Methods, apparatus, and systems to custom fit golf clubs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9675862-B2
Application number	US-11837808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2008
Priority date	Sep 28, 2007
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

Examples of methods, apparatus, and systems to custom fit golf clubs by providing gapping determination are generally described herein. Other examples may be described and claimed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
determining golf preferences of an individual, including one or more target gap distances;
receiving golf ball shot characteristic information of one or more golf shots of a club subset by the individual using a tracking device;
determining, with a gapping analyzer, a proposed golf club set exhibiting the one or more target gap distances between adjacent clubs of the proposed golf club set;
wherein:
the golf ball shot characteristic information comprises:
first golf ball shot characteristic information comprising golf ball launch condition data from one or more golf shots with a first subset club of the club subset; and
second golf ball shot characteristic information comprising golf ball launch condition data from one or more golf shots with a second subset club of the club subset;
the club subset comprises fewer golf clubs than the proposed golf club set; and

determining the proposed golf club set comprises:
providing the gapping analyzer with:
the golf preferences; and
the golf ball shot characteristic information;

accessing a database with the gapping analyzer, the database comprising a library of golf club parameters for a library of golf clubs; and
calculating with the gapping analyzer, based on the golf preferences, the first golf ball shot characteristic information, and the second golf ball shot characteristic information, a club set solution regarding which of the golf clubs of the library of golf clubs to select for the proposed golf club set to exhibit the one or more target gap distances; and
generating at least one display configured to present the one or more target gap distances as exhibited by at least a portion of the proposed golf club set, the display comprising at least one of a component option display or a gapping analysis display,

wherein a trajectory analyzer is coupled to the gapping analyzer and utilizes the tracking device to analyze initial golf ball shot characteristic information from golf ball launch data of one or more fitting shots by the individual to determine final shot characteristic information of the one or more fitting shots for a shot trajectory display.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
determining the proposed golf club set comprises:
identifying an option for a component of a golf club of the proposed golf club set to achieve at least one of the one or more target gap distances; and
the option for the component comprises at least one of: a model option, a loft option, a shaft option, a length option, or a grip option.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
determining the proposed golf club set comprises:
identifying the proposed golf club set with the gapping analyzer to comprise substantially uniform gap distances between neighboring golf clubs, the one or more target gap distances comprising the substantially uniform gap distances.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
determining the proposed golf club set comprises:
identifying the proposed golf club set with the gapping analyzer to comprise a progression of gap distances, the one or more target gap distances comprising the progression of gap distances;
wherein the progression of gap distances includes at least a first gap distance and a second gap distance; and

wherein the first and second gap distances are different from each other.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more target gap distances are defined by differences in carry distances between adjacent clubs in the proposed golf club set.

6. The method of claim 1 , in which the one or more target gap distances are defined by differences in total distances between adjacent clubs in the proposed golf club set.

7. The method of claim 1 , in which the golf ball launch condition data is used to determine a golf ball flight pattern and a golf ball total distance traveled.

8. The method of claim 1 , in which the golf ball shot characteristic information includes golf ball flight information.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first subset club of the club subset comprises a low-lofted subset club of a first golf club type;
the second subset club of the club subset comprises a high-lofted subset club of a second golf club type;
the first golf club type comprises one of:
an iron/wedge-type, a hybrid-type, a fairway-wood-type, or a driver type; and
the second golf club type comprises a different one of:
the iron/wedge-type, the hybrid-type, the fairway-wood-type, or the driver type.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the club subset further comprises:
a third subset club comprising a mid-lofted subset club.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the gapping analyzer is configured to propose, as part of the proposed golf club set, a proposed golf club of a third golf club type even when the one or more golf shots of the club subset by the individual for the golf ball shot characteristic information comprises no golf shot with a subset club of the third golf club type.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the gapping analyzer is configured to identify for the proposed golf club set:
first and second proposed golf clubs of first and second golf club types and comprising a first-second gap distance between themselves;
the first-second gap distance corresponding to at least one of the one or more target gap distances;

the first golf club type comprises one of:
an iron/wedge-type, a hybrid-type, a fairway-wood-type, or a driver type; and
the second golf club type comprises a different one of:
the iron/wedge-type, the hybrid-type, the fairway-wood-type, or the driver type.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the gapping analyzer is configured to propose, in the club set solution for the proposed golf club set, a club type transition between a first type of golf club to a second type of golf club to achieve one of the one or more target gap distances, the club type transition comprising at least one of:
an iron-to-hybrid transition; or
a hybrid-to-fairway-wood transition.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the club subset comprises at least three clubs.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more target gap distances are received by the gapping analyzer from the individual prior to, and as an input for, calculating the club set solution for the proposed golf club set.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein the shot trajectory display is three dimensional; and
wherein the trajectory analyzer generates a plurality of traces associated with golf ball flights for the one or more fitting shots, the plurality of traces indicating at least a height and an angle of a golf ball shot.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the traces represent an average number of golf shots.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shot trajectory display comprises a first display of gapping determination based upon initial contact on landing and a second display of gapping determination based upon final contact or roll to determine gaps between clubs.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball shot characteristic information comprises an angle of a golf ball's trajectory in response to impact with a golf club, a horizontal launch angle, carry distance, and total distance.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
utilizing a shot dispersion analyzer to determine deviation of golf shots from a predetermined center line; and
generating a shot dispersion display to indicate one or more slice shots or fade shots of the g

Assignees

• Solheim John K
• Swartz Gregory J
• Wood Paul D
• Jertson Marty R
• Karsten Mfg Corp

Inventors

• Solheim John K
• Swartz Gregory J
• Wood Paul D
• Jertson Marty R

Classifications

• A63B24/0003 Primary

  Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis · CPC title

• A63B2071/065

  Visualisation of specific exercise parameters · CPC title

• A63B69/36 Primary

  for golf · CPC title

• A63B2225/50

  Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry · CPC title

• A63B69/3608

  Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining (A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence) · CPC title