Golf swing analysis method and apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use in analyzing a golfer'"'"'s swing of a golf club along a path, said golf club comprising an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis and terminating at one end in a club head and at its other end in a grip, said apparatus comprising first sensor means mounted on said shaft between the ends thereof in a position to sense first flexing of said shaft in the direction of said path and generate a first electrical signal in response to such flexing;
- second sensor means mounted on said shaft between the ends thereof in a position to sense second flexing of said shaft in a direction transversely of said path and generate a second electrical signal in response to said second flexing;
third sensor means mounted on said shaft between the ends thereof in a position to sense torsion of said shaft and generate a third electrical signal in response to torsion of said shaft; and
analysis apparatus operable to process at least one of said first, second, and third signals and generate a trigger signal in response to said processing, said analysis apparatus including a device separate from said sensor means operable in response to said trigger signal to detect and record data concerning the golfer'"'"'s swing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Analysis of a golfer'"'"'s swing is effected by the golfer'"'"'s swinging a club which has sensors fixed to the club shaft in such manner as to sense torsion of the shaft and flexing of the shaft in a direction corresponding to the direction of the swing pattern and perpendicular to the swing path. At selected times during the swing when the torsional and flexing forces are at predetermined values, a camera is activated to photograph the golfer in the position he or she occupies at the instant each photograph is taken. The golfer then is enabled to see the position of his or her head, shoulders, hips, legs, arms, and hands at the time of each photograph and an instructor is enabled to concentrate on instructional drills that will result in improving the golfer'"'"'s swing.
137 Citations
31 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use in analyzing a golfer'"'"'s swing of a golf club along a path, said golf club comprising an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis and terminating at one end in a club head and at its other end in a grip, said apparatus comprising first sensor means mounted on said shaft between the ends thereof in a position to sense first flexing of said shaft in the direction of said path and generate a first electrical signal in response to such flexing;
- second sensor means mounted on said shaft between the ends thereof in a position to sense second flexing of said shaft in a direction transversely of said path and generate a second electrical signal in response to said second flexing;
third sensor means mounted on said shaft between the ends thereof in a position to sense torsion of said shaft and generate a third electrical signal in response to torsion of said shaft; and
analysis apparatus operable to process at least one of said first, second, and third signals and generate a trigger signal in response to said processing, said analysis apparatus including a device separate from said sensor means operable in response to said trigger signal to detect and record data concerning the golfer'"'"'s swing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- second sensor means mounted on said shaft between the ends thereof in a position to sense second flexing of said shaft in a direction transversely of said path and generate a second electrical signal in response to said second flexing;
- 20. Apparatus for use in analyzing a golfer'"'"'s swing of a golf club along a path, said golf club comprising an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis and terminating at one end in a club head and at its other end in a grip, said apparatus comprising at least two electrical sensors secured to said shaft in such manner that twisting of said shaft in one direction places one of said sensors in compression and the other of said sensors in tension, while flexing of said shaft places both of said sensors in either compression or tension.
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25. A method of analyzing a golfer'"'"'s swing of a golf club having a sensor capable of measuring a force acting on said golf club during the golfer'"'"'s swing of said golf club along a path, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a recording device oriented relative to the path to sense and record data relating to the golfer'"'"'s swing; measuring at least one force acting on said golf club during the golfer'"'"'s swing using said sensor; detecting the occurrence of a preselected event using said measured force; determining at least one trigger point on said preselected event; and triggering said recording device at said trigger point to acquire instantaneous data relating to the golfer'"'"'s swing at least at one position of said golf club along said path. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification