as shown in the isometric view of fig1 the practice and training device of the instant invention comprises a plurality of attachment devices 1 configured for attaching the top ends of a backstop 3 to a ceiling or similar structure . attachment devices 1 are preferably formed of metal or other high strength material , and are connectable to the ceiling of a room or similar structure 17 by helical screw friction , expansion connectors , or high strength straps . adjustable shock absorbing connectors 2 connect the backstop 3 to attachment devices 1 . connectors 2 can be adjusted from approximately 50 mm to 2 meters in length , and are made of elastic material similar to rubber or expandable woven fabric . the backstop 3 is typically made of thin flexible cloth material , mesh netting , or any other material that is flexible , that can have alignment marks applied to it , and that can withstand repeated impacts of the golf ball 16 . the backstop is preferably provided with overall dimensions of approximately 180 mm wide by 240 mm high , and the top and bottom corners of the backstop 3 form angles with the horizontal of approximately 85 and 75 degrees , respectively . backstop 3 is provided with alignment marks permanently marked or sewn onto backstop 3 such as with thread , die , ink , paint , epoxy or other suitable marking product . a vertical alignment mark 4 is located on the longitudinal centerline of the backstop 3 and is approximately 220 mm long and 1 . 5 mm wide . approximately seven large graduated horizontal alignment marks 6 are each located along backstop 3 at approximately 24 mm increments from the bottom to the top of backstop 3 . horizontal alignment marks 6 define consecutive angular trajectories at 10 degree angles 21 from the forward straight alignment mark 8 of base 15 , with their origins at the point of contact between the golf ball 18 and the base 15 . a small graduated horizontal alignment mark 7 is located halfway between each pair of spaced graduated horizontal alignment marks 6 . the large 6 and small 7 graduated horizontal alignment marks are 60 mm × 1 . 5 mm and 30 mm × 0 . 75 mm , respectively . one additional small graduated horizontal alignment mark 5 is provided , and this is a differentiating horizontal alignment mark . to reach above the differentiating mark 5 typically requires a pitch shot , and below is a chip shot . preferably , a simulated hole 22 is marked on the backstop 3 where it rests on the base 15 . simulated hole 22 is centered on the vertical alignment mark 4 . also provided is a horizontal base 15 attached to backstop 3 via shock absorbing attachment devices 14 . base 15 is provided with base alignment markings 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , and 13 . the base 15 has overall dimensions of roughly 180 mm × 213 mm , is approximately 2 mm thick , and consists of tightly woven carpet formed from vertical and horizontal mesh . however , the base can be larger , consist of any material that can withstand repeated impacts of a golf club 23 , and can support a golf ball 18 in similar manner as natural ground coverings such as grass , dirt , rocks , or sand . base 15 is provided with alignment marks 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , and 12 , and a golf ball strike box 13 ( a . k . a . “ strike zone ”), permanently marked on the base 15 with any marking material such as thread , die , ink , paint , epoxy , or similar marking materials . strike box 13 is rectangular in shape , approximately 30 mm × 10 mm , and located longitudinally 50 mm from the rear end of the base 17 . the lines forming the strike box 13 are approximately 1 . 5 mm wide . the forward straight alignment mark 8 is approximately 110 mm long and 1 . 5 mm wide and is marked on the base 15 in a straight line from the forward side of the golf ball strike box 13 to the forward end of the base 15 along the longitudinal centerline of the base 15 . the backswing straight alignment mark 9 is approximately 50 mm × 10 mm and marked on the base 15 in a straight line from the rear side of the base golf ball strike box 13 to the rear end of the base 15 along the longitudinal centerline of the base 15 . four angled alignment marks 10 are 55 mm × 0 . 75 mm and marked on the base 15 at five degree angles to the forward straight alignment mark 8 and the backswing straight alignment mark 9 with the strike box 13 and the forward two corners of the strike box 13 . the rear latitudinal line of the strike box 13 is 60 mm × 1 . 5 mm forming the golf club edge alignment mark 11 . six distance alignment marks 12 approximately 30 mm × 0 . 75 mm centered on the forward 8 and backswing 9 straight alignment marks and parallel to the golf club edge alignment mark 11 are located 15 mm , 30 mm , and 45 mm in front of and behind the golf club edge alignment mark 11 , respectively . the practice device of the instant invention is easily assembled with conventional hand tools , such as a hammer , a screw driver , and a drill by securing the ceiling or structure attachment devices 1 to a ceiling or structure 17 . the adjustable shock absorbing devices 2 are connected to the attachment devices 1 and the backstop 3 . the base 15 is placed on the ground or floor 18 and the backstop 3 is connected to the base 15 by the base shock absorbing attachment devices 14 . the user adjusts the adjustable shock absorbing devices 2 so that the backstop 3 is aligned with the base 15 based on the height of the ceiling or structure 1 and the invention is then ready for use . a golfer uses the throw , swing , chip , pitch and putt exercise and training device of the instant invention by placing a golf ball 18 inside and at the rear end of the golf ball strike box 13 , standing on the base 15 , aligning parts of their bodies with the backstop 15 and base alignment marks 4 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , and 13 as shown in fig3 aligning the edge of the golf club head 24 with is the golf club edge alignment mark 11 , executing the swing , chip , pitch and putt and observing the affects of their swing , chip , pitch and putt . the user initiates a swing , chip , pitch and putt by moving the golf club head 21 along the backswing straight alignment mark 9 . as the user moves the golf club 21 backwards , he or she sees whether the club 21 moves in or deviates from a straight path by observing any part of the backswing straight alignment mark 9 around the club head . the backswing straight alignment mark 9 is approximately as wide as the club head 24 is long . the appearance of any part of the backswing straight alignment mark 9 around the head 24 as the club 21 moves down the mark 9 indicates a deviation of the club 21 from a straight path during the backswing . the golf ball strike box 13 and the straight and angled alignment marks on the base 8 , 9 , 10 , and 11 cause the user to focus his or her eyes on the golf ball 16 during the execution of the swing , chip , pitch and putt and prior to contact between the golf club head 24 and the golf ball 16 . at impact between the club head 24 and the ball 16 , the user determines if he or she caused the head 24 to strike the ball 16 properly by observing the relationship between the head 24 and the strike box 13 . the user causes improper contact if he or she observes the head 24 passing over the longitudinal lines of the box 13 . immediately after impact between the golf club 21 and the golf ball 16 , the user aligns the movement of the golf club 21 with the forward straight alignment mark 8 and observes the affects of the swing , chip , pitch and putt when the golf ball 16 strikes the backstop 3 . the user observes the backstop 3 , alignment marks 4 , 5 , 6 , and 7 , and golf ball 16 to determine the results of his or her swing , chip , pitch and putt . for example , a golf ball 16 spins as it leaves the face of a golf club 21 . thus , the ball 16 may impact the backstop 3 either to the right , left , or center of the vertical alignment mark 4 . the ball moves to the right or left or stays in the center of the backstop 3 at impact due to its spin . the ball 16 also strikes the backstop 3 at a specific elevation . the horizontal alignment marks help the user determine the angle in which the ball 16 traveled to the backstop 3 . the location of the impact of the ball 16 and the movement of the ball 16 at impact indicates how the user hits the ball 16 with the golf club 21 . because each golfer produces different ball take - off angles than other golfers for the same club , each golfer must establish his or her own optimum angle to achieve a given distance for a particular club 23 . the user may use the practice device of the instant invention to develop a consistent straight shot for a variety of take - off angles , and adjust his or her actual swing during play for the take - off angle that will provide the desired distance of the shot . the adjustable shock absorbing devices 2 and the base shock absorbing attachment devices 14 absorb the impact of the golf ball 16 on the backstop 3 and prevent the golf ball 16 from rebounding . the sloping arrangement of the backstop 3 causes the golf ball 16 to return to the base after it comes in contact with the backstop 3 . the user 22 recovers the golf ball 16 at the bottom and prepares for the next swing , chip , pitch and putt . various modifications of the invention are possible due to the many ways in which golfers swing , chip , pitch and putt objects , the numerous materials that are available in the marketplace to manufacture the device , the variety of alignment marks that can be used , the variety of arrangements of the alignment marks that can be used , and the different techniques golfers use when they swing , chip , pitch and putt . having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention , various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept . it is to be understood , therefore , that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth herein . for example , the versatility of the practice device of the instant invention enables it to be extremely flexible and configured into a large number of uses in which a user seeks to practice swinging , chipping , or pitching movements of any objects . for example , the user may use the device to hit , swing , chip , pitch and putt objects such as baseballs with baseball bats , tennis balls with tennis racquets , racquetballs with racquetball racquets , hockey pucks with hockey sticks , and golf balls with golf clubs . thus , a baseball batter , a tennis player , or a racquetball player can use the device to exercise and train themselves in the use of the sporting equipment used in their sport . variations of the same golf swing , chip , pitch and putt exercise and training device of the instant invention can thus easily be adapted for other applications .
a golf swing , chip , pitch or putt practice and training device is provided which provides people who play golf the means to develop their ability to swing , chip , pitch and putt . the practice and training device comprises a base and a backstop attached to the base . the base is provided with base alignment marks and a golf ball strike box for positioning and aligning a golfer before , during , and after the execution of a swing , chip , pitch shot or putting stroke . the backstop is likewise provided with backstop alignment marks which further assist in maintaining the golfer &# 39 ; s alignment through the swing , and which immediately provide the golfer with an indication of his swing performance . the backstop is provided at its upper end with adjustable means for attaching the backstop to a ceiling or structure , at its lower end with means for attaching the backstop to the base , and is generally curved to ensure that the golf ball automatically returns to the golfer after each swing .