Golf swing training club with adjustable weight

Abstract

The training club has a shaft which is of uniform diameter between a grip end and a head end and is provided with a plurality of spaced holes which extend through the shaft substantially perpendicular to the length of the shaft. A weighted cylinder is slidably mounted onto the shaft between the grip end and a head end. The weighted cylinder height is slightly less than the spacing between the shaft holes so that a pair of retainers each having a pin, may be removably positioned into the holes immediately above and below the weight thereby preventing movement of the weight along the shaft. With the weight secured along the shaft at any one of several locations by the retainers, a golfer may freely swing the training club without any fear of dislocating the weight. The weighted cylinder may be selected from a range of different weighted cylinders so that the actual total weight of the training club may be selected for the size and strength of the golfer. A small female golfer may for example choose to use a weighted cylinder of one pound or less while a large male golfer may select a weighted cylinder of several pounds or more. A manufacturer may choose to offer training clubs with different respective cylinder weights or make the club user-alterable such as by providing a removable golf club head (such as by threaded engagement with the head end of the shaft) and a plurality of different weight cylinders. In either such configuration, the preferred embodiment hereof provides the unique feature of changing weight location along the shaft by simply removing the retainers to different holes, thereby permitting adjustment of the swing inertia of the training club.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A weighted golf club training aid comprising: 
 a shaft having a grip end and a head end; and    a selectively moveable weight located on said shaft for slidable engagement therewith, said weight being adjustably secured to said shaft at any one of a plurality of different locations along the shaft between said grip end and said head end.    
     
     
         2 . The golf club training aid recited in  claim 1  wherein said weight comprises a cylinder having a passage for receiving said shaft.  
     
     
         3 . The golf club training aid recited in  claim 1  wherein said shaft is substantially solid.  
     
     
         4 . The golf club training aid recited in  claim 1  wherein said weight is substantially solid.  
     
     
         5 . The golf club training aid recited in  claim 1  wherein said shaft comprises a plurality of selectively spaced thru-holes, said training aid further comprising at least one retainer having a pin for extending into any of said thru-holes for securing said weight to said shaft at a selected location.  
     
     
         6 . The golf club training aid recited in  claim 5  which said at least one retainer comprises a finger ring to facilitate removal and insertion of said pin.  
     
     
         7 . The golf club training aid recited in  claim 1  wherein said weight has a mass in the range of about 0.5 to 3.5 pounds.  
     
     
         8 . A weighted golf club comprising: 
 a shaft having a grip end and a head end; and    a weighted member selectively positionable onto said shaft at either of at least two spaced locations along said shaft between said grip end and said head end.    
     
     
         9 . The golf club training aid recited in  claim 8  wherein said shaft is substantially solid.  
     
     
         10 . The golf club training aid recited in  claim 8  wherein said weight is substantially solid.  
     
     
         11 . The golf club training aid recited in  claim 8  wherein said weight has a mass in the range of about 0.5 to 3.5 pounds.  
     
     
         12 . A method for providing a golf club training aid having an adjustable swing inertia; the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a golf club shaft having a grip end and a head end;    affixing a weight onto said shaft, said weight being slidable along said shaft between said grip end and said head end; and    providing a retainer for selectively securing said weight to said shaft at any one of a plurality of locations between said grip end and said head end.