Apparatus and method for aiding a swing

Abstract

An apparatus for aiding the swing of a user of a piece of sporting equipment, such as a golf club, baseball bat, tennis racquet, hockey stick, or field hockey stick, is provided. The apparatus may be made of a relatively dense and elastic material, and may comprise a front opening in a front portion of the apparatus, and a front sleeve extending from the front opening. The front sleeve may have a proximate end at the front opening, a distal end, and an opening in the distal end through which the user's arms and hands may penetrate. The front sleeve may further be tapered from the proximate end to the distal end, generating a compression force on the arms, thereby “connecting” the arms to each other and to the core of the body before and during the swing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment vest for aiding a swing, comprising:
 a front sleeve, having a proximate end and a distal end;
 the proximate end being attached to the front, chest region of the garment vest and having a first opening for receiving the arms and hands of a wearer of the garment vest; 
 the distal end being remote from the proximate end and having a second opening for receiving the arms and hands of the wearer; 
   wherein the front sleeve tapers from the proximate end to the distal end.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising an elastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a relatively high density material. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising elastic stitching. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for aiding a swing, comprising:
 an opening in a front portion of the apparatus; and   a front sleeve, having a proximate end and a distal end, the front sleeve extending from the opening toward the distal end;   wherein the front sleeve is arranged and configured to allow a user's arms and hands to fit through the front sleeve, and to generate a compression force on the user's arms.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising an elastic material. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a relatively high density material. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising elastic stitching. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the opening is located in the front portion of the apparatus corresponding to the chest region of the user of the apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the front sleeve is tapered from the proximate end to the distal end. 
     
     
         11 . A method for aiding a swing, comprising:
 providing a swing aid apparatus comprising:
 an opening in a front portion of the apparatus; and 
 a front sleeve, having a proximate end and a distal end, the front sleeve extending from the opening toward the distal end; 
   placing the apparatus on a user of the apparatus such that the apparatus covers at least a portion of the user's torso;   extending the user's arms through the front sleeve of the apparatus; and   swinging the user's arms.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus further comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a relatively high density material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus further comprises elastic stitching. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the opening is located in a region of the front portion of the apparatus, the region corresponding to the chest of the user. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the front sleeve of the apparatus is tapered from the proximate end to the distal end. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of gripping a piece of sporting equipment prior to swinging the user's arms. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of retracting the user's arms from the front sleeve of the apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of tucking the front sleeve of the apparatus into the interior of the apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of traveling to a new location to perform a swing.