A sports mat system incorporating a reversible thermochromic leuco dye includes an impact pad portion having a reversible thermochromic leuco dye incorporated into it in order to provide a temporary visual indication of the path of a sports apparatus swing. The impact portion changes color with a temperature change due to frictional contact between the pad and the equipment being swung, in order to visually illustrate the swing path of the club along with the club head/face orientation during impact. In another implementation, a racquet is provided incorporating a reversible thermochromic leuco dye into a portion of racquet strings to temporarily visually illustrate the contact area between the racquet face and a ball being struck, in order to provide the user with feedback relating to characteristics of their swing.

A golf tee having a contact alert coating cooperates with a golf ball and a golf club to provide a novel training aid that is economical, compact, and encourages proper golfing form. The golf tee has a golf tee body with a top plate, top wall and side walls. The top plate is fixedly attached to a shaft which terminates into a point that is inserted into a ground surface when a ball is placed on the top plate. A contact alert coating is coated on at least an upper portion of the golf tee body. The contact alert coating is composed of a material that generates a spark and, preferably, an audible sound when a golf club head strikes the ball and strikes the contact alert coating of the golf tee at the coating/golf tee interface. Generation of the spark and, preferably, the audible sound provides an alert that immediately informs the user whether the user's golf swing has been properly executed.

The chalk-dispensing golf training club is a simulated golf club head that is mounted on a golf club shaft. The chalk-dispensing golf training club is not intended to be used with a golf ball. During training sessions, the chalk-dispensing golf training club is swung as a normal golf club. As the chalk-dispensing golf training club hits the ground, the chalk-dispensing golf training club leaves a chalk mark on the ground which indicates the plane of the swing. Through analysis of the chalk mark, an assessment can be as to whether the swing would result in a straight shot, a draw shot or a slicing shot. This information can be used to adjust the trainee's foot placement and to practice swings with the adjusted foot placement. The chalk dispensing golf training club comprises a practice head, chalk, a shaft, a grip.

A club mountable golfing aid is operable to indicate to a golfer a location at which a training golf ball contacts a striking surface of the club mountable golfing aid when the club mountable golfing aid is mounted on a golf club. The club mountable golfing aid includes an attachment mechanism that is configured to mount the club mountable golfing aid to a head of a golf club. The club mountable golfing aid includes the striking surface. The striking surface covers at least a portion of the face of the golf club when the club mountable golfing aid is mounted on the head of the golf club. The striking surface is operable to attach to and retain a training golf ball at about a point of contact between the striking surface and the training golf ball when a golfer strikes the ball.

The disclosure relates to an irreversible dosimetric shock-detection substrate as well as related articles and methods. The shock-detection substrate incorporates a plurality of microcapsules serving as an irreversible means for detecting impact on the substrate. A shock above a characteristic threshold level experienced by the substrate induces an irreversible detectable change associated with the microcapsules upon shock-induced rupture. The irreversible detectable change provides a tamper-proof and non-electronic means for detecting a shock or impact. The shock-detection substrates can be incorporated into a variety of articles and used in a variety of settings, for example to monitor personal safety, to monitor article integrity, to monitor the end of the useful life of the shock-detection substrate itself, or in any other setting where it is desirable to irreversibly detect and/or localize a shock event.

A golf tee having a contact alert coating cooperates with a golf ball and a golf club to provide a novel training aid that is economical, compact, and encourages proper golfing form. The golf tee has a golf tee body with a top plate, top wall and side walls. The top plate is fixedly attached to a shaft which terminates into a point that is inserted into a ground surface when a ball is placed on the top plate. A contact alert coating is coated on at least an upper portion of the golf tee body. The contact alert coating is composed of a material that generates a spark and, preferably, an audible sound when a golf club head strikes the ball and strikes the contact alert coating of the golf tee at the coating/golf tee interface. Generation of the spark and, preferably, the audible sound provides an alert that immediately informs the user whether the user's golf swing has been properly executed.

Disclosed is a putting practice device configured to enable training of keeping a putter face square without checking movement of a golf ball, to enable training of controlling putting strength as well as keeping the putter face square, and to enable training of practicing linear motion of a putter during execution of a putting stroke while an actual golf ball is struck. The putting practice device for the training of keeping the putter face square and controlling the putting strength includes an advance groove, a base plate, a striking part, an impact sensor, and a display part.

A method of practicing a golf swing and a kit for use with the method is provided, whereby the golfer applies a colorant to the sole of a golf club with a marking instrument and hits golf balls off of a resilient flexible mat, so that the colorant is transferred to the upper surface of the mat, thereby creating marks that are characteristic of the golfer's swing.

A golf club comprising a golf club head having a face wall, an inertial motion unit (IMU) positioned within the body, and a transceiver in communication with the IMU, a shaft attached to the golf club head, and a grip attached to the shaft is disclosed herein. The IMU identifies an impact location with a golf ball.

A golf ball includes an assist mark 10 and a guide mark. The assist mark is straight in plan. The guide mark is distorted in plan. The guide mark is in the shape of an arrow as a whole. The guide mark looks straight to a player swinging a golf club. The player moves the head of the golf club along the direction of the guide mark.