Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-23
2001-01-23
Passaniti, Sebastiano (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
C473S276000, C473S277000, C473S409000, C273SDIG002, C482S091000, C434S252000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176790
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a method for swing training. The method is both a training method to improve sport specific muscle memory while stretch training the same muscles to be in desired physical condition for the execution of the swing. A number of popular sports including golf, tennis, baseball, and hockey require the arms to swing while holding an elongated striking implement, for example a club, bat, or racquet, for the purpose of hitting an object. Fishing employs a comparable action to cast a lure into the water.
BACKGROUND
Although many swing training methods and devices are known in the prior art, no known method or device is fully effective in improving athletic performance and preventing muscle dysfunctionality.
Muscle injuries are common to athletes as result of repetitive and unusual strain on various muscle groups. This problem is often more pronounced in sports such as golf, baseball, and tennis where a good swing is an essential component of the sport. A poor swing training technique leads, athletes to inconsistencies in their game, and may lead to injuries as well as too poor execution of the athletic task. Prior attempts to overcome these problems have included various stretching exercises as well as squats and crunches to strengthen and tone muscles. Although these exercises help to increase muscle flexibility, these methods have not provided all the improvements golfers seek from training methods.
In golf, existing methods often overcomplicate the functions of the swing plane and preferred club positioning, while underestimating the importance of proper setup and how it affects swing mechanics. Golfers who have tried to improve their swings have often given up, commenting that their feel is compromised by the distraction of bearing in mind the many technical points needed to make the adjustments required to correct the faults in their swing.
Physiology
To better understand the problems of providing an effective swing training method, it is helpful to understand the physiology involved with the movement of the body when executing a swing. The bones and joints form a system of levers in the human body with the muscular system providing force and movement to the levers. There are two types of joints: hinged joints that flex and extend the limb; and ball and socket joints that rotate the limb in one direction or another. Every joint is moved by at least two opposing sets of muscles.
It is clear that if both opposing muscle sets contract together equally there will be no movement of the joint. Conversely, the greatest amount of power will be generated when one set contracts and the opposing set of is in a state of complete relaxation. Put another way, the force of a concentric contraction of a muscle can be enhanced if it is immediately preceded by an eccentric contraction by the same muscle. A concentric contraction has a line of action passing through the center of the joint, and therefore does not urge rotation, while an eccentric contraction is off-center and urges the joint to rotate. A complete state of relaxation cannot be reached if the muscles are not flexible. Therefore, during the execution of any movement, the person should not tighten the muscles. Also, a person can be genetically predisposed to muscle tightness.
Energy may be stored in a muscle in the form of elastic energy. When a contracting muscle is forced to stretch, some of the work done in stretching the muscles is available in the following contraction. Maximum reuse of stored energy will follow if the contraction immediately follows the stretching. This type of contraction yields more power, more speed and more efficiency.
Undesired muscle tensions also increase as the body tries to restore lost balance or make other compensators for errors, so that reducing mistakes made in the initial setup and early in a swing will keep the player relaxed and swinging freely.
Therefore there is a need to stretch and selectively train groups of muscles to prevent dysfunctionality and improve overall performance in athletic activities requiring a swinging skill.
Previous Attempts to Train Specific Groups of Muscles
There have been previous attempts to train muscle groups selectively to prevent dysfunctionality and to improve overall performance in athletic activities.
THERABAND (TM) elastic band, an elastic band attached to a wall was developed to provide specific eccentric training intended to enhance muscular recovery following pitching in baseball or softball, thus reducing muscle soreness. Isotonic exercises are performed with the elastic band which is used to add resistance to increase the work of isolated muscles to strengthen them.
Because of the limitations of the THERABAND (TM) elastic band mechanics, it appears that the subjects were not able adequately to duplicate the actual motion of a baseball swing. Thus, the apparatus and related method do not develop muscle memory needed for adequate swing training. Rather this device is limited in it use for stretch training to develop muscles for general use.
The Ecosque Method attempts to correct dysfunctional muscle control through a series of several exercises designed to strengthen muscles used in athletic activities including golf. One drawback of the Ecosque method is that it is not adequately specific for golf. Diagnostic testing is used to try to pinpoint specific problem areas, where muscle flexibility is limited. The method provides stretching exercises using a T-bar, and some weight training. The method does not appear to help a golfer or other athlete maintain a proper swing plane and improve the mechanics of a sports swing.
Neither method seems to tailor the exercises specifically to the needs of golfers. Furthermore, the methods do not appear to obtain any benefits from muscle memory training. Therefore, there is a need for a method of swing training designed to meet, inter alia, the specific needs of golf, where the player or trainee can strive for the execution and maintenance of an ideal or desired swing plane.
Various loops, tethers, cuffs, harnesses and the like have been proposed for training golfers by physically constraining one or more body movements. These devices may be awkward to use or inconvenient to attach and, while each presumably supplies some benefit, none satisfactorily trains a golfer to have a precise and powerful swing employing simple training aids.
For example, Radakovich, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,909, discloses a golf club swing training device and method employing an elastic loop worn around the neck, chest and hips which is intended to correct the user's golf swing. The elastic loop is donned over the head of the player with the major portion of the loop resting over the chest, abdomen and shoulders. The player swings against an upward pull exerted by tension in the elastic loop to produce improved control of the golfer's arms. Radakovich's device does not appear adequate to meet the specific need for training, stretching, or preparing muscles for a precisely executed golf swing. For example, Radakovich's training device and method does not prevent a flying right elbow, arms separating or casting of the club. Nor does Radakovich's device train the user to properly position the hips, legs, knees and feet. The method does not necessarily increase shoulder turn, cause any separation turn and trunk rotation, and does nothing to train the lower body, which are desirable training requirements. Radakovich's method emphasizes left hand and left arm movements for right handed players. Furthermore, Radakovich's method does not correct arm position at the top of the backswing, correct posture, correct weight disbursement, or help coordination and stability throughout swing plane in a manner achievable by means of the present invention. Nor does Radakovich's method address physical limitations of individual golfers, for example if a person lacks the flexibility to turn the shoulders and hips, separately.
Leith, U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,575, discloses a harness to be
Handal & Morofsky
Passaniti Sebastiano
TheraGolf, Ltd.
LandOfFree
Method of swing training for sports does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of swing training for sports, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of swing training for sports will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2479076