Golf Training Apparatus

Abstract

A golf training apparatus is provided. The apparatus preferably includes a substantially flat, flexible substrate having an upper surface and top, bottom, left, and right edges, where the top edge is substantially parallel to the bottom edge. The substrate further includes a plurality of impressions corresponding to ball placement and user stance. With respect to the ball placement, the plurality of impressions may include a center impression that is equidistance from the left and right edges of the substrate. For a right-handed user, a high elevation is achieved by placing the ball at an impression to the left of center, where the ball's trajectory increases as the distance from center increases. Similarly, a lower elevation is achieved by placing the ball at an impression to the right of center, where the ball's trajectory decreases as the distance from center increases.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf training apparatus, comprising:
 a golf ball having a plurality of dimples;   a golf club having a shaft and a head with a substantially flat face that is configured to strike the golf ball; and   a substantially flat, flexible substrate having at least an upper surface and top, bottom, left and right edges, wherein (1) the top edge is substantially parallel to the bottom edge, (2) the top edge comprises a first series of evenly spaced impressions, and (3) the bottom edge comprises a second series of evenly spaced impression;   wherein a first impression in the first series of impressions is substantially equidistant from left and right edges of the substrate and a second impression in the second series of impressions is substantially equidistant from the left and right edges, such that a line that traverses the first and second impressions would be substantially perpendicular to both the top and bottom edges;   wherein the second series of impression is configured for placement of a user's feet based at least on the user's height such that placement of the user's left foot is on the bottom edge of the substrate and to the left of the second impression and the user's right foot is on the bottom edge of the substrate and to the right of the second impression, with both feet both equidistant from the second impression; and   wherein each one of the first series of impressions is configured for placement of the golf ball such that striking the golf ball with the golf club has a particular result, including a higher elevation when the golf ball is placed to the left of the first impression, the trajectory of the golf ball increasing as the distance from the first impression increases, and a lower elevation when the golf ball is placed to the right of the first impression, the trajectory decreasing as the distance from the first impression increases.   
     
     
         2 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the top and bottom edges is between twelve and eighteen inches. 
     
     
         3 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the first series of impressions is substantially vertical, such that alignment of the golf club's face with one of the first series of impressions results in the head being square with the golf ball. 
     
     
         4 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each one of the first series of impressions is an aperture through the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the aperture is a substantially vertical slit, such that alignment of the golf club's face with one of the first series of impressions results in the head being square with the golf ball. 
     
     
         6 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a textile comprising at least polyester. 
     
     
         7 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a textile comprising at least a polyester-cotton blend. 
     
     
         8 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , the substrate further comprises a plurality of identifiers adjacent each one of the first and second series of impressions such that each one of the plurality of identifiers are different from at least adjacent ones of the plurality of identifiers. 
     
     
         9 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of identifiers are affixed to the substrate via sublimation. 
     
     
         10 . The golf training apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second series of impressions are affixed to the substrate via sublimation. 
     
     
         11 . A method for training a user to play golf, comprising:
 placing a substantially flat, flexible substrate on a playing surface, the substrate having at least an upper surface, and top, bottom, left and right edges, wherein (1) the top edge is substantially parallel to the bottom edge, (2) the top edge comprises a first series of evenly spaced impressions, (3) the bottom edge comprises a second series of evenly spaced impressions, (4) the first series of impressions includes a first impression substantially equidistant from the left and right edges, and (5) the second series of impressions includes a second impression substantially equidistant from the left and right edges such that a line that traverses the first and second impressions would be substantially perpendicular to the both the top and bottom edges;   placing a golf ball having a plurality of dimples adjacent one of the first series of impressions;   standing adjacent the bottom edge of the substrate with the user's left foot at a first one of the second series of impressions and the user's right foot at a second one of the second series of impressions such that both feet are equidistant from the second impression, wherein the user is holding a golf club having a shaft and a head with a substantially flat face;   positioning the head of the golf club adjacent the golf ball; and   striking the golf ball by raising the golf club back over the user's shoulder via a backswing and rapidly swinging the golf club toward the golf ball via a downswing;   wherein placement of the golf ball to the left of the first impression results in a higher elevation when the golf ball is struck such that the trajectory of the golf ball increase as the distance from the first impression increases and placement of the golf ball to the right of the first impression results in a lower elevation when the golf ball is struck such that the trajectory of the golf ball decreases as the distance from the first impression increases.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a distance between the top and bottom edges is between fourteen and sixteen inches. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each one of the first series of impressions is substantially vertical and the step of positioning the head of the golf club adjacent the golf ball further includes aligning the golf club's face with one of the first series of impressions, resulting in the head being square with the golf ball. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each one of the first series of impressions is an aperture through the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the aperture is a substantially vertical slit and the step of positioning the head of the golf club adjacent the golf ball further includes aligning the golf club's face with one of the first series of impressions, resulting in the head being square with the golf ball. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the substrate is a textile comprising at least polyester. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the substrate is a textile comprising at least a polyester-cotton blend. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , the substrate further comprises a plurality of identifiers adjacent each one of the first and second series of impressions such that each one of the plurality of identifiers are different from at least adjacent ones of the plurality of identifiers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of identifiers are affixed to the substrate via sublimation. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second series of impressions are affixed to the substrate via sublimation.