Golf training device

Abstract

A golf training device comprises a club head having a club face with a ball striking portion and at least one structure which misdirects a golf ball when the ball strikes the club face at an undesired location. The structure may be one or more apertures opening to at least one cavity in the interior of the club head. The apertures may open to a single cavity in the interior of the club head. The club head may additionally include one or more air exit apertures to allow air flow through the apertures during a swing to minimize altering the aerodynamic flow compared to a regulation golf club. Alternatively, the structure may be one or more surfaces angled in a direction non-perpendicular to the intended path of the ball. A method of practicing a golf swing comprises striking the ball with the training device, and observing the trajectory of the ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf training the device comprising a club head attached to a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a grip located on the opposite end of the shaft from the club head, and wherein the club head comprises a club face comprising a ball striking portion and at least one structure which is adapted to misdirect a golf ball when the ball is struck by the club face at an undesired location. 
     
     
         2 . The golf training device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one structure which is adapted to misdirect a golf ball when the ball struck by the club face at an undesired location is one or more club face apertures opening to at least one cavity in the interior of the club head. 
     
     
         3 . The golf training device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one structure which misdirects a golf ball when struck by the club face at an undesired location comprises at least two club face apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The golf training device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two apertures open to a single cavity in the interior of the head portion and wherein the club head additionally includes one or more air exit apertures located distal to the club face. 
     
     
         5 . The golf training device of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more apertures located distal to the club face are located at the bottom of the club head. 
     
     
         6 . The golf training device of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more air exit apertures are each located between ⅛ inch (0.3 cm) and ¼ inch (0.6 cm) from an edge of the club face. 
     
     
         7 . The golf training device of  claim 3 , wherein the combined area of the one or more club face apertures is 20 to 45 percent of the area of the club face. 
     
     
         8 . The golf training device of  claim 7 , wherein the combined area of the one or more club face apertures is 20 to 30 percent of the area of the club face. 
     
     
         9 . The golf training device of  claim 7 , wherein the combined area of the one or more club face apertures is 31 to 40 percent of the area of the club face. 
     
     
         10 . The golf training device of  claim 9 , wherein the combined area of the one or more club face apertures is 35 to 40 percent of the area of the club face. 
     
     
         11 . The golf training device of  claim 7 , wherein the club head is 4 to 4½ inches (10.2-11.4 cm) wide and the ball striking portion is 1¼ inches (3.2 cm) to 2½ inches (6.4 cm) wide. 
     
     
         12 . The golf training device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one structure which is adapted to misdirect a golf ball when struck by the club face at an undesired location is one or more surfaces angled in a direction non-perpendicular to the intended path of the ball when struck. 
     
     
         13 . The golf training device of  claim 12 , comprising two or more surfaces angled in a direction non-perpendicular to the intended path of the ball when struck. 
     
     
         14 . The golf training device of  claim 13 , wherein the two or more surfaces angled in a direction non-perpendicular to the intended path of the ball when struck. 
     
     
         15 . The golf training device of  claim 14 , wherein the ball striking portion of the club face comprises between 35 and 45 percent of the width of the club. 
     
     
         16 . The golf training device of  claim 15 , wherein the ball striking portion of the club face comprises between 39 and 44 percent of the width of the club. 
     
     
         17 . The golf training device of  claim 11 , wherein the ball striking portion of the club face is 1½ to 2 inches (3.8-5.1 cm) wide. 
     
     
         18 . The golf training device of  claim 12 , wherein the ball striking portion of the club face is 1% inches (4.4 cm) wide. 
     
     
         19 . A method of practicing a golf swing, wherein the method comprises striking a golf ball with a training device and observing the trajectory of the golf ball to determine proper placement of the club relative to the ball during a swing, wherein the training device comprises a club head attached to a shaft, wherein the shaft comprises a grip located on the opposite end of the shaft from the club head, and wherein the club head comprises a club face comprising a ball striking portion and at least one structure which is adapted to misdirect a golf ball when the ball is struck by the club face at an undesired location. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one structure which is adapted to misdirect a golf ball when the ball is struck by the club face at an undesired location is one or more surfaces angled in a direction non-perpendicular to the intended path of the ball when struck.