Golf training aid

Abstract

A golf training aid and methods of performing golf drills therewith are provided. The golf training aid comprises a thin, rigid, card-like member having structures configured to retain one or more golf balls in place until struck. The training aid further includes a plurality of directional indicia for assisting a user to line up golf shots with a target or intended line of travel and identify the proper trajectory for contacting a golf club with a golf ball. The golf training aid may be used to perform golf drills directed toward improving nearly all aspects of the user's game, particularly putting, wedge and iron shots, and driving, and proper alignment of the club face and user's feet during the practice of drills.

1 . A golf training aid for assisting a golfer to perform a plurality of golf drills comprising a thin substrate material having a thickness that is substantially less than the length and width thereof, said substrate material comprising one or more golf ball retaining structures formed therein and configured to secure a golf ball in a stationary position until the golfer strikes the ball, and an orifice formed in said substrate material configured to received a golf tee therethrough so as to maintain said substrate material in a relatively fixed location with respect to the ground while the golfer performs one of said golf drills. 
   
   
       2 . The golf training aid of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate material comprises opposed top and bottom surfaces, at least one of said top and bottom surfaces including one or more directional indicia thereon. 
   
   
       3 . The golf training aid of  claim 2 , wherein both said top and bottom surfaces include one or more directional indicia thereon. 
   
   
       4 . The golf training aid of  claim 2 , wherein said orifice is formed in the center of said substrate material and said one or more directional indicia extend outwardly from said orifice. 
   
   
       5 . The golf training aid of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate material has a substantially rectangular configuration and includes four corner regions. 
   
   
       6 . The golf training aid of  claim 5 , wherein said golf ball retaining structures are formed in at least two of said corner regions. 
   
   
       7 . The golf training aid of  claim 1 , wherein said golf ball retaining structures comprise golf ball retaining apertures formed in said substrate material. 
   
   
       8 . A golf training kit for assisting a golfer to perform a plurality of golf drills, said kit comprising;
 a golf training aid comprising a thin substrate material including one or more golf ball retaining structures and one or more orifices formed in therein, said golf training aid further including a plurality of directional indicia thereon;   a pad configured to be placed underneath said golf training aid and to secure said golf training aid to a surface during use of said golf training aid in a golf drill;   a reference guide containing instructional information regarding said plurality of golf drills that can be performed with said golf training aid; and   a carrying case for said golf training aid, pad, and reference guide.   
   
   
       9 . The golf training kit of  claim 8 , wherein said golf ball retaining structures comprise golf ball retaining apertures formed in said substrate material. 
   
   
       10 . The golf training kit of  claim 8 , wherein said pad comprises a flexible, tacky material capable of adhering said substrate material to said surface so as to prevent relative movement between said golf training aid and said surface during use of said golf training aid. 
   
   
       11 . The golf training kit of  claim 8 , wherein said carrying case comprises one or more flaps, with at least one pocket formed in one of said flaps for receiving said golf training aid, said pad, and said reference guide. 
   
   
       12 . The golf training kit of  claim 8 , wherein said kit further comprises a disc having recorded thereon information pertaining to said plurality of golf drills. 
   
   
       13 . A method of performing a golf drill comprising;
 providing a golf training aid comprising a thin substrate material including one or more golf ball retaining structures and one or more orifices formed in therein, said golf training aid further including a plurality of directional indicia thereon;   securing said golf training aid to the ground so that shifting of said golf training aid relative to the ground is substantially inhibited;   at least one step selected from the following;
 (a) positioning a golf ball in one of said golf ball retaining structures; 
 (b) placing a golf ball on the ground adjacent said golf training aid and in alignment with one of said directional indicia; 
 (c) inserting a golf tee through one of said orifices and placing a golf ball on said tee; and 
   striking said golf ball with a golf club.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , said step of securing said golf training aid to the ground comprising inserting a retaining member through one of said golf ball retaining structures or through one of said orifices into the ground. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said golf ball is placed on the ground forward of said golf training aid, and wherein said retaining member functions as an obstacle to said golf club during said ball-striking motion. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 13 , said step of securing said golf training aid to the ground comprising placing said golf training aid onto a pad and placing said pad containing said golf training aid onto the ground, said golf training aid adhering to said pad to prevent shifting of said golf training aid relative to the ground while performing said golf drill. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , said golf drill comprising a putting drill using two golf balls, each of said golf balls being placed on a respective golf ball retaining structure. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said step of securing said golf training aid to the ground comprises inserting a golf tee through one of said orifices, the upper margin of said golf tee lying below the equatorial regions of said golf balls. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 13 , said method further comprising the step of aligning one of said directional indicium with a desired line of travel for said golf ball. 
   
   
       20 . A method of performing a golf drill comprising;
 providing a golf training aid comprising a thin substrate material having opposed end margins and including one or more orifices formed in therein and a plurality of directional indicia thereon;   inserting a retaining member through one of said orifices formed in said golf training aid;   securing one end of said retaining member into a grip portion of a golf club;   grasping said golf club with two hands such that said opposed end margins of the golf training aid contact the user's forearms in regions above the user's wrists;   providing a golf ball on a ball-striking surface; and   striking the golf ball while said golf training aid is located between the user's forearms.