Method for teaching a golf swing using simple thought imagery and very limited body awareness

Abstract

A method for teaching a person to effectively swing a golf club includes establishing a pivot line or imaginary plane used by the golfer during both the setup and swing phase of a golf swing. A hand line is established when the person feels when gripping the club. A nose line awareness is created by the natural, vertical line existing between the golfer's eyes. A foot line is also established for the golfer's awareness of releasing or shifting his weight at the proper time. The method emphasizes how these reference lines align relative to the ball during setup and impact and involves first visualizing the pivot line extending beneath the ball and perpendicular to the intended line of flight. The pivot line provides a simple frame of reference for alignment of the club face, hands, feet, waist, head; and a natural plane for the golfer's body to turn and pivot around. At the beginning of each swing the golfer's phinge line is aligned straight along the pivot line and his nose line is set behind the pivot line. During his swing, the golfer's thought is to return his power hinge line straight along the pivot line at impact, and then release his nose line or foot line after his hand line passes the pivot line. Practice aids such as a quick reference guide incorporating the unique mental golf imagery techniques are used to help facilitate learning and actually experiencing the method.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60 / 647,879, filed Jan. 28, 2005.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]This invention is related to the teaching of the golf swing to players of all skill levels; including those just learning how to play the game, and those with playing experience. Please note that the description and accompanying drawings presented herein are oriented for a right-handed golfer.BACKGROUND ART[0003]in general, training someone to hit a golf ball requires teaching that person a series of skills. These include:[0004]how to grip a club;[0005]stance and posture when addressing the ball:[0006]ball position relative to the person's stance;[0007]backswing; and,[0008]forward or through swing.[0009]Anyone who has spent any time trying to learn the game soon begins to understand that there are a plethora of different teaching methods. Different approaches are touted in any number of different books and magaz...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The present invention, referred to as Golfs Magic Lines™ is a method for greatly simplifying the teaching of golf. The method is advantageous in that it is oriented to reducing the enormous number of things a golfer has been taught to think about to no more than two or three. Using the method, a student can quickly learn about certain reference lines which he then can use to sharply limit his focus on every golf swing from a full shot with a driver to a short putt with a putter.

[0013]Specifically, the golfer learns about a pivot line plane (Pivot Line awareness), a gripping line (Hand Line awareness), head position (Nose Line awareness), and weight transfer (Toe Line awareness). Using these simple concepts, a golfer's ball position, grip alignment, stance, and posture are felt and known automatically. The actual swinging of the hands (club) and thought processes related to that swing, are then reduced to staying focused only on these few key awareness points. As a result, use of the method significantly narrows the golfer's mental and physical focus to a few core reference lines: i.e., awareness of the “Pivot Line”, a plane which the player can readily visualize, a “Hand Line” awareness which the player can readily feel, a “Nose Line” awareness which the player can readily feel, and a “Toe Line” awareness which the player can also readily feel. Furthermore, these core references lines are readily integrated into two or three key swing thoughts which permit the golfer to separate himself from thinking about conventional swing mechanics and the moment of striking a golf ball.

[0014]Importantly, the method of the invention connects a golfer's brain, eyes, hands, and lower torso together in a coordinated fashion. Once the golfer understands and experiences using these natural reference lines and swing thoughts, they begin to produce a fundamentally sound and repeating golf swing. These core reference lines are used in every golf swing, from any location on a golf course, and from any lie, to produce an acceptable result. As such, the method of the invention has the advantage of greatly reducing the complex manner in which golf is ordinarily taught with, over time, the core swing thoughts becoming powerful auto-suggestions.

Problems solved by technology

Because of the amount of information available, and the myriad of ways in which it is presented, it is easy for someone to become confused about what they are supposed to do, and how they are supposed to do it.

The end result, particularly for the casual golfer, is endless rounds of frustration.

As can be appreciated from the above, the enormous frustration experienced by most golfer's, including world class athletes from other sports, begins when they are asked to learn about keeping their head down, their left arm straight, their right hand from being too active, and striving to swing the club along a conventional swing plane (one plane or two swing planes).

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