Apparatus for golf swing coaching and training

Abstract

Golf swing coaching and training apparatus comprising a stand 4 with an adjustable height, a boom arm 6 with an adjustable length and a counterweight 7, a pivot joint 8 connecting the arm and stand an

Description

This invention relates to golf training apparatus and, more especially, this invention relates to apparatus for golf swing coaching and training. There are a number of known different types of apparatus for golf swing training. Some of the known types of apparatus are for helping a golfer to achieve better body stability during a golf swing, but these known types of apparatus are often large and heavy. Other types of known apparatus focus on correcting a single golf swing fault and they are thus not able to correct multiple golf swing faults. Other known types of apparatus provide feedback on a golf swing of a user but these known types of apparatus do not give the golfer a sensory feedback at the moment the fault in the golf swing occurs. It is an aim of the present invention to avoid or reduce the above mentioned problems. Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for golf swing coaching and training and comprising: (i) a stand which is adjustable in height; (ii) a boom arm which is adjustable in length and which is counterweighted; (iii) pivot means for pivotally connecting the boom arm to the stand; and (iv) at least one golf swing coaching and training aid which is releasably attachable to the boom arm. The apparatus of the present invention is advantageous in that it is able to be constructed to be portable and lightweight, and thus easily transported and stored. This enables the apparatus to be used for practice in a variety of places convenient to a golfer, for example a garden, park, golf practice range or golf course. The apparatus is also advantageous because it is able to be used to correct more than one golf swing fault. Preferably, the apparatus is one in which the stand is a folding stand. The stand is able to fold between a use condition and a non-use condition. The non-use condition enables the apparatus easily to be transported to a required site for training, and then to be removed from the site after the training and stored as may be required. Preferably the stand is a tripod. Other types of stand may however be employed so that, for example, the stand may be one having four legs, or the stand may be one having two legs with each of the legs being bifurcated at its free end. The apparatus may be one in which the stand comprises a mast portion, and in which the mast portion is adjustable to provide the height-adjustability of the stand. The mast portion may be a tubular telescopic mast portion. Other types of height-adjustable mast portion may be employed. The apparatus may include first fastener means for fastening the stand at the required height. The first fastener means is preferably a hand-operable screw clamp fastener means. Other types of first fastener means may be employed. The apparatus may be one in which the boom arm is a tubular telescopic boom arm. Other types of boom arm may be employed, for example a folding boom arm. The apparatus may include second fastener means for fastening the boom arm at a required length. Preferably the second fastener means is a hand-operable screw clamp fastener means. Other types of second fastener means may be employed. The pivot means is preferably a ball and socket pivot means. Other types of pivot means may be employed. The apparatus may include third fastener means for fastening the boom arm at a required angle on the stand. The third fastener means is preferably a hand-operable screw fastener means. Other types of third fastener means may be employed. The apparatus may include fourth fastener means for releasably attaching the golf swing coaching and training aid to the boom arm. The fourth fastener means may be on the golf swing coaching and training aid. Alternatively, the fourth fastener means may be on the boom arm. Alternatively, part of the fourth fastener means may be on the golf swing coaching and training aid and part of the fourth fastener means may be on the boom arm. Preferably, the fourth fastener means is a hand-operable screw clamp fastener means. Other types of fastener means may be employed. The apparatus may be one in which there is a plurality of the golf swing coaching and training aids, and in which one of the aids is a tubular golf swing coaching and training aid comprising a tubular inner part and a padded outer part. The tubular inner part may be made of aluminium or a rigid plastics material. Lightweight metals other than aluminium may be employed. Any suitable rigid plastics material may be employed. The rigid plastics material may be an extruded rigid plastics material. The padded outer part may be padded with a foam plastics material. The foam plastics material may be a closed cell foam plastics material. The padded outer part may be provided with a wipe clean outer surface for enabling the padded outer part to be kept clean. The tubular golf swing coaching and training aid may comprise at least one aperture for receiving a prong member for indicating the path of a golfer’s hands during a golf swing. There may be any required number of the apertures for receiving a prong member so that there may be one, two or three of the apertures with each aperture being for receiving one of the prong members. The or each prong member may be made of any suitable material. Typically the material will be flexible but not too flexible, so that the prong member forms a flexible barrier but one which is sufficiently stiff to provide a constant reminder to the golfer that their hands must not touch the prong member or members during the golf swing. The apparatus may be one in which there is a plurality of the golf swing coaching and training aids, and in which the plurality of golf swing coaching and training aids is selected from the group consisting of the tubular golf swing coaching and training aid, a lateral hip sway restriction golf swing coaching and training aid, a spine angle golf swing coaching and training aid, and an electronic movement sensor golf swing coaching and training aid. The lateral hip sway restriction golf swing coaching and training aid may be U-shaped, with a pair of arms for receiving between them a golfer. Other types of lateral hip sway restriction golf swing coaching and training aids may be employed. The spine angle golf swing coaching and training aid may be swan-neck shaped, and it may locate on the boom arm such that it extends along a golfer’s spine but spaced apart from the golfer’s spine in the position of the golfer at the commencement of a golf swing. Other types of spine angle golf swing coaching and training aid may be employed. The electronic movement senor golf swing coaching and training aid may comprise a movement sensor and audio means. The audio means may emit any appropriate sound including a buzzing sound, or an actual spoken instruction. Various types of movement sensor may be employed. Other types of electronic movement sensor golf swing coaching and training aid may be employed. The boom arm may be provided with any suitable counter weight. The counterweight may be located on the boom arm, for example on a rear portion of the boom arm. Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows first apparatus for golf swing coaching and training and in a first mode of use; Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 but without a golf swing coaching and training aid; Figure 3 shows second apparatus of the present invention, with the second apparatus being like the first apparatus of Figure 1 and being shown in a second mode of use; Figure 4 shows third apparatus of the present invention and in a third mode of use; Figure 5 shows fourth apparatus of the present invention and in a fourth mode of use; and Figure 6 is an enlarged view of part of the fourth apparatus shown in Figure 5 and shows how the golf swing coaching and training aid attaches in position via screw fastener means comprising a swivel ball mounting. Referring to Figure 1, there is shown apparatus 2 for golf swing coaching and training. The apparatus 2 comprises a stand 4 which is adjustable in height. The apparatus 2 further comprises a boom arm 6 which is adjustable in length and which is counterweighted by a counterweight 7. Pivot means 8 pivotally connects the boom arm 6 to the stand 4. The apparatus 2 further comprises at least one golf swing training aid 10 which is releasably attachable to the boom arm 6. The stand 4 is a folding stand 4. The stand 4 is a tripod having three legs 12 which are connected to a mast portion 14 of the stand 4 via stabilising members 16. The legs 12 and the stabilising members 16 are pivotally mounted in order to enable the legs 12 to fold upwardly about the mast portion 14. The mast portion 14 is adjustable to provide the height-adjustability of the stand 4. The mast portion 14 is a tubular telescopic mast portion 14. The apparatus 2 includes first fastener means 18 for fastening the stand 4 at a required height. The mast portion 14 comprises a plurality of telescoping sections. Each pair of the telescoping sections is able to be fastened together by one of the first fastener means 18. The first fastener means 18 is a hand-operable screw clamp fastener means. The boom arm 6 is a telescopic boom arm 6. The apparatus 2 includes second fastener means 20 for fastening the boom arm 6 at a required length. The second fastener means 20 is a hand-operable screw clamp fastener means 20. The pivot means 8 is a ball and socket pivot means 8. The apparatus 2 includes third fastener means 22 for fastening the boom arm 6 at the required angle on the stand 4. The third fastener means 22 is a hand-operable screw fastener means 22 which is operated by a lever 24. The apparatus 2 includes fourth fastener means 26 for releasably attaching the golf swing coaching and training aid 10 to the boom arm 6. The fourth fastener means 26 is a hand-operable screw clamp fastener means. The golf swing coaching and training aid 10 comprises a tubular inner part 28 and a padded outer part 30. The tubular inner part 28 is preferably made of aluminium or a rigid plastics material. Other materials may be employed. The rigid plastics material may be a rigid extruded plastics material. Any suitable plastics material may be employed. Figure 2 shows the apparatus 2 without the golf swing coaching and training aid 10. Figure 2 shows how the fourth fastener means 26 secures an attachment device 32 which is for attaching the golf swing coaching and training aid 10 to the end of the boom arm 6. The attachment device 32 comprises a clamp device having a pair of jaws 34, 36 which are opened and closed by a hand operable screw threaded member 38. The attachment device 32 may alternatively be a ball joint connector. Figure 1 shows the apparatus 2 being used in a first mode of use where the golfer 40 has their head 42 having a cap 44 and resting against the golf swing coaching and training aid 10. The golf swing coaching and training aid 10 is thus able to keep the golfer’s head 42 steady and fixed whilst the golfer 40 practices a golf swing with a golf club 46. Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown second apparatus 48 of the present invention. Similar parts as in the apparatus 2 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The apparatus 48 has a golf swing coaching and training aid 50. The golf swing coaching and training aid 50 is the same as the golf swing coaching and training aid 10 except that the golf swing coaching and training aid 50 is provided with an aperture 52 for receiving a prong member 54 is shown. The prong member 54 is for indicating the position of the golfer’s hands 56 during a golf swing. The apparatus 48 is shown in a second mode of use in order to enable this to happen. In the second mode of use, the height of the stand 4 has been reduced as compared with the height of the stand 4 as shown in Figure 1. Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown third apparatus 58 of the present invention. Similar parts as in the apparatus 2 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The apparatus 58 is such that the stand 4 is at an intermediate height between the height shown in Figure 1 and the height shown in Figure 3. The apparatus 58 is being used in a third mode of use. The apparatus 58 comprises three releasably attachable golf swing coaching and training aids, namely a lateral hip sway restriction golf swing coaching and training aid 60, a spine angled golf swing coaching and training aid 62, and an electronic movement sensor golf swing coaching and training aid 64. The lateral hip sway restriction golf swing coaching and training aid 60 is U-shaped as shown, with a pair of arms 66, 68 for receiving between them the golfer 40. The spine angle golf swing coaching and training aid 62 is swan-neck shaped as shown. The spine angle golf swing coaching and training aid 62 is attached to the boom arm 6 as shown. The spine angle golf swing coaching and training aid 62 extends along the golfer’s spine but spaced apart from the golfer’s spine in the illustrated position of the golfer 40 the commencement of a golf swing. The electronic movement sensor golf swing coaching and training aid 64 comprises a movement sensor audio means. The electronic movement sensor golf swing coaching and training aid 64 is secured to the boom arm 6 by a strap 70. The strap 70 enables the electronic movement sensor golf swing coaching and training aid easily to be used when desired with other golf swing coaching and training aids. Thus, for example, the golf swing coaching and training aid 64 can be used as shown in Figure 3 on the apparatus 48. Figure 5 shows fourth apparatus 72 which is like the first apparatus 2 and in which similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The fourth apparatus 72 is shown with a golf swing coaching and training aid 74. The golf swing coaching and training aid 74 is being used to receive one side of the face of the golfer 40 and thus maintain the head 42 of the golfer 40 stable during a golf swing. The golf swing coaching and training aid 74 is similarly constructed as the golf swing coaching and training aid 10 except that the golf swing coaching and training aid 74 has the padded outer part in three separate portions 30 as shown. Figure 6 shows the golf swing coaching and training aid 74 in more detail. The three padded outer parts 30 are shown positioned on the tubular inner part 28. One end of the tubular inner part 28 is provided with a fourth fastener means 76 which is an alternative to the fourth fastener means 26. As shown in Figure 6, the fourth fastener means 76 comprises fastener body 78 which is connected to the tubular inner part 38 by a ball and socket joint 80. A connecting member 82 extends from the end of the boom arm 6 and is received in the fastener body 8. A hand operable screw of 84 is able to be tightened and loosened to enable the golf swing coaching and training aid 74 to be attached to and removed from the connecting member 82 and therefore from the boom arm 6. It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the stand 4 may have different legs 12. Other constructions for the boom arm 6 may be employed and other types of golf swing coaching and training aids may be employed. In the apparatus 48 shown in Figure 3, the golf swing coaching and training aid 50 may have more than one aperture 52 and thus more than one prong member 54. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention. The invention also extends to the individual components mentioned and / or shown above, taken singly or in any combination. 23 07 25

Claims

1. Apparatus for golf swing coaching and training and comprising:(i) a stand which is adjustable in height;(ii) a boom arm which is adjustable in length and which is counterweighted;(iii) pivot means for pivotally connecting the boom arm to the stand;(iv) at least one golf swing coaching and training aid which is releasably attachable to the boom arm; and(v) an electronic movement sensor secured to the boom arm configured to provide audio feedback only upon detecting a defined movement or contact event.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the electronic movement sensor includes audio means.

3. Apparatus according to claim any preceding claim in which the stand is a folding stand.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the stand is a tripod.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the stand comprises a mast portion, and in which the mast portion is adjustable to provide the height-adjustability of the stand.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the mast portion is a tubular telescopic mast portion.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including first fastener means for fastening the stand at a required height.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the first fastener means is a hand-operable screw clamp fastener means.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the boom arm is a tubular telescopic boom arm.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 and including second fastener means for fastening the boom arm at a required length.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the second fastener means is a hand-operable screw clamp fastener means.

12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pivot means is a ball and socket pivot means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 and including third fastener means for fastening the boom arm at a required angle on the stand.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the third fastener means is a hand-operable screw fastener means.23 07 2515. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including fourth fastener means for releasably attaching the golf swing coaching and training aid to the boom arm.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the fourth fastener means is on the golf swing coaching and training aid.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the fourth fastener means is on the boom arm.

18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 15-17 in which the fourth fastener means is a hand-operable screw clamp fastener means.

19. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which there is a plurality of the interchangeable golf swing coaching and training aids, and in which one of the golf swing coaching and training aids is a tubular golf swing coaching and training aid comprising a tubular inner part and a padded outer part.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 in which the tubular golf swing coaching and training aid comprises at least one aperture for receiving a prong member for indicating the path of a golfer's hand during a golf swing.

21. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which there is a plurality of interchangeable golf swing coaching and training aids, and in which the plurality of golf swing coaching and training aids is selected from the group consisting of a lateral hip sway restriction coaching and training aid, a spine angle coaching and training aid, and the electronic movement sensor.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 in which the lateral hip sway restriction coaching and training aid is U-shaped, with a pair of arms for receiving between them a golfer.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22 in which the spine angle coaching and training aid is swan-neck shaped, and locates on the boom arm such that the spine angle coaching and training aid extends along a golfer's spine but spaced apart from the golfer's spine in the position of the golfer at the commencement of a golf swing.

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