US20080153618A1

US20080153618A1 - Golf swing training system, method and device

Info

Publication number: US20080153618A1
Application number: US11/941,767
Authority: US
Inventors: Nickolas C. Arther
Original assignee: Callaway Golf Co
Current assignee: Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp
Priority date: 2006-11-17
Filing date: 2007-11-16
Publication date: 2008-06-26

Abstract

A device, system and method for golf club swing training are disclosed herein. The device (20) comprises a continuous looping rail (25), a modified golf club (30) and an attachment member (35). The continuous looping rail controls when the golf club becomes unhinged during the swing. The modified golf club is attached at the center of gravity of the modified golf club.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/866,388, filed on Nov. 17, 2006.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club swing training device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club swing training system, method and device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Skelley U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,222, Golf Swing Training Device discloses a swing training device.
Keyes U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,224, Golf Swing Training Apparatus discloses a swing training device.
MacDonald U.S. Pat. No. 7,056,235, Alternative Golf Club and Method of Using the Same discloses a swing training device.
Kallassy U.S. Pat. No. 7,081,253, Golf Swing Training Device and Training Method discloses a swing training device.
Faltin U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,044, Magnetic Module Golf Swing Learning, Training, and Practice Device discloses a swing training device.
Leadbetter et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,043, Golf Swing Training Device and Method Discloses a swing training device.
Gulan et al. U.S. Pat. No. 7,115,042, Swing Trainer discloses a swing training device.
Gauer US D529,568, Golf Swing Training Guide discloses a swing training device.
Ryan U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,554, Sports Equipment Swing Training Apparatus and Method of Use discloses a swing training device.
Park et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,553, Golf Swing Training Device and Method of Use discloses a swing training device.
The swing training devices of the prior art fail to properly constrain the golf club during the golfer's swing. Because of this, such prior art training aids are not effective in teaching the proper movements during a golf swing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present resolves the problems of the prior art by providing a device, system and method for golf club swing training. The device comprises a continuous looping rail, a modified golf club and an attachment member. The continuous looping rail controls when the golf club becomes unhinged during the swing. The modified golf club is attached at the center of gravity of the modified golf club. The device of the present invention maintains the golf club on-plane during the golfer's swing.
The golf club is attached to an attachment member at the center of gravity of the golf club since this is where the golf club's rotation originates during a golf swing.
Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a continuous looping rail with radius of curvature numbers.

FIG. 3 is an isolated view of a modified golf club, attachment member and continuous looping rail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an isolated view of a modified golf club, attachment member and continuous looping rail.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a system of the present invention with a golf club about to strike a golf ball.

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6 to demonstrate the angle of the continuous looping rail relative to the ground.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the system FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an isolated view of the modified golf club of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the system of FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-11, a device is designated 20 and generally includes a continuous looping rail 25, a modified golf club 30 and an attachment member 35. The golf club or modified golf club 30 is attached at its center of gravity, CG, to the attachment member 35.
The continuous looping rail 25 is preferably composed of two substantially parallel rails 25 a and 25 b, and is preferably a 360 degrees loop. However, those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that the continuous looping rail may be less than 360 degrees, and may only be a looping rail such as shown in FIG. 11. The continuous looping rail 25 is support by a plurality of base stands 60, with each of the base stands 60 having adjustable heights. Further, the stands allow for the continuous looping rail to be positioned relative to the ground as shown and claimed.
Each of the rails is preferably composed of a lightweight but rigid material to withstand the tremendous swing forces during a golfer's swing. Preferably the rails are composed of an aluminum material, rigid plastic, titanium, or similar metal material. The diameter of each rail is preferably 0.25 inch to 3.0 inches.
The radius of curvature of the continuous looping rail varies, preferably as designated in FIG. 2. The varying radius of curvature allows for the continuous looping rail 25 to control the sequence of unhinging of the golf club during the swing by the golfer. Further, the continuous looping rail 25 maintains the swing in a proper swing plane.
The attachment member 35 preferably has a pair of track wheels 50 that are attached to the continuous looping rail 25. The attachment member 35 has a flat plate body 55 with a threaded aperture section 60 for receiving and/or attaching the golf club or modified golf club 30.
The modified golf club 30 is preferably a driver, fairway wood, iron or wedge. The modified golf club 30 preferably includes a club head 70, grip 75, shaft 80, first angled portion 85, straight portion 90 and second angled portion 95. Those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that a golf club may be attached to the attachment member 35 in a similar fashion as the modified golf club 30.
From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.

Claims

1. A golf club swing training device comprising:

a continuous looping railing member;

an attachment member connected to the continuous looping railing member for controlled movement along the continuous looping railing member; and

a modified golf club, the modified golf club attached to the attachment member at a center of gravity position of the modified golf club.

2. The golf club swing training device according to claim 1 wherein the continuous looping railing member has a plurality of curvature sections, each of the plurality of curvature sections having a unique radius of curvature, wherein a first curvature section has a radius of curvature ranging from 39 inches to 42 inches, a second curvature section adjacent the first curvature section has a radius of curvature ranging from 34 inches to 39 inches.

3. The golf club swing training device according to claim 1 wherein the continuous looping railing comprises at least two substantially parallel rails.

4. The golf club swing training device according to claim 4 wherein each of the two substantially parallel rails is composed of an aluminum material.

5. The golf club swing training device according to claim 1 wherein the attachment member comprises a central body, a first wheel disposed on one end of the body, a second wheel disposed on a second end of the body opposing the first end, a cylinder with threaded apertures at each end for connection to the modified golf club.

6. The golf club swing training device according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of stands for attachment to the continuous looping railing, wherein the continuous looping railing is positioned at an angle relative to the ground ranging from 60 degrees to 80 degrees.

7. The golf club swing training device according to claim 1 wherein the modified golf club is selected from the group consisting of a driver, a fairway wood, an iron and a wedge.

8. The golf club swing training device according to claim 1 wherein the continuous looping rail has a first curvature section located at a tee position having a radius of curvature ranging from 30 inches to 36 inches, a second curvature section located at a quarter-swing location having a radius of curvature ranging from 38 inches to 42 inches, a third curvature section located positioned at a half-swing position having a radius of curvature ranging from 30 inches to 36 inches, and a three-quarters swing location having a radius of curvature ranging from 38 inches to 42 inches.

9. The golf club swing training device according to claim 1 wherein the continuous looping rail has a height ranging from 65 inches to 90 inches and a width ranging from 65 inches to 90 inches.

10. The golf club swing training device according to claim 3 wherein the substantially parallel rails are from 1.0 inch to 12 inches apart from each other.

11. The golf club swing training device according to claim 1 wherein the center of gravity position is outside of the plane of a shaft of the modified golf club.

12. The golf club swing training device according to claim 1 wherein the modified golf club comprises a shaft, a golf club head, a grip, a 45 degrees angled portion of the shaft, a straight attachment portion of the shaft, and a second 45 degrees angled portion of the shaft.

13. The golf club swing training device according to claim 1 wherein the continuous looping rail is in a swing plane of a golfer.

14. The golf club swing training device according to claim 8 wherein the radius of curvature of the continuous looping rail controls the position of the modified golf club during a swing.

15. A golf swing training system comprising:

a device according to any of the preceding claims; and

a tee for holding a golf ball.

16. The golf swing training system according to claim 15 further comprising a layer of grass or synthetic grass, the tee positioned on the grass or synthetic grass.

17. A method for training a golfer to properly swing a golf club, the method comprising:

attaching a modified golf club to a continuous looping rail, the modified golf club attached at a center of gravity of the modified golf club;

swinging the modified golf club along the continuous looping rail to force the golfer to maintain a proper swing; and

striking a golf ball on a tee.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the continuous looping rail controls the sequence of unhinging of the modified golf club during the golfer's swing.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18 wherein the continuous looping rail maintain the modified golf club in a swing plane during the golfer's swing.

20. The method according to claim 17-19 wherein the modified golf club and continuous looping rail are designed to have the golfer strike the golf ball squarely.