Compact Comprehensive Golf Swing Practice Aid and Method of Use

Abstract

The training aid of this invention is a comprehensive golf practice aid, designed to be used by any golfer, using any club, at indoor or outdoor practice venues, with or without the aid of an instructor, to learn and improve most aspects of the golf swing. The invention comprises an aiming arm that serves as a reference for learning and correcting player position relative to ball and target. The invention uses a plurality of break-beam type sensors to detect club movement. The device gives sensory cues to assist the user in adjusting and perfecting swing tempo. The device also measures club speed between fixed points, and assists the user in adjusting and perfecting swing speed by providing a visual representation of changes in speed from swing to swing. During the swing, the training aid can produce a high intensity ultra short duration burst of ultraviolet (UV) energy, invisible to the naked eye, which is focused on the hitting area. The UV burst can be selectively triggered by any of the break-beams. This UV pulse source is used in conjunction with certain matter applied to or incorporated into the club, and which fluoresces brightly under ultraviolet energy. The UV pulse highlights and “freezes” an image of only the club head and ball, which is retained on the user's retina for only an instant, without lighting the surrounding area and without distracting nearby golfers. By this using this device and method, the user can see the position and orientation of the club head in relation to the ball at a selected point during the swing. This training aid may be adapted for use with other sports.

1 . I An athletic training aid for use with at least one object capable of fluorescing under ultraviolet energy comprising: 
 a) electrical energy;    b) at least one break beam formed from at least one pair of signal source and signal sensor;    C) at least one ultraviolet energy source for providing ultraviolet energy to a designated area proximal to said at least one break beam; and    d) at least one triggering mechanism for activating said ultraviolet energy source;    said triggering mechanism prompted by disruption of said at least one break beam:    whereby said at least one object capable of fluorescing under ultraviolet energy is in said designated area when said at least one ultraviolet energy source is activated.    
   
   
       2 . The athletic training aid of  claim 1 , further comprising a stance/target reference arm, said stance/target reference am being pointed at a pre-selected target and situated to form delineation between a user and said athletic training aid.  
   
   
       3 . The athletic training aid of  claim 1 , further comprising a tempo cue generator for producing a tempo cue, said tempo cue generator being activated by disruption of said at least one break beam.  
   
   
       4 . The athletic training aid of  claim 3 , wherein said tempo cue comprises a sensory signal selected from the group consisting of sight, sound and somatosense.  
   
   
       5 . The athletic training aid of  claim 1 , further comprising a component for recording speed of said at least one object capable of fluorescing under ultraviolet energy.  
   
   
       6 . Tee athletic training aid of  claim 5 , wherein said component records speed of at least one object capable of fluorescing under ultraviolet energy across at least two break beams.  
   
   
       7 . The athletic training aid of  claim 1 , further comprising locator marks to indicate correct positioning of said at least one object capable of fluorescing under ultraviolet energy.  
   
   
       8 . The athletic training aid of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one laser module, wherein said at least one laser module generates at least one laser beam onto said designated area.  
   
   
       9 . The athletic training aid of  claim 3 , wherein emission of said tempo cue after said disruption of said at least one break beam is variable as to speed.  
   
   
       10 . The athletic training aid of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mirror for reflecting at least said UV energy onto said designated area.  
   
   
       11 . The athletic training aid of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one break beam is formed from at least one laser signal source/sensor pair.  
   
   
       12 . The athletic training aid of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one break beam is formed from at least one infrared light emitting diode signal source/sensor pair.  
   
   
       13 . The athletic training aid of  claim 2 , wherein said stance/target reference arm further comprises at least one laser that is part of a signal source/sensor pair.  
   
   
       14 . The athletic training aid of  claim 2 , wherein said stance/target reference arm further comprises at least one infrared light emitting diode that is part of a signal source/sensor pair.  
   
   
       15 . The athletic training aid of  claim 2 , wherein said stance/target reference arm is situated parallel to the line from said user to said pre-selected target.  
   
   
       16 . An athletic training aid for use with at least one object capable of fluorescing under ultraviolet energy comprising: 
 a) means for providing electrical energy;    b) means for creating at least one break beam;    c) means for providing ultraviolet energy to a designated area proximal to said at least one break beam; and    d) means for activating said means for providing ultraviolet energy, said means for activating being triggered by disruption of said at least one break beam;    whereby said at least one object capable of fluorescing under ultraviolet energy is in said designated area when said means for providing ultraviolet energy is activated.    
   
   
       17 . The athletic training aid of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one break beam is created from at least one signal source/sensor pair, said pair being selected from the group consisting of lasers, infrared and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The athletic training aid of  claim 16 , further comprising means for providing a fixed reference to a user, said fixed reference being situated parallel to a target line.  
   
   
       19 . The athletic training aid of  claim 16 , further comprising means for generating a tempo cue, said means being activated by disruption of said at least one break beam.  
   
   
       20 . The athletic training aid of  claim 19 , wherein said tempo cue comprises a sensory signal selected from the group consisting of sight, sound, somatosense and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The athletic training aid of  claim 16 , further comprising means for recording speed of said at least one object capable of fluorescing under ultraviolet energy.  
   
   
       22 . The athletic training aid of  claim 21 , wherein said means for recording speed records speed of at least one object across at least two break beams.  
   
   
       23 . The athletic training aid of  claim 16 , further comprising means for indicating correct positioning of said one object capable of fluorescing under ultraviolet energy.  
   
   
       24 . The athletic training aid of  claim 16 , further comprising means for generating at least one laser beam onto said designated area.  
   
   
       25 . The athletic training aid of  claim 19 , further comprising means for varying speed of tempo cue emission after said disruption of said at least one break beam.  
   
   
       26 . The athletic training aid of  claim 16 , further comprising means for reflecting at least said ultraviolet energy onto said designated area.  
   
   
       27 . A method of athletic training comprising: 
 a) moving a striking implement capable of fluorescing under ultraviolet energy across at least one break beam, said moving resulting in activation of ultraviolet energy directed at said striking implement; and    b) visually observing said striking implement as it fluoresces.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said athletic training is golf training.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , comprising using at least three break beams.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the use of a stance/target reference arm situated parallel to a line between a user and a pre-determined target.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising standing parallel to and facing said stance/target reference arm, opposite said break beams.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising moving said striking implement across at least two adjacent break beams in a first direction during a backswing, followed by moving said striking implement in an opposite second direction across at least three break beams during a downswing.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising activating a tempo cue by said movement of said striking implement across at least two break beams.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising adjusting speed of said tempo cue after said movement of said striking implement across at least two break beams.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising practicing said movement of said striking implement such that said tempo cue routinely occurs at transition from backswing to downswing.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising selecting a single break beam for triggering activation of said ultraviolet energy.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising measuring speed of downswing across at least two break beams.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising delay of ultraviolet energy activation by one half said speed of downswing across at least two break beams.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising use of items selected from the group consisting of tee, ball, hitting mat, fluorescent matter, photographic equipment, video equipment, speed measuring devices, acceleration measuring devices, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein a ball is placed in optimal path of said downswing of said striking implement.