Golf Training Apparatus

Abstract

Novel tools and techniques for teaching a player the proper alignment when addressing a golf ball. In one aspect, such tools and techniques provide an alignment aid that allows the player to visualize both the intended target line of the shot as well as the position of the ball relative to the player's stance, allowing the player to easily modify his stance to obtain the proper alignment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf training apparatus, comprising:
 a housing comprising a central portion and four arms extending in a cross shape from the central portion;   a laser source disposed at least partially within the housing that emits and directs one or more beams of light within a visible spectrum, the one or more beams of light comprising a first beam of light emitted and directed through at least one first arm of the four arms and along a target axis defining an intended target line of a golf ball struck by a user and a second beam of light emitted and directed through at least one second arm of the four arms and along an alignment axis corresponding to a stationary position of the golf ball relative to a stance of the user;   a control device to receive input from the user; and   a control circuit in electrical communication with at least the laser source and the control device, the control circuit being configured to control operation of the laser source based at least in part on input received by the control device.   
     
     
         2 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises an accelerometer. 
     
     
         3 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the input from the user comprises movement of the golf training apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the laser source comprises at least a first laser to generate and transmit the first beam through the at least one first arm and at least a second laser to generate and transmit the second beam through the at least one second arm. 
     
     
         5 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the laser source comprises a rotating laser to create and transmit the first beam through the at least one first arm and the second beam through the at least one second arm. 
     
     
         6 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the housing defines a first aperture at a first end of the at least one first arm to allow projection of the first beam and a second aperture at a second end of the at least one first arm to allow projection of the second beam. 
     
     
         7 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the laser source comprises:
 a laser; and   a beam alignment device disposed within the housing and configured to receive a laser beam emitted from the laser and to reflect or to refract the laser beam into the first beam of light and the second beam of light.   
     
     
         8 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the beam alignment device comprises at least one of one or more prisms or one or more lenses. 
     
     
         9 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a remote control receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a Bluetooth receiver, and wherein the input from the user comprises control signals received from a wireless phone. 
     
     
         11 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base, having a surface configured to be placed on the ground, on which the housing is disposed.   
     
     
         12 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the base is configured to allow the housing to rotate relative to the ground. 
     
     
         13 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the base is configured to allow the housing to be disposed at a variable angle relative to horizontal. 
     
     
         14 . A golf training method, comprising:
 aligning a golf training apparatus with respect to a target location, the golf training apparatus comprising:
 a housing comprising a central portion and four arms extending in a cross shape from the central portion; 
 a laser source disposed at least partially within the housing that emits and directs one or more beams of light within a visible spectrum, the one or more beams of light comprising a first beam of light emitted and directed through at least one first arm of the four arms and along a target axis defining an intended target line of a golf ball struck by a user and a second beam of light emitted and directed through at least one second arm of the four arms and along an alignment axis corresponding to a stationary position of the golf ball relative to a stance of the user; 
 a control device to receive input from the user; and 
 a control circuit in electrical communication with at least the laser source and the control device, the control circuit being configured to control operation of the laser source based at least in part on input received by the control device; and 
   placing the golf ball on the alignment axis; and   evaluating an alignment of the user addressing the golf ball, based at least in part on the position of the user relative to at least one of the beams of light.   
     
     
         15 . The golf training method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 modifying the alignment of the user, based at least in part on the position of the user relative to at least one of the beams of light.   
     
     
         16 . The golf training method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 controlling operation of the golf training apparatus using a software program on a wireless phone.   
     
     
         17 . The golf training method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 controlling operation of the golf training apparatus using a remote control device.   
     
     
         18 . A golf training system comprising:
 a golf training apparatus, comprising:
 a housing comprising a central portion and four arms extending in a cross shape from the central portion; 
 a laser source disposed at least partially within the housing that emits and directs one or more beams of light within a visible spectrum, the one or more beams of light comprising a first beam of light emitted and directed through at least one first arm of the four arms and along a target axis defining an intended target line of a golf ball struck by a user and a second beam of light emitted and directed through at least one second arm of the four arms and along an alignment axis corresponding to a stationary position of the golf ball relative to a stance of the user; 
 a control device to receive input from the user; and 
 a control circuit in electrical communication with at least the laser source and the control device, the control circuit being configured to control operation of the laser source based at least in part on input received by the control device; and 
   a remote control facility in communication with the golf training apparatus to provide the user input to the control device.   
     
     
         19 . The golf training system of  claim 18 , wherein the remote control facility comprises:
 a software application comprising instructions executable by a computing device to control operation of the golf training apparatus.   
     
     
         20 . The golf training system of  claim 18 , wherein the remote control facility comprises:
 a remote control device separate from the golf training apparatus, the remote control device being configured to receive input from a user and to transmit signals to control operation of the golf training apparatus based at least in part on input from the user.