Golf swing training club

Abstract

A golf swing training club consisting of a club head, a length adjustable shaft, and a grip. A light source housed inside the grip projects, when illuminated, a highly focused beam of light outward from the top of the grip to track the player's swing plane. The light source, typically a diode laser module with power source, is removably secured within the grip by means of a collar and plug connector. Formed into the grip is a pressure sensitive switch which controls the light source. The light source is turned on whenever the grip is grasped and is turned off once the grip is released. A means for removably mounting training weights along the length of the shaft is also described.

The embodiments of the invention which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A golf swing training club, comprising: 
 a shaft;    a club head attached to one end of said shaft;    a grip formed around the other end of said shaft;    a light source housed within said grip that projects when illuminated a highly focused beam of light outward from the top of said grip in a direction co-linear with said shaft;    a pressure sensitive means to illuminate said light beam when said grip is grasped and extinguish said beam when said grasp is released;    whereby said focused beam serves to track the golf club's swing plane when said training club is grasped and swung.    
     
     
         2 . The golf swing training club of    claim 1    wherein said light source is a diode laser module with power source.  
     
     
         3 . The golf swing training club of    claim 1    wherein said light source is a modified laser pointer.  
     
     
         4 . The golf swing training club of    claim 1    wherein said light source is removably secured within said grip by means of a coupling device.  
     
     
         5 . The golf swing training club of    claim 4    wherein said coupling device comprises: 
 a collar which encircles the light emitting end of said light source;  
 a male plug connector which extends from the underside of said collar;  
 a female plug connector formed into the top of said grip to receive said mail plug connector and removably lock said light source within said grip.  
 
     
     
         6 . The golf swing training club of    claim 1    wherein said pressure sensitive means for illuminating and extinguishing said light beam is a depressable switch formed longitudinally within said grip.  
     
     
         7 . The golf swing training club of    claim 1    wherein said shaft is length adjustable.  
     
     
         8 . The golf swing training club of    claim 7    wherein said length adjustable shaft is comprised of a plurality of telescoped tubing having a locking means that releasably locks said tubing one within the other.  
     
     
         9 . The golf swing training club of    claim 8    wherein said locking means is comprised of holes formed in an outer section of said tubing which receive spring-loaded depressable clips that protrude from an inner section of said tubing.  
     
     
         10 . The golf swing training club of    claim 7    wherein said length adjustable shaft is comprised of an outer telescoped tube and an inner telescoped tube, two spring loaded depressable clips that protrude from opposing sides of said inner telescoped tube, and a plurality of hole sets of four holes each positioned radially 90 degrees relative to one another, said hole sets formed at regular intervals along the length of said outer telescoped tube to receive said depressable clips and lock the outer and inner tube relative to one another.  
     
     
         11 . The golf swing training club of    claim 1    further comprising a means and method for removably attaching training weights to said shaft.  
     
     
         12 . The golf swing training club of    claim 11    wherein said means and method for removably attaching training weights to said shaft comprises: 
 a rectangular shaped elastic envelope having one non-slip outside surface;  
 a means for attaching one end of said envelope to the other outside surface of said envelope;  
 a plurality of training weights sized to fit inside said tubular envelope;  
 wherein said training weights are inserted inside said envelope, said envelope is wrapped tightly around said club shaft with the non-slip surface facing said shaft, and the envelope is secured to itself by said attaching means.  
 
     
     
         13 . The golf swing training club of    claim 12    wherein said attaching means is velcro.  
     
     
         14 . A golf swing training club, comprising: 
 a length adjustable shaft;    a club head attached to one end of said shaft;    a grip formed around the other end of said shaft;    a light source housed within said grip that projects when illuminated a highly focused beam of light outward from the top of said grip in a direction co-linear with said shaft;    a light source illumination means;    whereby said focused beam serves to track the golf club's swing plane when said light source is illuminated and said training club is swung.    
     
     
         15 . The golf swing training club of    claim 14    wherein said length adjustable shaft is comprised of a plurality of telescoped tubing having a locking means that releasably locks said tubing one to the other.  
     
     
         16 . The golf swing training club of    claim 14    further comprising a means for removably attaching training weights to said shaft.  
     
     
         17 . A golf swing training club comprising: 
 a shaft;    a club head attached to one end of said shaft;    a grip formed around the other end of said shaft;    a means and method for removably attaching training weights to said shaft;    a light source housed within said grip that projects when illuminated a highly focused beam of light outward from the top of said grip in a direction co-linear with said shaft;    a light source activating means;    whereby said focused beam serves to track the golf club's swing plane when said light source is illuminated and said training club is swung.    
     
     
         18 . The golf swing training club of    claim 17    wherein said means and method for removably attaching training weight to said shaft comprises: 
 a rectangular shaped elastic envelope having one non-slip outside surface;  
 a means for attaching one end of said envelope to the other outside surface of said envelope;  
 a plurality of training weights sized to fit inside said tubular envelope;  
 wherein said training weights are inserted inside said envelope and said envelope is wrapped tightly around said club shaft with the non-slip surface facing said shaft and wherein said envelope is secured to itself by said attaching means.