GOLF PRACTICE MAT APPARATUS
A golf practice mat apparatus that includes adjacent areas for respectively supporting a user and a golf ball; an imbalanced and deformable member at the user support area and upon which the user stands with the legs of the user spread apart in a normal golf stance; and a built-up turf surface at the golf ball area for supporting the golf ball that is substantially the same height as the top of the imbalanced and deformable member after applying a user's weight to the deformable member.
Priority for this application is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/460,927 which was filed on Jan. 10, 2011 and which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates in general to a golf training or practice apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved golf practice mat apparatus used to enhance the skills of a golfer.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONThere are a number of existing devices that assist a golfer in improving his or her golfing skills. However, most of these devices are directed toward improvement by focusing on one particular part of the swing without incorporating transition through the proper swing sequence, and without hitting an actual golf ball.
The present invention is directed toward improving ball striking skill by using an unstable platform to develop strong lower body stability and the proper ground-up swing sequence while being able to actually hit golf balls. The advantages offered by swing training by directly engaging a golf ball and producing a golf shot are significant.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved golf practice mat apparatus that is adapted to employ a deformable unstable platform to allow users to improve the proper swing sequence from the feet-up while at the same time improving stability and lower body strength.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved golf mat practice apparatus that assists in promoting a downward strike through impact rather than an upward “scooping” motion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a golf practice apparatus that comprises adjacent areas for respectively supporting a user and a golf ball; an imbalanced and a deformable member at the user's support area and upon which the user stands with the legs of the user spread apart in a normal golf stance; and a built-up turf surface at the golf ball area for supporting the golf ball.
In accordance with still further aspects of the present invention, wherein the apparatus includes separate sections for the user and golf ball; wherein said sections can be connected and disconnected; wherein preferably including as part of the apparatus a divider wall for separating the imbalanced and deformable member into two separate members; wherein said imbalanced and deformable member preferably comprises two separate adjacently disposed members that provide separate imbalance for each leg of the user; wherein each said deformable member comprises a bladder with an air chamber; wherein each said deformable member comprises a bladder with a liquid chamber; wherein each said deformable member comprises a flexible soft foam pad; wherein the turf surface has a rest surface at substantially the same height as the top of the imbalanced and deformable member after applying user's body weight; wherein the turf surface includes a planar section in a contiguous sloped section; wherein the sloped section is along a side edge of the apparatus; wherein said sloped section preferably has at three separate areas each of different angle slope; wherein a first slope is on the order of 1e-6e; wherein a second slope is on the order of 10e-15e; and wherein a third slope is on the order of 20e-30e.
It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosure. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference is now made to the drawings and in particular
A further asset of the present invention is that it is constructed and arranged so as to promote a downward blow while striking the golf ball rather than a “scooping up” action on the ball. Gravity is an important part of a powerful swing when the golfer initiates the downward swing. Most average golfers tend to scoop the ball with the golf club, not using downward momentum for maximum club head speed. The typical design of a golf club already has proper loft and there is no need to “scoop” upward. However, there is a tendency for the inexperienced golfer to “scoop” the club due to how the club face appears to the golfer. With inexperienced golfers it is often difficult to hit a long and straight golf shot because of this “scooping” action. This tendency is overcome in accordance with the present invention and as described in further detail hereinafter, by providing part of the mat surface with a sloping section, preferably multiple sloping sections.
Reference is now made to further details of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. This includes a frame 10 having adjacent areas for respectively supporting a user or golfer 12 and a golf ball 15. The drawings illustrate the ball at 15 supported on a golf tee 14 on the turf surface. The frame 10 is illustrated in
In the illustrations herein, such as in
Refer also to the cross-sectional view of
Refer also to the cross-sectional view of
The frame 10 is preferably provided with a pair of hinges 25 that interconnect the frame sections 16 and 18. Also, the section 16 includes a handle 27. The hinges 25 enable the sections 16 and 18 to fold against each other and the entire apparatus can then be moved by grasping the handle 27. There may also be an accompanying handle on the section 18. Alternatively, the frame sections 16 and 18 may also be interconnected by slotting one section 29′ of, e.g., a sliding dovetail joint into the channel 29 of the other as seen in
While it is preferable that the frame sections 16 and 18 be connected during use, it is not absolutely necessary that the frame sections 16 and 18 be connected. That is, as an alternative, the frame sections 16 and 18 can be placed adjacent one another, either touching or separated, and used in the unconnected state as shown in
The turf surface 30 is primarily constructed as a planar surface and thus includes a planar section 35. The planar section 35 extends, with reference to
Three separate slopes are illustrated in
The slope areas may be adjustable and removable as illustrated in
Each of the deformable members 20, as indicated previously, can be of various shapes. The bladder itself is typically constructed of a resilient and pliable material. By filling the chamber with air or other substance, when the golfer stands upon the deformable member, there is a feeling of instability which, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, is desired.
Having now described a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A golf practice mat apparatus comprising:
- a frame member comprising a user support section and a golf ball support section for respectively supporting a user and a golf ball;
- at least one imbalanced and deformable member provided at the user support section and upon which the user stands with the legs of the user spread apart in a normal golf stance; and
- a built-up turf surface at the golf ball support section for supporting a golf ball, wherein the turf surface is substantially the same height as the top of the at least one imbalanced and deformable member after applying user's body weight to the at least one deformable member.
2. The golf practice apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one imbalanced and deformable member comprises at least two separate adjacently disposed members that provide separate imbalance for each leg of the user.
3. The golf practice apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of said deformable members comprises a bladder with an air chamber.
4. The golf practice apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of said deformable members comprises a bladder with a liquid chamber.
5. The golf practice apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one imbalanced and deformable member comprises a single imbalanced and deformable member that provides imbalance for both legs of the user.
6. The golf practice apparatus of claim 5, wherein said single imbalanced and deformable member comprises a bladder with an air chamber.
7. The golf practice apparatus of claim 5, wherein said single imbalanced and deformable member comprises a bladder with a liquid chamber.
8. The golf practice apparatus of claim 1, wherein the turf surface includes a planar section and a contiguous sloped section sloping downwardly away from the planar section.
9. The golf practice apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sloped section is along a side edge of the frame.
10. The golf practice apparatus of claim 9, wherein the sloped section has one or more separate areas of different slope.
11. The golf practice apparatus of claim 10, wherein said sloped section has separate areas each of different slope.
12. The golf practice apparatus of claim 11, wherein a first slope is on the order of 1e-6e.
13. The golf practice apparatus of claim 11, wherein a second slope is on the order of 10e-15e.
14. The golf practice apparatus of claim 11, wherein a third slope is on the order of 20e-30e.
15. The golf practice apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame member comprises separate frame sections for said user support section and said golf ball support section, the separate frame sections being joined by connecting parts.
16. The golf practice apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame member comprises separate frame sections for said user support section and said golf ball support section, the separate frame sections being provided adjacent one another during use.
17. The golf practice apparatus of claim 1, wherein said user support section includes a divider wall for separating the at least two separate adjacently disposed members that provide separate imbalance for each leg of the user.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 9, 2012
Publication Date: Jul 12, 2012
Inventor: Othili PARK
Application Number: 13/345,811
International Classification: A63B 69/36 (20060101);