Golf Swing Trainer

Abstract

A trainer is formed of a handle joined to an end of an elongated tubular chamber containing a charge of metal beads. A longitudinal tension rod unites chamber and handle to protect the integrity of the trainer and enable it to be constructed from light weight material such as PVC plastic tubing. The charge of beads weights the trainer to match the feel of a real club. The beads shift in the chamber during a practice swing so that the player sees, feels and hears the shift of the metal beads at appropriate points during the swing, to alert the player when he has swung with proper lag. The beads self-generate a signal by their relative movement in the tube, even without reaching an end of the tube. The player can adjust his swing in increments to alter the point at which the charge of beads shifts in the chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In a golf swing trainer for teaching a player to swing a golf club with proper lag during downswing, wherein the trainer is formed of a body having both a proximal hand grip and a distal hollow weight transfer chamber arranged in longitudinal series, the improvement comprising: a rod longitudinally passing through said hand grip and weight transfer chamber, having a fastener located at least at one of the opposite ends of the rod, holding the rod in tension and placing the hand grip and weight transfer chamber in compression; and a charge formed of a large plurality of bead-like components housed in the weight transfer chamber, having a component size allowing free movement between said rod and chamber wall, and occupying a minor portion of the chamber length when compacted at one end of the chamber; whereby the charge self-generates aural and haptic signals during mass movement within the chamber over distances less than the full length of the chamber. 
     
     
         2 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein said weight transfer chamber further comprises an access opening allowing modification of said charge through said access opening; and a means for selectively sealing and opening the access opening. 
     
     
         3 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 2 , wherein said means for selectively sealing and opening the access opening is a cap located at a longitudinal end of said weight transfer chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 2 , wherein said means for selectively sealing and opening the access opening is a cap located at a longitudinal end of said weight transfer chamber; and said fastener is adjustable on said rod to secure or release said cap with respect to the weight transfer chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein said weight transfer chamber is formed of a clear wall allowing visual perception of said charge, whereby the charge generates visual signals during mass movement within the chamber over distances less than the full length of the chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein said charge occupies a minor portion of the volume of said weight transfer chamber, whereby a majority of the volume within the weight transfer chamber is available for the charge to self-generate aural signals during en masse longitudinal movement within the weight transfer chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 6 , wherein said charge occupies less than twenty-five percent of the volume of said weight transfer chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein said hand grip and weight transfer chamber are formed of plastic pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 8 , wherein said charge comprises at least twenty-five percent of the weight of the trainer. 
     
     
         10 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein said large plurality of bead-like components comprises at least one hundred components. 
     
     
         11 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein said bead-like components are steel balls. 
     
     
         12 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein said bead-like components are of a diameter no less than 4 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein said bead-like components are of a diameter no less than about 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein said charge comprises at least twenty-five percent of the weight of the trainer. 
     
     
         15 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 14 , wherein said hand grip and weight transfer chamber are formed of plastic. 
     
     
         16 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein said charge is suitably formulated of sufficient size, shape, mass, and quantity to self-generate audible signals upon movement en masse within said weight transfer chamber. 
     
     
         17 . In a golf swing trainer for teaching a player to swing a golf club with proper lag during downswing, wherein the trainer is formed of a body having both a proximal hand grip and a distal hollow weight transfer chamber arranged in longitudinal series along a common center line, the improvement comprising:
 a rod with opposite threaded ends longitudinally passing through said hand grip and weight transfer chamber, aligned with said common center line, and with said ends extending beyond the hand grip and weight transfer chamber;   a threaded fastener located at each of the opposite ends of the rod, engaging the rod, hand grip, and weight transfer chamber sufficiently to hold the rod in tension and to place the hand grip and weight transfer chamber in compression, thereby sufficiently stabilizing the assembled hand grip and weight transfer chamber to enable the use of plastic pipe to form both the hand grip and weight transfer chamber; and   a charge formed of a large plurality of balls housed in the weight transfer chamber, wherein said balls are suitably formulated of sufficient size, shape, mass, and quantity to self-generate audible signals upon movement en masse within said weight transfer chamber.   
     
     
         18 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 17 , wherein said charge is of a volume occupying a minor portion of the chamber length with respect to a positioning compacted at one end of the chamber, whereby the charge self-generates aural and haptic signals during mass movement within the chamber over distances less than the full length of the chamber.