Methods for selecting golf balls based on environmental factors

• US 9,339,704 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Yontz, Nicholas, Leech, Nicholas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US13/435,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20130260922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 473/409
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/008 Devices for measuring or verifying ball characteristics
• 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

Abstract

Methods for selecting golf balls based on environmental factors are provided. Such methods involve indicating a golfing environment and establishing one or more corresponding environmental factors. Such methods may include ascertaining one or more trajectory components that are dependent upon the environmental factors. One or more aspects of golf ball construction may pertinent to the environmental factors, or to the trajectory components, may then be determined. Upon identifying a plurality of golf balls and a selection criteria related to the golf ball construction aspects, a golf ball may be selected.

Claims

1. A method for selecting an optimal golf ball comprising steps of:

(i) indicating a golfing environment;

(ii) establishing at least one environmental factor corresponding with the golfing environment;

(iii) determining, via an indoor test range or a simulation, one or more golf ball construction aspects pertinent to the at least one environmental factor, wherein the determining includes creating a lookup table or chart that expresses a trajectory component as a function of the one or more golf ball construction aspects and the at least one environmental factor;

(iv) identifying (a) a plurality of golf balls, each golf ball of the plurality of golf balls having a different configuration of each of the one or more golf ball construction aspects, and (b) a selection criteria related to the trajectory component; and

(v) selecting the optimal golf ball for play within the golfing environment from the plurality of golf balls, wherein the golf ball has the configuration of the one or more golf ball construction aspects that meets the selection criteria for the established at least one environmental factor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one environmental factor is selected from a group consisting of an altitude and a barometric pressure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more golf ball construction aspects include a dimple characteristic.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more golf ball construction aspects include a dimple depth.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the selection criteria is met by a deeper dimple.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one environmental factor is selected from a group consisting of an altitude, a grass type, a green speed, a moisture content, a wind speed, a temperature, and a visible landscape characteristic.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more golf ball construction aspects are selected from a group consisting of a number of layers of construction, a physical characteristic of a layer, a material of a layer, a physical characteristic of a material of a layer, a moment of inertia, a compression deformation, a coefficient of restitution, a dimple characteristic, a dimple pattern, and a visible cover characteristic.

8. A method for selecting an optimal golf ball comprising steps of:

(i) indicating a golfing environment;

(ii) establishing at least one environmental factor corresponding with the golfing environment;

(iii) ascertaining a trajectory component dependent upon the at least one environmental factor, via an indoor test range or a simulation;

(iv) determining a golf ball construction aspect pertinent to the trajectory component, via the indoor test range or the simulation, wherein the determining includes creating a lookup table or chart that expresses the trajectory component as a function of the golf ball construction aspect and the at least one environmental factor;

(v) identifying (a) a plurality of golf balls, each golf ball of the plurality of golf balls having a different configuration of the golf ball construction aspect, and (b) a selection criteria related to the trajectory component; and

(vi) selecting the optimal golf ball for play within the golfing environment from the plurality of golf balls, wherein the golf ball has the configuration of the one or more golf ball construction aspects that meets the selection criteria for the established at least one environmental factor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one environmental factor is selected from a group consisting of an altitude and a barometric pressure.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the trajectory component is selected from a group consisting of a carry distance and a total distance.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the golf ball construction aspect is a dimple characteristic.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the golf ball construction aspect is a dimple depth.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the selection criteria is met by a deeper dimple.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one environmental factor is selected from a group consisting of an altitude, a grass type, a green speed, a moisture content, a wind speed, a temperature, and a visible landscape characteristic.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the golf ball construction aspect is selected from a group consisting of a number of layers of construction, a physical characteristic of a layer, a material of a layer, a physical characteristic of a material of a layer, a moment of inertia, a compression deformation, a coefficient of restitution, a dimple characteristic, a dimple pattern, and a visible cover characteristic.

16. A method for selecting a golf ball for a golfer comprising steps of:

(i) indicating a golfing environment;

(ii) establishing at least one environmental factor corresponding with the golfing environment;

(iii) ascertaining a trajectory component dependent upon the at least one environmental factor, via an indoor test range or a simulation;

(iv) determining one or more golf ball construction aspects pertinent to the trajectory component, via the indoor test range or the simulation, wherein the determining includes creating a lookup table or chart that expresses the trajectory component as a function of the one or more golf ball construction aspects and the at least one environmental factor;

(v) obtaining one or more swing parameter values via a launch monitor or camera, the one or more swing parameter values corresponding respectively with one or more golf swing parameters of a golfer;

(vi) identifying (a) a plurality of golf balls, each golf ball of the plurality of golf balls having a configuration of the one or more golf ball construction aspects, and (b) a selection criteria related to the trajectory component;

(vi) selecting the golf ball of the plurality of golf balls having the configuration of the one or more golf ball construction aspects that best meets the selection criteria when combined with the one or more swing parameter values; and

wherein the golf ball construction aspect is a dimple characteristic.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one environmental factor is selected from a group consisting of an altitude and a barometric pressure.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the trajectory component is selected from a group consisting of a carry distance and a total distance.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the golf ball construction aspect is a dimple depth.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the selection criteria is met by a deeper dimple.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one environmental factor is selected from a group consisting of an altitude, a grass type, a green speed, a moisture content, a wind speed, a temperature, and a visible landscape characteristic.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more golf ball construction aspects are selected from a group consisting of a number of layers of construction, a physical characteristic of a layer, a material of a layer, a physical characteristic of a material of a layer, a moment of inertia, a compression deformation, a coefficient of restitution, a dimple characteristic, a dimple pattern, and a visible cover characteristic.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more golf swing parameters are selected from a group consisting of a swing speed, a club path, and an attack angle.