Device to measure the motion of a golf club

• US 8,118,687 B1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Legesse, Nini
• Application Number:
  US12/793,915
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 473/150, 473/151, 473/219, 473/221, 473/222, 473/223, 473/225, 473/226, 473/257
• US Class Current: 473/221
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• 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 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• 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 club shaft that can be installed in a club head permanently or can be installed in clubs with interchangeable shaft features is disclosed herein. The invention is a measurement system that enables the capturing of the speed and motion of the golfer'"'"'s swing. The invention uses infrared reflectors positioned on a golf club and an array of infrared sensors.

Claims

1. A system for measuring the motion of a golf club swung by a golfer, the system comprising:

a golf club comprising a shaft and a golf club head, the golf club having a plurality of infrared reflectors thereon;

a golf ball positioned on a tee extending upward from a mat;

a plurality of infrared sensors positioned to create a swing field for reception of a reflected signal from the plurality of infrared reflectors as the golf club is swung through the swing field, each of the plurality of infrared sensors generating infrared radiation;

wherein the plurality of infrared sensors is able to capture the speed and motion of the golf club as the golf club is swung through the swing field by a golfer; and

—

herein the plurality of infrared reflectors comprises a first infrared reflector on a toe-end position of the golf club head, a second infrared reflector on a lower portion of the shaft and a third infrared reflector on an upper portion of the shaft.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of infrared sensors comprises a LED that generates infrared radiation and a photodiode for receiving the reflected infrared radiation from the plurality of infrared reflectors.