GOLF SWING ANALYZER AND ANALYSIS METHODS
First Claim
1. A golf club, comprising:
- an accelerometer that measures acceleration in three directions;
a processor unit coupled to said accelerometer and that converts acceleration measured by said accelerometer during a non-ball-striking swing into an estimated carrying distance of a golf ball when struck by the golf club based on swing position and a type of the golf club; and
a display coupled to said processor unit and that is controlled by said processor unit to display the estimated carrying distance as a function of swing position, said display having an exposed display surface visible from an exterior of the golf club.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A golf club including a swing analyzer includes an accelerometer that measures acceleration in three directions, a magnetometer/gyroscope unit, a processor unit that converts the measured acceleration and golf club movement during a non-ball-striking or ball-striking swing into an estimated carrying distance of a golf ball when struck by the golf club based on swing position and a type of the golf club, and a display that displays the estimated carrying distance as a function of swing position to the golfer. The accelerometer, magnetometer/gyroscope unit, and processor unit may be mounted in a handle at a grip end of the golf club. The estimated carrying distance calculation may be performed at a unit separate from the golf club and capable of performing this calculation for several golf clubs with which it communicates via cooperating communications unit.
64 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A golf club, comprising:
-
an accelerometer that measures acceleration in three directions; a processor unit coupled to said accelerometer and that converts acceleration measured by said accelerometer during a non-ball-striking swing into an estimated carrying distance of a golf ball when struck by the golf club based on swing position and a type of the golf club; and a display coupled to said processor unit and that is controlled by said processor unit to display the estimated carrying distance as a function of swing position, said display having an exposed display surface visible from an exterior of the golf club. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method for displaying estimated carrying distance of a golf ball as a function of swing position for a golf club, comprising:
-
in a training stage, for each of at least one swing position, measuring, using an accelerometer on the golf club, acceleration of the golf club during a non-ball-striking swing in three directions; and converting, using a processor unit on the golf club, the measured acceleration into an estimated carrying distance of a golf ball when struck by the golf club based on the swing position and a type of the golf club; storing the estimated carrying distance for each swing position in a data storage unit on the golf club; and displaying on a display the estimated carrying distance as a function of swing position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A golf swing analysis arrangement, comprising:
-
at least one golf club, each of said at least one golf club comprising; an accelerometer that measures acceleration in three directions; and a first communications unit that transmits the measured acceleration; and a unit separate and apart from the at least one golf club and that comprises; a second communications unit arranged to communicate with the first communications unit of each golf club and receive the measured acceleration; a processor unit that converts the received measured acceleration into an estimated carrying distance of a golf ball when struck by the golf club based on swing position and a type of the golf club; and a display coupled to said processor unit and that is controlled by said processor unit to enable display of the estimated carrying distance as a function of swing position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method for enabling a golfer to obtain estimated carrying distance of a golf ball as a function of swing position for at least one golf club, comprising:
-
in a training stage, for each of at least one swing position, measuring, using an accelerometer/magnetometer/gyroscope unit on the golf club, acceleration, club face data and swing data of the golf club during a non-ball-striking swing in three directions; and transmitting, using a first communications unit on the golf club, the measured acceleration, club face data and swing data to a second communications unit on a separate unit; and converting, using a processor unit at the separate unit, the measured acceleration, club face data and swing data provided by the first communications unit of each golf club into an estimated carrying distance of a golf ball when struck by that golf club based on the swing position and a type and characteristics of that golf club; whereby the estimated carrying distance of a golf ball when struck by each golf club is available as a function of swing position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification