Description

GOLF SWING TRAINING APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] This invention relates to an apparatus for golf swing training. The purpose is to provide the user with experience of a correct golf swing by reproducing the sample golf swing that was copied into the golf swing training apparatrus in present invention. The apparatus guides the golf club to travel through the same swing path and to maintain the same shaft angles as those of the sample swing during a practice golf swing. By using the apparatus repeatdly, the user can feel, understand and learn correct golf swing.

Background Art

[2] Golf is a difficult sport to learn, in which slight swing errors can produce wildly undesirable results. Unfortunately, golfers do not always know the manner in which their swing was correctly done or deviated from the ideal. In an attempt to develop a better swing, many golfers practice golf swing using various kinds of training methods, such as taking instructions from the books, teaching professionals or using some training devices. However, none of them can let the golfer know and feel the correct golf swing effectively and repeatedly. It would be useful to have golf swing training apparatus that provides the user with experience of exact and correct golf swing repeatedly, so user can be proficient in correct golf swing. No such golf swing training apparatus have been invented and available at the market.

[3] The golf training gadgets currently on the market may be grouped by the types of :

1) Guide Rails/Panels, 2) Laser Tracers, 3) Wearing Swing Aids and 4) Electronic Devices.

[4] The Guide Rails/Panels-type gadgets use specially designed mechanical structures around or a portion of swing path to guide the golf club during the swing. This type of training devices guide the golf club through pre-determind swing path that is not proved as a correct swing path, and also no provisions are provided for maintaining proper shaft angles during the golf swing.

[5] The Laser Tracer-type gadgets use laser beams to provide user with indications of swing path near the hitting zone. The laser beam sources are usually mounted to the shaft of the club and create light traces on the ground or on a practice mat and the user will determine the results of a golf swing by seeing the shapes and directions of the light traces. This type of training devices may provide user with visual indication of swing path of a potion of the club near the hitting area, but no indications about the swing path and angles of club shaft during a whole golf swing.

[6] The Wearing Swing Aids-type of gadgets usually attempt to physically limit the range of motion of particular parts of body during a golf swing. These gadgets may provide the user with a correct motion of a part of body but not provide the user with information about a whole correct golf swing.

[7] Another type of devices that are used to improve the golf swing are Electronics

Devices which estimate the results of a golf swing, such as direction and distance, by using electronics means. These devices may provide user with some information on the estimated results of a golf swing but not provide the user with information for the correct golf swing.

[8] There are many different kinds of golf swing training devices on the market but there are no devices that provide user with experiences on what is correct golf swing and let the user feel, understand and learn the correct golf swing. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] Generally speaking, the golf swing is very difficult to learn and to be consistent.

The correct golf swing results four things at an impact, 1) ball meets at the sweet spot, 2) club face squares to the target line, 3) club head travels along the target line and 4) the speed of club head is fast. The golf swing is so complicated and delicate that it is not easy to make those four things happen at the instant of hitting, repeatedly.

[ 10] Based on the experiences of many golfers in the history of golf, the correct golf swings have been developed and known to golfers by the form of written or verbal instructions, teachings and visual demonstrations. However, the golfers usually could not learn the correct golf swing easily by such knowledge and instructions, mainly because it is difficult to know where and how their swings deviate from the correct swing. It is believed that there is an ideal golf swing but there are many different expressions on how to make an ideal golf swing. Moreover, the golfers who try to learn the golf swing understand the instructions and expressions very subjectively, resulting undesirable golf swings often time.

[11] Therefore, it is desirable for the golfers to have a training aid that enables the golfers be experienced, feel and learn the correct golf swing. The problem is how to make a device that can reproduce the correct golf swing by itself and let the users know what is the correct golf swing. By using the device, the users should be able to feel what is the correct golf swing, be able to repeat the correct golf swing, and ultimately be able to repeat the correct golf swing without the device. Technical Solution

[ 12] Characteristics of Golf Swings

[13] A golf swing is characterized by 1) Trace of Club Shaft, 2) Variation of Shaft Angle

and 3) Variation of Club face Angle. The Trace of Club Shaft (TCS)(6) is, as shown in Fig.2, a curved surface that is formed by the trace of moving club shaft during a golf swing. It should be noted that the TCS is different from the term "swing plane" that is a plane formed by the locus of club head during the swing, while the TCS is a surface of the trace of the club shaft. The TCS is shaped by the action of body, arms and hands. It represents the swing path, such as upright/flat swings and in-to-out/out-to-in/in-to-in swings.

[14] The Variation of Shaft Angle (VSA)(7) is, as shown in Fig.2, how the instantaneous angle of club shaft, with respect to the target line, varies while the shaft is kept contact with the TCS during a golf swing. The VSA is a result of turning and cocking actions of the wrist. The proper control of the shaft angle increases speed of club head and generates more power for hitting the ball.

[15] The Variation of Club-face Angle (VCA)(8) is, as shown in Fig.2, how the instantaneous angle of club face, with respect to the target line, varies during the golf swing. The VCA is a result of turning action of the wrist and spinning action of the shaft itself. It decides the trajectory of ball flight by hitting the ball with the instantaneous club-face angle at an instant of hitting the ball.

[16] A golf swing is uniquely described by its TCS, VSA, VCA and head speed, because the TCS decides the swing path of whole club while VSA describes the variation of shaft angle on the TCS and VCA describes the variation of club face angle within the club shaft. Two golf swings are identical if the TCSs, VSAs VCAs and head speeds of two golf swings are identical, and in turn, the results of two golf swings are same. It is also true that two golf swings are different if the TCSs, VSAs VCAs and/or head speeds of two golf swings are different, and in turn, results of two golf swings are different.

[17] There are many different golf swings with different TCSs, VSAs and/or VCAs.

Some golf swings with proper TCSs, VSAs and VCAs result successful outcomes while some others with improper TCSs, VSAs and VCAs result unsuccessful outcomes. For making a successful golf swing, proper TCS, VSA and VCA should be employed. Then the question is what are the proper TCS, VSA and VCA for the successful golf swing. Unfortunately, no perfect TCS, VSA and VCA can be deduced by theory or analytical methods. However, we can obtain a proper TCS, VSA and VCA by measuring the TCS, VSA and VCA of a successful golf swing of a good golfer.

[ 18] Copying a Sample Golf Swing

[19] There may be many different methods to measure the TCS, VSA and VCA of a golf swing. Using the high-speed cameras would be a simple way to measure the TCS, VSA and VCA of a golf swing.

[20] On the shaft of a golf club, mark two points, namely Point A, and B, by attaching optically highlighted bands(9), as shown in Fig.3, so that the two points in the pictures taken by cameras can be identified clearly. The traces(lθ) of point A and B of the club shaft will be used to get the shape(l 1) of TCS of the golf swing and to reproduce the VSA and VCA of the golf swing. It is noted that the traces in the back swing side are two, one for back swing and one for down swing, for each of Point A and B, respectively. Outmost traces of the Point A and B are taken for making the TCS. It is also noted that the actual shape of TCS near the finish part of the swing should be a dual surfaces, one for the part of back swing top and one for the part of finish, even though it is depicted as if a singly connected surface at all figures in this description.

[21] Let a good golfer, whose golf swing is to be reproduced by the apparatus, hit the balls with a golf club that has markings for Point A and B on the shaft and take continuous pictures using the high-speed cameras at front view and side view simultaneously. Select a series of continuous pictures taken by two cameras for the shot of the best, which is called the Sample Swing. Then measure the positions of highlighted points A and B of the club shaft in the pictures taken by the front and side direction cameras to obtain three dimensional position data for the Point A and B, and repeat the same process for all frames of continuous pictures. The resulting set of data will represent the TCS of the Sample Swing.

[22] Once the three dimensional position data for the series of point A and B from the consecutive frames of pictures are obtained, it can be scaled up to make the distance between point A and B in the picture into a real distance. The set of data for moving points A and B form a three-dimensional surface that is a copy of TCS of the Sample Swing as well as geometry of the grooves for reproducing the VSA and VCA.

[23] Reproducing the Sample Swing

[24] Once the three dimensional position data for the TCS of the Sample Swing are available, one can make a structure, called Shaft Guider, that has an identical shape with the TCS of the Sample Swing. Basically, two types of Shaft Guider can be made, a flat doughnut shaped panel(12) or dual circular rails(13) as shown in Fig.4. For the case of flat doughnut shaped panel, the size of Shaft Guider in axial direction need to be increased about 5 cm for both sides to secure spaces for the grooves. As far as the club shaft is moving on the Shaft Guider during a golf swing, keeping all parts of club shaft between Point A and B in continuous contact with the Shaft Guider, the TCS of the golf swing will be same as the TCS of the Sample Swing.

[25] Set of data for traces of moving Point A and B of the club shaft are plotted on the

Shaft Guider as arcs, and Grooves(14) are excavated along the arcs, as shown in Fig.4. The groove for the Point A is called Point A Groove(15) and the groove for the Point B is called Point B Groove(16). It is noted that the Point A groove has two arcs in the

back swing side, one for back swing and one for down swing. While, for the Point B Groove, there are two traces in the back swing side and one trace in the follow through side, same as traces for Point A, however, only the outside trace in the back swing side and the arc in the follow through side are taken for the Point B Groove.

[26] A practice club is made by a simple modification to the shaft of a regular golf club.

A pin, called Point A Pin(17), is installed at the Point A of the shaft, as shown in Fig.5, by which the Point A is bound(18) into the Point A Groove, i.e., the Point A can move only along the Point A Groove and keep contact all the time with the Shaft Guider, while free rotations(19) and spinning(20) of the club shaft are allowed. Another pin, called Point B Pin(21), is attached at the inside of the shaft from the Point A, as shown in Fig.5, by which the Point B of the club shaft is bound(22) into the Point B Groove, i.e., the moving Point B will be kept all the time contact with the Shaft Guider while free rotations(23), spinning(24) and axial movement(25) of the club shaft are allowed.

[27] When the Point A Pin and Point B Pin are bound into the Point A Groove and Point

B Groove, respectively, it will enable the practice swings to reproduce the TCS, VSA and VCA of the Sample Swing automatically. The reason for being reproduced the TCS is obvious by the fact that the club shaft moves along the Shaft Guider, keeping the Point A and B in touch with the Shaft Guider all the time during the swing. The reason for being reproduced the VSA is, as shown in Fig.6, that there is only one possible shaft angle(26) for each position of hand at an instant of swing, because the distance(27) between hand and Point A of the club shaft is constant and the Point A must be some where in the groove. The reason for being reproduced the VCA is that the only possible cause of varying VCA during a golf swing is, as far as the club shaft is kept on the Shaft Guider, spinning(28) the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and no one take the spinning action in normal golf swing.

[28] As a result of this description, the Shaft Guider with the Point A and B Groove and the bindings of Point A and B of the club shaft into the Grooves enables every practice golf swing to be a copy of the Sample Swing, as far as movement of body and hands are not deviate too much from the correct golf swing and no abnormal spinning actions of the club shaft are taken by the wrist.

[29] The Golf Swing Training Apparatus

[30] The apparatus is constructed by setting up the Shaft Guider with the proper standing angle and height as shown in Fig.7. The standing angle and height of the Shaft Guider can be adjusted to fit any user. User can also adjust the position of Point A of the shaft for personal fitting. The practice golf club is bound with the Shaft Guider by engaging the Point A and B Pins into the Point A and B grooves of the Shaft Guider. The apparatus is now ready for use. The user can start practice golf swing slowly by the manner in which follows the guidance of the Shaft Guider. When the

golfer get used to use the apparatus, normal speed practice swings can be possible.

Advantageous Effects

[31] Because the apparatus in present invention reproduces the Sample Swing automatically:

[32] The user can be experienced with the Sample Swing repeatedly by him/herself.

[33] The apparatus demonstrates how to swing the golf club for a whole swing, including the top of back swing, the down swing, the hitting and the finish. [34] The user can feel correct movement of golf club for each part of the swing.

[35] Correct movement of golf club will lead the body, arms and hands to correct movements, unless sway too much.

[36] Ultimately, user can learn the correct golf swing by using the apparatus repeatedly.

[37] Sometimes, swing of a golfer becomes deteriorated gradually, one part by one part, without knowing the changes. The golfer under this situation can find out what parts of the swing went wrong and how to fix by using the apparatus. One can make the apparatus by adopting his/her best swing as the Sample Swing and use the apparatus as a swing checker whenever needed. [38] The apparatus can be adjusted to fit any individual golfer. The user can practice golf swing for any selected club by attaching the pins into the club shaft and can recover the practice club to a regular club by releasing the pins.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[39] Fig.1 General View of the Apparatus in Present Invention

[40] Fig.2 Three Factors in Determining the Golf Swing

[41] Fig.3 Point A and B on the Club Shaft and the Trace of Club Shaft(TCS)

[42] Fig.4 Types and Shapes of the Shaft Guider

[43] Fig.5 Practice Club and Binding the Point A and B into the Grooves

[44] Fig.6 Reasons for being Reproduced the Sample Swing

[45] Fig.7 The Golf Swing Training Apparatus in Present Invention

[46] Fig.8 Feet of Shaft Guider and Actual Shape of Shaft Guider

[47] Fig.9 Practice Club and Two Pins in Details

[48] Fig.10 Supporting Structure

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [49] Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Each component of the apparatus is made in accordance with the description and drawing as follows: [50] The apparatus consisted of a Shaft Guider(30), a Practice Club(40) and a

Supporting Structure(50), as shown in Fig.7. The Shaft Guider(30) is made by stainless metal pipes, 2.5 cm in diameter, with a shape of the TCS as realized by the measured

data set of the Sample Swing, as shown in Fig.7. The Shaft Guider has Back Swing Rail(31), Down Swing Rail(32), Follow Through Rail(33) and Inner Rail(34), which are connected by four Bridges(35) to make an one piece structure. Each rail has a groove(36), 5 mm in width, that guides club shaft. The inner rail will guide the Point B of the shaft for keeping the shaft in continuous contact with the Shaft Guider. Other rails will guide the Point A of the shaft to reproduce the VSA and VCA of the Sample Swing as well as keeping the Point A of the shaft in continuous contact with the Shaft Guider.

[51] In the opposite side of the grooves of the Shaft Guider, two sliding feet(37), made by quadrangular metal pipe with the length of 50 cm, are attached for connecting the Shaft Guider with a standing structure and to adjust the height of the Shaft Guider, as shown in Fig.8. It is noted that the finish part of the TCS is not coincident with the part of back swing top of the TCS and the finish part of the Shaft Guider gradually separated(38) from the part of back swing top of the Shaft Guider, as shown in Fig.8.

[52] The Practice Club(40) is made by applying a minor modification into a regular golf club, driver, fairway wood or iron whichever user want to use, as shown in Fig.9. The modification is to install two pins, Point A Pin(41) and Point B Pin(48), as shown in Fig.9.

[53] The Point A Pin(41) is a piece of mechanical part that binds(42) the Point A of the club shaft with the Point A Groove. The Point A Pin is consisted of anchor ball(43), shaft holder(44) and axial stopper(45). The Anchor Ball(43), with a size of 1 cm in diameter, will be inserted into the groove and moved freely within the groove. The Shaft Holder(44), a cylinder shape with the size of 2 cm in length and adjustable diameter, and insert able to/removable from the club shaft, holds the club shaft while allowing the shaft spinning. The Shaft Holder, together with Anchor Ball, is attachable to and removable from the club shaft by the user. The Axial Stopper(45) has two rings that are fixed into the club shaft at both side of the Shaft Holder to fix the position of the the Shaft Holder at the Point A along the axial direction. Each Ring of the Axial Stopper can be inserted into the club shaft by opening the mouth of the Ring and close the mouth and fix firmly on the club shaft by a clamp by the user. The Point A Pin allows rotational(46) and spinning(47) movement of the club shaft while binds(42) the Point A of the club shaft into the Point A Groove.

[54] The Point B Pin(48) is, as shown in Fig.9, a piece of mechanical part that binds the

Point B of the club shaft with the Point B Groove. The Point B Pin is identical with the Point A Pin except that it has no Axial Stopper. The Point B Pin allows rotational and spinning movement of the club and dose not hold the club shaft along the axial direction(49). It only prevents the Point B of the shaft to be taken off from the Shaft Guider, while the Point A Pin prevents the Point A of the shaft to be taken off from the

Shaft Guider during the golf swing. As a result, the Point A and B of the club shaft remain in constant contact with the Shaft Guider and the TCS of the swing becomes a copy of TCS of the Sample Swing.

[55] The Shaft Guider is assembled with a Supporting Structure(50) that erects the Shaft

Guider with an adjustable standing angle(51) and height (52), as shown in Fig.10. The Supporting Structure is consisted of two rectangular frames, Front Frame(53), Bottom Frame(58), and two Back Struts(59), made by metal quadrangular pipe. The Front Frame and Bottom Frame are connected by hinges(54) for adjusting the standing angle of the Front Frame.

[56] In the front side of the two vertical pipes of the Front Frame, grooves(55) are excavated for inserting the sliding feet(56) of the Shaft Guider to connect(64) the Shaft Guider with the Front Frame and to adjust the height of the Shaft Guider. In the back side of the two vertical pipes of the Front Frame, two turning knobs(63) for tightening and holding the sliding feet are added. The Bottom Frame(58) is a simple rectangular frame that supports the structure. The golfer stands in the center of the Bottom Frame for taking practice golf swings.

[57] Two Back Struts(59) are erected at left and right corner of the back of the Bottom

Frame, as shown in Fig.10. The Back Struts are connected with the Front Frame and Bottom Frame by hinges(60), so that the length of the Back Struts can be adjusted. The height of the Struts can be adjusted by sliding the upper part(61) of the struts into the lower part(62) of the struts and fixing the height by tightening the turning knobs(57) to make proper standing angle of the Shaft Guider for fitting individual user.

Mode for Invention

[58]

Industrial Applicablity

[59]

Sequence List Text

[60]