GOLF DRIVE TAPETE
Description of the Invention The present invention relates to a golf driving mat and to a golf driving mat system incorporating it. The golf driving mat and the golf driving mat system of the present invention are known as the golf driving mat and the TrueStrike ™ golf driving mat system. Golf driving mats and golf driving mats are used on golf courses and golf tees or stands, particularly during the winter. However, the construction of existing golf driving mats is, so that golf players can be given an unreal impression of the blows struck from them. With the existing golf driving mats, where a golfer hits a "clean" hit, that is, a correct hit, the hit that originates is the same as would be achieved on a natural playing surface, except where a golfer hits a "bad or poor" stroke, that is, where the golf club hits below the playing surface of the golf ball, normally, approximately 20 mm below the golf ball , REF. 154125 the blow that originates is often a seemingly good blow, rather than what would be a poor blow, since the clubhead or cane bounces off the mat surface and encounters the golf ball at a reasonable angle and only in one. slightly reduced speed. On the natural surface of a golf course, where a golfer hits a "poor" hit, the clubhead deepens or penetrates the playing surface, to a lesser or greater extent depending on the condition of the surface of game, causing that the head of the cane has a considerable decrease of speed and with which, a bad or deficient blow takes place. In this way, when a golfer hits a "poor" stroke from the existing golf driving mats, the stroke that often originates would seem to be a good blow, suggesting to the golfer that he believes the golf ball is good. 'swing' or movement of the baton to hit the ball, when in fact, the 'swing' is deficient, since the same "poor" hit on a natural surface of natural playing surface would produce a bad or deficient blow, with the consequence What is a poor technique developed? swing. The golf driving mats that have been developed provide a cushioning effect, for example, as described in GB-A-231502, US-A-4955611 and US-A-5273285, although these golf driving mats It is still not considered, properly, that they provide a real impression of the stroke of a golf ball from any given lswing '. It is also noted that the mats for golf placement are known, one of these mats is described in DE-A-3926052. An object of the present invention is to provide a golf driving mat and a golf driving mat system incorporating the same, in particular, using a viscous material as the energy absorbing means, by means of which, It gives a golf player the real impression of the stroke of a golf ball from any given 'swing'. In one aspect, the present invention provides a golf driving mat, which includes: a flexible member on which the golf ball in use is located to be hit by the head of a golf club; and a cavity containing a viscous material located below the flexible member, wherein the flexible material is such as to decrease the speed of the head of the golf club when the head of the golf club is struck on the flexible member. Preferably, the flexible member is formed from a member capable of being gathered or wrinkled, so that when the head of the golf club makes contact with the flexible member, the flexible member becomes wrinkled. Preferably, the flexible member is formed of an elastic material. In one embodiment, the flexible member is formed of a rubberized material. In one embodiment, the viscous material is a material in the form of a gel. Preferably, the gel-shaped material is a gel. In another embodiment, the viscous material is a syrup. In a further embodiment, the viscous material is a paste. In yet another embodiment, the viscous material is a particulate material. Still in a further embodiment, the viscous material comprises a particulate material dispersed in a carrier medium. In one embodiment, the carrier medium is a viscous liquid. Preferably, the viscous liquid is an oil. In another embodiment, the carrier medium is a gel. Preferably, the particulate material comprises particles selected from at least one of the group consisting of plastic particles, metal particles and metal particles coated with plastic. Preferably, the cavity has a depth of approximately up to 20 mm. More preferably, the cavity has a depth of approximately 20 mm. Preferably, the mat includes: a ball receiving member positioned on the flexible member on which the ball is located. More preferably, the ball receiving member is liable to be removed. In one embodiment, the ball receiving member is formed of an elastic material. In another embodiment, the ball receiving member is formed of a woven material. In the embodiment, the ball receiving member has a smooth surface. In another embodiment, the ball receiving member has a surface that is not smooth. Preferably, the ball receiving member has a grooved surface. Preferably, the mat comprises: a receptacle including the flexible member on a top surface thereof and defining the cavity. Preferably, the mat also comprises: a body unit comprising a main body in which the receptacle is placed. In one embodiment, the body unit further comprises a loading mechanism that carries out the loading in a lateral direction into the receptacle. Preferably, the loading mechanism can be adjusted so as to allow regulation of the cargo of the receptacle. Preferably, the loading mechanism is configured to effect loading of a front region of the receptacle in a striking direction. Preferably, the mat also comprises: a ball receiving unit comprising the ball receiving member, the ball receiving unit is joined to the main body of the body unit. Preferably, the mat also comprises: a flattening mechanism that crushes the flexible member of the receptacle. In one embodiment, the flattening mechanism comprises a flattening unit comprising a flattening element that can be derived on the flexible member to flatten it, and a driving member that moves the flattening element. In one embodiment, the flattening element comprises a roller.
In another embodiment, the flattening element comprises a blade. In another embodiment, the flattening mechanism comprises a vibration unit that vibrates the receptacle so as to cause the viscous material to settle and thereby flatten the flexible member. In a further embodiment, the viscous material includes magnetic particles, and the flattening mechanism comprises a magnetic field generating unit, which can be operated in order to cause the viscous material to settle and therefore flatten the member. flexible In one embodiment, the magnetic field generating unit is operative during beating of the golf ball, so that it magnetizes the magnetic particles and aggregates the same to confer a required viscosity to the viscous material, with the viscous material having a composition , which is so that, in the absence of a magnetic field, the viscous material settles and therefore flattens the flexible member. In another embodiment, the magnetic field generating unit may be operated subsequent to striking the golf ball, so as to magnetize the magnetic particles and cause the viscous material to settle and thereby flatten the flexible member.
In yet another embodiment, the flattening mechanism comprises a tension unit which effects tension in the lateral direction of the receptacle and therefore flattens the flexible member. In one embodiment, the tension unit comprises first and second spacer bars joined to the respective sides of the receptacle, and a plurality of resilient members that bias the spacer bars outwards in order to tension the receptacle. In one embodiment, the spacer bars extend substantially through a total height of the respective sides of the receptacle. In another embodiment, the spacer bars are joined with the upper ends of the respective sides of the receptacle. In another embodiment, the tension unit can be operated by a golf player who applies an increase in the tension force in the receptacle. Preferably, the tension unit comprises the first and second spacer bars connected to the respective sides of the receptacle, and a deflecting element operable by the golf player to change the direction of the spacer bars outward in order to tension the receptacle In one embodiment, the biasing element comprises a flexible leaf spring coupled between the spacer bars. In another aspect, the present invention provides a golf driving mat system, the system comprising: a base unit on which the golf player stops to strike a golf stroke; and the mat described above is provided in the base unit. In one modality, the mat is susceptible to being removed. In one embodiment, the base unit includes a recess in which the mat that is in use is located. In another embodiment, the base unit comprises a base that includes a first and a second recess, in one of which is the mat that is in use according to the possibility that the golfer is a left or right player of golf, and a sheet placed on the base that includes an opening through which the mat is presented. In another embodiment, the mat is integrally formed with the base unit. The golf driving mat of the present invention would provide a real impression of the stroke of a golf ball if a viscous material were used which affects the speed and position of the club head in a way that would happen if the stroke were made on a natural playing surface of a golf course. The golf driving mat is configured to decrease the speed of the club head through the golf ball, where the trajectory of the 1 swing or movement of the club to hit the ball of the club head is one that it would produce a "poor" hit. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereafter only by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. In which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a golf driving mat system including a golf driving mat according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates the base of the base unit of the golf driving mat of Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates the blade of the base unit of the golf driving mat of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates a first exploded perspective view of the golf driving mat of Figure 1; Figure 5 illustrates a second exploded perspective view of the golf driving mat of Figure 1; Figure 6 illustrates a fragmentary view in vertical section through the golf driving mat of Figure 1, wherein a golfer makes a "clean" stroke of a golf ball resting on it; Figure 7 illustrates a fragmentary cross-sectional view through the golf driving mat of Figure 1, where a golfer makes a "poor" stroke of a golf ball resting on it; Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of a golf driving mat according to a second embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated with the flattening unit in the inoperative configuration; Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of the golf driving mat of Figure 8, with the flattening unit in operation; Figure 10 illustrates a perspective view of a golf driving mat according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 illustrates a perspective view of a golf driving mat according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 illustrates a first exploded perspective view of a golf driving mat according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 illustrates a second exploded perspective view of the golf driving mat of Figure 12; Figure 14 illustrates a first exploded perspective view of a golf driving mat according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 15 illustrates a second exploded perspective view of the golf driving mat of Figure 1. Figures 1-5 illustrate a golf driving mat system including a golf driving mat according to a first embodiment of the first invention. The golf driving mat system comprises a base unit 1, on which the golf player stops to strike a golf stroke, and a golf driving mat 3, which is mounted on the base unit 1 and from which the golf balls are hit by a golfer. The base unit 1 comprises a base 5, which is located on a playing surface, and the sheet 7 which is placed on the base 5 and on which a golf player stops to strike golf strokes. In this embodiment, the base 5 includes first and second carpet recesses 9a, 9b located on the respective sides thereof in which the golf driving mat 3 is selectively placed, and a recess of the blade 11 in which it is placed the sheet 7, and the sheet 7 includes a separation opening 15 through which the golf driving mat 3 is present, with the sheet 7 which can be placed in the recess of the sheet 11 in one of two positions, so that the separation opening 15 thereon overlaps with one of the first and second carpet recesses 9a, 9b. With this configuration, the golf driving mat system can be easily delineated for left-handed players and golf rights, with the golf driving mat 3 which is located in the first recess of mat 9a for use by a player golf lefty and the second carpet recess 9b for use by a right golf player, and the sheet 7 is positioned so that the separation opening 15 thereon is superimposed with one of the respective first and second recesses 9a 9b. The golf driving mat 3 comprises a body unit 17, a receptacle 19 which is located within the body unit 17 and includes an upper flexible member 21, a lower member 22, and a cavity 23, which is filled with a viscous material 25 therebetween, and an upper receiving unit 27 located on the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19. The body unit 17 comprises a main body 29 into which the receptacle 19 is placed, and a loading mechanism 31 which carries out the loading in the lateral direction of the receptacle 19, in this mode, at the front end in the direction of the punching, as the receptacle 19 is configured in order to simulate the different conditions of playing surfaces, for example, from a firm playing surface to a playing surface covered with grass and a playing surface, even with sand traps. The main body 29 includes a first and second retainer pins 33a, 33b at a rear end thereof in the direction of striking in which the receptacle 19 is fixed to prevent forward movement of the receptacle 19 on the basis of the striking of the balls. golf from the golf driving mat 3. The main body 29 further includes an impact element 35, which extends along the lower surface thereof in the direction of striking, the impact element 35 acts with the object of providing an impact surface, so that when a golfer strikes underneath through the receptacle 19, the golf club bounces off the impact element 35 without any significant jolt. In this embodiment, the impact element 35 is formed of a rubberized material, preferably a rubber material. The loading mechanism 31 comprises first and second loading units 37a, 37b, and in this embodiment, the units can be adjusted to provide charge regulation, the units are located on the respective sides of the main body 29. In this embodiment, each of the loading units 37a, 37b comprises an elastic element 39a, 39b, preferably, an elastic strip that is made of spring steel, which is joined at the leading end in the direction of the striking in the main body 29 and includes a pin holder 41a, 41b at the front end, an adjuster 43a, 43b that can slide along the respective elastic member 39a, 39b to provide adjustment of the inward deformation. of the respective elastic element 39a, 39b and therefore the load provided by the respective elastic element 39a, 39b and a retaining pin 45a, 45b which is located in the pin holder 41a, 41b of the respective elastic element 39a, 39b and is joined with a respective side of the receptacle 19, in this embodiment at a front end of the receptacle 19. The receptacle 19, in this embodiment a closed flexible pouch, is a rectangular flat member having a predetermined depth, in this embodiment approximately 20 mm, so that when the receptacle is filled with the viscous material 25, the upper flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 will simulate a playing surface, commonly, a turf-covered playing surface. In this embodiment, the receptacle 19 is manufactured from a material capable of being wrinkled or gathered, so that when the golfer hits a "poor" hit, the flexible member 21 is wrinkled, which is gathered together with the action of the underlying viscous material 25, causing the speed of the club head to be decreased in the same way as when a "poor" hit is struck on a turf-covered playing surface. In one embodiment, the receptacle 19 is formed of a synthetic material, preferably, polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In another embodiment, the receptacle 19 can be formed of a rubberized material, preferably a rubber, and more preferably, a synthetic rubber. In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle 19 is formed from an elastic material. The receptacle 19 includes first and second rear openings 47a, 47b at the rear end thereof, in which the retainer pins 33a, 33b on the main body 29 are positioned to fix the position of the receptacle 19 in the main body 29, and the first and second front openings 49a, 49b at the front end thereof in which the retainer pins 45a, 45b of the loading units 37a, 37b are positioned to fix the lateral and front positions of the respective sides of the receptacle 19. In this embodiment, the viscous material 25 is a gel, for example, an aqueous gel. In a preferred embodiment, the gel comprises petroleum jelly. In an alternative embodiment the viscous material could be a syrup, such as a corn syrup. In another alternative embodiment, the viscous material 25 could be a paste. In a further alternative embodiment, the viscous material could comprise a particulate material in a carrier medium, for example, a gel or an oil, such as a silicone oil. In yet another alternative embodiment, the viscous material 25 could be a particulate material. Examples of particulate materials include plastic particles, metal particles and metal particles coated with plastic. The ball receiving unit 27 comprises a frame 51, which is removably attached, in this mode, by the screws 54, to the main body 29 of the body unit 17, and a ball receiving member 53 which it is connected to the frame 51 and on which the golf balls that are to be hit are located. As it is removable, the ball receiving unit 27 allows its replacement when it is damaged, usually by means of wear. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the ball receiving member 53 is a smooth surface. In an alternative embodiment, the upper surface of the ball receiving member 53 can be a non-smooth surface, for example, a rough or grooved surface. In this modality, the ball reception member
53 comprises an elastic material, commonly a tissue material containing Lycra®, for example, Cordura® which is available from E.I., du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, US. With this construction, when a golfer makes a good 'swing' or movement of the stick and hits a golf ball with a "clean" stroke, the golf driving mat 3 reacts in the same way as a surface would of natural play, as illustrated in Figure 6. However, when a golfer makes a poor swing, which is such that it causes the club head to strike the ball receiving member 53 of the reception of ball 27 behind the golf ball, and therefore, flexible member 21 of receptacle 19, that is, striking a "poor" hit, flexible member 21, according to the reaction of the viscous material , acts to cause the head of the cane to sink or penetrate the golf driving mat 3, which in turn causes the head of the club to slow down and make little or no contact with the golf ball, as illustrated in Figure 7. When the is altered The weight of the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 and of the ball receiving member 53 and the viscosity of the viscous material 25, the golf driving mat 3 can be configured to simulate the different conditions of a playing surface, from a surface from firm play to heavy game surfaces with grass and even game surfaces, with sand traps. In this embodiment, a golf player is able to select from a plurality of different golf driving mats 3, which are representative of the different conditions of the playing surfaces. Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a golf driving mat according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The golf driving mat 3 of this mode is a modification of the first mode described above, and in this way, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of the description, only the differences will be described in detail, with the same parts -which- are designated by the same reference signs. The golf driving mat 3 of this embodiment is different from that described in the first embodiment because it comprises a flattening mechanism that crushes the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 after the golf balls have been struck therefrom. In the present invention, it has been found that when the golf balls are struck from the golf driving mat 3, and in particular, after repeatedly sticking "poor" golf strokes in succession, the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 it can become so irregular that it prevents positioning of the golf ball on it, and therefore, prevents proper operation of the golf driving mat 3. In this way, the flattening means of the flexible member 21 of the receptacle is required. 19 in order to prevent a golf player from having to manually flatten the flexible member 21, usually with the palm of the hand. In this embodiment, the flattening mechanism comprises a flattening unit 59 which is driven by the golf player to flatten the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 by actuating on the ball receiving member 53 of the ball receiving unit. 27
In this embodiment, the flattening unit 59 comprises a flattening element 61, which can be moved over the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 to flatten the same, and a driving member 63 reciprocally moving the flattening element 61 through the ball receiving member 53 of the ball receiving unit 27, and therefore, the flexible member 21. Figure 9 illustrates the flattening element 61, wherein a part is moved through the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19. In this modality, the flattening element 61 comprises a roller. In another embodiment, the flattening element 61 could comprise a blade, such as a flexible cleaning blade. In this embodiment, the drive member 63 is electrically operated. Figure 10 illustrates a golf driving mat according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The golf driving mat 3 of this embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment described above, and therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of the description, only the differences will be described in detail, with the same parts which are designated by the same reference signs. The golf driving mat 3 of this embodiment is different from that described in the first embodiment because it comprises a flattening mechanism that crushes the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 after the golf balls have been struck therefrom. In the present invention, it has been found that when the golf balls are struck from the golf driving mat 3, and in particular, after repeatedly sticking "poor" golf strokes in succession, the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 it can become so irregular that it prevents the positioning of the golf ball on it, and therefore, prevents the proper operation of the golf driving mat 3. In this way, it is required. the means that flattens the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 in order to prevent a golf player from having to manually flatten the flexible member 21, usually with the palm of the hand. In this embodiment, the flattening mechanism comprises a vibration unit 65, which is located below the main body 29 of the body unit 17, and which can be operated to vibrate the receptacle 19 and therefore, the material viscous filling 25, this vibration acts to cause the viscous material 25 to settle and therefore, flatten the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19. In this embodiment, the vibration unit 65 comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, which are attached with the main body 29 of the body unit 17. Figure 11 illustrates a golf driving mat according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The golf driving mat 3 of this embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment described above, and therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of the description, only the differences will be described in detail, with the same parts which are designated by the same reference signs. The golf driving mat 3 of this embodiment is different from that described in the first embodiment because it comprises a flattening mechanism that crushes the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 after the golf balls have been struck therefrom. In the present invention, it has been found that when the golf balls are struck from the golf driving mat 3, and in particular, after repeatedly hitting "poor" golf strokes in succession, the flexible member 21 of the show 19 it can become so irregular that it prevents positioning of the golf ball on it, and therefore, prevents proper operation of the golf driving mat 3. In this way, the flattening means of the flexible member 21 of the receptacle is required. 19 in order to prevent a golf player from having to manually flatten the flexible member 21, usually with the palm of the hand. In this embodiment, the viscous material 25 includes magnetic particles, and the flattening mechanism comprises a magnetic field generating unit 67, which is placed at this site in the main body 29 of the body unit 17 below the lower member 22 of the receptacle 19, which is operated to attract the magnetic particles of the viscous material 25 towards the lower member 22 of the receptacle 19, this magnetization process is used to cause the viscous material 25 to settle and thereby flatten the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19. In one embodiment, the magnetic particles comprise metal particles. In another embodiment, the magnetic particles comprise metal particles coated with plastic. In preferred embodiments, the particles have a smaller diameter of approximately 1 mm. In one mode of operation, the magnetic field generating unit 67 is operative during striking so as to magnetize the magnetic particles and thereby effectively add the magnetic particles to confer the required viscosity on the viscous material 25, with the composition of the viscous material 25 which is such that, in the absence of a magnetic field, the viscous material 25 settles and therefore flattens the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19. In another mode of operation, the magnetic field generating unit 67 is operated subsequent to beating to attract the magnetic particles of the viscous material 25 towards the lower member 22 of the receptacle 19, the magnetization process acts to cause the viscous material 25 to settle and thereby flatten the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19. Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a golf driving mat according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. ion. The golf driving mat 3 of this embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment described above, and therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of the description, only the differences will be described in detail, with the same parts which are designated by the same reference signs. The golf driving mat 3 of this embodiment is different from that described in the first embodiment because the loading mechanism 31 is omitted, with the retainer pins 45a, 45b being provided at the other front end of the main body 29 of the body unit 17, and in that it further comprises a flattening mechanism for crushing the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 after beating the golf balls therefrom. In the present invention, it has been found. that when the golf balls are hit from the golf driving mat 3, and in particular, after repeatedly striking "poor" golf strokes in succession, the flexible member 21 of the show 19 may become so irregular that it avoids positioning of the golf ball on it, and therefore, prevents proper operation of the golf driving mat 3. In this way, the means is required to flatten the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 in order to prevent a golf player has to manually flatten the flexible member 21, usually with the palm of the hand. In this embodiment, the flattening mechanism comprises a tension unit 69 for effecting lateral tension of the respective sides of the receptacle 19 in opposite directions. In this embodiment, the tension unit 69 comprises a first and a second spacer bars 71a, 71b, which are joined to the respective sides of the receptacle 19, that is, substantially over the total height of the sides of the receptacle 19, and a plurality of elastic elements 73, ie tension springs, for deflecting out the respective sides of the receptacle 19. With this configuration, the body of the receptacle 19, which includes the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 is stretched by the tension unit 69, so that, subsequent to the striking of a "poor" stroke from the golf driving mat 3, which is such that it strikes the receptacle 19, the tension force acts to flatten the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 In an alternative embodiment, the spacer bars 71a, 71b could be joined at points along the respective sides of the receptacle 19., commonly at the upper ends of the respective sides or at the midpoints of the respective sides. Figures 14 and 15 illustrate a golf driving mat according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The golf driving mat 3 of this embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment described above, and therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of the description, only the differences will be described in detail, with the same parts which are designated by the same reference signs. The golf driving mat 3 of this embodiment is different from that described in the first embodiment because the loading mechanism 31 is omitted, with the retainer pins 45a, 45b being provided at the other front end of the main body 29 of the body unit 17, and in that it further comprises a flattening mechanism for crushing the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19 after beating the golf balls therefrom. In the present invention, it has been found that when the golf balls are struck from the golf driving mat 3, and in particular, after repeatedly hitting "poor" golf strokes in succession, the flexible member 21 of the show 19 it can become so irregular that it prevents positioning of the golf ball on it, and therefore, prevents proper operation of the golf driving mat 3. In this way, the flattening means of the flexible member 21 of the receptacle is required. 19 in order to prevent a golf player from having to manually flatten the flexible member 21, usually with the palm of the hand. In this embodiment, the flattening mechanism comprises a tension unit 75 for effecting lateral tension of the respective sides of the receptacle 19 in opposite directions with a flattening force based on the actuation by a golf player. In this embodiment, the tension unit 75 comprises a first and a second spacer bars 77a, 77b, which are joined to the respective sides of the receptacle 19, that is, substantially over the total height of the sides of the receptacle 19 and are articulated at a rear end around a pivot 79, and a biasing element 81, in this embodiment a flexible leaf spring changes the direction normally outwardly of the first and second spacer bars 77a, 77b and hence the respective sides of the receptacle 19, with a first tension force and that is operated by a golf player, in this modality, manually by the golf player walking on it, to apply a second force of greater tension, as a force of flattening in the receptacle 19. With this configuration, the body of the receptacle 19, which includes the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19, is normally under the light tension of the first tension force, and, based on a manual operation of the golf player on the element 81, in this mode walking on it, the deflection member 81 applies the second highest tension force on the spacer bars 77a, 77b, which is such that it flattens the flexible member 21 of the receptacle 19. On the basis that the golf player releases the deflecting element 81, in this mode, by walking on it, the deflecting element 81 returns to apply the first light tension force in the receptacle 19. In an alternative embodiment, the spacer bars 77a, 77b could be joined at points along the respective sides of the receptacle 19, commonly at the upper ends of the respective sides or at midpoints of the respective sides. Finally, it will be understood that the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiments and that it can be modified in many different ways without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
It is noted that in relation to this date the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.