Golf aid and related methods of use

Abstract

The golf aid disclosed herein includes a shell of rigid construction that engages the portion of the arm including distal posterior portions of a forearm, posterior portions of a wrist, and a back of a hand proximal to knuckles while leaving a palm and a thumb exposed. The shell is configured to control a wrist throughout a golf stroke by maintaining the wrist in a neutral position to prevent flexion and extension of the wrist during a golf stoke. Related methods of use of the golf aid may include wrapping a material about a portion of an arm and allowing the material wrapped about the portion of the arm to transform into the rigid state while gripping a golf club and maintaining the distal portions of the forearm, the wrist, the hand, and the golf club in alignment. The methods may include the step of maintaining the wrist in a neutral position thereby preventing flexion and extension of the wrist by engaging the shell with the arm while performing a golf stroke.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf aid, comprising:
 a shell of rigid construction, the shell defining a shell interior, the shell further defining a gap configured to insertably receive therethrough a portion of an arm distal of an elbow into the shell interior, the shell thereby engaging the portion of the arm with a palm and a thumb exposed to control a wrist throughout a golf stroke, the portion of the arm comprising distal posterior portions of a forearm, posterior portions of a wrist, and a back of a hand proximal to knuckles;   a strap disposed about an exterior of the shell and securable to the shell while avoiding contact with the palm and thumb to secure the shell about the portion of the arm;   and wherein the shell maintains the wrist in a neutral position to prevent flexion and extension of the wrist during a golf stoke.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is configured as the lead arm. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is configured as the trail arm. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second shell of rigid construction, the second shell defining a second shell interior, the second shell further defining a second gap to insertably receive therethrough a portion of another arm distal of another elbow into the second shell interior, the second shell thereby engaging the portion of the other arm to control the wrist throughout the golf stroke.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell of rigid construction comprises a material transformable from a compliant state to a rigid state, the material of the shell of rigid construction being in the rigid state. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the material transforms from the compliant state to the rigid state upon exposure to air. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shell is custom molded and comprised of a material transformable from a compliant state to a rigid state. 
     
     
         8 . A golf aid, comprising:
 means for engaging a portion of an arm; and   means for securing the shell about the portion of the arm.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 means for engaging another portion of another arm.   
     
     
         10 . A method of use of a golf aid, comprising the steps of:
 activating a material in a compliant state thereby transforming the material from the compliant state to a rigid state;   wrapping the material about a portion of an arm while the material is activated and compliant, the portion of the arm being distal of an elbow and the portion of the arm comprising distal posterior portions of a forearm, posterior portions of a wrist, and a back of a hand proximal to knuckles and leaving a palm and a thumb exposed and unencumbered;   forming a shell by allowing the material wrapped about the portion of the arm to transform into the rigid state while gripping a golf club and maintaining the distal portions of the forearm, the wrist, the hand, and the golf club in alignment with the wrist in a neutral position; and   maintaining the wrist in the neutral position thereby preventing flexion and extension of the wrist by engagement of the shell with the arm while performing a golf stroke.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of:
 maintaining another wrist of another arm in the neutral position thereby preventing flexion and extension of the other wrist by engagement of another shell with the other arm while performing the golf stroke;   and wherein the other shell is formed about the other arm by the steps of activating, wrapping, and forming.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a club face is oriented perpendicular to a stroke by performing the step of maintaining the wrist in a neutral position.