Golf swing analyzing equipment
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting, measuring and/or displaying differences from desired ideal performance characteristics of a golf club swing, comprising;
- at least one golf club including a club head having a club face, the golf club having attached in relation to the club head at least one permanent magnet at a predetermined location and orientation relative to the club face;
a detector array having a ball-position indication, and comprising at least one sensor, for a magnetic field, located in a predetermined sensing position relative to a desired ideal path of the club head over the ball position indication; and
readout means electrically connected to the detector array to convert one or more electrical signals produced by the sensor by a swing of the golf club into a detection signal, comprising;
the sensor being a plane loop means to provide at least two loop portions arranged in a figure eight configuration, one of said portions having a forward element and said other portion having a rear element, said loop portion elements being located side by side at a central portion of the figure eight configuration being disposed transversely to an ideal path;
the rear element being substantially parallel to and generally closely spaced apart from the forward element as compared with a typical height of magnet travel over said elements for defining therebetween a notional center line disposed relative to a path defined by the golf club swing is sensed to enable the club head magnet to interact with said forward and said rear loop elements to produce a swing indication signal having three teaks at one polarity and three peaks at an opposite polarity with three zero cross over points so that the perceived cross over time at a notional center line is accurate due to the symmetrical unitary figure-eight configuration over a range of magnet pass over heights relative to said loop means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is concerned with apparatus for diagnosing the characteristics of a golf swing, of the type in which one or more magnets attached to the golf club create signals in pick-up loops located near the ball position, or analysis to provide a readout of swing characteristics such as dynamic loft, dynamic lie (rake), impact position at the club-face, speed, and club face angle. Such apparatus is now improved by causing at least one loop or loop combination to be formed to provide at least two generally identical loop portions located side-by-side across the ideal swing path A-B with their respective adjacent edges parallel and closely spaced for defining therebetween a notional center line across the said path as an accurate sensed position. This is more accurate than sensing a single loop edge, and more sensitive. The respective loop portions, which can be formed from a single conductor or as two separate sub-loops, give balancing protection against the effect of extraneous electrical influence, and the increased accuracy and sensitivity can be used to decrease the overall extent of the loops in the travel direction. The club can possess magnets in the sole at the heel and toe, both inclined inwards at the top, to improve separation and decrease cross-talk. A method of club fitting in which the user selects optimum club characteristics for his established style of play is also disclosed.
52 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting, measuring and/or displaying differences from desired ideal performance characteristics of a golf club swing, comprising;
- at least one golf club including a club head having a club face, the golf club having attached in relation to the club head at least one permanent magnet at a predetermined location and orientation relative to the club face;
a detector array having a ball-position indication, and comprising at least one sensor, for a magnetic field, located in a predetermined sensing position relative to a desired ideal path of the club head over the ball position indication; and
readout means electrically connected to the detector array to convert one or more electrical signals produced by the sensor by a swing of the golf club into a detection signal, comprising;
the sensor being a plane loop means to provide at least two loop portions arranged in a figure eight configuration, one of said portions having a forward element and said other portion having a rear element, said loop portion elements being located side by side at a central portion of the figure eight configuration being disposed transversely to an ideal path;
the rear element being substantially parallel to and generally closely spaced apart from the forward element as compared with a typical height of magnet travel over said elements for defining therebetween a notional center line disposed relative to a path defined by the golf club swing is sensed to enable the club head magnet to interact with said forward and said rear loop elements to produce a swing indication signal having three teaks at one polarity and three peaks at an opposite polarity with three zero cross over points so that the perceived cross over time at a notional center line is accurate due to the symmetrical unitary figure-eight configuration over a range of magnet pass over heights relative to said loop means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- at least one golf club including a club head having a club face, the golf club having attached in relation to the club head at least one permanent magnet at a predetermined location and orientation relative to the club face;
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24. A diagnostic golf club comprising a club head for use with a figure eight loop configuration having a sensed position defined by substantially parallel and substantially closely spaced apart center elements of adjacent loop portions and suitable as a wood or iron, said closely spaced apart center elements being spaced by a short distance as compared with the typical height of magnet travel over said elements, the club having two magnets, located in recesses spaced to either side of the central plane of the head at about extreme ends thereof, being the plane in which a hit ball will generally travel, at the heel and toe regions of the sole portion of the club, with magnetic axes lying generally in that plane perpendicular to the line of travel of the club head and inclined inwardly at 10°
- -40°
at their upper ends, wherein the spacing between the magnets and the inclination thereof reduces signal cross-talk between the magnets as said magnets cross over the sensed position to enable the club head magnets to interact with said center elements to produce a swing indication signal having three peaks at one polarity And three peaks at an opposite polarity with three zero cross over points so that the perceived cross over time at a notional center line between the elements is accurate due to the symmetrical unitary figure-eight configuration over a range of magnet pass over heights relative to said loop configuration.
- -40°
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25. A method for selecting an optimized golf club for a user which comprises the steps of:
- providing a plurality of available golf clubs, each one of the plurality of available golf clubs having a distinct user characteristic;
using at least one diagnostic golf club having a head of predetermined characteristics, the diagnostic golf club having located at the head thereof at least one magnet at a predetermined location and orientation relative to a club face of the head;
using a diagnostic apparatus including a detector array, a sensor having a plane loop configured to provide at least two substantially identical loop portions arranged in a figure eight, and readout means connected to the detector array to convert one or more electrical signals produced by the sensor by a swing of the diagnostic golf club into a detection signal;
executing at least one swing by the user of the diagnostic club in cooperation with the diagnostic apparatus;
determining a swing characteristic based on detection signals corresponding to said at least one swing, said detection signal having three peaks at one polarity and three peaks at an opposite polarity with three zero cross over points;
said determining including determining the speed and height of the magnet relative to the sensor;
determining from the speed and height and height and tilt characteristic of the swing of the user;
displaying diagnosed results corresponding to said swing characteristic; and
selecting a chosen club from the plurality of golf clubs to optimize the performance of the user, wherein said distinct user characteristic of said selected club corresponds to said swing characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (26)
- providing a plurality of available golf clubs, each one of the plurality of available golf clubs having a distinct user characteristic;
Specification