Device to measure the motion of a golf club

• US 7,892,102 B1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Legesse; Nini
• Application Number:
  US12/790,372
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 473/219, 473/221, 473/222, 473/223, 473/225, 473/226, 473/257, 473/407, 473/409
• US Class Current: 473/225
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/36 Speed measurement by electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/58 Measurement of force related parameters by electric or magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor
• 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 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence
• 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

Abstract

A club shaft that can be installed in a club head permanently or can be installed in clubs with interchangeable shaft features is disclosed herein. The invention is a measurement system that enables the capturing of the speed and motion of the golfer'"'"'s swing. The invention uses magnetic material positioned on a face of a golf club head and an array of magnetic sensors.

Claims

1. A system for measuring the motion of a golf club swung by a golfer, the system comprising:

a golf club comprising a shaft and a golf club head, the golf club head having a plurality of strips of a magnetic material thereon, a first strip of the plurality of strips of the magnetic material positioned on a heel-side of a face of the golf club head and a second strip of the plurality of strips of the magnetic material positioned on a toe-side of the face of the golf club head;

a golf ball positioned on a tee extending upward from a mat; and

a plurality of magnetic sensors positioned to create a swing field for reception of a magnetic field from the plurality of strips as the golf club is swung through the swing field towards the golf ball, the plurality of magnetic sensors positioned in a coherent pattern in two rows in front of the golf ball, with each row parallel to the other row;

wherein the plurality of magnetic sensors is able to capture the speed and motion of the golf club as the golf club is swung through the swing field by a golfer.

2. A system for measuring the motion of a golf club swung by a golfer, the system comprising:

a golf club comprising a shaft and a golf club head, the golf club head having a plurality of dots of a magnetic material thereon, a first dot of the plurality of dots of the magnetic material positioned on a heel-side of a face of the golf club head and a second strip of the plurality of dots of the magnetic material positioned on a toe-side of the face of the golf club head;

a golf ball positioned on a tee extending upward from a mat; and

a plurality of magnetic sensors positioned to create a swing field for reception of a magnetic field from the plurality of strips as the golf club is swung through the swing field towards the golf ball, the plurality of magnetic sensors positioned in a coherent pattern in two rows in front of the golf ball, with each row parallel to the other row;

wherein the plurality of magnetic sensors is able to capture the speed and motion of the golf club as the golf club is swung through the swing field by a golfer.

3. A system for measuring the motion of a golf club swung by a golfer, the system comprising:

a golf club comprising a shaft and a golf club head, the golf club head having a plurality of strips of a ferro-magnetic material thereon, a first strip of the plurality of strips of the ferro-magnetic material positioned on a heel-side of a face of the golf club head and a second strip of the plurality of strips of the ferro-magnetic material positioned on a toe-side of the face of the golf club head;

a golf ball positioned on a tee extending upward from a mat; and

a plurality of magnetic sensors positioned to create a swing field for reception of a magnetic field from the plurality of strips as the golf club is swung through the swing field towards the golf ball, the plurality of magnetic sensors positioned in a coherent pattern in two rows in front of the golf ball, with each row parallel to the other row;

wherein the plurality of magnetic sensors is able to capture the speed and motion of the golf club as the golf club is swung through the swing field by a golfer.