Patent ID: 6569026
Filing Date: 2003-05-27
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A golf training device closely simulating the feel of a natural fairway and usable by a golfer on a playing surface for improving the swinging of a golf club having a golf club head that may produce a subtle force or a violent force, comprising:a turf simulation apparatus, said apparatus including: a foundation layer positionable on and attachable to the playing surface and formed from flexible, resilient, impact absorbing matting, said foundation layer including a chamber; a stiffening layer of hard, substantially elastically deformable material, said stiffening layer overlying and contacting said foundation layer; an upper shock absorbing and decorative layer overlying and contacting said stiffening layer, said upper layer including a grass texture simulating carpet and a shock absorbing material integrally joined to said carpet to receive and endure extensively repeated heavy impact blows from the club head without ripping and tearing of said upper layer; a fastener interconnecting said foundation layer, said stiffening layer and said upper layer; and a target unit mounted to and extending upwardly from said turf simulation apparatus and including a golf ball simulating target strikeable by a golf club swung by the golfer, said target unit including a base, a tee, and a golf ball simulating target; said tee having two ends, one end connected to said golf ball simulating target and the other end connected to said base, said base of said target unit being pivotally connected to said turf simulation apparatus for indicating the direction of a ball flight path and for hook and slice training, and the other end of said tee connected to said target unit intersecting with said base of said target unit at an angle of greater than 90 degrees relative to said base of said target unit for diverting a point of bending stress on said tee from the force of the club head away from the intersection between said tee and said base to further up said tee to prolong the wear life of said target unit; said interconnected foundation layer, stiffening layer and upper layer cooperating to receive and absorb the blow of the club head when the head inadvertently strikes said apparatus to thereby prevent injury to the golfer and damage to the golf club while closely simulating the feel of a golf club striking the turf on a natural fairway so as to enhance the training of the golfer.