| Method and apparatus for practicing a golf swing -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method and apparatus for practicing a golf swingRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Practice Swingable Implement Or Indicator Associated With Swingable Implement, With Lighting (e.g., Laser, Etc.) Means Attachable To Or Integral With ImplementMethod and apparatus for practicing a golf swing description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060287121, Method and apparatus for practicing a golf swing. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to golf clubs and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for aiding and improving a player's golf swing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] One of the keys to a successful golf game is the golf swing. Golf is a sport which requires a substantial amount of skill and practice. There are many technical aspects of a golf swing that can affect the characteristics of a golf shot. For example, stance, backswing and follow-through can affect the distance and accuracy of a golf shot. In order to be successful at golf, a golfer should have a consistent, yet technically sound swing. That is, a golfer wants a good swing, but also, in most situations, wants to swing the golf club the same way every time (i.e., consistency). [0003] A golfer practices to improve their swing or golf stroke. When a golfer does not maintain a technically sound swing, a golf ball is often sliced or hooked. One common reason is that the golfer twists his or her wrists or arms unconsciously after his or her address position in the course of a swing. As a result, the club face may be opened or closed, which makes the golf ball slice or hook. It is important to maintain the proper position of the arms or the wrists of the golfer during a swing. [0004] Another of the strokes a golfer must master and one that is equally difficult to teach is a good, squarely-aligned, repetitive putting stroke. Recreational players can lose valuable strokes that would otherwise significantly improve their scores, by taking three and four putts per green. Even professional players are greatly affected by their ability (or lack thereof) to putt. Good or even proficient putting may be the difference between a professional attaining or retaining their tour privileges, making or missing a cut in a tournament, or even winning or losing a tournament. [0005] One way in which golfers' can improve their putting stroke is to use an alignment system. A variety of patents have issued that describe putter alignment methods, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,165,691; 5,169,150; 5,193,812; 5,207,429; 5,213,331; 5,330,188; and 5,388,832. Most of these alignment methods involve reference lines, lighted guides, marked training mats, or some combination thereof. [0006] While teaching professionals manually instruct their students to change certain aspects of their swing (whether for drivers, fairway woods, irons or putters), they are often less than fully successful due to the difficulty of the pupil carrying out such an oral instruction. Moreover, while numerous teaching aids for developing a golf swing have been invented and developed over the years, none is known to have successfully addressed the specific ability to improve the teaching professional's ability to teach and have his pupil learn a proper orientation of the club face in the address stance, backswing and follow-through; to address the ability of the golfer to learn and/or to practice such swing on his/her own; and to practice a proper swing and/or putting technique. [0007] In view of the above it is apparent that there exists a need in the art for a swing training method and device for use on a golf club that, when coupled together, provide a golfer with a removable (to keep the club within all United States Golf Association rules and regulations and to allow it to be switched between clubs), yet substantially error-free way of monitoring and improving their golf strokes. The present invention provides such a swing training method and device by using a light projecting apparatus, such as a laser, that provides a cross pattern to refine and improve a golfer's swing with different clubs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention is directed to a light projecting apparatus and method of using the light projecting apparatus for improving a golf stroke. In one embodiment, a method of practicing a golf stroke is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a light projecting apparatus on a shaft of a golf club, projecting a beam of light from the apparatus onto a surface below a club head of the golf club to form a cross pattern of light on the surface, the cross pattern having a first line of light substantially parallel to a bottom edge of a striking face of the club head and a second line of light extending through the striking face, and performing a swing with the golf club. [0009] The light projecting apparatus may be a laser. In one embodiment, the light is collimated, focused, or both. The second line of light may extend for a distance before the striking face, and for a distance through the striking face of the club head. In one embodiment, at least one of the first and second lines of light may extend for no greater than about 1 foot. [0010] The method may include the step of detachably connecting the apparatus to the shaft of the golf club or removably inserting the apparatus into a grip on the shaft of the golf club. The method may include the step of adjusting the apparatus on the shaft to align the first line in substantially parallel alignment to the striking face of the golf club. The method may include the steps of providing a guide line along a surface adjacent to the golf stroke or aligning the golf club striking face with the desired golf stroke path using the cross pattern of light. [0011] The method may include the steps of modifying the beam of light to change the cross pattern into a line of light, wherein the line of light is parallel to the striking face or the line of light passes through the striking face. The method may include the step of modifying the beam of light to change the cross pattern into a dot of light. [0012] The golf club in the method may be a putter, an iron, a fairway wood or a driver. [0013] In another embodiment, a method of practicing a putting stroke disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a putter having a head, a heel, a toe, a planar striking face, an offset hosel and a shaft, providing a light source separate from the putter head, directing light from the light source adjacent the putter head, forming a cross pattern with the directed light, the cross pattern having a first line of light substantially parallel to a bottom edge of the striking face and a second line of light extending through the striking face, and aligning a putting stroke path using the cross pattern of light. [0014] The method may further comprise the steps of providing the light source within the shaft of the putter, and directing light through the shaft of the putter and through an aperture provided in a base of the offset hosel, such that the light strikes a surface below the putter head, wherein the golfer may align and practice a putting stroke path using the cross pattern of light. [0015] The method may include the step of providing a lens on the base of the offset hosel substantially covering the aperture, the lens forming the light into a cross pattern. The method may include the steps of selecting a lens from a group of lenses comprising lenses that form at least the cross pattern, a line pattern and a dot pattern, and removably connecting the selected lens to the base of the hosel substantially covering the aperture to form the desired light pattern. [0016] The method may include the step of aligning the golf club striking face with the desired putting stroke path using the cross pattern of light. The method may include the step of modifying the beam of light to change the cross pattern into a line of light, wherein the line of light is parallel to the striking face or wherein the line of light passes through the striking face. The method may include the step of modifying the beam of light to change the cross pattern into a dot of light. [0017] In another embodiment, a putter is disclosed. The putter comprises a head comprising an offset hosel, a heel, a toe and a planar striking face, a hollow shaft attached to the hosel, a light projecting apparatus provided within the shaft, and an aperture provided at a base of the hosel, wherein the light projecting apparatus is adapted to direct light through the shaft and hosel to a surface below the putter head, the light forming a cross pattern on the surface. [0018] The cross pattern may comprise a first line of light substantially parallel to a bottom edge of the striking face and a second line of light extending through the striking face. The putter may include a grip at a distal end of the shaft opposite the hosel, the light projecting apparatus may be removably provided within the grip. [0019] The putter may also comprise a removable lens at the base of the hosel substantially covering the aperture and adapted to form the light into the cross pattern. A second lens may be removably connectable to the base to substantially cover the aperture and adapted to form the light into a line of light. A third lens may be removably connectable to the base to substantially cover the aperture and adapted to form a dot of light. [0020] The light projecting apparatus may be adapted to project light to form a line or a dot. A pattern selection mechanism may be provided on the light projecting apparatus, the pattern selection mechanism for selecting a pattern of light including at least the cross pattern, a line pattern or a dot pattern. [0021] In yet another embodiment, a golf stroke training device for attachment to a golf club is disclosed. The golf stroke training device comprises a light source providing a beam of light in a cross pattern, a housing for housing the light source, an attachment mechanism for removably securing the housing to a shaft of a golf club, wherein the cross pattern assists in aligning the striking face of the golf club and practicing a golf stroke path. Continue reading about Method and apparatus for practicing a golf swing... Full patent description for Method and apparatus for practicing a golf swing Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and apparatus for practicing a golf swing patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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