Golf release training club

Abstract

An apparatus and method for a hinged golf swing training club that provides the kinesthetic feeling of the three most important mechanical aspects of the golf swing: the backswing, the transition and the release. It is composed of an upper portion, lower portion, hinge assembly, and a removable elastic means that can be attached to the upper portion and lower portions of the shaft.

1 . A golf release training device comprising:
 an upper shaft section having a grip;   a lower shaft section having a clubhead having a reference plane;   a one-way hinge assembly comprising a female hinge member that is fixed to said upper shaft section and a male hinge member that is fixed to said lower shaft section and that is pivotably connected to said female hinge member; and   an elastic member having two ends, one end being attached to said male hinge member and another end being attached to said female hinge member, said elastic member being operative to urge said male hinge member to assume an angle of about 90 degrees to said female hinge member;   wherein said female hinge member comprises a longitudinal cavity within which said male hinge member pivots about a transverse axis, said transverse axis being perpendicular to the reference plane of a clubhead having a zero degree loft, said cavity being formed by two outer walls that are connected at their lower ends by a third wall, said third wall being operative to prevent pivoting of the male hinge member by more than about 90 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The golf release training device of  claim 1  further comprising a roll pin about which male hinge member pivots. 
     
     
         3 . The golf release training device of  claim 1  wherein said clubhead is selected from the group consisting of: an iron, a driver, and a training head. 
     
     
         4 . The golf release training device of  claim 1  in which the hinge assembly is located at or near the center of gravity of the golf release training device. 
     
     
         5 . A golf release training device comprising:
 an upper shaft section;   a lower shaft section;   a hinge assembly comprising a female hinge member that is fixed to one of said upper shaft section or said lower shaft section and a male hinge member that is fixed to the other of said lower shaft section or said upper shaft section, said male hinge member being pivotably connected to said female hinge member; and   means for urging said male hinge member to assume an angle of about 90 degrees to said female hinge member, said means for urging being capable of imposing a variable urging force;   wherein said female hinge member comprises a longitudinal cavity within which said male hinge member pivots about a transverse axis, said cavity being formed by two outer walls that are connected at their lower ends by a third wall and at their upper ends by a fourth wall.   
     
     
         6 . The golf release training device of  claim 5  wherein said hinge assembly is a one-way hinge assembly that constrains said lower shaft section to pivot away from a plane that is parallel to said transverse axis and that intersects said side third wall. 
     
     
         7 . The golf release training device of  claim 5  wherein said third wall and said fourth wall are operative to prevent pivoting of the male member by more than about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The golf release training device of  claim 5  in which the components of said golf release training device are not substantially different from those of the traditional and customary form and make of golf club. 
     
     
         9 . The golf release training device of  claim 5  wherein said upper shaft section has a grip and said grip is selected from the group consisting of: a grip that is not substantially different from the traditional and customary form and make of golf club grip, and a training grip. 
     
     
         10 . The golf release training device of  claim 5  in which said female hinge member contains a shaft cavity for receiving the lower end of said upper shaft portion. 
     
     
         11 . The golf release training device of  claim 5  in which said male hinge member and said female hinge member contain bores that accept a roll pin. 
     
     
         12 . The golf release training device of  claim 5  wherein the lower end of male hinge member is configured to fit into the hollow core of said lower shaft section. 
     
     
         13 . The golf release training device of  claim 5  configured so that the longitudinal axes of upper shaft member and lower shaft member are aligned when a ball is addressed and when the ball is struck during a proper golf swing. 
     
     
         14 . The golf release training device of  claim 5  wherein the longitudinal axis of said male hinge member and the longitudinal axis of said female hinge member are oriented at a 90 degree angle when said hinge assembly is fully cocked. 
     
     
         15 . A method for training a golfer to execute a proper golf swing using a golf release training device comprising an upper shaft section having a handle, a lower shaft section having a clubhead, and an elastic band that urges said lower shaft section to assume an angle of about 90 degrees with upper shaft section, said upper and lower shaft sections being joined by a one-way hinge assembly, said elastic member having a length, said method comprising:
 addressing the ball, at which time said lower shaft section is fully cocked;   executing a backswing to a first checkpoint at which said upper shaft section is pointing at a target line, said lower end of lower shaft section is pointing at a target;   executing a forward swing to a second checkpoint at which said upper shaft section and said lower shaft section are in alignment and said length of said elastic member is at a maximum; and   continuing said forward swing to a third checkpoint at which the upper end of said upper shaft section is pointing at said target line and said lower shaft section is fully cocked.   
     
     
         16 . The method  claim 15  wherein addressing the ball comprises orienting the training device so that the target is located in a plane that is perpendicular to a reference plane of a zero degree clubface. 
     
     
         17 . The method  claim 15  wherein the lower shaft section is oriented at a 90 degree angle to the upper shaft section at the first checkpoint. 
     
     
         18 . The method  claim 15  in which contact with a golf ball occurs at the second checkpoint. 
     
     
         19 . The method  claim 15  wherein the lower shaft section is oriented at a 90 degree angle to the upper shaft section at the third checkpoint. 
     
     
         20 . The method  claim 15  further comprising having an observer report to the golfer the orientation of the components of the training aid at each checkpoint after the swing is completed. 
     
     
         21 . A golf release training device comprising:
 an upper shaft section having a grip;   a lower shaft section having a clubhead having a reference plane;   a one-way hinge assembly comprising a female hinge member that is fixed to said upper shaft section and a male hinge member that is fixed to said lower shaft section and that is pivotably connected to said female hinge member; and   a rubber band that is operative to urge said lower shaft section to be disposed at an angle other than zero degrees relative to said upper shaft section;   wherein said female hinge member comprises a body having a longitudinal cavity within which said male hinge member pivots about a transverse axis, said transverse axis being approximately perpendicular to the reference plane of a clubhead having a zero degree loft, said cavity being formed by two outer walls that are connected at their lower ends by a third wall.   
     
     
         22 . A golf release training device comprising:
 an upper shaft section having a grip;   a lower shaft section having a clubhead;   a hinge assembly comprising a female hinge member that is fixed to said upper shaft section and a lower shaft section having an upper end that is pivotably connected to said female hinge member; and   means for urging said lower shaft section to assume an angle other than zero degrees with respect to said upper shaft member.   
     
     
         23 . The golf release training device of  claim 22  wherein said hinge assembly is operative to prevent pivoting of said lower shaft by more than about 90 degrees with respect to said upper shaft. 
     
     
         24 . A golf release training device comprising:
 an upper shaft section having a grip;   a lower shaft section having a clubhead;   a hinge assembly comprising a female hinge member that is fixed to said upper shaft section and a lower shaft section having an upper end that is pivotably connected to said female hinge member; and   means for imposing forces on said lower shaft section and said upper shaft section that are operative to resist alignment of said shaft sections, said means for imposing forces emitting a signal when alignment occurs;   wherein said female hinge member comprises a body having a longitudinal cavity within which said upper end pivots, said cavity being formed by two outer walls that are connected adjacent to their upper ends by a fourth wall and adjacent to their lower ends by a third wall that forms a forward-facing groove in the lower portion of said body and a backward-facing slot in the upper portion of said body.   
     
     
         25 . The golf release training device of  claim 24  wherein said signal is a vibration signal, an audible signal and/or a visual signal.