# US 9,433,846 B2 · Golf training apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,846 B2 - Document ID: US9433846B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/827,260 - Filed: 2015-08-14 - Published: 2016-02-18 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-15 - Applicants: Charles E. Lynch; Eric R. Fox - Inventors: Charles E. Lynch; Eric R. Fox - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433846B2 ## CPC - A63B 69/36: for golf - A63B 69/3621: {Contacting or non-contacting mechanical means for guiding the swing} - A63B 69/3676: {for putting (A63B69/3608, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3697 take precedence)} - A63B 71/04: for small-room or indoor sporting games - A63B 2071/0655: {Tactile feedback} - A63B 2071/0694: {Visual indication, e.g. Indicia} - A63B 2208/0204: Standing on the feet - A63B 2210/50: Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A device that helps a golfer improve their swing by providing a track over which to swing the club, a strike plate which swivels to keep contact with the club as long as possible and a resistance to movement over the strike plate in the track so the player understands the weight transfer required in a golf swing. An embodiment includes a sled sliding on at least one rail with front and rear strike plates and a center resistance mechanism that provides adjustable resistance to the swing using pads to contact the rails. The user can set different ranges of resistance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A golf training apparatus comprising an elongated base with at least one fixed rail and a sliding sled portion that rides on the rail, the sled portion including at least one resistance pad that provides resistance against the rail as the sled portion moves, the sled portion also including a pair of separated upright strike plates that swivel through a predetermined angle about a pin, whereby a golfer can encounter one of the strike plates on a backswing and another of the strike plates on a foreswing moving the sled portion against the resistance pad. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The golf training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the resistance pad is configured to provide adjustable resistance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The golf training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the resistance pad is replaceable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The golf training apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment knob adapted to be adjusted from a first resistance to a second resistance, the second resistance being greater than the first resistance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The golf training apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a switch configured to choose an absolute value of the first and second resistance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The golf training apparatus of claim 4 wherein the resistance pad is raised against the rail by a spring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The golf training apparatus of claim 6 wherein the spring is adjusted in bias by the adjustment knob. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The golf training apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rail, sled and strike plates are aluminum. ### Claim 9 A golf training apparatus comprising: at least one horizontal elongated parallel rail mounted on a base; a sled configured to travel horizontally along said rail over the base fore and aft; a rear strike plate attached to a first end of the sled, the rear strike plate being a flat vertical plate member perpendicular to said rail and configured to swivel through a predetermined angle about a vertical axis; a front strike plate attached to a second end of the sled, the second strike plate also being a flat vertical plate member perpendicular to said rail and configured to swivel through the predetermined angle about the vertical axis; a resistance member located on said sled, the resistance member having at least one pad biased by a spring to make friction contact with of said rail providing an adjustable resistance to movement of the sled according to the spring bias; a control configured to adjust the spring bias between a first bias and a second bias, wherein the second bias is greater than the first bias. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The golf training apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a switch configured to offset the spring bias so the first and second bias is decreased or increased. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The golf training apparatus of claim 9 wherein the pad is biased by an adjustable spring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The golf training apparatus of claim 9 wherein the base, rail and sled are aluminum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The golf training apparatus of claim 9 wherein the pad is replaceable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The golf training apparatus of claim 9 including two pads and two springs. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The golf training apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a horizontal member in contact with the spring, wherein the horizontal bar is adjustable with a set screw to increase or decrease the spring bias. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The golf training apparatus of claim 15 wherein the set screw is rotated with the knob. ### Claim 17 A method of providing a golf training apparatus comprising: providing at least one horizontal elongated rail mounted on a base; providing a sled configured to travel horizontally along said rail over the base fore and aft; providing a rear strike plate attached to a first end of the sled, the rear strike plate being a flat vertical plate member perpendicular to said rail; providing a front strike plate attached to a second end of the sled, the front strike plate also being a flat vertical plate member perpendicular to said rail; providing a resistance member located on said sled between the front and rear strike plates, the resistance member having at least one pad biased by a spring to contact said rail providing an adjustable resistance to movement of the sled according to the spring bias; providing a control configured to adjust the spring bias between a first bias and a second bias, wherein the second bias is greater than the first bias. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 comprising providing two pads and two springs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising providing a horizontal member in contact with the spring, wherein the horizontal bar is adjustable with a set screw to increase or decrease the spring bias.