Golf training club and method

Abstract

The golf training club is a golf club which can be any of the standard clubs, including 2-9 irons, pitching wedges, approach wedges (lob), sand wedges, and woods (1, (driver), 2 and 3), wherein the club head size is reduced relative to the standard club head size for that particular club. Other than reducing the club head size, and more particularly the club head face dimensions, in all other respects the club is of standard specifications; i.e., the shaft length, lie and loft angles and club weight should be as close to a standard club specification as possible. A method of using the golf training club includes performing a select number of golf shots with a golf club having reduced club face dimensions of height and width relative to the standard height and width dimensions of a corresponding standard sized golf club and thereafter performing a selected number of golf shots with a corresponding standard sized golf club. The contrast presented by the sequential use of the golf training club of the present invention followed by the corresponding standard sized golf club enhances the visual acuity of the golfer and is believed to ultimately result in an improved golf shot, which is the goal of the invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf training club, comprising: 
 a golf club having a straight cylindrical shaft extending from a handle to a club head, said club head having a rigid club face adapted to contact a golf ball, said club face having height and width dimensions less than the height and width dimensions of a corresponding standard regulation sized golf club and wherein the shaft length, loft and lie angles and club weight of said golf club are substantially identical to those of the corresponding standard regulation sized golf club.    
     
     
         2 . The golf training club of  claim 1  further comprising a shaft that is frequency-matched to a player.  
     
     
         3 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein the club face is metallic.  
     
     
         4 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club face dimensions are reduced relative to the club face dimensions of the corresponding standard sized golf club in an amount ranging from about 20% to about 50%.  
     
     
         5 . The golf training club of  claim 4  wherein said reduction in club face dimensions is in the range of about 25% to about 45%.  
     
     
         6 . The golf training club of  claim 5  wherein said reduction in club face dimensions is approximately 25% in height and 45% in width.  
     
     
         7 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a 7-iron.  
     
     
         8 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a 2-iron.  
     
     
         9 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a 3-iron.  
     
     
         10 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a 4-iron.  
     
     
         11 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a 5-iron.  
     
     
         12 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a 6-iron.  
     
     
         13 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a 8-iron.  
     
     
         14 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a 9-iron.  
     
     
         15 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a sand wedge.  
     
     
         16 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a pitching wedge.  
     
     
         17 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is an approach wedge.  
     
     
         18 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a 1 -wood.  
     
     
         19 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a 3-wood.  
     
     
         20 . The golf training club of  claim 1  wherein said club is a 5-wood.  
     
     
         21 . A set of golf training clubs, comprising: 
 more than one golf club selected from the group consisting of 2-9 irons, pitching wedge, approach wedge, sand wedge, and 1, 3 and 5-woods, wherein each of said golf training clubs has a straight cylindrical shaft extending to a club head, said club head having a rigid club face adapted to contact a golf ball, said club face having reduced club face dimensions of height and width relative to the height and width dimensions of a corresponding standard regulation sized golf club and wherein the shaft length, loft and lie angles and club weight closely approximate those of the corresponding standard regulation sized golf club.    
     
     
         22 . A golf shot training method, comprising: 
 performing a selected number of golf shots with a golf club having a cylindrical shaft extending to a club head, said club head having a rigid club face adapted to contact a golf ball, said club face having reduced club face dimensions of height and width relative to the height and width dimensions of a corresponding standard regulation sized golf club and wherein the shaft length, loft and lie angles and club weight closely approximate those of the corresponding standard sized golf club; and    thereafter performing a plurality of golf shots with a corresponding standard sized golf club.