Method and apparatus for golf club fitting

Abstract

A golf club fitting mat, comprising a base element and a mark retaining layer removeably secured or mounted to a base element. The mark retaining layer may be a no carbon required paper, carbon paper, or wax containing surface, and has one or more simulated golf balls imprinted thereon. A mark is left on the mark retaining layer which instantly records the contact area of the golf club with the practice mat. A transferable marking compound on the top of the mark retaining layer transfers to the club head in the area of contact during the swing. A method for club fitting using a golf club fitting mat which records club contact to the mat, relative to a ball target, and transfers a mark to the club.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation in part of co-pending application Ser. No. 10 / 371,874.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of Invention [0003] This invention relates to a method for the fitting of golf clubs, and more particularly to an apparatus and method utilizing mark transfer from a mat back to the club. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Heretofore a wide variety of golf and golf related practice devices have been proposed and developed for improving golf skills. Prior devices have attempted to provide such practice tools in variety of different manners. A significant limitation of all prior devices however, is that such devices are often cumbersome, expensive, unreliable, and not particularly convenient for improving golf skills. Prior art devices that recorded the contact area of the golf club to the golf ball do not give the same type of information about the swing as one can have with a record of the contact...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present invention provides a method and apparatus for custom fitting of golf clubs that is convenient to use, reliable, inexpensive to manufacture, and may be used either inside or outside. The method and apparatus of the present invention is easy to use, and provides instant and reliable feedback about the fit of a golf club to the user by leaving a mark on the club and around and near a simulated golf ball or other target imprinted on a paper or other impressionable surface on a mat. The visible mark on the club gives information about the nature of the fit of the golf club to the user. The visible mark on the mat gives immediate information to the user as to the quality and characteristic of the swing, and as to whether the swing was appropriate to use as a basis for club fitting. A swing not “on target” with the simulated ball (or ball target) will give misinformation with regard to the club fit.

[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method for the fitting of golf clubs to a user. It is also an object of this invention to provide a divot or golf practice mat with an impressionable surface having one or more imprinted simulated golf balls or targets thereon. The impressionable surface is preferably composed of a no carbon required (NCR) type paper, but may alternatively be composed of or contain a wax, a carbon paper, thermal paper, or the like. The invention allows for the recording of the contact area between a golf club and the recording surface, which simulates the position of a golf ball on the ground. The invention also allows for the transfer of ink or other material to the club head to provide information regarding the fit of the club to the user. When the recording sheet has been used up, the recording sheet is easily removed and replaced. The sheet then becomes a permanent record of the contacts between the golf club and the apparatus. The mark transferred to the club may be easily removed in order to allow the mark from the subsequent swing to be clearly recorded.

Problems solved by technology

A significant limitation of all prior devices however, is that such devices are often cumbersome, expensive, unreliable, and not particularly convenient for improving golf skills.

Prior art devices that recorded the contact area of the golf club to the golf ball do not give the same type of information about the swing as one can have with a record of the contact area of the golf club to the ground.

In addition, devices that record the contact area of the golf ball to the golf club carry the distinct disadvantage of requiring modification to the golf club.

This device carries the limitation that the recording is done on the club, especially since it requires modification of the club to be swung.

Also, only one swing can be made before a disruption to the practice round must be made to replace the device on the club.

Also, although this device does give some information about the way in which the club and the ground have come into contact with each other, the information is limited in that no “dynamic” record is made of the club contact with the ground.

Devices which utilize tape on the club head to record the contact of the club head to the ground, or ground simulator, carry the distinct disadvantage or requiring that the tape be removed and replaced in order to have a new surface to mark for a new swing.

This process is time consuming and, in the case of some modern shaped club heads, can be technically difficult.

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