Golf swing analysis system and method

• US 6,375,579 B1
• Filed: 03/29/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lee David Hart
• Original Assignee: Lee David Hart
• Inventors: Hart, Lee David
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/280,386
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/140, 473/151, 473/152, 473/156, 473/158, 473/192, 473/220, 473/221, 473/222, 473/245, 473/246, 473/257, 473/325, 473/258, 434/247, 434/252
• US Class Current: 473/131
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence

Abstract

A dynamic laser based golf swing analysis system includes single and multiple laser sources which broadcast a monochromatic laser light projected through a cylindrical lens system to generate a series of light planes in space. An optical receiver system carried by the club shaft includes multiple optical sensors arranged in a specific three dimensional geometrical configuration such that passage of the optical receiver through the planes of laser light will produce direction and magnitude coordinates for all six degrees of freedom of the golf club head as it moves through a golf ball impact zone. The receiver transmits timing data via radio frequency to a base unit which interprets the information and displays the location coordinates, angular orientation, and velocities descriptive of the club head motion.

Claims

1. A golf swing analysis system useful in determining movement of a golf club head during the execution of a golf swing by a player, the system comprising:

a radiation source for providing a plane of radiation through which radiation plane the golf club can pass;

a plurality of radiation sensors dimensioned for carrying by a golf club, the radiation sensors responsive to an orientation of a ball striking face of a golf club head, the radiation sensors providing a radiation sensing signal responsive to first and second portions of the golf club head passing through the plane of radiation, wherein the radiation sensor comprises a radiation receiver having a plurality of radiation sensors orthogonally arranged at measurable preselected locations with at least three of the plurality of radiation sensors defining a radiation sensor plane, the radiation sensor plane representative of the striking face of the club head;

timing means operable with the radiation sensor for receiving the radiation sensing signal and for determining a time period between passage of the first and second portions of the head through the radiation plane; and

processing means for processing the time period and calculating a characteristic value for club head movement through a ball impact zone.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising communication means operable between the timing means and processing means.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the communication means comprise:

a transmitter operable with the timing means for transmitting a communication signal representative of the time period; and

a receiver operable with the processing means for receiving the communication signal.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the transmitter and receiver comprise radio frequency operation.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation source provides a fan shaped laser beam generally perpendicular to the surface upon which a player stands for swinging the golf club.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the laser beam extends from the player to a golf ball to be struck, and is perpendicular to a target line passing through the club face and the golf ball toward a target.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein each radiation sensor comprises an optical sensor responsive to a laser beam.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the timing means comprises:

a trigger input module for receiving the detection signal from the radiation sensor and for providing a pulsed output indicative of the time period between passage of the first and second locations passing the radiation plane;

a counter operable with the trigger module for receiving the pulsed output and counting a number of pulses between the radiation sensor signals; and

a data queue operable with the counter for storing the counts from counter module for transmission to a processor.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, and golf club head velocity.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying the characteristic value.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a golf club having a shaft and head, the head having a ball striking face for striking a golf ball placed within a swing path of the club head.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation plane comprises first and second fan shaped laser beams intersecting each other and each vertically orientated and arranged at a measurable fixed angle to each other, and wherein the first fan shaped laser beam is perpendicular to a target line passing through the club face and ball.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, slice velocity, hook velocity, and golf club head velocity.

14. A golf swing analysis system useful in determining movement of a golf club head during the execution of a golf swing by a player, the system comprising:

a radiation source for providing a plane of radiation through which radiation plane the golf club can pass, wherein the radiation plane comprises first, second, and third planar shaped laser beams intersecting each other, the first and second vertically orientated, intersecting, and arranged at a measurable fixed angle to each other, the first planar shaped laser beam being perpendicular to a target line passing through the club face and ball, and wherein the third planar shaped laser beam intersects the first and second planar shaped laser beams at a non-vertical angle;

a radiation sensor dimensioned for carrying by a golf club, the radiation sensor responsive to an orientation of a ball striking face of a golf club head, the radiation sensor providing a radiation sensing signal responsive to first and second portions of the golf club head passing through the plane of radiation;

timing means operable with the radiation sensor for receiving the radiation sensing signal and for determining a time period between passage of the first and second portions of the head through the radiation plane; and

processing means for processing the time period and calculating a characteristic value for club head movement through a ball impact zone.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, slice velocity, hook velocity, chop velocity, golf club head velocity, and sweet spot.

16. A golf swing analysis system useful in determining movement of a golf club head during the execution of a golf swing by a player, the system comprising:

a golf club having a shaft and head, the head having a ball striking face for striking a golf ball placed at an impact zone within a swing path of the club head;

a radiation source providing a plane of radiation position within the impact zone, through which plane of radiation the golf club head can pass;

a radiation sensor carried by the golf club, the radiation sensor responsive to an orientation of the ball striking face of the golf club head for providing a radiation sensing signal for each of first and second portions of the ball striking face passing through the plane of radiation, wherein the radiation sensor comprises a radiation receiver having a plurality of radiation sensors orthogonally arranged at measurable preselected locations with at least three of the plurality of radiation sensors defining a radiation sensor plane, the radiation sensor plane representative of the striking face of the club head;

timing means carried by the golf club and operable with the radiation sensor for receiving the radiation sensing signals and for determining a time period between passage of the first and second portions of the ball striking face through the radiation plane;

communication means operable between the timing means and processing means; and

processing means for processing the time period and calculating a characteristic value for club head movement through the impact zone.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the communication means comprise:

a transmitter operable with the timing means for transmitting a communication signal representative of the time period; and

a receiver operable with the processing means for receiving the communication signal.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the transmitter and receiver comprise radio frequency operation.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the radiation source provides a vertically oriented fan shaped laser beam.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the laser beam extends from the golfer to the golf ball, and is perpendicular to a target line passing through the club face and ball toward a target to be received by the golf ball.

21. The system according to claim 18, wherein each radiation sensor comprises an optical sensor responsive to a laser beam.

22. The system according to claim 16, wherein the timing means comprises:

a trigger input module for receiving the detection signal from the radiation sensor and for providing a pulsed output indicative of the time period between passage of the first and second locations passing the radiation plane;

a counter operable with the trigger module for receiving the pulsed output and counting a number of pulses between the radiation sensor signals; and

a data queue operable with the counter for storing the counts from counter module for transmission to a processor.

23. The system according to claim 16, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, and golf club head velocity.

24. The system according to claim 16, further comprising a display for displaying the characteristic value.

25. The system according to claim 16, wherein the radiation plane comprises first and second fan shaped laser beams intersecting each other and each vertically orientated and arranged at a measurable fixed angle to each other, and wherein the first fan shaped laser beam is perpendicular to a target line passing through the club face and ball.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, slice velocity, hook velocity, and golf club head velocity.

27. A golf swing analysis system useful in determining movement of a golf club head during the execution of a golf swing by a player, the system comprising:

a golf club having a shaft and head, the head having a ball striking face for striking a golf ball placed at an impact zone within a swing path of the club head;

a radiation source providing a plane of radiation position within the impact zone, through which plane of radiation the golf club head can pass, wherein the radiation plane comprises first, second, and third planar shaped laser beams intersecting each other, the first and second vertically orientated, intersecting, and arranged at a measurable fixed angle to each other, the first planar shaped laser beam being perpendicular to a target line passing through the club face and ball, and wherein the third planar shaped laser beam intersects the first and second planar shaped laser beams at a non-vertical angle;

a radiation sensor carried by the golf club, the radiation sensor responsive to an orientation of the ball striking face of the golf club head for providing a radiation sensing signal for each of first and second portions of the ball striking face passing through the plane of radiation;

timing means carried by the golf club and operable with the radiation sensor for receiving the radiation sensing signals and for determining a time period between passage of the first and second portions of the ball striking face through the radiation plane;

communication means operable between the timing means and processing means; and

processing means for processing the time period and calculating a characteristic value for club head movement through the impact zone.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, slice velocity, hook velocity, chop velocity, golf club head velocity, and sweet spot.

29. A golf swing analysis system useful in determining movement of a golf club head during the execution of a golf swing by a player, the system comprising:

a laser source for providing a plane shaped laser beam through which beam a golf club head can pass;

an optical sensor to be carried by a golf club, the optical sensor responsive to an orientation of a ball striking face of a golf club head for providing a sensing signal responsive to first and second portions of the golf club head passing through the laser beam, wherein the optical sensor comprises an optical receiver having a plurality of optical sensors orthogonally arranged at measurable preselected locations with at least three of the optical sensors lying within a sensor plane, the sensor plane representative of the striking face of the club head;

timing means operable with the optical sensor for receiving the sensing signals and for determining a time period between passage of the first and second portions of the head through the plane shaped laser beam; and

processing means for processing the time period and calculating a characteristic value for club head movement through a ball impact zone.

30. The system according to claim 29, further comprising communication means operable between the timing means and processing means.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the communication means comprise:

a radio frequency transmitter operable with the timing means for transmitting an RF signal representative of the time period; and

a radio frequency receiver operable with the processing means for receiving the RF signal.

32. The system according to claim 29, wherein the plane shaped laser beam is perpendicular to the surface upon which a player stands for swinging the golf club.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the laser beam extends from the player to a golf ball to be struck, and is at a right angle to a target line passing through the club face and the golf ball toward a target.

34. The system according to claim 29, wherein the timing means comprises:

a trigger input module for receiving the detection signal from the optical sensor and for providing a pulsed output during the time period between passage of the first and second locations through the plane shaped laser beam; and

a counter operable with the trigger module for receiving the pulsed output and counting a number of pulses between the sensor signals.

35. The system according to claim 29, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, and golf club head velocity.

36. The system according to claim 29, wherein the plane shaped laser beam comprises first and second fan shaped laser beams intersecting each other and each vertically orientated and arranged at a measurable fixed angle to each other, and wherein the first fan shaped laser beam is perpendicular to a target line passing through the club face and ball.

37. The system according to claim 36, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, slice velocity, hook velocity, and golf club head velocity.

38. The system according to claim 29, wherein the plane shaped laser beam comprises first, second, and third planar shaped laser beams intersecting each other, the first and second vertically orientated, intersecting, and arranged at a measurable fixed angle to each other, the first planar shaped laser beam being perpendicular to a target line passing through the club face and ball, and wherein the third planar shaped laser beam intersects the first and second planar shaped laser beams at a non-vertical angle.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, slice velocity, hook velocity, chop velocity, golf club head velocity, and sweet spot.

40. A golf swing analysis system useful in determining direction and magnitude coordinates for six degrees of freedom of a golf club head as it moves through a golf ball impact zone, the system comprising:

a laser source which broadcasts first and second planes of light vertically oriented and intersecting at a predetermined angle, and a third plane of light non-vertically oriented and intersecting the first and second planes of light at a predetermined angle, the first plane of light directed towards a golf ball to be struck and oriented perpendicular to a desired target line for the golf ball;

an optical receiver carried by the club shaft proximate the club head, the optical receiver having at least four optical sensors orthogonally positioned with at least three of the optical sensors defining a sensing plane;

a trigger input module which receives a detection signal from each of the optical sensors as each sensor passes through the sensing plane;

a counter module operable with the trigger module for receiving the detection signal and monitoring the number of counts between the detection signals; and

a processor communicating with the counter module for calculating a value for golf club head movement and orientation.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the value for golf club head movement and orientation is selected from the value consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, golf swing slice velocity, golf swing hook velocity, golf swing chop velocity, golf club head lateral position with respect to a golf ball, golf club head height position with respect to a golf ball, and golf club head velocity.

42. The system according to claim 41, further comprising a display for displaying the value.

43. A method for analyzing a golf swing comprising the steps of:

providing a plane of radiation through which radiation plane a golf club can pass;

placing a radiation sensor on the golf club, the radiation sensor responsive to an orientation of a ball striking face of a golf club head , wherein the radiation sensor comprises a radiation receiver having a plurality of radiation sensors orthogonally arranged at measurable preselected locations with at least three of the plurality of radiation sensors defining a radiation sensor plane, the radiation sensor plane representative of the striking face of the club head;

providing a radiation sensing signal from the sensor responsive to first and second portions of the golf club head passing through the plane of radiation;

timing the radiation sensor as it passes through the plane of radiation;

providing radiation sensing signals as the sensor passes through the plane of radiation;

measuring a time period between passage of first and second portions of the head through the radiation plane; and

calculating a characteristic value for club head movement through a ball impact zone from the time period measurements.

44. The method according to claim 43, further comprising the step of transmitting the time period to a processor for completing the calculating step.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the transmitting step comprises the step of using a radio frequency transmission and reception.

46. The method according to claim 43, wherein the step of providing a plane of radiation comprises the steps of:

providing a fan shaped laser beam; and

placing the beam generally perpendicular to a surface upon which a player stands for swinging the golf club.

47. The method according to claim 46, further comprising the step of extending the laser beam from the player to a golf ball to be struck in direction perpendicular to a target line passing through the club face and the golf ball toward a target.

48. The method according to claim 43, wherein each radiation sensor comprises an optical sensor responsive to a laser beam.

49. The method according to claim 43, wherein the timing step comprises the steps of:

triggering a pulsed output indicative of the time period between passage of the first and second locations passing the radiation plane;

counting a number of pulses between the radiation sensor signals; and

transmitting the counts to a processor.

50. The method according to claim 43, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, and golf club head velocity.

51. The method according to claim 43, further comprising the step of displaying the characteristic value.

52. The method according to claim 43, wherein the radiation plane comprises first and second fan shaped laser beams intersecting each other and each vertically orientated and arranged at a measurable fixed angle to each other, and wherein the first fan shaped laser beam is perpendicular to a target line passing through the club face and ball.

53. The method according to claim 52, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, slice velocity, hook velocity, and golf club head velocity.

54. A method for analyzing a golf swing comprising the steps of:

providing a plane of radiation through which radiation plane a golf club can pass, wherein the radiation plane comprises first, second, and third planar shaped laser beams intersecting each other, the first and second vertically orientated, intersecting, and arranged at a measurable fixed angle to each other, the first planar shaped laser beam being perpendicular to a target line passing through the club face and ball, and wherein the third planar shaped laser beam intersects the first and second planar shaped laser beams at a non-vertical angle;

placing a radiation sensor on the golf club, the radiation sensor responsive to an orientation of a ball striking face of a golf club head;

providing a radiation sensing signal from the sensor responsive to first and second portions of the golf club head passing through the plane of radiation;

timing the radiation sensor as it passes through the plane of radiation;

providing radiation sensing signals as the sensor passes through the plane of radiation;

measuring a time period between passage of first and second portions of the head through the radiation plane; and

calculating a characteristic value for club head movement through a ball impact zone from the time period measurements.

55. The system according to claim 54, wherein the characteristic value for club head movement comprises a value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, slice velocity, hook velocity, chop velocity, golf club head velocity, and sweet spot.

56. A motion analysis system comprising:

an optical sensor responsive to a light beam for detection thereof as the light beam interact with the optical sensor, the optical sensor having at least three sensing portions defining a sensing plane;

a radiation source for emitting the light beam, wherein the light beam forms first, second, and third radiation planes through which radiation planes the optical sensor passes, and wherein the first and second radiation planes are vertically oriented and intersecting at a preselected angle, the third radiation plane intersecting the first and second radiation planes at a non-vertical orientation, and the first radiation plane is positioned perpendicular to a target line, along which target line the optical sensor travels; and

a timer for determining a time of detection of the light beams by the optical sensor, the at least three sensing portions each providing a sensing signal to the timer responsive to an interaction with the radiation plane, and wherein an orientation of the radiation plane is determined relative to the sensing plane.

57. The system according to claim 56, further comprising a processor operable with the timer for processing the sensing signals and providing a characteristic value for the sensing plane relative to the radiation plane.

58. The system according to claim 57, further comprising a transmitter operable with the timer for transmitting a communications signal representative of the characteristic value, and a receiver operable with the processor for receiving the communications signal.

59. The system according to claim 56, wherein the orientation provides a characteristic value representative of club head orientation while striking of a golf ball, the characteristic value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, and golf club head velocity.

60. The system according to claim 56, wherein the optical sensor is carried by a golf club, and wherein the sensing plane is representative of a striking face of a golf club head.

61. The system according to claim 56, further comprising a laser source for emitting the light beam as a fan shaped laser beam forming the radiation plane.

62. The system according to claim 56, further characterized by at least two radiation planes, the light beam forming a first radiation plane and a second light beam forming a second radiation plane, the second radiation plane intersecting the first radiation plane, and wherein the first radiation plane is positioned perpendicular to a target line along which target line the golf club head travels.

63. The system according to claim 62, wherein the orientation provides a characteristic value representative of club head orientation while striking of a golf ball, the characteristic value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, slice velocity, hook velocity, and golf club head velocity.

64. The system according to claim 56, wherein the orientation provides a characteristic value representative of a club head orientation while striking of a golf ball, the characteristic value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, slice velocity, hook velocity, chop velocity, golf club head velocity, and sweet spot.

65. The system according to claim 56, wherein the timer comprises:

a trigger input module receiving the sensing signal and providing a pulsed output indicative of a time period between passage of each of the at least three sensing portions through the radiation plane;

a counter operable with the trigger input module for receiving the pulsed output therefrom and counting a number of pulses within the time period; and

a data queue operable with the counter for storing the number of pulses counted for transmission to processor.

66. A method for determining a relative orientation of a plane during movement thereof, the method comprising:

emitting a light beam;

forming the light beam into at least three radiation planes, the light beam forming a first radiation plane, a second radiation plane, and a third radiation plane, wherein the first and second radiation planes are vertically oriented and intersecting at a preselected angle, and wherein the third radiation plane intersects the first and second radiation planes at a non-vertical orientation, the first radiation plane positioned perpendicular to a target line, which target line the orientation plane travels, and wherein the processing provides a characteristic value representative orientation plane orientation;

providing at least three sensing locations for defining a sensing plane, the at least three sensing locations each providing a time sensitive sensing signal responsive to an interaction with the radiation plane;

sensing the light beam during movement through the sensing plane, the time sensitive sensing signals in combination providing an orientation of the sensing plane relative to the radiation plane during movement relative thereto; and

determining a time interval for the movement thereof.

67. The method according to claim 66, further comprising a processing of the time sensitive sensing signals and providing a characteristic value for the sensing plane relative to the radiation plane.

68. The method according to claim 66, further comprising vertically orienting the radiation plane perpendicular to a target line and representing a striking face of a golf club head by the sensing plane, wherein the processing provides the characteristic value representative of club head orientation while striking of a golf ball positioned within the target line, the characteristic value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, and golf club head velocity.

69. The method according to claim 66, further comprising at least two radiation planes, the light beam forming a first radiation plane and a second light beam forming a second radiation plane, the second radiation plane intersecting the first radiation plane, and wherein the first radiation plane is positioned perpendicular to a target line, along which target line the golf club head travels, and wherein the processing provides a characteristic value representative of club head orientation while striking of a golf ball, the characteristic value selected from the group consisting of loft angle, face angle, toe-heel angle, slice velocity, hook velocity, and golf club head velocity.

70. The method according to claim 66, wherein determining the time comprises:

receiving the sensing signal and providing a pulsed output indicative of a time period between passage of each of the at least three sensing portions through the radiation plane;

counting a number of pulses within the time; and

storing the number of pulses counted for transmission and processing thereof.

71. The method according to claim 66, wherein forming the radiation plane includes emitting a fan shaped laser beam from a laser source.