Putter Fitting Method

• US 20090270195A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Edel
• Original Assignee: David Edel
• Inventors: Edel, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/220
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/023 adjustable angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/025 lie angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about an axis parallel to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/026 loft angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• 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 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club

Abstract

A putter fitting method and system comprising a laser configured to deflect a laser beam off of a putter at address and strike a scoring map in such a way so as to indicate the any error'"'"'s in a golfer'"'"'s aim. The method and system may further comprise determining physical alterations to the golfer'"'"'s putter in order to correct the aim errors. Such changes may be to the hosels (neck), hosel offset, hosel types, head shape, loft, line combination, length or the like. These changes may be suggested automatically, for example, by a computer program, based on the location of the laser strike, or by a fitting professional.

Claims

1. A putter fitting method comprising:

allowing a golfer to address a golf ball with a putter and aim at a target;

focusing a laser beam such that the beam deflects off of a reflective surface on the face of the putter and hits an area on a scoring map, wherein the area on the scoring map that is struck by the laser beam provides an indication of the golfer'"'"'s aim when addressing the golf ball.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the area on the scoring map that is hit by the laser beam provides an indication of physical alterations to be made to the putter so as to allow the golfer to achieve a more favorable aim towards the target.

3. A putter fitting system comprising:

a putter having a reflective surface on the putter face, the reflective surface being sufficient to deflect a laser beam;

a laser configured to direct a laser beam at the reflective surface; and

a scoring map;

wherein the laser beam is deflected off of the putter face and onto the scoring map when a golfer address a target, and wherein the area on the scoring map that is struck by the deflected laser beam is indicative of the golfer'"'"'s aim in addressing the target.

4. The putter fitting system of claim 3 further comprising a computer program configured to identify the area on the scoring map that was struck and suggest physical changes to the golfer'"'"'s putter in order to correct the golfer'"'"'s aim.