Golf Practice Mat

Abstract

A golf practice mat comprising a backing defining an upper surface and a lower surface, a first plurality of elongated polyethylene fibers stitched onto the backing so as to project upwardly from the upper surface thereof, a second plurality of durable nylon fibers stitched onto the backing adjacent to and curled about the first plurality of fibers, the first and second pluralities of fibers being adhesively bonded to the backing and a shock absorbing pad bonded to the lower surface of the backing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to an improved golf practice mat for instructional and practice purposes. It is usable indoors and outdoors and simulates the look and feel of natural grass. The use of artificial mats in lieu of natural grass as a practice surface before hitting golf balls is well known and wide spread due to the maintenance and area requirements for using natural grass as a practice surface. A properly stuck iron shot contacts the ball before the hitting surface, driving the ball and club downwardly and through the grass, leaving a divot in the grass. The repetitive striking of balls as occurs during practice is obviously quite damaging to the natural hitting surface. Accordingly, the ball striking area must be constantly moved to fresh grass while the previously used area is regenerated. The resulting maintenance and area requirements can be alleviated by the use of an artificial hitting surface.[0002]A variety of artificial golf prac...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The golf mat of the present invention comprises a synthetic turf formed of a first plurality of elongated durable fibers having a low coefficient of friction, a second plurality of thinner, curled and twisted highly durable supporting fibers and a backing for securing the fibers to a shock absorbing resilient pad. The elongated fibers are preferably formed of a durable polyethylene copolymer that provides the actual hitting surface for the mat and provides that surface with a low coefficient of friction resulting in an exceptional feel and simulating the look and feel of natural grass. The curled supporting fibers are preferably formed of a durable nylon fiber that provides a resiliency to the mat for an extended wear life. The fibers are secured to durable synthetic backing, preferably by means of a tufting process and the backing, with the attached fibers thereto, is bonded to the pad. The shock absorbing resilient pad is preferably formed of a chemically cross-linked polyethylene foam that provides a highly durable shock absorber for the mat capable of retaining its configuration and shock absorption properties after repeated usage thus, contributing to both the durability and feel of the golf mat over the life of the mat. The resulting turf and pad combination reduces the bouncing effect found in conventional golf mats, allowing the club to move down and through the ball after impact simulating the feel of striking a golf ball on natural grass.

Problems solved by technology

The repetitive striking of balls as occurs during practice is obviously quite damaging to the natural hitting surface.

The results of such efforts, however, have not proved overly successful and golfers universally prefer natural grass for practice over artificial surfaces.

None of such devices, however, have proved successful in simulating the resistance in give of hitting down and through natural grass.

These mechanical devises also have limited utility due to premature wear of their relatively small hitting surface which must take the impact of each hit.

Both types of mat typically employ a nylon which is a highly durable material but also high in friction.

Brush style mats utilizing nylon bristles exhibit an even higher coefficient of friction than the synthetic turf mats and, without a shock absorbing pad, present a very hard surface resulting in an overall very poor feel for the golfer.

Synthetic turf mats comprised of a nylon fiber such as ASTRO TURF (a federally registered trademark of Textile Management associates, Inc.) also exhibit high frictional drag at impact, again resulting in a poor feel for the golfer.

While polypropylene fiber turf is less durable than nylon and has a lower coefficient of friction than a nylon turf, it still exhibits sufficient drag at impact so as not to replicate the feel of natural grass.

Synthetic turf comprised of polyethylene fiber has also been developed but has not proved satisfactory in golf practice mats due to its poor durability producing an unacceptably short product life.

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