US3712623A - Golfing aid - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for aiding golfers in improving their swing which includes an elongated flexible foam rubber pad having notches on the inner surface thereof. A wrist band is provided for securing such to a golfer''s hand so that the elongated pad will extend from adjacent the thumb to slightly above the wrist. The golfer, by observing whether the notches are open or closed, is able to determine if his wrist is breaking backward while driving a golf ball.

Description

United States Patent [191 Donnald GOLFING AID [76] Inventor: Samuel F. Donnald, 227 South Main St., Honea Path, S.C

[22] Filed: 'May 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 252,584

[52 U.S.Cl. ..273/l83 B, 2/170 51 lnt.Cl. ..A63b 69/36 58 FieldofSearch ..273/l83,l89,54B,l66;

[56] References Cited 1 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,092,173 4/1914 'Scato ..273/54 B UX 3255;462 6/1966- Antonious' ..273/l66 X [4 1 Jan.23, 1973 3,350,100 10/1967 Carmines ..273/54 BC X Primary Examiner-George .1. Marlo Attorney-Bailey and Dority [57] ABSTRACT A device for aiding golfers in improving their swing which includes an elongated flexible foam rubber pad having notches on the inner surface thereof. A wrist band is provided for securing such to a golfers hand so that the elongated pad will extend from adjacent the thumb to slightly above the wrist. The golfer, by observing whether the notches are open or closed, is able to determine if his wrist is breaking backward while driving a golf ball.

7 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ticularly to a device which is worn on the left-hand of a right-handed golferfor aiding the golfer in maintaining the left wrist bent inwardly as his driver strikes the ball during the swing.

When driving a golf ball it is important that at the time of impact of the club head with the ball, the left wrist of a right handed golfer should be bent slightly inward. Many golfer's have a tendency to permit a sudden backwardbreak or flexing of the left wrist at or about the moment of impact between the club and the ball. When such a wrist action occurs the line of driving power is not straight forward causing the ball to tend to slice.

Devices such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,423,095, 1,418,637 and 3,408,077 have been developed to prevent the golfer from bending his wrist backward while driving a golf ball. While these devices may aid a golfer in improving his swing, they also physically prevent the golfer" from breaking his wrist backward. It is desirable that a device not restrict the movement of the golfers hand or wrist, but aid the golfer in visually determining if his wrist is collapsing backward whendriving a ball.

a right-handed golfer whichproduces a visual indication, indicating whether the golfer is maintaining his hands properly when driving a golf ball.

' Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from a readingvof the following detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing ,wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a device constructed 'in accordance with the presentinvention placed on the left-arm of a golfer,

' FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a device constructed in'accordance with the present inve'ntion,and I FIG. 3 is a plan view taken from the bottom illustrating the device shown in FIG. 2. a

Referring in'more-detail to the drawing, there is illustrated a device for improving a golfers swing when driving a golf ball comprising'an elongated element A of length sufficient to extend from about thebase of the thumb'toabove the wrist of a userso as to bridge the wrist. Means B'is provided for securing the elongated element A insuperimposed relation across the inner wrist-portion of the left arm. of a user (assuming the user is a right-handed golfer). The elongated element has at, least one notch defined in the outer portion thereof which is normally open. When the device is placed on the wrist of a golfer and the left arm is arched inwardly, such as desired when driving a golf ball, the notch C is closed. If the user breaks the wrist backward, such results in the notches opening, indicating to the golfer that he is swinging-improperly.

The elongated member A. includes an elongated flexible backing 10 which may be constructed of any suitable material such as leather..Attached to the elongated backing member I by adhesive is a foam pad I2 which may be constructed of any suitable flexible cellular foam rubber material. The pad in one particular instance is approximately 1% inches thick and inches long. However, these dimensions may be varied.

A plurality of spaced V-shaped notches C extend across the pad 12 with the base of the V-shaped notch being adjacent the outer surface of the pad 12 and the apex l4 terminating inwardly towards the back support member 10.

An elastic wrist band 16 is threaded between the pad I2 and the back support member 10, and is attached thereto by any suitable means. The band 16 extends outwardly therefrom so that such can be inserted over the hand of the user onto the wrist thereof. A decorative button 18 is provided on the band. In some instances, it may be desirable to construct the band 16 of *two pieces and instead of using the decorative button 18 ,a magnetic type of fastening device could be provided for readily attaching the two pieces so as to secure such on the golfers wrist.

When the device is placed on the golfers left arm (assuming he is a right-handed golfer) the band 16 extends around the wrist of the golfer with the elongated member A extending from adjacent the base of the thumb upward along the inside of 'the players wrist terminating directly above the wrist. If the left wrist is straight, the V-shaped notches C will open, such as illustrated in FIG. 2. However, it has been determined that when'driving a golf ball, at the time that the club engages the ball the: wrist of the left-hand should be arched inwardly rather than breaking rearwardly. In order to train the golfer to arch the left wrist inwardly he merely observes the notches C on the device, and when such are in the closed position, such as illustrated in FIG. 1, such indicates that the wrist is properly bent inwardly. However, if the notches are observed in the open position, such as illustrated in FIG. 2, at the time that the golf club 20 engages the ball, then the golfer knows that he ,is allowing his left wrist to break backward. The notches are in the closed position when the opposed outer edges 22 and 22a touch or are in close proximity. I

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for improving a golfers swing when driving agolf ball comprising: an elongated element of a length to extend from about the base of the users thumb to above thewrist so as to bridge the wrist; means for securing said element in superposed relation across the inner wrist portion of the user; at least one readily observe a breaking of the wrist which would result in an improper swing with a resultant bad golf shot.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated element includes an elongated foam rubber member including a plurality of spaced notches, said notches when open being substantially V-shape extending across said foam rubber member and converging inwardly toward the wrist.

Claims (2)

1. A device for improving a golfer''s swing when driving a golf ball comprising: an elongated element of a length to extend from about the base of the users thumb to above the wrist so as to bridge the wrist; means for securing said element in superposed relation across the inner wrist portion of the user; at least one notch defined by an outer portion of said element when said element is so positioned on the wrist of the user; said notch being open when said wrist is extended; and said notch being closed when the wrist is arched in proper position for driving; whereby the user may readily observe a breaking of the wrist which would result in an improper swing with a resultant bad golf shot.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated element includes an elongated foam rubber member including a plurality of spaced notches, said notches when open being substantially V-shape extending across said foam rubber member and converging inwardly toward the wrist.

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