GOLFER'S WRIST ATTACHMENT
United States Patent 3700245
A golfer's wrist attachment to restrain the wrist of the hand which is lower most on a golf club shaft in a cocked position during the entire golf swing. The attachment includes a one-piece semi-rigid member having a first portion which is secured to the forearm and a second portion which overlies the back of the hand and is secured thereto. The angular relationship between said portions is such that the golfer's wrist is always maintained in the cocked position which is normally assumed only at the top of the backswing.
US Patent References:
Wrist support
Hansard - October 1923 - 1469315
Wrist lock apparatus
Muehl - September 1968 - 3400934
GOLFING AID
Cox - January 1969 - 3423095
Wrist support
Hansard - October 1923 - 1469315
Wrist lock apparatus
Muehl - September 1968 - 3400934
GOLFING AID
Cox - January 1969 - 3423095
Application Number:
05/215124
Publication Date:
10/24/1972
Filing Date:
01/03/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
International Classes:
A63B69/00; A63B71/14; A63B69/36; A63B71/08; A63B69/36
Field of Search:
273/188,189,190,183,54
Primary Examiner:
Marlo, George J.
Parent Case Data:
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 14,442, filed Feb. 26, 1970, now abandoned.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. An attachment for the golfer's hand and forearm which is positioned lowermost when gripping a golf club comprising a one piece semi-rigid member with a first portion adapted to extend along the forearm and a second portion adapted to extend over the back of the hand, means for securing said semi-rigid member to said forearm and hand, a layer of cushioning material secured to said member for spacing said semi-rigid member from said forearm and back of said hand when secured thereto, said semi-rigid member having an angle of approximately 125° between said portions thereof and additionally having a rotated relation of approximately 15° between said portions thereof so that, throughout the entire golfing swing, a golfer's wrist may be retained in the cocked position normally assumed by the wrist of the lowermost gripping hand at the top of the golfing backswing.
2. A method of executing a swing in the process of playing a golf game using a golf club with a shaft, including the steps of securing a wrist attachment to one arm, said attachment having a one piece semi-rigid member with a portion extending along the forearm and a portion extending over the back of the hand, said attachment further including means to secure said portions to the one arm and hand, placing the hand of the one arm lowermost on the club shaft and the other hand uppermost on said shaft with the fingers of both hands encircling the shaft, said semi-rigid member having a given angle between said portions thereof and additionally having a rotated relation between said portions thereof establishing a rotational twist of the hand with respect to forearm, with said given angle and said rotated relation selected to retain the forearm and hand substantially in the same cocked position normally assumed at the top of the golf backswing, executing a backswing and downswing for striking a golf ball with the one hand maintained in said cocked condition throughout the entire golf swing.
1. An attachment for the golfer's hand and forearm which is positioned lowermost when gripping a golf club comprising a one piece semi-rigid member with a first portion adapted to extend along the forearm and a second portion adapted to extend over the back of the hand, means for securing said semi-rigid member to said forearm and hand, a layer of cushioning material secured to said member for spacing said semi-rigid member from said forearm and back of said hand when secured thereto, said semi-rigid member having an angle of approximately 125° between said portions thereof and additionally having a rotated relation of approximately 15° between said portions thereof so that, throughout the entire golfing swing, a golfer's wrist may be retained in the cocked position normally assumed by the wrist of the lowermost gripping hand at the top of the golfing backswing.
2. A method of executing a swing in the process of playing a golf game using a golf club with a shaft, including the steps of securing a wrist attachment to one arm, said attachment having a one piece semi-rigid member with a portion extending along the forearm and a portion extending over the back of the hand, said attachment further including means to secure said portions to the one arm and hand, placing the hand of the one arm lowermost on the club shaft and the other hand uppermost on said shaft with the fingers of both hands encircling the shaft, said semi-rigid member having a given angle between said portions thereof and additionally having a rotated relation between said portions thereof establishing a rotational twist of the hand with respect to forearm, with said given angle and said rotated relation selected to retain the forearm and hand substantially in the same cocked position normally assumed at the top of the golf backswing, executing a backswing and downswing for striking a golf ball with the one hand maintained in said cocked condition throughout the entire golf swing.
Description:
GENERAL
For the usual swing of a golf club, the club handle is firmly held by one of several known "grips" with, in the case of a right handed golfer, the left hand upper most on the handle and the right hand below it on the club handle. Generally, the club is brought back in a backswing movement with the arms and wrists relatively straight until the body begins to coil or twist and then the wrists become cocked and the right elbow is bent as the club is brought to the top of the backswing. On the downswing, the golfer's body begins to uncoil, his arms bring the club around, and as the ball is about to be struck by the club head, his wrists are uncocked so that maximum speed is imparted to the club head as it strikes the ball.
I have found that the golfer's swing can be improved, either for practice purposes or for actual playing of the game, as opposed to practicing, by maintaining one of the wrists cocked in a particular way throughout the entire golf swing.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to improve a golfer's swing and provide a wrist attachment to assist in obtaining and maintaining a powerful and properly controlled swing of a golf club.
Another object is to provide a simple, low cost device which helps to promote or teach correct wrist function in playing golf.
In a particular form the golfer's aid has a semi-rigid member which is made, for example of plastic, and which has portions that extend along the back of the hand and along the forearm of the hand which is lower most on the club shaft. Small straps retain the member in position both on the forearm and against the hand. A cushion is secured to the inside of the semi-rigid member so that it is comfortable to wear. The member has a fixed bend in a direction to retain the back of the hand at an obtuse angle with respect to the forearm throughout the entire golfing swing. The semi-rigid member may also have a rotational twist in order to maintain the hand slightly rotated with respect to the forearm so that it is thus effectively maintained in a cocked position that it would normally assume at the top of the backswing, but it is so maintained throughout the entire swing. Even though the wrist is therefore unable to uncock during impact of the club head and the ball, except to a very slight extent by flexibility of the semi-rigid member, the golfer's hands are still able to bring the club head through with sufficient speed to obtain desirable distance thus providing effective use of the club. If the attachment is used on a practice basis, the user gets the "feel" of proper wrist cocking during use of the device so that it is easier to assume the proper cocking and avoid premature uncocking of the wrist during subsequent play without use of the attachment.
THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the golfer's attachment;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the device with the hands of the user shown dotted in position; and
FIG. 3 is a front view of the golfer's aid with a rotational set between forearm and hand.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The golfer's wrist attachment includes a semi-rigid member 10 which may be made of plastic to maintain its shape throughout use of the device, but yet have a very slight amount of flexibility in order to feel comfortable when worn and not unduly rigid on the wrist of a user. The member 10 includes a first portion 11 extending over the back of the hand approximately to the mid knuckles and a second portion 12 which extends along the outside of the user's forearm. The device illustrated is for the right hand of a right handed golfer. It will be understood that the right hand is lower most on the shaft in the case of a right handed golfer and that the situation would be reversed in the case of a left handed golfer. That is, a left handed golfer would have his left hand lower most on the shaft and the attachment would be made for, and worn on, his left wrist.
The wrist attachment also includes a sponge-like cushion 14 covering the entire inner surface of the semi-rigid member 10 so that it will be comfortable when secured in place for use, as shown in FIG. 2. The portion 11 extends along the back of the hand to a point just short of the mid knuckles of the hand and preferably, conforms to the contour of the hand by, for example, including a bulge at 11a where the knuckles occur with the fingers joining the hand.
The portion 12 has secured thereto, for example by cementing, a pair of straps 16 and 17 which encircle the forearm 18 (FIG. 2). For a right hand attachment, that is for a right handed golfer, it is preferable that the straps are secured as illustrated in FIG. 1 so that the free ends extend away from the golfer and encircle the arm to extend on the side thereof toward the golfer thereby making the straps easier to secure in place.
A further strap 20 is secured to the member portion 11, again by cementing, and has the free end thereof 20a extending through slots in the forward end of the portion 11 so that the free end 20a can overlap the fixed end of the strap 20.
The straps could be of a type incorporating buckles for securing the attachment in place, although preferable means is illustrated in the form of a two-part pad and hook fastener which is commercially available under the name Velcro. In this form the fastener means for each of the straps includes patches of plastic hooks 22 secured to the fixed part of the straps and fibrous, felt-like patches 24 which can be pressed against the portions 22 to secure the straps. For removal, the free ends of the straps are merely pulled away from the hooks 22. In FIG. 1 the strap 20 is shown in the unfastened condition, whereas in FIG. 3 the strap 20 is shown with the free end secured to the fixed end of the strap.
As shown in FIG. 2, strap 20 encircles the first three fingers of the right hand at a region of the fingers between the mid knuckles and the knuckles where the fingers join the palm of the hand. With this arrangement the little finger is free to encircle the handle 26 of the club yet the strap 20 encircling the remainder of the fingers serves to maintain the back of the hand in firm contact with the portion 11. It is also possible to arrange the device so that the strap 20 encircles all four fingers, or that the strap 20 encircles only two of the fingers to give a user less of a restricted feel in his grip. The device can be very successfully utilized with no significant interference with the golfer's grip when the strap 20 encircles the first three fingers of the right hand.
As can be seen in FIG. 2 the semi-rigid member 10 has a permanent set of approximately 125° between the portions 11 and 12 to maintain the back of the hand toward the forearm at approximately that angle throughout the golfing swing. The part of the portion 11 outwardly of the knuckle receiving bulges 11a can be formed at a slightly greater angle with respect to the forearm portion 12, for example at approximately 140°.
As an optional but desirable further feature, shown in FIG. 3, the portion 11 may be rotated or twisted with respect to the portion 12 by approximately 15° so that the wrist is maintained in a rotated condition with respect to the forearm and the hand is slightly rotated under the club handle 26. It is also possible that the hand can assume a slightly rotated position even with the untwisted construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 since the fingers could rotate slightly within the encirclement of the strap 20.
The total of the configuration of the member 10 is such that the hand, wrist and arm are maintained substantially in the shape of the cocked wrist as it would exist at the top of a back swing during a proper stroke with a golf club. Even though the wrist is thus restricted from uncocking, experience has shown that the attachment provides firmness of the wrists and a requirement of bringing the arms through on the golfing swing such that an extremely effective club head speed is still achieved and the golfer'a distance hitting ability may remain substantially unimpaired. It should also be noted that the attachment will prevent premature uncocking of the wrist which is extremely important to avoid during the swing.
I have found that the wrist attachment can be worn during golfing practice in order to impress upon the user the proper position of his wrist at its desired cocked position. This makes it easier to assume that proper position and recall its "feel" if the game is played without the use of the attachment. On the other hand, I have also found that it is highly beneficial to actually play the game, as opposed to mere practice, with use of the attachment. This means, of course, that the right wrist of the right handed golfer remains substantially cocked throughout the swing, but I have found that it has little or no adverse effect on the distance achieved in striking the ball and that it provides improved control and consistency.
For the usual swing of a golf club, the club handle is firmly held by one of several known "grips" with, in the case of a right handed golfer, the left hand upper most on the handle and the right hand below it on the club handle. Generally, the club is brought back in a backswing movement with the arms and wrists relatively straight until the body begins to coil or twist and then the wrists become cocked and the right elbow is bent as the club is brought to the top of the backswing. On the downswing, the golfer's body begins to uncoil, his arms bring the club around, and as the ball is about to be struck by the club head, his wrists are uncocked so that maximum speed is imparted to the club head as it strikes the ball.
I have found that the golfer's swing can be improved, either for practice purposes or for actual playing of the game, as opposed to practicing, by maintaining one of the wrists cocked in a particular way throughout the entire golf swing.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to improve a golfer's swing and provide a wrist attachment to assist in obtaining and maintaining a powerful and properly controlled swing of a golf club.
Another object is to provide a simple, low cost device which helps to promote or teach correct wrist function in playing golf.
In a particular form the golfer's aid has a semi-rigid member which is made, for example of plastic, and which has portions that extend along the back of the hand and along the forearm of the hand which is lower most on the club shaft. Small straps retain the member in position both on the forearm and against the hand. A cushion is secured to the inside of the semi-rigid member so that it is comfortable to wear. The member has a fixed bend in a direction to retain the back of the hand at an obtuse angle with respect to the forearm throughout the entire golfing swing. The semi-rigid member may also have a rotational twist in order to maintain the hand slightly rotated with respect to the forearm so that it is thus effectively maintained in a cocked position that it would normally assume at the top of the backswing, but it is so maintained throughout the entire swing. Even though the wrist is therefore unable to uncock during impact of the club head and the ball, except to a very slight extent by flexibility of the semi-rigid member, the golfer's hands are still able to bring the club head through with sufficient speed to obtain desirable distance thus providing effective use of the club. If the attachment is used on a practice basis, the user gets the "feel" of proper wrist cocking during use of the device so that it is easier to assume the proper cocking and avoid premature uncocking of the wrist during subsequent play without use of the attachment.
THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the golfer's attachment;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the device with the hands of the user shown dotted in position; and
FIG. 3 is a front view of the golfer's aid with a rotational set between forearm and hand.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The golfer's wrist attachment includes a semi-rigid member 10 which may be made of plastic to maintain its shape throughout use of the device, but yet have a very slight amount of flexibility in order to feel comfortable when worn and not unduly rigid on the wrist of a user. The member 10 includes a first portion 11 extending over the back of the hand approximately to the mid knuckles and a second portion 12 which extends along the outside of the user's forearm. The device illustrated is for the right hand of a right handed golfer. It will be understood that the right hand is lower most on the shaft in the case of a right handed golfer and that the situation would be reversed in the case of a left handed golfer. That is, a left handed golfer would have his left hand lower most on the shaft and the attachment would be made for, and worn on, his left wrist.
The wrist attachment also includes a sponge-like cushion 14 covering the entire inner surface of the semi-rigid member 10 so that it will be comfortable when secured in place for use, as shown in FIG. 2. The portion 11 extends along the back of the hand to a point just short of the mid knuckles of the hand and preferably, conforms to the contour of the hand by, for example, including a bulge at 11a where the knuckles occur with the fingers joining the hand.
The portion 12 has secured thereto, for example by cementing, a pair of straps 16 and 17 which encircle the forearm 18 (FIG. 2). For a right hand attachment, that is for a right handed golfer, it is preferable that the straps are secured as illustrated in FIG. 1 so that the free ends extend away from the golfer and encircle the arm to extend on the side thereof toward the golfer thereby making the straps easier to secure in place.
A further strap 20 is secured to the member portion 11, again by cementing, and has the free end thereof 20a extending through slots in the forward end of the portion 11 so that the free end 20a can overlap the fixed end of the strap 20.
The straps could be of a type incorporating buckles for securing the attachment in place, although preferable means is illustrated in the form of a two-part pad and hook fastener which is commercially available under the name Velcro. In this form the fastener means for each of the straps includes patches of plastic hooks 22 secured to the fixed part of the straps and fibrous, felt-like patches 24 which can be pressed against the portions 22 to secure the straps. For removal, the free ends of the straps are merely pulled away from the hooks 22. In FIG. 1 the strap 20 is shown in the unfastened condition, whereas in FIG. 3 the strap 20 is shown with the free end secured to the fixed end of the strap.
As shown in FIG. 2, strap 20 encircles the first three fingers of the right hand at a region of the fingers between the mid knuckles and the knuckles where the fingers join the palm of the hand. With this arrangement the little finger is free to encircle the handle 26 of the club yet the strap 20 encircling the remainder of the fingers serves to maintain the back of the hand in firm contact with the portion 11. It is also possible to arrange the device so that the strap 20 encircles all four fingers, or that the strap 20 encircles only two of the fingers to give a user less of a restricted feel in his grip. The device can be very successfully utilized with no significant interference with the golfer's grip when the strap 20 encircles the first three fingers of the right hand.
As can be seen in FIG. 2 the semi-rigid member 10 has a permanent set of approximately 125° between the portions 11 and 12 to maintain the back of the hand toward the forearm at approximately that angle throughout the golfing swing. The part of the portion 11 outwardly of the knuckle receiving bulges 11a can be formed at a slightly greater angle with respect to the forearm portion 12, for example at approximately 140°.
As an optional but desirable further feature, shown in FIG. 3, the portion 11 may be rotated or twisted with respect to the portion 12 by approximately 15° so that the wrist is maintained in a rotated condition with respect to the forearm and the hand is slightly rotated under the club handle 26. It is also possible that the hand can assume a slightly rotated position even with the untwisted construction illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 since the fingers could rotate slightly within the encirclement of the strap 20.
The total of the configuration of the member 10 is such that the hand, wrist and arm are maintained substantially in the shape of the cocked wrist as it would exist at the top of a back swing during a proper stroke with a golf club. Even though the wrist is thus restricted from uncocking, experience has shown that the attachment provides firmness of the wrists and a requirement of bringing the arms through on the golfing swing such that an extremely effective club head speed is still achieved and the golfer'a distance hitting ability may remain substantially unimpaired. It should also be noted that the attachment will prevent premature uncocking of the wrist which is extremely important to avoid during the swing.
I have found that the wrist attachment can be worn during golfing practice in order to impress upon the user the proper position of his wrist at its desired cocked position. This makes it easier to assume that proper position and recall its "feel" if the game is played without the use of the attachment. On the other hand, I have also found that it is highly beneficial to actually play the game, as opposed to mere practice, with use of the attachment. This means, of course, that the right wrist of the right handed golfer remains substantially cocked throughout the swing, but I have found that it has little or no adverse effect on the distance achieved in striking the ball and that it provides improved control and consistency.