Golf swing training template

#This invention relates generally to instructional sports equipment and, more specifically, to a golf swing instructional tool.

#Golf is a difficult sport in which slight swing errors can produce wildly undesirable results. Unfortunately, golfers do not always know the manner in which their swing deviated from the ideal. In an attempt to develop a better swing, many golfers turn to the countless books and other publications offering swing advice. Other golfers try some of the many gadgets that are intended to physically force or limit a golfer's swing to certain paths of motion in an attempt to develop a consistent swing. Neither written materials nor physical gadgets are able to provide the necessary feedback to allow a golfer to develop a consistent golf swing.

#It is virtually impossible to develop a good swing solely by reading written coaching materials. The written text, even if accompanied by illustrations, does not provide a proper visual guide for replicating a desired golf swing when actually playing golf. The text of an article also does not allow golfers to actually experience what a proper swing feels like because there are no indicators to tell the golfers whether they are making the proper swing. Because learning a proper golf shot is largely an issue of developing the proper muscle memorization through repetition, an inability to feel a correct swing while training defeats the training. Worse yet, the muscles may actually train themselves to swing improperly because golfers repeatedly practice poor swings without knowing it.

#The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a top view of a golf swing training template;

#FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a foot and ball position reference guide portion of a preferred golf swing training template;

#The present invention provides a system and method for developing a golf swing for a variety of desired ball paths. The preferred embodiment focuses on four aspects of the golf swing: Club Path, Target Line, Club-face-angle, and Club Head Impact. With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a portable golf swing template 20 including club path indicator 22 used to illustrate the proper club path for a specific shot; a club face angle guide 24 used to indicate the angle of the club face at impact with a ball centered at a tee bore 52; and a swing reference guide used to reference the proper club path and club face angle to achieve the desired ball path or to assist in determining the club path and face angle that produced an observed ball flight. The structure and operation of the template 20 is described in more particularity below.

#FIG. 1 depicts the golf swing template 20. For ease of discussion, only the right-hand version is disclosed, however, a left-hand version, with reversed graphics, is within the scope of this invention. Likewise, a single template may include right-hand graphics on one side and left-hand graphics on the other.

#A handle 54 is provided so that an individual may easily carry the template 20 by the handle 54. Preferably, the handle is comprised of an opening at an outer edge of the template that is sized and shaped to accommodate a hand. While a single handle is preferred, multiple handles may be included. Likewise, other forms of handles such as finger holes or attached handles rather than holes are possible.