SELECTION SUPPORT APPARATUS AND SELECTION SUPPORT METHOD

• US 20140357427A1
• Filed: 04/23/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: ISHIKAWA, Tatsuya, IWADE, Hirotada
• Granted Patent: US 9,398,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/407
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• 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: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A selection support apparatus acquires a plurality of types of characteristic data representing a swing characteristic of a testing golfer based on a test shot result of a golf club. The apparatus calculates each of recommended values for the testing golfer in association with a plurality of types of characteristic values that characterize a component of a golf club based on the plurality of types of characteristic data. The apparatus selects, based on the recommended values and component information representing a correspondence between components and the plurality of types of characteristic values, a recommended component from components listed in the component information.

Claims

1. A selection support apparatus comprising:

a characteristic data acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of types of characteristic data representing a swing characteristic of a testing golfer based on a test shot result of a golf club;

a calculation unit configured to calculate each of recommended values for the testing golfer in association with a plurality of types of characteristic values that characterize a component of a golf club based on the plurality of types of characteristic data; and

a selection unit configured to select, based on the recommended values and component information representing a correspondence between components and the plurality of types of characteristic values, a recommended component from components listed in the component information.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a specifying unit configured to specify a recommended golf club including the recommended component selected by said selection unit.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of characteristic data include a plurality of types out of

data representing an orientation of a face of a head at a time of impact,

data representing a change rate of an orientation of an face with respect to a moving direction of the head within a head moving range from an impact position to a position moved backward by a predetermined distance,

a head speed,

a head track difference between a backswing and a downswing,

a head track difference between a downswing and a follow swing, and

a head track within a head moving range from an impact position to a position moved backward by the predetermined distance.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of characteristic values include a plurality of types out of a center-of-gravity angle of a head, a moment of inertia of a head, a center-of-gravity distance of a head, a center-of-gravity depth of a head, a center-of-gravity height of a head, a lie angle of a head, a loft angle of a head, a head volume, a head weight, a flexural rigidity of a shaft, a flexural rigidity distribution of a shaft, a flex of a shaft, a torque of a shaft, and a weight of a shaft.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said calculation unit is configured to calculate the recommended value based on the characteristic data, using α

and β

as coefficients, by

recommended value=characteristic data×

α

+γ

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said selection unit is configured to select a component having characteristic values closest to the recommended values as the recommended component.

7. A selection support method comprising:

a characteristic data acquisition step of acquiring a plurality of types of characteristic data representing a swing characteristic of a testing golfer based on a test shot result of a golf club;

a calculation step of calculating each of recommended values for of the testing golfer in association with a plurality of types of characteristic values that characterize a component of a golf club based on the plurality of types of characteristic data; and

a selection step of selecting a recommended component from components listed in the component information based on the recommended values and component information representing a correspondence between components and the plurality of types of characteristic values.