Golf swing measurement device and golf swing measurement system

• US 8,801,532 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Katayama, Shu
• Primary Examiner(s): GALKA, LAWRENCE STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US12/071,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20080287205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,364 Days
• Field of Search: 473/151, 473/219, 473/221, 473/222, 473/225, 473/233, 473/257, 473/405
• US Class Current: 473/222
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3614 using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club

Abstract

A golf swing measurement device is placed in front of a golfer when the golfer swings a golf club to hit a golf ball. The golf swing measurement device includes a sidewall portion extending substantially in parallel to a swing path of the club head; a first sensor coil and a second sensor coil disposed along the sidewall portion for detecting a club head with a permanent magnet on a distal thereof passing therethrough; a calculation unit for calculating a swing time from a start moment of a backswing to a moment of an impact, a head speed upon the impact, and a total flying distance; a display unit for displaying the swing time, the head speed, and the total flying distance; a memory unit for storing measurement data including the swing time, head speed, and the total flying distance; and a transmission unit for sending the measurement data.

Claims

1. A golf swing measurement device for measuring a swing path of a club head with a permanent magnet on a distal thereof, comprising:

a housing having a sidewall portion extending substantially in parallel to the swing path;

a first sensor coil disposed along the sidewall portion for detecting the club head passing therethrough;

a second sensor coil disposed along the sidewall portion at a front position of the swing path with respect to the first sensor coil by a specific distance for detecting the club head passing therethrough;

a calculation unit for calculating a swing time from a start moment of a backswing to a moment of an impact, a head speed upon the impact, and a total flying distance according to a detection signal of the first sensor coil and the second sensor coil;

a display unit for displaying the swing time, the head speed, and the total flying distance;

a memory unit for storing measurement data including the swing time, head speed, and the total flying distance; and

a transmission unit for sending the measurement data stored in the memory unit externally to an external display unit so that a trajectory of a golf ball is displayed on the external display unit,

wherein said first sensor coil and said second sensor coil are configured to be switchable so that the swing path of a right-hand player or a left-hand player can be measured.

2. The golf swing measurement device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission unit is adapted to send the measurement data when a specific operation is executed or an instruction is sent externally.

3. The golf swing measurement device according to claim 1, wherein said display unit is adapted to alternately display the swing time, the head speed, and the total flying distance for a specific period of time in this sequence, and then to continue to display the head speed.

4. The golf swing measurement device according to claim 1, wherein said second sensor coil is arranged away from the first sensor coil by the specific distance in a range of 50 mm to 100 mm.

5. The golf swing measurement device according to claim 1, wherein said memory unit is adapted to store the measurement data including the swing time, the head speed, and the total flying distance for 10 to 200 swings.

6. The golf swing measurement device according to claim 1, wherein said calculation unit is adapted to determine the swing path according to the detection signal, and to classify the swing path into an outside-in, a straight-through, or an inside-out, said display unit displaying the classification of the swing path.

7. The golf swing measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising a communication terminal connected to the transmission unit for sending and receiving a signal.

9. The golf swing measurement device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission unit is configured to send the measurement data stored in the memory unit externally to the external display unit so that a plurality of the trajectories is displayed on the external display unit in different colors.

10. The golf swing measurement device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission unit is configured to send the measurement data stored in the memory unit externally to the external display unit so that the trajectory is adjusted according to a wind direction and displayed on the external display unit.

11. The golf swing measurement device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission unit is configured to send the measurement data stored in the memory unit externally to the external display unit so that a histogram showing a frequency distribution of the head speed is displayed on the external display unit.

8. A golf swing measurement system comprising:

a golf swing measurement device for measuring a swing path of a club head with a permanent magnet on a distal thereof, said golf swing measurement device comprising;

a housing having a sidewall portion extending substantially in parallel to the swing path;

a first sensor coil disposed along the sidewall portion for detecting the club head passing therethrough;

a second sensor coil disposed along the sidewall portion at a front position of the swing path with respect to the first sensor coil by a specific distance for detecting the club head passing therethrough;

a calculation unit for calculating a swing time from a start moment of a backswing to a moment of an impact, a head speed upon the impact, and a total flying distance according to a detection signal of the first sensor coil and the second sensor coil;

a display unit for displaying the swing time, the head speed, and the total flying distance;

a memory unit for storing measurement data including the swing time, head speed, and the total flying distance;

a transmission unit for sending the measurement data stored in the memory unit externally to an external display unit so that a trajectory of a golf ball is displayed on the external display unit; and

a communication terminal connected to the transmission unit for sending and receiving a signal;

a cable connected to the communication terminal; and

a data conversion device connected to the cable.

12. A golf swing measurement system comprising:

a golf swing measurement device for measuring a swing path of a club head with a permanent magnet on a distal thereof, said golf swing measurement device comprising;

a housing having a sidewall portion extending substantially in parallel to the swing path;

a first sensor coil disposed along the sidewall portion for detecting the club head passing therethrough;

a second sensor coil disposed along the sidewall portion at a front position of the swing path with respect to the first sensor coil by a specific distance for detecting the club head passing therethrough;

a calculation unit for calculating a swing time from a start moment of a backswing to a moment of an impact, a head speed upon the impact, and a total flying distance according to a detection signal of the first sensor coil and the second sensor coil;

a display unit for displaying the swing time, the head speed, and the total flying distance;

a memory unit for storing measurement data including the swing time, head speed, and the total flying distance;

a transmission unit for sending the measurement data stored in the memory unit externally; and

a communication terminal connected to the transmission unit for sending and receiving a signal;

a cable connected to the communication terminal;

a data conversion device connected to the cable; and

an external display unit connected to the cable through the data conversion device for displaying a trajectory of a golf ball.

13. The golf swing measurement system according to claim 12, further comprising a power source connected to the external display unit and an operational panel connected to the external display unit.