Golf swing ball impact teaching tool

Abstract

A golf teaching tool to provide instant user feedback, while explaining and encouraging proper ball impact. The golf teaching tool includes a rectangular plate with a cutout section. The golf teaching tool is placed on a playing surface with the cutout section pointed towards an intended target. A golf ball is placed on the playing surface within the cutout section and subsequently hit. Sound, impact, ball flight and movement of the golf teaching tool due to the golf club hitting the golf teaching tool, or no movement of the golf teaching tool provide the user immediate feedback regarding the correctness of the swing.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An airborne shots teaching tool comprising:
 a rectangular portion having a cutout adapted for placement of a ball inside the cutout, the cutout defining:   a first side section and a second side section connected by a rear section;   a first set and second set of side markings on a top surface of either the first side section or the second side section,
 wherein the first set of side markings generally reference at least club alignment, and 
 wherein the second set of side markings generally reference at least a club type; and 
   at least one marking for a draw or a fade shot on a top surface of the rear surface,
 wherein the at least one marking generally points towards the cutout; and 
   wherein the teaching tool is adapted to be rotated such that the least one marking is adapted to generally point at a different angle towards an intended target depending on which airborne shot is desired.   
     
     
         23 . The teaching tool of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one marking is for the fade shot. 
     
     
         24 . The teaching tool of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one marking further comprises a second marking for the draw shot. 
     
     
         25 . The teaching tool of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one marking is for the draw shot. 
     
     
         26 . The teaching tool of  claim 22 , wherein the first set of side markings are labeled with words draw, straight, and fade or with letters D, S, and F. 
     
     
         27 . The teaching tool of  claim 22 , wherein the second set of side markings are labeled with words corresponding to a plurality of club types such that the words indicate a plurality of golf ball placement locations within the cutout corresponding to different club types. 
     
     
         28 . The teaching tool of  claim 27 , wherein the words labeling the second set of side markings comprise Chips, “Short irons,” “Mid irons,” and “Long Irons & Hybrids.” 
     
     
         29 . The teaching tool of  claim 22 , wherein the second set of side markings are labeled with a plurality of illustrations of club heads such that the illustrations of club heads indicate a plurality of golf ball placement locations within the cutout corresponding to different club types. 
     
     
         30 . The teaching tool of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a third set and fourth set of side markings on a bottom surface of either the first side section or the second side section.   
     
     
         31 . The teaching tool of  claim 22 , further comprising a straight marking on the top surface of the rear section, wherein the straight marking generally references body alignment. 
     
     
         32 . An airborne shots teaching tool comprising:
 a rectangular portion having a cutout adapted for placement of a ball inside the cutout, the cutout defining:   a first side section and a second side section connected by a rear section; and   a set of markings on a top surface of the rear section, and generally pointing towards the cutout, having a first angled marking for a fade shot and a second angled marking for a draw shot, wherein the teaching tool is adapted to be rotated such that each angled marking is adapted to generally point at a different angle towards an intended target depending on which airborne shot is desired.   
     
     
         33 . The teaching tool of  claim 32 , further comprising a straight marking on the top surface of the rear section, wherein the straight marking generally references body alignment. 
     
     
         34 . The teaching tool of  claim 32  further comprising an open end located opposite to the rear section, wherein the open end is longer than an interior edge of the rear section such that an interior edge of the first side section is not parallel to an interior edge of the second side section. 
     
     
         35 . A bunker shot training method comprising:
 providing a bunker shot training tool, wherein the bunker shot training tool comprises a cutout section;   placing the bunker shot training tool on a playing surface, rotating the bunker shot training tool such that the bunker shot training tool generally faces an intended target when a bunker shot is desired;   positioning a golf ball within the cutout section of the bunker shot training tool;   swinging a golf club towards the golf ball;   listening for or feeling contact between a head of the golf club and the bunker shot training tool; and   determining by location of an impact point whether the golf club head contacted the bunker shot training tool indicating that the bunker shot would therefore be off-angle relative to the intended target.   
     
     
         36 . The bunker shot training method of  claim 35  further comprising swinging the golf club such that the head of the golf club creates a divot in the playing surface. 
     
     
         37 . The bunker shot training method of  claim 36 , wherein the divot begins prior to the golf ball and continues forward in the playing surface. 
     
     
         38 . The bunker shot training method of  claim 35 , wherein the cutout section has rounded internal edges.