Method of fitting a golf club to a golfer

• US 7,153,215 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Arthur, Nicholas C., Peterson, Randolph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US11/160,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20050277483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 473/409, 473/199
• US Class Current: 473/199
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• 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 69/3605 Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club

Abstract

A method a fitting a golf club to a golfer based on the golfer'"'"'s playing characteristics and the inherent properties of the golfer'"'"'s current golf club. A golf club is selected and a analyzed to determine if the selected golf club is optimized for the golfer.

Claims

1. A method for fitting a golf club to a golfer based on the golfer'"'"'s ball striking characteristics and the golfer'"'"'s current golf club characteristics, the method comprising:

obtaining data for the inherent properties of the golfer'"'"'s current golf club;

obtaining data for the golfer'"'"'s typical playing characteristics;

inputting the data for golfer'"'"'s typical playing characteristics and the data for the inherent properties of the golfer'"'"'s current golf club into a golf club fitting algorithm, the golf club fitting algorithm comprising a matrix based on ball flight characteristics, ball flight distance and ball roll;

selecting a golf club as determined by the golf club fitting algorithm;

striking a plurality of golf balls with the selected golf club;

analyzing the golfer'"'"'s ball striking characteristics with the selected golf club; and

correlating a plurality of ball impact locations data with the center of gravity location of the selected golf club and analyzing the ball striking characteristics to determine if the selected golf club is optimized for the golfer.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the golfer'"'"'s ball striking characteristics comprises swing speed of the golf club head, the golf ball speed after impact with the golf club head, the launch angle of the golf ball after impact with the golf club head, the back spin of the golf ball after impact with the golf club head, the side spin of the golf ball after impact with the golf club head, and the side angle of the golf ball after impact with the golf club head.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the ball impact locations are utilized to verify an optimum golf club head center of gravity position for the golfer.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the golf ball launch angle data is utilized to select the optimum golf club head loft angle for the golfer.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the selected golf club has a center of gravity position optimized for the golfer based on the fitting algorithm.

6. The method according claim 1 wherein the ball impact locations on the selected golf club are determined using a face tape applied to the face of the golf club head of the selected golf club.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the selected golf club is not optimized for the golfer;

selecting a second selected golf club for the golfer;

striking a plurality of golf balls with the second selected golf club;

analyzing the golfer'"'"'s ball striking characteristics with the second selected golf club; and

correlating a plurality of ball impact locations data with the center of gravity location of the second selected golf club and analyzing the ball striking characteristics to determine if the second selected golf club is optimized for the golfer.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the selected golf club is a driver.