Golf training device and method thereof

Abstract

A golf training device, including a flash unit to generate a signaling light; and a control unit to control the generation of the signaling light, wherein the control unit controls the generation of the signaling light according to a mechanical impact threshold, and wherein the control unit controls at least a duration of the signaling light.

What is claimed, is: 
     
         1 . A golf training device, comprising:
 a flash unit to generate a signaling light; and   a control unit to control the generation of the signaling light,   wherein the control unit controls the generation of the signaling light according to a mechanical impact threshold, and   wherein the control unit controls at least a duration of the signaling light.   
     
     
         2 . The golf training device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit and the flash unit are configured to be placed separately on a golf club, and wherein the control unit is removable and the flash unit is at least partially removable from the golf club. 
     
     
         3 . The golf training device of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured to be placed at least 12 inches apart from the flash unit. 
     
     
         4 . The golf training device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls at least one of a duration of the signaling light, a pattern of the signaling light, and a color of the signaling light. 
     
     
         5 . The golf training device of  claim 2 , wherein the flash unit is configured to be placed coincident with a preferred location for striking a golf ball with the golf club. 
     
     
         6 . The golf training device of  claim 2 , wherein the flash unit comprises less than 20% of a total weight of the golf training device. 
     
     
         7 . The golf training device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises:
 a sensitivity input to adjust the mechanical impact threshold; and   a duration input to adjust the duration of the signaling light.   
     
     
         8 . The golf training device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises:
 an accelerometer to detect a mechanical impact.   
     
     
         9 . The golf training device of  claim 8 , wherein the control unit controls the flash unit to generate the signaling light only if the detected mechanical impact exceeds the mechanical impact threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The golf training device of  claim 2 , wherein the flash unit comprises:
 one or more lights to generate the signaling light;   a light housing to house the one or more lights; and   a base plate to allow the flash unit to be at least partially removable.   
     
     
         11 . The golf training device of  claim 10 , wherein the flash unit further comprises one or more alignment marks to align the flash unit to the preferred location for striking a golf ball with the golf club. 
     
     
         12 . The golf training device of  claim 10 , wherein the base plate comprises a hook-and-loop style fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The golf training device of  claim 2 , further comprising a transmission cable to electrically connect the control unit to the flash unit,
 wherein the transmission cable is removably connected to at least one of the control unit and the flash unit, and   wherein the transmission cable physically secures the flash unit to the golf training device.   
     
     
         14 . The golf training device of  claim 13 , further comprising one or more sleeves to secure the transmission cable to the golf club. 
     
     
         15 . The golf training device of  claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more sleeves has a different diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The golf training device of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more sleeves comprise a resilient material configured to press-fits around a shaft of the golf club and around the transmission cable. 
     
     
         17 . The golf training device of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more sleeves comprise a cable channel to receive the transmission cable and a shaft channel to receive the shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The golf training device of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more sleeves comprise an anti-slip spine disposed within the shaft channel to provide a high-friction shim between the shaft and the one or more sleeves to prevent rotation or vertical slip of the one or more sleeves in relation to the shaft. 
     
     
         19 . A method of golf training, comprising:
 equipping a golf club with a golf training device;   adjusting a signaling light of the golf training device to focus the attention of a user to a preferred point of impact between the golf club and a golf ball; and   adjusting a mechanical impact threshold of the golf training device according to the golf club used,   wherein the golf training device comprises:
 a flash unit to generate the signaling light, and 
 a control unit to control the generation of the signaling light, 
 wherein the control unit controls a duration of the signaling light and the mechanical impact threshold. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the control unit comprises a sensitivity input to adjust the mechanical impact threshold, and a duration input to adjust the duration of the signaling light, and wherein the control unit and the flash unit are configured to be placed separately on a golf club, and wherein the control unit is removable and the flash unit is at least partially removable from the golf club.