Golf swing analyzing/training mat system with ball striking-related feedback

• US 20070298895A1
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jan E. Rhoades, Mark E. Nusbaum
• Original Assignee: Jan E. Rhoades, Mark E. Nusbaum
• Inventors: Nusbaum, Mark E., Rhoads, Jan E.
• Application Number:
  US11/582,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20070298895A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/131
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club

Abstract

A golf practice mat includes an impact sensor disposed in a vicinity bounding the location of where a golf ball would be placed for striking. The golf practice mat may also include, for example, a “crosshair” target imprint that is disposed on a golf club impact sensor portion of the practice surface and indicates the point/line of contact that the club face should hit the ground after the ball has been struck with the club head in a descending blow. A microcontroller receives and analyzes the output of the impact sensor and generates a display/output message that is coupled to a display that is, for example, embodied on the golf practice mat to provide user shot-related feedback. The display may indicate, for example, the user'"'"'s golf club, the estimated distance the ball will travel depending upon the impact data analyzed, the club chosen by the user, input backswing data and/or a three-dimensional simulation of the resulting golf stroke.

Claims

1. Golf practice apparatus for practicing a golf swing with a golf club comprising:

a golf ball position indicator;

a sensor array for generating data;

processing circuitry coupled to said sensor array for analyzing data from said sensor array to provide feedback to a user reinforcing a downwardly descending golf stroke in the vicinity of the golf ball position indicator, said processing circuitry being operable to detect a downwardly descending golf stroke such that the stroke if used with a golf ball on a turf surface would result in a divot after striking the ball.

2. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 1, further including an LCD display coupled to said processing circuitry for providing feedback to a user based upon the analysis of said data from said sensor array.

3. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said golf ball position indicator, said sensor array and said processing circuitry are embodied in a practice mat, said practice mat including an array of LED display devices for identifying the projected ball flight direction based upon the analysis of said data from said sensor array.

4. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 1, further including a golf club target disposed adjacent said golf ball position indicator, said golf club target identifying the desired point relative to a golf ball positioned at said golf ball position indicator for said divot to be taken, and a display indicative of the position of the projected divot generated by a practice golf stroke relative to said golf ball club target.

5. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said display is a display indicating the initial strike of the club head on said sensor array.

6. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said display is an LED display identifying an initial strike area.

7. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said display further indicates a desired strike area.

8. Golf practice apparatus for use by a user practicing a golf swing with a golf club for reinforcing a downwardly descending golf stroke comprising:

a bounded practice surface for use by a user practicing a golf swing;

an area of said practice surface indicating the position of a golf ball and a target indicator disposed adjacent to said area of said practice surface indicating the position of a golf ball, wherein said target indicator is disposed at a point on the practice surface corresponding to a point in a golf swing where a divot would have been made if an actual golf had been placed at the golf ball representation and a downwardly descending stroke at ball impact was executed on a golf course fairway;

an impact sensor disposed in a golf club impact area of said practice surface for detecting contact with said impact area by a golf club swung by said user and for generating golf club contact data; and

processing circuitry operatively coupled to said impact sensor for receiving and analyzing said golf club contact data.

9. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 8, further including an output mechanism for providing feedback to said user related to the analysis of said golf club contact data by said processing circuitry.

10. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said target indicator is disposed at a point on the practice surface corresponding to a point in a downwardly descending golf swing after ball contact would have been made if an actual golf had been placed at the indicated position of a golf ball.

11. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said impact sensor comprises a grid of sensors.

12. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said impact sensor comprises an array of pressure sensors.

13. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said processing circuitry in response to said golf club contact data generates a golf club stroke yardage indicating signal.

14. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said processing circuitry in response to said golf club contact data generates data indicative of a detected pattern related to a user'"'"'s golf swing.

15. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 8, further including three-dimensional display generation circuitry for generating data for displaying a simulated golf shot based upon said golf club contact data.

16. Golf practice apparatus for a user practicing a golf swing with a golf club comprising:

a bounded practice surface for use by a user practicing a golf swing;

an area of said practice surface including a golf ball position indicator indicating the position where the user is to envision a golf ball to be struck;

a visual cue visually indicating to the user to generate a downwardly descending stroke with respect to the golf ball position indicator; and

a golf club head impact area in the vicinity of said golf ball position indicator;

wherein the practice mat provides at least a temporary indication to the user of the area struck by the club head.

17. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said visual cue is a golf ball replica with a shaft piercing the golf ball replica and indicating the desired downward angle of the golf stroke.

18. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the visual cue is a target indicator disposed adjacent to said area of said practice surface indicating the position of a golf ball, wherein said target indicator is disposed at a point on the practice surface corresponding to a point in a golf swing where a divot would have been made if an actual golf had been placed at the golf ball representation and a downward stroke after ball impact was executed on a golf course fairway.

19. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said golf club impact area includes a material that changes its contour upon being struck by said club head.

20. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said material is a visco-elastic material.

21. Golf practice apparatus according to claim 1, further including a display for generating a divot-related display indicative of the position of said divot relative to a golf ball related target.