Training aid for improving a golf swing

Abstract

A training aid for improving a golf swing comprising an elongate base member having arms extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, the base member and perpendicular arms having indicia formed thereon; a first parallel member spaced from the base member and configured for engagement with the perpendicular arms, a space between the first parallel member and the base member forming a zone above which a head of a golf club travels during at least part of the swing; and a second parallel member spaced from the first parallel member and engaging the parallel arms at a location which determines the distance between a user's feet and a golf ball to be hit.

Description

[0001] - 1 -

[0002] Training aid for improving a golf swing

[0003] Field of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a training aid for improving a golf swing.

[0005] Background

[0006] Golf is a popular sport around the world. One of the appealing features of the game is the complexity of a golf swing, which is difficult to master so players are constantly training to improve their game.

[0007] Many players engage in regular practice to improve their swing and some players engage in regular coaching. However, it is not always possible to have a coach on hand and players receiving coaching need to practice what they have been taught in their own time. It is desirable to have a simple and easy to use training aid that a user can use during practice by themselves to improve their swing.

[0008] Alignment of a golfer is one variable that can have an impact on their swing. While practising, it is desirable for a golfer to be able to maintain their position or alignment so that they can practice other aspects of their swing, such as wrist cock, weight transfer and transition or hip movement.

[0009] There is a need to address the above, and / or at least provide a useful alternative.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a training aid for improving a golf swing comprising:

[0011] an elongate base member having arms extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, the base member and perpendicular arms having indicia formed thereon; - 2 -

[0012] a first parallel member spaced from the base member and configured for engagement with the perpendicular arms, a space between the first parallel member and the base member forming a zone above which a head of a golf club travels during at least part of the swing; and

[0013] a second parallel member spaced from the first parallel member and engaging the parallel arms at a location which determines the distance between a user's feet and a golf ball to be hit.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the indicia on the base member and the first and second parallel members are configured to establish a relative position of the ball with reference to a central location between the user's feet. Preferably, the indicia are in the form of a measurement scale.

[0015] In a preferred form, the measurement scale on the base member has a central zero and extends between +18 and- 18 inches in one-inch increments. Preferably, the first and second parallel members are formed with indicia having the same measurement scale as the base member.

[0016] The indicia on the second parallel member can be provided for indicating the width of a person's stance.

[0017] Preferably, the perpendicular arms extend from the base member at opposite ends on the base member. Preferably, the first and second parallel members are formed with magnets at ends thereof for releasable securement to the perpendicular arms. Preferably, the perpendicular members are hinged to the base member.

[0018] Preferably, the training aid further comprises apertures for securing the aid to a ground surface with golf tees.

[0019] According to a further aspect of the invention there is a training method for improving a golf swing, including the steps of: - 3 -

[0020] providing a training aid of the above described type;

[0021] placing the second parallel member a desired distance from the first parallel member to set a desired spacing of a user's feet from the ball;

[0022] placing the ball between the first parallel member and the base member; and initiating a golf swing while monitoring the path of a head of the golf club in relation to the first parallel member.

[0023] Preferably, the head of the golf club travels along a path which is generally parallel to the first parallel member as the club head passes near the first parallel member.

[0024] Preferably, the method further includes the step of aligning the base member with a target. The method can further include the step of a user bending their hips, placing a club along their shoulders and looking down to check if their shoulders are aligned with the base member and target.

[0025] Brief description of the drawings

[0026] In order that the invention may be more easily understood, an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a training aid for improving a golf swing according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0028] Figure 2 is a plan view of the training aid.

[0029] Figure 3 is a plan view of a training aid of another embodiment.

[0030] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a golfer using the training aid of Figure 3.

[0031] Detailed description

[0032] A training aid 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1. The training aid 10 is configured for improving a golf swing. - 4 -

[0033] The training aid 10 comprises an elongate base member 12 having arms 14, 16 extending generally perpendicularly therefrom. The perpendicular arms 14, 16 extend from the base member 12 at opposite ends of the base member. Arms 14 and 16 are hingedly connected to base member 12, preferably via rivets, so as to swing out from a collapsed position in which members 12, 14 and 16 lie atop each other to facilitate transport and storage. It will be appreciated that arms 14, 16 may also be detachable from the base member 12.

[0034] As can be seen in Figure 3, the base member 12 and perpendicular arms 14, 16 have indicia formed thereon. The indicia may be any visual marker that can be used to measure distance. In the illustrated example, the indicia is in form of a measurement scale with a scale in inches, though in other embodiments the scale could be a metric scale.

[0035] The training aid 10 also has a first parallel member 18 spaced from the base member 12 and configured for engagement with the perpendicular arms 14, 16. As will be described further below, a space X between the first parallel member 18 and the base member 12 forms a zone above which a head of a golf club travels during at least part of the swing.

[0036] The training aid 10 also has a second parallel member 20 spaced from the first parallel member 18. The second parallel member 20 also engages the parallel arms 16, 18 and is positioned at a location which determines the distance between a user's feet and a golf ball to be hit.

[0037] The indicia on the base member 12 and the first and second parallel members 18, 20 are configured to establish a relative position of the ball with reference to a central location between user's feet. That is, the ball may be aligned with a central location between a user's feet, in front of the central location, or behind the central location, according to a user's preference. To achieve this, the measurement scale on the base member 12 has a central zero and extends between +18 and- 18 inches in one-inch increments. The first and second parallel members 18, 20 have the same measurement - 5 -

[0038] scale as the base member, i.e. a central zero and extends between +18 and- 18 inches in one-inch increments.

[0039] The indicia on the second parallel member 20 is provided for indicating the width of a person's stance. This is particularly helpful as shoulder width is a general guideline for the width of a person's stance during a golf swing, but most people have little idea how wide their shoulders are.

[0040] To facilitate quick assembly, the first and second parallel members 18, 20 are formed with magnets at ends thereof for releasable securement to the perpendicular arms 14, 16.

[0041] Using training aid 10

[0042] In use, the training aid 10 is secured to a ground surface and may include apertures 22 for securing the aid to a ground surface with golf tees. In placing the training aid 10 on the ground, the base member 12 is first aligned with a target.

[0043] The training aid 10 is stored in a disassembled stage in a drawstring bag. After removing the individual parts from the bag, perpendicular arms 14, 16 are extended so as to form right angles with base member 12.

[0044] The first parallel member 18 is attached to parallel arms 14, 16. The first parallel member 18 is spaced close to the base member 12. The separation of the first parallel member 18 to the base member 12 is set at a desired amount and this will often be under 12 inches. The space between the base member 12 and the first parallel member 18 defines a zone, above which the golf club will pass during the swing as the club head passes near the first parallel member 18. The first parallel member 18 will most often show the golfer whether the club is going back outside the line, square or inside the line. The first parallel member 18 can be used for whatever the golfer desires - even to see if the golfers shoulders are aligned. - 6 -

[0045] The second parallel member 20 is then attached to parallel arms 14, 16, at a distance from the first parallel member 18 corresponding to how far a golfer wishes to stand from the ball. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this distance will take into consideration many factors such as player size, strength, flexibility and skill, as well as club length and personal preference.

[0046] The second parallel member 20 will be mostly used to measure how far the golfer stands from the golf ball given that the golfer will stand different distances from the ball for each club in the bag (mainly because club length varies). For example, wedges are the shortest - perhaps standing 20 inches from the ball to a driver which might be 43 inches in length and the golfer may stand 34 inches from the ball. All this will vary from one golfer to the next but once a golfer determines what is best for him then that can be repeated exactly from shot to shot for each club.

[0047] The golfer can then position themselves with their toes close to the second parallel member 20, with their feet a desired width apart and evenly laterally spaced with respect to a central indicia so that the ball can be positioned at a desired offset from the users feed and with respect to a central axis of the golfer, or a midpoint between the user's feet.

[0048] To ensure correct alignment with the target, the golfer can bend their hips, place a club along their shoulders and look down to check if their shoulders are aligned with the base member and target.

[0049] A ball is then placed between the first parallel member 18 and the base member 12. Indicia on the first parallel member 18 can be used to position the ball aligned with a midpoint between the user's feet, in front or behind the midpoint.

[0050] Once the golfer is comfortable, they can initiate a golf swing while monitoring the path of a head of the golf club in relation to the first parallel member. Preferably, during the backswing the head of the golf club travels along a path which is generally parallel to - 7 -

[0051] the first parallel member 18. The first parallel member 18 can be used as a visual guide for the club head during the swing as the club heads approaches the ball.

[0052] After a ball has been hit, the golfer can set up their second and subsequent swings with a consistent, repeatable alignment that they would otherwise not have. By allowing a golfer to consistently set up their swing, they can focus on other aspects of their swing, such as wrist cock, weight transfer and transition or hip movement. This allows a golfer greater control while practising by themselves and may help them improve their golf swing at a faster rate than without using the training aid 10.

[0053] Many modifications of the above embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0054] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0055] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

- 8 -CLAIMS:

1. A training aid for improving a golf swing comprising:an elongate base member having arms extending generally perpendicularly therefrom, the base member and perpendicular arms having indicia formed thereon; a first parallel member spaced from the base member and configured for engagement with the perpendicular arms, a space between the first parallel member and the base member forming a zone above which a head of a golf club travels during at least part of the swing; anda second parallel member spaced from the first parallel member and engaging the parallel arms at a location which determines the distance between a user's feet and a golf ball to be hit.

2. A training aid according to claim 1, wherein the indicia on the base member and the first and second parallel members are configured to establish a relative position of the ball with reference to a central location between the user's feet.

3. A training aid according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the indicia are in the form of a measurement scale.

4. A training aid according to claim 3, wherein the measurement scale on the base member has a central zero and extends between +18 and- 18 inches in one inch increments.

5. A training aid according to claim 4, wherein first and second parallel members are formed with indicia having the same measurement scale as the base member.

6. A training aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the indicia on the second parallel member is provided for indicating the width of a person's stance.

7. A training aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the perpendicular arms extend from the base member at opposite ends on the base member.

8. A training aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second parallel members are formed with magnets at ends thereof for releasable securement to the perpendicular arms.

9. A training aid according to any preceding claim, wherein the perpendicular members are hinged to the base member.- 9 -10. A training aid according to any preceding claim, further comprising apertures for securing the aid to a ground surface with golf tees.

11. A training method for improving a golf swing, including the steps of:providing a training aid according to any preceding claim;placing the second parallel member a desired distance from the first parallel member to set a desired spacing of a user's feet from the ball;placing the ball between the first parallel member and the base member; and initiating a golf swing while monitoring the path of a head of the golf club in relation to the first parallel member.

12. A training method according to claim 11, wherein the head of the golf club travels along a path which is generally parallel to the first parallel member as the club head passes near the first parallel member.

13. A training method according to claim 11 or claim 12, further including the step of aligning the base member with a target.

14. A training method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further including the step of a user bending their hips, placing a club along their shoulders and looking down to check if their shoulders are aligned with the base member and target.

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