Golf training aid

Abstract

A golf swing mat system comprising a golf swing mat having a plurality of predefined openings formed therein. The plurality of predefined openings includes a plurality of guide element openings, a plurality of barrier element openings, and a plurality of ball support element openings. The golf swing mat system also includes a plurality of guide elements configured mounting in the plurality of guide element openings, a plurality of barrier elements configured for mounting in the plurality of barrier element openings, and one or more ball support elements configured for mounting in one of the plurality of ball support openings. The system also includes a hitting surface element coupled to the golf swing mat.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A golf swing mat system, comprising
 a golf swing mat having a plurality of predefined openings formed therein, wherein the plurality of predefined openings includes a plurality of guide element openings, a plurality of barrier element openings, and a plurality of ball support element openings,   a plurality of guide elements configured mounting in the plurality of guide element openings,   a plurality of barrier elements configured for mounting in the plurality of barrier element openings, and   one or more ball support elements configured for mounting in one of the plurality of ball support openings, and   a hitting surface element coupled to the golf swing mat.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the golf swing mat comprises a main body having first and second opposed lateral sides and first and second opposed longitudinal sides, and wherein the plurality of barrier element openings is formed along the first lateral side. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of barrier element openings is formed in an aligned manner to form a row of barrier element openings. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of guide element openings comprises a first plurality of guide element openings formed along the first longitudinal side of the golf swing mat and a second plurality of guide element openings formed along the second longitudinal side of the golf swing mat. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first plurality of guide element openings is formed in an aligned manner to form a first row of guide element openings and the second plurality of guide element openings is formed in an aligned manner to form a second row of guide element openings. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the main body of the golf swing mat further comprises a top surface and an opposed bottom surface, and wherein the top surface has a central cavity formed therein, and wherein the hitting surface element is mounted within the central cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the bottom surface of the main body of the golf swing mat comprises
 a first plurality of surface features that correspond in location to the plurality of barrier element openings,   a second plurality of surface features that correspond in location to the plurality of guide element openings, and   a third plurality of surface features that correspond in location to the plurality of ball support element openings.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the surface features comprise recesses. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising attack angle indicia formed on the top surface of the of the golf swing mat and associated with, and located adjacent to, one or more of the plurality of guide element openings. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of guide elements comprises a main body having a base portion and an integrally formed extension portion, wherein the base portion includes an outwardly extending bottom portion that is axially and longitudinally spaced from an outwardly extending rib portion, wherein the bottom portion and the rib portion are connected together by an axially extending wall portion. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom portion and the rib portion have dimensions greater than dimensions of the wall portion, and the dimensions of the bottom portion are greater than the dimensions of the rib portion. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the base portion of each of the plurality of guide elements has a shape that is complementary to the shape of each of the plurality of guide element openings and to the second plurality of surface features formed in the bottom surface of the golf swing mat. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the outwardly extending bottom portion has a shape that is complementary in shape to the second plurality of surface features and the axially extending wall portion has a shape that is complementary in shape to the plurality of guide element openings. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of barrier elements comprises a main body having a base portion and an integrally formed extension portion, wherein the base portion of the barrier element includes an outwardly extending bottom portion that is axially and longitudinally spaced from an outwardly extending rib portion, wherein the bottom portion and the rib portion of the barrier element are connected together by an axially extending wall portion. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom portion and the rib portion has dimensions greater than dimensions of the wall portion, and the dimensions of the bottom portion are greater than the dimensions of the rib portion. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the base portion of each of the plurality of barrier elements has a shape that is complementary to the shape of each of the plurality of barrier element openings and to the first plurality of surface features formed in the bottom surface of the golf swing mat. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the outwardly extending bottom portion of the barrier element has a shape that is complementary in shape to the first plurality of surface features and the axially extending wall portion of the barrier element has a shape that is complementary in shape to the plurality of barrier element openings. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the ball support element comprises a main body having a base portion and an integrally formed extension portion. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the extension portion comprises a central passage and a plurality of inwardly extending rib elements that extend into the passage.