Wrist positioning athletic device

Abstract

An apparatus for teaching and practicing the proper positioning of the hands and/or wrists relative to the arms in the performance of an athletic maneuver is disclosed. The apparatus includes a brace to be positioned on the forearm and extend across the wrist and at least partially along the hand. A securing mechanism can be included for selectively attaching the brace to the forearm. A rod extends from the brace and is configured to be gripped by the user while wearing the device. The rod can also receive athletic related devices. The device can be adapted to teach a user the proper positioning of the hands and wrists relative to the arms throughout an athletic maneuver.

1 . An athletic instructional device adapted to teach a user the proper positioning of a hand and wrist relative to a forearm during an athletic maneuver, the device comprising:
 a brace adapted to be warn by the user so as to extend at least partially along the forearm, wrist, and hand of the user;   a securing mechanism adapted to selectively secure the brace to the user; and   a rod extending from an interior portion of the brace adjacent one end of the brace so that the user can grasp the rod when the brace is warn by the user.   
   
   
       2 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the brace has a semicircular cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       3 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop fastening system, grommets, snaps, zippers, adhesives, elastic cord, and stretchable material. 
   
   
       4 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the interior portion of the brace is adapted to generally correspond to the shape of the user's arm. 
   
   
       5 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , further comprising cushioning disposed on the interior surface of the brace so as to increase the comfort of wherein the brace. 
   
   
       6 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 5 , wherein the cushioning comprises a foam, plastic, polymer, rubber, fabric, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the rod forms a generally right angle with a longitudinal axis of the brace. 
   
   
       8 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the rod and brace are formed as an integral piece. 
   
   
       9 . A method for learning the proper positioning of a hand and a wrist relative to a forearm during an athletic maneuver, the method comprising:
 securing a brace to an athlete such that the brace extends at least partially along a first forearm, a first wrist, and a first hand of the athlete;   grasping a rod with the first hand, wherein the rod and brace are coupled together to maintain the first hand in a desired orientation relative to the first forearm; and   performing the athletic maneuver, wherein the first hand and the first forearm are maintained in the desired orientation throughout the performance of the athletic maneuver.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising grasping the rod with a second hand prior to performing the athletic maneuver. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising mounting an athletic device on the rod prior to performing the athletic maneuver. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the athletic device comprises a golf club, a weight, a resistance fan, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the athletic maneuver comprises a golf swing. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the desired orientation of the first hand relative to the first forearm is achieved when the brace is secured on the first forearm, the first hand grasps the rod, and the rod forms a generally right angle with the brace. 
   
   
       15 . An athletic instructional device, comprising:
 means for maintaining a first hand of an athlete in a desired orientation relative to a first forearm of the athlete during an athletic maneuver;   a securing mechanism adapted to selectively couple the means for maintaining to the first forearm or first hand of the athlete; and   means for attaching an athletic device to the means for maintaining.   
   
   
       16 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 15 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a hook and loop fastening system or a stretchable fabric. 
   
   
       17 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 15 , wherein the means for maintaining comprises a brace that is adapted to be warn by the athlete and extend along at least a portion of the first forearm and the first hand. 
   
   
       18 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 17 , wherein the means for maintaining further comprises a rod extending from the brace at a generally right angle. 
   
   
       19 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 18 , wherein the means for attaching an athletic device comprises the rod. 
   
   
       20 . The athletic instructional device of  claim 15 , wherein the athletic related device comprises a weight, a golf club, a resistance fan, or a combination thereof.