Practice device

Abstract

A practice device suitable for practicing golf putts, especially one provided in a mat, the device comprising a target and an upstanding shock absorber. When provided in a mat the device has a flush entry point thus accurately simulating an actual golf hole. Preferred embodiments include an essentially straight shock absorber which is higher in the centre than at its edges thus retaining more centrally struck putts adding further to the realism of the device. Certain embodiments include a light emitting means to define the target and means to detect the presence, speed and direction of balls moving into or out of the target.

1 . A practice device comprising a target and an upstanding shock absorber. 
   
   
       2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , which is a golf putting practicing device. 
   
   
       3 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , which is adapted to be placed on or in a mat, wherein at a first side of the target, the device is flush with the mat and at a second side of the target, the upstanding shock absorber is provided. 
   
   
       4 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in use, the shock absorber is adapted to retain an increasing number of shots within the target the closer they are to the centre of the shock absorber. 
   
   
       5 . A device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the height of the shock absorber reaches a peak at its mid-point, and the height tapers downwardly either side of its mid-point. 
   
   
       6 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the height at a mid-point of the shock absorber is 8-16 mm. 
   
   
       7 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the height at end-points of the shock absorber are 5-14 mm. 
   
   
       8 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the resilience of the shock absorber is 30-100 IRHD. 
   
   
       9 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the target is a circular target and the shock absorber is arranged at a tangent to the circular target, the tangential point being at the centre of the shock absorber. 
   
   
       10 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shock absorber extending from an end-point through a mid-point to the opposite end-point is curved or preferably straight, and when curved the diameter of a circle defined by the curvature of the shock absorber is 5 to 10 times the diameter of a circle defined by the target. 
   
   
       11 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there are interstitial areas between the circular target and the shock absorber which are sloped between the target and the shock absorber. 
   
   
       12 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a light emitting means which in use define at least a portion of the target. 
   
   
       13 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising means to detect the presence of balls travelling into or through the target and measure the speed and/or direction of the balls entering the target and optionally leaving the target. 
   
   
       14 . A practicing mat comprising a practice device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at a first side of the target, the device is flush with the mat and at a second side of the target, the upstanding shock absorber is provided. 
   
   
       15 . A practice device comprising a target and a light emitting means, wherein the light emitting means in use emits light which at least in part, defines the target. 
   
   
       16 . A device as claimed in  claim 15 , comprising a base portion and a neck with a head and the light emitting means are mounted on the head and, in use, shine onto the surface on which it is standing in order to define the target. 
   
   
       17 . A device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the target defined by the light is a circular target. 
   
   
       18 . A practicing mat comprising a device according to  claim 15 . 
   
   
       19 . A practicing mat as claimed in  claim 18 , which is a golf putting practicing mat. 
   
   
       20 . A golf practice device comprising a target and a means to detect the presence of golf balls travelling into or through a target wherein the device measures the speed and/or direction of the balls entering the target and optionally leaving the target. 
   
   
       21 . A method of practicing golf putting, the method comprising
 playing a putt such that it comes to rest a certain distance past a target.