Method and system for selecting a golf club

• US 7,273,427 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Issued: 09/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Katayama, Shu, Inoue, Taku, Kuromi, Mitsuhiro, Inagaki, Minoru, Teraoka, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARPER, TRAMAR YONG
• Application Number:
  US10/231,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20040043839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,852 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 473/407
• 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 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/807 Photo cameras
• 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 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 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction

Abstract

A method for selecting a golf club suitable for a golfer includes the steps of (a) obtaining at least one of head speed and hit-ball data (initial velocity, launch angle, backspin, side spin, and travel distance) when a golfer hits a golf ball with a golf club; (b) obtaining ideal hit-ball data of the golfer on the basis of the at least one of head speed and hit-ball data obtained in step (a); and (c) selecting a golf club suitable for the golfer on the basis of the ideal hit-ball data obtained in step (b).

Claims

1. A method for selecting a golf club suitable for a golfer, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining at least one of head speed and hit-ball data when a golfer hits a golf ball with a golf club;

(b) automatically calculating ideal hit-ball data of the golfer on the basis of the at least one of head speed and hit-ball data obtained in step (a); and

(c) selecting a golf club suitable for the golfer on the basis of the ideal hit-ball data obtained in step (b),

wherein;

in the step (a), at least the head speed is obtained, and

the ideal hit-ball data includes ideal initial velocity, ideal launch angle and ideal backspin, which are calculated in accordance with the following expressions;

the ideal initial velocity=F×

head speed+G;

the ideal launch angle=H×

head speed+I; and

the ideal back spin=J×

head speed+K,

wherein F is a coefficient in a range of 1.3 to 1.5, G is a constant in a range of −

0.5 to 0.5, H is a coefficient in a range of −

0.3 to −

0.2, I is a constant in a range of 25 to 31, J is a coefficient in a range of −

50 to −

30 and K is a constant in a range of 3700 to 5100.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

(d) obtaining head speed and hit-ball data when the golfer hits a golf ball with the golf club selected in step (c).

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the golf club used in step (a) has been previously used by the golfer for playing golf.

4. A method for selecting a golf club according to claim 1, wherein the actual hit-ball data include at least one selected from initial velocity, launch angle, backspin, side spin, and travel distance of a hit ball.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the actual hit-ball data include an initial velocity, a launch angle, a backspin, a side spin, and travel distance of the hit golf ball.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the golf club suitable for the golfer is performed automatically.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ideal hit-ball data include the travel distance of the hit golf ball.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the golf club suitable for the golfer is selected based on a golf club specification that includes at least one of total length, balance, total weight, loft angle, face angle and lie angle.

9. A system for selecting a golf club suitable for a golfer, comprising:

an actual hit data obtainment circuit that obtains at least one of head speed and hit-ball data when a golfer hits a golf ball with a golf club; and

an ideal data calculation circuit that calculates ideal hit-ball data of the golfer on the basis of the at least one of head speed and hit-ball data obtained by the actual hit data obtainment circuit, wherein

a golf club suitable for the golfer is selected on the basis of the ideal hit-ball data obtained by the ideal data obtainment circuit, and wherein;

the actual hit data obtainment circuit obtains at least the head speed, and

the ideal data calculation circuit calculates the ideal hit-ball data including ideal initial velocity, ideal launch angle and ideal backspin in accordance with the following expressions;

the ideal initial velocity=F×

head speed+G;

the ideal launch angle=H×

head speed+I; and

the ideal back spin=J×

head speed+K,

wherein F is a coefficient in a range of 1.3 to 1.5, G is a constant in a range of −

0.5 to 0.5, H is a coefficient in a range of −

0.3 to −

0.2, I is a constant in a range of 25 to 31, J is a coefficient in a range of −

50 to −

30 and K is a constant in a range of 3700 to 5100.

10. A system for selecting a golf club according to claim 9, wherein head speed and hit-ball data at the time when the golfer hits a golf ball with the selected golf club are obtained by the actual hit data obtainment circuit.

11. A system for selecting a golf club according to claim 9, further comprising:

a comment producing circuit that produces a comment for the golfer on the basis of the at least one of the head speed and hit-ball data obtained by the actual hit data obtainment circuit.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the actual hit-ball data include an initial velocity, a launch angle, a backspin, a side spin, and travel distance of the hit golf ball.

13. The system of claim 9, comprising:

a golf club selection circuit that selects the golf club suitable for the golfer.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the ideal hit-ball data include the travel distance of the hit golf ball.

15. A system for selecting a golf club according to claim 11, further comprising:

a printing circuit that prints at least one selected from the head speed and hit-ball data obtained by the actual hit data obtainment circuit, ideal hit-ball data calculated by the ideal data calculation circuit, and the comment produced by the comment producing circuit.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the golf club suitable for the golfer is selected based on a golf club specification that includes at least one of total length, balance, total weight, loft angle, face angle and lie angle.