Golf swing muscle strengthener

Abstract

A golf swing muscle strengthener apparatus (90) for strengthening the muscles used in the downswing of the golf swing. The apparatus includes a swing plane adjustment element (50) secured at an adjustably elevated position above the ground by a frame element (20) and support arm element (40). The swing plane adjustment element (50) houses a swing arm assembly (70) adjustable to various swing plane positions. The swing arm assembly (70) is operatively coupled to a resistance means, and has a swing arm (63) shaped to circumvent the golfer's upper torso and head. The swing arm (63) exhibits pivotal rotation around a central axis of rotation and has a pad element (80) attached at its distal end for accepting the golfer's forearm. The golfer's forearm presses against the pad element (80) at the peak of the backswing, and rotates the swing arm assembly (70) during the downswing phase of the golf swing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a second continuation in part of Ser. No. 10 / 286,537 filed Nov. 2, 2002, now abandoned. The first continuation in part application is Ser. No. 11 / 004,307 filed Dec. 3, 2004. This application is also entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 338,051, filed Nov. 3, 2001.BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of Invention [0003] This invention relates to golf, specifically to a resistance exercise apparatus for strengthening the muscles used in the golf swing. [0004] 2. Discussion of Prior Art [0005] The golf swing is complex in that it requires strength but also coordinated precision and timing. The larger shoulder, torso, and back muscles initiate the club's acceleration and momentum with the downswing. As the club head approaches the ball, the number of muscles involved in the downswing increases. Specifically, the smaller forearm, wrist, and hand muscles join the larger muscles to continue the club h...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The present invention solves the aforementioned problems. The present invention provides resistance strength training for the largest, most active, upper-body muscles used in the golf swing. It does not, however, impede the normal activity of the smaller, forearm, wrist, and hand muscles nor does it disrupt the natural “feel” of the golf club. It accomplishes this by providing resistance without attaching to the golfer's golf club. Instead, it provides resistance against the golfer's leading forearm as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. It employs a swing arm assembly that exhibits pivotal rotation around a central axis when the swing arm is rotated. The swing arm has an extension bar that extends out toward the golfer and supports a pad member. The pad member is typically cylindrical and has a hyperbolic shape designed to accept the golfer's leading forearm. When the golfer exercises with this apparatus, the golfer begins in a fully extended back swing position with the leading forearm placed against the cylindrical pad. As the golfer initiates the downswing the leading forearm applies pressure to the cylindrical pad, which rotates the swing arm assembly against a means of resistance. When the golfer finishes the downswing and reaches the ball contact position, he or she then relaxes and allows the resistance to push the arms back up to the peak of the back swing. The downswing is then repeated. Since there is no attachment to the golf club, there is no excess tension across the hands, wrists or forearms, and the club feels the same regardless of whether the golfer is using the apparatus or swinging the club freely. Therefore, the natural “feel” of the golf club is not lost when using this apparatus.

[0013] The present invention also effectively strengthens the subscapularis, latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, and other active, upper-body, golf swing muscles. It does so by focusing on translational motion of the arms during the downswing phase of the golf swing, and by providing a means of resistance to the swing arm assembly. Translational motion of the arms in the downswing accelerates the club and requires significant muscular activity. The downswing begins at the peak of the back swing and ends at the ball contact position. At the peak of the back swing the shoulders have rotated 90 degrees, but the arms have rotated back even further. Some golfers can reach 180 degrees with their back swing arm rotation. With the downswing, the arms must travel further and faster than the shoulders to “catch up” to them by the time the club reaches the ball contact position. The arms travel further and faster than the shoulders because of the activity of the subscapularis, latissimus dorsi, and pectoralis major muscles. The resistance applied by the swing arm assembly against the golfer's translational arm motion during the downswing strengthens these important muscles.

Problems solved by technology

Translational motion of the arms in the downswing accelerates the club and requires significant muscular activity.

This results in the golfer's leading arm remaining perpendicular to the cylindrical pad as the golfer's arm steepens during the downswing.

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