Golf club shaft selecting system and golf club shaft selecting method

• US 20060211510A1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Inventors: Saito, Takeshi, Ashida, Hiroki, Shimizu, Toshimitu
• Granted Patent: US 7,297,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/316
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• 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 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• 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 69/3605 Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A golf club shaft selecting system includes a head speed detecting unit detecting a head speed at impact in a swing of a golfer, a swing tempo detecting unit detecting a swing tempo of the golfer, a chart indicative of a shaft mass and a shaft flex point corresponding to the swing characteristics of each golfer, a selecting unit selecting a golf club shaft suitable for the golfer referring to the chart and based on the head speed and the swing tempo detected by the head speed detecting unit and the swing tempo detecting unit, and a displaying apparatus displaying the golf club shaft selected by the selecting unit.

Claims

1. A golf club shaft selecting system, comprising:

head speed detecting means for detecting a head speed at impact in a swing of a golfer;

swing tempo detecting means for detecting a swing tempo of said golfer;

a chart indicative of a preferable shaft mass corresponding to said head speed and said swing tempo;

selecting means for selecting a golf club shaft suitable for said golfer referring to said chart and based on said head speed and said swing tempo detected by said head speed detecting means and said swing tempo detecting means; and

displaying means for displaying the golf club shaft selected by said selecting means.

2. The golf club shaft selecting system according to claim 1, wherein

said swing tempo detecting means detects the swing tempo of said golfer based on any of a maximum deflection amount or a maximum deformation amount of the shaft in a swing, a swing time period, a club head speed at a prescribed time before reaching top-of-swing, and a club head acceleration around the top-of-swing.

3. A golf club shaft selecting system, comprising:

head speed detecting means for detecting a head speed at impact in a swing of a golfer;

swing tempo detecting means for detecting a swing tempo of said golfer;

a chart indicative of a preferable shaft flex point corresponding to said head speed and said swing tempo;

selecting means for selecting a golf club shaft suitable for said golfer referring to said chart and based on said head speed and said swing tempo detected by said head speed detecting means and said swing tempo detecting means; and

displaying means for displaying the golf club shaft selected by said selecting means.

4. The golf club shaft selecting system according to claim 3, wherein

classification of said shaft flex point in said chart is based on a relationship between a slope of a flexural rigidity distribution of the shaft at a portion positioned on a club head side relative to a shaft central portion and a slope of a flexural rigidity distribution of the shaft at a portion positioned on a grip side relative to said shaft central portion.

5. The golf club shaft selecting system according to claim 3, wherein

said swing tempo detecting means detects the swing tempo of said golfer based on any of a maximum deflection amount or a maximum deformation amount of the shaft in a swing, a swing time period, a club head speed at a prescribed time before reaching top-of-swing, and a club head acceleration around the top-of-swing.

6. A golf club shaft selecting system, comprising:

head speed detecting means for detecting a head speed at impact in a swing of a golfer;

swing tempo detecting means for detecting a swing tempo of said golfer;

a first chart indicative of a preferable shaft mass corresponding to said head speed and said swing tempo;

a second chart indicative of a preferable shaft flex point corresponding to said head speed and said swing tempo;

selecting means for selecting a golf club shaft suitable for said golfer referring to said first and second charts and based on said head speed and said swing tempo detected by said head speed detecting means and said swing tempo detecting means; and

displaying means for displaying the golf club shaft selected by said selecting means.

7. The golf club shaft selecting system according to claim 6, wherein

classification of said shaft flex point in said second chart is based on a relationship between a slope of a flexural rigidity distribution of the shaft at a portion positioned on a club head side relative to a shaft central portion and a slope of a flexural rigidity distribution of the shaft at a portion positioned on a grip side relative to said shaft central portion.

8. The golf club shaft selecting system according to claim 6, wherein

said swing tempo detecting means detects the swing tempo of said golfer based on any of a maximum deflection amount or a maximum deformation of the shaft in a swing, a swing time period, a club head speed at a prescribed time before reaching top-of-swing, and a club head acceleration around the top-of-swing.

9. A golf club shaft selecting method, comprising the steps of:

detecting a head speed at impact in a swing of a golfer and a swing tempo of the golfer;

classifying the swing of said golfer based on a detection result from said step of detecting; and

selecting a golf club shaft having a shaft mass suitable for said golfer based on a classification result from said step of classifying.

10. A golf club shaft selecting method, comprising the steps of:

detecting a head speed at impact in a swing of a golfer and a swing tempo of the golfer;

classifying the swing of said golfer based on a detection result from said step of detecting; and

selecting a golf club shaft having a shaft flex point suitable for said golfer based on a classification result from said step of classifying.

11. A golf club shaft selecting method, comprising the steps of:

detecting a head speed at impact in a swing of a golfer and a swing tempo of the golfer;

classifying the swing of said golfer based on a detection result from said step of detecting; and

selecting a golf club shaft having a shaft mass and a shaft flex point suitable for said golfer based on a classification result from said step of classifying.