METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS TO CUSTOM FIT GOLF CLUBS

• US 20090131193A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Jertson, Marty R., Wood, Paul D., Swartz, Gregory J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,360,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/289
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0015 Comparing movements or motion sequences with computerised simulations of movements or motion sequences, e.g. for generating an ideal template as reference to be achieved by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0031 at the starting point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0034 during flight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0647 Visualisation of executed movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/068 Input by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/18 Inclination, slope or curvature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/35 Spin
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/70 Measuring or simulating ambient conditions, e.g. weather, terrain or surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/75 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/76 Wind conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• 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 24/0006 : Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 : Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 : Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 : Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• 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 69/3623 : for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3658 : Means associated with the ball for indicating or measuring, e.g. speed, direction

Abstract

Embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems to custom fit golf clubs are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

comparing shaft characteristic information of a reference shaft and a plurality of available shafts based on shaft feedback information from an individual; and

identifying one or more recommended shafts from the plurality of available shafts based on a comparison of the shaft characteristic information to custom fit the individual with one or more golf clubs.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein comparing the shaft characteristic information comprises comparing information associated with at least one of mass, center of mass, flex, tip flex, torque, stiffness, tip stiffness, torsional stiffness, stiffness ratio, average flexural rigidity, average torsional rigidity, trajectory effect, or feel effect of the reference shaft and each shaft of the plurality of available shafts.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein comparing the shaft characteristic information comprises comparing the shaft characteristic information based on at least one of performance or feel of the reference shaft.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising identifying the reference shaft based on at least one of performance characteristic information, physical characteristic information, or shot characteristic information associated with the individual.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising generating a shaft ranking of the one or more recommended shafts.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising retrieving the shaft characteristic information from at least one of a local database or an offsite database.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a component option analyzer to compare shaft characteristic information of a reference shaft and a plurality of available shafts based on shaft feedback information from an individual, and to identify one or more recommended shafts from the plurality of available shafts based on a comparison of the shaft characteristic information to custom fit the individual with one or more golf clubs.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the shaft characteristic information comprises information associated with at least one of mass, center of mass, flex, tip flex, torque, stiffness, tip stiffness, torsional stiffness, stiffness ratio, average flexural rigidity, average torsional rigidity, trajectory effect, or feel effect of the reference shaft and each shaft of the plurality of available shafts.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the component option analyzer is configured to compare the shaft characteristic information based on at least one of performance or feel of the reference shaft.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the component option analyzer is configured to identify the reference shaft based on at least one of based on performance characteristic information, physical characteristic information, or shot characteristic information associated with the individual.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the component option analyzer is configured to generate a shaft ranking of the one or more recommended shafts.

12. An article of manufacture including content, which when accessed, causes a machine to:

compare shaft characteristic information of a reference shaft and a plurality of available shafts based on shaft feedback information from an individual; and

identify one or more recommended shafts from the plurality of available shafts based on a comparison of the shaft characteristic information to custom fit the individual with one or more golf clubs.

13. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 12, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine to compare information associated with at least one of mass, center of mass, flex, tip flex, torque, stiffness, tip stiffness, torsional stiffness, stiffness ratio, average flexural rigidity, average torsional rigidity, trajectory effect, or feel effect of the reference shaft and each shaft of the plurality of available shafts.

14. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 12, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine to compare the shaft characteristic information based on at least one of performance or feel of the reference shaft.

15. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 12, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine to identify the reference shaft based on at least one of performance characteristic information, physical characteristic information, or shot characteristic information associated with the individual.

16. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 12, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine to generate a shaft ranking of the one or more recommended shafts.

17. A system comprising:

an input device to receive shaft feedback information; and

a processing device operatively coupled to the input device to compare shaft characteristic information of a reference shaft and a plurality of available shafts based on shaft feedback information from an individual, and to identify one or more recommended shafts from the plurality of available shafts based on a comparison of the shaft characteristic information to custom fit the individual with one or more golf clubs.

18. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the processing device is configured to compare information associated with at least one of mass, center of mass, flex, tip flex, torque, stiffness, tip stiffness, torsional stiffness, stiffness ratio, average flexural rigidity, average torsional rigidity, trajectory effect, or feel effect of the reference shaft and each shaft of the plurality of available shafts.

19. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the processing device is configured to compare the shaft characteristic information based on at least one of performance or feel of the reference shaft.

20. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the processing device is configured to identify the reference shaft based on at least one of performance characteristic information, physical characteristic information, or shot characteristic information associated with the individual.

21. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the processing device is configured to generating a shaft ranking of the one or more recommended shafts.