Golf training apparatus

Abstract

A golf training device can include a resilient planar portion configured to present a face at a pre-set angle toward an oncoming golf club face. The device can include stand configured to hold the resilient planar portion above the ground and fix the pre-set angle for contact by the golf club face. The stand can have an offset base configured to avoid contact by the golf club. The planar portion can be configured to receive contact by the golf club face and promptly and resiliently return to the pre-set angle, thereby facilitating repeated practice swings of the golf club face. The planar portion can be configured to emit a first sound when the golf club face strikes the planar portion in an aligned manner, and to emit a second sound when the golf club face strikes the planar portion in a non-aligned manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf swing practice apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a body configured to extend from a ground, the body comprising a first ground coupling configured to couple the apparatus to the ground;   a support member comprising:
 a connecting arm extending from the body; and 
 a second ground coupling configured to further couple the apparatus to the ground; 
   a horizontal member arm extending from the body opposite the connecting arm; and   an impact insert extending from a distal end of the horizontal member arm, the impact insert having a contact surface configured to receive an impact from a swing of a golf club, the contact surface configured to be disposed at a loft angle corresponding to an angle of a face of the golf club, relative to vertical.   
     
     
         2 . The golf swing practice apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a vertical rod. 
     
     
         3 . The golf swing practice apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first ground coupling comprises a stake and screw configured to be screwed into the ground, and wherein the second ground coupling comprises a stake configured to be inserted into the ground. 
     
     
         4 . The golf swing practice apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal member arm comprises a tunable element configured to modify the loft angle within a loft angle range of between about 0 degrees and about 20 degrees, relative to vertical. 
     
     
         5 . The golf swing practice apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the tunable element comprises a resilient element configured to bias the impact insert to be at the loft angle. 
     
     
         6 . The golf swing practice apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the impact insert is less than about 0.5 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The golf swing practice apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the impact insert comprises a core material and a layer of protective material, different from the core material, disposed on the contact surface of the impact insert. 
     
     
         8 . The golf swing practice apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the layer of protective material comprises a pouch and wherein the core material is configured to be removable from and insertable into the pouch. 
     
     
         9 . The golf swing practice apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the contact surface is configured to:
 generate a sound from the swing having a loudness of less than a first loudness level in response to the impact where a difference between the angle of the face of the golf club and the loft angle being outside a threshold range; and   generate a sound from the swing having a loudness of greater than a second loudness level greater than the first loudness level in response to the impact where the difference between the angle of the face of the golf club and the loft angle being within the threshold range.   
     
     
         10 . The golf swing practice apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first loudness level is between about 80 dB and about 95 dB for a swing speed above a swing speed threshold, and wherein the second loudness level is between about 90 dB and about 120 dB for the swing speed above the swing speed threshold. 
     
     
         11 . An impact notification apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a body configured to extend from a ground; and   an impact insert having a thickness of less than about 0.5 cm and having a contact surface configured to receive an impact from a swing of a golf club, the contact surface configured to be disposed at a loft angle corresponding to an angle of a face of the golf club, relative to vertical, and configured to:
 generate a sound from the swing having a loudness of less than a first loudness level in response to the impact where a difference between the angle of the face of the golf club and the loft angle being outside a threshold range; and 
 generate a sound from the swing having a loudness of greater than a second loudness level greater than the first loudness level in response to the impact where the difference between the angle of the face of the golf club and the loft angle being within the threshold range. 
   
     
     
         12 . The impact notification apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a horizontal member arm extending from the body and comprising a tunable element configured to modify the loft angle within a loft angle range, wherein the horizontal member arm comprises a tunable element configured to bias the impact insert to be at the loft angle. 
     
     
         13 . The impact notification apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the impact insert comprises a core material and a layer of protective material, different from the core material, disposed on the contact surface of the impact insert. 
     
     
         14 . The impact notification apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first loudness level is between about 80 dB and about 95 dB for a swing speed above a swing speed threshold, and wherein the second loudness level is between about 90 dB and about 120 dB for the swing speed above the swing speed threshold. 
     
     
         15 . A golf training device comprising:
 a resilient planar portion configured to present a face at a pre-set angle toward an oncoming golf club face;   a stand configured to hold the resilient planar portion above a ground and fix the pre-set angle for contact by the golf club face, the stand having an offset base configured to avoid contact by the golf club, wherein the planar portion is configured to receive contact by the golf club face and promptly and resiliently return to the pre-set angle, thereby facilitating repeated practice swings of the golf club face;   the planar portion further configured to emit a first sound when the golf club face strikes the planar portion in an aligned manner, and to emit a second sound when the golf club face strikes the planar portion in a non-aligned manner.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the resilient planar portion comprises a thin resilient card. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the stand comprises a slot configured to hold the thin resilient card. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first sound is louder than the second sound as a result of multiple points of simultaneous contact between the golf club face and the planar portion when they are angularly aligned. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to measure or convey a physical or sonic property of a golf club face striking the planar portion. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the planar portion and the stand are connected in a resilient hinged manner.