Training device for golf swing and similar motions

A training device for use in guiding and coordinating a user's body position and lateral, vertical, and rotational movement when executing a golf swing, the golf swing including a back swing, a down swing, and a follow through, the golf swing being conducted relative to a target line that extends generally horizontally from a golf ball position to an intended target, the device comprising:

• a yoke for engaging the upper torso of the user, the yoke including an attachment point for being positioned above and intermediate the user's shoulders;
• a rotatable member having an end connected to the attachment point of the yoke and having an axis of rotation lying within a first plane that is generally parallel to the target line;
• a first actuator attached to the rotatable member for monitoring the movement of the upper torso of the user during the golf swing, and for applying a resistance force to the upper torso to guide the user in moving the upper torso in a desired manner;
• a guide assembly for maintaining the orientation of the rotatable member such that a first angle between the first plane and a generally horizontal plane that contains the target line and a second angle between the axis of rotation of the rotatable member and a line of intersection between the first plane and the generally horizontal plane both remain constant while the rotatable member simultaneously rotates and moves laterally generally parallel to the target line away from the target and toward the generally horizontal plane as the user executes the back swing and counter-rotates and moves laterally generally parallel to the target line toward the target and away from the generally horizontal plane as the user executes the down swing and the follow through;
• and
• a control unit connected to the first actuator for recording the movement monitored by the actuator and for operating the actuator to apply the resistance force.