Golf training aid

Abstract

A golf training aid helps train a correct golf swing path where for a short period of time, the club is swung straight through the ball and down the target-line for a period of 12 inches, 6 inches before and 6 inches after impact. The golf training aid golfers achieve this flat with all golf clubs. Four six-inch angled polymer poles attach to a base made for driver and wood shots off a tee, and iron and wood-shots off the ground. Feedback is provided when a player hits or misses the poles. Angled poles are fixed to the base's external driver and iron lines for use with the various clubs, and the ball is aligned with one of two center lines, one line being for tee-shots and the other being for shots hit from the ground.

Claims

1. A golf training aid for practicing swings, the golf training aid comprising: a U-shaped base having a first arm and a second arm parallel to the first arm, the first arm and second arm being connected at a connecting portion to form a U-shaped structure having an open interior between the first arm and the second arm so that when the base is placed on the ground, the ground is exposed within the open interior, and a plurality of poles, each pole having a base selectively attachable to the U-shaped base, wherein the U-shaped base includes a target line, a pair of external pole-positioning lines, and a pair of interior pole-positioning lines inside and parallel to the external pole-positioning lines, wherein the poles are attachable to the U-shaped base along the interior pole-positioning lines when swings are to be practiced and wherein the poles are attachable to the U-shaped base along the exterior pole-positioning lines when other swings are to be practiced.

2. A golf training aid according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of poles comprises four poles, two positionable at an entry point of the swing and two positionable at an exit point of the swing.

3. A golf training aid according to claim 1, wherein the poles are each angled relative to the U-shaped base.

4. A golf training aid according to claim 1, wherein the poles are each angled relative to the U-shaped base at an angle from 44 degree to 65 degrees.

5. A golf training aid according to claim 1, wherein the poles are made of a material that provides feedback when hit by a golf club without damaging the golf club.

6. A golf training aid according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of poles comprising a first set of poles angled relative to the U-shaped base at a first angle and a second set of poles angled relative to the U-shaped base at a second angle different than the first angle.

7. A golf training aid for practicing swings, the golf training aid comprising: a U-shaped base having a first arm and a second arm parallel to the first arm, the first arm and second arm being connected at a connecting portion to form a U-shaped structure having an open interior between the first arm and the second arm so that when the base is placed on the ground, the ground is exposed within the open interior, and a plurality of poles, each pole having a base selectively attachable to the U-shaped base, wherein the U-shaped base includes a target line, a pair of external pole-positioning lines, and a pair of interior pole-positioning lines inside and parallel to the external pole-positioning lines, wherein the poles are attachable to the U-shaped base at a first position when swings are to be practiced to make a first slot to swing through and wherein the poles are attachable to the U-shaped at a different position laterally to make a different slot to swing through.

8. A golf training aid according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of poles comprises four poles, two positionable at an entry point of the swing and two positionable at an exit point of the swing.

9. A golf training aid according to claim 7, wherein the poles are each angled relative to the U-shaped base.

10. A golf training aid according to claim 7, wherein the poles are each angled relative to the U-shaped base at an angle from 44 degree to 65 degrees.

11. A golf training aid according to claim 7, wherein the poles are made of a material that provides feedback when hit by a golf club without damaging the golf club.

12. A golf training aid according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of poles comprising a first set of poles angled relative to the U-shaped base at a first angle and a second set of poles angled relative to the U-shaped base at a second angle different than the first angle.

13. A golf training aid for practicing swings, the golf training aid comprising: a U-shaped base having a first arm and a second arm parallel to the first arm, the first arm and second arm being connected at a connecting portion to form a U-shaped structure having an open interior between the first arm and the second arm so that when the base is placed on the ground, the ground is exposed within the open interior, and a plurality of poles, each pole having a base selectively attachable to the U-shaped base, wherein the U-shaped base includes a target line, a pair of external pole-positioning lines, and a pair of interior pole-positioning lines inside and parallel to the external pole-positioning lines, wherein the poles are attachable to the U-shaped base along the interior pole-positioning lines or along the exterior pole-positioning lines when swings are to be practiced, and wherein the width of the U-shaped base is at least 305 mm at an end opposite the connecting portion.

14. A golf training aid according to claim 13 wherein the width of the U-shaped base is at least 305 mm at the end adjacent to the connecting portion.

15. A golf training aid according to claim 13 wherein the internal pole-positioning lines extend the length of the U-shaped base.

16. A golf training aid according to claim 13 wherein the external pole-positioning lines extend the length of the U-shaped base.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic rear perspective view of a version of a golf training aid according to the invention set up for an iron shot, viewed down the target line;

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic rear perspective view of a version of the golf training aid of FIG. 1 set up for a driver shot, viewed down the target line; and

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the golf training aid of FIG. 1 set up for an iron shot.

DESCRIPTION

(4) The present invention is directed to a golf training aid to help golfers achieve the correct angle-of-attack and straight swing-path 6-inches immediately before and 6-inches immediately after impact with the ball.

(5) A golf training aid 100 according to one version of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The golf training aid 100 includes a base 105 having a flat and generally U-shape structure. The base 105 is made up of a first arm 110 and a second arm 115 extending parallel to the first arm 110. The first arm 110 and the second arm 115 are connected by a connecting portion 120 to form the U shape. Within the first arm 110, the second arm 115, and the connecting portion 120 is an open interior 125. When the base 105 is placed on the ground 130, the ground 130 can be exposed in the open interior 125 so that a ball 135 can be placed on the ground 130 within the open interior 125 of the base 105. A golf club 140, such as an iron 145 as shown in FIG. 1, can be swung by a user so that it can make contact with the ball 135 on the ground 130 in the open interior 125 of the base 105.

(6) In one version, the golf training aid is made up of the U-shaped base 105, a plurality lines, such as straight lines or arrows, 150 on the U-shaped base 105, and a plurality of poles 155 positionable on the U-shaped base 105. The U-shaped base 105 may be made out of polycarbonate or similar material and may be a minimum of 12 inches (302 mm) in length between rear and front poles. The plurality of lines 150 includes target lines 160 and pole-positioning lines 165. The target lines 160 are located on the connecting portion 120. The target lines 160 include a center target line 170 for iron and woods/hybrid shots struck off the ground. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the ball 135 is placed on the ground 130 in the open interior 125 and positions along a line extending from the center line 170. The target lines 160 may also include a right-handed driver line 175 and a left-handed driver line 180 offset from the center line 170. The two driver target lines/arrows 175, 180 may be positioned 56 mm left and right of the center line 170 (for left and right hand players). The two driver target lines 175, 180 can also be used for other woods. The distance of 56 mm matches the correct impact position of the driver with the ball above the ground between the angled poles when hit off a tee, as will be discussed in connection with FIG. 2 below. The pole-positioning lines 165 include a pair of exterior lines 185 and a pair of interior lines 190 with one line of each pair located on the first arm 110 and one located on the second arm 115. The pair of exterior lines indicates the positioning of the poles 155 for driver and other wood shots off a tee, as shown in FIG. 2. The pair of interior lines 190 indicates the positioning of the poles 155 for iron or woods/hybrid shots stuck with the ball 135 on the ground 130, as shown in FIG. 1. The poles 155 are hittable foam/plastic/poly/EVA that are angled at an angle relative to the base 105 varying in degrees from 44 to 65 degrees. The poles 155 each have a base 195 having touch fasteners glued thereto that attach/fasten the poles 155 to the U-shaped base 105.

(7) A method associated with the golf training aid 100 includes the following steps: (1) the golfer selects the club 140 he/she would like to practice with then selects and attaches to the base 105 the angled poles 155, two at the exit and two at the entry points, that most suits the club to be used; (2) the golfer attempts to progress by first swinging between the poles without a ball with a high angled club such as an iron 145, such as a 7-iron; once this is achieved the golfer practices swinging between the poles 155 and hitting balls 135; (3) the golfer then repeats this process with progressively less angled clubs and poles (44 to 65 degrees); and (4) to further test the golfers swing precision, the angled poles 155 can be placed closer together laterally on the touch fasteners, thereby making a narrower slot to swing through.

(8) During the improvement process the golfer will hit the poles 155, this is fine as the poles 155 are made for impact; no damage is done to the golfer's club, minimal to the poles, and valuable kinesthetic feedback is obtained with every swing made—which results in swing adjustments and improvement.

(9) Referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the pole positioning lines 165 run the length of golf training aid 100 on each side that the irons and woods poles 155 are placed on respectively. The poles 155 have enough width between left and right for a straight swing-path and well executed shot to be made without hitting either pole 155. The length of golf training aid 100 from pole to pole is 12.6 inches (320 mm) which is approximately this distance where a straight swing-path appears in a well-executed swing. This length can be lengthened or shortened in manufacturing. The center target line 170 shows the target line/arrow which is in the center between the poles 155 and acts a guide for iron and woods shots off the ground. FIG. 1 shows the poles 155 positioned on the interior lines 190 for iron or wood/hybrid shots hit from the ground (55 to 65-degree poles). The poles 155 may have adhesive strips on their bases 195 that attach to adhesive strips on the U-shaped base 105. Also provided on the U-shaped base 105 is a mark 200 to indicate the mid-point in the 12-inch slot that the player plays the ball from (although, the player can play from behind or in front of this spot, and the line can be changed in manufacturing if required).

(10) FIG. 2 shows the golf training aid 100 for use with a driver or other wood 205 when hitting a ball 135 positioned on a tee (tee not shown). The angled poles 155 are designed at 48 degrees in the version shown, a typical shaft lie-angle at impact of an accomplished player is between 44 and 50 degrees (in manufacture this can be adjusted up or down for the driver and other clubs from 44 to 65 degrees). The poles 155 are placed on the external lines/arrows 185 (both sides), and may have an angle different than the poles used for irons as shown in FIG. 1. The right-handed driver line 175 shows the line on which the teed ball 135 is positioned for a right-handed player, and the left-handed driver line 180 shows the line on which the teed ball 135 is to be positioned for a left-handed player. These driver lines or arrows 175, 180 are 56 mm on either side of center target line 170. These driver lines or arrows 175, match the ideal center entry line and elevation at 56 mm above the ground 130 between the two poles 155 when hitting a driver. (This distance is calculated using the height of the average modern driver, plus half a ball's height—as teed-up above the driver, minus, the distance from the top of the driver to the center of the face where the ball is struck and the driver poles angle.)

(11) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the golf training aid 100 in use as in FIG. 1. The width of the base 105 between the external poles and lines is currently 305 mm (with overhang on either side); this could be widened in future embodiments if a wider slot was required. FIG. 3 also shows the mark 200 to indicate the position of the ball 135. Additional marks, for example, a pitching mark 210 and a chipping mark 215 may be provided.

(12) As discussed, the invention has many different features, variations and multiple different embodiments. The invention has been described in this application at times in terms of specific embodiments for illustrative purposes and without the intent to limit or suggest that the invention conceived is only one particular embodiment. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any single specific embodiments or enumerated variations. Many modifications, variations and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure. It is indeed intended that the scope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation and construction of the disclosure, including equivalents, as understood by those of skill in the art relying upon the complete disclosure at the time of filing.