Device for improving a golf swing
Described is a portable and intuitive golf swing improvement device for indicating the proper shift of a golfer's body weight to the front foot during a down swing. More specifically, the swing improvement device measures the shift of the golfer's body weight during a golf swing and indicates when such shift is in accordance with a technically sound swing. Additionally, the swing improvement device is self-sufficient and portable such that the device is deployable almost anywhere. The swing improvement device also provides swing analysis in a manner that is immediately understandable to the golfer.
1. A golf swing improvement device to indicate a shift of a golfer's body weight during a golf swing, comprising:
a lower housing having an opening disposed through a peripheral surface thereof;
an upper housing movably coupled to the lower housing to receive the golfer's front foot;
a contact switch disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing such that the contact switch is activated upon a predetermined compression of the upper housing with respect to the lower housing;
a compression member disposed between the upper housing and the lower housing to create a biasing force between the upper housing and the lower housing such that when the golfer initiates the golf swing, the biasing force withstands a first pressure from the golfer's front foot to prevent activation of the contact switch, and when the golfer's body weight shifts during a down swing, the biasing force is overcome by a second pressure from the golfer's front foot, greater than the first pressure, to enable activation of the contact switch; and
an adjustment lever movably disposed within the opening to contact the compression member such that the biasing force is changed when the adjustment lever is moved within the opening.
2. The golf swing improvement device of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment lever comprises a ring-shaped portion to support a bottom surface of the compression member and the opening comprises an elongated tapered surface such that when the adjustment lever is positioned at one end of the tapered surface, the ring-shaped portion supports the bottom surface of the compression member at a first height between the upper housing and the lower housing to define a first biasing force, and when the adjustment lever is positioned at another end of the tapered surface, the ring-shaped portion elevates a portion of the bottom surface of the compression member to a second height between the upper housing and the lower housing to define a second biasing force greater than the first biasing force.
3. The golf swing improvement device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an output unit connected to the contact switch to output an indication signal when the contact switch is activated.
4. The golf swing improvement device of claim 1 , further comprising a practice mat having a recess formed therein to receive the lower housing and the upper housing such that an upper surface of the upper housing is substantially coplanar to a top surface of the practice mat when the lower housing and the upper housing are installed in the recess.
5. The golf swing improvement device of claim 1 wherein the contact switch is a membrane switch to be activated upon compression of the upper housing with respect to the lower housing.
6. The golf swing improvement device of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined compression of the upper housing with respect to the lower housing is achieved by arcuate motion and/or linear motion of the upper housing with respect to the lower housing.
7. The golf swing improvement device of claim 1 wherein the contact switch is a momentary-on switch to be activated upon compression of the upper housing with respect to the lower housing.