Golf swing trainer

Abstract

A golf swing trainer system for maintaining a constant extension in the arms during the action of the swing for a constant swing circle radius. The golf swing trainer system includes an ergonomic harness, length-adjustable linear rod or a rod of several offset joints to avoid collision with the arms, a positive locking mechanism to set the length of the rod, and a tool-less hinged clamp at the end of the rod for non-destructively attaching to the top of a golf club and that controls the angle of the wrists during the swing. The swing trainer system may be deployed with a system of integrated sensors to collect data of swing performance and transmit these to a microcontroller for analysis and presentation to the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf swing trainer, comprising:
 a base plate;   fastening components extending from the base plate for attaching the base plate to an upper torso region of a golfer   a socket rotatably affixed to the base plate, the socket defining a curved interior region and further defining two opposingly disposed notches within the curved interior region;   a ball component rotatably disposed within the curved interior region for moving within the curved interior region during a golf swing;   a length adjustable rod defining first and second terminal ends, the rod maintaining a constant length between the first and second terminal ends during the golf swing;   the first terminal end attached to the ball component, such that the ball component and the rod move within the curved interior region and in to or out from the two notches during the golf swing;   a clamp at the second terminal end of the rod, the clamp for receiving and rigidly securing a golf club handle.   
     
     
         2 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate is ergonomically shaped according to an anatomy of the upper torso region. 
     
     
         3 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening components comprise one or more belts received within openings defined in the base plate, the belts for urging the base plate against the upper torso region of the golfer. 
     
     
         4 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate defines openings therein for receiving the one or more fastening components. 
     
     
         5 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate is attached to the upper torso region such that an angle formed between the base plate and the rod is in line with the cervical vertebrae C7. 
     
     
         6 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the constant length of the rod determines a radius of the golf swing arc and the constant length of the rod ensures a fixed radius golf swing circle. 
     
     
         7 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp is manipulable by hand. 
     
     
         8 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises a non destructive clamping surface. 
     
     
         9 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the rod comprises a telescoping rod and further comprises a linear rod or comprises a plurality of interconnected offset segments. 
     
     
         10 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 9 , wherein the rod comprising the plurality of interconnected offset segments avoids collision with forearms of the golfer during the golf swing. 
     
     
         11 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the rod comprises a positive locking mechanism for locking the rod at a desired length, the positive locking mechanism manually operable without the use of tools. 
     
     
         12 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , further comprising sensors disposed at a plurality of locations on the golf swing trainer, the sensors for measuring parameters related to the golf swing. 
     
     
         13 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 12 , wherein measured parameters are conveyed by wire or transmitted wirelessly to a receiving device, the receiving device comprising a processor for executing an algorithm responsive to the measured parameters for generating information indicating characteristics of the golf swing, wherein the information is presented numerically or visually. 
     
     
         14 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 13 , wherein wireless transmission comprises transmission according to a Bluetooth protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 13 , wherein the measured parameters comprise one or more of a length of swing arc, clubhead speed, angle of attack, smash factor, clubface orientation, golfer's body motions, swing velocity, shoulder plane angle, and impulse. 
     
     
         16 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 13 , wherein inputs to the algorithm comprise one or more of golf club type, loft of the golf club, golfer's age, height, and weight. 
     
     
         17 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , for maintaining a fixed radius from a center of a swing circle arc to a top surface of the golf club during a golf swing and for preventing golfer's wrists from misaligning the club face relative to the swing circle arc during the golf swing. 
     
     
         18 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein flexion and extension of a golfer's hand are prevented during a golf swing and radial deviation and ulnar deviation are allowed during a golf swing. 
     
     
         19 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises a butterfly chuck clamp. 
     
     
         20 . The golf swing trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises:
 a U-shaped clevis hinge having a first end rigidly affixed to the second terminal end of the rod, and an opposing second end comprising a U-shaped structure further comprising two parallel spaced apart arms and a rotatable pin extending between the two arms;   a region of a clamp attachment component disposed within the U-shaped region and the rotatable pin passing through the region of the clamp attachment component such that the clamp attachment component rotates freely about the pin;   a vise component comprising first and second moveable vise jaws and a manually operable component for moving the first and second jaws in a same direction or in an opposite direction, the vise component rigidly affixed to the clamp attachment component; and   the moveable jaws for receiving and locking to the golf club handle.