GB2132901A

GB2132901A - Sports training devices

Info

Publication number: GB2132901A
Application number: GB08317015A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Baxter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-08-13
Filing date: 1983-06-23
Publication date: 1984-07-18
Also published as: GB8317015D0

Abstract

A training device for a racquet sport comprises a hollow shank (2) shaped so as to imitate the hand-held portion of a racquet used in the racquet sport. The shank has a closure (4,6) at each end, a weight (10) movable within it, and a spring (14) between the weight and one end closure of the shank. The device when gripped by a player's hand or hands has an inertia corresponding to that of a racquet used in the racquet sport. The device is used to practice the swing of a racquet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sports training devices The invention relates to sports or games training devices, and in particular to devices intended to improve the swing of a racquet by a player. The term "racquet" in this Specification encompasses any racquet, club, bat or other implement intended to be swung by a player at a ball or other moving or movable object, such as a puck or shuttlecock, the movement of which by its impact upon the racquet is an object of the sport or game. Correspondingly, the term "racquet sport" encompasses any sport or game having as an object the striking of a ball or other movable object by a racquet. The invention has particular, but not exclusive application to a training device intended to improve the swing of a golf club by a golf player.

The invention provides a training device for a racquet sport comprising a hollow shank shaped so as to imitate the hand-held portion of a racquet used in the racquet sport and having a closure at each end, a weight movable within the shank, and a spring between the weight and one end closure of the shank, the device when gripped by a player's hand or hands having an inertia corresponding to that of a racquet used in the racquet sport.

A device according to the invention may be used to practice the correct swing of a racquet. This is particularly useful in limited spaces, such as indoors where the swing of a complete racquet may be impeded by the limitations of the room or the furnishings therein. Practice is preferably conducted before a mirror. The movement of the weight against the spring during the swing of a device according to the invention will be noticeable to the user and, provided that the spring is of appropriate strength, will indicate the correctness or otherwise of the swing. In some applications, this effect may be improved by the inclusion of a second spring, such that there is a spring between each end of the weight and the proximate end closure of the shank. Desirably, the or each spring will be anchored to the end closure on its side of the weight.The method of anchoring will depend upon the nature of the end closure.

The shank may be clothed in a grip of the kind generally used in the racquet sport. The grip may provide one or both of the end closures of the shank, but one end closure is preferably provided by a threaded bolt received in a correspondingly internally threaded end of the shank. If the spring is a coil spring, it may be anchored by force fitting to a reduced end portion of such a bolt or by spreading its end to overlap the end of the shank and thereby be trapped by the grip.

The invention is illustrated by the drawing, which is a cross-sectional view of a training device for golf.

Referring to the drawing, a training device for golf comprises a hollow shank 2 of frustoconical shape as the hand-held portion of a golf club. The shank 2 is closed at one end by a threaded bolt 4 and at the other end buy a portion 6 of a conventional golf club grip 8. Within the hollow shank 2 is a weight 10 which may conveniently be formed from brass.

Between the end 12 of the weight 10 and the bolt 4 is a spring 14. The spring 14 is force fitted to a reduced end portion 16 of the bolt 4. The masses of the various parts of the training device are chosen such that its inertia is equal to that of a golf club, such as a 5-iron, and the strength of the spring 14 is chosen such that significant movement of the weight 10 against it will occur at a critical point in the swing.

1. A training device for a racquet sport comprising a hollow shank shaped so as to imitate the hand-held portion of a racquet used in the racquet sport and having a closure at each end, a weight movable within the shank, and a spring between the weight and one end closure of the shank, the device when gripped by a player's hand or hands having an inertia corresponding to that of a racquet used in the racquet sport.

2. A training device according to claim 1 in which the shank is clothed in a grip of the kind generally used in the racquet sport.

3. A training device according to claim 2 in which the grip provides at least one of the end closures of the shank.

4. A training device according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which one of the end closure is provided by a threaded bolt received in a correspondingly internal lythreaded end of the shank.

5. A training device according to any preceding claim further comprising a second spring such that there is a spring between each end of the weight and the proximate end closure.

6. Atraining device according to any preceding claim in which the or each spring is anchored to the end closure on its side of the weight.

7. A training device according to claim 4 or to either of claims 5 or 6 when appended directly or indirectly to claim 4 in which the spring or one of the springs is a coil spring and is force fitted to a reduced end portion of the bolt.

8. A training device according to to claim 3 or to either of claims 5 or 6 when appended directly or indirectly to claim 3 in which the spring or one of the springs is a coil spring, the end of which is spread to overlap an end of the shank and is trapped by the part of the grip forming the end closure.

9. A training device for a racquet sport, the training device being substantially as described herein with reference to the drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Sports training devices The invention relates to sports or games training devices, and in particular to devices intended to improve the swing of a racquet by a player. The term "racquet" in this Specification encompasses any racquet, club, bat or other implement intended to be swung by a player at a ball or other moving or movable object, such as a puck or shuttlecock, the movement of which by its impact upon the racquet is an object of the sport or game. Correspondingly, the term "racquet sport" encompasses any sport or game having as an object the striking of a ball or other movable object by a racquet. The invention has particular, but not exclusive application to a training device intended to improve the swing of a golf club by a golf player. The invention provides a training device for a racquet sport comprising a hollow shank shaped so as to imitate the hand-held portion of a racquet used in the racquet sport and having a closure at each end, a weight movable within the shank, and a spring between the weight and one end closure of the shank, the device when gripped by a player's hand or hands having an inertia corresponding to that of a racquet used in the racquet sport. A device according to the invention may be used to practice the correct swing of a racquet. This is particularly useful in limited spaces, such as indoors where the swing of a complete racquet may be impeded by the limitations of the room or the furnishings therein. Practice is preferably conducted before a mirror. The movement of the weight against the spring during the swing of a device according to the invention will be noticeable to the user and, provided that the spring is of appropriate strength, will indicate the correctness or otherwise of the swing. In some applications, this effect may be improved by the inclusion of a second spring, such that there is a spring between each end of the weight and the proximate end closure of the shank. Desirably, the or each spring will be anchored to the end closure on its side of the weight.The method of anchoring will depend upon the nature of the end closure. The shank may be clothed in a grip of the kind generally used in the racquet sport. The grip may provide one or both of the end closures of the shank, but one end closure is preferably provided by a threaded bolt received in a correspondingly internally threaded end of the shank. If the spring is a coil spring, it may be anchored by force fitting to a reduced end portion of such a bolt or by spreading its end to overlap the end of the shank and thereby be trapped by the grip. The invention is illustrated by the drawing, which is a cross-sectional view of a training device for golf. Referring to the drawing, a training device for golf comprises a hollow shank 2 of frustoconical shape as the hand-held portion of a golf club. The shank 2 is closed at one end by a threaded bolt 4 and at the other end buy a portion 6 of a conventional golf club grip 8. Within the hollow shank 2 is a weight 10 which may conveniently be formed from brass. Between the end 12 of the weight 10 and the bolt 4 is a spring 14. The spring 14 is force fitted to a reduced end portion 16 of the bolt 4. The masses of the various parts of the training device are chosen such that its inertia is equal to that of a golf club, such as a 5-iron, and the strength of the spring 14 is chosen such that significant movement of the weight 10 against it will occur at a critical point in the swing. CLAIMS