Patent Application
20240238660
This invention pertains to the game of golf and, more specifically, to a golf putting training apparatus and method of training a golfer to use a putter.
Golf is a popular, yet technically demanding sport enjoyed worldwide. Learning the correct strokes and techniques to be used on a golf course generally lead to significant improvements in a golfer's performance and their overall handicap. To improve, a golfer must master consistency in all aspects of their various swings, especially on the putting surface.
The putting stroke is only one of several types of golf swings, yet it accounts for nearly half of all swings made during regulation play, 36 strokes on a standard 18-hole course. Long drives may be impressive to watch, but they contribute comparatively little to the humble putt. The most efficient and effective way for any golfer to improve and lower their handicap is to putt a golf ball accurately and consistently. Unfortunately, putting is an exceedingly difficult skill to develop, acquire and maintain.
While putting, a golfer typically imagines a target line between the position of the ball on the green or putting surface and the golf cup or “hole.” The target line imagined by the golfer is that path for the ball which, if followed, results in the ball landing in the cup. If a golfer “reads” a ball's trajectory correctly, the golfer must then swing their putter cleanly and consistently to send the ball along the intended trajectory at the appropriate speed to put the ball in the hole. Even if the golfer does properly envision the target line, the ball can still miss the cup if the club face or striking surface of the putter does not travel along a target line during the golfer's putting stroke. Additionally, and even if the golfer does properly envision the target line and swings the club face of the putter in line with the target line during the putting stoke, the ball can nevertheless still miss the hole if the striking surface or club face of the putter is not square to the ball when the club face contacts the ball. In order to develop an accurate and consistent putting stroke, the golfer will find it helpful to combine the elements of properly addressing the ball, squaring the face of the putter to the ball when preparing to putt, maintaining straight arms and locking the wrists during the putting stroke, swinging the putter club face in line with the target line, and squaring the club face of the putter when the club face contacts the ball.
In view of the foregoing, there is continuing need and desire for a golf putting training apparatus in which a correct putting swing can be taught along with a method for training a user to swing a golf putter.
A golf training aid comprising a pair of sleeves adapted to be placed on a person's forearms, each sleeve having a body, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the sleeve is worn closer to a person's elbow and the distal end of the sleeve is worn closer to a person's wrist and each sleeve including one or more pockets, wherein each pocket is dimensioned to fit one or more removable weights which can be added or withdrawn from the pocket as desired by the user of the golf training aid, said weights providing a downward pull on the person's forearms to maintaining straight arms and locked wrists during a putting stroke.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter in the following detailed description of the invention, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are described. Indeed, this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
The instant invention includes a golf training aid, and more specifically, a putting stroke training aid which is designed to teach a person the elements of properly addressing the ball, squaring the face of the putter to the ball when preparing to putt, maintaining straight arms and locking the wrists during the putting stroke, swinging the putter club face in line with the target line, and squaring the club face of the putter when the club face contacts the ball. It also aims to train a golfer to putt as though their arms, wrists, hands and putter are a pendulum, resulting in a consistent, square putting stroke when striking a ball.
Looking to the figures, there is illustrated several embodiments of a golf training aid 10 comprising a pair of sleeves 20 adapted to be placed on a person's forearms 45. Each sleeve 20 includes a body 23, a proximal end 21 and a distal end 22. The proximal end 21 of the sleeve 20 is worn closer to a person's elbow and the distal end 22 of the sleeve is worn closer to a person's wrist. Each sleeve 20 includes one or more pockets 25 and each pocket is dimensioned to fit one or more removable weights 30 which can be added or withdrawn from the pocket 25 as desired by the user of the golf training aid 10.
The weights 30 can be made of any dense, durable material including, but not limited to, metal, plastic, stone, or a combination thereof. The weights 30 can be any shape which permits their insertion and withdrawal from the pockets. The weights 30 provide a downward pull on the person's forearms 45 to maintain straight arms and locked wrists during a putting stroke. Each of the pockets 25 is located on the body 23 of the sleeve and runs from the proximal end 21 of the sleeve to the distal end 22 of the sleeve. Access to each pocket can be from the inner surface of the sleeve 20 (the surface which is in contact with the person's forearm), from the outer surface of the sleeve 20, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment of the instant invention, pockets are located on the inner surface of the sleeve. In another embodiment of the instant invention, pockets are located on the outer surface of the sleeve. In yet another embodiment of the instant invention, pockets are located on both the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the sleeve. The golf training aid 10 can further include one or more zippers (not illustrated) which may be opened and closed to insert or withdraw weights 30 from within the pockets 25. The golf training aid 10 can further include a sewn flap of additional fabric which partially or fully covers the opening of each pocket to help retain the weight(s) 30 within the pocket 25.
The golf training aid 10 can further include an elastic material incorporated within the proximal end 21 and/or the distal end 22 of each sleeve 20 to aid in retaining the sleeve in a desired position on a person's 40 forearm 45. The golf training aid 10 can further include one or more hook and loop straps (not illustrated) which may be secured and released to insert or withdraw weights 30 from within the pockets 25, tighten or loosen the proximal end 21 of the sleeve around a person's 40 forearm 45 and tighten or loosen the distal end 22 of the sleeve around a person's 40 forearm 45. In one embodiment of the instant invention, the sleeve 20 is made of an elastic material, such as a compression sleeve or a fabric which includes at least two types of thread from cotton, spandex, and a polyolefin. The sleeve can be constructed from materials including nylon, spandex, cotton, silicone, threads made from natural fibers, threads made from man-made fibers, or a combination thereof.
The instant invention also includes a method of training a golfer 40 to use a putter comprising the steps of:
Any method described herein may incorporate any design element contained within this application and any other document/application incorporated by reference herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.
