Patent Application
20240139604
The present invention relates generally to the sport of golf and more particularly to devices and methods used to improve a golf swing.
The game of golf has two basic elements, a long game and a short game. The long game consists primarily of tee shots and fairway shots. The mechanics of a long game golf swing are disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/738,372 having the same inventors as the instant application, filed on Jan. 9, 2020 and published on Jul. 16, 2020 as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/00222779 A1, which is incorporated herein by reference. The short game consists primarily of approach shots and putting. Chip shots are a type of approach shot having a low trajectory that are typically performed very close to the green, i.e., within a few yards, using a wedge or short iron with a shortened swing. Chip shots are further characterized as having very little carry before landing and bouncing on the ground, ultimately rolling on the green toward the hole like a putt.
In accordance with an optimal chip shot, the golfer adopts a narrow stance with the majority of the golfer's body weight distributed onto the lead foot. The golfer maintains this same front-heavy weight distribution for the entirety of the chip shot unlike a long game golf swing where the golfer's body weight is preferably evenly distributed between both feet for the entirety of the shot. As such, the present invention recognizes the need for a device that confirms in real time that a golfer is applying an optimal body weight loading to the lead foot at all times throughout the chip shot. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to satisfy the above-recited need. It is another object of the present invention to provide such a device that is simply constructed and forgoes any electronics, instead operating in a non-electrical, strictly manual manner.
These objects and others are accomplished in accordance with the invention described hereafter.
The present invention is a device characterized as a weight distribution indicator that a user stands on while performing a simulated or actual golf shot. The weight distribution indicator has two positions, a rearward leaning position and a forward leaning position. The weight distribution indicator is preferably in the forward leaning position during the entirety of the golf shot. If the weight distribution indicator transitions to the rearward leaning position at any point during the golf shot, it is an indication that the user does not have a sufficient amount of his or her body weight on the lead foot to effect an optimal golf swing. As such, the weight distribution indicator teaches the user when it is necessary to increase the amount of body weight placed on the lead foot, thereby correcting the golf swing.
The weight distribution indicator includes a front and rear end as well as a top and bottom face extending between the front and rear ends. The top face is preferably a continuous unitary plane that has a lead foot placement site proximal to the front end and a trail foot placement site proximal to the rear end. The bottom face has a bottom front plane aligned beneath the lead foot placement site and a bottom rear plane aligned beneath the trail foot placement site. Each bottom plane has a front edge and a rear edge. The weight distribution indicator also includes a pivot axis on the bottom face between the bottom front and rear planes. The bottom front and rear planes are rotatable about the pivot axis in opposite directions relative to each other. The trail foot placement site is positioned a greater distance lengthwise from the pivot axis than is the lead foot placement site.
In accordance with one specific embodiment of the weight distribution indicator, the bottom front plane and the bottom rear plane intersect on a line to form the pivot axis. More particularly, the pivot axis is formed by an intersection of the rear edge of the bottom front plane and the front edge of the bottom rear plane. The bottom rear plane is oriented upward at a rearward angle of incline and the bottom front plane is oriented upward at a forward angle of incline. Each of the lead and trail foot placement sites has a longitudinal centerline. The horizontal distance between the pivot edge and the longitudinal centerline of the lead foot placement site defines a forward leverage distance and the horizontal distance between the pivot edge and the longitudinal centerline of the trail foot placement site defines a rearward leverage distance. The rearward leverage distance is greater than the forward leverage distance.
In accordance with another specific embodiment, the pivot axis is a rearward pivot axis and is positioned on a base protruding downwardly from the bottom face. The base has a base bottom face, base front face and base rear face. The base is bounded by the rear edge of the bottom front plane and the front edge of the bottom rear plane. The base bottom face and the base rear face intersect one another to form the rearward pivot axis and the base bottom face and the base front face intersect one another to form a forward pivot axis. The bottom rear plane is oriented upward at a rearward angle of incline and the bottom front plane and base bottom face are oriented substantially parallel to the top face.
In an alternate characterization, the weight distribution indicator includes a front and rear end as well as a top and bottom face extending between the front and rear ends. The top face is preferably a continuous unitary plane that has a lead foot placement site thereon proximal to the front end and a trail foot placement site thereon proximal to the rear end. The bottom face has a bottom front plane aligned beneath the lead foot placement site and a bottom rear plane aligned beneath the trail foot placement site. Each bottom plane has a front edge and a rear edge. The bottom rear plane is preferably oriented upward at a rearward angle of incline and the bottom forward plane is preferably oriented upward at a forward angle of incline.
The weight distribution indicator also includes a pivot axis on the bottom face formed by an intersection of the rear edge of the bottom front plane and the front edge of the bottom rear plane. The bottom front and rear planes are rotatable about the pivot axis in opposite directions relative to each other. Each of the lead and trail foot placement sites has a longitudinal centerline. The horizontal distance between the pivot axis and the longitudinal centerline of the lead foot placement site defines a forward leverage distance and the horizontal distance between the pivot axis and the longitudinal centerline of the trail foot placement site defines a rearward leverage distance. The rearward leverage distance is greater than the forward leverage distance.
In another alternate characterization, the weight distribution indicator includes a front and rear end as well as a top and rear face extending between the front and rear ends. The top face has a lead foot placement site positioned thereon proximal to the front end and a trail foot placement site positioned thereon proximal to the rear end. The bottom face has a bottom front plane aligned beneath the lead foot placement site and a bottom rear plane aligned beneath the trail foot placement site. Each bottom plane has a front edge and a rear edge. The weight distribution indicator further includes a base protruding downwardly from the bottom face. The base has a base bottom face, base front face and base rear face. The base is bounded by the rear edge of the bottom front plane and the front edge of the bottom rear plane. The base bottom face and the base rear face intersect one another to form a rearward pivot axis. The bottom front and rear planes are rotatable about the rearward pivot axis in opposite directions relative to each other.
In accordance with additional specific embodiments, each of the lead and trail foot placement sites has a longitudinal centerline. The horizontal distance between the rearward pivot axis and the longitudinal centerline of the lead foot placement site defines a forward leverage distance and the horizontal distance between the rearward pivot axis and the longitudinal centerline of the trail foot placement site defines a rearward leverage distance. The rearward leverage distance is greater than the forward leverage distance. The base bottom face and the base front face intersect one another to form a forward pivot axis about which the bottom front and rear planes are rotatable in opposite directions relative to each other. The bottom front plane and base bottom face are oriented substantially parallel to the top face and the bottom rear plane is oriented upward at a rearward angle of incline.
The invention will be further understood from the accompanying drawings and description.
The below-listed drawing figures illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. Common reference characters are used among the different drawing figures to indicate the same structural elements.
The following description discloses two embodiments of a weight distribution indicator having particular utility for golf chip shot training. The first embodiment is shown in
Referring initially to
The front and rear faces 16, 18 are on opposing ends of the weight distribution indicator 10 and each face 16, 18 has a substantially rectangular profile. The front face 16 is at the front end of the weight distribution indicator 10 and is alternately termed the lead face because it faces forward in the direction of the golf shot during use. The rear face 18 is at the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 10 and is preferably in parallel alignment with the front face 16. The rear face 18 is alternately termed the trail face because it faces rearward away from the direction of the golf shot during use. The front and rear faces 16, 18 maintain a substantially vertical orientation during use, wherein the term “substantially vertical” encompasses true vertical and deviations less than 45° from true vertical. The top face 12 intersects the faces 16, 18, 20a, 20b at right angles. These intersections correspond to the top edges of the weight distribution indicator 10.
The length of the top face 12 is the distance between the top edges of the front and rear faces 16, 18 and the length of the bottom face 14 is the distance between the bottom edges of the front and rear faces 16, 18. The lengths of the top and bottom faces 12, 14 are preferably equal to one another and correspond to the overall length of the weight distribution indicator 10. The width of the top face 12 is the distance between the top edges of the first and second lateral faces 20a, 20b and the width of the bottom face 14 is the distance between the bottom edges of the first and second lateral faces 20a, 20b. The widths of the top and bottom faces 12, 14 are likewise preferably equal to one another and correspond to the overall width of the weight distribution indicator 10.
The bottom face 14 of the weight distribution indicator 10 is divided into two discrete substantially rectangular planes that intersect one another along a line of intersection. The first plane of the bottom face 14 is a bottom front plane 22 having front and rear edges. The second plane of the bottom face 14 is a bottom rear plane 24 also having front and rear edges. The rear edge of the bottom front plane 22 intersects the front edge of the bottom rear plane 24 and the resulting line of intersection is termed a pivot axis 26. As noted above, the weight distribution indicator 10 is effectively a class one lever, wherein the pivot axis 26 is a fulcrum and the top face 12 is a beam.
The bottom front plane 22 extends forwardly away from the pivot axis 26 toward the front end of the weight distribution indicator 10 where the front edge of the bottom front plane 22 intersects the bottom edge of the front face 16. Conversely, the bottom rear plane 24 extends in the opposite direction rearwardly away from the pivot axis 26 toward the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 10 where the rear edge of the bottom rear plane 24 intersects the bottom edge of the rear face 18. The bottom face 14 has a convex V-shape because the bottom front and rear planes 22, 24 have different angular orientations relative to one another. As a result, the intersection of the bottom front and rear planes 22, 24 forms an obtuse interior angle θ at the pivot axis 26 that is preferably greater than about 120° and more preferably greater than about 145°. When the weight distribution indicator 10 is aligned such that the top face 12 has a true horizontal orientation, the bottom front and rear planes 22, 24 have upward angles of orientation deviating from true horizontal. The upward angle of orientation of the bottom front plane 22 is termed a forward angle of incline β and the upward angle of orientation of the bottom rear plane 24 is termed a rearward angle of incline α. Although not necessarily equal to one another, the forward and rearward angles of incline α, β are both acute angles that are preferably substantially less than about 30°.
The distance between the pivot axis 26 and the front end of the weight distribution indicator 10 corresponds to the length of the bottom front plane 22 and the distance between the pivot axis 26 and the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 10 corresponds to the length of the bottom rear plane 22. Each bottom plane 22, 24 has the same width, but each has a different length relative to the other. As a general rule, the length of the bottom front plane 22 is preferably less than the length of the bottom rear plane 24 such that the pivot axis 26 is positioned off-center more proximal to the front end than to the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 10.
The vertical distance between the bottom front plane 22 and top face 12 at any point along the length of the bottom front plane 22 corresponds to the thickness of the weight distribution indicator 10 at that point. The thickness decreases as the bottom front plane 22 approaches the front end of the weight distribution indicator 10 until the thickness corresponds identically to the height of the front face 16. The vertical distance between the bottom rear plane 24 and top face 12 at any point along the length of the bottom rear plane 24 corresponds to the thickness of the weight distribution indicator 10 at that point. The thickness decreases as the bottom rear plane 24 approaches the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 10 until the thickness corresponds identically to the height of the rear face 18.
Although the weight distribution indicator 10 is not constrained to any specific dimensions, certain exemplary dimensions are offered hereafter to more clearly illustrate the present invention rather than to limit it. An exemplary preferred thickness at the front end of the weight distribution indicator 10 is on the order of about 1 inch and is on the order of about ½ inch at the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 10. An exemplary preferred thickness at the pivot axis 26 is on the order of about 1 3/16 inches. An exemplary preferred length of the bottom front plane 22 is on the order of about 5 inches and an exemplary preferred length of the bottom rear plane 24 is on the order of about 7 inches. Accordingly, an exemplary preferred length of the weight distribution indicator 10 is on the order of about 12 inches. The width of the weight distribution indicator 10 is preferably equal or nearly equal to its length. As such, an exemplary preferred width is on the order of about 13 inches.
In any case, the width of the weight distribution indicator 10 is preferably sufficient to accommodate the largest size feet of a typical golfer so that the heels and toes of a user's feet do not extend beyond the lateral edges of the top face 12. The length of the weight distribution indicator 10 is preferably sufficient to accommodate the width of a typical golf stance for a chip shot so that the outer edges of a user's feet do not extend beyond the front and rear edges of the top face 12. A golf stance width is defined herein as the distance between the longitudinal centerlines of the lead foot and the trail foot. The optimal golf stance width for a chip shot is approximately 7 inches for an average size individual. It is apparent that the preferred exemplary length and width of the weight distribution indicator 10 recited above are sufficient to accommodate most any size golfer.
Although the weight shift distribution indicator 10 is accurately characterized herein as a single unitary article of manufacture, the weight distribution indicator 10 is, nevertheless, preferably provided with a joint 28 that enables a user to separate the weight shift indicator 10 into two sections during non-use. Separating the weight shift indicator 10 desirably renders it less bulky and facilitates its storage and transport. The joint 28 extends from the front face 16 to the rear face 18 along the front-to-back extending central axis of the weight distribution indicator 10, thereby bisecting the weight distribution indicator 10 into a first section 30 and a second section 32.
The joint 28 is preferably a tongue and groove-type connection having cooperative fastening elements on abutting edges of the first and second sections 30, 32 that enable a user to selectively fasten and unfasten the joint 28. The joint 28 is fastened by press-fitting the cooperative fastening elements together, thereby joining the first and second sections 30, 32. The joint 28 remains fastened during use to effectively maintain the single unitary character of the weight shift distribution indicator 10 at all times during use. Separating the sections 30, 32 during non-use to split the weight distribution indicator 10 is effected by simply bending and pulling the press-fitted joint 28 apart to unfasten it. The sections 30, 32 are readily re-joined for use by pressing the joint 28 back together and flattening sections 30, 32 relative to each other.
The weight distribution indicator 10 is a rigid article that does not substantially flex or otherwise deform when subjected to forces applied to it by a user standing thereon and swinging a golf club. The weight distribution indicator 10 is preferably fabricated from a rigid, high-strength, durable plastic and is preferably manufactured by molding the material of fabrication into the desired configuration. It is noted that the configuration and dimensions of the weight distribution indicator 10 are selected by the designer thereof and all are essentially permanently fixed upon manufacture.
Referring to
The top, front and rear faces 112, 116, 118 of the weight distribution indicator 110 are preferably essentially identical to the corresponding faces 12, 16, 18 of the weight distribution indicator 10. Consequently, the top plan view of the weight distribution indicator 110 is preferably essentially identical to that of the weight distribution indicator 10. The weight distribution indicator 110 also has a joint 128, a first section 130 and second section 132 that are preferably essentially identical to those of the weight distribution indicator 10. The bottom face 114 of the weight distribution indicator 110 differs from the bottom face 14 of the weight distribution indicator 10 because the bottom face 114 inter alia includes a base 144 that is not present in the bottom face 14. The 144 base has a thin bar-like configuration.
The base 144 includes a base bottom face 146, base front face 148 and base rear face 150. The base 144 lacks a top face because the top of the base 144 merges into the bottom face 114. Each base face 146, 148, 150 is configured as a single substantially continuous unitary plane having a substantially rectangular profile. The base bottom face 146 is aligned parallel to the top face 112 and the bottom rear plane 124. The base bottom face 146 maintains a substantially horizontal orientation during use of the weight distribution indicator 110. The base front and rear faces 148, 150 are aligned parallel to the front and rear faces 116, 118. The base front and rear faces 148, 150 maintain a substantially vertical orientation during use. The base front face 148 base extends vertically between the rear edge of the bottom front plane 122 and front edge of the base bottom face 146 and extends horizontally between the first and second base lateral faces 120a, 120b. The base front face 148 intersects the faces 120a, 120b, 122, 146 at right angles. The base rear face 150 is positioned rearward of the base front face 148. The base rear face 150 extends vertically between the front edge of the bottom rear plane 124 and rear edge of the base bottom face 146 and extends horizontally between the first and second base lateral faces 120a, 120b. The base rear face 150 intersects the faces 120a, 120b, 146 at right angles.
The base 144 divides the bottom face 114 into bottom front and rear planes 122, 124 that are analogous to the bottom planes 22, 24 of the weight distribution indicator 10. As such, the bottom front plane 122 extends forwardly away from the top edge of the base front face 148 toward the front end of the weight distribution indicator 110 and the bottom rear plane 124 extends rearwardly away from the top edge of the base rear face 150 toward the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 110. The 144 base has the same width as the weight distribution indicator 110 and extends horizontally between the rear edge of the bottom front plane 122 and the front edge of the bottom rear plane 124. The base 144 also extends vertically a relatively small distance downward from the bottom front and rear planes 122, 124.
The front edge of the bottom front plane 122 intersects the bottom edge of the front face 16 and the rear edge of the bottom front plane 122 intersects the top edge of the base front face 148. The front edge of the bottom rear plane 124 intersects the top edge of the base rear face 150 and the rear edge of the bottom rear plane 124 intersects the bottom edge of the rear face 18. The bottom planes 122, 124 have the same width, but each has a different length relative to the other. The planes 112, 122, 146 are all aligned parallel to one another. In contrast the bottom rear plane 124 has a different angular orientation relative to the planes 112, 122, 146. When the weight distribution indicator 110 is aligned such that the planes 112, 122, 146 all have a true horizontal orientation, the bottom rear plane 124 has an upward angle of orientation deviating from true horizontal. The upward angle of orientation of the bottom rear plane 124 is termed a rearward angle of incline α that is an acute angle that is preferably substantially less than about 30°.
The base front and bottom faces 148, 146 intersect one another along a forward line of intersection termed a forward pivot axis 126a that corresponds to the bottom edge of the base front face 148 and the front edge of the base bottom face 146. The base rear and bottom faces 150, 146 intersect one another along a rearward line of intersection termed a rearward pivot axis 126b that corresponds to the bottom edge of the base rear face 150 and the rear edge of the base bottom face 146. The horizontally spaced-apart forward and rearward pivot axes 126a, 126b are both straight lines that are parallel to one another and are parallel to the front and rear faces 116, 118. The forward and rearward pivot axes 126a, 126b are also perpendicular to the first and second lateral faces 120a, 120b. As noted above, the weight distribution indicator 110 is effectively a class one lever, wherein the pivot axes 126, 126b are fulcrums and the top face 112 is a beam.
The base bottom face 146 is positioned a relatively short vertical distance below the rear edge of the bottom front plane 122. This distance is termed a first step-down distance and it corresponds to the height of the base front face 148. The base bottom face 146 is also positioned a relatively short vertical distance below the front edge of the bottom rear plane 124. This distance is termed a second step-down distance and it corresponds to the height of the base rear face 150. The second step-down distance is preferably greater than the first step-down distance.
The distance between the forward pivot axis 126a and the front end of the weight distribution indicator 110 corresponds to the length of the bottom front plane 122, the distance between the rearward pivot axis 126b and the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 110 corresponds to the length of the bottom rear plane 40 and the distance between the forward and rearward pivot axes 126a, 126b corresponds to the length of the base bottom face 146. As a general rule, the length of the bottom front plane 122 is preferably less than the length of the bottom rear plane 124. In addition the length of the base bottom face 146 is preferably less than the length of either the bottom front or rear plane 122, 124.
Although the weight distribution indicator 110 is not constrained to any specific dimensions, certain exemplary dimensions are offered hereafter to more clearly illustrate the present invention rather than to limit it. An exemplary preferred length of the bottom front plane 122 is on the order of about 4¼ inches, an exemplary preferred length of the base bottom face 146 is on the order of about ¾ inch and an exemplary preferred length of the bottom rear plane 124 is on the order of about 7 inches. Accordingly, an exemplary preferred distance between the rearward pivot axis 126a and the front end of the weight distribution indicator 10 is on the order of about 5 inches. An exemplary preferred first step-down distance of the base 144 is about ⅛ inch and an exemplary preferred second step-down distance is about 3/16 inch. An exemplary preferred thickness at the front end of the weight distribution indicator 110 or at any point along the bottom front plane 122 is on the order of about 1 inch. Accordingly, an exemplary preferred thickness at the forward or rearward pivot axis 126a, 126b or at any point along the base bottom face 146 is on the order of about 1⅛ inches. An exemplary preferred thickness at the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 110 is on the order of about ½ inch.
Both weight distribution indicators 10, 110 have utility for chip shot swing training when set up on a stable horizontally-oriented support surface. The support surface may be natural or artificial and preferably has a pliant tufted covering and a firm underlying base. Natural grass is a preferred natural support surface, wherein the covering is the natural grass blades and the base is the underlying soil. Preferred artificial support services include artificial turf and carpet, wherein the covering is a pile and the base is a stout sheet of backing to which the covering is attached. The pile of artificial turf is artificial grass blades and the pile of carpet is tufted yarn. Natural grass and artificial support surfaces having a long pile are characterized as relatively soft support surfaces while artificial support surfaces having a short pile are characterized as relatively hard support surfaces. An alternate artificial support surface is a smooth relatively hard surface that lacks a tufted covering such as indoor or outdoor flooring fabricated from wood, cement, linoleum or the like.
To initiate use of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 after set-up, the user selects a desired golf club for chipping and holds the club handle using a normal golf grip. With the golf club in hand, the user steps onto the top face 12, 112 of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 and assumes a normal chip shot stance and posture. Assuming a normal chip shot stance entails firmly planting the lead foot on a predetermined lead foot placement site 36 on the top face 12, 112 immediately adjacent to the front end of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 and firmly planting the trail foot on a predetermined trail foot placement site 38 on the top face 12, 112 immediately adjacent to the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110.
The lead foot placement site 36 has a longitudinal centerline 40 and the trail foot placement site 38 has a longitudinal centerline 42. The longitudinal centerlines 40, 42 are substantially parallel to one another and are aligned substantially perpendicular to the front-to-rear extending central axis of the top face 12, 112. The longitudinal centerlines 40, 42 are also aligned substantially parallel to the pivot axis 26 in the weight distribution indicator 10 or to the forward and rearward pivot axes 126a, 126b in the weight distribution indicator 110. Although the foot placement sites and pivot axes reside on opposite faces of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110, the relative longitudinal position of the pivot axis 26 in the weight distribution indicator 10 is between the longitudinal centerlines 40, 42 and the relative longitudinal positions of the forward and rearward pivot axes 126a, 126b in the weight distribution indicator 110 are similarly between the longitudinal centerlines 40, 42.
For a right-handed user the left foot is the lead foot and the right foot is the trail foot. These foot positions are reversed for a left-handed user, i.e., the right foot is the lead foot and the left foot is the trail foot. The method of use for the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 is described herein with reference to a right-handed user, but it is apparent to the ordinary artisan that the same method can be readily adapted to a left-handed user. It is additionally noted that when the term foot (or feet) is used herein it generally refers to a foot (or feet) with a shoe worn on it since the user of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 is preferably wearing shoes.
The present method of use requires the user to perform an actual or simulated chip shot while standing on the top face 12, 112 of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110. A chip shot, whether actual or simulated, is generally performed in multiple stages, namely, an address, takeaway, downswing, impact and follow-through stage. The only difference between an actual and simulated chip shot is the impact stage. In an actual chip shot the user strikes a real golf ball during the impact stage, while in a simulated chip shot the golf ball is imaginary so the user merely mimics the movements of striking a real golf ball during the impact stage. All of the other chip shot stages are the same for actual and simulated chip shots.
Once the user assumes a normal chip shot stance, the user performs the address stage of the chip shot by distributing the majority of the user's weight onto the lead foot. This front-heavy weight distribution is an optimal chip shot weight distribution that transitions the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 from the rearward leaning position to a desired forward leaning position. Forward transition of the weight distribution indicator 10 is effected by applying a majority fraction of the user's weight to the lead foot. This force is sufficient to rotate the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 10 upward about the pivot axis 26 away from the support surface 34 and disengage the rear edge of the bottom rear plane 24 from the support surface 34. This force simultaneously rotates the front end of the weight distribution indicator 10 downward about the pivot axis 26 toward the support surface 34 until the front edge of the bottom front plane 22 engages the support surface 34, thereby attaining the forward leaning position.
In sum, the weight distribution indicator 10 is sufficiently front-heavy in the forward leaning position that the front edge of the bottom front plane 22 forcefully presses against the support surface 34 while the rear edge of the bottom rear plane 24 is entirely disengaged from the support surface 34. Thus, the front edge of the bottom front plane 22 and pivot axis 26 are the only parts of the weight distribution indicator 10 that engage the support surface 34, thereby supporting the entire weight of the user and deadweight of the weight distribution indicator 10. In a preferred case, the optimal chip shot weight distribution is achieved when at least about 65% of the user's weight is on the lead foot and only 35% or less remains on the trail foot. Following the address stage, the user sequentially performs the takeaway, downswing, impact and follow-through stages while maintaining the weight distribution indicator 10 in the forward leaning position.
Forward transition of the weight distribution indicator 110 is similarly effected by applying a majority fraction of the user's weight to the lead foot, thereby rotating the rear end of the weight distribution indicator 110 about the rearward pivot axis 126b away from the support surface 34 and simultaneously rotating the front end toward the support surface 34. Forward transition of the weight distribution indicator 110 differs somewhat from that of the weight distribution indicator 10 insofar as the rear and front ends of the weight distribution indicator 110 also momentarily rotate about the base bottom face 146 and thereafter about the forward pivot axis 126a before the front edge of the bottom front plane 122 engages the support surface 34 and the forward leaning position is attained. It is noteworthy, however, that most of the rotational distance traveled by the rear and front ends of the weight distribution indicator 110 during the forward transition occurs when they are rotating about the rearward pivot axis 126b.
The functionality of the weight distribution indicator 10 is enabled by properly selecting the longitudinal distance between the pivot axis 26 and the longitudinal centerline 40 of the lead foot placement site 36, termed the forward leverage distance, and properly selecting the longitudinal distance between the pivot axis 26 and the longitudinal centerline 42 of the trail foot placement site 38, termed the rearward leverage distance. If these leverage distances are properly selected, the front edge of the bottom front plane 22 instantaneously rotates downwardly to engage the support surface 34, thereby effecting forward transition of the weight distribution indicator 10, at the precise moment when the downward force applied to the top face 12 by the lead foot reaches an optimal fraction of the user's total weight. In a preferred case the optimal fraction of a user's weight borne by the lead foot to effect forward transition of the weight distribution indicator 10 is about 65% or more. This forward transition is characterized as abrupt rather than gradual.
The functionality of the weight distribution indicator 110 is enabled in substantially the same manner as the weight distribution indicator 10, wherein the longitudinal distance between the rearward pivot axis 126b and the longitudinal centerline 40 of the lead foot placement site 36 is the forward leverage distance of the weight distribution indicator 110 and the longitudinal distance between the rearward pivot axis 126b and the longitudinal centerline 42 of the trail foot placement site 38 is the rearward leverage distance of the weight distribution indicator 110.
The weight distribution indicator 10, 110 stays in the forward leaning position as long as the optimal fraction of the user's total weight is borne by the lead foot, which is preferably the entire duration of the chip shot. If the fraction of the user's total weight borne by the lead foot falls below the optimal fraction at any point during the chip shot, the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 transitions from the forward leaning position back to the rearward leaning position. Thus, the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 instantly notifies the user in real time when the user's chip shot weight distribution is incorrect and the user can act to correct it. Like the forward transition, the rearward transition of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 back to the rearward leaning position during a golf shot is abrupt rather than gradual. In some cases, the configuration of the bottom face 114 of the weight distribution indicator 110 advantageously renders the rearward and/or forward transition more apparent to the user. For example, rearward and/or forward transition of the weight distribution indicator 10 may not be as easily detectable as rearward and/or forward transition of the weight distribution indicator 110 when set up on a long natural grass surface.
The ability of a practitioner to properly select the rearward and forward leverage distances to achieve optimal forward transition of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 from the rearward leaning position to the forward leaning position relies on known principles of operation for a first class lever. In particular, it is known that the force required to rotate one end of the beam of a lever downwardly about the fulcrum is inversely related to the distance between that end of the beam and the fulcrum. It is further known that the preferred optimal fraction of the user's total weight to be borne by the lead foot during a chip shot is more than that borne by the trail foot during the chip shot. Therefore, it is apparent that a greater force is required to rotate the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 to the forward leaning position than is required to maintain the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 in the rearward leaning position. As a result, the rearward leverage distance must be greater than forward leverage distance of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110.
A preferred rearward leverage distance and forward leverage distance is more precisely specified by first specifying a representative optimal swing stance width and optimal fraction of the user's total weight to be borne by the lead and trail feet during the chip shot. Thus, for example, 7 inches is specified as the optimal swing stance width and 67% and 33% are specified as the optimal fractions of the user's total weight to be borne by the lead and trail feet, respectively, during the chip shot. Given these fixed variables, the preferred forward and rearward leverage distances are calculated using the following equations:
swing stance width×(1−total weight fraction borne by lead foot)=forward leverage distance [7 inches×(1−0.67)=2.31 inches]
swing stance width−forward leverage distance=rearward leverage distance [7 inches−2.31 inches=4.69 inches]
OR
swing stance width×(1−total weight fraction borne by trail foot)=rearward leverage distance [7 inches×(1−0.33)=4.69 inches]
Thus, the preferred forward leverage distance in the present example is 2.31 inches and the preferred rearward leverage distance is 4.69 inches.
It is within the scope of the present invention to incorporate additional optional design elements into the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 which are not shown in the drawings, but are described below. These additional optional design elements facilitate use of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 without departing from the above teaching. For example, it may be desirable to round or bevel one or more of the sharp edges or corners of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 to blunt them, thereby preventing them from injuring skin or damaging objects that come into contact with them. When such edges or corners are beveled or rounded, it is understood that the intersecting faces at the beveled or rounded edges or corners still fall within the present characterization of being perpendicular or at right angles to one another. Furthermore, it may be desirable to slightly convexly or concavely arc one or more faces 16, 18, 20a, 20b, 116, 118, 120a, 120b for aesthetics or some other reason. When such faces are arced, it is understood that their functionality remains the same and that they still fall within the present characterization of them as being planar and their edges being linear.
It may also be desirable to form a tread on the top face 16, 116 integral therewith to secure the grip of the user's feet on the top face 16, 116. An exemplary tread is a plurality of low-profile ridges raised about ⅛ inch from the underlying plane and arranged in a crisscross pattern across the top face 16, 116. Directional markings may also be provided on the top face 16, 116 to identify the front of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 and/or the rear of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110.
It may be further desirable to integrate a plurality of cutouts bounded by a plurality of ribs into the bottom face 14, 114 (and base bottom face 146 in the case of the weight distribution indicator 110) during manufacturing so that the bottom face(s) have a ribbed construction. It is well known that using a ribbed construction to fabricate solid objects beneficially reduces the weight of the object, the amount of material required to manufacture it and correspondingly the cost of manufacture without sacrificing the structural integrity or utility of the object. In the present case, the cutouts of the ribbed construction preferably only extend from the bottom face(s) partially through the overall thickness of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 and do not extend through the top face 12, 112. When the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 has a ribbed construction, an exemplary distance between the top face 12, 112 and the uppermost part of a cutout approaching the top face 12, 112 is on the order of about ¼ inch. Notwithstanding the above, it is understood that characterization of the bottom planes 22, 24, 122, 124 (and the base bottom face 146 in the case of the weight distribution indicator 110) as continuous unitary planes encompasses the present ribbed construction. When a ribbed construction is used, the overall thickness of the weight distribution indicator 10, 110 is measured from the bottom edge of the ribs to the top faces 12, 112 and the angles of incline α, β are determined with reference to the bottom edge of the ribs.
It is additionally noted that U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Golf Swing Force Shift Indicator”, identified by Attorney Docket No. 074P2201 and having the same inventors and filing date as the instant application, is incorporated herein by reference.
While the forgoing preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and shown herein, it is understood that alternatives and modifications, such as those suggested and others, may be made thereto and fall within the scope of the invention. For example, although preferred design dimensions of the weight distribution indicator have been disclosed above, it is readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art applying the teaching herein that it is alternatively within the scope of the present invention to further vary the design dimensions of the weight distribution indicator to accommodate different users' needs.
