Method and apparatus for configuring a golf club in accordance with a golfer's individual swing characteristics

• US 20040092326A1
• Filed: 11/10/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Slivnik, August L., Cameron, Don T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,311,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/219
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3676 for putting A63B69/3608, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3697 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for analyzing a golfer'"'"'s individual swing attributes and determining, based on that analysis, a suitable golf club configuration for that golfer. The swing analysis apparatus include video cameras for obtaining video images of a golfer swinging a golf club, such as a putter, at a golf ball. Images obtained from the video cameras may then be analyzed to determine what golf club dimensions will provide improved results in combination with the golfer'"'"'s individual swing characteristics. The apparatus may additionally include a golf club having predetermined dimensions. When such a golf club is included, images from the video cameras may be analyzed to determine how the golf club of known dimensions must be adjusted to provide the golfer with desirable swing results. The apparatus may also include a method for confirming the dimensions that it is believed will provide a golfer with improve swing results. Such methods include an analysis of the performance of a golf ball following impact with the golf club, and an analysis of the golfer'"'"'s wrist and head movement during the golf swing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for analyzing a golfer'"'"'s swing, comprising:

a striking location for accommodating a golf ball to be struck;

video capture means directed at said striking location for obtaining video images of a golf club during a swing at a golf ball in said striking location;

video image storage means for receiving and storing the video images from said video capture means;

means for initiating storage of video images from said video capture means by said video image storage means;

a display connected to said video image storage means for displaying video images of a golfer'"'"'s swing stored by said video image storage means;

means for analyzing video images of a golfer'"'"'s swing displayed on said display; and

means for determining from an analysis of a golfer'"'"'s swing using said analyzing means what golf club dimensions will provide the golfer with predetermined swing results.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a golf club of predetermined dimensions, said golf club including a shaft and club head with a strike face and a sole; and

wherein said determining means further comprises means for determining from an analysis using said analyzing means of a golfer'"'"'s swing with said golf club, the amount the dimensions of said golf club must be adjusted to provide the golfer with predetermined swing results.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said video capture means includes video capture means positioned on a side of said striking location opposite the position of a golfer during a swing at a golf ball in said striking location for obtaining side view video images of the striking location during a golf swing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said determining means includes means for determining, from said side view video images, the angle of the club shaft upon impact of said golf club with a golf ball, and wherein said determining means further includes means for determining based on said angle the strike face angle of the club head that will provide improved results when using the golfer'"'"'s swing.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said video capture means further includes video capture means positioned on a side of the striking location opposite the position of the golfer, during a swing at a golf ball in said striking location, for obtaining side view video images of a golf ball during a golf swing.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

means for confirming the strike face angle of the club head that will provide improved results when using the golfer'"'"'s swing, said confirming means including means for analyzing, from said side view video images of a golf ball, the performance of a golf ball following impact with the golf club.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said video capture means includes video capture means positioned in front of the striking location and in line with a golfer'"'"'s target during a swing at a golf ball in said striking location, for obtaining front view video images of the striking location during a golf swing.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said determining means includes means for determining, from said front view video images, the angle of the sole of said golf club upon impact of said golf club with a golf ball, and wherein said determining means further includes means for determining based on said angle the golf club lie that will provide improved results when using the golfer'"'"'s swing.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said video capture means comprises a high-speed video camera that records video images at speeds greater than or equal to 600 frames per second.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said golf club is a golf putter.

11. An apparatus for analyzing a golfer'"'"'s putting stroke and determining based thereon a suitable putter configuration for the golfer, comprising:

a striking location for accommodating a golf ball to be struck;

a putter having predetermined dimensions, said predetermined dimensions including the lie and loft of said putter;

a plurality of video cameras positioned near and aimed at said striking location for obtaining video images of the putter during a stroke at a golf ball in said striking location;

video image storage means for receiving and storing the video images from said plurality of video cameras;

means for initiating storage of video images from said video cameras by said video image storage means;

a display connected to said video image storage means for displaying video images of a golfer'"'"'s stroke stored by said video image storage means;

means for analyzing video images of a golfer'"'"'s stroke displayed on said display; and

means for determining from an analysis of a golfer'"'"'s putting stroke using said analyzing means the amount the dimensions of said putter must be adjusted to provide the golfer with predetermined putting results.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said plurality of video cameras includes a video camera positioned on a side of said striking location opposite the position of a golfer during a stroke at a golf ball in said striking location for obtaining side view video images of the striking location during a golf stroke.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said determining means includes means for determining, from said side view video images, the angle of the club shaft upon impact of said putter with a golf ball, and wherein said determining means further includes means for determining based on said angle the loft of the putter that will provide improved results when using the golfer'"'"'s stroke.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said plurality of video cameras further include a video camera positioned on a side of the striking location opposite the position of the golfer, during a stroke at a golf ball in said striking location, for obtaining side view video images of a golfer'"'"'s putting grip during a golf stroke.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:

means for confirming the loft of the putter that will provide improved results when using the golfer'"'"'s putting stroke, said confirming means including means for determining, from said side view video images of a golfer'"'"'s putting grip, the amount a golfer'"'"'s wrists are moving during a putting stroke.

16. A method for configuring a golf club in accordance with an individual golfer'"'"'s swing, comprising the steps of:

providing to a golfer a first golf club with predetermined dimensions, said first golf club including a shaft and club head with a strike face;

positioning a golf ball in a striking location;

positioning video camera means near the striking location to obtain video images of the first golf club and a golfer using the first golf club during the golfer'"'"'s swing at a golf ball in the striking location;

activating said video camera means;

storing images obtained by said video camera means during a golfer'"'"'s swing;

determining from said stored video images the position of the first golf club during a golfer'"'"'s swing; and

configuring and dimensioning a second golf club that will produce predetermined swing results for a golfer based on data obtained from the position of the first golf club during the golfer'"'"'s swing.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

determining from said stored video images the amount the predetermined dimensions of said golf club must be adjusted to provide the golfer with predetermined swing results.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of positioning video camera means includes positioning video camera means on a side of said striking location opposite the position of a golfer during a swing at a golf ball in said striking location for obtaining side view video images of the striking location during a golf swing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said step of determining includes determining, from said side view video images, the angle of the club shaft upon impact of said golf club with a golf ball, and wherein said step of determining further includes determining based on said angle the strike face angle of the club head that will provide improved results when using the golfer'"'"'s swing.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said step of positioning further includes positioning video camera means on a side of the striking location opposite the position of the golfer, during a swing at a golf ball in said striking location, for obtaining side view video images of a golf ball during a golf swing.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

confirming the strike face angle of the club head that will provide improved results when using the golfer'"'"'s swing, said confirming step including analyzing, from said side view video images of a golf ball, the performance of a golf ball following impact with the golf club.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said golf club is a golf putter, and the known dimensions include the lie and loft of the putter.

23. A method for configuring a golf club in accordance with an individual golfer'"'"'s swing, comprising the steps of:

providing to a golfer a first golf club with predetermined dimensions, said first golf club including a shaft and club head with a strike face;

positioning a golf ball in a striking location;

analyzing the golf swing of the golfer using the first golf club;

determining from said analysis the position of the first golf club during a golfer'"'"'s swing; and

configuring and dimensioning a second golf club that will produce predetermined swing results for a golfer based on data obtained from the position of the first golf club during the golfer'"'"'s swing.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of determining the amount the predetermined dimensions of said golf club must be adjusted to provide the golfer with predetermined swing results.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said step of determining includes determining the angle of the club shaft upon impact of said golf club with a golf ball, and wherein said step of determining further includes determining based on said angle the strike face angle of the club head that will provide improved results when using the golfer'"'"'s swing.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of confirming the strike face angle of the club head that will provide improved results when using the golfer'"'"'s swing, said confirming step including analyzing the performance of a golf ball following impact with the golf club.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein said golf club is a golf putter, and the known dimensions include the lie and loft of the putter.