Swing Training Device

Abstract

A swing training system which includes a light-reactive surface, and a training device having a light source capable of striking the light-reactive surface and creating a temporary visual representation of the path of the light over the surface. The device can include multiple light sources, which according to the arrangement of the illuminated paths on the surface indicate if the proper alignment was achieved during a swing. In accordance with at least one embodiment, an individual can use the swing training system to perform a stroke to simulate striking a golf ball on the surface. The movement path of the device over the pad is visually illustrated by the reaction of the light source with the light-reactive material such that the individual can observe the actual stroke direction and alignment indicated by the light source path. The visual representation of the actual path fades in a short amount of time such that the individual can perform subsequent strokes in order to improve the correspondence between the actual stroke and the optimal stroke.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A swing training system comprising:
 a surface formed of a photoreactive indicating material;   a swing training device comprising an indicator adapted for movement over the surface, wherein the swing training device is capable of interacting with the photoreactive surface to form a visual representation of a swing path of the swing training device; and   a swing analysis device operatively coupled to the swing training device and having a 3-D accelerometer and 3-D gyroscope capable of measuring the linear acceleration and angular velocity of a swing training device.   
     
     
         2 . The swing training system according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises:
 a first light source; and   a second light source.   
     
     
         3 . The swing training system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a microprocessor for analyzing data generated from the 3-D accelerometer and 3-D gyroscope and translating the data into a virtual representation of the swing training device swinging within a 3-D space. 
     
     
         4 . The swing training system according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second light sources are UV lasers capable of reacting with the photoreative indicating material. 
     
     
         5 . The swing training system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a 3-D magnetometer operatively coupled to the swing training device. 
     
     
         6 . The swing training system according to  claim 4 , wherein the swing training system further comprises:
 a third light source; and   a power switch that activates at least one of the first, second, and third light sources.   
     
     
         7 . The swing training system according to  claim 2 , wherein the first light source is a pair of UV lights. 
     
     
         8 . The swing training system according to  claim 4 , wherein the power switch is a centrifugal switch compressed by the centrifugal force of a weight when the device is swung. 
     
     
         9 . The swing training system according to  claim 2 , wherein the swing training device is selected from the group consisting of a golf club, a baseball bat, a tennis racket, and a cricket bat. 
     
     
         10 . The swing training system according to  claim 2 , wherein the indicating material is artificial turf with a light reactive coating. 
     
     
         11 . The swing training system according to  claim 10 , wherein the coating is a light reactive paint applied to the artificial turf. 
     
     
         12 . The swing training system according to  claim 3 , wherein the device further comprises a fourth light source positioned on the same axis as the third light source and directed outwardly from a handle. 
     
     
         13 . A golf swing training device, comprising:
 a handle operatively connected to an indicator through a shaft, the indicator comprising,
 a UV light source capable of interacting with a photoreactive surface adapted to provide an indication of movement by the device; and 
   an audio recording device for recording a short audio sequence.   
     
     
         14 . The golf swing training device according to  claim 13 , wherein the laser light source and the plurality of UV light sources are positioned in a single plane. 
     
     
         15 . The golf swing training device according to  claim 13 , wherein the audio recording device is a single touch device. 
     
     
         16 . The golf swing training device according to  claim 15 , wherein pressing the audio recording device initiates a predetermined timed audio recording sequence. 
     
     
         17 . The golf swing training device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a swing analysis device operatively coupled to the swing training device and having a 3-D accelerometer and 3-D gyroscope capable of measuring the linear acceleration and angular velocity of a swing training device. 
     
     
         18 . The golf swing training device according to  claim 13 , further comprising an accelerometer for illuminating the UV light sources upon swinging of the device. 
     
     
         19 . A golf swing training system, comprising:
 a photoreactive indicating surface;   swing training device in accordance with  claim 17 .   
     
     
         20 . A method for practicing a swing using a swing training system, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a photoreactive indicating material on a surface;   activating a swing training device, wherein the swing training device includes a light source capable of interacting with the photoreactive indicating material;   activating a swing analysis device operatively coupled to the swing training device, wherein the swing analysis device includes a 3-D accelerometer, a 3-D gyroscope, and a means for translating linear acceleration and angular velocity data into a visual representation of a swing within a 3-D space;   swinging the swing training device such that the light source passes over the indicating material, wherein the indicating material and the light source interact with each other to provide a visual representation of the path of the swing device as the swing device is moved over the indicating material;   activating the audio recording device and recording a comment related to the performance of the previously executed swing; and   analyzing the data generated by the swing analysis device in combination with the audio recording generated by activation of the audio recording device.