Method, system, and apparatus for analyzing a sporting apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10478689-B2
Application number	US-201715477790-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2017
Priority date	Jul 2, 2015
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

A method for use in a system implementing a reference golf club, one or more sensors associated with the reference golf club, and a computing device. Using the computing device, the method comprises receiving from the one or more sensors swing data relating to a swing of the reference golf club, analyzing the swing data to determine recommended shaft parameter values for each of a plurality of shaft parameters using an algorithm, accessing a shaft database comprising actual shaft parameter values for each of the plurality of shaft parameters for each of a plurality of shafts, determining at least one shaft from the plurality of shafts based, at least in part, on a comparison between the recommended shaft parameter values and the actual shaft parameter values, transmitting information relating to the at least one shaft; and displaying the information on a display of the computing device.

First claim

We claim:

1. In a system implementing a reference golf club, one or more sensors associated with the reference golf club, and a computing device, a method comprising:
(a) receiving from the one or more sensors, by the computing device, swing data relating to a swing of the reference golf club;
(b) analyzing, by the computing device, the swing data to determine recommended shaft parameter values for each of a plurality of shaft parameters using an algorithm;
(c) accessing, by the computing device, a shaft database comprising actual shaft parameter values corresponding to each of the plurality of shaft parameters for each of a plurality of shafts;
(d) selecting, by the computing device, at least one shaft from the plurality of shafts based, at least in part, on a comparison between the recommended shaft parameter values and the actual shaft parameter values;
(e) transmitting, by the computing device, information relating to the at least one shaft; and
(f) displaying, by the computing device, the information on a display of the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the swing data includes a head speed, an acceleration, and an attack angle of the reference golf club.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the acceleration of the reference golf club includes the maximum tangential acceleration.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of shaft parameters comprise shaft weight, shaft frequency, and shaft kick point.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the recommended shaft parameter values for the shaft weight are determined utilizing the head speed, the recommended shaft parameter values for the shaft frequency are determined utilizing the acceleration, and the recommended shaft parameter values for the shaft kick point are determined utilizing the head speed and the attack angle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the use of the algorithm in step (b) comprises:
determining which of a plurality of swing parameters correspond to each of the shaft parameters of the plurality of shaft parameters;
calculating, based on the determination, the plurality of swing parameters from the swing data; and
calculating the recommended shaft parameter values for each of the plurality of shaft parameters from the plurality of swing parameters based on empirical data, the algorithm using the empirical data to generate conversions between the swing parameters and the recommended shaft parameter values.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein, prior to step (a), the method further comprises:
capturing, by the one or more sensors, the swing data during the swing of the reference golf club; and
transmitting, by the one or more sensors, to the computing device, the swing data.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sensors are attached to one of a grip, a shaft, and a club head of the reference golf club during the swing.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the swing data is generated based on a three dimensional vector projected onto a location on the reference golf club during the swing of the reference golf club.

10. In a system implementing a reference golf club, one or more sensors associated with the reference golf club, a server, and a computing device, a method comprising:
(a) receiving from the one or more sensors, by the computing device, swing data relating to a swing of the reference golf club;
(b) analyzing, by the computing device, the swing data to determine recommended shaft parameter values corresponding to each of a plurality of shaft parameters using an algorithm;
(c) accessing, by the computing device, a shaft database on the server comprising actual shaft parameter values for each of the plurality of shaft parameters for each of a plurality of shafts;
(d) transmitting, by the computing device, to the server, the recommended shaft parameter values;
(d) determining, by the server, at least one shaft from the plurality of shafts based, at least in part, on a comparison between the recommended shaft parameter values and the actual shaft parameter values;
(e) transmitting, by the server, to the computing device, information relating to the at least one shaft; and
(f) displaying, by the computing device, the information on a display of the computing device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the swing data includes a head speed, an acceleration, and an attack angle of the reference golf club.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the acceleration of the reference golf club includes the maximum tangential acceleration.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein step (f) further comprises:
displaying a recommended golf club in combination with the information relating to the at least one shaft.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of shaft parameters comprise shaft weight, shaft frequency, and shaft kick point.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the recommended shaft parameter values for the shaft weight are determined utilizing the head speed, the recommended shaft parameter values for the shaft frequency are determined utilizing the acceleration, and the recommended shaft parameter values for the shaft kick point are determined utilizing the head speed and the attack angle.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the use of the algorithm in step (b) comprises:
determining which of a plurality of swing parameters correspond to each of the shaft parameters of the plurality of shaft parameters;
calculating, based on the determination, the plurality of swing parameters from the swing data; and
calculating the recommended shaft parameter values for each of the plurality of shaft parameters from the plurality of swing parameters based on empirical data, the algorithm using the empirical data to generate conversions between the swing parameters and the recommended shaft parameter values.

17. In a system implementing a reference golf club, one or more sensors associated with the reference golf club, and a computing device, a method comprising:
(a) receiving from the one or more sensors, by the computing device, swing data of the reference golf club in response to a swing of the reference golf club;
(b) analyzing, by the computing device, using an algorithm, head speed to determine a recommended shaft weight value, acceleration to determine a recommended shaft frequency value, and a combination of the head speed and attack angle to determine a recommended shaft kick point value;
(c) accessing, by the computing device, a shaft database comprising actual shaft weight values, actual shaft frequency values, and actual shaft kick point values for each of a plurality of shafts;
(d) determining, by the computing device, using the algorithm, at least one shaft from the plurality of shafts based, at least in part, on a comparison between the recommended shaft weight value and the actual shaft weight value, the recommended shaft frequency value and the actual shaft frequency value, and the recommended kick point value and the actual kick point value;
(e) transmitting, by the computing device, information relating to the at least one shaft; and
(f) displaying, by the computing device, the information on a display of the computing device.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the use of the algorithm in step (b) comprises:
calculating the head speed, the acceleration, and the attack angle from the swing data; and
calculating the recommended shaft weight value, the recommended shaft frequency value, and the recommended shaft kick point value based on empirical data, the algorithm using the empirical data to generate conversion

Assignees

• Sumitomo Rubber Ind

Inventors

• Brekke Dustin J
• Vogler Jay
• Ripp Patrick
• Samson Mitchell
• Brunski Jeff D
• Schielke Brian D
• Carlyle Scott A
• Seagram Phillip C
• Beck Christopher J
• Miller Eli
• Bacon Kirk D
• Lambeth Jacob N

Classifications

• G06F2218/08

  Feature extraction · CPC title

• A63B2220/30

  Speed · CPC title

• A63B2220/833

  Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement · CPC title

• A63B60/46

  Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing · CPC title

• A63B71/0622

  Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user · CPC title