Education and demonstration – Physical education – Golf
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-08
2003-07-15
Banks, Derris H. (Department: 3712)
Education and demonstration
Physical education
Golf
C473S267000, C473S218000, C473S257000, C473S409000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06592376
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the sport of golf. More specifically, it relates to training aids for improving the golfer's swing by ensuring a consistently correct setup position and by improving the golfer's fundamentals during the swing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is recognized that one can learn sports by comparing one's own performance to that of a model performer. In the sport of golf, one can improve one's own swing by comparing it to a proper swing. The proper swing can be demonstrated for the golfer desiring improvement and the golfer can attempt to mimic it, but certain elements of the proper swing can also be provided to the golfer in the form of reference markings on a training aid. By comparing his swing to the reference markings on the training aid, the golfer can improve his swing. The use of a training aid has the advantage of permanence, whereas a demonstration is fleeting and may be forgotten or incompletely learned.
Several existing golf training aids consist of mats marked with foot position, ball position, and/or club position at the start of the swing. These mats assist the golfer in taking a proper setup position, but they do not assist the golfer in performing a proper swing since they do not provide reference markings other than for setup. Other existing aids consist of mirrors or mat/mirror combinations that both indicate setup position and provide simultaneous feedback about the swing to the golfer in the form of a reflected image. Many of these mirrored aids include pictures of proper swings juxtaposed with the golfer's reflected image that can be used for comparison or reference lines for setup position on the mirrored surface. However, since many of these aids are vertical mirrors the golfer must look up to utilize the aid, thereby destroying correct setup posture with head down and eyes on the ball. Several of the mirrored aids teach a mirror that is angled towards the golfer so that the golfer's image is visible from knees up, a condition that is not necessary to practicing a proper swing. Furthermore, these aids do not provide positioning information throughout the entire swing, but rather only for setup; any pictures that are present for comparison represent a general, rather than a specific, comparison (that is, the golfer is required to compare appearance to appearance and not position to position). No existing aid provides positioning information throughout the entire swing (setup, backswing, and follow-through) for both club and body while executing a swing with head down and eyes on the ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is in view of the above problems that the present invention was developed. The invention is a golf training aid and a method of using the golf training aid. The golf training aid has a mirrored face to provide simultaneous feedback to a golfer throughout the entire swing, and is permanently etched with reference markings indicating proper positioning at several points during the swing. These reference markings indicate proper setup position, proper ball position, and proper club and body position at several points during the swing. The mirrored face of the aid juxtaposes the golfer's image with the reference markings, allowing for an easy comparison and correction process. If desired, the face of the aid can be marked, either permanently or temporarily, with individualized reference markings for a particular golfer or club. The back of the aid is flat so that the aid will lie flat on a practice surface, thus allowing the golfer to receive the feedback provided by the aid with the golfer's head down and eyes on the ball, as is proper during a golf swing. The aid is marked for use with all clubs (drivers, irons, and putters), and can be used both indoors and outdoors, with or without a professional instructor.
In one embodiment of the invention, the reference markings are a plurality of lines and textual prompts permanently etched into the face of the aid. In another embodiment of the invention, the textual prompts and several of the lines are replaced by icons so that the aid can be understood by very young golfers and golfers with special needs (for example, learning disabled golfers).
The golf training aid is used by placing it on a practice surface with one edge parallel to the target line and optionally anchoring it to the practice surface. The golfer then assumes the setup position by comparing his image on the mirrored face of the aid to the permanent reference markings and making any necessary corrections. The golfer then swings, again comparing his image to the reference markings and making any necessary corrections. In addition, skilled golfers can utilize the aid when training on other, more advanced swing factors such as spine angle, posture, and swing plane.
It is an object of this invention to provide a golf training aid that provides the golfer with immediate feedback as to the correctness of the setup and entire swing and a simple method of making appropriate corrections based on that feedback.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf training aid that provides immediate feedback during a typical golf swing with head down and eyes on the ball.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a golf training aid that is customizable to individual golfers and specific clubs.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a training aid that satisfies the special needs of young or disabled golfers.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numbers indicate like elements.
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Banks Derris H.
Donahue, III Dennis J M
Husch & Eppenberger LLC
Suhol Dmitry
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