Counterweighted Golf Club Swing Training Apparatus

Abstract

A counterweighted golf club training apparatus providing a counterweight element affixed to a shaft protrusion, or portion of the hollow shaft's proximal end protruding through the second end of the grip handle, wherein the center of balance of the apparatus is positioned at a space between the user's hand, thereby redistributing the weight and allowing equal forces to be exerted on each hand without the need for the user to account for swingweight or gravitational effects. Thus, the user is able to swing and practice their movements freely without any individual motion dictating the composition of the overall swing. This apparatus will increase the capability of any user to improve their swing mechanics, train their muscle memory, and confidently advance their ability to correctly swing a club without needing to worry about making mistakes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A counterweighted golf club training apparatus comprising:
 a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   a head disposed at the distal end;   a grip handle comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end disposed adjacent to the proximal; 
 an opening at the second end, said opening configured to slidingly 
 receive a shaft protrusion therethrough; and 
   a counterweight longitudinally oriented and affixed endwise to the shaft protrusion, said counterweight configured to position a center of balance of the counterweighted golf club training apparatus at a point from the second end between 25% and 49% of the length of the grip handle;   wherein the center of balance is positionable between the hands of a user wielding the counterweighted golf club training apparatus thereby properly balancing the counterweighted golf club training apparatus to assist users in practicing their swing mechanics and training their body's muscle memory.   
     
     
         2 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the counterweight is fixed to the shaft protrusion. 
     
     
         3 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the counterweight is threadably or magnetically attachable to the shaft protrusion. 
     
     
         4 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the counterweight comprises a metallic, ceramic, and/or polymeric longitudinal member having sufficient mass to reposition the center of balance more proximal to the user, wherein a cylindrical bore that aligns in depth, width, and length with the shaft protrusion is extruded from the center of a base of the counterweight. 
     
     
         5 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grip handle is tapered from a maximum diameter at the second end to a minimum diameter at the first end whereby the grip handle is affixed to an exterior of the hollow shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one indicium designed upon the counterweight to signal the rotational angle of the head's face relative to user. 
     
     
         7 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the counterweight is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the counterweight is tapered between the maximum diameter and the minimum diameter along only ⅓ to ½ of its length. 
     
     
         9 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the minimum diameter is equal to the diameter of the grip handle's second end. 
     
     
         10 . A counterweighted golf club training apparatus comprising:
 a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   a head disposed at the distal end;   a grip handle comprising:
 a first end; 
 a second end adjacent to the proximal end; 
 a circular opening at the second end configured to slidingly engage 
 with a shaft protrusion therethrough; 
   a wireless accelerometer; and   a counterweight longitudinally oriented and affixed endwise to the shaft protrusion, said counterweight configured to position a center of balance of the counterweighted golf club training apparatus at a point upon the grip handle between 25% and 49% of the length of the grip handle from the second end;   wherein the center of balance is positionable between the hands of a user wielding the counterweighted golf club training apparatus thereby properly balancing the counterweighted golf club training apparatus to assist users in practicing their swing mechanics and training their body's muscle memory.   
     
     
         11 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the accelerometer is affixed to the shaft protrusion to contact the counterweight when the counterweight is fixed thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the accelerometer is attachable to the hollow shaft adjacent to the club head. 
     
     
         13 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the counterweight comprises a metallic, ceramic, and/or polymeric longitudinal member having sufficient mass to reposition the center of balance more proximal to the user wherein a cylindrical bore that aligns in depth, width, and length with the shaft protrusion is extruded from the center of a base of the counterweight. 
     
     
         14 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising at least one indicium designed upon the counterweight to signal the rotational angle of the head's face relative to user. 
     
     
         15 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the counterweight is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         16 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the counterweight is tapered between the maximum diameter and the minimum diameter along only ⅓ to ½ of its length. 
     
     
         17 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the minimum diameter is equal to the diameter of the grip handle's second end. 
     
     
         18 . A counterweighted golf club training apparatus comprising:
 a solid shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;   a grip handle comprising;
 a first end; 
 a second end adjacent to the proximal end; 
 a circular opening at the second end configured to slidingly engage 
 with a shaft protrusion therethrough; and 
   a counterweight longitudinally oriented and affixed endwise to the shaft protrusion, said counterweight configured to position a center of balance of the counterweighted golf club training apparatus at a point upon the grip handle between 25% and 49% of the length of the grip handle from the second end;   wherein the center of balance is positionable between the hands of a user wielding the counterweighted golf club training apparatus thereby properly balancing the counterweighted golf club training apparatus to assist users in practicing their swing mechanics and training their body's muscle memory.   
     
     
         19 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the solid shaft is composed of a polymeric material capable both of retaining its structure during a user's physical movements and of exhibiting flexion upon the application of force. 
     
     
         20 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a club head is affixed to the solid shaft's distal end. 
     
     
         21 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the counterweight comprises a metallic, ceramic, and/or polymeric longitudinal member having sufficient mass to reposition the center of balance more proximal to the user, wherein a cylindrical bore that aligns in depth, width, and length with the shaft protrusion is extruded from the center of a base of the counterweight. 
     
     
         22 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising at least one indicium designed upon the counterweight to signal the rotational angle of the head's face relative to user. 
     
     
         23 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the counterweight is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         24 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the counterweight is tapered between the maximum diameter and the minimum diameter along only ⅓ to ½ of its length. 
     
     
         25 . The counterweighted golf club training apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the minimum diameter is equal to the diameter of the grip handle's second end.