Golf Swing Training Aid

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a golf swing aid include a knee connector for connecting to a person's knee, a golf club connector for connecting to a golf club's grip that is gripped by the person, and a resilient connector for connecting the knee connector and the golf club connector. In an illustrative example, the resilient connector may be distendable to stretch under tension from an unstretched length to a stretched length to provide a force that opposes separation of the golf club connector and the knee connector beyond a predetermined distance based on the unstretched length of the resilient connector. In some examples, the golf swing training aid may provide a feel-based aid using feedback forces that may be a function of separation between the knee connector and the golf club connector during a dynamic movement of a swing to aid learning an improved golf swing.

1 . A golf swing training aid for teaching and improving a golf swing to contact a golf ball, the golf swing training aid comprising:
 a golf club grip coupling member arranged to be releasably attachable to a golf club grip;   a knee joint coupling member that fastens to a knee joint; and   a linkage member that connects with the golf club grip coupling member at one end and the knee joint coupling member at the opposite end,   wherein the linkage member is distendable to stretch under tension from an unstretched length to a stretched length to provide a force that opposes separation of the golf club grip coupling member and the knee joint coupling member beyond a predetermined distance based on the unstretched length of the linkage member.   
     
     
         2 . The golf swing training aid of  claim 1  wherein the force provided by the linkage member comprises resistance. 
     
     
         3 . The golf swing training aid of  claim 1  wherein the linkage member comprises rubber. 
     
     
         4 . A method of using a golf swing training aid, the method comprising:
 swinging a golf club to contact a golf ball in response to a force provided by a linkage member that connects with a golf club grip coupling member fastened to a golf club grip and a knee joint coupling member fastened to a leading knee,   wherein the linkage member provides the force when stretched under tension from an unstretched state to a stretched state while swinging of the golf club, and   wherein the force provided by the linkage member opposes separation of the golf club grip coupling member and the knee joint coupling member beyond a predetermined distance in excess of a length of the linkage member in the unstretched state.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the response comprises extending the grip away from the leading knee to prevent a narrow backswing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the force provided by the resilient connector in a backswing pulls the leading knee away from a golf ball. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the response comprises moving the leading knee during the transition between the backswing and the downswing. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the response comprises maintaining wrist hinge during the downswing. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the response comprises extending the arms while completing the follow through swing.