Systems and methods for storing and analyzing golf data, including community and individual golf data collection and storage at a central hub

• US 9,623,284 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Lafortune, Mario A., Niegowski, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAY, BRANDON RAMON
• Application Number:
  US13/080,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20110230274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,205 Days
• Field of Search: 473217, 473407, 473269, 463 30
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/001 Golf shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/16 Skating boots
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/00 Clubs for gymnastics or the like , e.g. for swinging exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0691 Maps, e.g. yardage maps or electronic maps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 : Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/15 : with identification means that can be read by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0003 : Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 : Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3605 : Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/362 : electrical or electronic
• 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 71/0616 : Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0669 : Score-keepers or score display devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/146 : Golf gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 : Sports

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for providing coaching, training, or equipment specification information to individual golfers based on data generated during their individual golf swings. Additionally, data hubs are described that provide information and services to individuals based on data collected for a community of multiple golfers. Such community data hub systems and methods may provide one or more of the following: (a) storage of scoring data, swing data, ball flight data, and/or equipment data for multiple golfers; (b) at least some level of individual access to the stored data for the community; and/or (c) electronic interaction between golfers within the community.

Claims

1. A golf swing evaluation system, comprising:

a first article of footwear including a first force sensing system for determining forces exerted by a first foot of a user with respect to time over a course of a golf swing;

a second article of footwear including a second force sensing system for determining forces exerted by a second foot of the user with respect to time over the course of the golf swing;

a memory system for storing data collected by the first and second force sensing systems or data derived from the data collected by the first and second force sensing systems;

a processing system for determining, using the data collected by the first and second force sensing systems or the data derived from the data collected by the first and second force sensing systems, at least one of information indicative of a center of force of the user over the course of the golf swing and information indicative of a user weight shift over the course of the golf swing; and

an output device configured to simultaneously display;

(a) at least one of information indicative of the forces exerted by the first foot of the user with respect to time over the course of the golf swing or information indicative of the forces exerted by the second foot of the user with respect to time over the course of the golf swing and (b) a standard golf swing foot force profile.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the output device is further configured to display an indication of a time of ball contact during the golf swing with respect to the displayed information indicative of at least one of the forces exerted by the first foot of the user with respect to time over the course of the golf swing and the forces exerted by the second foot of the user with respect to time over the course of the golf swing.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to compare:

(a) at least one of information indicative of the forces exerted by the first foot of the user with respect to time over the course of the golf swing or information indicative of the forces exerted by the second foot of the user with respect to time over the course of the golf swing with (b) the standard golf swing foot force profile.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first force sensing system of the first article of footwear determines forces exerted by the first foot of the user throughout the course of the golf swing and the second force sensing system of the second article of footwear determines forces exerted by the second foot of the user throughout the course of the golf swing.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first force sensing system determines forces exerted by the first foot of the user at a plurality of areas on the first foot over the course of the golf swing and the second force sensing system determines forces exerted by the second foot of the user at a plurality of areas on the second foot over the course of the golf swing.

6. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a club position sensor for determining a position of a golf club with respect to time over the course of the golf swing.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the output device is further configured to display information indicative of the position of the golf club with respect to time over the course of the golf swing.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein the processing system is configured to compare:

(a) information indicative of the position of the golf club with respect to time over the course of the golf swing with (b) a position of a golf club during a standard golf swing.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a body position sensor for determining a position of a portion of a user'"'"'s body with respect to time over the course of the golf swing.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the output device is further configured to display information indicative of the position of the portion of the user'"'"'s body with respect to time over the course of the golf swing.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein the processing system is configured to compare:

(a) information indicative of the position of the portion of the user'"'"'s body with respect to time over the course of the golf swing with (b) a position of a corresponding portion of another user'"'"'s body during a golf swing.

13. A system according to claim 10, wherein the output device is further configured to simultaneously display:

(a) information indicative of the position of the portion of the user'"'"'s body with respect to time over the course of the golf swing and (b) a position of a corresponding portion of another user'"'"'s body during a golf swing.

14. A system according to claim 10, wherein the portion of the user'"'"'s body is a hand.

15. A system according to claim 10, wherein the portion of the user'"'"'s body is a shoulder.

16. A system according to claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the body position sensor is incorporated into a golf glove.

17. A system according to claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the body position sensor is incorporated into a shirt.

9. A system according to claimer 6, wherein the output device is further configured to simultaneously display:

(a) information indicative of the position of the golf club with respect to time over the course of the golf swing and (b) a position of a golf club during a standard golf swing.

18. A golf swing evaluation system, comprising:

a first article of footwear including a first force sensing system for determining forces exerted by a first foot of a user with respect to time over a course of a golf swing;

a golf swing dynamics sensing system for determining golf swing dynamics information generated by the user with respect to time over the course of the golf swing;

a memory system for storing data collected by the first force sensing system and the golf swing dynamics sensing system or data derived from the data collected by the first force sensing system and the golf swing dynamics sensing system;

a processing system for determining, using the data collected by the first force sensing system and the golf swing dynamics sensing system or the data derived from the data collected by the first force sensing system and the golf swing dynamics sensing system, at least one of information indicative of a center of force of the user over the course of the golf swing and information indicative of a user weight shift over the course of the golf swing; and

an output device configured to simultaneously display;

(a) information indicative of the forces exerted by the first foot of the user with respect to time over the course of the golf swing and (b) a standard golf swing foot force profile.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the output device is further configured to display an indication of a time of ball contact during the golf swing with respect to the displayed information indicative of the forces exerted by the first foot of the user with respect to time over the course of the golf swing and with respect to the displayed information indicative of the golf swing dynamics with respect to time over the course of the golf swing.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein the processing system is configured to compare:

(a) information indicative of the forces exerted by the first foot of the user with respect to time over the course of the golf swing with (b) the standard golf swing foot force profile.

21. A system according to claim 18, wherein the first force sensing system determines forces exerted by the first foot of the user at a plurality of areas on the first foot over the course of the golf swing.

22. A system according to claim 18, wherein the golf swing dynamics sensing system includes a club position sensor for determining a position of at least a portion of a golf club with respect to time over the course of the golf swing.

23. A system according to claim 18, wherein the golf swing dynamics sensing system includes a body position sensor for determining a position of a portion of a user'"'"'s body with respect to time over the course of the golf swing.

24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the portion of the user'"'"'s body is a hand.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein the portion of the user'"'"'s body is a shoulder.

26. A system according to claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the body position sensor is incorporated into a golf glove.

27. A system according to claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the body position sensor is incorporated into a shirt.

28. A system according to claim 18, wherein the first force sensing system of the first article of footwear determines forces exerted by the first foot of the user throughout the course of the golf swing.