U.S. patent application number 09/808971 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-19 for golf swing perfector.
Invention is credited to Matzie, Kenneth W..
Application Number | 20020132678 09/808971 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25200232 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020132678 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Matzie, Kenneth W. |
September 19, 2002 |
Golf swing perfector
Abstract
A golf swing perfecter having, as a head end, a heavy
conventional golf iron head and includes a hollow metal shaft that
is bent oppositely, at spaced apart points therealong, to off-set
outwardly a lower shaft section whereto the golf iron head is
mounted. An upper shaft section is fitted with a grip that is
formed from a flexible rubber like material and includes contoured
depressions that are to accommodate a golfer's fingers closed
therearound and has first and second elevated portions that are for
fitting in the V areas between the golfer's thumb and forefinger,
with the grip for exactly positioning the golfers hands relative to
the hollow shaft and iron head.
Inventors: |
Matzie, Kenneth W.; (Indio,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
M. Reid Russell
Suite 277
3945 South Wasatch Blvd.
Salt Lake City
UT
84124
US
|
Family ID: |
25200232 |
Appl. No.: |
09/808971 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/203 ;
473/204; 473/219; 473/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 15/00 20130101;
A63B 53/00 20130101; A63B 60/14 20151001; A63B 53/14 20130101; A63B
60/08 20151001; A63B 69/3632 20130101; A63B 60/12 20151001; A63B
60/00 20151001; A63B 60/10 20151001; A63B 60/34 20151001; A63B
49/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/203 ;
473/219; 473/204; 473/300 |
International
Class: |
A63B 069/36; A63B
053/14 |
Claims
I claim
1. A golf swing perfecter comprising, a grip contoured for
receiving and accommodating a golfer's hands closed therearound
that is mounted onto an upper end of a hollow shaft; a hollow shaft
whereto said grip is fitted having an upper section that is
substantially straight and a lower portion that is off-set to said
upper portion by two equal spaced apart bends, a first bend above
followed by a second spaced apart bend below the shaft axis,
off-setting said hollow shaft lower section from said hollow shaft
upper section, and said hollow shaft upper and lower sections are
straight and are parallel to one another; and a head end for
attachment to a lower end of said hollow shaft lower section that
is a conventional large iron golf head having a shank for
conventional mounting to said hollow shaft lower section end.
2. The golf swing perfecter as recited in claim 1, wherein the grip
is arranged for telescope mounting over the shaft upper portion
end, and includes a plurality of finger-receiving grooves and a
pair of spaced first and second raised portions extending
outwardly, a first of which said raised portions extends outwardly
from said grip in substantially the same direction as the as the
head and said second raised portion is spaced therefrom and rotated
from said first raised portion, and which said first and second
raised portions have converging lateral sides that are to
accommodate the sides of a persons thumb and forefinger positioned
therealong, and are for positioned the golfer's hands relative to
said hollow shaft and head.
3. The golf swing perfecter as recited in claim 1, wherein the
off-set distance between said upper and lower straight section is
approximately two and one half (21/2) inches plus or minus
one-quarter (1/4) on an inch.
4. The golf swing perfecter as recited in claim 1, wherein the
spacing distance between the first and second bends is
approximately nine and one half (1/2) inches, plus or minus
one-quarter (1/4) on an inches, and the first and second bend
angles are approximately twelve (12) degrees, plus or minus two (2)
degrees, above and below, respectively, the axis of the shaft upper
portion, providing a shaft effective length of approximately
thirty-six and one half (361/2) inches.
5. The golf swing perfecter as recited in claim 1, where the head
is a conventional large iron club head having a weight of
approximately nine point five (9.5) ounces.
6. The golf swing perfecter as recited in claim 5, wherein the golf
club head is a number seven (7) iron.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of The Invention
[0002] This invention pertains to golf training devices, and more
particularly to a golf swing training device whose use will train a
golfer to execute an optimum golf club swing that has a desired
extension, release and follow through.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] The present invention is in an improved golf swing trainer
from an earlier golf swing trainer of Olsen, U.S. Pat. No.
4,511,147, that is a golf swing trainer having a weighted head. The
trainer of the Olsen '147 patent provides a device that a golfer,
by swinging the trainer a number of times daily, will imprint, on
their mind a desirable golf swing with, with the golfer relaxed,
and swings loosely, they will imprint a proper golf swing on their
mind and body having the ideal upper body rotation and weight
transfer as the swing progresses from a high arc to follow-through.
While such trainer is a very effective tool for training a proper
golf club swing, does not provide the golfer with the experience of
hitting a golf ball as part of their execution of a proper golf
swing. The present invention remedies this omission by a
substitution of a large club head, preferably a large iron having
an open face.
[0005] In training with the invention, the golfer not only
conditions their mind and body to perform an optimum golf swing,
they also learn to control that swing so as to properly strike a
golf ball and see the results of that perfect swing. By learning to
control their swing, the invention teaches the golfer to strike a
golf ball so as to produce a low or high ball angle of flight, to
impart side spin or rotation to the ball to curve its flight path,
and the effect of not striking under the ball, or topping the ball.
The golf swing perfecter of the invention thereby provides a golfer
with a training device for not only conditioning their mind and
body to execute the actions as are required to produce an optimum
golf swing, it further conditions the golfer by their striking an
actual golf ball, to control that "perfect" golf swing to make a
"perfect" shot.
[0006] Like the Olsen '147 patent, the invention includes a golf
club grip for properly positioning their hand around the grip, and
also utilizes a club shaft, that is bent at like angles to the golf
club shaft of the '147 patent, and performs the same function of
displacing the club head weight away from the golf swing center
line.
[0007] While the golf swing perfecter of the invention can be used
alone, it is preferred to that in be used sequentially with and
after training with the trainer of Olsen '147, with the golfer
applying their learned golf swing to hitting a golf ball as a
further refinement of their over all game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is a principal object of the present invention in a golf
swing perfecter to provide a training device where the golfer
applies their learned golf club swinging skills to actually hitting
a golf ball, improving their game play.
[0009] Another object of the present invention in a golf swing
perfecter is to provide a golf swing training device that can be
used alone or in combination with the trainer of the Olsen '147
patent to condition a user, exercising with the device only a few
minutes a day, to swing a club so as to have a swing that will meet
a golf ball at an optimal attitude and propel the ball to where the
golfer has aimed it.
[0010] Another object of the present invention in a golf swing
perfecter is to provide a trainer that is used to train a golfer's
swing by a proper hand positioning and weighted club head off-set
to the club shaft, that provides a dynamic interaction where the
individual actions or elements as make up a desirable golf swing
are trained into the golfer, and includes a controlled striking of
a golf ball with the trainer head for the golfer to practice
controlling their swing by simulating the different shots as make
up a golf game.
[0011] Still another object of the present invention in a golf
swing perfecter is to provide, by a golfer swinging the trainer as
they would a standard golf club, a dynamic training of the golfer's
swing starting with: proper hand placement on the club grip, club
extension at the top of their swing and with their weight on their
back foot; release, as the club face travels to engage the swing
perfecter head with a golf ball, with the weight shifting so as to
be evenly distributed; follow-through as the club is swung past
where the ball was and with the weight shifting to their forward
foot; and with the flight of the golf ball observed by the golfer
who will then appropriately adjust their swing to propel the ball a
desired distance and direction.
[0012] Still another object of the present invention in a golf
swing perfecter is to provide a golf swing training device that is
easy and entertaining to use, and enables a golfer to develop a
desirable golf club swing and to train that golfer to control that
swing by hitting a golf ball, with the golfer utilizing the
observed flight of which golf ball to adjust their swing so as to
learn to strike the ball at an optimum point of the club head face
and at a desired speed to drive the ball a desired direction and
distance.
[0013] In accordance with the above objects, the present invention
provides a golf swing training device that, like a conventional
golf club, includes a hand grip fitted onto one the end of a shaft
that ends in a head, that is preferably a heavy iron golf club
head. The shaft is bent at spaced intervals to off-set a lower end
thereof from the axis of the shaft upper portion, and which shaft
lower end has a golf club end that is preferably an over size iron
having an open face, such as a seven (7) iron weighing from
seventeen (17) to seventeen point five (17.5) ounces. The hand grip
fitted is onto the shaft upper end and is contoured to have finger
grooves and thumb supports built therein to accommodate and
properly position a golfer's hand closed therearound. The spaced
shaft bends are at like complementary angles to bend the lower
shaft out from the axis of the shaft upper portion and then back to
a parallel attitude with the axis of the shaft upper portion. The
bends are spaced apart a distance to provide a direct off-set of
the club head end from what would be the axis of a conventional
golf club, also known as the golf club effective center line.
[0014] Thereby, with a golfer gripping the device grip end and
performing a golf swing, the off-set head provides a castering
effect at a point in the golf swing where the club head has swung
through the bottom of the swing and just below where the head would
contact a golf ball, providing an accentuation to the left and
right side extension of the golfer's body and a rolling action of
the golfer's hands, one over the other, known as the "release"
point. With the perfecter, a golfer both trains their body and mind
to perform an optimum golf swing and culminates that swing by
hitting a standard golf ball, wiffle ball, or the like, and
observes the flight of which ball to, in practice, adjust that
swing to strike the ball at a location on the club face and with
appropriate force to where the ball will travels to a desired
location.
[0015] Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains
upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed
specification.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The invention may take physical form in certain parts and
arrangement of parts, and a preferred embodiment of which will be
described in detail in this specification and is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings which form a part hereof:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a golf swing perfecter of the
invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the golf swing perfecter lower
portion showing off-set bends and with angles and distances
identified by letters;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the golf swing perfecter
grip;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the golf swing perfecter
grip;
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a golfer swinging the golf swing perfecter that
is at the bottom of the golfer's swing, with the head shown at a
point that is just below a golf ball whose edge is shown just above
the perfecter head, wherefrom the swing will progress with the head
to strike the ball on an upward line, beginning the release;
[0022] FIG. 6 shows a top plan view sectional view of FIG. 5
showing the club head face striking, at the center thereof, the
golf ball of FIG. 5, and showing, in broken lines, the ball being
struck near the shank of the club head and near the club head face
outer end; and
[0023] FIG. 7 shows a top plan view of the golfer driving the ball
different distances as by swinging the golf swing perfecter at
different speeds.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] A golf swing involves moving a head of a golf club, either
an iron or wood, into contact with a golf ball, with club head then
traveling up from where the ball was, as a follow through. In a
proper swing, the club head will move from an apogee point at the
top of the golfer's swing, through a uniform arc to a perigee point
that is slightly below and behind the bottom of the golf ball. The
head continues to move upwardly into engagement with the ball, to
optimally strike the ball at the club head "sweet spot" that is
approximately the club head center of mass. The ball will then
travel upwardly and outwardly in an arc, with the height of the
ball flight determined by the force applied to the ball through the
club head, and by the slope of the club face. With the distance the
ball travels depending upon the vertical height that the ball
obtains and the force applied by the club head striking the ball.
The cited Olsen '147 patent provides a tool for teaching an optimal
golf swing. Whereas, the golf swing perfecter, in addition to
functioning a swing training device, further provides for training
a golfer to control that optimum swing so as to optimally strike a
golf ball such that the golf ball will travel to where the golfer
aims it.
[0025] As set out above, the invention in a golf swing perfecter is
useful as an adjunct to training with the trainer of the Olsen '147
patent, or can itself function as a golf swing trainer and also
provides for teaching the golfer to control their swing so as to
properly hit a golf ball, utilizing that learned swing.
[0026] Like the Olsen '147 patent, the golf swing perfecter 10,
shown in FIG. 1, includes a contoured hand grip 11 that is fitted
onto a top end of a hollow bent shaft 12 and, unique to the
invention, includes an oversize golf club head 13 that is fitted
onto the bent shaft 12 lower end. Shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4, like
the Olsen '147 patent, the golf swing perfecter hand grip 11 is
arranged with appropriate ridges and depressions to receive and
properly position a golfer's hands closed therearound. With the
preferred grip, the golfer, in swinging the perfecter 10,
experiences minimal muscle tension and maximum muscle interaction
such that they can develop a proper second lever rotation as their
hands rotate over one another in the swing follow-through. To
provide for hand positioning and finger gripping, for example, for
a right handed golfer, the grip 11, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4,
includes a top V-shaped section 14 that a right handed golfer
aligns the junction of their left hand between their thumb and
forefinger with. The golfer rests their forefinger in groove 15,
and fits their middle to little finger in grooves 15a, 15b and 15c,
respectively. The golfers right hand is positioned below their left
hand with a grip lower V-shaped section 18 receiving the golfer's
right hand, fitted thereto, with the V end fitting into the area of
the right hand between the thumb and forefinger. The golfer then
positions their thumb on a downwardly sloping section 16, and their
forefinger fitted into groove 17, fits their right hand middle
fingers into grooves 17a and 17b, such that their little finger
overlaps the index and middle fingers of their left hand. The V
shaped section 14 is substantially in the line of the shaft 12. In
practice, the golfer wraps his fingers around the grip 11, and fits
their fingers and thumbs in the grooves and to the V-shaped
sections, as described above, and is thereby provided with a
comfortable and correct positioning of their hands to the grip 11.
The proper grip provides a minimum muscle tension and allows the
golfer to develop a maximum second lever release velocity as they
swing the perfecter 10 through and beyond an area where a golf ball
is located, as discussed later herein.
[0027] Also, like the trainer of the Olsen '147, the golf swing
perfecter 10 of the invention includes a bent shaft 12, as shown
best in FIG. 2, that has upper and lower bends 12a and 12b,
respectively, formed therein. The angles of bends 12a and 12b are
identified as E and F, and are preferably the same angle. One bend
is formed above the other bend that is formed below the plane of
the shaft 12. So arranged, the upper and lower portions of the
shaft 12 are off-set from one another a distance C. Which distance
is taken from the shaft end to a club effective center line.
Preferably the length A of the shaft 12, taking into account the
bends 12a and 12b, will be approximately that of a conventional
golf club, and the length D of the shaft section between the bends
will be such as to provide the desired off-set, shown as distance
C. The distance B from the bend 12b to the shaft end, that is
fitted within a neck 20 of the club head 13, is selected to provide
a visual reference to the golfer to simulate a straight shaft golf
club. In practice, a distance of two and one half (21/2) inches is
preferred as distance C, Providing an off-set from the club shaft
effective center line. For the preferred off-set a length of thirty
six and one half (361/2) inches is selected for length A, plus or
minus one quarter (1/4) inch. The angles at 12a and 12b, identified
as E and F, are preferably each twelve (12) degrees, plus or minus
two (2) degrees, and a distance of nine and one quarter (91/4)
inches, plus or minus one quarter (1/4) inch, is selected as the
preferred distance between which bends 12a and 12b, identified as
D. So arranged, the desired two and one half (21/2) inch off-set is
obtained, that, in conjunction with the arrangement of head 13, as
set out herein below, will induce a properly timed release action,
or second lever hand rotation, for training the release aspect of
the golfer's swing.
[0028] The club head of the Olsen '147 patent is intended to
provide a weighted club end presenting a minimum air resistance
during swinging, and is not intended for use in actually striking a
golf ball. Accordingly, the Olsen head is formed from a section of
round bar stock, that is preferably iron or steel, and is bent to
approximate the general shape of an "iron", is open across its
center and is preferably coated with a plastic material. The Olsen
head is formed such that its weight or mass is centered further
from the shaft connection than would be the weight or mass of a
conventional club head, and is significantly heavier than such
conventional club head, either a wood or an iron. In practice, the
Olsen head weighs approximately thirteen (13) ounces, plus or minus
one (1) ounce. The weight of which Olsen head and its distribution
to produces a required torquing action to train the golfer, who
swings the trainer, to perform the desired second lever effect
portion of a preferred golf swing. Further, to provide a moment arm
arrangement at the head end so as to encourage head rotation during
release, the open head of the Olsen '147 patent is elevated at a
toe end. The toe end thereby provides a moment arm above the
horizontal from that of a conventional club head, to encourage the
described head rotation during release.
[0029] The trainer of the Olsen '147 patent, with its greater head
weight than that of a conventional golf club, and its off-set from
the club shaft axis, and with the greater shaft length, provides,
when swung, a castering effect, with the right wrist rolling over
the left. Also, the swing includes an accentuated extension and
compression of the sides of the golfer's body, as the club head is
swung through a full arc of travel. With, during follow-through,
the weight of the trainer head tends to hold the swing longer in
the line of the ball flight, causing the swing to finish high, with
such a finish commonly known as a "Ben Hogan" finish.
[0030] In practice, the trainer of the Olsen '147 patent, is swung
by a golfer for fifteen to twenty minutes a day to develop the
desired golf swing. With such regular use, any golfer can improve
their swing. However, the Olsen trainer fails to teach a
coordination of the improved swing with actually hitting a golf
ball.
[0031] The invention recognizes a need to apply the improved golf
swing to actually hitting a golf ball, and to this end, the golf
swing perfecter was developed that is preferably for use as an
additional golf swing training tool for use with the Olsen trainer.
Through, it should be understood, the golf swing perfecter 10 of
the invention can be used alone, with a golfer swinging it in the
same matter as the trainer of the Olsen '147 patent. The head 13 of
the perfecter 10, as shown best in FIG., is preferably a large iron
having a weight of approximately nine point five (9.5) ounces, and
its center of mass is closer to the shaft 12 lower end than is the
center of mass of the head end of the trainer of the Olsen '147
patent. While the golf swing perfecter 10 can be used alone, it is
preferred that it be used in conjunction with training with the
trainer of the Olsen '147 patent.
[0032] The golf swing perfecter 10, shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5
through 7, includes the head 13 that has a body 19 with a shank or
stem 20 that is for mounting onto a club shaft end. The body 19
essentially has the shape of a standard large iron, and a seven (7)
iron has been used in practice as the perfecter head. Which large
seven (7) iron has a high or elevated toe end 21 that is like the
shape of the head of the trainer of the Olsen '147 patent and,
accordingly, provides for an outward weight mass concentration
encouraging head rotation during release. With the weight
distribution of the body 19 between the shank 20 and toe 21
providing a club head center of mass that is the club "sweet spot",
illustrated as a broken circle at 22 in FIG. 2. The center of mass,
or "sweet spot" being the location where the head face should
optimally strike the center of a golf ball, to drive the ball.
Which center of mass or "sweet spot" 22 is approximately centered
between a point 20a of the outer edge of the shank 20 and the outer
point 21a on the toe edge of the body 19. The points 20a and 21a
are aligned with a line therebetween being parallel to, and
approximately one half (1/2) inch from, a head 19 bottom edge 19a.
It being the object, both in practice with the golf swing perfecter
10 and in play with conventional golf club, to impact a golf ball
at the "sweet spot" on a club face.
[0033] In practice with the golf swing perfecter 10, as shown in
FIG. 5, a golfer 24, performs the learned club swing to guide the
perfecter head 13 to a perigee point in the swing that is just
below a golf ball 25. Continuing the swing, the club will be on an
upward path as it strikes the golf ball, with the ball being
contacted by the club head face at the head 13 face center of mass
22, or "sweet spot", as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. The head
13 then moves through the ball, the golfer's body shifting from one
side to the other as the club travel through a full arc of travel,
finishing high. In practice with the golf swing perfecter 10, the
golfer 24 is conditioned to control their swing to reach the swing
perigee just before the ball and to optimally contact the ball with
the head 13 face center of mass 22. As shown in FIG. 6, where the
face of the head 13 strikes the golf ball 25 at the center of mass
22, the ball will be propelled at a right angle off of the head
face, following an optimum flight path 26. However, should head
make contact with the golf ball at a point towards the head shank
20, illustrated as broken line golf ball 25a, the flight path will
be angled to the left, shown as broken line path 26a. Or, should
the head contact the golf ball towards the head toe end 21,
illustrated as broken line golf ball 25b, the flight path will be
angled to the right, shown as broken line path 26b. Accordingly,
less than optimum contact of the head 13 face with golf ball 25
will be noted by the golfer 24, who with continued practice, will
re-condition their swing to regularly optimally strike golf ball
25.
[0034] As with training the golf swing to optimally strike a golf
ball, that swing also needs to be controlled to strike the golf
ball with a force that is appropriate to drive the ball a desired
distance, as illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows the golfer 24
swinging the golf swing perfecter 10 at different velocities or
speeds, identified as Va, Vb, and Vc, to drive the golf ball 25
successively greater distances 27a, 27b and 27c, by their
controlling the speed of their golf swing.
[0035] Accordingly, with the regular use of the golf swing
perfecter 10, either alone or in conjunction with the trainer of
the Olsen '147 patent, the golfer conditions their body to produce
the described optimum golf swing, and with continued practice with
the golf swing perfecter 10, by hitting golf balls 25, the golfer
24 trains their swing to control both the direction and distance of
the flight of golf ball 25.
[0036] A preferred embodiment of a golf swing perfecter of the
invention has been shown and described above. It will, however, be
apparent to one knowledgeable or skilled in the art that the above
described embodiment may incorporate changes and modifications
thereto without departing from the general scope of this invention.
Which invention therefore is intended to include all such
modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the
scope of the appended claims and/or a reasonable equivalence
thereof.
* * * * *