Method and apparatus for teaching the game of golf

Abstract

A method and apparatus for teaching the game of golf, the apparatus of which includes a novel harness assembly that is removably affixed to the upper body portion of the trainee. The harness assembly includes first and second spaced apart straps that are draped over the trainee's shoulders. Uniquely, each of the first and second straps have on their front portions an upper rod receiving loop, a lower rod receiving loop and an intermediate rod receiving loop disposed between the upper rod receiving loop and said lower rod receiving loop. The apparatus also includes an elongated position-indicating rod having first and second end portions that are selectively receivable within the rod receiving loops provided on the first and second straps. The position-indicating rod can be interconnected with the harness so that it extends either substantially parallel with the plane of the trainee's shoulders or angularly with respect thereto. The position-indicating rod is of a length so that it spans the trainee's chest and arms and includes end portions that are visible to the trainee both at the time of address and during the golf swing. Accordingly, the position-indicating rod can be used to assist in aligning with the target and can also uniquely be used to provide a tactile indication to the trainee if the degree of rotation during the golf swing is improper and if the arms are incorrectly positioned relative to the trainee's body at address and during the golf swing.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A golf training apparatus for use by a trainee having shoulders disposed within a plane comprising: 
 (a) harness assembly removably affixed to the upper body portion of the trainee, said harness assembly including shoulder straps having spaced apart front portions arranged to drape over the chest of the trainee, each of said shoulder straps having a plurality of spaced apart rod receiving loops; and    (b) an elongated position-indicating rod having end portions receivable within a selected pair of said rod receiving loops, whereby said elongated position-indicating rod can be adjustably positioned within planes generally parallel to the plane of the trainees shoulders and alternatively can be positioned within planes extending angularly with respect to the plane of the trainees shoulders.    
     
     
         2 . The golf training apparatus as described in  claim 1  in which the shoulders of the trainee have a width and in which the elongated position-indicating rod has a length greater than the width of the shoulders of the trainee.  
     
     
         3 . The golf training apparatus as described in  claim 1  in which each of said shoulder straps has an upper rod receiving loop, a lower rod receiving loop and an intermediate rod receiving loop disposed between said upper rod receiving loop and said lower rod receiving loop.  
     
     
         4 . The golf training apparatus as described in  claim 1  in which said shoulder straps of said harness assembly have end portions and in which said harness assembly further includes a chest band connected to said end portions of said shoulder straps.  
     
     
         5 . The golf training apparatus as described in  claim 4  in which said chest band has first and second ends and in which said harness assembly further includes connector means for releasably interconnecting said first and second ends of said chest band.  
     
     
         6 . A golf training apparatus for use by a trainee having shoulders disposed within a plane and also having an upper body including a chest portion and a back portion, said apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a harness assembly removably affixed to the upper body portion of the trainee, said harness assembly including: 
 (i) first and second spaced apart straps draped over the trainees shoulders and having front and rear portions, said straps extending over the chest and back portions of the trainee, each of said first and second straps being provided with a plurality of spaced apart rod receiving loops;  
 (ii) a chest band connected to said first and second straps and encircling the trainees chest portion, said chest band having first and second ends; and  
 (iii) connector means for interconnecting said first and second ends of said chest band; and  
   (b) an elongated position-indicating rod connected to said harness assembly, said elongated position-indicating rod having first and second end portions, said first end portion being receivable within a selected one of said rod receiving loops provided on said first strap and said second end portion being receivable within a selected one of said rod receiving loops provided on said second strap, whereby said elongated position-indicating rod can be adjustably positioned within planes generally parallel to the plane of the trainees shoulders and alternatively can be adjustably positioned within planes extending angularly with respect to the plane of the trainees shoulders.    
     
     
         7 . The training device of  claim 6  in which the connector means comprises a buckle located on a front portion of said chest band.  
     
     
         8 . The golf training apparatus as described in  claim 6  in which the shoulders of the trainee have a width and in which the elongated position-indicating rod has a length greater than the width of the shoulders of the trainee.  
     
     
         9 . The golf training apparatus as described in  claim 6  in which each of said shoulder straps has an upper rod receiving loop, a lower rod receiving loop and an intermediate rod receiving loop disposed between said upper rod receiving loop and said lower rod receiving loop.  
     
     
         10 . A method of teaching a trainee a proper golf swing using a golf club to strike a golf ball and a golf training apparatus, the trainee having first and second shoulders disposed proximate the intersection of a first generally horizontal plane and a first generally vertical plane, first and second elbows and an upper body including a chest portion and a back portion, the golf training apparatus comprising a harness assembly removably affixed to the upper body of the trainee, said harness assembly including first and second spaced apart straps draped over the trainees first and second shoulders respectively and having front and rear portions, each of said first and second straps having on their front portions an upper rod receiving loop, a lower rod receiving loop and an intermediate rod receiving loop disposed between said upper rod receiving loop and said lower rod receiving loop, said golf training apparatus also including an elongated position-indicating rod having first and second end portions, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) inserting the first end portion of the position-indicating rod into a selected one of the upper, lower in intermediate loops provided on the first strap of the harness;  
 (b) inserting the second end portion of the position-indicating rod into a selected one of the upper, lower and intermediate loops on the second strap of the harness; and  
 (c) initiating a golf swing while observing the position of a selected one of said first and second end portions of said position-indicating rod and sensing any tactile indication given by the position-indicating rod during the golf swing.  
 
     
     
         11 . The method as defined in  claim 10  in which the first end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the upper loop provided on the first strap of the harness; in which the second end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the lower loop on the second strap of the harness; and in which a back swing of the golf club is carried out in a manner so as not to lift the first end of the positioning indicating rod to thereby ensure that the first elbow remains in close proximity with the upper body during the initial turn of the upper body.  
     
     
         12 . The method as defined in  claim 10  in which the first end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the lower loop provided on the first strap of the harness; in which the second end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the upper loop on the second strap of the harness; and in which a back swing of the golf club is carried out in a manner so as not to lift the first end of the positioning indicating rod thereby blocking improper lifting of the first shoulder during the back swing.  
     
     
         13 . The method as defined in  claim 10  in which the first end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the upper loop provided on the first strap of the harness; in which the second end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the upper loop provided on the second strap of the harness; and carrying out a full back swing of the golf club in a manner such that the upper body portion is turned to a position wherein the second end portion of the positioning indicating rod is disposed within a second, generally vertical plane that is substantially perpendicular to said first substantially horizontal plane to ensure a proper turn of the shoulders during the full back swing of the golf club.  
     
     
         14 . The method as defined in  claim 10  in which the first end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the upper loop provided on the first strap of the harness; in which the second end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the upper loop provided on the second strap of the harness; and, using a long iron, addressing the golf ball in a manner such that the upper body portion is turned to a position wherein the second end portion of the positioning indicating rod is pointed in the direction of a selected target.  
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 10  in which the first end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the upper loop provided on the first strap of the harness; in which the second end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the lower loop provided on the second strap of the harness; and, using a putter, addressing the golf ball in a manner such that the upper body portion is turned to a position wherein the second end portion of the positioning indicating rod is pointed in the direction of a selected target and in which the second arm is in engagement with the second end of the positioning indicating rod and is in close proximity with the upper body.  
     
     
         16 . The method as defined in  claim 10  in which the first end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the lower loop provided on the first strap of the harness; in which the second end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the lower loop provided on the second strap of the harness; and, using a putter, addressing the golf ball in a manner such that the upper body portion is turned to a position wherein the second end portion of the positioning indicating rod is pointed in the direction of a selected target and in which the first and second arms are in engagement with the positioning indicating rod and are in close proximity with the upper body.  
     
     
         17 . The method as defined in  claim 10  in which the first end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the upper loop provided on the first strap of the harness; in which the second end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the upper loop provided on the second strap of the harness; and, using a driver, addressing the golf ball in a manner such that the second end portion of the positioning indicating rod is pointed angularly upward and in the direction of a selected target.  
     
     
         18 . The method as defined in  claim 10  in which the first end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the upper loop provided on the first strap of the harness; in which the second end portion of the position-indicating rod is inserted into the upper loop provided on the second strap of the harness; and, using a wedge, addressing the golf ball in a manner such that the positioning indicating rod is substantially level and is pointed in the direction of a selected target.