Golf club swing training aid

Abstract

A golf training aid comprising an alignment band which is attached to a pair of spaced apart mounting points to establish a straight baseline, a first tension member one end of which is attached to one of the mounting points and a second tension member one end of which is attached to the other of the mounting points, the other ends of the tension members being secured to the head of a golf club; the tension members urging the head of the golf club into alignment with the baseline established by the alignment band to enable a golfer to practice the proper movement of various golf strokes against tension while discerning and maintaining the alignment of the selected hitting area of the head of his club with the desired path of movement. The mounting points may be defined by mounting bases provided with a top recess for receiving a chair leg and/or with an aperture through the bottom through which a peg may be extended into the ground. The mounting bases may screw together to form a container for the device when not in use. Bands with different elastic moduli may be used as the first and second tension members.

We claim: 
     
       1. A golf training aid consisting of: alignment band means;   means for attaching one end of said alignment band means to one of a pair of spaced apart mounting points and the other end of said alignment band means to the other of said mounting points to establish a straight baseline;   a first tension member;   means for securing one end of said first tension member to the head of a golf club;   means for attaching the other end of said first tension member to one of said spaced mounting points;   a second tension member;   means for securing one end of said second tension member to said golf club head;   means for attaching the other end of said second tension member to the other of said spaced mounting points; and   said first and second tension members urging said golf club head into alignment with the baseline established by said alignment band means.   
     
     
       2. A golf training aid comprising: alignment band means;   means for attaching one end of said alignment band means to one of a pair of spaced apart mounting points and the other end of said alignment band means to the other of said mounting points to establish a straight baseline;   a first tension member;   means for securing one end of said first tension member to the head of a golf club;   means for attaching the other end of said first tension member to one of said spaced mounting points;   a second tension member;   means for securing one end of said second tension member to said golf club head;   means for attaching the other end of said second tension member to the other of said spaced mounting points;   said first and second tension members urging said golf club head into alignment with a baseline established by said alignment band means; and   said alignment band means being free from protuberances which would interfere with a proper stroke of a golf club when the head of such club is secured to said tension members.   
     
     
       3. A golf training aid comprising: alignment band means;   means for attaching one end of said alignment band means to one of a pair of spaced apart mounting points and the other end of said alignment band means to the other of said mounting points to establish a straight baseline;   a first tension member;   means for securing one end of said first tension member to the head of a golf club;   means for attaching the other end of said first tension member to one of said spaced mounting points;   a second tension member;   means for securing one end of said second tension member to said golf club head;   means for attaching the other end of said second tension member to the other of said spaced mounting points;   said first and second tension members urging said golf club head into alignment with a baseline established by said alignment band means, and   said means for securing said tension members to a golf club head comprising an open loop adapted to receive the head of a golf club therethrough.   
     
     
       4. A golf training aid comprising: alignment band means;   means for attaching one end of said alignment band means to one of a pair of spaced apart mounting points and the other end of said alignment band means to the other of said mounting points to establish a straight baseline;   a first tension member;   means for securing one end of said first tension member to the head of a golf club;   means for attaching the other end of said first tension member to one of said spaced mounting points;   a second tension member;   means for securing one end of said second tension member to said golf club head;   means for attaching the other end of said second tension member to the other of said spaced mounting points;   said first and second tension members urging said golf club head into alignment with a baseline established by said alignment band means, and   said first and second tension members having different elastic moduli.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said alignment band means comprises an elastic band. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 further comprising a pair of mounting bases for establishing said mounting points. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each mounting base is provided with an aperture through the bottom wall thereof through which a peg may be inserted into the ground to fix the position of the mounting base. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said mounting bases may be joined to each other when the apparatus is not in use and form a container when joined in which the alignment band means and said first and second tension members may be stored. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each mounting base is provided with a recess in the top thereof adapted to receive a chair leg to fix the position of the mounting base. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said tension members comprise bands of natural or synthetic rubber. 
     
     
       11. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein said means for securing the tension members to said gold club head comprise means for forming adjustable loops which may be placed around said golf club head. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 4 wherein said attaching means comprise loops formed in the ends of said alignment band and tension members. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the sum of the lengths of said first and second tension members is substantially equal to the length of said alignment band means. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said first and second tension members are joined to each other to form a unitary, integral article. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said first and second tension members are adapted to be secured to said golf club head in alignment with a selected hitting area on said golf club head. .Iadd. 
     
     
       16.  An athletic training aid consisting of: an athletic implement for hitting game balls;   alignment band means;   means for attaching one end of said alignment band means to one of a pair of spaced apart mounting points and the other end of said alignment band means to the other of said mounting points to establish a straight baseline;   a first tension member;   means for securing one end of said first tension member to said implement;   means for attaching the other end of said first tension member to one of said spaced mounting points;   a second tension member;   means for securing one end of said second tension member to said implement;   means for attaching the other end of said second tension member to the other of said spaced mounting points; and   said first and second tension members urging said implement into alignment with the baseline established by said alignment band means during an athletic maneuver. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. An athletic training aid comprising:   an athletic implement for hitting game balls;   alignment band means;   means for attaching one end of said alignment band means to one of a pair of spaced apart mounting points and the other end of said alignment band means to the other of said mounting points to establish a straight baseline;   a first tension member;   means for securing one end of said first tension member to said implement;   means for attaching the other end of said first tension member to one of said spaced mounting points;   a second tension member;   means for securing one end of said second tension member to said implement;   means for attaching the other end of said second tension member to the other of said spaced mounting points;   said first and second tension members urging said implement into alignment with a baseline established by said alignment band means during an athletic maneuver; and   said alignment band means being free from protuberances which would interfere with a proper movement of said implement when said implement is   
     
     
        secured to said tension members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18.  An athletic training aid comprising: an athletic implement for hitting game balls;   alignment band means;   means for attaching one end of said alignment band means to one of a pair of spaced apart mounting points and the other end of said alignment band means to the other of said mounting points to establish a straight baseline;   a first tension member;   means for securing one end of said first tension member to said implement;   means for attaching the other end of said first tension member to one of said spaced mounting points;   a second tension member;   means for securing one end of said second tension member to said implement;   means for attaching the other end of said second tension member to the other of said spaced mounting points;   said first and second tension members urging said implement into alignment with a baseline established by said alignment band means during an athletic maneuver; and   said means for securing said tension members to said implement comprising   
     
     
        an open loop adapted to receive the implement. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  An athletic training aid comprising: an athletic implement for hitting game balls;   alignment band means;   means for attaching one end of said alignment band means to one of a pair of spaced apart mounting points and the other end of said alignment band means to the other of said mounting points to establish a straight baseline;   a first tension member;   means for securing one end of said first tension member to said implement;   means for attaching the other end of said first tension member to one of said spaced mounting points;   a second tension member;   means for securing one end of said second tension member to said implement;   means for attaching the other end of said second tension member to the other of said spaced mounting points;   said first and second tension members urging said implement into alignment with a baseline established by said alignment band means during an athletic maneuver; and   said first and second tension members having different elastic moduli.   
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.20.  Apparatus according to claim 16, 17, 18 or 19, wherein said alignment band means comprises an elastic band..Iaddend. .Iadd.21. Apparatus according to claim 16, 17, 18 or 19 further comprising a pair of mounting bases for establishing said mounting points. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each mounting base is provided with an aperture through the bottom wall thereof through which a peg may be inserted into the ground to fix the position of the mounting base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said mounting bases may be joined to each other when the apparatus is not in use and form a container when joined in which the alignment band means and 
     
     
        said first and second tension members may be stored. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein each mounting base is provided with a recess in the top thereof adapted to receive a chair leg to fix the position of the mounting base. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. Apparatus according to claim 16, 17, 18 or 19, wherein said tension members comprise bands of natural or synthetic rubber. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. Apparatus according to claim 16, 17, 18 or 19, wherein said means for securing the tension members to said element comprise means for forming adjustable loops which may be placed around said implement. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. Apparatus according to claim 16, 17, 18 or 19, wherein said attaching means comprise loops formed in the ends of said alignment band and tension members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. Apparatus according to claim 16, 17, 18 or 19, wherein the sum of lengths of said first and second tension members is substantially equal to the length of said alignment band means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. Apparatus according to claim 16, 17, 18 or 19, wherein said first and second tension members are joined to each other to form a unitary, integral article. .Iaddend.