Method and apparatus for golf instruction

Abstract

A golf instructional device is provided for designating proper setup positioning for swinging a golf club and for monitoring the location of a user's eyes while swinging the club, such a mat being customized for an individual golfer. The device comprises a mat for providing a playing surface upon which foot positioning markers, a club positioning marker and a mirror are placed. The markers and mirror are designed to be removably attached to the mat surface to allow a golf instructor to indicate proper location and angle for the user to position themselves and the club which they are swinging. The mirror is of a chosen size such that when attached to the mat at the proper location, the user can observe their eyes while swinging the golf club. A wedge is also provided to be positioned underneath a portion of the user's rearward foot to train the user to maintain a near stationary rear leg during the backswing. The user stands on top of the mat surface and aligns their feet with the foot positioning markers, aligns a golf club with the club positioning marker, and positions their body such that essentially only their eyes are viewable in the mirror. When the user makes practice swings the golf club, excessive lateral and vertical motion can be observed in the mirror.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A golf instructional device for configured for customization for an individual user, and for monitoring the location of a user's eyes while swinging a club, comprising: 
 a mat having a support surface;    one or more foot positioning markers removably attached to the mat surface to indicate proper placement of at least one foot of a user;    a club positioning marker removably attached to the mat surface to indicate proper pre-swing body and club setup alignment; and    a mirror removably attached to the mat surface to indicate proper positioning of a user's eyes;    whereby the foot positioning marker, the club positioning marker and the mirror cooperatively provide the user with a properly designated setup position for swinging a golf club.    
     
     
         2 . The instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the mirror is sized and configured to be of a relatively small size such that when the mirror is placed on the mat, the user is allowed to essentially only view their eyes.  
     
     
         3 . The instructional device of  claim 1 , whereby removable attachment of the one or more foot positioning markers, the club positioning marker, and the mirror is accomplished by affixing a hook component of a hook and loop system to a surface of each and having the mat surface configured to serve as the corresponding loop component to allow for adjusting the locations of the one or more foot positioning markers, the club positioning marker and the mirror on the mat surface.  
     
     
         4 . The instructional device of  claim 1 , further comprising a wedge removably attached to the mat surface for placement under at least a portion of one foot of a user to aid in training the user to maintain a near-stationary back leg during the entire backswing.  
     
     
         5 . The instructional device of  claim 1 , further comprising a centering marker located on the mat for designating a reference position about which a user will position their body nearly parallel to a line running from the ball to a target to guide the user in swinging a golf club in the proper fashion.  
     
     
         6 . The instructional device of  claim 1 , further comprising a golf ball to designate the proper setup position of a golf club head held by the user, the golf ball being properly located off of the mat.  
     
     
         7 . The instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the support mat has a first end and a second end and further comprises a closure mechanism for coupling the first end to the second end to secure the mat in a folded arrangement.  
     
     
         8 . The instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the support mat has a first end having a hole and a second end, and further comprising a toggle mechanism connected to the second end of the mat whereby the mat can be secured in a folded position by insertion of the toggle into the hole of the first end.  
     
     
         9 . The instructional device of  claim 1 , wherein the placement and attachment of the one or more foot positioning markers, the club positioning marker and the mirror on the support mat to designate proper setup positioning for swinging a golf club is conducted only by a golf instructor and not by the individual user of the mat.  
     
     
         10 . A golf instructional kit designed to improve a user's golf club swing technique by designating proper setup positioning for swinging a club based on the user's individual needs, the kit comprising: 
 a mat having a support surface;    one or more foot positioning markers removably attached to the mat surface to indicate proper placement of at least one foot of a user;    a club positioning marker removably attached to the mat surface to indicate proper pre-swing body and club setup alignment; and    a mirror removably attached to the mat surface to indicate proper positioning of a user's head, the mirror being of a relatively small size such that when the mirror is placed on the mat, the user is allowed to essentially only view their eyes while practicing the swinging of a golf club;    an instructional manual containing teaching methods corresponding to specific lessons taught by a golf instructor, such teachings arranged within the manual in a manner as to facilitate the user reinforcing specific club swing setup positioning and proper club swing techniques learned with the mat, associated markers and mirror outside the presence of the golf instructor.    
     
     
         11 . A method of using a golf instructional device, said method comprising the steps of: 
 placing one or more foot positioning members onto a support mat surface to indicate proper placement of one or more feet of a user for swinging a golf club;    placing a club positioning member onto the support mat surface to indicate proper pre-swing body and club setup alignment;    placing a mirror onto the support mat surface to indicate proper positioning of a user's eyes; and    having a user stand on the support mat surface and align one or more feet with the one or more foot positioning members, position the user's head such that the user can essentially only view their eyes in the mirror, and swing a golf club while the user visually observes any movement of their head in the mirror during at least a portion of the golf club practice swing.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of: 
 adjusting the position of the one or more foot positioning members, club positioning member, or mirror on the support mat surface based on either a specific instructional lesson to be taught by a golf instructor, or on changes and/or improvements in the golf club swing of a user, such adjusting performed only by a golf instructor and not by the individual using the mat.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing the user with an instructional manual containing teaching methods corresponding to specific lessons taught by a golf instructor, such teachings arranged within the manual in a manner as to facilitate the user reinforcing specific pre-swing setup positioning and club swing techniques learned with the instructional device outside the presence of the golf instructor.    
     
     
         14 . A method of providing golf instruction, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a user with an instructional device having markers for designating proper setup positioning and stance for the user to swing a golf club, the positioning being customized and markers being adjustable for an individual user; and    having a golf instructor position the markers on the device in such locations as to teach the user a proper setup position for swinging a golf club.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a mirror with the instructional device for monitoring the location of a user's eyes while making practice swings with the golf club;    having a golf instructor position the mirror on the device in such a location as to teach the user to maintain a near-steady head while making practice swings with the golf club.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing the user with an instructional manual containing teaching methods corresponding to specific lessons taught by the golf instructor, such teachings arranged within the manual such that the user can reinforce a specific club swing technique learned with the instructional device outside the presence of the golf instructor.