Range Mat Idea

[Iowa Hawkeye]

Not sure if this type of thing exists, but I've kind of thought up a little range mat system that I think would be helpful for those who can't get out to practice anywhere but a stalled range.

I don't have the specs worked out for it, but it would be the length of 2 standard mats, symmetrical left and right to accommodate lefties and righties. The whole system would be on say an 18" riser system. the front section could be raised and lowered at a hinge to allow for uphill and downhill lies and bunker lies. The back would do the same. The back section would have a hinge dividing it into 2 sections, right and left that can be lifted and lowered to simulate uphill/downhill lies sloping to or away from your chest. This would be supported by a solid section that would keep the 2 sections level when raised/lowered. I have some drafts of sketches, havent had time to model it up in AutoCAD, though.

You would get hills sloping to/away from your target, also hills that slope perpendicular.

Basically you would get,

\__ (flat feet, hitting uphil)

____ (all flat)

___/ ( Downhill feet flat lie)

Full uphill and downhill

flat feet, ball downhill below feet

standing down/uphill

standing up/downhill with a flat lie below


Sorry if you don't get my craziness, Its just hard for me to put into words. If you do understand what I'm thinking, what are your thoughts.

I may work on this as a term project next semester if I get the chance.

[SubPar]

I've had the same thought. Most of the time I slide the ball tray under the mat to get the ball above or below my feet.

SubPar

[Fourputt]

It already exists in a different form... the Hill Shot Golf Trainer It's a round platform with the top surface slanted. It can be rotated to get any angle you want... uphill, downhill, or sidehill or any combination. You just rotate it to get the angle you want to practice.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

  Fourputt said:

It already exists in a different form... the

Well there goes my career as an inventor

But, that is a specialty trainer, with mine, it could be hit as a normal mat, but I guess if a range wanted that kind of thing they could put that behind the flat tee on a rotating, locking post.

[uttexas]

Dave Pelz has a similar system. I like your idea. There is a special turf that grabs the ball on these sidehill lies (they used it for the Hillside Golf). The Hillside Golf system is bulky (difficult portability) and heavy. If you can improve these characteristics (and make it cheaper), you might still be onto something.

[Ben]

  Iowa Hawkeye said:

Not sure if this type of thing exists, but I've kind of thought up a little range mat system that I think would be helpful for those who can't get out to practice anywhere but a stalled range.

I had this idea pop in my head about 5 years ago. Went so far as to see a patent attorney, but didn't really have more than the idea at the time. With just that the attorney used some jargon which lead to my idea not being unique enough to be patented. Something along the lines that I'd be using a Range Mat, already patented, and adding slope to it didn't justify its own patent.

  Fourputt said:

It already exists in a different form... the

Then I noticed this thing on Fore Inventors on Golf Channel and I just about pissed my pants in anger.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

  Ben said:

I had this idea pop in my head about 5 years ago. Went so far as to see a patent attorney, but didn't really have more than the idea at the time. With just that the attorney used some jargon which lead to my idea not being unique enough to be patented. Something along the lines that I'd be using a Range Mat, already patented, and adding slope to it didn't justify its own patent.

I think I'll end up doing it as a project and maybe sell at my cost to anyone who would give it a shot, not to profit unless there is a market. That is if I can get it built and working at a reasonable cost. It may be something I can collaborate with my professors on. I'll be sure to protect it if I actually end up producing a few for others.

[JonnyGolf]

Every golf product has already been invented and patented. OK, well, maybe not all, but there isn't much left. Some of the patents from the early 1900s are a crack-up.

[Zeph]

Invent a cheap mat which resembles grass better and I'll be happy.

[Three Putt]

I had a similiar idea about 10 years ago, then did some research on patents and there was about 3 of them similiar to what I was thinking. Biggest problem would be how to keep the ball on the mat, and the pinch factor while adjusting different angles.

Then I saw the Hillshot trainer on Fore Inventors Only, and said there goes my idea, that thing is simple and brilliant.

[iacas]

  JonnyGolf said:

Every golf product has already been invented and patented. OK, well, maybe not all, but there isn't much left.

Uh, or not.

http://golf-patents.com/

[Iowa Hawkeye]

  Zeph said:

Invent a cheap mat which resembles grass better and I'll be happy.

Ai Ai cap'n

I hate the long rough sections on most mats. They are way too stiff.

[Iowa Hawkeye]

  JonnyGolf said:

Every golf product has already been invented and patented. OK, well, maybe not all, but there isn't much left. Some of the patents from the early 1900s are a crack-up.

This is one of the more ignorant things I've heard. Things may seem too good to be improved, but the sky is the limit. People thought persimmon woods were it. I'm sure people said the same thing before they started making hybrids.

[schapman]

I wish the ranges near me had mats with difference length fake grass on the mats. Have split sections of short/med/long. Actually.. I really wish there were some actual grass ranges near me.