Patent ID: 7959521
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. Golf practice mat apparatus for use by a user practicing a golf swing with a golf club comprising: a bounded practice mat surface for use by a user practicing a golf swing; an area of said practice surface indicating the position of a golf ball; an impact sensor disposed in a substantially horizontal golf club impact area of said practice mat surface for detecting contact by a golf club swung by said user with said substantially horizontal golf club impact area and for generating golf club contact data, said golf club contact data including data related to the position of a first point on the practice mat of detected contact between the golf club and the impact area of the practice mat surface and data related to the position of a second point on the practice mat of detected contact between the golf club and the impact area of the practice mat, said impact sensor being disposed in said golf club impact area so as to generate said practice mat contact data, independent of whether the user is striking a golf ball, in response to being struck by said golf club swung by a user; a memory for storing said golf club contact data including data related to the position of said first point on the practice mat of detected contact between the golf club and the impact area of the practice mat surface and data related to the position of said second point on the practice mat of detected contact between the golf club and the impact area of the practice mat surface; a processor operatively coupled to said impact sensor and said memory and configured to execute instructions for accessing said golf club contact data, analyzing said golf club contact data including said data related to the position of the first point and the data related to the position of the second point, and determining a golf club head contact pattern; and an output mechanism for providing feedback to said user related said golf club head contact pattern determined by said processor.