Golf Swing Training Device With Visual and Audible Alerts

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf swing practice device and, particularly, to a device of the type which provides alerting sounds enabling a golfer to execute a golf swing with the proper timing and rhythm.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In order to execute a proper golf shot, a golfer is required to establish a proper grip of the hands on a golf club, to establish a proper stance, to keep his eyes on the ball, to maintain the proper timing by which a downswing is initiated at the completion of a backswing or to maintain the proper rhythm in a golf swing, and the like. The golfer may visually confirm whether or not the correct grip or stance is established. Accordingly, if improperly established, corrections may be made based upon the information derived from instructors or instruction booklets. As to the above-mentioned grip or stance, however, the golfer is unable to confirm visually whether or not the proper timing or rhythm in the golf swing are maintained in a consistent manner, in that such is a matter of "feeling". Therefore, corrections of the improper timing or rhythm may not readily be accomplished by any means except a considerable amount of practice.

It should be mentioned that the proper golf swing involves a series of movements that begins with an address, continues with a backswing, a downswing, an impact and a follow-through, and ends up with a finish. As stated above, such a series of movements must be executed with the proper timing and rhythm. Above all, the tempo from the address to the top of the backswing during which the golfer's weight has completely shifted to the right foot, and timing by which the downswing, is initiated at the completion of the backswing are by far the most important factors of all. In other words, the perfection of the golf swing may be achieved when such tempo and timing are properly maintained in a consistent manner.

A wide variety of golf swing practice devices have been proposed by the prior art to execute the proper golf swing by limiting or controlling hand or leg movements during the golf swing. However, such prior art devices provide no means for teaching the proper timing and rhythm in the golf swing, especially the timing by which the downswing is initiated at the completion of the backswing.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a golf swing practice device enabling a golfer to execute a golf swing with the proper timing and rhythm, especially with the aid of alerting sounds.

These and other objects of the present invention will be more clear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the construction of a golf swing practice device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 3(a)-3(h) illustrate lighting patterns as seen on the front panel of a weight shift indicator, corresponding to the weight placed on address plates during the course of a golf swing.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, positioned underneath a pair of address plates (1),(1) are a pair of sensors (2),(2) for sensing a golfer's weight when standing on the plates. When the golfer, for instance, of 60 kg in weight stands proportionally on these address plates (1),(1), both sensors (2),(2) are adapted to sense 30 kg respectively. Said sensors (2),(2) are connected to an amplifier circuit (3) for amplifying signals developed by said sensors (2),(2) corresponding to the weight placed on said address plates (1),(1), and to an oscillating circuit (4) respectively. Said amplifier circuit (3) is provided with a weight shift indicator (5) so that the golfer may learn the relative weight distribution of the two feet during the golf swing with the aid of a predetermined lighting pattern of a plurality of indicator lights (15). Said weight shift indicator (5) is placed in front of the address plates (1),(1). As is clear in FIG. 3, when the golfer's weight is proportionally placed on the address plates (1),(1), the indicator lights in the central region of the row of indicator lights (15) are adapted to be lighted. As the weight is shifted to the right foot, the indicator lights in the right region of said row of indicator lights (15) are adapted to be lighted progressively. Conversely, as the weight is shited to the left foot, the indicator lights in the left region of said row of indicator lights (15) are adapted to be lighted progressively. Accordingly, the golfer may visually confirm, with the aid of the weight shift indicator (5), whether the weight is properly shifted to the right foot during an address in FIG. 3a to a backswing in FIG. 3c, or whether the weight is properly shifted to the left foot during such movements of the golf swing as from the top of the backswing in FIG. 3d to a finish in FIG. 3h by way of a downswing in FIG. 3e, an impact in FIG. 3f and a followthrough in FIG. 3g.

A first circuit (6) is connected to said amplifier circuit (3) and oscillating circuit (4). Said first circuit (6) comprises a memory element M1 which records the state of a proper weight shift to the right foot during the backswing movements as shown in FIG. 3b through FIG. 3c and the state of a proper weight shift to the left foot during the movements as shown in FIG. 3f through FIG. 3h by means of the signals from said sensors (2),(2).

Said second circuit (7) includes a sound generating element M2 which develops a signal for a "first sound" representing the state of the proper weight shift to the right foot and a sound generating element M3 which develops a signal for a "third sound" representing the state of the proper weight shift to the left foot during the movements of the golf swing as shown in FIGS. 3e through 3h. Said sound generating element M2 also develops another signal for a "second sound" representing the proper timing by which the downswing is initiated with an instantaneous "pose" after the backswing is completed. The sound generating element M2 is provided with a regulator (9) so that an interval of time between the first and the second sounds is adjustable by means thereof. The adjustment may be made depending upon the timing which the golfer may take when the downswing is initiated at the completion of the backswing. Further, each of said first, second and third sounds is adapted to be generated from a chime (8) connected to the second circuit (7). It is, of course, understood that the use of the chime constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, although any suitable form of sound generating means may alternatively be employed.

As is clear from the preceding paragraphs, when the weight is properly shifted to the right foot during the backswing movements as shown in FIG. 3b through FIG. 3c, the first sound may be generated from the chime (8) by means of the sound generating element M2. Subsequently thereafter, the second sound may be generated with the instantaneous "pose" preselected by the regulator (9) so as to inform the golfer of the proper timing by which the downswing is to be initiated at the completion of the backswing. Furthermore, when the weight is poperly shifted to the left foot at the completion of the golf swing, the sound generating element M3 receives the signal from the memory element M1 and develops the signal for the third sound. The above-mentioned three sounds may successively be generated with a predetermined interval of time between each sound when the weight shift, first to the right foot and then to the left foot, is properly executed during the course of the golf swing in FIG. 3a through FIG. 3h. When, however, the weight shift to the right foot during the backswing or to the left foot after the impact, is improperly executed, the three sounds may not be generated.

As hereinabove stated, the golf swing practice device according to the present invention is intended to check the proper weight shift during the course of the golf swing and to generate three successive sounds serving as a guide to execution of a proper golf swing with the proper timing and rhythm. Thus, the golfer may learn that when the three successive sounds are not generated, the weight is not properly shifted either to the right foot or to the left foot. In addition, in the golf swing practice device according to the present invention, after the first sound is generated, the interval of time between the generation of the first and the second sounds may be preset. Accordingly, by taking advantage thereof, the proper timing and rhythm in the golf swing may be acquired in a consistent manner.

While the present invention has been described with reference to a single embodiment, it will be apparent that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.