Golf Training Aid For Squaring A Club Head At Impact

Abstract

A device for aiding squaring a clubhead of a golf club at impact during a swing has a base member removably attachable to a top area of a grip of the gold club. A finger member extends down and away from a bottom area of the base member.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application generally relates to golfing and, more particularly, to a golf training aid that attaches to any golf club and trains a golfer to have a consistent squaring of the face of a club head at impact.BACKGROUND

[0002] Golf is enjoyed by players of different ages, genders, and skill levels. Golf is somewhat unique in that players of different ages, genders, and skill levels can play together in golf events, even in direct competition with one another, using handicapped scoring, different tee boxes, team formats, etc., and still enjoy the golf outing or competition. No matter the skill level, many golfers seek to improve their performance, lower their golf scores, and reach that next performance “level.”

[0003] One way to help golfers improve performance may be to help the golfer achieve consistency in their club swing. More specifically, helping the golfer achieve a consistent swing wherein the clubhead is squared at impact may help the golfer lower their golf score. Squaring the clubhead is one factor that may determine whether a golf ball is propelled in the intended direction. If the clubhead is squared at impact, the golf ball may generally follow a straight route. However, if the clubhead is not squared at impact, the golf ball may fly in an unintended direction and / or may follow a route that curves left or right of the desired target.

[0004] In general, to hit a golf ball straight, the clubface must be square at impact. While, this may sound simple, many golfers, especially novice golfers, may not understand what must be done to square the clubface at impact and to do it on a consistent level. In general, many golfers tend to either over rotate or under rotate their wrist. Over rotation or under rotation of the golfer's wrist may cause the clubface not to be squared at impact and which may cause the golf ball to fly right or left of the intended target.

[0005] Presently, there are many golf training aids, for both novice and experienced golfers, which claim to help a golfer achieve a sound, repetitive golf swing wherein the clubhead may be squared at impact. Unfortunately, many of these training aids are complicated to use, complicated to set-up, expensive to purchase, or fail to achieve the desired goal of having the golfer learn the correct fundamentals in a golf swing.

[0006] Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that overcomes the above problems.SUMMARY

[0007] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0008] In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, a device for aiding squaring a clubhead of a golf club at impact during a swing is disclosed. The device has a base member removably attachable to a top area of a grip of the gold club. A finger member extends down and away from a bottom area of the base member.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present application is further detailed with respect to the following drawings. These figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present application but rather illustrate certain attributes thereof. The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary golf training aid attached to a grip of a golf club in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a magnified side view of the exemplary golf training aid of FIG. 1 attached to a grip of a golf club in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the exemplary golf training aid of FIG. 1 removed from the golf club in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a front view of the exemplary golf training aid of FIG. 1 removed from the golf club in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a top view of the exemplary golf training aid of FIG. 1 removed from the golf club in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the exemplary golf training aid of FIG. 1 with a righthanded golfer positioning a left hand on the golf club in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0016] FIG. 7 is a front view of an exemplary golf training aid attached to a grip of a golf club showing dominate hand placement in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION

[0017] The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present disclosure can be constructed and / or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the disclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences can be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0018] Embodiments of the exemplary device relate to a golf training aid. The golf training aid may be secured to the grip area of any golf club. The golf training aid provides a constant squaring of the club face by preventing the clubface from opening or closing. The golf training aid provides feedback of under or over rotation of the wrist of the golfer. This may provide the golfer with the ability to repeat the proper wrist movement to square the clubface of the golf club in order to provide proper muscle memory for the golfer and directs all the energy from the base of the hand to the club head.

[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1-7 a golf training device 10 may be shown. The device 10 may be attached to any golf club 12 in order to aid the golfer in squaring the club face 14 during the golf swing. The device 10 may be removably attached to a grip 16 of the golf club 12. In general, the device 12 may be removably attached to a top area 16A of the grip 16.

[0020] The device 10 may have a base member 18. The base member 18 may be used to position the device 10 on the grip 16 of the golf club 12. The base member 18 may be “U” shaped so that the device may be secured to the grip 16 of the golf club 12. The curvature of the “U” shaped may be similar to the curvature of the top area 16A of the grip 16. Located in an interior of the base member 18 may be a plurality of undulations 20. The undulations 20 may provide a slip resistant mechanism to prevent the device 10 from twisting / moving when the device 10 is attached to the grip 16 of the golf club 12. In accordance with one embodiment, a lip 22 may be formed on a top section of the base member 18. The lip 22 may engage the top area 16A of the grip 16 to position the device 10 on the grip 16 of the golf club 12.

[0021] A securing device 24 may be attached to the base member 18. The securing device 24 may be used to attach and hold as well as release the device 10 to and from the grip 16 of the golf club 12. In accordance with one embodiment, the securing device 24 may be adjustable. This may allow the securing device 24 to attach the device 10 to different size grips 16. The securing device 24 may be an adjustable belt, ratcheting belt, hook and loop belt, or similar devices. A loop 34 of the securing device 24 may be used to securely fasten the device 10 to the grip 16 of the golf club 12.

[0022] In accordance with one embodiment, a channel 26 may be formed in the base member 18. The channel 26 may be used for attaching the securing device 24 to the base member 18. As may be seen in the FIGS., one end of the securing device 24 may be slid through the channel 26 so that opposing ends of the securing device 24 may be positioned on each end of the channel 26. When both ends of the securing device 24 are attached to one another, the channel 26 keeps the securing device 24 attached to the base member 18.

[0023] Extending down from the bottom area 28 of the base member 18 may be a finger member 30. The finger member 30 may curve away and down from bottom area 28 of the base member 18. In accordance with one embodiment, the finger member 30 may be “J” shaped with the bottom end of the “J” shaped attached to and extending down and away from bottom area 28 of the base member 18. In accordance with one embodiment, the leg member of the “J” shaped finger member 30 may angle away from the base member 18.

[0024] In accordance with one embodiment, an adjustment device 32 may be coupled to the base member 18 and the finger member 30. The adjustment device 32 may allow one to adjust the angle of the finger member 30 to allow the device 10 to accommodate fingers of different sizes as may be described below.

[0025] Located on a top surface of the base member 18 may be a plurality of indicia 34. The indicia 34 may be used to position the device 10 on the grip 16 of the golf club 12. When attached in a neutral position, the finger member 30 may be approximately planer with the clubface 14 when clubhead 12A is angled so that the clubface 14 is positioned in a flat vertical position. The indicia 34 may indicate a predetermined number of degrees such that the device 10 may be rotated (clockwise or counterclockwise) on the grip 16 of the golf club 12. The rotation of the device 10 may then allow the golfer to hit the golf ball with a slightly more open or closed clubface 14 as may be described below. This may allow the golfer to hit a draw or fade.

[0026] To use the device 10, the user may place the device 10 on the top area 16A of the grip 16 so that the base member 18 engages with the grip 16. In accordance with one embodiment, an interior section of the “U” shaped base member 18 may engage with the grip 16. If the base member 18 has a lip 22, the lip 22 may engage the top area 16A of the grip 16. The device 10 may then be positioned on the grip 16 so that the finger member 30 may be approximately planer with the clubface 14 when clubhead 12A is angled so that the clubface 14 is positioned in a flat vertical position. This may be a neutral position. As stated above, the golfer may rotate the device 10 clockwise or counterclockwise. For a righthanded golfer, the golfer may rotate the device 10 clockwise to a predetermined spot indicated by indicia 34. This may allow the golfer to hit the golf ball with a slightly more open clubface 14. Alternatively, the golfer may rotate the device 10 counterclockwise to a predetermined spot indicated by indicia 34. This may allow the golfer to hit the golf ball with a slightly more closed clubface 14.

[0027] The golfer may then use the securing device 24 to attach and hold the device 10 to the grip 16 of the golf club 12. Once secure, the undulations 20 may press into the grip 16 of the golf club 12 to prevent the device 10 from opening / twisting / moving on the grip 16 of the golf club 12 when in use. The golfer may then place their dominant hand 36 (left hand for a right-handed golfer and right hand for a left-handed golfer) and position it on the top area 16A of the grip 16. The golfer may then place the non-dominate hand below the dominate hand 36 and position it on the grip 16.

[0028] With the golfer's hands positioned on the grip 16, the finger member 30 of the device 10 may be positioned over the bottom knuckles of the pinky and ring fingers of the dominant hand 36. When the golfer swings the golf club 12, if the golfer tries to over rotate or under rotates the wrist of the dominant hand 36, the finger member 30 of the device 10 may press into the pinky or ring finger preventing further rotation. The prevention of over and under rotation of the wrist of the dominant hand 36 by the device 10 may cause the golfer to square up the club face 14 when the golf face 14 impacts the golf ball. The constant feedback of the device 10 during the swing may provide the golfer the ability to repeat the proper wrist movement to consistently square the club face 14 of the golf club to provide proper muscle memory for the golfer. This may allow a golfer to under the physics of the golf swing and the golfer's particular application of one motion centrifugal force.

[0029] The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the application but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the application.

Claims

1. A system and method as shown and described.

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