GOLF CLUB GRIP TRAINING DEVICE

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

[0001] This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Application Serial No. 60/820,015 filed on July 21, 2006, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

HELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to golf training equipment. The present invention specifically relates to a golf training device designed to facilitate a proper gripping of a golf club by a golfer to thereby prevent any improper gripping prior to a swing of the golf club and to thereby impede any regripping of the golf club during the swing of the golf club.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] All golfers (experienced or inexperienced) are taught that a proper grip of a golf club by a golfer is essential during all phases of a golf club swing (i.e., a backswing, a downswing and a follow through). Nonetheless, a golfer may unintentionally improperly grip the golf club prior to the golf club swing and/or unknowingly alter his/her grip on the golf club during the golf club swing (e.g., a loosening his/her grip that may result in an improper regrip of the golf club). As known in the art, this typically leads to a flawed golf swing.

[0004] Various devices have been designed to overcome a golfer's loosening of a grip of a golf club during a golf swing, such as, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,184,827, 5,655,223, and 5,669,037, and U.S. Patent Application

Publication No. US 2005/0268372 Al. While such devices have proven beneficial to some degree, the golfing industry is continually striving to improve upon existing golf training equipment in terms of effective training assistance, ease of use and maintenance, and cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention provides a new and unique golf club grip training device.

[0006] In one form of the present invention, the golf club grip training device comprises a golf club connector for connecting the golf club grip training device to a golf club. The golf club grip training device further comprises a hand holder and/or a hand aligner integrated with the golf club connector to facilitate (e.g., assist or teach) a golfer's control hand grip of a golf club. When incorporated in the device, the hand holder physically opposes (i.e., abuts or spatially adjacent to) a backside of the golfer's control hand grip of the golf club. Conversely, when incorporated in the device, the hand aligner physically opposes (i.e., abuts or spatially adjacent to) a front side of the golfer's control hand grip of the golf club.

[0007] In a second form of the present invention, the golf club grip training device further comprises a feedback indicator operable to provide a feedback indication of a loosening of the golfer' s control hand grip of the golf club.

[0008] The aforementioned forms and other forms as well as objects and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of various embodiments of the present invention read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings of the various embodiments of the present invention are merely illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting, the scope of the present invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

[00010] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of golf swing grip assistance training device in accordance with the present invention;

[00011] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of golf swing grip assistance training device in accordance with the present invention;

[00012] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of golf swing grip assistance training device in accordance with the present invention;

[00013] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate one exemplary embodiment of an audio indicator in accordance with the present invention;

[00014] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of an interlocking feedback indicator in accordance with the present invention; and

[00015] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a second exemplary embodiment of an interlocking feedback indicator in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[00016] The present invention provides a new and unique golf club grip training device that facilitates (e.g., assist or teach) a golfer's control hand grip of a golf club. For purposes of the present invention, the term "golfer's control hand grip" is broadly defined herein as the control hand of a golfer gripping, directly or indirectly, a shaft of a golf club.

[00017] A golf club grip training device of the present invention employs a golf club connector, which for purposes of the present invention is broadly defined herein as any structure for connecting, directly or indirectly, the golf club grip training device to a golf club. Thus, the present invention does not impose any limitations or any restrictions to the structural configuration or material composition of a golf club connector.

[00018] A golf club grip training device of the present invention may further employs a hand holder, which for purposes of the present invention is broadly defined herein as any structure for physically opposing (i.e., abutting or spatially adjacent to) a backside of the golfer's control hand grip of the golf club. Thus, the present invention does not impose any limitations or any restrictions to the structural configuration or material composition of a hand holder.

[00019] A golf club grip training device of the present invention may further employs a hand aligner, which for purposes of the present invention is broadly defined herein as any structure for physically opposing (i.e., abutting or spatially adjacent to) a front side of the golfer's control hand grip of the golf club. Thus, the present invention does not impose any limitations or any restrictions to the structural configuration or material composition of a hand aligner.

[00020] Finally, a golf club grip training device of the present invention may further employs a feedback indicator, which for purposes of the present invention

is broadly defined herein as any structure for providing feedback indication of a loosening of the golfer's control hand grip of the golf club.

[00021] A description of exemplary embodiments of a golf club grip training device of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1-12 will now be provided herein to facilitate an understanding of the various implementations of a golf club grip training device of the present invention.

[00022] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf club grip training device 20 employs an integration (e.g., connection, coupling, affixation, etc.) of a golf club connector 21 and a hand holder 22 with hand holder 22 having a plastic covering 23 thereon. In this embodiment, golf club connector 21 is friction fitted within a grip handle of a golf club 101 whereby at least the three fingers of a control hand 100 of a golfer fit within device 20 as shown in FIG. 2. As a result, hand holder 22 facilitates the golfer's control hand grip of golf club 101 and is configured to counteract the backside of the control hand 100 of the golfer as symbolized by the bidirectional arrows whereby the golfer will be able to ascertain a loosening of his/her control hand grip of golf club 101 during any portion of a swing of the golf club by the golfer. The present invention does not impose any limitations or any restrictions as to the magnitude of any counterforce hand holder 21 exerts upon control hand 100 of the golfer in view of maintaining a connection of control hand 100 to golf club 101 throughout the entire swing without any discomfort or swing mechanic issues. Optionally, one or more ratchet points 24 and 25 are established that will enable the golfer to have a minimal yet undisruptive loosening of golf club 101. These ratchet points 24 and 25 can further include a feedback indicator that provides an audible sound to the golfer as his/her hand exceeds the minimal loosening of the golf club.

[00023] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a golf club grip training device 30 employs an integration (e.g., connection, coupling, affixation, etc.) of a golf club connector 31 and a hand aligner 32 with hand aligner 32 having a plastic covering

33 thereon. In this embodiment, golf club connector 31 is friction fitted within a grip handle of golf club 101 whereby at least the three fingers of a control hand 100 of a golfer fit within device 30 as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, hand aligner 32 facilitates the golfer's control hand grip of golf club 101 and is configured to counteract a front side of the control hand 100 of the golfer as symbolized by the bidirectional arrows whereby the golfer will be able to ascertain a loosening of his/her control hand grip of golf club 101 during any portion of a swing of the golf club by the golfer. The present invention does not impose any limitations or any restrictions as to the magnitude of any counterforce hand holder 31 exerts upon control hand 100 of the golfer in view of maintaining a connection of control hand 100 to golf club 101 throughout the entire swing without any discomfort or swing mechanic issues. Optionally, one or more ratchet points 34 and 35 are established that will enable the golfer to have a minimal yet undisruptive loosening of golf club 101. These ratchet points 34 and 35 can further include a feedback indicator that provides an audible sound to the golfer as his/her hand exceeds the minimal loosening of the golf club.

[00024] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a golf club grip training device 40 employs an integration (e.g., connection, coupling, affixation, etc.) of a golf club connector 41 and a hand holder 42 with a hand aligner 43 pivotally coupled to hand holder 42. In this example, golf club connector 41 is affixed around the grip handle of golf club 101 by an extension of connector 41 over a golf grip of golf club 100 and a secure fastening of connector 41 to golf club 100 whereby all four fingers of control hand 100 of the golfer fit within device 40 as shown in FIG. 6. As a result, hand holder 42 and hand aligner 43 collectively facilitate the golfer's control hand grip of golf club 101. In this example, hand holder 42 is configured to counteract the backside of control hand 100 of the golfer and hand aligner 42 is configured to counteract the front side of control hand 100 of the golfer as symbolized by the bidirectional arrows whereby the golfer will be able to ascertain a loosening of his/her control hand grip of golf club 101 during any portion of a swing of the golf club by the golfer. The present invention does not impose any

limitations or any restrictions as to the magnitude of any counterforce hand holder 41 and hand aligner 42 exert upon the control hand 100 of the golfer in view of maintaining a connection of control hand 100 to golf club 101 throughout the entire swing without any discomfort or swing mechanic issues. Optionally, a spring load adjuster 43 is employed to provide a varying spring loaded force for hand aligner 42.

[00025] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, a feedback version 40' of device 40

(FIGS. 5 and 6) further employs a feedback indicator in the form of a feedback arm 50 movable within a channel 51 incorporated within hand holder 42 as illustrated in a cut away view of hand holder 42 shown in FIG. 8. In this example, channel 51 has four (4) chambers and a spring 52 provides an upward force of feedback arm 50 to counteract any downward force applied by control hand 100 (FIG. 6) on feedback arm 50. Subsequent to the golfer gripping golf club 101, each transition of feedback arm 50 between chambers creates an audible feedback signal that indicates any loosening of the golf s control hand grip of golf club 101.

[00026] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a feedback version 40' ' of device 40

(FIGS. 5 and 6) further employs a feedback indicator in the form of a feedback arm 60 affixed to hand holder 42 as illustrated in a cut away view of hand holder 42 shown in FIG. 10 and a feedback glove 70 as also shown in FIG. 10. In this example, feedback arm 60 and hand holder 42 incorporate interlocking feedback indicators 61 and 71 (e.g., VELCRO ®) for purposes of generating an audible feedback signal that indicates any loosening of the golf s control hand grip of golf club 101 (FIG. 6). Specifically, indicator 61 and 71 interlock in response to the golfer's control hand grip of golf club 101, and partially unlock in response to any subsequent loosening of the golfer's control hand grip of golf club 101.

[00027] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a feedback version 40" ' of device 40

(FIGS. 5 and 6) further employs a feedback indicator in the form of a feedback grip 80 affixed to golf club connector 41 and a feedback glove 90 as best shown in FIG.

12. In this example, feedback grip 80 is a tubular interlock feedback indicator (e.g., VELCRO ®) and feedback glove 90 incorporates interlocking feedback indicators 91-94 (e.g., VELCRO ®) for purposes of generating an audible feedback signal that indicates any loosening of the golf's control hand grip of golf club 101 (FIG. 6). Specifically, indicators 80 and 91-94 interlock in response to the golfer's control hand grip of golf club 101, and partially unlock in response to any subsequent loosening of the golfer's control hand grip of golf club 101.

[00028] From the description herein of the present invention, those having ordinary skill in the art of golf training equipment will appreciate how to apply the inventive principles of the present invention to golf club grip training devices that are more or less complex than golf club grip training devices shown in FIGS. 1-12.

[00029] Furthermore, those having ordinary skill in the art of golf training equipment may develop other embodiments of the present invention in view of the inventive principles of the present invention described herein. Thus, the terms and expression which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used herein as terms of description and not of limitations, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the present invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.