Method and apparatus for measuring aerodynamic characteristics of a golf ball
First Claim
1. A method of determining a spin decay rate of a golf ball along a flight path, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- a. providing a launching device for launching the golf ball along the flight path at an initial speed and initial spin rate;
b. launching the golf ball along the flight path at the initial speed and the initial spin rate;
c. measuring a final spin rate at a final position spaced from the launching device, wherein the step of measuring further includes taking two images of the ball at the final position;
d. timing the flight of the ball from the launching to the final position; and
e. determining the spin decay rate using the images at the final position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and a system for measuring the spin decay rate of a golf ball. The system includes an indoor testing area, a launching device, and a measuring device positioned at a final position along the ball'"'"'s flight path. When the ball is launched by the launching device, the measuring device measures the spin rate and speed at the final position. Then, the launching device can launch the ball at the speed and spin rate of the final position and a new final speed and spin rate are measured again. The spin rate difference from launching to the final position is used to determine the spin decay rate. By using discrete spin decay rate measurements, the spin decay rate profile of a golf ball during its entire flight can be measured in the indoor area.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method of determining a spin decay rate of a golf ball along a flight path, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
-
a. providing a launching device for launching the golf ball along the flight path at an initial speed and initial spin rate;
b. launching the golf ball along the flight path at the initial speed and the initial spin rate;
c. measuring a final spin rate at a final position spaced from the launching device, wherein the step of measuring further includes taking two images of the ball at the final position;
d. timing the flight of the ball from the launching to the final position; and
e. determining the spin decay rate using the images at the final position. - View Dependent Claims (6, 21)
-
-
2. A method of determining a spin decay rate of a golf ball along a flight path, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
-
a. providing a launching device for launching the golf ball along the flight path;
b. repeatedly launching the golf ball along the flight path at a plurality of different initial speeds and spin rates;
c. after each launching measuring a final spin rate at a final position spaced from the launching device, wherein the step of measuring further includes taking two images of the ball at the final position, where the first initial spin rate equals a predetermined value and each subsequent initial spin rate equals the previous final spin rate;
d. timing the flight of the ball from the launching to the final position;
e. determining the spin decay rate using the images at the final position; and
f. combining the spin decay rates for each launching to form the spin decay rate profile for the ball along the flight path. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
-
-
7. A system for measuring a spin decay rate for a golf ball along a flight path having a plurality of flight intervals, wherein the system comprises:
-
a launching device for launching the golf ball along the flight path at an initial spin rate;
a timer for measuring a time interval for the flight of the golf ball between a first position and a spaced second position; and
a first measuring device located at the first position for determining a first spin rate of the golf ball at the first position; and
a computer for using the first spin rate to determine the spin decay rate for at least one flight interval. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
a support structure;
a first light-reflecting element disposed on the support structure;
a lighting unit disposed on the support structure and directing light into a predetermined field-of-view along the flight path of the ball;
a first camera unit disposed on the support structure and pointed toward the predetermined field-of-view to create at least two images of the golf ball while moving in the predetermined field-of-view; and
computer to control the system and determine the flight characteristics of the golf ball from said images.
-
-
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer includes means for determining the first spin rate of the golf ball from the images at the first position and the second spin rate of the golf ball from the images at the second position.
-
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer includes means for determining the spin decay rate from the first spin rate and the second spin rate.
-
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer further includes the timer.
-
22. The system of claim 14, wherein the first measuring device is a monitor for taking at least two images of the golf ball, the first spin rate is determined using the images.
Specification