Patent Application
20220203199
Golf is a difficult game with many intricacies and variables. One constant in the game, however, is the benefit a golfer achieves with proper impact between the golf club's head and the golf ball. When a golf ball is to be struck off a natural grass hitting surface, the proper impact is achieved when the golf club's head strikes the ball first then the natural grass hitting surface after the ball creating a divot in front of the ball, with the divot's shape pointing towards the aim line. This maximizes the golfer's potential when striking golf balls off natural grass hitting surfaces. The result of this leads to good golf shots with proper golf ball distance, trajectory, and control.
When the golfer fails to achieve the proper impact condition, the result of the golf shot is less than desirable. Loss of distance control, loss of proper trajectory, and loss of directional control of the golf ball are common for those golfers who do not consistently achieve the proper impact condition. If a golfer strikes the natural grass hitting surface before striking the golf ball, this shot is considered a “fat shot” which leads to loss of distance, loss of proper trajectory, and loss of directional control of the golf ball. If a golfer strikes the ball first but fails to contact the natural grass hitting surface after the ball to make a divot, the shot is considered a “thin shot” which leads to loss of distance control, loss of proper trajectory, and loss of directional control.
Additionally, a golfer may strike the golf ball first then the natural grass hitting surface creating a divot, but if the divot is not pointing towards the aim line, then loss of directional control will occur. For example, for a right-handed golfer, if the divot points to the right of the aim line this is evidence that the golfer's club head path is in-to-out. This will produce a shot that is pushed out to the right if the golf club's face is open, or if the face is closed will produce a hook shot that will start out to the right and end extreme left of the target. If the right-handed golfer's divot points to the left of the aim line, this is evidence that the golfer's club head path is out-to-in. This will produce a shot that is pulled to the left if the golf club's face is closed, or if the face is open will produce a slice shot that starts out left and ends extreme right of the target.
Most golf courses offer natural grass hitting areas on what is called a driving range. Golfers use natural grass driving ranges to replicate what they will experience when they play on the golf course. This is the most accurate way to practice proper golf ball impact as we have discussed which means every shot hit off the natural grass hitting area should create a divot after golf ball impact. With many golfers practicing in these natural grass hitting areas every day, many divots are taken daily. Golf courses are tasked heavily to ensure the natural grass grows back as quickly as possible to keep the driving range usable from day to day. Every golfer who uses a natural grass driving range wants to be able to go to the range and have some natural grass to hit from to practice properly. However, most golfers are uneducated on what they can do to help minimize the amount of natural grass their divots remove while still maintaining the same number of practice shots during their practice session.
According to the United States Golf Association (USGA) there are three common types of golf driving range divot patterns. The scattered pattern, concentrated pattern, and the linear pattern. The linear divot pattern involves placing each shot directly behind the previous divot. In so doing, a linear or inline pattern is created, and only a small amount of natural grass is removed with each swing. This can usually be done for 15 to 20 shots before moving sideways to create a new line of divots. So long as a minimum of 4 inches of natural grass is preserved between strips of divots, the natural grass will recover quickly. Because this divot pattern removes the least amount of natural grass and promotes quick recovery, it is the preferred method. A scattered divot pattern removes the most amount of natural grass because a full divot is removed with every swing. Scattering divots results in the most natural grass loss and uses up the largest amount of space on the driving range. A concentrated divot pattern removes natural grass in one large area during the golfer's practice session. While this approach does not necessarily result in a full-sized divot removed with every swing, by creating a large void in the natural grass canopy there is little opportunity for timely natural grass recovery. Use of scattered or concentrated divot patterns forces the golf facility to rotate tee stalls more frequently and often results in an inefficient use of the natural grass teeing areas.
Every golfer would benefit from being able to have instant feedback when practicing striking golf balls off natural grass hitting areas. They need to know if they are performing the proper golf ball impact conditions we have discussed. The golf swing happens so fast, that the golfer is often unable to see during the shot if they were lined up properly, hit the ball fat, thin, had and in-to-out, or out-to-in swing path. The golfer may produce a divot while practicing, but unless they have a reference of where the ball was in relationship to the divot, they cannot have proper feedback in knowing if they hit the ball first before making the divot.
Every golfer would benefit from having a visual representation on the natural grass or artificial grass hitting surfaces illustrating the proper golf ball impact condition we have discussed. This would help them not only receive feedback after the shot, but during the shot give their mind a visual reference on what actions the body needs to do to properly execute the golf shot.
Golfers need to be educated on the importance of practicing using linear divot patterns on natural grass driving ranges to better the driving range experience for golfers and grounds keepers. Golfers need to know that they are leaving at least 4 inches of natural grass between the linear divot lines and not spacing them unnecessarily too far apart and without the need to physically measure the distance each time. This will allow the driving range divots to grow back much faster and take up less driving range space per golfer which will better the driving range experience for golfers and grounds keepers. It would benefit the game of golf to have golfers on the natural grass driving range use a device that templates for them the proper linear divot spacing.
The present disclosure provides a golf training aid and method that provides golfers with instant feedback on whether they have achieved proper golf ball impact or not when striking golf balls from natural grass hitting surfaces.
The present disclosure provides a golf training aid and method that provides golfers with proper visualization illustrated by visible lines on a natural or artificial grass hitting surface for proper golf ball impact.
The present disclosure provides a golf training aid and method that provides golfers with a template that when golf balls are struck with reasonable accuracy will allow at least 4 inches of unaffected natural grass to remain between linear divot lines.
The present disclosure allows golfers to practice and learn proper swing mechanics through visualization and instant feedback. Through this visualization and feedback, the golfer will learn how to repeatedly achieve proper swing mechanics by training their mind to see what needs to happen when a golf ball is to be struck from natural grass hitting surfaces. Through this visualization and feedback, the golfer will achieve a sense of where the bottom of their swing arc is and where it needs to be when striking golf balls from natural grass hitting surfaces.
The present disclosure allows the golfer to achieve the needed visualization and feedback to properly strike golf balls off a natural or artificial grass hitting surfaces consistently which will lead to lower scores and more enjoyment playing the game of golf. Most golfers feel the sense to help the ball up into the air when striking golf balls off a natural or artificial hitting surface and often the bottom of their swing arc is located behind the golf ball giving evidence of this. With the inherent urge golfers general feel to help the ball up in the air, this often causes them to increase the loft of the club at impact when proper golf ball impact needs to decrease the loft of the club at impact. When this occurs either the shot will be “fat” or “thin” resulting in golf shots that are undesirable and inconsistent. When the bottom of a golfer's swing arc is in front of the ball and its path going toward the aim line, then the golfer will achieve a proper golf ball impact condition. These golf shots will have good distance, good trajectory, and good control which will help the golfer be able to consistently predict an outcome and play better golf.
One version of the present disclosure is currently embodied and sold commercially as The Divot Feedback Template Model A. It is a flat, square object that is cutout to be used as a template to spray marking powder onto natural grass hitting areas. There are a total of 4 cutouts on this version described. The first cutout is located at the top and is to be used as a carrying handle. The second cutout is located below the handle, and this is the first of two divot reference lines which are to be aimed at the golfer's aim line. The third cutout is located below the handle and is the second of the two divot reference lines which are to be aimed at the golfer's aim line. The spacing between the two divot reference lines will allow at least 4 inches of natural grass to remain with reasonable golf ball striking accuracy. The fourth cutout is located at the bottom and is perpendicular to the two divot reference lines. This cutout is referred as the miss line. The space between the bottom end of the two divot reference lines and the miss line is to be at least wide enough for the diameter of a golf ball to rest on.
Another version of the present disclosure is an artificial grass golf hitting surface that has painted or printed markings portraying the use of the concept that the previous listed version illustrates. Due to an artificial grass surface being used, this version contains the ability to possess more rows of divot reference lines which would allow the golfer to line up and hit multiple golf balls across the width of the artificial golf hitting surface. Although, the artificial grass surface will not allow a divot to be made after the ball is impacted, the painted or printed miss line and painted or printed divot reference lines will aid the golfer in visualizing proper golf ball impact.
The present disclosure will be described in a more detailed fashion using the accompanying drawings, references, and the detailed description. It is not the intent of the accompanying drawings, references, and detailed description to limit the applicability of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited in the number of possible variations or constructing materials. The present disclosure listed in detail is only one of many possible examples of the possible variations of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure provides a golf training aid and method that provides golfers with visualization and instant feedback on whether they have achieved proper golf ball impact or not. Additionally, the present disclosure assists golfers in using proper linear divot pattern methods on natural grass golf driving ranges. Furthermore, the present disclosure is a golf training aid and method that aids the golfer in visualization when used on an artificial grass hitting surface.
If a golfer achieves missing the chalked miss line 301 and removing either the chalked left divot reference line 302 or the chalked right divot reference line 303 with their golf swing and have the divot pointing perpendicular to the chalked miss line 301, the result will be a properly executed golf shot from a golf ball hit from the natural grass hitting surface 304.
If a golfer hits the natural grass hitting surface 304 before the chalked miss line 301 and removes a portion of either the chalked left divot reference line 302 or the chalked right divot reference line 303, the result will be a poorly executed golf shot from a golf ball hit from the natural grass hitting surface 304.
If a golfer achieves missing the chalked miss line 301 and removing either the chalked left divot reference line 302 or the chalked right divot reference line 303 but the divot points to the left and not perpendicular to the chalked miss line 301, the result will be a poorly executed golf shot from a golf ball hit from the natural grass hitting surface 304.
If a golfer achieves missing the chalked miss line 301 and removing either the chalked left divot reference line 302 or the chalked right divot reference line 303 but the divot points to the left and not perpendicular to the chalked miss line 301, the result is an incorrect golf ball impact feedback 500 which leads to a shot that starts out left of the aim line. As discussed in the incorrect golf ball impact feedback 500, incorrect golf ball impact feedback 501 illustrates a divot that points to the right of the target, and this leads to a shot that starts to the right of the aim line. The results are poor golf shots with loss of control.
Once a golfer has struck both golf balls 300 on a natural grass hitting surface 304 the natural grass that remains between the 2 divot rows will be a minimum of 4″ wide if the golf balls are struck with reasonable striking accuracy which is the recommended minimum distance provided by the USGA.
Once a golfer has begun to create two proper linear divot spacing lines 600, they can simply bring their next set of two practice golf balls up to the point where the unaffected natural grass hitting surface 304 is, and the divot rows begin and use this as a guide for proper linear divot spacing 600 to continue. Simply rest a golf ball on the unaffected natural grass right behind the divot of each row and continue hitting golf balls while working your way backwards with each shot. After a few shots, then take the golf training aid 100 and place down inline with the divot rows being created. Place the golf training aid 100 in a way which the beginning of the left divot reference line cutout 102 and the right divot reference line cutout 103 arc at the point where the unaffected natural grass is and the exposed proper linear divot spacing 600 lines begin. Stand back and align the golf training aid 100 with your intended aim line and use spray marking chalk 201 to start a new set of lines as done prior. When this is done, the divot reference lines will be visible in the bare soil from the previous shots. This will aid the golfer in visualization and alignment as they continue maintaining proper linear divot spacing 600. Golfers continue striking golf balls as described and repeat this process as needed to help build consistency in their golf swing while maintaining proper linear divot spacing 600 during their practice session.
The use of the present disclosure will allow golfers to visualize what the proper golf ball impact condition is. The use of the present disclosure and method will allow golfers to have instant feedback on their golf ball impact position. Using the feedback the present disclosure provides, golfers will know what golf swing mechanics to work on. With repeated use of this present disclosure, the golfer will gain visualization and acquire proper muscle memory skills to improve their golf game by more consistently hitting good golf shots. More good golf shots will lead to more consistent golf, leading to more confidence, lower golf scores, and more enjoyment playing the game of golf. Additionally, the use of the present disclosure will allow golfers to use a proper linear divot pattern on the natural grass golf practice range allowing more enjoyment for golfers and golf course caretakers. Furthermore, the use of the present disclosure on an artificial grass hitting surface will aid the golfer in alignment and simulate what the proper impact condition is on a natural grass hitting surface which will prepare them to play on the golf course.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63130575 | Dec 2020 | US |
