Golf Swing Practice/Training Device

1. Field of the Invention

A golf swing practice/training device configured to generate a signal when the power arm of a golfer is properly moved from the top of the backswing to the slot position in the downswing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The correct positioning of the power arm relative to the body of a golfer during a golf swing in an important aspect of the golf swing. The power arm in the right arm of a golfer playing with right handed clubs and the left arm of a golfer playing with left handed clubs. Typically the upper potion of the power arm is moved away from the body during the backswing. If the power arm is not properly repositioned during the downswing, power and control of the golf club head is lost. Thus, golfers must make a conscious effort to return or reposition the upper portion of the power arm against the body at the correct moment during the downswing.

In other words, during a golfer's swing, it is important to recognize when to move the elbow of the power arm into the side of the body to achieve the slot position in the downswing. If the golfer achieved the slot position, the club follows the correct inside-out path promoting straighter shots and retains the proper wrist and elbow angle promoting more power through the hitting zone.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,028 describes a training device for golfers including a main body having a concave side which can be held against the inside of a golfer's power arm by an arm encircling strap. The main body includes two parts biased away from each other and a spring biased switch. When the golfer's power arm is pressed against the golfer's body, the two parts of the housing are compressed and the switch is actuated, so that an indicator such as a buzzer in an electrical circuit can be controlled to indicate when the power arm is away from the golfer's body.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,058,852 shows a shirt type garment including means for insuring the upper arm of the wearer is maintained in intimate contact with the upper side chest. When the intimate contact between the power arm and chest or body is broken a resistive force is experienced and a tearing sound in generated to provide a physical and audible warning that the contact is broken, whereupon the wearer of the garment can take the necessary steps to restore the contact.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,809,042 and 3,419,276 teach similar bent arm devices connected across the elbow allowing the elbow to bond. An audible sounding device announces to the golfer that the elbow has bent.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,283,758, 3,774,572, 4,076,587, 5,024,443, 5,076,587 and Great Britain 2,129,692 are additional examples of the prior art.

The present invention relates to a golf swing practice/training device configured to generate a signal when the power arm of a golfer is properly moved from the top of the backswing to the slot position in the downswing.

The golf swing practice/training device comprises an attachment element or strap to mount the golf swing practice/training device to the upper portion of the power arm of the golfer. A signal generator such an a compressible bulb capable of generating an audible sound when compressed is attached to the attachment element or strap such that the signal generator is disposed adjacent the inside of the upper portion of the golfer's power arm.

To use, the golf swing practice/training device is positioned on the power arm approximately several inches above the elbow with the signal generator positioned on the inside of the power arm. The power arm is then bent until the forearm and bicep form an approximately 90 degree angle. The hand of the power arm should then be rotated so the palm is parallel to the target line with the elbow pointing to the corresponding hip. The power arm should be moved away from the side of the body and then back into the power side. At this point, the signal generator should generate an audible signal. If not, the golf swing practice/training device should be repositioned until the audible sound is generated when the power arm engages the side of the golfer's body. So positioned, the golfer is ready to practice his/her swing.

When swinging, the golfer should focus on moving his/her elbow into the side on the downswing such that the side of the golfer's body will engage and activate the signal generator when the golfer's power arm in properly positioned relative to the golfer's body during the downswing. When the audible signal is heard, the wrist and elbow should be released in a fluid motion.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a golfer in the backswing position with the upper portion of the power arm positioned away from the golfer's body.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the golfer in the slot position with the upper portion of the power arm in contact with the golfer's body.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the golf swing practice/training device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the golf swing practice/training device of the present invention taken from line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the golf swing practice/training device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of another alternate embodiment of the golf swing practice/training device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the signal generator of the alternate embodiment of the golf swing practice/training device shown in FIG. 6.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

It is generally recognized that movement from the top of the backswing to the "slot position" in the downswing is one of the most difficult moves or strokes to accomplish in golf. One reason is that during the swing it is very difficult to "fool" the elbow of the power arm move into contact with the side of the body. As defined by the Professional Golf Association of America teaching manual the slot position is "The position the hands and arms "drop into" just after the body's forward motion begins".

As described hereinafter, the golfer will not only feel, but hear when the elbow of the power arm moves into contact with the aid of the body. There is no mistaking that the swing in performed correctly. Instead of attempting to `hit at the ball` from the top of the backswing that commonly causes the club to be swung on outside in path, the golfer is more concerned with moving the club head into the proper position.

If the golfer achieves the proper `slot` position, the club has followed the correct inside-out path promoting straighter shots. In addition, the proper wrist and elbow angle is maintained promoting more power through the hitting zone. If the wrist and elbow release (unhinge) early, the arm and club move away from the body promoting an outside-in" swing path which, in turn, will cause such problems as: pull-slices, pull-hooks, straight-pulls, shanks and in extreme cases, shots will be hit off the toe end of the club which will send the ball "straight right". Along with this, the club will have lost much of its speed by the time the club head reaches the ball, reducing power.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention relates to a golf swing practice/training device generally indicated as 10 configured to generate a signal when the power arm generally indicated as 12 of a golfer generally indicated as 14 is properly moved from the top of the backswing as shown in FIG. 1 to the slot position during the downswing as shown in FIG. 2.

An best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the golf swing practice/training device 10 comprises an attachment element generally indicated as 16 to affix the golf swing practice/training device 10 to the upper portion 18 of the power arm 12 of the golfer 14 having a signal generator generally indicated as 20 affixed thereto such that the signal generator 20 is disposed adjacent the inside of the upper portion 18 of the golfer's power arm 12 wherein the side of the golfer's upper body 22 will activate the signal generator 20 when the golfer's power arm 12 in properly positioned relative to the golfer's body generally indicated as 24 during the downswing an shown in FIG. 2.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the attachment element 16 comprises a ring-like member or strap generally indicated as 26 formed of a first and second elastic strip or membrane generally indicated as 28 and 30 respectively cooperatively forming a space or pocket generally indicated as 32 formed therebetween to receive the signal generator 20 therein.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the signal generator 20 comprises a compressible element generally indicated as 34 capable of generating an audible sound when compressed as described more fully hereinafter. The compressible element 34 may comprise an oblong bulbous member 36 having an interior cavity 38 formed therein and an aperture 40 formed through the wall 42 thereof to selectively permit air to pass into and out of the interior cavity 36. The area immediately adjacent the compressible element 34 generally indicated as 44 may be stitched as at 46 to form a securing means to limit movement of the signal generator 20 relative to the ring-like member or strap 26.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the golf swing practice/training device generally indicated as 10". Specifically, the attachment element 16' comprises a member or strap generally indicated as 26' formed of a first and second strip or membrane indicated an 28' and 30' respectively, cooperatively forming a space or pocket 32' formed therebetween to receive the signal generator 20' therein with stitches 46' on opposite sides thereof. A slit 48' is formed through the first strip or membrane 28' to permit access to the space or pocket 32' for placement of the signal generator 20'. The attachment element 16' further includes a fastening moons to secure the member or strap 26' to the golfer 14. The fastening means comprises a first and second fastening element indicated as 50' and 52' respectively such as a hook and loop combination or snap and bead combination formed on opposite ends of the strap 26' to cooperatively engage each other to secure the golf swing practice/training device 10' to the golfer's power arm 12.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another alternate embodiment of the golf swing practice/training device generally indicated as 10". Specifically, the attachment element 16" comprises a member or strap generally indicated as 26" formed of a strip 28" of stretchable material having a first mounting means generally indicated as 30" such as a plurality of hooks or snaps formed on the inner surface thereof to receive the signal generator 20" thereon as described more fully hereinafter. The signal generator 20" enclosed between a first membrane 31" and a second membrane 33" that cooperatively form a pouch or pocket 32". A second mounting means generally indicated as 35" such as loops or beads is attached to the outer surface of the second membrane 33". The first mounting means 30" and the second mounting means 35" cooperatively form a signal generator mounting means to selectively position and mount the signal generator 20" to the attachment element 16". In particular, the signal generator mounting means comprising the first and second mounting means 30" and 35" such as a hook and loop combination or snap and bead combination cooperatively engage each other to secure the signal generator 20" to the inner surface of the stretchable strip 28". Since the first mounting means 30" extends over a portion of the innersurface of the stretchable strip 28", the position of the signal generator 20" may be adjusted relative to the longitudinal length thereof or the loop or buckle 54 to accommodate different sizes of the upper arm.

The signal generator 20" comprises a compressible element generally indicated as 34" capable of generating an audible sound when compressed as described more fully hereinafter. The compressible element 34" may comprise a bulbous member 36" having an interior cavity 38" formed therein and an aperture 40" formed through an outlet 42" formed on the bulbous member 36" to selectively permit air to pass into and out of the interior cavity 38" to generate an audible sound.

The attachment element 16" further includes a fastening means to secure the member or strap 26" to the golfer 14. The fastening means comprises a first and second fastening element indicated as 50" and 52" respectively such as a hook and loop combination or snap and bead combination formed on opposite ends of the strap 26" to cooperatively engage each other to secure the golf swing practice/training device 10" to the golfer's power arm 12. In addition, the golf swing practice/training device 10" includes a loop or buckle 54" attached to one end of the member or strip 28" to facilitate placing the golf swing practice/training device 10" on the upper arm of the golfer.

To use, the golf swing practice/training device 10/10'/10" is positioned on the power arm 12 several inches above the elbow with the signal generator 20/20'/20" positioned on the inside of the power arm 12. The power arm 12 is then bent until the forearm and bicep form an approximately 90.degree. angle. The hand of the power arm 12 should then be rotated so the palm is parallel to the target line with the elbow pointing to the corresponding hip. The power arm 12 should be moved away side. At this point, the signal generator 20/20'/20" should generate an audible signal. If not, the golf swing practice/training device 10/10'/10" should be repositioned until the audible sound (is generated when the power arm 12 engages the side of the golfer's body 24. So positioned, the golfer 14 is ready to practice his/her swing.

When swinging, the golfer 14 should focus on moving the elbow of his/her power arm 12 into the side of his/her body 24 on the downswing such that the side of the golfer's body 14 will engage and activate the signal generator 20/20'/20" when the golfer's power arm 12 is properly positioned relative to the golfer's body 24 during the downswing. When the audible signal is heard, the wrist and elbow should be released in a fluid motion.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in-I the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained In the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,