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Apparatus and method for golf practice and simulation

Apparatus and method for golf practice and simulation description/claims

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for a golf player to practice various golf skills from a full swing strike to a slight putting and simulate the projected golf ball flying over a golf course. The present invention specifically relates to utilizing a device placing a golf ball ready for a player to hit, retaining the ball after being hit, and restoring the ball ready for next play, a sensing system to measure the impact exerted on the golf ball, and a computer program to calculate and display the trajectory as if the golf ball flying over a golf course.

Golf players usually go to golf drive ranges to hit golf balls practicing their swing and putting skills. Since the golf balls are driven in open space, an outdoor field or a large indoor space with restrain net is required. In those environments, it is hard for a golf player either to know accurate ball trajectory and landing distance or to display the golf ball trajectory for analysis.

Some golf simulation devices had been disclosed and are generally classified into two categories: (1). A player hits golf balls in a confined environment such as an enclosed booth, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,063 to Curchod. After being hit, the golf ball flies and is intercepted by a net or resilient walls of the booth. A mesh of optical sensors is usually used to track the movement of the golf ball. Based on the sensed motion, the trajectory of the golf ball is calculated and displayed. In addition to that a large space is required to set up the booth; the sensors and corresponding signal processing system are expensive and need careful calibration. (2). A ball-like member is part of proposed devices, and is restrained by the devices after being hit by a player using a golf club. U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,121 to Tonner presented such a device, after the ball is hit by a player; a sensor is activated when the ball moves away from its 1st position and another sensor is activated when the ball arrives its 2nd position. Then the distance of the ball could actually travel is calculated from the time between the triggers of 2 sensors. However, this device can only simulate ball movement in a plane surface but not in a 3-dimensional space. U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,836 to Onozuka and Yoshino proposed a golf simulator that has a bed plate supports a shaft, a swingable bed rotatable on the shaft, and an arm with one proximal end rotatable secured on the shaft and a ball being secured at the other end. When a player hits the ball, a ball-arm device rotates and an optical sensor is used to sense the movement of the ball-arm device. In general, when a golf ball is hit, 3-dimensional forces are actually exerted thereon. However, it is hard to simulate 3-dimensional ball movement by this device. Additionally, when a player strikes the ball, the forces exerted on the ball are used to push the swingable bed to rotate resulted that the player has a different feeling comparing to strike a ball freely.

It would be most desirable to have an apparatus and method for golf practice and simulation capable for the followings: (1). allow a golf player to hit a golf ball with any golf club from a stroke of full swing drive to a very light putting in order to practice all golf skills; (2). restrain the golf ball after being hit in order to play in a small space without an enclosure booth or interception net; (3). restore the golf ball to its position automatically ready for next play; (4). measure 3-dimensional impact exerted on the golf ball as it is hit; (5). calculate the projected trajectory of the golf ball after being hit; and

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Previous Patent Application:
Motor control voltage calibration for a child motion device
Next Patent Application:
No-head-turn putting and swing teaching aid
Industry Class:
Games using tangible projectile

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