SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FITTING GOLF CLUBS AND SETS

• US 20140316542A1
• Filed: 01/21/2014
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Beno, Tim A., Curtis, Andrew, McDonnell, Michael T., Moreira, Scott H., Preece, Thomas W., Yagley, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US14/160,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20140316542A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/91
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• 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 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

The invention relates to devices, systems, and methods for fitting golf clubs. A golf club set is selected from among many golf clubs. A golfer can give information about an existing club set or hitting abilities. Systems of the invention use that information to identify a yardage gap to be covered by clubs and a number of clubs to span that yardage gap. The system can determine one or more yardage for each of the number of clubs and then propose a specific club for each yardage.

Claims

1. A device for fitting golf clubs, the device comprising:

a memory coupled to a processor operable to cause the device to;

receive a range of distances;

obtain a number N of clubs to be suggested;

determine a set of distances distributed across the range; and

suggest a club for each target distance.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device determines a set of N distances.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device determines a set of (N+1) distances, and the device is further operable to:

identify an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the set; and

suggest the adjustable club for the two of the distances.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the range of distances is received as a longest playable iron distance and a driver distance.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the longest playable iron distance and the driver distance are received via an interaction between the device and RFID tags on the driver and the longest playable iron.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is further operable to obtain the number N based on a user'"'"'s input of a longest playable iron N_L and a number of wedges N_W.

7. The device of claim 6, further operable to

calculate N as 12−

N_W−

(10−

N_L); and

calculate a gap by G=(D_D−

D_I)/(N+1), and further wherein each distance in the set of distances is separated by the gap.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the set comprises N distances, and the device is further operable to:

determine an alternative set of (N+1) distances distributed across the range; and

identify an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the alternative set.

9. The device of claim 1, further operable to:

identify an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the set; and

suggest the adjustable club for the two of the distances.

10. The device of claim 1, further operable to:

send an identity of each suggested club to a server computer device; and

display an offer of at least one of the suggested clubs for a user to purchase.

11. A method of fitting golf clubs, the method comprising:

receiving, in an electronic device comprising a memory coupled to a processor, a range of distances;

obtaining a number N of clubs to be suggested;

determining a set of distances distributed across the range; and

suggesting a club for each target distance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the set comprises N distances.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the set comprises (N+1) distances, and the method further comprises:

identifying an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the set; and

suggesting the adjustable club for the two of the distances.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the range of distances is received as a longest playable iron distance and a driver distance.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the number N is obtained by a user'"'"'s input of a longest playable iron and a number of wedges.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising calculating N by

N=12−

N_W−

(10−

N_L)

and calculating a gap by

gap=(D_D−

D_I)/(N+1)

and further wherein each distance in the set of distances is separated by the gap.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the set comprises N distances, and the method further comprises:

determining an alternative set of (N+1) distances distributed across the range; and

identifying an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the alternative set.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the set; and

suggesting the adjustable club for the two of the distances.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

storing an identity of each suggested club on a server computer device; and

offering at least one of the suggested clubs for a user to purchase via the electronic device.

20. A process for fitting golf clubs, the process comprising:

downloading, using a device comprising a memory coupled to a processor, a set of computer program instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the device to

receive a range of distances,

obtain a number N of clubs to be suggested,

determine a set of distances distributed across the range, and

suggest a club for each target distance;

storing the set of instructions in the memory; and

executing the instructions to aid in fitting golf clubs. device.

21. A method for fitting golf clubs, the method comprising:

offering, via a display on a mobile device comprising a memory coupled to a processor, a set of computer program instructions for download to the mobile device, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the mobile device to

receive a range of distances,

obtain a number N of clubs to be suggested,

determine a set of distances distributed across the range, and

suggest a club for each target distance.