Method and system for shot tracking

• US 8,142,302 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2010
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Denton, Scott, Balardeta, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US12/837,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20110028231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 473/219, 473/221, 473/222, 473/223, 473/226, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/222
• 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 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/89 Field sensors, e.g. radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• 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 69/3632 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 69/3658 Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction

Abstract

A system and method for shot tracking disclosed herein. The system preferably includes a golf club and a receiver. The golf club preferably includes an active RFID transponder, a power source, a switch and an accelerometer.

Claims

1. A system for automatically tracking 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 an accelerometer in electrical communication with an active RFID transponder, the accelerometer temporarily closing a switch during impact with a golf ball to provide power from a power source to the RFID transponder for transmission of a signal, the signal containing data for the specific golf club, wherein the accelerometer, the active RFID transponder, the switch and the power source are located within the shaft of the golf club;

a receiver for receiving the signal from the RFID transponder, the receiver having a second antenna;

wherein the system captures a swing speed and swing motion of the golf club swung by golfer and wherein the interactions of characteristic three dimensional amplitude variations in the antennas allow for the measurement of relative positions of the golf club over the time of the swing.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver is a GPS unit.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver stores data for each shot by the golfer for a round of golf.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the data of the signal comprises type of club and force of the shot.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the type of club is selected from wedge, 9-iron, 8-iron, 7-iron, 6-iron, 5-iron, 4-iron, 3-iron, 2-iron, 9-wood, 7-wood, 5-wood, 3-wood, driver, putter, 1-hybird, 2-hybrid, 3-hybrid, 4-hybrid, 5-hybrid and 6-hybrid.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the accelerometer is a 50 G accelerometer.

7. A method for shot tracking, the method comprising:

impacting a golf ball with a golf club;

activating an accelerometer positioned within a shaft of the golf club;

closing a switch for a set time period, the switch positioned between a power source and an active RFID transponder within the shaft of the golf club;

powering the active RFID transponder with power from the power source;

transmitting a signal from the active RFID transponder, the signal comprising golf club data for a swing speed and swing motion for the golf club swung by the golfer; and

receiving the signal at a receiver, the receiver having a second antenna;

wherein the interactions of characteristic three dimensional amplitude variations in the antennas allow for the measurement of relative positions of the golf club over the time of the swing.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the receiver is a GPS unit.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein the receiver stores data for each shot by the golfer for a round of golf.

10. The method according to claim 7 wherein the data of the signal comprises type of club and force of the shot.

11. The method according to claim 7 wherein the type of club is selected from wedge, 9-iron, 8-iron, 7-iron, 6-iron, 5-iron, 4-iron, 3-iron, 2-iron, 9-wood, 7-wood, 5-wood, 3-wood, driver, putter, 1-hybird, 2-hybrid, 3-hybrid, 4-hybrid, 5-hybrid and 6-hybrid.

12. The method according to claim 7 wherein the accelerometer is a 500 G accelerometer.

13. The method according to claim 7 further comprising storing the data at the receiver.