Method and system for shot tracking

• US 8,444,499 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Balardeta, Joseph, Denton, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): LEGESSE, NINI F
• Application Number:
  US13/429,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20130079170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 473/219, 473/221, 473/222, 473/223, 473/226, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/223
• 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 shots of a golfer during a round of golf, the system comprising:

a plurality of golf clubs, each of the plurality of golf clubs comprising a shaft and a golf club head, the golf club having an accelerometer in electrical communication with a wireless radiofrequency transponder, the accelerometer temporarily closing a switch during impact with a golf ball to provide power from a power source to the wireless radiofrequency transponder for transmission of a wireless signal, the wireless signal containing data for a specific golf club of the plurality of golf clubs, wherein each golf club of the plurality of golf clubs has the accelerometer, the wireless radiofrequency transponder, the switch, and the power source located within the shaft of the golf club; and

the receiver having a second antenna;

wherein the system captures a swing speed and swing motion of a 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 golf club of the plurality of golf clubs 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 automatically tracking shots of a golfer during a round of golf, 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 a wireless radiofrequency transponder within the shaft of the golf club;

powering the wireless radiofrequency transponder with power from the power source;

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

receiving the wireless 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 wireless 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.