Golf training device

Abstract

A golf training device comprising a plastic sheet of material having a first golf ball mounting location surrounded by the plastic sheet and a method of using the same. The plastic sheet is sufficiently dense so that golf clubs skid towards the ball when the golf club hits short of the golf ball during a normal golf swing. The golf balls can also be located in front of an edge of the golf training device a distance selected so that the golf club skids off of the training device when the golf club hits short of the golf club during a normal golf swing. The training device may have a recess that defines a second mounting location for the golf balls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf training device comprising a solid sheet of plastic material that defines a first mounting location surrounded by the solid sheet of plastic material for receiving a golf ball, wherein the material forming the golf training device is sufficiently dense so that a golf club skids over the surface towards the golf ball when the golf club hits the surface prior to impacting the golf ball. 
     
     
         2 . The golf training device of  claim 1 , wherein the golf training device is formed of polycarbonate plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The golf training device of  claim 1 , wherein the golf training device defines a central region and at least one outer region with visual marking delineating between the regions and wherein the first mounting location is positioned at an interface between the central region and the at least one outer region. 
     
     
         4 . The golf training device of  claim 3 , wherein the outer region extends inward approximately 4 inches from an outer edge of the golf training device. 
     
     
         5 . The golf training device of  claim 4  wherein the golf training device is approximately 19 inches long and 12 inches wide. 
     
     
         6 . The golf training device of  claim 5 , wherein the golf training device is approximately ⅛ of an inch thick. 
     
     
         7 . The golf training device of  claim 3 , wherein a centerline intersects the first mounting location and at least two edges of the golf training device. 
     
     
         8 . The golf training device of  claim 3 , wherein the golf training device comprises a first and a second outer region and wherein the first outer region includes a cut-out that exposes a surface underlying the golf training device to permit the golf ball to be positioned on the surface in front of the golf training device. 
     
     
         9 . The golf training device of  claim 8 , wherein the cut out is approximately 2 inches deep such that positioning the golf ball at the intersection of the cut out and the outer edge results in the golf ball being two inches in front of an inner edge of the golf training device. 
     
     
         10 . A method of training golfers, the method comprising:
 positioning a first plurality of balls on a first mounting location on a golf training device comprised of a plastic material sufficiently dense so that the plurality of balls are surrounded by the golf training device, wherein the plastic material is selected so that golf clubs that hit the surface of the golf training device prior to hitting the ball during a normal swing skid toward the golf ball;   hitting the plurality of golf balls from the first mounting location;   positioning a second plurality of balls at a second mounting location that is selected to be off of the golf training device but sufficiently close to an edge of the golf training device that a golf club that hits short of the golf ball during a normal swing skids towards the ball mounted off of the golf training device;   hitting the plurality of golf balls from the second mounting location.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the golf training device is formed of plastic. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the golf training device is formed of polycarbonate plastic and is approximately 19 inches by 12 inches by ⅛ of an inch thick. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein mounting the first plurality of golf balls comprises mounting the golf balls at a first location that is recessed approximately  4  inches from an edge of the golf training device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein mounting the second plurality of golf balls comprises mounting the golf balls at least 2 inches in front of an outer edge of the golf training device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein mounting the second plurality of golf balls comprises mounting the golf balls in front of an inner edge of a golf training device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein mounting the second plurality of golf balls comprises mounting the golf balls approximately least two inches in front of the inner edge of recess that extends inward approximately two inches from the outer edge of the golf training device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising positioning the training device on a golf course and hitting the first plurality or second plurality of balls during play of a golf game.