Golf swing training device and method

Abstract

A golf swing training device has first and second radially spaced swing guides that define a swing plane of a golf club and restricts movement of the golf club within the swing plane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf swing training device comprising:
 a first swing guide having front and rear ring members spaced from each other to define a first curved slot through which a golf club passes;   a second swing guide radially spaced from the first swing guide and having at least one ring member, the first curved slot and the second swing guide defining a swing plane of the golf club and restricting movement of the golf club within the swing plane;   a swing guide support supporting the first and second swing guides at an angle relative to the ground.   
     
     
         2 . The golf swing training device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second swing guide has a single ring member; and   the front ring member is radially spaced from the rear ring member and the single ring member of the second swing guide.   
     
     
         3 . The golf swing training device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ring member of the second swing guide includes front and rear ring members spaced from each other to define a second curved slot through which a golf club passes such that the first and second curved slots define the swing plane. 
     
     
         4 . The golf swing training device of  claim 1 , wherein the front ring member of the first swing guide terminates as a free end at a location near the end of a downswing to allow the golf club to move outside of the swing plane for a natural follow through of the golf club. 
     
     
         5 . The golf swing training device of  claim 1 , wherein the swing guide support includes:
 a first arm attached to the front ring member of the first swing guide; and   a second arm attached to the rear ring member of the first swing guide, the first and second arms defining a space through which the golf club passes.   
     
     
         6 . The golf swing training device of  claim 1 , wherein the front and rear ring members of the first swing guide are attached to each other at a predetermined location to provide a backswing stop. 
     
     
         7 . The golf swing training device of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable backswing stop slidably coupled to the front and rear ring members of the first swing guide. 
     
     
         8 . The golf swing training device of  claim 1 , wherein the swing guide support includes:
 a support frame; and   a support arm pivotally coupled to the support frame to provide an adjustable angle of the swing plane relative to ground.   
     
     
         9 . The golf swing training device of  claim 1 , further comprising a head stop to prevent the head of the golfer from moving laterally toward the backswing direction. 
     
     
         10 . A golf swing training device comprising:
 an inner swing guide having front and rear ring members spaced from each other to define an inner curved slot through which a golf club passes;   an outer swing guide spaced from the inner swing guide and having front and rear ring members spaced from each other to define an outer curved slot through which the golf club passes, the inner and outer curved slots defining a swing plane of the golf club and restricting movement of the golf club within the swing plane;   a swing guide support supporting the inner and outer swing guides at an angle relative to the ground.   
     
     
         11 . The golf swing training device of  claim 10 , wherein the front ring members of the inner and outer swing guides terminate as free ends at a location near the end of a downswing to allow the golf club to move outside of the swing plane for a natural follow through of the golf club. 
     
     
         12 . The golf swing training device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the rear ring member of the inner swing guide includes a full ring; and   the front ring member of the inner swing guide includes a partial ring having one end extending from a location near the end of a backswing and the other end terminating as a free end near the end of a downswing to allow the golf club to move outside of the swing plane for a natural follow through of the golf club.   
     
     
         13 . The golf swing training device of  claim 10 , wherein the swing guide support includes:
 a first arm attached to the front ring members of the inner and outer swing guides; and   a second arm attached to the rear ring members of the inner and outer swing guides, the first and second arms defining a space through which the golf club passes.   
     
     
         14 . The golf swing training device of  claim 10 , wherein the front and rear ring members of the inner swing guide or the outer swing guide are attached to each other at a predetermined location to provide a backswing stop. 
     
     
         15 . The golf swing training device of  claim 10 , further comprising an adjustable backswing stop slidably coupled to the front and rear ring members of the inner swing guide or the outer swing guide. 
     
     
         16 . The golf swing training device of  claim 10 , wherein the swing guide support includes:
 a support frame; and   a support arm pivotally coupled to the support frame to provide an adjustable angle of the swing plane relative to ground.   
     
     
         17 . The golf swing training device of  claim 10 , wherein the swing guide support includes a rigid bar having a plurality of spaced notches to provide the angular adjustment of the swing plane. 
     
     
         18 . The golf swing training device of  claim 10 , further comprising a head stop attached to the swing guide support to prevent the head of a golfer from moving laterally toward the backswing direction. 
     
     
         19 . A method of training a golfer for a golf swing comprising:
 positioning the golfer behind a golf swing training device having:
 an inner swing guide having front and rear ring members spaced from each other to define an inner curved slot through which a golf club passes; 
 an outer swing guide spaced from the inner swing guide and having front and rear ring members spaced from each other to define an outer curved slot through which the golf club passes, the inner and outer curved slots defining a swing plane of the golf club and restricting movement of the golf club within the swing plane; 
 a swing guide support supporting the inner and outer swing guides at an angle relative to the ground; 
   inserting a golf club into the inner and outer curved slots so that the golf club lies substantially in the swing plane;   having the golfer swing the golf club in a backswing direction and then a downswing direction while the golf club stays substantially within the swing plane by the inner and outer curved slots.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the front ring members of the inner and outer swing guides terminate as free ends at a location near the end of the downswing; and   the method further comprises, after the downswing, having the golfer continue to swing such that the golf club moves outside of the swing plane for a natural follow through of the golf club.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing a backswing stop attached to the front and rear ring members of the inner swing guide or the outer swing guide so as to prevent the golfer from over swinging the golf club. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising adjusting the angle of the swing plane prior to the step of having the golfer swing the golf club. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing a head stop attached to the swing guide support to prevent the head of a golfer from moving laterally toward the backswing direction.