Sporting club swing trainer

Abstract

A swing training apparatus is used with a golf club or other sporting club. The golf club has a light projector that sweeps a moving light beam along a path parallel to the face of the club. A light beam receiver provides two spaced apart linear rows of light detectors which are able to receive the light beam. An electrical circuit includes the detectors, a source of electrical power, a microprocessor, and an audio or visual alert circuit. With the receiver positioned so that the detectors are directed along a desired ball trajectory, the light beam sweeps across the detectors when the golf ball is driven, the information of club head velocity and face misalignment are then able to be calculated and the golfer alerted.

1 . A golf club swing training apparatus for use with a golf club, the golf club having a grip on a proximal end thereof and a club face on a distal end thereof, the apparatus comprising in combination:
 a) mounted adjacent to the grip, a projector enabled and oriented so as to sweep a moving light beam along a path parallel to the face; and   b) a light beam receiver providing two spaced apart linear rows of light detectors in an electrical circuit, the electrical circuit additionally providing a source of electrical power, a microprocessor, and an alerting device;   wherein, with the receiver positioned so as to place the detectors in parallel with a desired trajectory of a golf ball, and with the light beam swept across the detectors when the golf ball is driven by the golf club, the information of at least one of face velocity across the detectors and face misalignment with respect to a perpendicular to the desired trajectory is calculated.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the linear rows of light detectors are of such length and separation, and the light beam moves with such velocity as to assure simultaneous sensing of the light beam by a light detector in each of the linear rows during a golf club swing. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a data storage device; the circuit enabled for storing calculations in the data storage device. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a tolerance set-point adjustor providing manual means for establishing a misalignment alert threshold. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the alerting device is enabled when the misalignment alert threshold is exceeded. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the alerting device is at least one of a sound maker and a signal lamp. 
   
   
       7 . A golf club swing training apparatus for use with a golf club, the golf club having a club face, and a projector enabled and oriented so as to sweep a moving light beam along a path parallel to the club face, the apparatus comprising: a light beam receiver providing two spaced apart and parallel linear rows of light detectors in an electrical circuit, the circuit additionally providing a source of electrical power, a microprocessor, a misalignment alert threshold adjustor, an audio trigger, and an alerting device; the circuit enabled for feeding signals to the microprocessor when the detectors are stimulated by the light beam during a golf club swing; the microprocessor enabled for calculating at least one of club face velocity and misalignment. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the linear rows of light detectors are of such length and separation as to assure simultaneous sensing of the light beam by a detector in each of the linear rows during a golf club swing. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the electrical circuit further comprises a data storage device; the circuit enabled for storing calculated values of face velocity and face misalignment in the data storage device. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the misalignment alert threshold adjustor provides a manual means for adjustment. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the circuit enables the alerting device when the misalignment alert threshold is exceeded and a selected sound is detected through an audio pickup circuit including a microphone. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the alerting device is at least one of a sound maker and a signal lamp. 
   
   
       13 . A method of golf club swing training comprising the steps of:
 a) mounting a light projector onto a golf club so as to sweep a moving light beam along a path parallel to the face of the golf club;   c) aligning, with respect to a desired golf ball drive trajectory, two parallel and spaced apart linear rows of light detectors;   d) swinging the golf club at a golf ball;   e) receiving the light beam on the light detectors during the golf club swing;   f) receiving a sound of contact between the golf club and the golf ball during the golf club swing; and   g) calculating a misalignment of a face of the golf club with respect to the desired golf ball drive trajectory at the instant of contact between club and ball.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of positioning the linear rows of light detectors as to length and separation, to assure simultaneous sensing of the light beam by a light detector in each of the linear rows during the golf club swing. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of storing calculations in a data storage device. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of setting a misalignment alert threshold, comparing calculated misalignment with the alert threshold and producing an audible alert when the misalignment exceeds the threshold. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of setting a misalignment alert threshold, comparing calculated misalignment with the alert threshold and producing a visual alert when the misalignment exceeds the threshold.