Method for matching golfers with a driver and ball

• US 6,192,323 B1
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Boehm, Herbert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, KAMINI S
• Application Number:
  US09/316,365
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 702/182, 702/141, 702/153, 703/3, 434/252, 473/223, 473/384, 733/79, 482/112, 482/118, 273/232, 264/219
• US Class Current: 702/182
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/02 Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3605 Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club

Abstract

A simplified method of matching a golfer to a golf club and a golf ball by measuring the golfer'"'"'s clubhead speed and comparing that measured value to recorded sets of data which correlates a few key variables that can accurately match the golfer with the most suitable golf club and golf ball designed to achieve optimum driving performance.

Claims

1. A method for matching a golfer to a golf ball and a golf club comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring clubhead speed for the golfer at impact with a ball;

(b) comparing the golfer'"'"'s measured clubhead speed to predetermined recorded sets of data which interrelates clubhead speed to a set of variables on a predetermined relationship consisting essentially of;

(i) golf club loft angle;

(ii) golf club shaft flex;

(iii) golf ball weight; and

(iv) golf ball spin;

(c) matching said golfer to at least one golf club and at least one golf ball in accordance with the comparison of said golfer'"'"'s clubhead speed to the variables to obtain optimum driving performance.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said golfer'"'"'s clubhead speed is interrelated to the golf club loft angle based on a linear relationship.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said golfer'"'"'s clubhead speed is interrelated to the golf club shaft flex based on a linear relationship.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said golfer'"'"'s clubhead speed is interrelated to the golf ball weight based on a linear relationship.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said golfer'"'"'s clubhead speed is interrelated to the golf ball spin based on a linear relationship.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said golfer'"'"'s measured clubhead speed is characterized as high, medium, and low, wherein;

(a) said high clubhead speed is a rate greater than about 80 miles per hour;

(b) said medium clubhead speed is a rate between about 60 to about 80 miles per hour; and

(c) said low clubhead speed is a rate less than about 60 miles per hour; and

wherein the golf club loft, golf club shaft flex, golf ball weight and golf ball spin are selected for the player based on the clubhead speed characterization.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one golf club and the at least one golf ball is selected to achieve a maximum driving distance.

8. A method for matching a golfer to a golf ball and a golf club comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring swing speed for the golfer;

(b) comparing the golfer'"'"'s swing speed to at least one predetermined club characteristic and at least one predetermined golf ball characteristic; and

(c) matching said golfer to at least one golf club and at least one golf ball in accordance with the comparison of said golfer'"'"'s swing speed to the variables to obtain optimum driving performance.