Electronically controlled golf swing analysis and practice system with type of golf shot projection
First Claim
1. A golf swing analysis and practice system for use by a user practicing a golf swing with a golf club having a golf club head for projecting the type of golf shot that would have resulted from the practice swing comprising:
- a practice mat for use by a user practicing a golf swing having an assumed golf ball position-related image embodied thereon to identify an assumed golf ball position, said practice mat also including an initial contact target image embodied thereon to provide a target for the club head to contact the practice mat;
a golf club head practice mat impact sensor being operable to generate golf club head position-related data, said golf club head position-related data being generated during a practice swing of said golf club and being generated independent of whether the golf club head is striking a golf ball;
a storage device for storing said golf club head position-related data;
a processor operatively coupled to said golf club head practice mat impact sensor and said storage device and configured to execute instructions for accessing said golf club head position-related data, and for determining the position of the golf club head relative to said target, said processor being configured to project the type of golf shot that would have resulted if a golf ball, positioned in alignment with said assumed golf ball position-related image, were to have been struck during said practice swing; and
an output mechanism operatively coupled to said processor for indicating the type of golf shot that would have resulted from a golf ball being struck by said user from said assumed golf ball position during said practice swing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A golf practice mat includes an impact sensor disposed in a vicinity bounding the location of where a golf ball would be placed for striking. The golf practice mat may also include, for example, a “crosshair” target imprint that is disposed on a golf club impact sensor portion of the practice surface and indicates the point/line of contact that the club face should hit the ground after the ball has been struck with the club head in a descending blow. A microcontroller receives and analyzes the output of the impact sensor and generates a display/output message that is coupled to a display that is, for example, embodied on the golf practice mat to provide user shot-related feedback. The display may indicate, for example, the user'"'"'s golf club, the estimated distance the ball will travel depending upon the impact data analyzed, the club chosen by the user, input backswing data and/or a three-dimensional simulation of the resulting golf stroke.
25 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A golf swing analysis and practice system for use by a user practicing a golf swing with a golf club having a golf club head for projecting the type of golf shot that would have resulted from the practice swing comprising:
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a practice mat for use by a user practicing a golf swing having an assumed golf ball position-related image embodied thereon to identify an assumed golf ball position, said practice mat also including an initial contact target image embodied thereon to provide a target for the club head to contact the practice mat; a golf club head practice mat impact sensor being operable to generate golf club head position-related data, said golf club head position-related data being generated during a practice swing of said golf club and being generated independent of whether the golf club head is striking a golf ball; a storage device for storing said golf club head position-related data; a processor operatively coupled to said golf club head practice mat impact sensor and said storage device and configured to execute instructions for accessing said golf club head position-related data, and for determining the position of the golf club head relative to said target, said processor being configured to project the type of golf shot that would have resulted if a golf ball, positioned in alignment with said assumed golf ball position-related image, were to have been struck during said practice swing; and an output mechanism operatively coupled to said processor for indicating the type of golf shot that would have resulted from a golf ball being struck by said user from said assumed golf ball position during said practice swing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a golf swing analysis and practice system for a user practicing a golf swing with a golf club having a golf club head, including a golf practice mat having an assumed golf ball position-related image embodied thereon to identify an assumed golf ball position, said practice mat also including an initial contact target image embodied thereon to provide a target for the club head to contact the practice mat, and a practice mat impact sensor, said method providing a projection of the type of golf shot that would have resulted from the practice swing had a golf ball been placed at said assumed golf ball position, said method comprising:
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generating golf club head position-related data by a processor based on data generated by said impact sensor during a practice swing of said golf club by the user of said practice mat independent of whether the user is striking a golf ball; storing said golf club head position-related data in a storage device; accessing said golf club head position-related data from said storage device by said processor; projecting by said processor the type of golf shot that would have resulted if a golf ball, positioned at said assumed golf ball position were to have been struck during said practice swing; and outputting to said user said type of golf shot that would have resulted if a golf ball positioned at said assumed golf ball position were to have been struck during said practice swing. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating a golf swing analysis and practice system for a user practicing a golf swing with a golf club having a golf club head, including a golf practice mat having an assumed golf ball position-related image embodied thereon to identify an assumed golf ball position, said practice mat also including an initial contact target image embodied thereon to provide a target for the club head to contact the practice mat and a practice mat impact sensor, said method providing a projection of the type of golf shot that would have resulted from the practice swing had a golf ball been placed at said assumed position, said method comprising:
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generating golf club head position-related data by a processor based on data generated by said impact sensor during a practice swing of said golf club by a user standing on said practice mat independent of whether the user is striking a golf ball; storing said golf club head position-related data in a storage device; accessing said golf club head position-related data by said a processor from said storage device; projecting by said processor, using said golf club head position-related data generated by said impact sensor, the type of golf shot that would have resulted if a golf ball, positioned at said assumed golf ball position were to have been struck during said practice swing; and displaying, under the control of said processor, a simulation of the flight of a golf ball depicting the type of golf shot projected by said processor. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A golf swing practice mat apparatus for use by a user practicing a golf swing with a golf club having a golf club head for generating feedback indicative of the type of golf shot that would have resulted from the practice swing comprising:
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a practice mat surface for use by a user practicing a golf swing having an assumed golf ball position-related image embodied thereon to identify an assumed golf ball position, said practice mat also having an initial contact target image embodied thereon to provide a target for the club head to initially contact the practice mat to simulate striking the beginning of an area where a desirable divot would have been made on a golf course fairway after ball contact if an actual golf ball had been placed at said assumed golf ball position; a golf club head practice mat impact assembly operatively coupled to said practice mat surface to visually indicate points at which the club head initially made contact with the practice mat relative to said target to thereby provide feedback indicative of the type of golf shot that would have resulted from the practice swing. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification