrists when swinging.
It is an object and advantage of the present invention that the shoulder rotation clip includes a support arm to firmly attach the should rotation clip to the shaft of a putter and support existing alignment rods without moving, twisting, or sliding along the putter shaft and to prevent the shoulder rotation clip from being forced away and off of the putter shaft when swinging due to the bending of the alignment rods.
It is an object and advantage of the present invention that the shoulder rotation clip be portable to be easily carried and used outdoors on a putting green or putting practice area or inside on a carpeted floor or other flat surface. The portability and ease of use affords for embodiments of the shoulder rotation clip to be referred to herein as the “Rock and Roll Putting Pal™.
It is an object and advantage of the present invention to provide methods of use for the Rock and Roll Putting Pal as a golf training aid.
The present invention is related to a putting trainer, comprising a shoulder rotation clip configured to support existing alignment rods; and wherein skills in putting a golf ball are improved using the putting trainer.
Embodiments, of the shoulder rotation clip of the present invention have a body with bores, a support arm, a relief slot, a shaft cutout, the body configured to support existing alignment rods within the bores and the relief slot configured to provide flex to the support arm to have the support arm, that extends over the body, separate from the body as the shoulder rotation clip is forced over the shaft of a golf club until the shaft is within the shaft cutout releasing the flex to have the support arm secure and retain the shoulder rotation clip on the shaft of the golf club during a golf swing even when the alignment rods bend and apply forces that are directed towards pulling the shoulder rotation clip away from the shaft.
The present invention is also directed to a shoulder rotation clip comprising bore holes within a body configured to support existing alignment rods; a support arm extending from the body forming a relief slot and a shaft cutout between the support arm and the body; and wherein the shoulder rotation clip is configured for attachment to the shaft of a golf club. In some embodiments, the bore holes are tapered.
The present invention is also related to a method of use of the shoulder rotation clip comprising securing a shoulder rotation clip to the shaft of a golf club by sliding the support arm over the shaft of a golf club; inserting an alignment rod in each bore within a body of the shoulder rotation clip; tucking each alignment rod under each arm; gripping the golf club with each wrist below each alignment rod; and thereby restricting non-beneficial movement of the wrists, arms and body when swinging the golf club.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention.
Specific embodiments of the invention have been chosen for the purpose of illustration and description, and are shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In embodiments of the present invention as shown in
The support arm 122 has a flat front surface 132 that extends to a rounded or partially rounded tip 138. The rounded tip 138 curves inward and extends along the inner wall 154 of the support arm 122 to the circular front edge 140 of the shaft cutout O. As shown in a top view in
As shown in a bottom view in
Embodiments of the shoulder rotation clip may be of various shapes, sizes and dimensions with a clip, support arm, or other attachment fixture used to secure the shoulder rotation clip to the shaft 112 of a golf club or putter, all embodiments of which are within the scope of the present invention. As an example, a further embodiment of the should rotation clip 160, as shown in
In an embodiment of the present invention as shown in
As shown in
The Rock and Roll Putting Pal shoulder rotation clip of the present invention allows a golfer to practice an important drill indoors and out of doors to improve putting skills.
Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that this is for purposes of illustration. This disclosure is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, since the described embodiments may be changed in detail as will become apparent to those skilled in the art in order to adapt the putting trainer to particular applications, without departing from the scope of the following claims and equivalents of the claimed elements.
Claims
1. A putting trainer, comprising:
- a shoulder rotation clip configured to support existing alignment rods; and
- wherein skills in putting a golf ball are improved using the putting trainer.
2. The putting trainer of claim 1, wherein the shoulder rotation clip having a body with bores, the body configured to support existing alignment rods within the bores.
3. The putting trainer of claim 2 wherein the bore holes are tapered.
4. The putting trainer of claim 1, wherein the shoulder rotation clip having a support arm and a shaft cutout, the support arm configured to flex to provide for a shaft of a golf club to be slid into the shaft cutout and return to have the support arm retain the shoulder rotation clip on the shaft of a golf club.
5. The putting trainer of claim 2, wherein the shoulder rotation clip having a support arm that extends over the body with a shaft cutout formed between the support arm and the body, the support arm configured to flex and return to retain the shoulder rotation clip on the shaft of a golf club.
6. The putting trainer of claim 1, wherein the shoulder rotation clip having a body with bores and a support arm, the body configured to support existing alignment rods within the bores and the support arm extending over a shaft cutout formed between the support arm and the body to retain the shoulder rotation clip on the shaft of a golf club during a golf swing when the alignment rods bend and apply forces that are directed towards pulling the shoulder rotation clip away from the shaft.
7. The putting trainer of claim 1 comprising:
- securing the shoulder rotation clip to the shaft of the golf club;
- two alignment rods inserted within the shoulder rotation clip; and
- wherein each alignment rod is tucked under each arm while gripping the golf club with each wrist below each alignment rod; and
- thereby restricting non-beneficial movement of the wrists, arms and body when swinging the golf club.
8. A shoulder rotation clip comprising:
- bore holes within a body configured to support existing alignment rods;
- a support arm extending from one side and over the body with a relief slot and a shaft cutout formed between the support arm and the body, the relief slot providing for the support arm to flex and return to retain a golf club shaft within the shaft cutout secure the shoulder rotation clip to the shaft of a golf club.
9. The shoulder rotation clip of claim 8, wherein the body having a top, a bottom, a rear portion, a front face and a support arm extending from the rear portion over a portion of the front face thereby forming a relief slot, the support arm configured to flex to have the support arm separate from the body when force is applied and return to hold and by the flexing and resilient design of the support arm securely attach the shoulder rotation clip on a golf club shaft without screws or external hardware; and
- wherein the shoulder rotation clip is configured for attachment to the shaft of a golf club in order to configure each of the alignment rods to tuck under an arm while positioning a wrist of the arm below each alignment rod while gripping a golf club and thereby restrict non-beneficial movement of the golfer's wrists, arms and body when swinging the golf club.
10. A method of use of a putting trainer:
- securing a shoulder rotation clip to the shaft of the golf club;
- inserting one or two existing alignment rods within the shoulder rotation clip;
- tucking each alignment rod under each arm;
- gripping the golf club with each wrist below each alignment rod; and
- restricting non-beneficial movement of the wrists, arms and body when swinging the golf club.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 11, 2020
Publication Date: Apr 1, 2021
Inventor: Kenneth E. Collins (Allenstown, NH)
Application Number: 17/120,041