Abstract:
A golf training system includes a wedge training aid adapted to help the user control the hitting range of each wedge accurately so that the user can drive the ball to the green easily for putting into the hole when playing a golf game at a golf course. The golf training system further includes a putting green training aid, a mat arranged between the wedge training aid and the putting green training aid, a ball collector arranged at the rear side of the wedge training aid, a track connected between the putting green training aid and the ball collector, and a guard net mounted at the putting green training aid. Thus, each ball been hit onto the putting green training aid or intercepted by the guard net can be collected by the ball collector for a next hitting practice.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a golf training aids and more particularly, to a golf training system, which helps control of the hitting range of each wedge and provides an automatic ball retrieving function. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Among the 14 golf clubs of a standard set, the wedges are important golf clubs designed for special use situations to aid the player in making accurate short-distance shots, to get the ball onto the green or out of a hazard or other tricky spot. Driving the ball closer to the hole increases the chance to put the ball into the hole. Wedges can make chance to enable the ball be put into the hole easily. Even if your driving distance is always farther than your playing partners, you still cannot drive the ball onto the green in two strokes for each par-5 hole. However, if you have a reliable and steady wedge technique, you still can make a birdie chance. The key lies in the precise control of the hitting distance. The structure of a wedge enables you to hit the ball to different distances subject to different conditions. The loft angle of the wedge determines the hitting distance. 
     Most golf players will carry three wedges, one small angle wedge, one sand wedge and one large angle wedge, having a loft of about 52°, 60° and 60° respectively. But, as the climate ever-changing, a golf player may carry a different combination of golf clubs for each different golf game subject to the characteristics of the golf course. 
     After understanding of the combination of a golf club set, the next step is to practice. The only way to improve the wedge technique is to keep practicing. The use of a proper training system can get double the effect. However, no any simple and effective wedge training aid that can aid a user to accurately control the wedge hitting range is commercially available. A beginner can only rely on the guidance of a coach or practice wedges subject to golf textbooks, the result is always less effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a golf training system, which comprises a wedge training aid comprising a base, a horizontal bar axially slidably inserted into a sliding rail at the base, a height-adjustable upright bar hinged to the horizontal bar and an elevation marker mounted at the upright bar at a selected elevation corresponding to a predetermined wedge finish to help the user control the hitting range of each wedge accurately so that the user can drive the ball to the green easily for putting into the hole when playing a golf game at a golf course. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf training system, which further comprises a putting green training aid, a mat arranged between the wedge training aid and the putting green training aid, a ball collector arranged at the rear side of the wedge training aid, a track connected between the putting green training aid and the ball collector, and a guard net mounted at the putting green training aid. Thus, each ball been hit onto the putting green training aid or intercepted by the guard net can be collected by the ball collector for a next hitting practice. 
     Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a golf training system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational view of the wedge training aid of the golf training system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  is similar to  FIG. 2 , illustrating an alternate form of the wedge training aid. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the wedge training aid shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a received status of the wedge training aid shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  corresponds to  FIG. 2  when viewed from the reversed direction. 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic drawing of the present invention, illustrating a status of use of the wedge training aid (I). 
         FIG. 6B  is a schematic drawing of the present invention, illustrating a status of use of the wedge training aid (II). 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a part of the present invention, illustrating the structure of the putting green training aid and the guard net. 
         FIG. 7A  is an exploded view of an alternate form of the putting green training aid in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic exploded view of a part of the present invention, illustrating the mounting structure of the track between two rails and one connector. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of a part of the present invention, illustrating the mounting structure of the track. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a golf training system  30  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The golf training system  30  comprises a wedge training aid  10 , a putting green training aid  16 , a mat  17 , a track  18 , a ball collector  19 , and a guard net  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the wedge training aid  10  comprises a base  11 , a horizontal bar  12 , an upright bar  13 , and elevation markers  14 . 
     The base  11  comprises a rectangular bottom plate  21  configured to ensure maximum stability of the base  11 , a pad  22  made by an non-slip material, such as artificial turf, synthetic fibers or the like, and positioned on the top surface of the bottom plate  21  for holding a golf ball thereon positively in position, a pair of fasteners  23  (or adhesive) to affix the pad  22  to the bottom plate  21  and to prevent displacement of the pad  22  relative to the bottom plate  21 , and a sliding rail  24  affixed to a rear side of the bottom plate  21 . The sliding rail  24  is form of a rectangular tube defining opposing left opening  25  and right opening  26  for the insertion of the horizontal bar  12  into the inside of the sliding rail  24  selectively to fit a right-handed player (see  FIG. 2 ) or a left-handed player (see  FIG. 5 ), and having a left-handed nut  27  and a right-handed nut  28  respectively disposed near the two opposite ends thereof for the mounting of a manually operable fastener, for example, handle screw  29 . 
     Preferably, the base  11  provides two oblong slots  31  located on the bottom plate  21  near its two opposite ends. These oblong slots  31  facilitate hand carrying and allow positioning of a directional golf ball during practice. The base  11  further comprises a mounting hole  32  disposed near the front side thereof for the mounting of a target  33 . The target  33  is stepped member made of an elastic material, for example, synthetic or natural rubber, having a relatively greater lower part pressed under the bottom plate  21  and a relatively smaller upper part inserted through the mounting hole  32  and protruded over the top side of the bottom plate  21  for practicing the golf swing. 
     The horizontal bar  12  is form of a rectangular tube, axially slidably inserted into the sliding rail  24  and locked thereto by the manually operable fastener  29 . The horizontal bar  12  comprises an upright lug  35  perpendicularly upwardly extended from its front end to which the upright bar  13  is pivotally connected, and two wing plates  36  extended from the bottom wall of its front end in reversed direction to enhance positioning stability. 
     The upright bar  13  is a retractable bar consisting of multiple parts, allowing adjustment of the length (height) and facilitating carrying and storage. In this embodiment, the upright bar  13  comprises an outer tube member  37  pivotally connected to the upright lug  35  of the horizontal bar  12  by a screw  41  and a nut  42  and lockable thereto in vertical by a manually operable fastener, for example, handle screw  43 , an intermediate tube member  38  axially slidably inserted into the outer tube member  37  and lockable thereto by a manually operable fastener, for example, handle screw  44  at the outer tube member  37 , and an inner tube member  39  axially slidably inserted into the intermediate tube member  38  and lockable thereto by a manually operable fastener, for example, handle screw  45  at the intermediate tube member  38 . However, it is to be understood that any other designs that allow free adjustment of the height of the upright bar  13  can be selectively used to substitute for the aforesaid arrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, in the case that the ease of storage and carrying is not considered, the upright bar  13  can be made of one-piece rod member that does not allow adjustment of the height. 
     The elevation markers  14  in this embodiment are differently colored magnets selectively attachable to the upright bar  13  at different elevations by magnetic attraction to mark the height for wedge finish during practice, enabling the user to accurately control the wedge hitting range at different wedge finishes. However, the elevation markers  14  are not limited to magnets. Alternatively, the wedge training aid  10   a  shown in  FIG. 2A  uses a rod member horizontally connected to the top end of the upright bar  13  to work as an elevation marker  14   a . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A  is same as that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the exception of the elevation marker  14   a.    
       FIG. 4  illustrates a received condition of the wedge training aid  10 . When receiving wedge training aid  10 , put the horizontal bar  12  into the inside of the sliding rail  24  and lock it in the received position, and then adjust the upright bar  13  to the lowest height and lock it in the adjusted position, and then turn the upright bar  13  from vertical to horizontal where the upright bar  13  is kept attached to the sliding rail  24 , convenient for carrying and storage. 
     When using the wedge training aid  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 68 , pull the horizontal bar  12  out of the sliding rail  24  and lock it in the extended position, and then lift the upright bar  13  from horizontal to vertical and lock it in the vertical position, and then adjust the height of the upright bar  13  to the maximum and then lock it in position, and then attach the elevation markers (differently colored magnets)  14  to the upright bar  13  at 5 feet height and other elevations subject to expected wedge finishes the wedge  95  to be practiced, for example, 2:5 golf swing (2 means the ground clearance H 1  between the head  96  of the wedge  95  and the ground during the backswing to be 2 feet; 5 means the ground clearance H 2  between the head  96  of the wedge  95  and the ground during the finish to be 5 feet; other golf swings such as 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 2:3, or 2:4 may be employed). Thereafter, place the golf ball  97  on the pad  22  of the base  11 , and then aim the head  96  of the wedge  95  at the golf ball  97  to practice the backswing, swinging the wedge  95  backwardly to the position where the head  96  of the wedge  95  reaches the position about 2 feet high from the ground (H 1 =2 feet, as shown in  FIG. 6A ) and then drive out the golf ball  97  to the extent where the head  96  of the wedge  95  is kept about the elevation of the elevation marker  14  (height H 2  of finish=5 feet, as shown in  FIG. 6B ). Practice 10 times for every swing and remember the average hitting range till that every wedge has been trained. After a certain period of training, the player can accurately know the hitting range of every wedge under every different golf swing, and then find the most reliable and the most confident offensive distance, enabling every pitch shot to be closer to the hole. 
     In case only one elevation marker (magnet)  14  is used, or in the case that a rod member horizontally connected to the top end of the upright bar  13  to work as an elevation marker  14   a , adjust the elevational position of the elevation marker  14  at the upright bar  13 , or adjust the height (length) of the upright bar  13  to change the elevation of the elevation marker  14   a  subject to different golf swings for practicing different finishes. 
     The aforesaid training methods are only suggestions but not restrictions. The user can adjust the training procedures subject to personal habits or preferences, until full learning of the skills to use the wedges to hit different distances. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 1  again, the putting green training aid  16  comprises a slope  63 , a highland  64 , an inverted-U fence  60  surrounding the slope  63  and the highland  64 , a inverted-L guide groove  62  extending along the inner side of the fence  60 , a ditch  65  located on the highland  64  in communication with the inverted-L guide groove  62 , a ditch cover  68  covering the ditch  66  and defining therein a first hole  66  and a second hole  67  for allowing the ball falling into the first hole  66  or second hole  67  to be guided by the ditch  65  and the inverted-L guide groove  62  to the track  18 , a plug plate  69  extended from the distal end of the inverted-L guide groove  62  for the connection of the track  18 , and a plurality of pins  71  downwardly extended from the border of the bottom wall of the ditch cover  68  and respectively plugged into respective pinholes  72  at the highland  64  to detachably secure the ditch cover  68  to the highland  64 .  FIG. 7A  illustrates a substitute ditch cover  68   a  that has only the first hole  66 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 7  again, the mat  17  is an elongated strip member made of artificial turf, synthetic fibers, or any other material similar to the green surface structure, having its one end connected to the bottom plate  21  of the base  11  and its other end provided with two locating holes  80  for the insertion of two fasteners  78  into two locating holes  61  at the slope  63  of the putting green training aid  16  to secure the mat  17  to the slope  63  and the highland  64 . The mat  17  defines a first hole  73  and a second hole  74  corresponding to the first hole  66  and second hole  67  of the ditch cover  68  respectively. Further, the mat  17  divided into a first area  75  and a second area  76  that are respectively colored with two different colors. The first hole  73  is located on the first area  75 . The second hole  74  is located on the second area  76 . Further, the first area  76  carries a line mark  77  that extends straightly from one end of the mat  17  across the first hole  73  to the other end of the mat  17  for reference to check the rolling track of the ball. The mat  17   a  shown in  FIG. 7A  provides only the first hole  73  to match the ditch cover  68   a  that provides only the first hole  66 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9  and  FIGS. 1 and 7  again, the track  18  comprises four rails  81  and three connectors  82  respectively connected between each two rails  81 . One end of the track  18  is connected to the guide groove  62  of the putting green training aid  16 . The other end of the track  18  is supported on the ball collector  19 . Each rail  81  comprises a narrow elongated flat rail base  90 , two side flanges  83  respectively extending along two opposite lateral sides of the flat rail base  90 , a longitudinal groove  84  defined in and extending along the length of each side flange  83 , and two dowel holes  85  on each of the two ends thereof. The aforesaid plug plate  69  is press-fitted into one rail  81  between the side flanges  83 . The connectors  82  are rectangular plate members, each comprising four dowels  86  upwardly extended from the top wall thereof in the four corners, two coupling flanges  87  respectively upwardly extended from the two opposite lateral sides thereof and then turned horizontally inwards, and a coupling groove  88  defined in each of the coupling flange  87 . When connecting each two rails  81 , insert the respective ends of the rails  81  into one connector  82  to couple the respective side flanges  83  to the respective coupling flanges  87  and engage the respective dowels  86  into respective dowel holes  85 . Subject to this mounting arrangement, the rails  81  are connected in series. Further, the number of the rails  81  can be changed subject to the dimension of the training field. Further, the coupling structure between each two rails  81  is not limited to the aforesaid arrangement. For example, dovetail joint or T-shaped tongue-and-groove joint can be used as a substitute. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 7  again, the ball collector  18  is adapted to collect the golf ball, comprising a sidewall  92 , a channel  91  defined in a front side of the sidewall  92  and attached to sliding rail  24  of the base  11  on the floor to let the collector  19  be affixed to the rear side of the base  11 , and a notch  93  located on the left side of the sidewall  92 . The track  18  is extended through the notch  93  to the top side of the ball collector  19  for enabling the driven ball to roll along the track  18  into the ball connector  19 , avoiding the inconvenience of retrieving balls and improving practice efficiency. When the track  18  is not in use, the gate  94  that is hinged to the sidewall  92  can be moved to block the notch  93 , prohibiting the golf ball from running out of the ball collector  19  through this notch  93 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the guard net  20  comprises a net  79  and a net rack  89 . The net rack  89  comprises a plurality of posts (no reference number) respectively plugged into respective plugholes  70  of the fence  60  (see  FIG. 7 ), to detachably secure the guard net  20  to the putting green training aid  16 . The net  79  is hung on the net rack  89  to intercept the golf ball that flies over the putting green training aid  16 , enabling the golf ball to fall to the putting green training aid  16  and then to roll along the guide groove  62  and the track  18  to the ball collector  19 . 
     Further, the wedge training aid  10  of the golf training system  30  can be used independently, or assembled with the putting green training aid  16 , the mat  17 , the track  18 , the ball collector  19  and the guard net  20  for application. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.