Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-08
2002-09-10
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06447402
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a golf training device, and more particularly to a golf training device for use in teaching a golfer how to properly execute a golf swing, chipping stroke, and/or putting stroke using the golfer's own playing clubs.
2. Background of the Invention
During a properly executed golf swing, the center of the relatively planar face of a golf club head moving at a relatively high velocity collides with a golf ball which is at rest on or near the ground. The force of the collision causes the golf ball to compress against the face of the club head, which itself may undergo some temporary deformation. Because the mass of the golf ball is significantly less than that of the moving golf club head, the collision causes the golf ball to become accelerated in the direction of the force being applied to it by the golf club head. The face of a golf club head is usually angled or tilted back a predetermined number of degrees from vertical and scored with horizontal grooves. The grooves in the face of the golf club engage the relatively soft cover of the golf ball during compression and prevent it from sliding up the face. As the golf ball decompresses and springs off of the face of the club, the grooves coupled with the tilt angle of the face of the golf club frictionally impart a backward spin and a rising trajectory to the golf ball. If the golf swing has been executed properly, the golf ball, which is usually dimpled to reduce drag and increase lift, will travel in a desired direction for a desired distance and come to rest again on the ground at the desired location known as the target, assuming of course that the flight of the ball is not affected by other forces, such as wind.
A golf ball is in contact with the face of a golf club for only a very short period of time during a golf swing. However, it is imperative that throughout this brief period of time the club face is maintained in a substantially perpendicular or square relationship to the target line if the ball is to travel in a straight path or trajectory along the target line. It is also imperative that the golf club head be traveling on a path which is in line with the target while it is in contact with the ball. In addition, it is important that the club head be moving at a relatively high rate of speed at the time of the collision with the ball in order to impart and transfer significant energy to the golf ball. Although there are many other factors at play in a golf swing, these are the three essential components of a properly executed golf swing.
If the golf swing is not executed properly, the golf ball will not travel on its intended course along the target line and land at the intended target. For example, if the spin axis of the golf ball is not substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the line to the intended target, the golf ball will tend to curve in flight to the right or to the left of the direction of the force applied by the club. For a right-handed golfer, a trajectory deviation to the right caused by an improper spin imparted to the golf ball is referred to as a “slice,” and a trajectory deviation to the left caused by an improper spin imparted to the golf ball is referred to as a “hook.” In addition, if the swing path of the club head at the point of impact with the golf ball is in a direction other than on the line to the intended target, the force transferred to the golf ball will cause it to become accelerated to the right or left of the target line, which for a right-handed golfer is called a “push” or “pull,” respectively. These terms are reversed for a left-handed golfer. Other factors, such as the steepness or shallowness of the swing arc of the golf club, the velocity and acceleration of the golf club head at the moment of impact, the point on the face of the golf club which makes contact with the golf ball, and other factors can also have a significant affect on whether the golf ball comes to rest near its intended target.
Significant practice is required for a golfer to learn how to consistently execute a proper golf swing. Unfortunately, if during such practice the golfer learns poor swing mechanics or other bad habits resulting in swing flaws, such flaws can become “grooved” in the golfer's swing. In other words, the golfer's muscles become accustomed to executing a golf swing having one or more flaws or faults. A golfer who has grooved a swing with a flaw or fault has a very difficult time correcting the swing, primarily because such a golfer does not know what a proper swing is supposed to feel like or look like. Accordingly, rather than correcting the swing flaw, the golfer will more likely make a compensation in some other portion of the swing to adjust for the improper flight characteristics of the golf ball caused by the swing flaw. A classic example of this situation is a right-handed golfer with a swing flaw which produces a pronounced slice compensating for the slice by aiming far to the left of the intended target. Making compensations such as this may allow the golfer to hit the golf ball in the general direction of the intended target, but such compensations result in a loss of distance, accuracy, and consistency. Furthermore, it compounds the number of swing flaws and causes the golfer to groove an even worse swing. Thus, it is far better for a golfer who has grooved a swing with a flaw to re-learn and re-groove a proper golf swing which does not include swing flaws.
The prior art is replete with examples of devices which are intended to assist golfers in learning to execute various aspects of a proper golf swing. A recent example is the golfing aid disclosed in Brock et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,143. The Brock et al. golfing aid includes a guide member attached to the shaft of a golf club which projects from the club and has a tip which contacts the leading forearm of the golfer at various points during a golf swing. The Brock et al. golfing aid is said to be useful in minimizing a swing flaw or fault described as “wrist cocking” by providing the golfer with instant feedback when the golfer's forearm makes contact with the tip. Unfortunately, the Brock et al. golfing aid is not useful for addressing many other common swing flaws, and is of no use in practicing a putting stroke.
Another prior art golf training device is disclosed in Potter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,808. The Potter et al. golf training device includes a practice golf club having a shaft incorporating an to adjustable spring-loaded hinge that “breaks” at the joint if the club is accelerated too quickly or jerked during the swing. While the Potter et al. golf training device is useful in teaching a golfer to execute a smooth or fluid swing, it is of very little utility in teaching the golfer to address other common swing flaws. Moreover, since the Potter et al. golf training aid is not attachable to the golfer's own clubs, a golfer using the Potter et al. golf training aid does not groove the feel of a properly executed swing using his or her own playing clubs.
Yet another prior art golf swing aid is disclosed in Armstrong, III, U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,126. The Armstrong, III golf swing aid includes a shaft with a grooved undersurface for engaging the shaft of a golf club and an extending tab for making contact with the golfer's forearm to indicate whether the golfer has proper cocking and uncocking of the wrists. In addition, the golf swing aid disclosed in Armstrong, III includes a curved portion which allows the golfer to pass his arms through and restrict them for practicing a putting stroke. This golf swing aid suffers from many of the same limitations as the Brock et al. golfing aid.
Yet another prior art golf training device is disclosed in Stawicki, U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,901. The Stawicki golf training device includes a harness assembly attachable to the upper torso of a golfer and has an elongated golf club swing guiding member swively coupled to the harness assembly and the shaft of the golf club respect
Chambers M.
Rankin, Hill Porter & Clark LLP
Sewell Paul T.
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