Swing plane indicating golf mat
A swing plane indicating golf mat capable of indicating the path of a swing through the critical zone. The golf mat includes an array of toggling, grass-mimicking blades which, from the vantage point of the golfer, assume a different appearance when toggled over. In the preferred embodiment, the blades have a forward face and a rearward face. The forward face and rearward face are different colors. Because of the curvature of the blades, the blades normally appear one color when the blades are in their normal and non-toggled position. When the blades are toggled, the blades appear a different color.
1. A training mat configured to indicate the path of a club face swung through the critical zone by a golfer, said training mat comprising:
a. an array of grass-mimicking blades, each of said grass-mimicking blades positionable in a first stable state and a second stable state; each of said grass mimicking blades having
i. a base,
ii. a tip,
iii. a first outer pillar, a second outer pillar, and a center pillar, each of said first outer pillar, said second outer pillar, and said center pillar extending from said base and joining at said tip; and
iv. a membrane spanning between and connecting said first outer pillar, said second outer pillar and said center pillar from said base to said tip;
b. wherein said grass-mimicking blades toggle from said first stable state to said second stable state when struck by said club face; and
c. wherein said second stable state is visually distinguishable from said first stable state when viewed from above.
2. The training mat of claim 1 , wherein each of said grass-mimicking blades has a forward-facing face and a rearward-facing face, and wherein said rearward-facing face is a different color than said forward-facing face.
3. The training mat of claim 2 , wherein said rearward-facing face is green and said forward-facing face is brown.
4. The training mat of claim 1 , wherein said membrane comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.
5. The training mat of claim 1 , wherein said center pillar comprises a more rigid material than said membrane.
6. The training mat of claim 1 , wherein said center pillar comprises a rigid section proximate said base and a flexible section proximate said tip, said flexible section more pliable than said rigid section.
7. The training mat of claim 6 , wherein said flexible section is configured to buckle when struck by said club face.
8. The training mat of claim 1 , wherein said array of grass-mimicking blades are attached together at said base.
9. The training mat of claim 1 , wherein said center pillar is configured to buckle when struck by said club face.
10. The training mat of claim 1 , wherein said blades remain in said second stable state after said blades are struck by said club face until said blades are reset by dragging said club face over said blades in the opposite direction of said golfer's swing.
11. The training mat of claim 1 , wherein said center pillar is more rigid than said membrane.
12. The training mat of claim 1 , wherein said first outer pillar and said second outer pillar are configured to hold each of said grass-mimicking blades in one of said first stable state and said second stable state by exerting a tensile force on said membrane.