Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present invention claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.: 60/656,972, filed on February 28, 2005, and to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.: 60/723,856, filed on October 5, 2005. The disclosures of said provisional applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to field of athletic training and practice equipment, and more particularly to a golf swing training device.

Background of the Invention The Professional Golf Association (PGA) of America has concluded that the quickest and most effective way for a golfer to learn and improve his or her game is by using visual response training tools. While there are many golf swing training devices available in the marketplace which claim to provide tremendous results if used on a consistent basis, they typically are only suitable for addressing one or two aspects of the golfers game and are similarly ineffective in teaching people how to become better all around golfers by identifying the underlying issues that can result in an improper execution of a particular golf shot. More specifically, most currently available golf swing training devices are configured to provide only a "quick fix" to an underlying problem, without seeking to actually teach and correct the underlying issues that can result in the improper execution of a golf shot. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a golf swing training device that can teach a golfer of any level to feel and visualize a proper golf swing for virtually any full swing and short game shots.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a golf club shaft that can enable a golfer to feel and see properly executed full swings and short game shots around the green. The golf shaft comprises an elongated shaft member having a longitudinal axis and extending a predetermined length between an upper butt end

and a lower tip end. In another aspect, at least a portion of a peripheral shaft surface further comprises at least one colored shaft surface region that is colored differently than at least a portion of the remainder of the peripheral shaft surface. The at least one colored shaft surface region can be positioned relative to an attached club face such that it can allow a golfer to monitor the position of his/her clubface (square, closed, open) throughout a golf swing. In addition, the short game shots-chipping, pitching and bunker shots can be quickly and easily learned by using the tricolor shaft to check relative clubface and shaft position. The visual feedback is quick and immediate. As will be understood, the inventive golf club shaft can be formed from any suitable material, including steel or graphite and can further comprise any type of flex. Still further, the golf shaft may be used in any set of golf clubs designed for actual play or, alternatively, may be used as a training club.

In another aspect, the present invention further provide an inventive golf shaft as generically described above, further comprising an added weight element positioned at or near the upper butt or grip end of the club. The additional weighting can, in one aspect, be used to teach a golfer to move the grip end ahead of the club head through impact, which can provide maximum energy and maximum distance in a golf shot. The weighting can, in another aspect, enable a golfer to swing from the inside, relative to the golfer's stance, and to properly shift his/her weight during the golf swing. Still further, a weighted swing trainer of the present invention can also be used teach the golfer to make proper swings by allowing the player to develop correct muscle memory for a particular shot.

In still another aspect, the various aspects of the inventive golf shaft can provide a golfer with immediate feedback as to the position of the clubface relative to the swing arc, such as for example, feedback as to whether the club face is open, square, or closed in relation to the swing arc. A square clubface is typically necessary to execute straight shots. Further, execution of short game shots around the green such as chipping, pitching and greenside bunker play will become easy to understand and simpler to execute. These advantages and more will become apparent to one of skill in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a swing plane training device configured to be mounted to the butt end of a golf club shaft. An exemplary training device comprises a mount member having a proximal end and a distal end

and further having a longitudinal axis defined there through. The mount member can for example, be configured as a pin, sized and shaped to be received by a complementary bore defined in the butt end of a conventional golf club shaft and/or golf club shaft grip assembly. The swing plane training device further comprises an elongated beam, having a proximal end, a distal end, and further having a longitudinal axis defined there through. The proximal end of the beam member is connected to the proximal end of the mount member such that the longitudinal axis of the beam is oriented at least substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mount member. A first prong member and a second prong member are also provided, whereby each prong member further comprises respective proximal ends and respective distal ends. The respective proximal ends are each connected to the distal end of the beam member, such that the first and second prong members extend in the distal direction away from the distal end of the beam member. The swing plane training device can be mounted to either a conventional golf club shaft or to a golf club shaft of the present invention. Further, when properly connected, the prong members will form an inverted V formation oriented toward the ground surface when a golfer is gripping the club in a conventional address position. In use, by monitoring the relative orientation of one or more prong members, the swing plane training device can aid in teaching a proper backswing, delivery and through swing position.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth, in part, in the detailed description and Figures which follow, and in part will be derived from the detailed description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as disclosed

Brief Description of the Figures

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1(a) is a front elevational view of a golf club comprising a golf shaft according to one exemplified aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 1(b) is an exemplified schematic cross-sectional view of portion of a golf shaft according to one exemplified aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 1(c) is an exemplified schematic cross-sectional view of portion of a golf shaft according to one exemplified aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2(a) is a front elevational view of a golf club comprising a golf shaft according to one exemplified aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2(b) is an exemplified schematic cross-sectional view of portion of a golf shaft according to one exemplified aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a golf club comprising a golf club comprising a swing plane training device according to one exemplified aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a swing plane training device according to one exemplified aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a swing plane training device according to one exemplified aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a swing plane training device according to one exemplified aspect of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred aspects of the invention and to the Figures and their previous and following description. However, before the present devices and methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific articles, devices, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that

the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.

As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a colored surface portion" includes aspects having two or more such colored surface portions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" one particular value, and/or to "about" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.

As summarized above, in one aspect, the present invention provides a golf club shaft 100 configured to enable a golfer of any age and skill level to practice and/or improve one or more aspects of his or her game. With reference to FIG. 1(a), a golf club shaft 100 is comprised of an elongated shaft member 102 having a longitudinal axis L and extending a predetermined length between an upper butt end 106 and a lower tip end 108. In an exemplary aspect, and as illustrated in FIG. 1(b), the shaft can further comprise substantially circular cross-sectional profiles 110 over the length of the shaft, further defining a peripheral shaft surface 112. At least a portion of the peripheral shaft surface 112 further comprises at least one colored shaft surface region 114 that is colored differently than at least a portion of the remainder of the peripheral shaft surface. The at least one colored surface region 114 extends longitudinally and peripherally along at least a portion of said peripheral shaft surface and further comprises a side edge 115 extending longitudinally along the peripheral shaft surface of said portion of the shaft.

With specific reference to FIGS 1(a)-1(c), at least a portion of the golf shaft can, in one aspect, further comprise at least two differently colored peripheral surface regions 114(a), 114(b) that extends longitudinally thereon. In one aspect, the at least two differently colored peripheral surface regions 114 extend peripherally about the surface of the shaft in a common plane substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. According to this aspect, the first and a second differently colored peripheral surface regions 114 each comprise a longitudinally

extending side edge 115, extending thereon a portion of the shaft peripheral surface. In one aspect, the longitudinally extending side edges of the respective first and second colored surface regions can be positioned adjacent to each other. Alternatively, and as shown in FIG. 1(a), the longitudinally extending side edges 115 of the first and second colored surface regions can abut or be connected to each other.

In still another aspect, as shown in FIG. 1 (c), the first and second colored surface regions 114 can peripherally extend substantially symmetrically around opposing portions 116(a), 116(b), of the peripheral shaft surface 112. In still another aspect, and as shown in FIG. 1(c), the first and second colored surface regions 114 can extend peripherally about opposing portions 116(a), 116(b), of the peripheral shaft surface 112 such that the longitudinally extending side edges 115 abut or are connected. In still another aspect, the respective first and second front edges and first and second back edges can abut in a common plane containing the longitudinal axis of said elongated shaft member.

With reference to FIGS. 2(a) - 2(b), in an exemplary aspect, at least a portion of the golf shaft can comprise at least three differently colored peripheral surface regions 114(a), 114(b), 114(c) extending longitudinally thereon. In one aspect, the at least three differently colored peripheral surface regions extend peripherally about the surface of the shaft in a common plane that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. In one exemplary aspect, a longitudinally extending third colored surface region 114(c) can be position intermediate to respective longitudinally extending side edges 115(a), 115(b) of the first and second colored surface regions 114(a), and 114(b), respectively. In still another aspect, and as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2(b), a longitudinally extending third colored surface region can have side edges 115(c) connected to the respective longitudinally extending side edges 115(a) and 115(b) of the first and second colored surface regions 114(a) and 114(b) respectively.

The colored surface regions of the golf shaft can be provided with any desired color or combination of colors. For example, in one aspect, the colored surface portions can comprise such colors as white, red, and/or black. Further, those embodiments comprising at least two different colored surface regions can also comprise any desired combination of different colors. For example, in one aspect, the golf shaft can comprise a black peripheral shaft surface region and a white

peripheral shaft surface region. Alternatively, the golf shaft can comprise a black, a white, and a red peripheral shaft surface regions. Still further, as shown in FIG. 2(a), in one aspect, the portion of the shaft comprising at least one colored surface region extending peripherally thereon can also be spaced a predetermined distance 118 from the tip portion of the shaft. Alternatively, the entire length of the shaft can comprise a colored surface region extending peripherally thereon. In one exemplary aspect, the portion of said shaft comprising a colored surface region can have any predetermined length, such as for example, a length in the range of from 15 to 25 inches. It should be understood that the elongated shaft member can be comprised of any conventional golf shaft material, including, for example, wood, stainless steel, graphite, and/or titanium. Further, the shaft can be dimensioned according to the size requirements of an individual user. Therefore, it should be understood that the length of the shaft between the upper butt end and the lower tip end can be any desired length. Still further, in one aspect, the cross-sectional profile across the length of the shaft can be substantially uniform in area. Alternatively, in another aspect, the shaft member can taper from the upper butt end toward the lower tip end such that an upper cross-sectional profile of the shaft proximal to the upper butt end defines a cross-sectional area that is larger than a cross-sectional area defined by a cross-sectional profile positioned intermediate said upper cross-sectional profile and the lower tip end of the shaft.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a golf club comprising a golf shaft as described above, wherein the tip portion of the elongated shaft is connected to a conventional club head 120 having a substantially planar front face 122 terminated by a leading edge 124. The club head can be any conventionally know club head including, for example, a club head of the type classified as a driver, wood, iron, and wedge. Additionally, the club can further comprise any conventional golf club grip 126 connected to the upper butt portion of the golf club shaft.

When assembled in connected relationship with a golf club head, a portion of a colored shaft surface region described above can be aligned in a predetermined arrangement relative to the leading edge of the club head face, such that during a swinging motion of the club, said colored surface portion can provide a recognizable reference point indicating a relative position of the leading edge of the club head face to the swing arc. For example, in one aspect, a colored surface region 114

extending longitudinally and peripnerally about at least a portion of the surface of the golf shaft can be positioned such that it is bisected longitudinally by a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the shaft, where said plane is further oriented parallel to the leading edge 124 of the club head face. Alternatively, in another aspect, any portion of a colored shaft surface region described above can be aligned in a predetermined arrangement relative to the leading edge of the club head face, such that during a swinging motion of the club, a longitudinally extending side edge 115 of said colored portion can provide a recognizable reference point indicating a relative position of the leading edge of the club head face relative to the swing arch. For example, in one aspect, a longitudinally extending side edge of a colored surface region that extends longitudinally and peripherally about at least a portion of the surface of the shaft can be positioned such that the longitudinally extending edge 115 lies in a common plane with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, where said common plane is further parallel to the leading edge 124 of the club head face.

As one of skill in the art will fully appreciate, according to the aforementioned embodiments, a club head is connect to the tip portion of the shaft such that at a conventional address position in which the club head face is aligned toward a desired target, the longitudinally extending colored surface portion and/or longitudinally extending edge of the colored surface portion positioned to provide a recognizable reference point indicative of a relative position of the leading edge of the club head face is positioned on the top portion of the peripheral shaft surface and is thus visible to the golfer.

A colored surface region of the golf shaft can be provided by any conventional process or method for coloring a portion of a golf shaft. For example, a colored regions can be provided on the surface of a portion of a shaft by painting or printing a color onto the surface of the shaft. Additionally, a colored portion can be provided by applying one or more colored decals to the surface of a shaft. In still another aspect, it is contemplated that the golf shaft can itself be manufacture from starting materials having predetermined combination of colors selected to provide a shaft having one or more colored surface regions.

In an exemplary aspect, a golf shaft according to the present invention can be provided using a conventional screen printing process. For example, a model 810 clamshell type screen printer, available from Systematic Automation, Farmington,

Connecticut, USA, can be used to screen print one or more desired colored surface regions onto a portion of the peripheral surface of a conventional golf shaft.

In use, a golf swing training device, such as that depicted in the figures can be used by a golfer of any age and skill level to practice and/or improve one or more aspects of his or her game. For example, in one aspect, the training device can provide visual and kinesthetic feedback to educate a golfer on how to execute any shot from tee to green. To this end, FIGS. 1 (a) and 2(a) illustrate exemplary right handed golf clubs according to the present invention.

With particular reference to the exemplary club illustrated in FIG. 2(a), the shaft comprises three differently colored peripheral surface regions extending longitudinally thereon and extending peripherally about a portion of the surface of the shaft in a common plane that substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. As further illustrated, the longitudinally extending third colored surface region can be, for example, a relatively narrow striped portion, positioned intermediate the respective longitudinally extending front edges of the first and second differently colored surface regions detailed above. Still further, the longitudinally extending third colored surface or stripe region can be connected to the respective longitudinally extending side edges of the first and second colored surface regions described above. In an exemplary usage, the clubface will remain substantially square to the swing arc as long as the golfer can see the thin middle stripe, which is pre-aligned parallel to the leading edge of the clubface, positioned between the outer two colored surface portions throughout the swing. The main purpose of having the clubface in a square position in relation to the swing arc is that it enables the golfer to hit the ball straight and without any undesired curve. Thus, maintaining visibility of the third colored surface or stripe portion between the two outer colors during the back swing and subsequent forward swing will ensure that the clubface remains substantially square to the swing arc. Still further, this can also allow the golfer to better understand the mechanics of a proper golf swing and in turn to hit straighter shots. In addition, the tri-colored shaft can also be used to teach a player to open the face to hit bunker and pitch shots as well as execute all other shots around the putting green. For example, the golf shaft of the present invention aids in teaching how to use the bounce of the club when hitting a normal bunker shot and /or a pitch shot. In this aspect, the golfer would position the club shaft so as to see the color to

the left of the middle line (from the golfer's address position) and throughout the swing. This will keep the clubface open and allows the club to approach the ball on a relatively shallow plane as opposed to a steep plane which can cause the golfer to dig through the sand or grass. If properly executed, the ball will tend to pop out high and soft. It will be appreciated that the immediate example above and the examples below are directed to a right-handed golfer. One skilled in the art would know that the examples would also appropriately apply to a left-handed golfer.

In still another exemplary aspect, for a buried lie in the bunker, the golfer will alternatively see the middle stripe and the proportionally more of the color to the right of the middle stripe throughout the stroke. When properly executed, this causes the club to dig into the sand with a closed clubface, popping the ball out. This same method can also be employed for executing a low running chip and run stroke. Keeping the white line in line with the left arm (for the right-handed golfer) throughout the stroke helps the golfer to keep the club out in front of him/her to execute perfect chip shots. The graphics can teach the correct amount of forward press with the hands in the address position. In this example, if a golfer presses his hands holding the grip to far forward, he would lose sight of, or see to little of, the color to the left of the middle line or stripe.

In still another aspect, the golf club shaft of the present invention can enable a golfer to learn the desired one-piece takeaway by keeping the striped portion in line with the left arm as the club head is drawn back initially (approximately 2 feet away from the ball). In another aspect, the golfer can learn to curve the ball at will. For example, a golfer can learn to curve the ball from right to left (draw) by understanding that he/she wants to rotate the shaft from a square clubface on the backswing to a closed clubface through impact, thereby seeing proportionally more of the colored surface on the golfer's right side of the shaft through the impact. Using this process, the golfer can adjust for more or less draw by rotating the shaft to adjust the proportion of colored surface visible to the golfer during the impact.

The golfer can also learn to curve the ball left to right (fade) by understanding that he/she wants to keep the clubface square on the backswing and subsequently open the clubface slightly through impact. In contrast to the draw, the golfer upon opening the club face will see proportionally more of the colored surface portion on the golfers left side of the shaft. Again, by using this process, the golfer can adjust for more or less fade by rotating the shaft to adjust the proportion of colored surface

visible to the golfer during the impact. For example, to increase the amount of fade on a particular shot, the golfer will rotate the shaft through impact to a position where proportionally more of the color to the left of the middle stripe is visible.

Still further, the colored surface portions of the golf club shaft can be used to correct improper techniques of a golfer by identifying and ingraining correct clubface positions throughout the golf swing. For example, the cupping of the left wrist by a right handed golfer opens the club face severely, which can cause a common problem known as slicing a ball. However, by keeping the middle stripe or colored portion visibly between the outer two colors, the left wrist will tend to remain flat and allow the golfer to hit the ball straighter.

As described above, in one aspect, the portion of the golf shaft having a colored surface portion can be spaced a predetermined distance or gap from the tip portion of the shaft. This spacing or gap can, for example, be black in color and can further enable additional teaching aids for a golfers swing. For example, in one aspect, this gap or space can be indicative of the final portion of the shaft that should return to the ball during a forward swing. During an efficient swing, the bottom portion of the club should lag behind the top portion of the shaft in relation to the plane of the ball, thus providing optimal impact which, in turn, allows the golfer to hit the ball more solidly and compress the ball for maximum distance. Additionally, this spacing between the colored shaft portion and the lower tip end of the shaft can also be used to teach a proper swing plane. For example, during a proper swing, this spacing or gap between the lower tip portion and the colored surface portion should be parallel to the target line when the club shaft is horizontal to the ground. If this portion of the club is not substantially parallel to the target line when the club shaft is in the horizontal position, then the golfer is swinging off plane. More particularly, if the golfer has the spacing or gap closer to the target line, then the club is positioned too far outside the correct swing plane and the ball will tend to start left. In contrast, if the golfer has the spacing positioned too far inside the parallel horizontal position, then the club is too far inside the correct swing plane and the ball will tend to start right.

In still another aspect, a golf club of the present invention can further comprise a weight element 130 that is positioned in the upper butt end of the shaft. By swinging a weighted training club, the golfer builds golf specific muscles and can increase his/her distance with each club. The golfer's rhythm and tempo will improve

in tne run swing as well as an snort shots around the green. The weight helps the golfer to set the backswing in a wide takeaway and teaches the feeling of a better weight shift and shoulder turn. In another aspect, the weight restricts the golfer's undesirable tendency to flip his/her wrists at the ball which is an accuracy, distance and contact inhibitor. Instead, the weighted golf club encourages the proper rotation of the arms through impact to improve all of these factors.

In still another aspect, the present invention provides a swing plane training device 300 configured to be mounted to the butt end of a golf club shaft. An exemplary swing plane training device 300 is illustrated in FIGs. 3 to 6. As shown, the training device comprises a mount member 302, having a proximal end 302(a) and a distal end 302(b) and further having a longitudinal axis 302(c) defined there through. As illustrated, the mount member can be configured as a pin, sized and shaped to be received by a complementary bore defined in the butt end of a conventional golf club shaft and/or golf club shaft grip assembly. However, it should also be understood that the mount member can be configured according to any conventional means known to one of skill in the art for forming a releasable connection. For example, in another aspect (not shown), the mount member can be configured as a cap, configured to be received on the upper butt end of a golf club shaft and/or grip assembly. The swing plane training device further comprises an elongated beam 304, having a proximal end 304(a), a distal end 304(b), and further defines a longitudinal axis 304(c). The proximal end 304(a) of the beam member 304 is connected to the proximal end 302(a) of the mount member such that the longitudinal axis of the beam is oriented at least substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mount member. Still further, the beam member can, in an exemplary aspect, be connected to the mount member such that the longitudinal axis of the beam is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mount member, forming an approximately 90° angle there between.

A first prong member 306 and a second prong member 308 are also provided, each prong having respective proximal ends 306(a), 30δ(a) and respective distal ends 306(b), 308(b). The respective proximal ends 306(a), 308(a) are each connected to the distal end of the beam member, such that the first and second prong members extend in the distal direction away from the distal end of the beam member.

vvitn reTerence io i-iu. D and 6, the first prong member 306 extends away from the distal end 304(b) of the beam member at an angle A relative to a first plane P containing the longitudinal axis of both the beam and mount members and at an angle B relative to a second plane P' containing the longitudinal axis of the mount member and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the beam member. The second prong member 308 extends away from the distal end 304(b) of the beam member at an angle C relative to plane P containing the longitudinal axis of both the beam and mount members and at an angle D relative to the second plane P' containing the longitudinal axis of the mount member and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the beam member.

According to an exemplary aspect, angle A can be in the range of from 35 to 45 degrees, including angels of 37, 39, 41, and 43 degrees. Angle B can in one aspect be in the range of from 15 to 25 degrees, including angles of 17, 19, 20, 21 , and 23 degrees. Angle C can be in the range of from 25 to 35 degrees, including angles of 27, 29, 30, 31 and 33 degrees. Angle D can be in the range of from 8 to 12 degrees, including angles of 9, 10, and 11 degrees.

The swing plane device can be sized according to the desired needs of the user and, more particularly, the particular size of the golf club. However, in one aspect, the mount member can be approximately 1 to 2 inches in length, the beam member can be approximately 2 to 3 inches in length, and each prong member can be approximately 4 to 5 inches in length. Still further, it should also be understood that the swing plane training device can be formed of any conventional materials, including for example, plastics.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the swing plane training device can be mounted to either a conventional golf club shaft or to a golf club shaft of the present invention. When properly connected, the prong members will form an inverted V formation 310 oriented toward the ground surface 320 when a golfer is gripping the club in a conventional address position.

In use, the swing plane training device can aid in teaching a proper backswing, delivery and through swing position. More particularly, as a golfer swings his/her hands back pass the right leg, the first prong member 306 will be oriented in a substantially vertical position. This is results in the proper wider and steeper backswing position. As the golfer enters the delivery position, the hands come back to just outside the right leg the second prong member 308 will be

oriented in a substantially vertical position. This aspect teaches the proper delivery providing a narrower and shallower downswing position (relative to the backswing position), which can improve distance and accuracy. In still another aspect, a golfer will be in a position to release the club properly when the distal end of the first prong member is oriented substantially toward his/her center of waist when the club shaft is substantially horizontal to the ground and positioned in a plane parallel to the target line.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in the light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit of the appended claims.