BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention pertains generally to the field of golf swing training aids and more specifically to a weighted golf club having a weight which is adjustable in location along the club shaft.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] It is well known in the golf club art that training aids which help develop muscle memory can help a golfer develop a more consistent swing. Moreover, it is generally accepted that a weighted golf cub that is considerably heavier than standard clubs used to actually play a round of golf, can be beneficial in developing muscle memory. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,407 to Sorenson discloses one such golf swing training club which is homogeneously weighted along its length. One potential problem associated with such prior art weighted clubs is that their weight is generally fixed and non-adjustable. Thus, while they may be useful in developing muscle memory, they may not be optimum for all golfers of varying upper body strengths. Thus for example, a two hundred pound male golfer and a hundred pound female golfer would have radically different needs in a weighted golf club training aid. Moreover, as a given golfer develops increased muscle memory, he or she may wish to increase the inertia of the swing training club to further the process. However, a training club of fixed and non-adjustable inertia does not provide such an opportunity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention solves the aforementioned problem associated with prior art weighted golf club training aids. The solution is provided in the form of adjustability of weight and weight distribution. In a preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the training club has a shaft which is of uniform diameter between a grip end and a head end and is provided with a plurality of spaced holes which extend through the shaft substantially perpendicular to the length of the shaft. A weighted cylinder is slidably mounted onto the shaft between the grip end and a head end. The weighted cylinder height is slightly less than the spacing between the shaft holes so that a pair of retainers each having a pin, may be removably positioned into the holes immediately above and below the weight thereby preventing movement of the weight along the shaft. With the weight secured along the shaft at any one of several locations by the retainers, a golfer may freely swing the training club without any fear of dislocating the weight. The weighted cylinder may be selected from a range of different weighted cylinders so that the actual total weight of the training club may be selected for the size and strength of the golfer. A small female golfer may for example choose to use a weighted cylinder of one pound or less while a large male golfer may select a weighted cylinder of several pounds or more. A manufacturer may choose to offer training clubs with different respective cylinder weights or make the club user-alterable such as by providing a removable golf club head (such as by threaded engagement with the head end of the shaft) and a plurality of different weight cylinders. In either such configuration, the preferred embodiment hereof provides the unique feature of changing weight location along the shaft by simply removing the retainers to different holes, thereby permitting adjustment of the swing inertia of the training club. Those having skill in the relevant art will readily appreciate that because angular inertia depends upon both the weight and the distance between the center of gravity and the fulcrum, movement of the cylinder toward the head end of the shaft, significantly increases the swing inertia of the training club.