Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to measure, analyze and share golf swing characteristics

• US 9,821,210 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2012
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Cottam, Roger J., Wood, Paul D., Henrikson, Erik M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leichliter, Chase
• Application Number:
  US13/524,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 434247, 434252, 473206, 473221, 473223
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A portable electronic device is disclosed. The portable electronic device comprises memory for storing instructions that are executed by a processor to perform the operations of analyzing data with the portable electronic device related to the position and motion of a putter at least one of before, during and after at least one putting stroke performed with the putter. The portable electronic device analyzes the data by utilizing a plurality of sensors within the portable electronic device including accelerometers configured to measure accelerations and gyroscopes to identify an angle of the putter during the at least one putting stroke. The portable electronic device is attached to the putter. A putting stroke characteristic can be determined based on the data generated from the sensors of the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

attaching a portable electronic device to a putter with the portable electronic device engaged to a section of a shaft of the putter proximate a butt end of the putter and a first end portion of the portable electronic device oriented towards a tip end of the putter;

utilizing the portable electronic device comprising at least one memory for storing instructions that are executed by at least one processor to perform operations of;

analyzing data with the portable electronic device related to at least one of position and motion of the putter at least one of before, during and after a plurality of putting strokes performed with the putter by utilizing a plurality of sensors within the portable electronic device including accelerometers configured to measure accelerations and gyroscopes to identify an angle of the putter during the plurality of at putting strokes, and

measuring linear and angular positions of the section of the shaft of the putter to which the portable electronic device is attached and determining at least one putting stroke characteristic with the portable electronic device based on the data;

wherein analyzing data with the portable electronic device comprises collecting data with the portable electronic device related to a plurality of putting strokes performed with the putter and wherein the plurality of putting strokes define a putting session;

further comprising determining a consistency score associated with the putting session;

wherein the consistency score is generated at the point of use of the portable electronic device.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein determining at least one putting stroke characteristic with the portable electronic device based on the data comprises determining a plurality of putting stroke characteristics with the portable electronic device based on the data.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one putting stroke characteristic comprises at least one of a closing angle, an impact angle, a tempo, an impact lie angle and a loft angle associated with the at least one putting stroke.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein attaching the portable electronic device to the putter comprises attaching a portable electronic device holder to the putter, and attaching the portable electronic device to the portable electronic device holder.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising identifying a putting stroke type with the portable electronic device based on the at least one putting stroke characteristic.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising generating a visual display associated with the at least one putting stroke characteristic on a display of the portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the data from the portable electronic device to a server computing device remote from the portable electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting the data from the server computing device to an additional portable electronic device or a computing device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the data from the portable electronic device to an additional portable electronic device.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

measuring at least one putting stroke characteristic associated with a plurality of putting strokes of a putter by measuring linear and angular positions of a specific section of a putter shaft during the plurality of putting strokes;

wherein measuring the at least one putting stroke characteristic comprises measuring the at least one putting stroke characteristic with a portable electronic device attached to the putter with a portable electronic device holder,

further comprising generating a consistency score associated with a putting session, and wherein the putting session comprises a plurality of putting strokes.

11. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 10, wherein measuring the at least one putting stroke characteristic comprises measuring the at least one putting stroke characteristic associated with a plurality of putting strokes.

12. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 10, wherein measuring the at least one putting stroke characteristic comprises measuring at least one of a closing angle, an impact angle, a tempo, an impact lie angle and a loft angle.

13. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 10, wherein the instructions when executed by a computer cause the computer to identify a stroke type based on the at least one putting stroke characteristic.

14. A computer-readable medium as defined in claim 10, wherein the instructions when executed by a computer cause the computer to generate a visual display associated with the at least one putting stroke characteristic.

15. An article of manufacture comprising a portable electronic device comprising at least one memory for storing instructions that are executed by at least one processor to perform operations of determining at least one putting stroke characteristic by measuring linear and angular positions of a specific section of a putter shaft of a putter during a plurality of putting strokes, and the portable electronic device assuming an engaged position by attaching to the specific section of the putter shaft during the plurality of putting strokes to determine the at least one putting stroke characteristic;

analyzing data with the portable electronic device related to at least one of position and motion of the putter at least one of before, during and after the plurality of putting strokes,

wherein analyzing data with the portable electronic device comprises collecting data with the portable electronic device related to a plurality of putting strokes performed with the putter and wherein the plurality of putting strokes define a putting session;

further comprising determining a consistency score associated with the putting session;

wherein the consistency score is generated at the point of use of the portable electronic device.

16. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein to determine the at least one putting stroke characteristic comprises to measure at least one of a closing angle, an impact angle, a tempo, an impact lie angle and a loft angle.

17. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, a portable electronic device holder mounts the portable electronic device to the putter shaft.

18. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 15, wherein the portable electronic device is operable to generate a visual display associated with the at least one putting stroke characteristic.