Abstract: A user-friendly golf swing practice mat is provided, comprising: (a) a low friction, compliant and resilient top sheet having a rigidity of less than 40 pounds per square inch; and (b) a bottom pad (natural grass or an accompanying compliant, resilient pad) for supporting the top sheet a finite distance above the underlying base, for providing space for the top sheet to yield to and accommodate the bottom-most portion of a reasonably well-aligned golf club swing-arc. The golf swing practice mat avoids the mechanical limitations and problems associated with prior art mats. In typical usage, the respective properties of the top sheet and the bottom pad together enable the whole mat to function so that--like a natural-grass-covered fairway--it imposes very little resistance as it readily yields to and accommodates the bottom-most portion--between the bottom of the ball and the underlying ground/base--of any fill, and reasonably well aligned golf club swing arc.

Abstract: A golf practice turf simulating mat which has a raised support frame (22) with a bottom panel (36) and one end open. A mat tray (38) is located within the frame and includes a set of casters (40) that roll on descending ramps (28) and (30) that are attached to the frame. When a golf ball (26) is hit from the mat, the combined mat and tray deflect downwardly, the mat slides forward partially off of the tray and the tray rolls down the ramps descending below the top level of the frame. A rebound retraction system and mat return apparatus return the mat and tray to their original position. A second embodiment replaces the casters with sheaves (82) mounted on axles (84) penetrating inclined slots (80) in the frame for the downward and forward directional orientation of the tray within the frame.

Abstract: A golf putting mat provides a pair of parallel raised portions separated for defining a putting stoke path. Each of the raised portions are constructed as a tubular sleeve with a rigid insert. Each of the sleeves accept two inserts arranged colinearly. The inserts are removable for folding the mat for compact portability. The mat provides a top layer of a golf green simulating material, a bottom layer providing support and non-slip characteristics and a middle layer for preventing the mat from being stretched out of shape when standing upon it.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf ball teeing apparatus. The apparatus is adapted to rotate about a frame and deliver golf balls to be automatically teed. The golf ball elevating apparatus is a levered system which positively loads and elevates golf balls above the platform. The golf ball delivery apparatus includes a golf ball magazine adapted to deliver golf balls to a delivery chute while preventing jamming of the golf balls.

Abstract: Golf swing training mat for highly authentic practice includes a support surface; a standing surface; a hitting surface separate from the standing surface and removably attachable to the support surface and having an area thereof designated as a front hitting area, which is made of a material that nearly looks and gives a feeling of real grass and that is not easily destroyed by repeated swings of a golf club striking the material--preferably, the front hitting area being present in conjunction with an overhang, or a generally open underpass; and a follow through notch ahead of the hitting surface, in part defined by an obliquely-angled edge, generally obliquely angled to and abutting a front edge of the hitting surface, which envoids an area such that a golfer when swinging an iron can properly follow through downwardly after striking a golf ball into the downwardmost portion of the swing when the ball is struck near the front hitting area, and which allows for the golfer to follow through without striking t

Abstract: A golf ball playing surface assembly includinga playing surface having a rectangular recess of predetermined depth, length and width;a plurality of different mats for selectively placing in the recess to simulate different playing conditions, each mat having at least one dimension less than a corresponding dimension of the recess, and whereby at least two mats placed side by side will substantially fill the recess with no gaps; andthe mats including at least one mat having at least two different surface areas for simulating different golf playing surface conditions.

Abstract: A resilient edge adapter is provided for defining an edge of a drainable athletic playing surface formed of a moldable material. The edge adapter includes a base portion for cooperably engaging an upper portion of a drainage channel and an upstanding portion extending upwardly from the base portion for restraining the moldable material when applied adjacent to the drainage channel, thereby defining an edge of the athletic playing surface. The upstanding portion may be formed of a resilient and elastically deformable material and the base portion may include an elongate continuous plug portion to cooperably engage a corresponding slot defined in the upper edge of the channel. An edge adapter is also provided which has a pair of upstanding portions extending upwardly from a base portion for forming a running track surface over both opposed edges of a grate. Associated methods for forming athletic playing surfaces are also provided.

Abstract: An elongate grate capable of securing an edge portion of an artificial turf surface within a drainage channel is provided. The grate includes an elongate central portion defining a plurality of openings to permit runoff from the artificial turf surface to flow into the drainage channel. Connected to at least one exterior edge of the central portion is a downwardly extending wall portion being interior of the exterior edge for applying a downwardly directed engagement force to the edge portion of the artificial turf surface. According to another embodiment of the grate, an elongate slot is integrally defined in the central portion having a width such the edge portion of the artificial turf can be frictionally engaged therein. According to yet another embodiment, a grate is provided with a central portion positioned between opposed edge portions and defines a plurality of openings therein such that an impervious athletic surface can be formed over each of the edge portions.

Abstract: An instructional golf mat which accommodates left and right-handed golfers, and which is useful for efficiently practicing the fundamentals of a golf swing including ball placement, foot position, golf club swing path and tee height is disclosed.

Abstract: A golf putting teaching aid includes a putting surface that has disposed thereon a cup near one end and a number of patterns disposed along the length thereof. Each of the patterns has parallel lines aligned with the desired putting path, the two parallel lines being separated by a predetermined distance, preferably the width of a typical golf ball. The length of the two parallel lines in each of the patterns increases as the pattern is moved away from the cup. At a predetermined location along each of the two parallel lines in each of the patterns, a ball location area is defined. The golf ball is disposed at this location and then the club first aligned with the ball such that the face thereof is perpendicular to the desired path of travel and then moved back to the most distal end from the cup.

Abstract: A sports trainer by which a user is positioned in front of a full length mirror which reflects the image of the user when performing certain sports activities combined with a television monitor and video cassette player which provides an observable illustration of the same sports activity in the form of a mirror image depicting an optimum of the sports activity involved thereby enabling the user to compare the reflected image in the mirror and the illustrated mirror image in the television monitor in order for the user to closely approach the optimum position and movement illustrated on the television monitor. The disclosure in this application relates to golf but the sports trainer can be used with various types of sports involving positions and movements of individuals and various equipment used in various sports.

Abstract: A golf practice apparatus having a resilient leaf spring which serves as the striking surface, retained within a housing. Upon being impacted by a golf club, the center portion of the spring is depressed downwardly, and the ends of the spring, being free and unobstructed, translate outwardly to permit the club head to pass through the ball and over the striking surface. The practice apparatus accurately simulates the feel of a golf swing on natural turf, eliminates shock to the golfer's arms from a mishit, and provides feedback to the golfer as to how well each swing is executed.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining a golfer's stance with respect to a turf simulating surface and for determining the direction of lateral forces applied during the golfer's swing by observing the lateral movement of a shiftable member with said turf simulating surface thereon and engaged upon a base member for free lateral displacement from a target line on the base member, the stance of the golfer being determined by a placement line on the base member and positioned relative to the target line.

Abstract: A golf ball tee device includes a base unit, an inverted L-shaped support rod having a vertical lower end portion fixed on the base unit and a horizontal upper end portion, and a rotatable device mounted on the upper end portion of the support rod. The rotatable device includes a ball body secured on the upper end portion of the support rod, a casing which encloses rotatably the ball body, and a ball unit which includes a golf ball and a connecting rod that interconnects securely the ball body and the golf ball in such a manner that the golf ball is located at a level above the base unit in a spaced-apart relationship. When the golf ball is struck, the casing and the ball unit rotate about the ball body.