Golf club includes a head having a front, ball-striking surface and a cavity arranged to removably retain therein a ball. The front surface includes an opening communicating with the cavity and arranged apart from peripheral edges of the front face such that an annular portion of the front face surrounds the opening. The head is constructed without structure in front of the opening such that when the golf club is swung against a ball, passage of the ball through the opening into the cavity is used to evaluate the swinging of the golf club. The head may include one or more channels leading from the cavity to a rear face and/or to a side face to allow flow of air from the cavity during the swing. A ball removal mechanism may be incorporated into the head to facilitate removal of the ball from the cavity.

0009] A golf club in accordance with the invention that may achieve one or both of these objects includes a head having a front, ball-striking surface and a cavity arranged to retain therein a ball. The front surface includes an opening communicating with the cavity and arranged apart from peripheral edges of the front face such that an annular portion of the front face surrounds the opening. The head is constructed without structure in front of the opening such that when the golf club is swung against a ball, passage of the ball through the opening into the cavity is used to evaluate the swinging of the golf club. Capture of the ball is considered to be an appropriate stroke whereas contact of the ball with the annular portion of the front face is considered an imprecise stroke. The cavity is configured to prevent movement of the ball therefrom after capture during the swing, i.e., at least until the golfer manually retrieves the ball from the cavity or otherwise manipulates the golf club to release the ball from the cavity. The head also preferably includes one or more channels leading from the cavity to a rear face and/or to a side face to allow flow of air from the cavity during the swing and thereby aid in passage of the ball into the cavity.

[0010] In one embodiment, the opening is positioned on the front face in a sweet spot of the head determined based on, for example, dimensions of the head. Also, the opening preferably has a size larger than a cross-sectional size of the ball so that exact alignment of the opening with the ball is not required in order to capture the ball in the cavity. The golf club may be used in combination with any type, size of ball, e.g., with a ball made substantially entirely of a soft material.

[0011] A method for practicing swinging of a golf club in accordance with the invention includes providing a golf club as described above, placing a ball on a support, then swinging the golf club while attempting to capture the ball in the cavity, and evaluating the swing of the golf club based on whether the ball was captured in the cavity or not. Parameters of a subsequent swing may be adjusted based on the evaluation of the swing when the ball is not captured in the cavity.