CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled "GOLF TRAINING CLUB," serial number 12/253,147, filed October 16, 2008, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates generally to a golf training device and more particularly to a golf training club used to improve the mechanics and mental aspects of swinging a golf club correctly.

State of the Art

[0003] The game of golf has existed for many years and has gained greater interest by the public in not only the watching of the game being played on a professional level, but also with people desiring to learn how to play the game properly. Golf is unique not only in the form and mechanics of how a golf club is swung in order to hit the golf ball, but is also unique when it comes to the mental aspect of the game. It is a very challenging game to play consistently well. Because of the difficulty in consistent play, many devices have been developed in order to aid a golfer in improving the consistency with which he or she plays. [0004] While many different devices have been developed, these currently existing devices typically focus on one or two aspects of a golfer's swing or focus on a particular aspect of a golfer's game, such as driving, iron shots, chipping, putting and the like. These existing devices lack the ability to aid a golfer in improving all aspects of a swing at the same time and the ability to improve substantially all aspects of the golfer's game.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need in the filed of golf training devices for an improved golf training club.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to a golf training club that is weighted substantially similar to a typical golf club, wherein the golf training club has a smaller sweet spot. The training club allows a golfer to swing the club normally, but requires the golfer to swing the club properly in order to hit an accurate shot. The present further relates to a method of improving a golf swing by using the golf training club.

[0007] An aspect of the present invention may include a golf training club comprising a shaft having a grip coupled to one end and a club head coupled to an end of the shaft opposite the grip. The club head may further include a sweet spot having a predetermined size, the predetermined size being smaller than a sweet spot size associated with a typical club head of a same type. Further, the golf training club comprises a swing weight within the range of C2 to D3.

[0008] Another aspect of the present invention may include a method of improving a golf swing by use of a golf training club, the method comprising providing a golf training club having a sweet spot with a predetermined size smaller than a sweet spot size associated with a typical club head of a same type; gripping a golf training club; swinging the training club; striking a golf ball during a forward swing of swinging the training club; determining the accuracy of flight of the golf ball; and adjusting the swing of the training club to compensate for an inaccurate flight of the ball. The method may include repeating the steps in order to strike the golf ball to produce an accurate flight. The method may also include a step of repeating the method once an accurate flight of the ball is achieved to repeatably hit the golf ball with an accurate flight. The method may also include performing other swing types to achieve accurate ball flights of various types including at least a draw, a fade, a lob, a chip, a pitch, a putt and the like.

[0009] Another aspect of the present invention may include providing a golf training club comprising a sweet spot having a smaller pre-determined size than a sweet spot of a typical golf club of the same type; gripping the golf training club; swinging the golf training club to perform at least one swing type selected from the group of swing types including standard golf swing, a draw swing, a fade swing, a lob swing, a chip swing, a pitch swing, a punch swing and a putt; striking at least one golf ball during a forward swing of the golf training club; determining of an accuracy of one of the flight and the roll of the ball in response to the swing type performed; and adjusting of the golf swing of the golf training club to compensate for an inaccurate one of flight and roll of the golf ball in response to the swing type performed.

[0010] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. IA is a front view of a golf training club in accordance with the present invention;

[0012] FIG. IB is a close up front view of a golf training club in accordance with the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 1C is a front view of a typical golf club of the same type as the golf training club of FIG. IB;

[0014] FIG. 2 is an end view of a golf training club with a golf ball in accordance with the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a golf training club with a golf ball in accordance with the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a back view of a golf training club with a golf ball in accordance with the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method of improving a golf swing by using a golf training club in accordance with the present invention; and

[0018] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of another method of improving a golf swing by using a golf training club in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0019] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a golf training device and more particularly to a golf training club used to improve the mechanics and mental aspects of swinging a golf club correctly.

[0020] As shown in FIGs. IA and IB, particular embodiments of the present invention include a golf training club 10. The training club 10 may include a shaft 12 having a grip 11 coupled to one end of the shaft 12. The training club 10 may further include a club head 14 coupled to an end of the shaft 12 opposite the grip 11. The club head 14 may comprise a sweet spot 16 having a predetermined size on the face 15 of the golf club head 14. In comparison with a typical golf club 50, as shown in FIG. 1C, the predetermined size of the sweet spot 16 may be smaller that the size of a sweet spot 56 on the face 55 of the typical club head 54 connected to a typical golf club shaft 52 of a same golf club type as the golf training club 10. The club head 14 may also have substantially the same weight as the typical club head 54 of the same type. The club head 14 may also have a predetermined loft. The predetermined loft of the club head 14 may be the same loft as the typical club head 54 of the same type of golf club.

[0021] For example, but without limitation, the club head 14 may be a seven iron club head. The sweet spot 16 of the club head 14 of the seven iron will be smaller than the sweet spot 56 of a typical seven iron club head 54; the weights of each of the club head 14 and the typical seven iron club head will be substantially the same; and the lofts of each of the club head 14 and the typical seven iron club head will be substantially the same. Alternatively, if the club head 14 is to mimic a fifty-four (54) degree loft wedge, it will have the same angle of loft of fifty- four (54) degrees.

[0022] It will be understood that sweet spot of a golf club is the effective hitting area and the best surface on the club face to hit a golf ball. The larger the sweet spot the less number of mishits a golfer would perform while swinging the club. This means that if a swing is completely accurate and the mechanics of the swing are a little inaccurate, the flight of the golf ball may still be accurate. Accordingly, since the sweet spot 16 of the golf training club 10 is smaller, the more mishits will occur unless the swing is more accurate. This enables a golfer using the golf training club 10 to repeatedly adjust his or her swing until he or she is performing a golf shot without mishitting the ball. As this swing is replicated, the golfer's ability to hit more accurately with a smaller sweet spot 16 will translate into better hits with a club having a typical sweet spot 56.

[0023] The swing weight is an important factor in the operation of the training club 10. In order to improve a golfer's game; the golfer needs to be able to swing a training club 10 that has the same feel as the golfer's typical club of the same type. This is critical not only to the accuracy of swinging the golfer' s club after using the training club 10, but also to the mental aspect of the golfer's game, wherein the golfer is not affected by a drastic change in the feel of golf clubs. Accordingly, particular embodiments of the present invention include golf training club 10 that comprises a swing weight within the range of C2 to D3. In order for the swing weight to be similar to typical clubs, particular embodiments of the golf training club 10 may include material added to a cavity (not shown) of the club head 14, the cavity being internal to the club head 14, the material providing additional weight to the club head 14.

[0024] Referring further to the drawings, FIGs. 2-4 depict a golf training club 10 with a golf ball 20. The club head 14 of the training club 10 is coupled to a shaft 12 of the training club 10 such that when in use, the club approaches and hits the golf ball 20 in substantially the same manner as a typical golf club. As can be seen in FIGs. 3 and 4, the sweet spot 16 has a predetermined size 16 that is small, but large enough to contact the golf ball 20 and project the golf ball in flight. According to particular embodiments the predetermined size of the sweet spot 16 may be approximately the same size as the diameter of a golf ball. In other embodiments, the predetermined size of the sweet spot 16 may be slightly larger than the diameter of the golf ball. Because the sweet spot 16 is small, hitting the golf ball 20 with accuracy is more difficult and requires the golfer to swing the club properly, particularly through the zone in which the golfer strikes the ball. Any errors during the swing will be represented by the flight of the golf ball 20. A golfer must focus and continually compensate for errors in the swing in order to accurately strike the golf ball. Once the golfer swings his or her typical golf club 50, the golfer's ability to accurately strike the golf ball will be improved due in part to fewer errors in the golfer's swing and the larger sweet spot 56 of the typical club head 54. Use of the training club 10 improves a golfer's ability to consistently and accurately strike a golf ball, thereby improving the play of the golfer.

[0025] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 5 depicts a method 30 of improving a golf swing by use of a golf training club in accordance with particular embodiments of the present invention. The method may include the steps of providing a golf training club having a sweet spot with a predetermined size smaller than a sweet spot size associated with a typical club head of a same type (Step 31); gripping the golf training club (Step 32); swinging the training club (Step 33); and striking a golf ball during a forward swing of swinging the training club (Step 34). The method 30 may further include steps of determining the accuracy of flight of the golf ball and adjusting the swing of the training club to compensate for an inaccurate flight of the ball. As the golfer continues use of the method, various adjustment may need to be made including the mechanics of drawing the club back properly, the swinging plane of the club, the attack angle of the club head on the golf ball, the body position of the golfer, the head position of the golfer, the balance of the golfer and the like. Further, Step 31 of providing a golf training club may further comprise providing a golf training club having a swing weight within the range of C2 to D3.

[0026] It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that a golf club swing weight is essentially the weight that the club is and how it feels in a golfer's hands when swinging the club. While casual golfers may not be aware of swing weight, experienced golfers, club pros and even professional golfers are very aware of swing weight and take it into consideration. Further, swing weight is an important factor when utilizing embodiments of the present invention. The swing weight of the golf training club is provided within a range of swing weights of most golf clubs. The swing weight is important because it allows the golfer using the golf training club to have the same feel when using the golf training club as the golfer would when using all other clubs within his or her golf bag. This allows the golfer to more readily translate the swing adjustments made using the golf training club to the swing of his or her other golf clubs. This translation of adjustments provides the golfer with an improved swing and establishes another step of method 30 of translating the swing adjustments to swings of other standard golf clubs.

[0027] It is understood that swing weights are categorized by the use of the letters A, B, C, D, E, F and G, and the numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Each combination of letter and number is known as a "swing weight point," and there are 77 possible swing weight measurements. AO is the lightest measurement, progressing up to the heaviest, GlO.

[0028] The method 30 may include repeating the steps in order to strike the golf ball to produce an accurate flight. The method 30 may also include a step of repeating the method once an accurate flight of the ball is achieved to repeatably hit the golf ball with an accurate flight. This repeatability of accurately hitting a golf ball improves the mental aspects of the game as the proper swing becomes more natural and the body muscles react naturally in the proper way once the golfer uses his or her typical golf club. The method 30 may also include performing other swing types to achieve accurate ball flights of various types including at least a draw, a fade, a lob, a chip, a pitch, a putt and the like.

[0029] Further still, the method 30 may include using the golf training club during a round of golf. The step of using the golf training club during a round of golf may further comprise using the golf training club when the golf ball lies in rough of a golf course. [0030] Referring again to the drawings, FIG. 6 depicts a method 40 of improving a golf swing by use of a golf training club in accordance with particular embodiments of the present invention. The method 40 comprises the steps of providing a golf training club comprising a sweet spot having a smaller pre-determined size than a sweet spot of a typical golf club of the same type (Step 41); gripping the golf training club (Step 42); swinging the golf training club to perform at least one swing type selected from the group of swing types including standard golf swing, a draw swing, a fade swing, a lob swing, a chip swing, a pitch swing, a punch swing and a putt (Step 43); striking at least one golf ball during a forward swing of the golf training club (Step 44); determining of an accuracy of one of the flight and the roll of the ball in response to the swing type performed (Step 45); and adjusting of the golf swing of the golf training club to compensate for an inaccurate one of flight and roll of the golf ball in response to the swing type performed (Step 46).

[0031] Step 46 of adjusting the golf swing may comprise the step of adjusting of a drawing back of the golf training club. Step 46 may also comprise the step of adjusting at least one swinging plane of the golf training club. Step 46 may comprise the step of adjusting at least one attack angle of golf training club head. Step 46 may comprise the step of adjusting a golfer's body positioning. Step 46 may comprise the step of adjusting a golfer's head positioning. Step 46 may comprise the step of adjusting a golfer's balance.

[0032] It will be understood that the method 40 may further comprise repeating the steps until a golfer produces at least one of an accurate flight and accurate roll of the golf ball in response to the swing type. Further the method 40 may also comprise repeating the method, once one of an accurate flight and accurate roll of the golf ball is achieved in response to the swing type, to repeatably hit the golf ball in one of the accurate flight and accurate roll in response to the swing type.

[0033] Further, Step 41 of providing a golf training club may further comprise providing a golf training club comprising a swing weight within the range of C2 to D3.

[0034] The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.