Golf practice and exercise device

Abstract

A large, resilient, hollow ball, of a size between that of a softball and a basketball, preferably a soccer ball or a volleyball, having a vent that allows restricted exit of air upon the ball being struck by a golf club and allows air to re-enter the hollow interior upon reflexing of the ball after being struck by a golf club. The ball may be combined with a target assembly that serves to return the ball to the striking position at which it has been struck.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf practice and exercise device, comprising a hollow object at least as large as a conventional softball having a resilient outer wall defining a hollow interior, said outer wall having a vent opening therethrough to allow restricted air flow out of the hollow interior upon inward flexing of the resilient outer wall when the object is struck by a golf club and to allow air to re-enter the hollow interior when the resilient outer wall reflexes to its original shape following the striking by a golf club.  
     
     
         2 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the vent is between approximately 4 mm and approximately 10 mm.  
     
     
         3 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the outer wall is of a material substantially the same as the outer material of a conventional soccer ball.  
     
     
         4 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the object is spherical.  
     
     
         5 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 4  wherein the spherical object is of a diameter in the range of approximately 85 mm to 300 mm and the vent is in the range of approximately 4 mm to 10 mm.  
     
     
         6 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 4  wherein the spherical object is of a diameter between approximately 170 mm and approximately 190 mm.  
     
     
         7 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 4  wherein the spherical object is approximately the size of a conventional soccer ball.  
     
     
         8 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 4  wherein the outer wall is of a material substantially the same as the outer wall of a conventional soccer ball.  
     
     
         9 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 7  wherein the vent is approximately 4 mm to 10 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         10 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the hollow object is approximately the size of a conventional volleyball.  
     
     
         11 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 4  wherein the outer wall is of a material substantially the same as the outer wall of a conventional volleyball.  
     
     
         12 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 10  wherein the vent is approximately 4 mm to approximately 10 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         13 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the hollow object is of a size substantially the same as a conventional basketball.  
     
     
         14 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 13  wherein the vent is approximately 4 mm to 10 mm in diameter.  
     
     
         15 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 4  wherein the outer wall is of a material substantially the same as the outer wall of a conventional basketball.  
     
     
         16 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 4  and characterized further by a target assembly against which the spherical object is propelled after being struck from a striking position a sufficient distance from the target assembly that when the spherical object is struck by a golf club swung by a golfer it travels in a direction imposed by the golfer's swing whereby the golfer can practice to control the travel of the practice ball and to develop golf swing strength.  
     
     
         17 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 16  wherein the target assembly is arranged to direct return of the spherical object to approximately the striking position.  
     
     
         18 . A golf practice and exercise device according to  claim 17  wherein the target assembly includes a ball return panel extending across a lower portion of the target assembly over which the spherical object rolls downwardly and from which the spherical object is directed to return to approximately the striking position.