Method of matching golfer to golf club

• US 5,351,952 A
• Filed: 12/30/1992
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lloyd E Hackman
• Original Assignee: Lloyd E Hackman
• Inventors: Hackman, Lloyd E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US07/998,662
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 273/186.2, 273/186 R, 273/77 A, 273/77 R, 273/80 B
• US Class Current: 473/409
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/64 Frequency, e.g. of vibration oscillation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• 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 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00

Abstract

A method for measuring the swing time of a golfer'"'"'s swing and selecting a golf club having the inverse of four times its natural frequency which is approximately equal to the swing time. The golfer'"'"'s swing time is defined as the time elapsed between maximum acceleration of a club head during downswing until ball impact. In the preferred embodiment, an accelerometer is mounted within the club head and is connected to an electronic data processor. A graph of club head acceleration versus time is plotted and the swing time is measured from the graph, between peak acceleration and ball impact.

Claims

1. A method for matching a golfer to a golf club to maximize club head momentum upon ball impact, the golf club having a natural frequency of vibration in a mode of oscillation of a cantilevered beam that has a spring constant when held at a grip end of a club shaft, the club having a club head mounted to the opposite shaft end which oscillates along an arcuate path about the grip end, the method comprising:

(a) measuring the golfer'"'"'s swing time from the moment of maximum club head acceleration during downswing until the moment of ball impact;

(b) selecting for the golfer a golf club wherein the reciprocal of four times the its natural frequency of vibration is substantially equal to the golfer'"'"'s measured swing time.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein selecting further comprises measuring the natural frequency of a golf club in the mode of oscillation of a cantilevered beam.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein measuring further comprises mounting an accelerometer to a golf club, and measuring the difference in time between maximum acceleration and high deceleration of ball impact.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the accelerometer is mounted to the club head.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the method further comprises selecting golf clubs for an entire set of clubs, each club having the reciprocal of four times the natural frequency approximately equal to the golfer'"'"'s measured swing time.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein measuring the golfer'"'"'s swing time further comprises mounting at least one strain gauge to the shaft of a golf club, and measuring the difference in time between the moment of maximum deflection or stress of the golf club shaft, and the moment at desired ball impact.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein measuring the golfer'"'"'s swing time further comprises mounting a sensor in the golf club head for indicating ball impact.