GOLF SWING TRAINER

Abstract

The present invention is a golf swing trainer that includes a handle and a weighted portion that are attached to each, whether permanently as a unitary device or temporarily, so that handle length may be adjusted. The handle comprises a neck, a first grip, and a second grip. The neck attaches to the weighted portion, while the two grips are attached to the neck. A first grip is located nearer the top end of the neck; that is, near the end of the neck away from the weighted portion. The second grip is located on the neck between the first grip and the weighted portion. Each grip protrudes from the neck at a defined angle. The weighted portion is a mass of material that is sized and shaped to provide a convenient mass that can be swung by the user.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 63/450,297, filed on Mar. 6, 2023, which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device to assist in improving a person's golf swing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An efficient and powerful golf swing requires that the golfer uses the large muscles of the body while managing the path or plane of the club through the swing, while also managing the face angle of the club. These factors often compete with one another and require a particular sequence of motions to achieve a proper and efficient body driven swing. Developing the sequence of motions takes significant numbers of repetitive swings. But even with significant practice, many golfers never achieve a quality swing.

Other known heavy devices may address sequencing, plane issues, or face angle issues, but not all three. Moreover, such devices cause the golfer to use awkward and unnatural movements that do not translate well when a club is used instead of the training device. Another issue is that know devices do not have broad applicability across the whole plethora of body shapes and sizes that golfers, as a group, have.

Thus, there is a need for a training device that allows a golfer to both see and feel the sequencing of movements needed to achieve the plane and face angle of an efficient golf swing. And especially there is a need for a device that can be used by a broad spectrum of golfers to learn the natural-feeling movements of a quality golf swing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a golf swing trainer that includes a handle and a weighted portion that are attached to each, whether permanently as a unitary device or temporarily, so that handle length may be adjusted. The handle comprises a neck, a first grip, and a second grip. The neck attaches to the weighted portion, while the two grips are attached to the neck. A first grip is located nearer the top end of the neck; that is, near the end of the neck away from the weighted portion. The second grip is located on the neck between the first grip and the weighted portion. Each grip protrudes from the neck at a defined angle; that is, the grips do not change in position or orientation during use of the trainer. The weighted portion is a mass of material that is sized and shaped to provide a convenient mass that can be swung by the user, and is generally planar. The invention also includes methods of improving a golf swing by using the disclosed trainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of the trainer.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the trainer.

FIG. 3 shows a user holding and swinging the trainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As seen in the figures, the trainer 10 includes a handle 12 and a weighted portion 14. The handle includes a neck 16 with a first and a second grip 18, 20. The handle attaches to the weighted portion at the neck. In one embodiment, the neck of the handle is received in a channel 22 in the weighted portion, which improves the strength of the connection between the handle and the weighted portion. The connection between the handle and weighted portion may be adjusted to change the overall length of the trainer, such as sliding the handle in the channel. The channel may be less than the full length of the weighted portion so as to limit how short or long the overall length of the trainer can be. Mechanical fasteners are preferred to make this connection because such fasteners provide secure connections while being easily manipulated to make a change to the overall length of the trainer. As seen in the figures, a threaded knob and screw combination 24 is one possible mechanism of making the secure, but reversible, connection. A permanent connection between the handle and weighted portion is also contemplated, but not preferred.

The first grip 18 and the second grip 20 are connected to the neck so that each grip protrudes from the neck. As described below, the grips point away from the user. The grips are securely attached to the neck during use, but may be removable for storage or transport of the trainer. Each grip has a defined angle relative to the neck, and thus the weighted portion. Typically, the angle is a compound angle. The first portion of the angle is measured with respect to a center line that generally divides the weighted portion in half and is parallel with the length of the neck. For the first portion of the angle, each grip is pointed preferably about 30° off the center line; one +30° and the other −30°. However, it is contemplated that the first portion of the angle may be between about 20° and 60°. In addition, the grips are angled downward with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the weighted portion, thus forming the second portion of the angle. The downward angle is preferably about 45°. However, it is contemplated that the second portion of the angle may be between about 20° and 60. It is preferred that the second portion of the angle is larger than the first portion of the angle, so that the grips point more down than out.

Both portions of the angles of the grips may be independently adjusted before use and the connection between the grips and handle are securable so that during the use, each grip remains in its selected position. For example, a ball-and-socket and nut combination mechanism could be used to provide secure, yet adjustable connection between the grips and neck.

One grip is located nearer the top of the neck relative to the other grip such that the grips are offset along the length of the neck from each other. Preferably, the grips are located on the center line of neck. Overall, the positioning of the grips on the neck and the compound angles of the grips orient the users' arms and hands into position for an efficient and powerful swing. Namely, the elbows are forced close together so that the positioning of hands and arms achieved by the instant trainer generally conforms to most desired positioning, as set forth by Ben Hogan in Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf.

The weighted portion 14 of the trainer serves as a mass connected to the handle. Generally planar in shape, with the length and width each being significantly larger than the thickness. As seen in the figures, in one embodiment, the weighted portion is wedged shaped with the narrower part at or near where the handle connects to the weighted portion and the wider part further away from where the handle connects. The wedge shape serves to provide more mass further away from the handle and grips. This is desirable because the higher mass at a distance leads to increased centripetal forces being generated when the trainer is swung. In addition, the planar nature of the weighted portion helps resist twisting of the trainer during the swing, forcing the user to keep their hands square to the arced path of the swing. This is preferably achieved by the even distribution of weight in the weighted portion from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the weight portion.

The weighted portion is preferably of unitary construction of a material with a uniform density (for example, all out of wood). It is also contemplated that the weighted portion may also be constructed of a plurality of pieces connected together, where the material of the pieces is the same (for example, all of wood) or different (for example, wood and plastic). Particularly interesting are embodiments where the material of the pieces differ in density; for example, different woods or plastics used together, wood attached to plastic, wood attached to metal, or plastic attached to metal. The use of higher density materials further away from the handle and grips is also desirable to increase centripetal forces produced by the trainer during a swing.

The overall weight of the trainer is selectable by combining different handles and weighted portions. Preferably the overall weight of the trainer is between 3 and 20 pounds with more preferable weights being in the range of 5 and 15 pounds, inclusive.

As shown by the arrows in FIG. 3, the trainer is used by a person by holding each of the grips in a hand and swinging the trainer back and forth in a an inclined arc around the body of the user, similar to how a club is swung. The grips point away from the user and thus the user's thumbs are located opposite from the neck/handle. The weight of the trainer provides visual and physical feedback to the user about the swing. Because golf clubs are light and small, swinging them does not provide sufficient information to the user about what an efficient swing should be. With the heavier trainer, a user receives increased visual and physical feedback during the swing. When the user tries to swing the trainer in an inefficient manner, the weight of the trainer brings the trainer and swing into a more efficient path.

Repeated swings of the trainer show the user the most efficient path for their swing. The user can then transfer this visual information to their swings of a golf club. The trainer allows the user to see what an efficient swing should look like and this look can then be replicated when using a golf club.

In addition, repeated swings of the trainer give the user a feel for the most efficient path for their swing and allows them to develop muscle awareness or memory for their most efficient swing. The user can then transfer this muscle awareness or memory to their swings with a golf club. The trainer allows the user to feel what an efficient swing should feel like and this feeling can then be replicated when using a golf club.

Because of the weight of the trainer, use of the device also helps strengthen the muscles responsible for golfer's swing, thus improving the golfer's rotational strength, which in turn improves clubhead speed.

Taken together, the repeated use of the trainer helps a golfer with the sequencing of muscle movements to address plane issues and face angle issues so as to achieve an efficient and powerful swing.

The embodiment shown in the figures is for a right-handed golfer, with the first/upper grip is angled to the left of the handle (when held) and the second/lower grip is angled to the right. A left-handed version is also contemplated where the first/upper grip is angled to the right of the handle and the second/lower grip is angled to the left of the handle. As discussed above, the grips may be adjustable for easy switching between right-handed and left-handed versions of the trainer.

It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present invention contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Plural structural components or steps can be provided by a single integrated structure or step. Alternatively, a single integrated structure or step might be divided into separate plural components or steps. In addition, while a feature of the present invention may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present invention. The present invention also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature.

The explanations and illustrations presented herein are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles, and its practical application. Those skilled in the art may adapt and apply the invention in its numerous forms, as may be best suited to the requirements of a particular use. Accordingly, the specific embodiments of the present invention as set forth are not intended as being exhaustive or limiting of the invention. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

Claims

1. A golf swing trainer comprising a handle having a first grip and a second grip protruding from a neck of the handle, wherein the handle is connected to a weighted portion, wherein the neck defines a center plane of the weighted portion, and the first grip is located on the neck relatively further away from the weighted portion compared to the second grip,

wherein the first grip and the second grip are angled away the center plane and the first grip and second grip are also angled toward the weighted portion.

2. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the first grip and the second grips are angled away from the center plane at 45° and wherein the first grip and second grip are both angled toward the weighted portion at 30° relative to a horizontal plane.

3. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the connection between the handle and the weighted portion is adjustable to change the overall length of the trainer.

4. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the handle is temporarily and securely connected to the weighted portion.

5. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the weighted portion is generally shaped as a planar wedge.

6. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the weight of the weighted portion is adjustable.

7. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the weighted portion is a unitary construction.

8. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the first grip and second grip are temporarily and securely connected to the neck.

9. The trainer of claim 1 wherein each angle of each of the first grip and the second grip is adjustable prior to use.

10. A method of practicing a golf swing comprising:

holding a trainer by a first grip and a second grip protruding from a neck of a handle, which in turn is connected to a weighted portion; and

repeatedly swinging the trainer through an arc

wherein the first grip and the second grip are angled away from a center plane of the weighted portion defined by the neck of the handle, and wherein the first grip and second grip are also angled toward the weighted portion.