Golf Training Club and Training Systems

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/572,004 filed on 29 Mar. 2024, which application is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The disclosure relates to golf training clubs, golf training systems and related components including golf club shafts, grips, clubheads, and the like.

The game of golf provides an activity with enduring worldwide popularity and appeal. While extremely accessible to new players of all ages and abilities in its simplest form, the highly complex and technical nature of higher levels of performance in the sport can be prohibitive, particularly for young children who can develop poor habits or become frustrated when first learning the game. In particular, young children may experience frustration due to the difficulty of hitting a relatively small ball with the relatively small face of a golf club.

Modern golf clubs often feature advanced materials and design innovations that match the complexity and precision desired in the modern golf swing. Unfortunately, despite advancements in the game for older youth and adults, golf clubs made for children are generally made without consideration to physiological and biomechanical differences between children and adults other than size.

Current golf club options for young children being introduced to the game can generally be summarized into three categories: cheap, generally plastic, toys that only vaguely resemble the shape of actual golf clubs without any consideration to weight and feel; scaled-down versions of existing adult clubs that are awkward and difficult for young children to use; and overpriced gimmicks that fail to provide a comfortable swing and a high hit rate. These limited options too often leave enthusiastic young children uncomfortable and frustrated, especially due to the difficulty in successfully striking the ball with known clubs.

Because of these known challenges, many parents and instructors are limited in their ability to train young children to play and must either force a young child through their discomfort and frustration or limit and oversimplify instruction until the child is older. This means that young children lose the benefits of training at an early age, when enthusiasm and developmental ability may be at their highest.

Accordingly, there remains a need for golf training systems that can provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for young children that better reflects the eventual experience as a youth or adult player. In particular, there is a need for a golf club for young children that enables a high hit rate while providing the child with the relative feeling of a desired adult swing.

Embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously provide golf training systems that make it easier and more enjoyable for children and others to learn the sport of golf. Embodiments of the present disclosure may advantageously provide a golf club for young children that delivers an improved feel and a greater ability to hit a ball. In an embodiment, a golf training system includes a golf club comprising a shaft, a grip portion attached at one end, and a clubhead attached at the other end which is oversized relative to known driver heads. In varying embodiments, the clubhead may have a volume from about 1100 cmto about 1400 cm. The clubhead can comprise a driver clubhead or other golf head. In other embodiments, the clubhead can be oversized relative to a length of the shaft in comparison to standard golf clubs. For example, the golf club can include a larger clubhead and relatively short shaft, improving usability for smaller users and children.

The clubhead can include a top surface comprising a crown, a bottom part comprising a sole, a face configured to make contact with the ball, a hosel that connects the clubhead to a shaft, and skirt comprising a rear portion that can wrap around from the sole to the crown. The clubhead can be formed of metal, plastic, or any other suitable material. In a preferred embodiment, the clubhead may comprise a thermoplastic polymer, such as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). The clubhead can be reinforced or constructed to accommodate the impact and swing forces generated due to the oversized configuration of the clubhead relative to the shaft. For instance, the connection between the clubhead and the shaft can include additional and/or stronger materials at or near the hosel or the skirt to help distribute weight within the clubhead and/or reduce the likelihood of the clubhead from breaking off the shaft during a golf swing. By way of another example, the clubhead can be configured with certain angles along the sole and/or the face to help the swinging motion of the clubhead feel more natural and/or improve aerodynamics.

The shaft may have a length from about 22 in to about 30 in, more particularly about 22 in, about 26 in, or about 30 in. The shaft may be formed of carbon fiber or a similar material.

According to an embodiment, a golf club may have a total club mass from about 247 g to about 297 g, a swing weight from about 1500 to about 1700 gram-inches, a clubhead mass from about 180 g to about 205 g, a clubhead volume from about 1100 cmto about 1400 cm, a shaft mass from about 29 g to about 46 g, a shaft length from about 22 in to about 30 in, a grip mass from about 38 g to about 46 g, a total club length from about 26 in to about 36 in, and a club balance point located from about 18 in to about 26 in from a butt end, or any combination thereof. In various embodiments the clubhead may have a width of about 7 in and a height of about 4 in.

According to another embodiment, a golf club 100 may be provided with particular advantages for a young child between the ages of two and six years of age, the golf club 100 having a total club mass from about 252 g to about 281 g, a clubhead mass from about 180 g to about 205 g, a clubhead volume from about 1100 cmto about 1400 cm, a shaft mass from about 28.5 g to about 30.5 g, a shaft length from about 21.5 in to about 22.5 in, a grip mass from about 43.5 g to about 45.5 g, a total club length from about 26 in to about 28 in, and a club balance point located from about 19 and 9/16 in to about 20 and 9/16 in from a butt portion, or any combination thereof.

According to another embodiment, a golf club 100 may be provided with particular advantages for a young child between the ages of six and nine years of age, the golf club 100 having a total club mass from about 251 g to about 280 g, a clubhead mass from about 180 g to about 205 g, a clubhead volume from about 1100 cmto about 1400 cm, a shaft mass from about 31.5 g to about 33.5 g, a shaft length from about 25 in to about 27 in, a grip mass from about 39.5 g to about 41.5 g, a total club length from about 30 in to about 32 in, and a club balance point located from about 22 and ⅝ in to about 23 and ⅝ in from a butt portion, or any combination thereof.

According to another embodiment, a golf club 100 may be provided with particular advantages for a young child of ten years old or older, the golf club 100 having a total club mass from about 253 g to about 282 g, a clubhead mass from about 180 g to about 205 g, a clubhead volume from about 1100 cmto about 1400 cm, a shaft mass from about 35 g to about 37 g, a shaft length from about 29.5 in to about 31.5 in, a grip mass from about 39.5 g to about 41.5 g, a total club length from about 32 in to about 36 in, and a club balance point located from about 24 and ⅜ in to about 25 and ⅜ in from a butt portion, or any combination thereof.

In an embodiment, a golf club may include a grip having a plurality of protruding elements for assisting in alignment of a player's hands on the grip. Each of the protruding elements may form a V-shape in a direction parallel to the longitudinal dimension of the golf club, for assisting in maintaining a consistent, desired alignment of a players hands when gripping the golf club.

A training glove may be provided according to the disclosure to assist young children in developing a proper grip and improving swing mechanics through strategically placed visual and tactile alignment marks. An alignment system may be provided on the glove including a series of contrasting marks, ridges, and/or printed guides positioned on the fingers, knuckles and/or palm for identifying when the hand properly grips the club “at address,” referring to a position a golfer takes just before starting a swing.

In an embodiment of a golf training system according to the disclosure, a kit may be provided including a training glove provided with tactile alignment indicators and a golf club having a grip provided with protruding elements. In this manner, a desired alignment between the training glove and the grip may be more easily felt, maintained and repeated.

The disclosed embodiments advantageously realize an improved golf club and related systems for young children newly introduced to the game of golf, due to at least one or more of the unique oversized clubhead of the golf club, the unique swing weight of the golf club, and the unique weight distribution of the golf club. Further, the use of alignment indicators of the grip and the glove enables more effective training of golf for players.

Embodiments may include configuration of a ratio of a distance between a club balance point and a butt portion of a grip to a total club length and/or a ratio of a total club mass to a distance between a club balance point and a butt portion of the grip, advantageously improving a feel of the golf club for young children relative to known golf clubs. According to varying embodiments, a ratio of a distance between the club balance point and the butt portion of the grip to the total club length may be between 0.72 and 0.76 and/or a ratio of the total club mass to the distance between the club balance point and the butt portion of the grip is in a range of 11 to 13.

The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, but instead are drawn to provide a better understanding of the components, and are not intended to be limiting in scope, but to provide exemplary illustrations. The figures illustrate exemplary configurations of improved an golf club, golf training gloves and related training systems, and in no way limit the structures or configurations of the golf club, golf training gloves and related training systems according to the present disclosure.

A better understanding of different embodiments of the disclosure may be had from the following description read with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like elements.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments are in the drawings and are described below. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention covers all modifications, alternative constructions, combinations, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The dimensions, angles, and curvatures represented in the figures introduced above are to be understood as exemplary and are not necessarily shown in proportion.

It will be understood that unless a term is expressly defined in this application to possess a described meaning, there is no intent to limit the meaning of such term, either expressly or indirectly, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Although a number of methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present disclosure, the preferred materials and methods are described herein.

It is to be noticed that the term “comprising,” which is synonymous with “including,” “containing,” “having” or “characterized by,” should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other or additional, unrecited elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present disclosure, the relevant components of the device are A and B.

It will be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “one aspect,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term “embodiment” or “aspect” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments disclosed herein. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in one aspect,” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, various features of the disclosure are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this disclosure.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some, but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the disclosure, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously provide golf training systems that make it easier and more enjoyable for children and others to learn the sport of golf. Embodiments of the present disclosure may advantageously provide a golf club for young children that delivers an improved feel and a greater ability to hit a ball. In an embodiment, a golf training system includes a golf club comprising a shaft, a grip portion attached at one end, and a clubhead attached at the other end which is oversized relative to known driver heads. The clubhead can comprise a driver clubhead or other golf head. In other embodiments, the clubhead can be oversized relative to a length of the shaft in comparison to standard golf clubs. For example, the golf club can include a larger clubhead and relatively short shaft, improving usability for smaller users and children.

As an illustrative example of the foregoing,depicts an improved golf clubdesigned for enhancing control, performance and training for young children as disclosed herein, comprising a clubhead, a shaft, and a grip.

The clubheadcan include a top surface comprising a crown, a bottom part comprising a sole, a facedelimited by a generally planar front surface configured to make contact with a ball, a hoselthat connects the clubheadto the shaft, and a skirtcomprising a rear portion that can wrap around from the soleto the crown. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that even though the faceis referred to as having a front surface that is generally planar, in one or more aspects of the disclosure the front surface may possess parameters of bulge and roll, customary in a driver-type club. The clubheadcan be formed of metal, plastic, or any other suitable material, preferably a thermoplastic polymer, more preferably High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).

Together with a volume from about 1100 cmto about 1400 cm, the clubheadaccording to various embodiments may have a clubhead mass from about 180 g to about 205 g, more particularly from about 185 g to about 200 g.

According to varying embodiments, the clubheadis significantly oversized relative to known golf clubs, the clubheadhaving a volume from about 1100 cmto about 1400 cm. This volume may be five times a volume of known youth clubheads. The increased volume of the clubheadprovides an unexpected improvement and advantage over conventional golf clubs when used by young children, providing a more comfortable swing and an increased ability to hit a ball while surprisingly allowing young children to train more advanced aspects of their golf swing, better preparing them for the complexities of golfing as an adult.

Notably, the volume of the clubhead of a golf club according to the current disclosure is significantly higher than in existing golf clubs, for example as evidenced in the United States Golf Association (USGA) Rules of Golf limiting a volume of a clubhead to 460 cm. While a slight increase over the mandated 460 cmmay be considered an advantage due to a potential for lessening the effects of a bad swing or poor contact with the ball, larger increases in volume have never been seriously considered due to expected drawbacks in aerodynamics, maneuverability, and shot control. A larger clubhead creates more air resistance, which can slow down a player's swing and reduce overall efficiency and can also make it harder to shape shots or adjust ball flight.

Even more significant, perceived effects on weight distribution and club balance have presented a strong motivation to avoid increases in clubhead volume over the mandated 460 cm. A larger clubhead requires weight redistribution in ways that affect consistency in ball striking and can negatively affect an adult player's biomechanics in a golf swing. Additionally, increases in clubhead volume have historically been paired with longer shafts to maintain swing weight, which can make it harder to consistently hit the center of the clubface.

The clubheadcan be reinforced or constructed to accommodate the impact and swing forces generated due to the oversized configuration of the clubheadrelative to the shaft. For instance, the connection between the clubheadand the shaftcan include additional and/or stronger materials at or near the hoselor the skirtto help distribute weight within the clubheadand/or reduce the likelihood of the clubheadbreaking off the shaft during a golf swing. By way of another example, the clubheadcan be configured with certain angles along the soleand/or the faceto help the swinging motion of the clubheadfeel more natural and/or improve aerodynamics. According to various embodiments, the clubheadmay be configured to have a center of gravity just below an equator of a golf ball when tee'd up. The location of the center of gravity promotes loft and minimizes spin to effectively achieve the best carry distance on the shot.

As shown in the illustration of, the clubheadmay include a representationof a standard size clubhead on the face. The representation of the standard size clubhead may be provided as a training feature, such that children may practice hitting with the goal of striking the ball on the representation. In like manner, a child's swing may be evaluated based on an ability to hit the ball at a desired point in the representation. When a child can consistently hit a ball with the representation, the child may consider transitioning to a conventional golf club.

Embodiments of a golf club according to the current disclosure further include a weight distribution that is uniquely and surprisingly advantageous for young children.

The swing weight of a golf club is a critical parameter that influences the feel, performance, and overall dynamics of the club during a player's swing. It refers to the perceived weight of the clubhead in relation to the entire length of the club, focusing on how the club balances when held and swung by the golfer. Swing weight is distinct from the total weight of the club, as it takes into account the distribution of mass along the shaft and clubhead, as well as the position of the clubhead in relation to the balance point. The location of the balance point, along with the amount of mass near the clubhead relative to the grip and shaft, dictates the swing weight value.

On the standard scale, swing weight is expressed in terms of both a letter (indicating the relative weight class) and a number (indicating the precise weight within that class), typically ranging from C (light) to E (heavy), with increments often specified in numerical values such as D0, D2, or C9. This scale provides an indication of how heavy or light the clubhead feels during the swing. The importance of swing weight is twofold: it influences how the golfer perceives the club's feel during the swing and how the club performs in terms of control, power, and consistency.

As illustrated in, a golf clubaccording to the current disclosure is provided comprising a shaft, having a tip endand a butt end, and a grip, having a butt portion. The shaftdefines a shaft length, measured from the tip endto the butt end, from about 22 in to about 28 in. A clubheadof the golf clubincludes a heelcomprising a portion of the clubhead that is closest to the hosel, where the shaftconnects to the clubhead. The golf clubdefines a total club length, measured from the heelto the butt portionof the grip, from about 26 in to about 36 in.

The shaft may be formed of carbon fiber or a similar material configured to provided both flexibility and strength to the golf club.

The golf clubmay have a clubhead mass from about 180 g to about 205 g, a clubhead volume from about 1100 cmto about 1400 cm, a shaft mass from about 29 g to about 46 g, a grip mass from about 38 g to about 46 g, a total club mass from about 247 g to about 297 g, a club balance point located from about 18 in to about 26 in measured from the butt portion, a total club length from about 26 in to about 36 in, and a swing weight from about 1500 to about 1700 gram-inches.

As would be noted by one of ordinary skill in the art, the swing weight of 1500 to 1700 gram-inches falls entirely outside of the standard swing weight scale and so would generally not be considered as a suitable swing weight for a golf club according to conventional understanding. However, the described swing weight has surprisingly been found to give young children the impression of a lighter golf club. In combination with an oversized clubheadas described previously, the golf clubenables an improved training golf club for young children that allows them to enjoy features of the game that would otherwise be inaccessible.

In various embodiments of the disclosure, a golf clubis provided wherein a ratio of a distance between the club balance point and the butt portion of the grip to the total club length is less than 0.76, in particular between 0.72 and 0.76. The position of the club balance point in relation to the overall length is unique relative to conventional clubs and provides an improved feel and swing for young children.

In various embodiments of the disclosure, a golf clubis provided wherein a ratio of the total club mass to the distance between the club balance point and the butt portion of the grip is in a range of 11 to 13. The position of the club balance point in relation to the overall mass is unique relative to conventional clubs and provides an improved feel and swing for young children.

According to an embodiment, a golf clubmay have a total club mass from about 247 g to about 297 g, a swing weight from about 1500 to about 1700 gram-inches, a clubhead mass from about 180 g to about 205 g, a clubhead volume from about 1100 cmto about 1400 cm, a shaft mass from about 29 g to about 46 g, a shaft length from about 22 in to about 28 in, a grip mass from about 38 g to about 46 g, a total club length from about 26 in to about 36 in, and a club balance point located from about 18 in to about 26 in from a butt end, or any combination thereof. In various embodiments the clubhead may have a width of about 7 in and a height of about 4 in. A surface area of a facemay be in a range of 10 into 20 in.

According to another embodiment, a golf clubmay be provided with particular advantages for a young child between the ages of two and six years of age, the golf clubhaving a total club mass from about 252 g to about 281 g, a clubhead mass from about 180 g to about 205 g, a clubhead volume from about 1100 cmto about 1400 cm, a shaft mass from about 28.5 g to about 30.5 g, a shaft length from about 21.5 in to about 22.5 in, a grip mass from about 43.5 g to about 45.5 g, a total club length from about 26 in to about 28 in, and a club balance point located from about 19 and 9/16 in to about 20 and 9/16 in from a butt portion, or any combination thereof.

According to another embodiment, a golf clubmay be provided with particular advantages for a young child between the ages of six and nine years of age, the golf clubhaving a total club mass from about 251 g to about 280 g, a clubhead mass from about 180 g to about 205 g, a clubhead volume from about 1100 cmto about 1400 cm, a shaft mass from about 31.5 g to about 33.5 g, a shaft length from about 25 in to about 27 in, a grip mass from about 39.5 g to about 41.5 g, a total club length from about 30 in to about 32 in, and a club balance point located from about 22 and ⅝ in to about 23 and ⅝ in from a butt portion, or any combination thereof.