Machine and method for caddying and golf instruction
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for caddying and training golfer(s), the apparatus comprising:
- a. a plurality of enhanced components that work in concert as an automated system to capture, analyze, score, archive, track and communicate real-time relevant golf data specific to individual golfers;
said enhanced components further comprising;
i. a Global Positioning System (GPS);
ii. a plurality of mapped golf courses;
iii. a plurality of enhanced golfing equipment;
said enhanced golfing equipment comprising(1) a plurality of microchips, nanochips, impact sensors, unique identifiers, and pressure sensors for integration into said enhanced golfing equipment;
iv. a handheld computing device (PDA);
said PDA comprising;
(1) operating system;
(2) plurality of application software;
said application software includes;
(a) a virtual caddy for communicating advice, suggestions and counsel to the golfer just as a professional caddy would do for his PGA Tour Professional;
(b) a component ID software application for identifying said enhanced golfing equipment of the golfer to the PDA;
(3) plurality of golf data;
said golf data includes;
(a) component golf data for establishing the key dynamic characteristics of said enhanced components;
(b) global positioning golf data for locating each of said enhanced components;
whereby, given the data captured and processed by the enhanced components and further processed within the PDA, the typical advice offered by a caddy or instructor such as shot strategy and club selection is communicated to the golfer as needed during a round of golf, training or practice via the virtual caddy application software of the PDA.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a machine and method used to capture, analyze, score, archive, track and communicate real-time relevant golf data specific to individual golfers: 1) during practice/lessons; or 2) for every shot on every hole of an entire recreational golf round; and 3) archive all such practice sessions or rounds during which the invention is in use. Additionally it could be used to support a foursome or an entire tournament for those participants using the invention.
37 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for caddying and training golfer(s), the apparatus comprising:
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a. a plurality of enhanced components that work in concert as an automated system to capture, analyze, score, archive, track and communicate real-time relevant golf data specific to individual golfers;
said enhanced components further comprising;i. a Global Positioning System (GPS); ii. a plurality of mapped golf courses; iii. a plurality of enhanced golfing equipment;
said enhanced golfing equipment comprising(1) a plurality of microchips, nanochips, impact sensors, unique identifiers, and pressure sensors for integration into said enhanced golfing equipment; iv. a handheld computing device (PDA);
said PDA comprising;(1) operating system; (2) plurality of application software;
said application software includes;(a) a virtual caddy for communicating advice, suggestions and counsel to the golfer just as a professional caddy would do for his PGA Tour Professional; (b) a component ID software application for identifying said enhanced golfing equipment of the golfer to the PDA; (3) plurality of golf data;
said golf data includes;(a) component golf data for establishing the key dynamic characteristics of said enhanced components; (b) global positioning golf data for locating each of said enhanced components; whereby, given the data captured and processed by the enhanced components and further processed within the PDA, the typical advice offered by a caddy or instructor such as shot strategy and club selection is communicated to the golfer as needed during a round of golf, training or practice via the virtual caddy application software of the PDA. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
whereby the golf club integrated computing circuits in concert other enhanced golfing equipment provides the processing power to capture, analyze, score, archive, track and communicate real-time relevant golf data specific to individual golfers.
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6. The apparatus of claim 2, said golf ball comprising:
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a. golf ball impact sensors integrated in said golf ball for sensing when said golf ball is struck with said golf club; b. golf ball ID sensors for uniquely identifying each said golf ball so that it can be associated with the golfer;
said golf ball ID sensors comprises integrating said unique identifiers in said golf ball(s);whereby the data from the golf ball sensors in concert with data from the other enhanced golfing equipment provides the data input to the application software to capture, analyze, score, archive, track and communicate real-time relevant golf data specific to individual golfers.
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7. The apparatus of claim 6, said golf ball further comprising:
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a. intra-ball computing circuits which comprises integrating said intra-component computing circuits in said golf ball; whereby the golf ball sensors in concert with the chip technology provides the processing power to capture, analyze, archive, track and communicate real-time relevant golf ball dynamics specific to individual golfers.
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8. The apparatus of claim 2, said golfing equipment further comprising:
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a. at least one golf glove, wherein said golf glove is comprised of; i. golf glove grip sensors for sensing when the golfer'"'"'s grip conforms to one of the predefined grip standards selected from the group consisting of the Verdon Overlap grip, the Interlocking grip, the Ten Finger grip, and the Custom grip during the setup for the golf shot; ii. golf glove ID sensors for uniquely identifying each said golf glove so that it can be associated with the golfer;
said golf glove sensors comprises integrating said unique identifiers in said golf glove;iii. intra-glove computing circuits, which comprises integrating said intra-component computing circuits in said golf glove; whereby the golf glove grip sensors in concert with data from the other enhanced components provides the input data and the chip technology provides the processing power to capture, analyze, archive, track and communicate real-time relevant golf glove grip data specific to the golfer.
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9. The apparatus of claim 2, said golfing equipment further comprising
a. a pair of golf shoes wherein said pair of golf shoes is comprised of: -
i. golf shoe(s) sensors for capturing the golfer'"'"'s setup including foot position and balance; ii. golf shoe ID sensors for uniquely identifying each said golf shoe so that it can be associated with the golfer;
said golf shoe ID sensors comprises integrating said unique identifiers in said golf shoe(s);iii. intra-shoe computing circuits for determining topography from said foot position of each said golf shoe in the areas where the golfer walks and pauses while evaluating his putt line;
said intra-shoe computing circuits comprises integrating said intra-component computing circuits in said golf shoes;whereby the golf shoe(s) sensors in concert with data from the other enhanced components provides the input data and the chip technology provides the processing power to capture, analyze, archive, track and communicate real-time relevant putt line data specific to the golfer.
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10. A method for caddying and training golfers, the method comprising:
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a. providing an apparatus for caddying and training golfers comprising a plurality of enhanced components that work in concert as an automated system, the apparatus further comprising; i. a Global Positioning System (GPS); ii. a plurality of GPS mapped golf courses; iii. a plurality of enhanced golfing equipment comprising a plurality of golf clubs including a putter, a pair of golf shoes, a golf glove, a golf ball(s);
the enhanced golfing equipment further comprising a plurality of computing circuits, a plurality of sensors;iv. a handheld computing device (PDA) further comprising a plurality of golf data, a plurality of application software including a virtual caddy, a component ID application; b. initializing the PDA software (virtual caddy) at least once, comprising; i. downloading the applicable GPS mapped course information from the internet; and ii. identifying the appropriate player information to the component ID application and in turn the virtual caddy by tying each uniquely identified piece of the enhanced golfing equipment to its golfer owner; c. interacting with the virtual caddy during the golf round, comprising; i. adjusting the virtual caddy to reflect actual conditions of play for a current hole; ii. consulting the virtual caddy for the characteristics of the current hole including hazards, distances to fairway, greens and other strategic points; iii. consulting the virtual caddy for suggestions for a plan of approach for the current hole; iv. deciding on the plan of approach for a plurality of shots for the current hole; d. taking the shot on the current hole; e. assessing the results of the shot on the current hole with the virtual caddy; f. repeating the applicable steps above on the current hole for each subsequent shot until the golf ball is holed-out; g. synchronizing a score card with the virtual caddy; and h. repeating the applicable steps above on each subsequent hole until the golf round is complete. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification