METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS TO CUSTOM FIT GOLF CLUBS

• US 20180071577A1
• Filed: 11/27/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Swartz, Gregory J., Cottam, Roger J., Wood, Paul D., Solheim, John K., Jertson, Marty R.
• Application Number:
  US15/823,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20180071577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0015 Comparing movements or motion sequences with computerised simulations of movements or motion sequences, e.g. for generating an ideal template as reference to be achieved by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0636 3D visualisation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/75 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 : Club sets
• 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 69/3605 : Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 : for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 : Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 : Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills

Abstract

Embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems to custom fit golf clubs are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a computerized swing analyzer device configured to;

generate a swing display of a portion of a golf swing at a golf ball with a golf club head by an individual;

wherein;

the swing display is configured to present a swing top view of the portion of the golf swing from above the golf ball over a ground surface;

the swing top view comprises a first swing path lane for the golf club head with respect to the portion of the golf swing; and

the first swing path lane comprises;

a heelside lane edgeline for a heel side of the golf club head,

the heelside lane edgeline shown extended along a length of the first swing path lane; and

a toeside lane edgeline for a toe side of the golf club head,

the toeside lane edgeline shown extended along the length of the first swing path lane and shown substantially parallel to the heelside lane edgeline.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the swing top view is configured to generate;

a range of target swing path lanes ranging from approximately +20 degrees to approximately −

20 degrees relative to a target direction for the golf ball;

the computerized swing analyzer is configured to generate a target swing path represented by the first swing path lane for the individual;

the range of target swing path lanes comprises the first swing path lane; and

the swing display is configured to present at the swing top view only the first swing path lane out of the range of target swing path lanes at a time.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first swing path lane depicts an actual swing path calculated by the computerized swing analyzer to have been traversed by the golf club head for the portion of the golf swing by the individual.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the swing top view comprises a first club face indicator of a heel-to-toe dimension of a club face of the golf club head;

an actual swing path traversed by the golf club head for the portion of the golf swing by the individual is generated by the computerized swing analyzer and presented at the swing top view of the swing display via the first club face indicator; and

the first club face indicator for the actual swing path is presented by the computerized swing analyzer at the swing top view of the portion of the golf swing as indicative of a position of the club face of the golf club head relative to a target swing path generated by the computerized swing analyzer for the individual.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the swing top view comprises a first club face indicator of a heel-to-toe dimension of a club face of the golf club head; and

the computerized swing analyzer device is configured to generate the swing display such that the first swing path lane at the swing top view is one of;

an outside-to-inside swing path lane of less than zero degrees relative to a target direction,

where the outside-to-inside swing path lane bounds the first club face indicator, between the heelside lane edgeline and the toeside lane edgeline, when the portion of the golf swing follows the outside-to-inside swing path lane;

or

an inside-to-outside swing path lane of greater than zero degrees relative to the target direction,

where the inside-to-outside swing path lane bounds the first club face indicator, between the heelside lane edgeline and the toeside lane edgeline, when the portion of the golf swing follows the inside-to-outside swing path lane.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the swing top view comprises a first club head representation for the club head; and

the first club head representation comprises;

a first club face indicator for a club face of the golf club head relative to the first swing path lane for the portion of the golf swing;

the toeside lane edgeline is longer than a clubface-to-rear-end dimension of the first club head representation; and

the heelside lane edgeline is longer than the clubface-to-rear-end dimension of the first club head representation.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the first swing path lane is configured to fully bound the first club head representation between the heelside lane edgeline and the toeside lane edgeline when the portion of the golf swing is aligned with the first swing path lane.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the swing top view comprises a first club face indicator of a heel-to-toe dimension of a club face of the golf club head relative to the first swing path lane for the portion of the golf swing;

the computerized swing analyzer is configured to calculate a range of club face alignments for the first club face indicator presented at the swing top view of the swing display for the portion of the golf swing,

the range of club face alignments being adjustable by the computerized swing analyzer from approximately +20 degrees to approximately −

20 degrees relative to the first swing path lane based on an orientation of the golf club head along the portion of the golf swing;

and

the first club face indicator being fully bounded between the heelside lane edgeline and the toeside lane edgeline when the golf club head is aligned with the first swing path lane along the portion of the golf swing.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the swing top view comprises a first club face indicator corresponding to a target club face alignment of a club face of the golf club head for the individual relative to the first swing path lane; and

the first club face indicator is presented at the swing top view of the swing display fully bounded between the heelside lane edgeline and the toeside lane edgeline when the golf club head is aligned with the first swing path lane along the portion of the golf swing.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the swing top view comprises a first club face indicator corresponding to an actual club face alignment of a club face of the golf club head relative to the first swing path lane for the portion of the golf swing by the individual; and

the first club face indicator is presented at the swing top view of the swing display fully bounded between the heelside lane edgeline and the toeside lane edgeline when the golf club head is aligned with the first swing path lane along the portion of the golf swing.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the swing top view comprises a first club face indicator for a club face of the golf club head relative to the first swing path lane for the portion of the golf swing; and

the computerized swing analyzer device is configured to calculate the top view for the swing display to;

generate a slice shot trajectory for the golf ball of the golf swing by the individual if

the first swing path lane is an outside-to-inside swing path lane and

the first club face indicator is at an open club face alignment of greater than zero degrees relative to the first swing path lane at impact with the golf ball;

generate a hook shot trajectory for the golf ball of the golf swing by the individual if

the first swing path lane is an outside-to-inside swing path lane and

the first club face indicator is at a closed club face alignment of less than zero degrees relative to the first swing path lane at impact with the golf ball;

and

generate an inline shot trajectory for the golf ball of the golf swing by the individual if

the first swing path lane is an outside-to-inside swing path lane and

the first club face indicator is at a squared club face alignment of approximately zero degrees relative to the first swing path lane at impact with the golf ball.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the swing top view comprises a first club face indicator of a heel-to-toe dimension of a club face of the golf club head relative to the first swing path lane for the portion of the golf swing;

the computerized swing analyzer is configured to calculate a initial post-impact golf ball displacement presented at the swing top view of the swing display based on the portion of the golf swing by the individual; and

the swing top view presents the initial post-impact golf ball displacement bounded between the heelside lane edgeline and the toeside lane edgeline when the golf club head is aligned with the first swing path lane along the portion of the golf swing.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the computerized swing analyzer device is configured to;

generate at the swing display one or more arrows located about the golf ball, showing a direction of ball rotation of the golf ball such that;

at least a first arrow of the one or more arrows depicts an arcuate first arrow path within a rotational plane of the golf ball for the direction of ball rotation; and

when the rotational plane of the golf ball is non-planar to the swing display, the arcuate first arrow path is shown tilted, along a non-circular arc length, to illustrate a non-planar relationship between the rotational plane of the golf ball and the swing display.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the swing display is configured to present;

an impact side view of the golf club head and the golf ball,

wherein;

the impact side view of the swing display comprises;

a club head attack angle pathline of the golf club head for a club head attack angle of the golf club head towards and prior to impact with the golf ball,

the club head attack angle pathline presented along a club head approach direction path traversed by the golf club head towards and prior to impact with the golf ball;

and

a club head attack angle reference band showing, relative to the club head attack angle pathline;

an upper-bound club head attack angle reference pathline, shown approaching an optimal impact area of the golf ball, for a reference negative upper-bound club head attack angle of a downswing portion of a reference upper-bound golf swing prior to impact with the golf ball; and

a lower-bound club head attack angle reference pathline, shown approaching the optimal impact area of the golf ball and displayed below the upper-bound club head attack angle reference pathline, for a reference positive lower-bound club head attack angle of an upswing portion of a reference lower-bound golf swing prior to impact with the golf ball.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the swing top view is configured to present;

a range of target swing path lanes ranging from approximately +20 degrees to approximately −

20 degrees relative to a target direction for the golf ball;

the computerized swing analyzer is configured to generate a target swing path represented by the first swing path lane for the individual;

the range of target swing path lanes comprises the first swing path lane;

the swing display is configured to present at the swing top view only the first swing path lane out of the range of target swing path lanes at a time;

the swing top view comprises a first club face indicator of a heel-to-toe dimension of a club face of the golf club head relative to the first swing path lane for the portion of the golf swing;

an actual swing path traversed by the golf club head is generated by the computerized swing analyzer based on the portion of the golf swing by the individual;

the first club face indicator is presented for the actual swing path at the swing top view by the computerized swing analyzer for the portion of the golf swing as indicative of a position of the club face of the golf club head relative to the target swing path generated by the computerized swing analyzer for the individual

the computerized swing analyzer is configured to calculate a range of club face alignments for the first club face indicator presented at the swing top view of the swing display for the portion of the golf swing,

the range of club face alignments being adjustable by the computerized swing analyzer from approximately +20 degrees to approximately −

20 degrees relative to the first swing path lane based on an orientation of the golf club head along the portion of the golf swing;

and

the first club face indicator being fully bounded between the heelside lane edgeline and the toeside lane edgeline when the golf club head is aligned with the first swing path lane along the portion of the golf swing.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a trajectory analyzer configured to;

receive, from a tracking device, measured first ball launch information of a golf shot of a first golf ball by the individual; and

calculate predicted second ball launch information of a virtual shot of a second golf ball without requiring an actual golf shot of the second ball, the predicted second ball launch information calculated from;

the measured first ball launch information;

first ball physical attribute information comprising at least one of;

a first drag coefficient of the first golf ball;

or

a first lift coefficient of the first golf ball;

and

second ball physical attribute information comprising at least one of;

a second drag coefficient of the second golf ball;

or

a second lift coefficient of the second golf ball;

wherein;

the second golf ball represents an actual golf ball different from the first golf ball such that a difference exists between at least one of;

the first drag coefficient and the second drag coefficient;

or

the first lift coefficient and the second lift coefficient;

the measured first ball launch information is measured from the first golf ball during launch thereof after impact, and comprises at least a first-ball first-parameter, the first-ball first-parameter being one of;

a measured first ball launch velocity of the first ball;

a measured first ball vertical launch angle of the first ball;

a measured first ball horizontal launch angle of the first ball;

a measured first ball launch spin of the first ball;

or

a measured first ball launch spin axis of the first ball;

and

the predicted second ball launch information, transformed for the second golf ball from the measured first ball launch information, comprises at least a second-ball first-parameter of the second ball, the second-ball first-parameter being one of;

a predicted second ball launch velocity for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball launch velocity and the measured first ball launch information;

a predicted second ball vertical launch angle for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball vertical launch angle the measured first ball launch information;

a predicted second ball horizontal launch angle for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball horizontal launch angle the measured first ball launch information;

a predicted second ball launch spin for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball launch spin the measured first ball launch information;

or

a predicted second ball launch spin axis for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball spin axis the measured first ball launch information.

17. A system comprising:

a computerized swing analyzer device configured to;

receive shot characteristic information of an individual; and

generate a swing display of a portion of a golf swing at a golf ball with a club head of a golf club by the individual;

wherein;

the swing display presents the golf ball and one or more arrows located about the golf ball, showing a direction of ball rotation of the golf ball such that;

at least a first arrow of the one or more arrows depicts an arcuate first arrow path within a rotational plane of the golf ball for the direction of ball rotation; and

when the rotational plane of the golf ball is non-planar to the swing display, the arcuate first arrow path is shown tilted, along a non-circular arc length, to illustrate a non-planar relationship between the rotational plane of the golf ball and the swing display.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the computerized swing analyzer device is configured to generate for the swing display

a swing top view of the portion of the golf swing from above the golf ball;

wherein;

the swing top view is substantially perpendicular to a ground surface;

the swing top view comprises;

a first swing path lane for the club head with respect to the portion of the golf swing; and

a first club face indicator for a club face of the club head relative to the first swing path lane;

the first swing path lane comprises;

a heelside lane edgeline for a heel side of the club head,

the heelside lane edgeline shown extended along a length of the first swing path lane;

and

a toeside lane edgeline for a toe side of the club head,

the toeside lane edgeline shown extended along the length of the first swing path lane and shown substantially parallel to the heelside lane edgeline;

the swing top view is configured to present;

a range of target swing path lanes ranging from approximately +20 degrees to approximately −

20 degrees relative to a target direction for the golf ball; and

a range of club face indicators for club face alignments ranging from approximately +20 degrees to approximately −

20 degrees relative to the first swing path lane;

the first swing path lane corresponds to at least one of;

a target swing path for the individual, selectable by the computerized swing analyzer out of the range of target swing path lanes;

or

an actual swing path traversed by the golf club head for the portion of the golf swing by the individual;

the first club face indicator corresponds to at least one of;

a target club face alignment for the club face of the club head relative to the first swing path lane, where the target club face alignment is selectable by the computerized swing analyzer out of the range of club face indicators;

or

an actual club face alignment of the club face of the golf club head for the for the portion of the golf swing by the individual;

and

the first club face indicator is presented at the swing top view of the swing display fully bounded between the heelside lane edgeline and the toeside lane edgeline when the golf club head is aligned with the first swing path lane along the portion of the golf swing.

19. A system comprising:

a trajectory analyzer configured to;

receive, from a tracking device, measured first ball launch information of a golf shot of a first golf ball by an individual; and

calculate predicted second ball launch information of a virtual shot of a second golf ball without requiring an actual golf shot of the second ball, the predicted second ball launch information calculated from;

the measured first ball launch information;

first ball physical attribute information comprising at least one of;

a first drag coefficient of the first golf ball;

or

a first lift coefficient of the first golf ball;

and

second ball physical attribute information comprising at least one of;

a second drag coefficient of the second golf ball;

or

a second lift coefficient of the second golf ball;

wherein;

the second golf ball represents an actual golf ball different from the first golf ball such that a difference exists between at least one of;

the first drag coefficient and the second drag coefficient;

or

the first lift coefficient and the second lift coefficient;

the measured first ball launch information is measured from the first golf ball during launch thereof after impact by a golf club, and comprises at least a first-ball first-parameter, the first-ball first-parameter being one of;

a measured first ball launch velocity of the first ball;

a measured first ball vertical launch angle of the first ball;

a measured first ball horizontal launch angle of the first ball;

a measured first ball launch spin of the first ball;

or

a measured first ball launch spin axis of the first ball;

and

the predicted second ball launch information, transformed for the second golf ball from the measured first ball launch information, comprises at least a second-ball first-parameter of the second ball, the second-ball first-parameter being one of;

a predicted second ball launch velocity for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball launch velocity and the measured first ball launch information;

a predicted second ball vertical launch angle for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball vertical launch angle the measured first ball launch information;

a predicted second ball horizontal launch angle for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball horizontal launch angle the measured first ball launch information;

a predicted second ball launch spin for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball launch spin the measured first ball launch information;

or

a predicted second ball launch spin axis for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball spin axis the measured first ball launch information.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the measured first ball launch information measured from the first golf ball during launch thereof after impact by a golf club comprises at least a first-ball second-parameter of the first ball, the first-ball second-parameter being one of;

the measured first ball launch velocity of the first ball;

the measured first ball vertical launch angle of the first ball;

the measured first ball horizontal launch angle of the first ball;

the measured first ball launch spin of the first ball;

or

the measured first ball launch spin axis of the first ball.

and

the predicted second ball launch information, transformed for the second golf ball from the measured first ball launch information, comprises at least a second-ball second-parameter of the second ball, the second-ball second-parameter being one of;

the predicted second ball launch velocity for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball launch velocity the measured first ball launch information;

the predicted second ball vertical launch angle for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball vertical launch angle the measured first ball launch information;

the predicted second ball horizontal launch angle for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball horizontal launch angle the measured first ball launch information;

the predicted second ball launch spin for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball launch spin the measured first ball launch information;

or

the predicted second ball launch spin axis for the second golf ball, transformed by the trajectory analyzer from the measured first ball spin axis the measured first ball launch information.