Teaching and gaming golf feedback system and methods

Abstract

The invention provides a golf feedback system. A mat is used to determine player foot position, and a 3D golf tracking system tracks golf balls hit from the mat to determine (a) a ground ball track and (b) a player orientation axis, based on the foot position and relative to the mat. The system further determines information indicative of how well the ground ball track correlated to the orientation axis. Preferably, a golfer using the system is led through a plurality of pin target locations in a simulated golf game. The system evaluates and stores information such as slice and hook, accuracy, player orientation axis and ball carry distance such that the player can evaluate his/her game individually or against one or more other players. The invention can include a plurality of mats, each mat located at a different tee off position at one or more driving ranges, each mat providing player foot position at that mat, a 3D golf tracking system at each of the driving ranges for tracking golf balls hit from one ore more mats at the associated driving, and a web server for storing and collating player performance information (e.g., player orientation axis, slice, hook, distance information) for all golfers. This server is thereinafter accessible by persons connected to the server on the Internet to facilitate gaming and teaching uses.