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Method for measuring golf swing efficiency

Method for measuring golf swing efficiency description/claims

The present invention relates to a method for measuring golf swing efficiency. More specifically, the present invention relates to analyzing individual golf swings based on the kinematics of a person during athletic motions and the dynamic characteristics of a piece of equipment in motion.

The movement of an athlete's body is of paramount importance in nearly every sport. Often this is because the correct movement of a piece of athletic equipment is dependent on an athlete using proper form or technique. This is especially true, for example, in the sport of golf. Despite an athlete's brute strength, the proper trajectory of a golf ball cannot be achieved without first mastering the proper technique for swinging a golf club. The correct swing, in turn, depends on careful coordination of the movement of the entire body. Improper movement, or even timing of the movement of a single body part can cause the golf club to be swung in an undesirable manner.

Golfers collectively spend millions of dollars each year attempting to fine tune each aspect of their game. For both professional and amateur golfers alike, equipment can often be a key to success. To satisfy the demand for equipment while accommodating the different body types, swing mechanics, and varying levels of skill, golf equipment manufacturers have produced equipment that is limited only by the imagination and the requirements of the United States, Golf Association (USGA).

Many golfers select equipment such as clubs and balls arbitrarily, or based on questionable advice. More savvy golfers may research different types of equipment and/or seek the help of qualified golf professionals. The advice of both of these categories of people, though well intentioned, may be subject to human error. To provide a more accurate method of recommending golf equipment to a golfer, equipment manufacturers have developed machines, known as launch monitors, that can automatically monitor a golfer while they swing a golf club and strike a golf ball. Launch monitors typically acquire several high speed images of both the golf club and golf ball, and determine the dynamic characteristics of each. By monitoring the golfer using different types of equipment, a launch monitor can provide a quantitative analysis of a golfer's performance with each type of equipment, easily allowing the most suitable equipment to be recommended to the golfer.

Despite the ability of a launch monitor to quantify the movement of the golf equipment near or at impact, a continuing need exists for a method and apparatus that monitors and quantifies the movement of an athlete's body, which, as mentioned above, can often be crucial to proper movement of sports equipment. A continuing need also exists for a method and apparatus that can monitor an athlete's body and accurately compare this movement to the dynamic characteristics of the athlete's equipment. Further, a need exists for a method and apparatus that uses the comparison of the dynamic characteristics of the athlete's body and equipment to assist in recommending equipment, technique improvement, and fitness assessment.

To overcome these and other disadvantages, the present invention comprises a method for determining the dynamic characteristics of a golfer. The method includes determining force components, e.g., in the x, y, and z directions, of a golfer's body transmitted through each of the golfer's feet. A resultant force is preferably determined based on the force components. At substantially the same time, the club head impact velocity of a golf club swung by the golfer is also determined. The resultant force is then compared with the club head velocity of the golf club. It is desirable for the force components to be measured as a function of time.

According to one embodiment, the resultant force is determined by correcting the force components to account for the weight component of the golfer, and combining the corrected force components to yield the resultant force. The present invention may also comprise determining a moment for the golfer about a vertical axis. Alternately, the average force and torque for at least one of the following two time durations is determined: a time from an initial club take away to an impact with a golf ball; and a time from a start of a downswing until an impact with a golf ball. Additionally, the average force and torque may be determined for a time from the initial club take away to the top of the golfer's backswing.

The method may also include determining a club head momentum using the club head velocity. An efficiency ratio may then be determined by integrating the impulse force and comparing it to the club head momentum. The method may also include using the force components to determine a resultant moment, as a function of time, about a vertical axis passing through the golfer's body. An angular impulse may then be determined based on the resultant moment. Optionally, an angular moment efficiency ratio based on the angular impulse and the club head momentum may also be determined.

According to another aspect, the present invention comprises an apparatus for determining the force dynamics of a golfer. The apparatus includes a force plate selectively positioned beneath a golfer's feet, a camera for acquiring one or more images of a golf club, and a processor operatively connected to the force plate and the camera. The processor is operable to compute resultant forces from the force plate and a golf club head velocity from the one or more images of the golf club. The processor is preferably operable to compare the resultant force to the club head velocity in order to determine swing efficiency. To assist in assessing the efficiency, the resultant force is used to determine various stages of a golf swing including backswing, downswing, and follow through. It is desirable for the resultant force to comprise a single value computed from the force components of each of the golfer's feet.

In this embodiment, the force plate is operable to measure force and torque components of each of the golfer's feet. Based on the torque components, the processor is operable to determine the moment of a golfer's body about an axis. The force plate may preferably comprise first and second force plates. It is desirable for the first force plate to be configured and dimensioned such that it is selectively positioned under a first foot of the golfer, and the second force plate is configured and dimensioned such that it is selectively positioned under a second foot of the golfer.

According to another aspect, the present invention comprises a method for measuring the dynamic characteristics of an athlete. The method includes determining force components transmitted through an athlete's feet. The force components may then be used to determine a single value representative of the athlete's body movement. At substantially the same time, the dynamic characteristics of a piece of equipment manipulated by the athlete are also determined. Then, the single value representative of the athlete's body movement is compared with the dynamic characteristics of the piece of athletic equipment.

In this embodiment, the efficiency of the athlete's body movement is preferably based on the single value representative of the athlete's body movement and the dynamic characteristics of the piece of athletic equipment. In alternate embodiments, however, it may be desirable to determine the dynamic characteristics of a body part of the athlete. This may be desirable, for example, to compare the athlete's body movement to the movement of a particular part of their body, e.g., an athlete's hand movement when throwing a football.

Further features and advantages of the invention can be ascertained from the following detailed description that is provided in connection with the drawings described below:

FIGS. 1-4 are tables showing dynamic characteristics for three exemplary players according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a table showing an exemplary club head velocity and momentum at the moment of impact between the golf club and the golf ball in one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a table showing efficiency ratios for three exemplary players according to one aspect of the present invention; and

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