Shaft selection aiding apparatus for selecting optimum shaft for a golfer

• US 6,014,887 A
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Inventors: Saito, Takeshi, Noguchi, Shuichi, Naruo, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US08/967,825
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 73/65.03, 73/493, 73/12.01, 73/649, 73/379.01, 73/491, 73/492, 73/488, 73/12.04, 473/223, 473/233, 473/289, 473/287
• US Class Current: 73/12.04
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/808 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• 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 53/00 Golf clubs
• 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 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/36 for golf
• 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 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A high speed camera takes an image in the vicinity of a ball 3 and a club head 12, while a high speed camera 5 takes an image in the vicinity of the top of the swing of a golfer 1, and the images are recorded in a high speed video tape recorder 6. The recorded images are reproduced, swing time, a swing speed and a head speed are detected using a personal computer 15, and a shaft with an optimum flex for the golfer is selected based on the swing time, the swing speed, the swing time and the head speed, or the swing speed and the head speed.

Claims

1. A shaft selecting apparatus for selecting a golf club shaft having an optimum flex for a golfer, comprising:

a swing time detection unit for detecting swing time from the start of swinging to impact; and

a selecting unit for selecting the golf club shaft with an optimum flex for said golfer based on the swing time detected by said swing time detection unit.

2. The shaft selecting apparatus for selecting a golf club shaft with an optimum flex for a golfer as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an image-taking device for taking an image of a movement of the club head in the vicinity of a ball and at the top of the swing when said golfer swings a golf club and hits a ball; and

an image-recording device for recording the image taken by said image-taking device, wherein

said swing time detection unit includes a swing time operation unit for detecting said swing time based on an image reproduced from said image-recording device.

3. The shaft selecting apparatus for selecting a golf club shaft with an optimum flex for a golfer as recited in claim 1, wherein

said swing time detection unit includes an optical sensor for detecting the start of said swinging and the moment of impact, and

a counter for counting time from the start of said swinging until the impact detected by said optical sensor.

4. A shaft selecting apparatus for selecting a golf club shaft having an optimum flex for a golfer, comprising:

a swing time detection unit for detecting swing time from the start of swinging until the impact;

an impact speed detection unit for detecting the speed of the club head at impact; and

a selecting unit for selecting the golf club shaft with an optimum flex for said golfer based on the swing time detected by said swing time detection unit and the speed of the club head at impact detected by said impact speed detection unit.

5. The shaft selecting apparatus for selecting a golf club shaft with an optimum flex for a golfer as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

an image-taking device for taking an image of a movement of the club head in the vicinity of a ball and in the vicinity of the top of the swing when said golfer swings a golf club and hits a ball; and

an image-recording device for recording the image taken by said image-taking device, wherein

said swing time detecting unit includes a swing time operation unit for detecting said swing time based on an image reproduced from said image-recording device.