Method of custom matching golf clubs
First Claim
1. A method for matching a golfer to a golf club to maximize club head velocity upon ball impact, the golf club having a natural frequency of vibration in a mode of oscillation of a cantilevered beam, 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; and
(b) selecting for the golfer a golf club wherein divided by four times the club'"'"'s natural frequency of vibration is substantially equal to the golfer'"'"'s measured swing time.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for measuring the swing time of a golfer'"'"'s swing and selecting a golf club having k divided by four times the club'"'"'s natural frequency (fn) approximately equal to the golfer'"'"'s swing time. The golfer'"'"'s swing time is defined as the time elapsed between maximum deflection of a club shaft during downswing until ball impact. The adjustment factor, k is in the equation since the motion of a golf swing is not periodic motion. The adjustment factor, k is determined by measuring the swing time of a representative golfer, finding the preferred fn for his swing and solving the above equation for k. 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 angular or radial acceleration versus time is plotted and the swing time is measured from the graph, between either peak angular acceleration or the latest point of maximum slope for radial acceleration and ball impact.
147 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method for matching a golfer to a golf club to maximize club head velocity upon ball impact, the golf club having a natural frequency of vibration in a mode of oscillation of a cantilevered beam, 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; and
(b) selecting for the golfer a golf club wherein divided by four times the club'"'"'s natural frequency of vibration is substantially equal to the golfer'"'"'s measured swing time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- `(a) measuring the golfer'"'"'s swing time from the moment of maximum club head acceleration during downswing until the moment of ball impact; and
-
5. A method of determining an adjustment factor, k for matching a golfer with a matching golf club to maximize club head velocity upon impact with a ball, the matching golf club having a natural frequency of vibration in a cantilevered beam mode of oscillation when held at a grip end of a club shaft, the matching golf club having a club head mounted to the opposite, narrow shaft end which oscillates along an arcuate path about the grip end at a natural frequency of vibration equal to the adjustment factor, k, divided by the product of 4 and the golfer'"'"'s swing time, the method comprising:
-
(a) measuring the swing time, s of a representative golf swing; (b) selecting, from a plurality of golf clubs of different natural frequency, a golf club which delivers maximum club head velocity upon ball impact when swung in the measured golf swing; and (c) calculating k, wherein
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">k=4*f.sub.n *s,where fn is the natural frequency of vibration of the selected golf club. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for matching a golfer to a matching golf club to maximize club head velocity upon ball impact, the matching golf club having a natural frequency of vibration in a mode of oscillation of a cantilevered beam when held at a grip end of a club shaft, the matching club having a club head mounted to the opposite, narrow shaft end which oscillates along an arcuate path about the grip end, the method comprising:
-
(a) measuring the swing time, s of a representative golf swing; (b) selecting, from a plurality of golf clubs of different natural frequency, a selected golf club which delivers maximum club head velocity upon ball impact when swung in the measured golf swing; (c) calculating an adjustment factor, k, wherein
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">k=4*f.sub.n *s,where fn is the natural frequency of vibration of the selected golf club; (d) measuring the golfer'"'"'s swing time; and (e) selecting for the golfer a matching golf club wherein k divided by four times the matching club'"'"'s natural frequency of vibration is equal to the golfer'"'"'s measured swing time. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification