Analysis method of golf club

• US 8,142,300 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A School Corporation Kansai University, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: A School Corporation Kansai University, SRI Sports Limited (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Moriyama, Keiji, Iwatsubo, Takuzo, Onuki, Masahide, Yabu, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US12/078,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 473/221, 473/223, 473/409, 473/219, 473/222, 473/407, 738/620.42, 738/620.43, 738/624.51, 738/624.6
• US Class Current: 473/222
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0009 Computerised real time comparison with previous movements or motion sequences of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0012 Comparing movements or motion sequences with a registered reference
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0015 Comparing movements or motion sequences with computerised simulations of movements or motion sequences, e.g. for generating an ideal template as reference to be achieved by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0028 Tracking the path of an object, e.g. a ball inside a soccer pitch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0037 on a target surface or at impact on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/05 Image processing for measuring physical parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/10 Positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• 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 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• 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 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 : Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30204 : Marker
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/251 : involving models

Abstract

According to the present invention, a torque applied from a golf player to a golf club during a swing is analyzed in a time-series manner. A DLT method is suitable as a determination procedure. Preferably, a link model is used in this analysis. Preferably, the three-dimensional coordinate of the mark provided at a position that corresponds to the link model is determined by a DLT method. Preferable analysis method includes: modeling using a golf club, and at least a part of a golf player who grips a grip member of the golf club to provide a link model in which the golf club is connected with the golf player via a joint; and analyzing the torque that acts on the joint is analyzed during the swing in a time-series manner. This joint is positioned in the vicinity of the grip member. This analysis can be applied to a method of diagnosing a swing, a method of selecting a golf club, and a method of designing a golf club.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing a golf club, diagnosing a swing, selecting a golf club, or designing a golf club, comprises:

performing a time-series analysis of a torque that acts on a joint during the swing when modeling using the golf club, and at least a part of a golf player who grips a grip member of the golf club to provide a link model in which the golf club is connected with the golf player via the joint; and

using gravity that acts on the golf club in calculation of the torque,

wherein the time-series analysis of the torque that acts on the joint during the swing when modeling using the golf club is performed by a computer having a CPU (central processing unit), and

wherein an axis of the torque to be analyzed include an A axis that is parallel to a ground and is oriented to a target direction, a B axis that is in a direction of a shaft axis of the golf club in addressing, or a C axis that is parallel to the ground and is perpendicular to the A axis.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing a result of hitting achieved by the golf player aiming at a target, with a result of the time-series analysis of the torque applied from the golf player to the golf club during the swing in the hitting.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing a predetermined optimum torque curve with an observed torque curve obtained by a result of the time-series analysis of the torque applied from the golf player to the golf club during the swing.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

hitting multiple golf clubs to obtain a result of the time-series analysis of the torque applied from the golf player to each of the golf clubs, thereby deriving a torque curve for each of the golf clubs based on the result for each of the golf clubs; and

comparing a predetermined optimum torque curve with the torque curves for each of the golf clubs, respectively, to select an optimum golf club from among the multiple golf clubs.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

hitting multiple golf clubs by multiple golf players, respectively, to obtain a result of the time-series analysis of the torque applied from each of the golf players to each of the golf clubs, thereby obtaining multiple observed torque curves based on the results for the golf players to each of the golf clubs;

evaluating the observed torque curve using at least one of the multiple observed torque curves; and

designing a golf club based on the evaluation result.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the golf club is a putter club, and the link model is the two-link model or the three-link model.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the link model is the two-link model.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the link model is a two-link model having two lines in total, a three-link model having three lines in total, a four-link model having four lines in total, or a five-link model having five lines in total.

9. A method of analyzing a golf club, diagnosing a swing, selecting a golf club, or designing a golf club, comprises:

performing a time-series analysis of a torque that acts on a joint during the swing when modeling using the golf club, and at least a part of a golf player who grips a grip member of the golf club to provide a link model in which the golf club is connected with the golf player via the joint; and

using gravity that acts on the golf club in calculation of the torque,

wherein the time-series analysis of the torque that acts on the joint during the swing when modeling using the golf club is performed by a computer having a CPU (central processing unit),

wherein the link model contains a human body-corresponding link, a club-corresponding link, and a joint connecting the human body-corresponding link and the club-corresponding link, and

wherein the torque contains a torque for maintaining an angle between the human body-corresponding link and the club-corresponding link,

wherein an axis of the torque to be analyzed include an A axis that is parallel to a ground and is oriented to a target direction, a B axis that is in a direction of a shaft axis of the golf club in addressing, or a C axis that is parallel to the ground and is perpendicular to the A axis.