Systems and methods for fitting golf equipment

• US 7,159,451 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Max Out Golf, LLC
• Original Assignee: Max Out Golf, LLC
• Inventors: Voges, Mitchell Clark, Hollister, Daniel Patrick, McGann, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cygan; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, OCTAVIA L
• Application Number:
  US10/722,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20050085309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 734/91, 73/120.4, 73 6501- 6509, 473/407, 473/131, 473/199, 473/152, 473/266
• US Class Current: 73/65.03
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• 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 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills

Abstract

A golf equipment fitting system that uses advanced technology to not only objectively identify the optimum equipment for the golfer, but to also identify and help correct swing flaws so that the golfer can achieve optimum performance on the golf course. Thus, in one embodiment, golf fitting includes collecting data related to the golfer'"'"'s swing and determining if the golfer'"'"'s swing technique should be modified based at least in part on the collected swing data. When it is determined that the golfer'"'"'s swing technique should be modified, then providing swing instruction to the golfer. When, however, it is determined that the golfer'"'"'s swing technique is fine, then collecting data related to how the golfer'"'"'s swing launches a golf ball. Finally, golf equipment, e.g., golf clubs, can be specified based on the collected swing data and launch data.

Claims

1. A method for fitting golf equipment, comprising:

marking a golf ball with color markings, the color markings comprising at least two colors; and

collecting data related to how the golfer'"'"'s swing launches a golf ball using a color camera and the color markings.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising specifying golf equipment based on the collected launch data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the collected data comprises data related to the spin of a golf ball hit by the golfer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the collected data comprises data related to the speed of a golf ball hit by the golfer as the golf ball leaves the face of the club swung by the golfer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the collected data comprises data related to the launch angle of a golf ball hit by the golfer as the golf ball leaves the face of the club swung by the golfer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting data comprises converting images of the color markings on the golf ball captured by the color camera into spin, speed, and launch angle data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising deriving ball flight characteristics based on the collected data.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying information related to the derived ball flight characteristics.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the derived ball flight characteristics comprise carry distance, total distance, and height characteristics.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising averaging collected data for a plurality of swings and specifying golf equipment based on the averaged launch data.

11. A method for fitting golf equipment, comprising:

deriving an optimum launch model;

collecting data related to how the golfer'"'"'s swing launches a golf ball, wherein the golf ball is marked with color markings, the color marking comprising at least two colors; and

the data is collected using a color camera and the color markings; and

specifying golf equipment based on the collected launch data and derived optimum launch model.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the collected data comprises data related to the spin of a golf ball hit by the golfer.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the collected data comprises data related to the speed of a golf ball hit by the golfer as the golf ball leaves the face of the club swung by the golfer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the collected data comprises data related to the launch angle of a golf ball hit by the golfer as the golf ball leaves the face of the club swung by the golfer.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein collecting data comprises converting images of color markings on the golf ball captured by a color camera into spin, speed, and launch angle data.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising deriving ball flight characteristics based on the collected data.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying information related to the derived ball flight characteristics.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the derived ball flight characteristics comprise carry distance, total distance, and height characteristics.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising averaging collected data for a plurality of swings and specifying golf equipment based on the averaged launch data.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein deriving an optimized launch model comprises determining an optimum trajectory height limitation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein deriving an optimum launch model further comprises deriving a relationship between golf ball velocity, launch angle, and spin of the golf ball that will result in an optimum golf ball trajectory without exceeding the optimum trajectory height limitation.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the relationship is derived in a manner that maximizes launch angle and reduces spin for a given velocity.

23. A golf equipment fitting system, comprising:

a color camera; and

a launch module configured to collect data related to how the golfer'"'"'s swing launches a golf ball marked with at least two color markings using the color camera and the color markings.

24. The golf equipment fitting system of claim 23, wherein the collected data comprises data related to the spin of a golf ball hit by the golfer.

25. The golf equipment fitting system of claim 23, wherein the collected data comprises data related to the speed of a golf ball hit by the golfer as the golf ball leaves the face of the club swung by the golfer.

26. The golf equipment fitting system of claim 23, wherein the collected data comprises data related to the launch angle of a golf ball hit by the golfer as the golf ball leaves the face of the club swung by the golfer.

27. The golf equipment fitting system of claim 23, wherein the launch module is configured to convert images of the color markings on the golf ball captured by the color camera into spin, speed, and launch angle data.

28. The golf equipment fitting system of claim 23, wherein the launch module is further configured to derive ball flight characteristics based on the collected data.

29. The golf equipment fitting system of claim 28, further comprising a display, and wherein the launch module is further configured to display information related to the derived ball flight characteristics.

30. The golf equipment fitting system of claim 28, wherein the derived ball flight characteristics comprise carry distance, total distance, and height characteristics.

31. The golf equipment fitting system of claim 23, wherein the launch module is further configured to average collected data for a plurality of swings.