Precision pendulum putter

• US 10,360,323 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2017
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems Incorporated (Topcon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems Incorporated (Topcon Corporation)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Raymond M., Snow, Kyle, Tuente, Justin, McKee, Chris, McKee, Everett
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Larsen, Carl V
• Application Number:
  US15/475,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20180280781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/12 with mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36213 with arm or rod fixed on the club and rotating around a fixed supporting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3676 for putting A63B69/3608, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3697 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/023 Supports, e.g. poles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/20 Design optimisation, verification or simulation optimisation, verification or simulation of circuit designs G06F30/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

A putting stroke apparatus and method is provided that determines and simulates the proper putting stroke using at least an aiming direction and initial ball speed for successfully making a particular putt based on particular putting green characteristics and the location of the golf hole on the putting green. A pendulum putter apparatus is coupled with a putting diagnostic tool wherein the putting diagnostic tool determines at least an aiming direction and initial ball speed for a particular putt using inputs such as: (i) topographic information (e.g., contours) specific to the green; (ii) the green speed at a particular time; (iii) the golf hole location (i.e., the physical location of the golf hole); and (iv) the golf ball location on the green (i.e., the physical location of the golf ball).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a set of inputs, the set of inputs including at least a three-dimensional (3D) surface model associated with a golf green, a first location of a golf hole on the golf green, the first location of the golf hole specified by a first set of 3D geodetic coordinates associated with the 3D surface model, a second location of a golf ball on the golf green, the second location of the golf ball specified by a second set of 3D geodetic coordinates associated with the 3D surface model, and a green speed associated with the golf green;

transforming, using the set of inputs, (i) the first set of 3D geodetic coordinates into a first set of two-dimensional (2D) coordinates, and (ii) the second set of 3D geodetic coordinates into a second set of 2D coordinates, the first set of 2D coordinates and the second set of 2D coordinates being associated with a local coordinate system for the golf green;

performing, using the set of inputs, a calibration specific to a golf putter apparatus to identify a set of putter calibration parameters, wherein performing the calibration includes taking measurements at one or more backswing angles for a plurality of starting and stopping positions of the golf ball travelling across the golf green;

determining, using the set of inputs, a search space, the search space including a 2D space comprised of an initial speed of the golf ball and a direction for a plurality of putt trajectories;

simulating, using the 2D space, a plurality of putting strokes, each simulated putting stroke associated with a respective use of the golf putter apparatus for executing a putt of the golf ball to the golf hole; and

determining, from the simulation of the plurality of putting strokes, a probability for each of the simulated putting strokes as to whether the respective simulated putting strokes will be successful in the executing of the putt of the golf ball to the golf hole.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

outputting results of the simulation of the plurality of putting strokes and their respective probability.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the results outputted include a rank ordering of the plurality of putting strokes.

4. The method of claim 2, the method comprising:

using the golf putter apparatus to strike the golf ball using the outputting of the simulation of the plurality of putting strokes and their respective probability, the golf putter apparatus comprising;

a golf putter assembly, the golf putter assembly comprising an adjustable putter head, an adjustable putter shaft, and a mounting bracket;

a vertical angular scale and fine trigger adjustment assembly;

an aiming mechanism; and

a stationary support assembly.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the aiming mechanism includes a laser.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing the calibration further comprises:

associating, using the set of putter calibration parameters, the one or more backswing angles for the golf putter apparatus with an initial speed of the golf ball.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the simulating the plurality of putting strokes further comprises:

specifying a trajectory for each putting stroke of the plurality of putting strokes using at least the initial speed of the golf ball, the green speed, and the 3D surface model.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the 3D surface model is received as a contour map, the contour map having a plurality of contour lines and a plurality of directional lines that are defined from a topography of the golf green.

9. The method claim 6 wherein the performing the calibration further comprises:

estimating a set of parameters of a fitted nonlinear function; and

interpolating the fitted nonlinear function to compute the associated one or more backswing angles.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining the search space further comprises:

establishing a range of initial golf ball velocities; and

determining a final velocity at which the golf ball will drop into the golf hole.

11. A golf putting system comprising:

a putting diagnostic tool, the putting diagnostic tool comprising a processor, for executing computer program instructions stored in a memory, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving a set of inputs, the set of inputs including at least a three-dimensional (3D) surface model associated with a golf green, a location of a golf hole on the golf green, a location of a golf ball on the golf green, and a green speed associated with the golf green;

transforming, using the set of inputs, (i) a first set of 3D geodetic coordinates associated with the location of the golf hole into a first set of two-dimensional (2D) coordinates, and (ii) a second set of 3D geodetic coordinates associated with the location of the golf ball into a second set of 2D coordinates, the first set of 2D coordinates and the second set of 2D coordinates being associated with a local coordinate system for the golf green;

performing, using the set of inputs, a calibration specific to a golf putter apparatus to identify a set of putter calibration parameters;

determining, using the set of inputs, a search space, the search space including a 2D space comprised of an initial speed of the golf ball and a direction for a plurality of putt trajectories;

simulating, using the 2D space, a plurality of putting strokes, each simulated putting stroke associated with a respective use of the golf putter apparatus for executing a putt of the golf ball to the location of the golf hole; and

determining, from the simulation of the plurality of putting strokes, a probability for each of the simulated putting strokes as to whether the respective simulated putting strokes will be successful in the executing of the putt of the golf ball to the location of the golf hole;

outputting results of the simulation of the plurality of putting strokes and their respective probability;

wherein the golf putter apparatus further comprises;

a golf putter assembly, the golf putter assembly comprising an adjustable putter head, an adjustable putter shaft, and a mounting bracket;

a vertical angular scale and fine trigger adjustment assembly;

an aiming mechanism;

a stationary support assembly; and

wherein the golf putter apparatus is used to strike the golf ball using the results outputted from the simulation of the plurality of putting strokes and their respective probability.

12. The golf putting system of claim 11 wherein the outputted results include a rank ordering of the plurality of putting strokes.

13. The golf putting system of claim 11 wherein the performing the calibration further comprises:

associating, using the set of putter calibration parameters, one or more backswing angles for the golf putter apparatus with an initial speed of the golf ball.

14. The golf putting system of claim 13 wherein the simulating the plurality of putting strokes further comprises:

specifying a trajectory for each putting stroke of the plurality of putting strokes using at least the initial speed of the golf ball, the green speed, and the 3D surface model.

15. The golf putting system of claim 14 wherein the 3D surface model is received as a contour map, the contour map having a plurality of contour lines and a plurality of directional lines that are defined from a topography of the golf green.

16. The golf putting system of claim 13 wherein the performing the calibration further comprises:

estimating a set of parameters of a fitted nonlinear function; and

interpolating the fitted nonlinear function to compute the associated one or more backswing angles.

17. The golf putting system of claim 11 wherein the aiming mechanism includes a laser.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer program instructions for determining a putting stroke to be applied by a golf putting apparatus, which, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a set of inputs, the set of inputs including at least a three-dimensional (3D) surface model associated with a golf green, a location of a golf hole on the golf green, a location of a golf ball on the golf green, and a green speed associated with the golf green;

transforming, using the set of inputs, (i) a first set of 3D geodetic coordinates associated with the location of the golf hole into a first set of two-dimensional (2D) coordinates, and (ii) a second set of 3D geodetic coordinates associated with the location of the golf ball into a second set of 2D coordinates, the first set of 2D coordinates and the second set of 2D coordinates being associated with a local coordinate system for the golf green;

performing, using the set of inputs, a calibration specific to a golf putter apparatus to identify a set of putter calibration parameters, wherein performing the calibration includes taking measurements at one or more backswing angles for a plurality of starting and stopping positions of the golf ball travelling across the golf green;

determining, using the set of inputs, a search space, the search space including a 2D space comprised of an initial speed of the golf ball and a direction for a plurality of putt trajectories;

simulating, using the 2D space, a plurality of putting strokes, each simulated putting stroke associated with a respective use of the golf putter apparatus for executing a putt of the golf ball to the location of the golf hole; and

determining, from the simulation of the plurality of putting strokes, a probability for each of the simulated putting strokes as to whether the respective simulated putting strokes will be successful in the executing of the putt of the golf ball to the location of the golf hole.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the golf putter apparatus comprises:

a golf putter assembly, the golf putter assembly comprising an adjustable putter head, an adjustable putter shaft, and a mounting bracket;

a vertical angular scale and fine trigger adjustment assembly;

an aiming mechanism; and

a stationary support assembly; and

wherein the golf putter apparatus is used to strike the golf ball using results output from the simulation of the plurality of putting strokes and their respective probability.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the simulating the plurality of putting strokes further comprises:

specifying a trajectory for each putting stroke of the plurality of putting strokes using at least the initial speed of the golf ball, the green speed, and the 3D surface model.