System for determining performance characteristics of a golf swing

• US 7,736,242 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2004
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Kelly, Michael, Meanle, Garrick L., Hadden, Jeffrey A., Sander, Raymond J., Stites, John T., Madore, Carl, Held, Jeffrey R., Tavares, Gary, Kramer, Gregory S., Dodson, Clifford N., Bouton, Chad E., Hoffman, Patrick K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoo; Jasson H
• Application Number:
  US10/806,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20050215340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,275 Days
• Field of Search: 473/233, 473/219, 473221-223, 473226-227
• US Class Current: 473/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2060/464 Means for indicating or measuring the pressure on the grip
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/367 Detection of balance between both feet, i.e. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/802 Ultra-sound sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-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 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 electrical or electronic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.

Claims

1. A self contained instrumented golf club, the golf club comprising:

a first accelerometer module removably mounted in a head of the golf club; and

a second accelerometer module mounted in a shaft of the golf club; and

an antenna that comprises a ferrule that connects the head of the golf club to the shaft of the golf club for transmitting swing data to a portable computer device.

2. The instrumented golf club of claim 1, wherein the weight of the first accelerometer and the second accelerometer do not change the balance or center of gravity of the club.

3. The instrumented golf club of claim 2, wherein the head of the golf club is a wood.

4. The instrumented golf club of claim 2, wherein the head of the golf club is an iron.

5. The instrumented golf club of claim 1, wherein the first accelerometer module senses acceleration along three orthogonal axes.

6. The instrumented golf club of claim 1, further including an impact module configured to sense the location of impact with a golf ball.

7. The instrumented golf club of claim 6, wherein the impact module comprises an array of strain gauges.

8. The instrumented golf club of claim 6, further including a grip pressure sensor.

9. The instrumented golf club of claim 1, further including a transmission module that wirelessly transmits golf swing data.

10. A computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions for causing a transmission module embedded within a golf club to perform the steps of:

receiving first golf swing data from a first accelerometer module removably mounted in a head of the golf club;

receiving second golf swing data from a second accelerometer module mounted in a shaft of the golf club; and

transmitting the first and second golf swing data to a portable computer device using an antenna that comprises a ferrule that connects a head of the golf club to a shaft of the golf club.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further including computer-executable instructions for causing the transmission module to perform the steps of:

receiving ball impact location data from an impact module; and

transmitting the ball impact location data.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further including computer-executable instructions for causing the transmission module to perform the steps of:

receiving grip pressure data from a grip pressure sensor; and

transmitting the grip pressure data.

13. A self contained instrumented golf club, the golf club comprising:

a first accelerometer module mounted in a head of the golf club;

a second accelerometer module mounted in a shaft of the golf club; and

an antenna that comprises a ferrule that connects the head of the golf club to the shaft of the golf club for transmitting swing data to a portable computer device.