Abstract: A lacrosse teaching device includes a body, a ball receptacle, and a valve. The body includes a first leg, a second leg, and an archway interconnecting the first and second legs. The body defines a tunnel and the archway defines an opening. A ball receptacle defines a cavity and an opening. The cavity is dimensioned to hold at least one lacrosse ball. The ball receptacle communicates with the opening in the archway such that a lacrosse ball can travel from the cavity of the ball receptacle through the opening in the archway and into the tunnel. The valve is positioned between the cavity of the ball receptacle and the opening in the archway and is actuable to control movement of the at least one lacrosse ball from the cavity of the ball receptacle into the opening in the archway.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a golf practice device and method of use wherein the golf practice device is comprised generally of a relatively thin and relatively lightweight platform having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and multiple sides; an artificial turf layer securely fixed to the top surface of said platform; one or more sets of paired implantation holes in said artificial turf layer which are configured to receive one or more pegs (for instance, golf tees), adjustable wickets, or other obstructing elements; one or more progressively narrower apertures created by implantation of said obstructing elements; one or more leveling screws removeably attached to the bottom surface of said platform; and a rebound return element. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the rebound return element can be replaced by a ramp return element.

Abstract: A weighted ball rebounder and method for increasing power on an athletic performance provide a trampoline member including a resilient sheet affixed to a peripheral frame pivotally coupled to a base and disposed on a substantially horizontal surface. Stabilizing members prevent the rebounder from moving along the surface when a weighted ball such as a 2–20 pound medicine ball, is rebounded therefrom. The trampoline member is angularly adjustable up to 180° in fixed positions. The method provides a user drawing a weighted ball in a direction away from the rebounder, then abruptly swinging the weighted ball toward the rebounder and releasing. The rebounder returns the weighted ball in flight, to the user.

Abstract: A golf swing training device is disclosed that includes a substantially planar surface. In use, the surface acts as a guide for the movement of a golfer's shoulders when the golfer executes a substantial portion of a backswing.

Abstract: A golf practice system including a containment structure and a mechanically driven golf ball-return unit coupled to the containment structure, with a sloped portion or channel directing a struck golf ball to the return unit such that the golf ball is mechanically projected back to the golfer. A berm device for chipping practice and other uses also is disclosed.

Abstract: A device for practice putting of golf balls is provided comprising a platform covered by a synthetic matting simulating a putting surface 2, a standing area 1 for the golfer with first 16 and second 19 foot operated electrical on/off switches for operating an electromagnetic return means such that the golfers can retrieve each golf ball without ever changing their putting position.

Abstract: A portable golf putting practice kit includes a case member having a base portion with a hinged cover portion. The base portion includes one upstanding hinged wall that pivot outwardly and lies flat on a support surface. A cup and ball return insert member, contained within the base portion, includes a planar plateau section and a ramp section inclined from the base of the hinged wall to the planar plateau section. The plateau section includes at least two cup members extending below the plateau section. A ball return channel extends from the plateau section to the inclined surface at the base of the hinged, upstanding wall. A simulated turf matt member is secured to the plateau section and the ramp section and extends over the horizontal hinged wall onto the support surface beyond the case member. The rolled turf matt member is contained within the case member with the cover portion secure to the base portion in a closed condition.

Abstract: A portable golf putting practice kit includes a case member, having a base portion with upstanding walls and a planar bottom surface, and a cover portion hinged to the base portion. The base portion includes one upstanding hinged wall, allowing the hinged wall to pivot outwardly from the base portion and lie flat on a support surface. A cup and ball return insert member is contained within the base portion. The insert member includes a ramp section and a planar plateau section, with the ramp section having an inclined surface extending from the base of the hinged upstanding wall to the planar plateau section. The plateau section includes a cup member with a top opening, a sidewall and a closed bottom end, the cup member extending below the plateau section. Ball return channels extend from the plateau section to the inclined surface at the base of the hinged, upstanding wall. The ball return channels are inclined from the plateau section toward the base of the hinged upstanding wall section.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf alignment system that generates a visible, audible and/or tactile response indicating when a golfer is properly aligned with respect to an intended target line or to a golf ball. One embodiment includes a first shoe having at least one transmitter disposed on an instep portion thereof. A second shoe has at least one receiver disposed on an instep portion thereof. The receiver is activated by a signal from the transmitter when the first shoe is in a predetermined position relative to the second shoe. Activation of the receiver causes actuation of an indicator, such as a light emitting device which projects a visible reference line on the ground. The present invention is also directed to a method of aligning a golf ball.

Abstract: A golf chipping practice device for a golfer comprising, a base, a net enclosure comprising a rear panel and side panels attached to the base, the net being open facing the player, the base having a floor area which is angled downward, a hole in the floor area of the base to receive a ball hit into the net, a power unit inside the base, a channel to carry the ball after it drops into the hole, a switch in the channel adapted to activate a spinning wheel which encroaches into the channel, presses against the ball in the channel and drives the ball forward, an exit hole through which the ball is driven by the spinning wheel back to the player, a switch adjacent the exit hole adapted to turn off the power unit when impacted by the ball exiting the exit hole.

Abstract: A ball bat includes an aluminum, or other metal, tubular sleeve co-molded or post-mold bonded onto a predominantly cylindrical composite, or other non-metal, ball bat handle. An aluminum, or other metal, knob is attached to the metal tubular sleeve, via welding or another suitable attachment method. A barrel end closure, e.g. a barrel cap, may be attached to the end of the bat barrel in a similar manner. In such a case, a metal insert is co-molded, or post-mold bonded, onto the barrel end of the bat. A metal barrel cap is then welded to the metal insert to close the end of the ball bat. Alternatively, a cap retention device may be co-molded, or post-mold bonded, onto the barrel end of the bat. A plastic, or other suitable material, cap is then attached to the cap retention device.

Abstract: A golf training device. The device is used for training a player's approaching skill and putting skill. The device includes a main member, a board, an alley, an assisting board and a cage. The main member has two lateral walls and a back wall and the board. The alley and the assisting board are secured on he base member in sequence and a hole is provided thereon to be the goal. The cage consists of a frame and a net and the frame is mounted on the walls of the base member and the net is secured to the frame. Three elevating assembly are provided between the base member and the board to change slopes of the board. If a ball flies over the base member, the cage will stop it so that the player can practice the approaching skill.

Abstract: An adjustable golf putting practice device that a user can mechanically adjust the height and gradient near the golf hole without using power. The adjustable golf practice device has a base with a ball return gutter therein. Plural springs installed in the base. At least one ramp plate supported by the springs, the ramp plate has a hole therein corresponding to the ball return gutter. Plural means are used for positioning the ramp plate in desired height and slope and plural means are used for releasing the means for positioning the ramp plate. Thereby a user can adjust the height and gradient of the ramp plate near the golf hole simply by pushing the ramp plate and the push button of the means for ramp plate releasing means.

Abstract: A putter training device has a putting green surrounded by a “hazard” . The putting green slants upwardly from the front edge of the device and is provided with a cup as a target for the golfer. If the ball is successfully putted into the cup, a channel extends from the cup, through the hazard, and to a ball return ramp on one side of the device. If the ball is hit beyond the putting green, the ball falls into the hazard and returns to the player via the ball return ramp.

Abstract: A golf putting training device for improving the putting of a golfer. The golf putting training device includes a body member having a base portion. The base portion is designed for resting on a support surface. The body member has a distal wall. The distal wall is coupled to a distal edge of the base portion. The distal wall is designed for hampering the back swing of the golfer when the golfer does not draw the putter back straight. The body member has a cut out portion. The cut out portion extends in from a leading edge of the base portion. The cut out portion is designed for receiving a golf ball whereby the cut out portion aligns the golf ball with a longitudinal axis of the base portion.

Abstract: A golf putting training controls golf ball momentum into a delivery site by first absorbing momentum of indeterminate magnitude and thereafter allowing the ball to move along a controlled or sloped path under influence of gravity. As a result, the ball enjoys consistent momentum and alignment upon arrival at the delivery site. The delivery site can be a kick-back device operating more consistently when receiving a ball moving along a consistent approach path and with consistent momentum. The delivery site can also be a golf ball return area whereat a golf ball is desirably returned consistently to a given region thereof.

Abstract: An educational golf facility is provided in accordance with the present invention. The facility includes a target chipping zone, at least one inclined chipping/putting lane and a putting zone. The chipping/putting facility includes an extended surface having a striking area in front of which a student may swing a golf club and strike a golf ball. The facility further includes an inclined surface extending from the striking area. The inclined surface has long strand oriented such that balls struck up the inclined surface are caught and returned to the student; The striking area which includes an enclosure protecting students in the vicinity of the striking area. The enclosure includes a forward horizontal bar and a rear horizontal bar, wherein the forward horizontal bar is positioned to control the permissible back swing of a student utilizing the chipping/putting facility and the rear horizontal bar provides a safety area.

Abstract: A golf putting green and associated ball return system are disclosed. The ball return system returns a ball generally to the original point of the putt. As a ball is hit and rolls into a target hole or gutter, it falls by gravity through an air gate and enters an air duct channel. The gate closes after the ball falls through it. A gutter is provided for missed putts. The gutter slopes to a hole that also includes an air gate, which momentarily opens to allow missed putt balls to enter the air duct channel. Using the force of air generated by an air producing unit, the ball is gently propelled through the channel, which extends uprange along the putting surface, and returns the ball at the end of the channel onto the putting area. As the ball exits the channel with momentum generated by the airflow, it follows along a curved frame structure, positioned around the periphery of one side edge of the putting area, which acts to deliver the ball to the point of the original putt.

Abstract: A golf green trainer comprises a mainframe chest, an immovable putt plate, and an electronic control chest. The mainframe chest further comprises an angular adjusting device, a ball sweeping device, a ball collecting device, and a ball supplying device such that users can set the angular adjusting device by means of the electronic control chest for adjusting the inclination angle of the golf green plate so as to simulate a real golf green surface. By means of the ball sweeping device, the golf ball which can not be putted into the hole nor to the out-of-bounds but remain on the golf green plate will be swept into the ball collecting device. By means of the ball collecting device, the ball which is putted into the hole and the ball which is swept into the ball collecting device will be collected for replenishing the ball supplying device. By means of the ball supplying device, the golf ball will be supplied to one end of the immovable putt plate for users to putt.

Abstract: Lifting golf balls in a vertical tube from a cleaning station using sufficient air pressure from an air blower to lift the golf balls in the vertical tube and allowing the golf balls to fall by gravity from an apex of the vertical tube to a diverter for directing the golf balls to a particular dispenser apparatus. An electromagnetic switch controls the movement of the diverter to determine which dispenser apparatus receives the golf balls.

Abstract: A golf ball conveyor including an endless chain having link pins arranged vertically which moves along a travelling line in a golf-ball conveying direction to convey golf balls. A driving device rotates the chain in an endless manner. A plurality of ball moving protrusions are provided at predetermined distances on the chain to move the golf balls one-by-one, and a plurality of guide rollers are provided at predetermined distances on the chain for guiding movement of the chain. Sprockets may be used for bending the travelling line of the endless chain.

Abstract: A portable personal sporting net includes a tapered cylindrical or funnel-like tubular, pliable, porous net having an enlarged entrance aperture which is supported by a collapsible pole. In one embodiment, a suspended exit aperture is formed at the opposing end of the netting. A ball capture bag communicates with the exit aperture to catch balls hit into the netting. In an alternative embodiment, the opposing second end of the netting is closed against the ground surface. A pair of flaps are mounted on opposing sides of the entrance aperture and radially extend forward and outward therefrom. The flaps assist in directing stray balls into the funnel-like netting.

Abstract: Air flowing in a transportation conduit delivers golf balls from a central repository to dispensers located throughout a driving range. An apparatus for introducing the golf balls into this flowing stream of air includes a valving system capable of introducing batches of balls in an air stream flowing in a substantially horizontal direction. The valving system is controlled by a compressor and timer. An optional vacuum system is provided to deliver the golf balls to the apparatus for introducing the golf balls into the air stream in those situations where gravity cannot be relied upon to deliver the golf balls to the entrance of the apparatus.

Abstract: A guiding device for putting practice having a base plate, a pad, a golf supporting plate, a cover member, two screw sleeves, a large bolt, a small bolt, an inverted U-shaped fending rod, and an engaging sleeve is disclosed. The base plate has left and right guiding frames, raising slightly at the rear section to form a guide way there-between for the golf club to pass therethrough. The golf supporting plate is formed by a grooved rail with two flanges sectionally tilting upwardly from both sides for the golf ball to roll thereon and on which the golf ball putted when touching the inverted U-shaped fending rod will bounce back automatically to the original position indicated by a triangular golf sign disposed on the base plate for another putting practice. In addition, by means of the large and small adjusting bolts, the golf supporting plate can be adjusted left or right, moving into a desirable position measured by scales to meet the need of different users.

Abstract: A golf driving range system for golfers to practice their driving skills is provided. The driving range system includes a plurality of tee boxes. Each tee box has a renewable ball stock and an automatic golf ball tee-up machine. The balls in the ball stock of each tee box have identifying characteristics for relating the balls to the particular tee box. The system has a yard and ball return gutters. The yard has sloped surfaces to cause any golf balls landing on the yard to roll toward the ball return gutters. At least one target is positioned in the yard. The target has a winning ball identification apparatus for sensing the identifying characteristics of a ball hitting the target and relaying this information to a scoring device. The ball return gutters deliver balls landing in the yard to a ball distribution apparatus, which has a return ball identification apparatus for sensing the identifying characteristics of a ball and distributing the ball back to the renewable ball stocks of the tee boxes.