US20140335969A1

US20140335969A1 - Golf swing training device

Info

Publication number: US20140335969A1
Application number: US14/275,393
Authority: US
Inventors: Carroll Marshall Ellington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-05-10
Filing date: 2014-05-12
Publication date: 2014-11-13

Abstract

A training aid with a substantially flat body is provided. The body includes a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side. The present invention may further include a protrusion extending from the front end of at least one of the first side and the second side of the body. A strike zone is formed along and within adjacent edges of the body and the at least one protrusion. In certain embodiments, a plurality of indicia are along a length of the least one protrusion. At least one flexible peg extends vertically from at least one of the protrusion and the body.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/822,132, filed May 10, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf swing training aid and, more particularly, to a golf swing training aid to correct early uncocking of the wrists during the forward swing (casting), an outside to in swing path, and a non-descending path.
Golf instruction is the art of equipping and training golfers to play better golf through improved awareness of swing cause and effects as a result of the actions by theft body, the club, and theft effect on the golf ball. Currently, most golfers have a casting issue, an outside to in swing path, and a swing on a non-descending path. Casting, an outside to in swing path, and a swing on a non-descending path causes errant shots that do not project towards the desired target.
As can be seen, there is a need for an improved golf swing training aid for correcting casting, an outside to in swing path, and a non-descending path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a golf training aid comprises: a substantially flat body comprising a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side; at least one protrusion extending from the front end of at least one of the first side and the second side of the body, wherein a strike zone is formed along and within adjacent edges of the body and the at least one protrusion; and at least one flexible peg extending vertically from at least one of the protrusion and the body.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a section view of the present invention, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention illustrating the alignment of the pegs of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
The present invention includes a teaching aid including a substantially flat body platform. The present invention may correct three swing faults, which may include casting, swinging on an outside to in path, and swinging on a non-descending path. The present invention includes the platform body with a strike zone formed within. The platform may lie on the ground. The ball may be placed within the strike zone. If the club is cast during the swing, the club head will hit the body area providing feedback that the club has been cast. If the club is swung on an outside-to-in path, the club head will hit one or more of the three rubber pegs. If the ball is not struck with a descending blow, the strike will not be solid and thus the ball will not reach its' ideal height and distance.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention includes a training aid 10 with a substantially flat body 12. The body 12 includes a front end 11, a rear end 13, a first side 15, and a second side 17. The present invention may further include a protrusion 19 extending from the front end 11 of at least one of the first side 15 and the second side 17 of the body 12. A strike zone 21 is formed along and within adjacent edges 16 of the body 12 and the at least one protrusion 19. In certain embodiments, a plurality of indicia 18 are along a length of the least one protrusion 19. At least one flexible peg 14 extends vertically from at least one of the protrusion 19 and the body 12.
In certain embodiments, the at least one protrusion 19 of the present invention may include a first protrusion 19 extending from the first side 15 of the body 12, and a second protrusion 19 extending from the second side 17 of the body 12. The strike zone 21 may be formed in between the first protrusion 19 and the second protrusion 19. In certain embodiments, each protrusion 19 may include the indicia 18. The indicia 18 may be spaced apart from one another and may be numerically marked from 1 to 6. A beginner golfer 26 may place the ball 22 within the strike zone around 6 to prevent casting. An intermediate golfer 26 may place the ball 22 in between 2 and 5 to prevent casting. An expert golfer 26 may place the ball 22 around 1 to prevent casting.
In certain embodiments, the flexible pegs 14 may be made out of rubber and may be about 3.5 inches in length. The at least one flexible peg 14 may include three flexible pegs 14 attached along at least one of the first side 15 and the second side 17 of the body 12 and the protrusion 19. The three pegs 14 may be aligned with one another, and may be parallel with a target path 28 running through the middle of the training aid 10. Therefore, when a golfer 26 swings from outside to in, the golfer 26 may hit a peg 14 and may be instantly notified to correct their swing.
In certain embodiments, the three flexible pegs 14 may be removably attachable to the first protrusion 19, the second protrusion 19, and the first side 15 and the second side 17 of the body 12. For example, the flexible pegs 14 may be removably attachable to the body 12 by hook and loop fasteners 20A, 20B. However, the pegs 14 may be releasably attachable by other means, such as openings through the body 12 in which the pegs 14 fit through.
The present invention may include a plurality of hook and loop fastener tabs 20B. The three flexible pegs 14 may each include a hook and loop portion 20A attachable to the hook and loop fastener tabs 20B. In certain embodiments, the two hook and loop fastener tabs 20B are attached along the length of the first protrusion 19, two hook and loop fastener tabs 20B are attached along the length of the second protrusion 19, one hook and loop fastener tab 20B is attached to the body 12 on the first side 15, and one hook and loop fastener tab 20B is attached to the body 12 on the second side 17. Therefore, the pegs 14 of the present invention may be moved from the first side 15 to the second side 17 and from the first protrusion 19 to the second protrusion 19 to accommodate left and right handed players.
A method of using the present invention may include placing the training aid 10 on the ground, placing the ball 22 within the strike zone 21, and swinging a golf club at the ball 22. When the golfer 26 hits the body 12 of the training aid 10, the golfer 26 is notified that they have casted the club. If the golfer 26 hits the pegs 14, the golfer 26 is notified that they have executed an outside to in swing. If the ball 22 does not travel as far as intended, the golfer 26 knows that they hit the ball 22 with a non-descending swing.
The present invention may be used at a golf practice range, using real golf balls, inside a home or garage using foam or rubber golf balls, or swinging without using golf balls. The base may be placed on a doormat or some other platform. Since the present invention offers instant feedback, the golfer knows when their swing is incorrect. The result of the present invention is the same as a professional trainer informing the golfer when their swing is incorrect.
It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A golf training aid comprising:

a substantially flat body comprising a front end, a rear end, a first side, and a second side;

at least one protrusion extending from the front end of at least one of the first side and the second side of the body, wherein a strike zone is formed along and within adjacent edges of the body and the at least one protrusion; and

at least one flexible peg extending vertically from at least one of the protrusion and the body.

2. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a first protrusion extending from the first side of the body, and a second protrusion extending from the second side of the body, wherein the strike zone is formed in between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

3. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein a plurality of indicia are along a length of the least one protrusion.

4. The golf training aid of claim 3, wherein the plurality of indicia are equidistant from each other.

5. The golf training of claim 4, wherein the indicia are numerically marked.

6. The golf training aid of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible peg comprises three flexible pegs attached along at least one of the first side and the second side of the body and the protrusion.

7. The golf training aid of claim 2, wherein the at least one flexible peg comprises three flexible pegs removably attachable to the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the first side and the second side of the body.

8. The golf training aid of claim 7, wherein the three flexible pegs are removably attachable to the body and the first and second protrusion by a hook and loop fastener.

9. The golf training aid of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of hook and loop fastener tabs, where the three flexible pegs each comprise a hook and loop portion attachable to the hook and loop fastener tabs.

10. The golf training aid of claim 9, wherein two hook and loop fastener tabs are attached along the length of the first protrusion, two hook and loop fastener tabs are attached along the length of the second protrusion, one hook and loop fastener tab is attached to the body on the first side, and one hook and loop fastener tab is attached to the body on the second side.

11. A method of practicing a swing comprising:

placing the golf training aid of claim 1 on a surface;

placing a golf ball within the strike zone; and

swinging a golf club at the ball.