Method of matching golfer with golf ball, golf club, or style of play

• US 4,375,887 A
• Filed: 05/09/1979
• Issued: 03/08/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Reid, Walter L. Jr., Jepson, John W., Lynch, Francis deS.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US06/037,315
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 73/13, 73/379, 434/252, 273/35 R, 273/77 R, 273/77 A, 273/167 R, 273/183 R, 273/183 C, 273/183 D, 273/185 R, 273/184 R, 273/186 R, 273/186 A, 273/186 B, 273/186 C , 273/232, 273/32 H
• US Class Current: 473/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• 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 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/008 Devices for measuring or verifying ball characteristics
• 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 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction

Abstract

A method of matching a golfer with golf balls with varying aerodynamic properties is disclosed. The "launch conditions" with which the golfer "launches" a golf ball are measured to determine the golf ball dimple pattern most suitble for a particular golfer or to determine modifications which should be made in his style of play or club design.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing a golfer for matching said golfer to a particular golf ball, golf club, or style of play comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring a golfer'"'"'s launch conditions when a selected golf ball is hit by said golfer using a selected club and his normal style of play, said launch conditions including;

(i) the initial velocity of said selected golf ball when hit by said golfer;

(ii) the initial spin velocity imparted to said selected golf ball; and

(iii) the launch angle of said selected golf ball;

(b) comparing the golfer'"'"'s measured launch conditions to predetermined recorded sets of data which interrelate initial velocity, initial spin velocity, and launch angle to carry distance at a plurality of values of each of these parameters for each of a plurality of different golf balls, each of said golf balls, including said selected golf ball, having different aerodynamic properties;

(c) matching said golfer to a particular golf club, a style of play, or a golf ball from among the plurality of different golf balls in accordance with desirable performance noted from the comparison of said golfer'"'"'s measured launch conditions to the conditions recorded in said predetermined recorded sets of data.

2. A method for analyzing a golfer for matching said golfer to type of ball, type of club, or style of play comprising the steps of:

(a) recording the launch conditions of a selected golf ball when hit by the golfer to be analyzed using a selected club and his style of play;

(b) measuring said golfer'"'"'s launch conditions from the recording, the launch conditions being measured from the recording including;

(i) the initial velocity of said selected golf ball as hit by said golfer;

(ii) the initial spin velocity imparted to said selected golf ball; and

(iii) the launch angle of said selected golf ball;

(c) comparing the launch conditions thus determined for said golfer with predetermined recorded sets of data which interrelate initial velocity, initial spin velocity, launch angle, and carry distance for each of a plurality of different golf balls, including said selected ball, each of said golf balls having different aerodynamic characteristics; and

(d) matching said golfer to one of said plurality of golf balls, a golf club, or style of play in accordance with an improvement in carry distance as indicated by the comparison of his measured launch conditions to said predetermined sets of data.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said predetermined recorded sets of data comprises at least one chart wherein one axis represents the spin velocity of the golf ball and the other represents the launch angle of the golf ball with the initial velocity of the golf ball as a parameter.

4. A method for analyzing a golfer for matching said golfer to a particular golf ball comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring the golfer'"'"'s launch conditions for a selected golf ball, said launch conditions including;

(i) the initial velocity of a golf ball when hit by said golfer;

(ii) the initial spin velocity imparted to the golf ball when hit by said golfer; and

(iii) the launch angle of the golf ball when hit by said golfer;

(b) comparing said golfer'"'"'s launch conditions with predetermined recorded sets of data which interrelate initial velocity, initial spin velocity, launch angle, and carry distance for each of a plurality of different golf balls having respectively different aerodynamic characteristics; and

(c) selecting a particular golf ball having the longest carry distance for the golfer'"'"'s measured launch conditions from among said plurality of different golf balls in accordance with the predetermined recorded sets of data for said plurality of different golf balls.

5. A method of manufacturing an aid for golfers for use in matching a golfer to a golf ball, golf club, or style of play which comprises measuring initial velocity, initial spin velocity, launch angle and golf ball carry for systematically varied launch conditions for a plurality of different golf balls and preparing a series of charts which interrelate the measured initial velocity, initial spin velocity, and launch angle to golf ball carry for said systematically varied launch conditions for each of said plurality of different golf balls, whereby the golfer'"'"'s own launch conditions for a selected ball can be compared to the premeasured launch conditions represented in said series of charts for ascertaining any changes in launch conditions and golf ball which would enable greater carry distance of a golf ball hit by said golfer.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the measuring step comprises:

(a) driving a plurality of different golf balls having respectively different aerodynamic characteristics;

(b) for each said different golf ball, systematically varying the drive characteristics with respect to initial velocity, initial spin velocity and launch angle; and

(c) determining the golf ball carry for each drive.

7. A method of analyzing a golfer to improve the carry of a golf ball hit by him comprising:

(a) preparing analysis charts by;

(i) determining the carry distance of a plurality of different golf balls having respectively different aerodynamic characteristics while systematically varying initial velocity, initial spin velocity, launch angle and golf ball type; and

(ii) comparing carry distances of each golf ball with the others by plotting at least one chart containing families of curves of carry distance for a first golf ball and another golf ball of said plurality of golf balls, said carry distance being related to spin and launch angle of each golf ball with initial velocity as the changing parameter;

(b) having the golfer hit said first golf ball with a golf club;

(c) measuring the golfer'"'"'s launch conditions including;

(i) initial velocity;

(ii) initial spin velocity; and

(iii) launch angle;

(d) comparing the carry shown on said at least one chart for the golfer'"'"'s measured launch conditions using the first golf ball to the carry shown on said at least one chart for the same measured launch conditions with said other golf ball types; and

(e) selecting the particular one of the different golf balls showing the greatest carry.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

(a) having the golfer hit said first golf ball using a second golf club having a different face angle from the golf club first used;

(b) measuring the launch conditions of said golfer using said second golf club;

(c) comparing the carry shown on said at least one chart for said first golf ball using the second club to the carry using the first club; and

(d) selecting the golf club exhibiting the greatest carry on said charts.

9. The method recited in claim 8 further comprising:

(a) preparing at least a second chart using at least a second type of golf ball of said plurality of golf balls; and

(b) transferring without calculation, the results in the first and second charts on at least a third chart for comparing the difference in carry for the first mentioned and second golf ball types.