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Method for predicting ball launch conditionsRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, GolfMethod for predicting ball launch conditions description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070049393, Method for predicting ball launch conditions. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a method and computer program for determining golf ball launch conditions. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and computer program that is capable of predicting golf ball trajectory and launch conditions without requiring a golfer to strike a golf ball. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Over the past thirty years, camera acquisition of a golfer's club movement and ball launch conditions have been patented and improved upon. An example of one of the earliest high speed imaging systems, entitled "Golf Club Impact and Golf Ball Monitoring System," to Sullivan et al., was filed in 1977. This automatic imaging system employed six cameras to capture pre-impact conditions of the club and post impact launch conditions of a golf ball using retroreflective markers. In an attempt to make such a system portable for outside testing, patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,471,383 and 5,501,463 to Gobush disclosed a system of two cameras that could triangulate the location of retroreflective markers appended to a club or golf ball in motion. [0003] Systems such as these allowed the kinematics of the club and ball to be measured. Additionally, systems such as these allowed a user to compare their performance using a plurality of golf clubs and balls. Typically, these systems include one or more cameras that monitor the club, the ball, or both. By monitoring the kinematics of both the club and the ball, an accurate determination of the ball trajectory and kinematics can be determined. [0004] On Jul. 6, 2004, U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,759, entitled "Launch Monitor System and a Method for Use Thereof," issued. This application described a method of monitoring both golf clubs and balls in a single system. This resulted in an improved portable system that combined the features of the separate systems that had been disclosed previously. On Dec. 5, 2001, the use of fluorescent markers in the measurement of golf equipment was disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/002,174. [0005] Monitoring both the club and the ball requires complicated imaging techniques. Additionally, complicated algorithms executed by powerful processors are now required to accurately and precisely determine club and ball kinematics. Systems such as these are often complicated and require significant research and development, increasing their cost. Despite their ability to monitor a golf club and ball, these systems are typically unable to quickly determine which combination of club and balls produces the best outcome for a particular player. In the past, the only way to accomplish this was to test a golfer with a variety of different clubs and/or balls, and then monitor which combination resulted in the most desirable ball trajectory. [0006] The need for a mathematical tool for evaluating golf club performance is dictated by the large number of club design parameters and initial conditions of the impact between club head and ball. Without such a tool, it is not feasible to make quantitative predictions of the effects of a given design change on the ball motions and shaft stresses. [0007] For example, in stereo mechanical impact, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,821,209 to Manwaring et al., the final velocities and spin rates can be related to the initial values of these quantities without consideration of details of the phenomena that occur during the short time of contact of the ball and the club, i.e., about 500 microseconds. However, by eliminating the consideration of details of the contact between the club and the ball, the stereo mechanical impact approach includes simplifying assumptions, which include: (1) that the three components of the relative velocity of recession of the ball from the club head can be related to those of the approach of the club to the ball, as measured at the impact point, by "coefficient of restitution" and; (2) that the shaft can be considered completely flexible, like a stretched rubber band, as far as the dynamics of impact are concerned, so that no dynamic changes occur in the force or torque that it exerts on the club head during the impact. [0008] The stereo mechanical approximation problem involves a set of 12 simultaneous linear algebraic equations in the 12 unknown components of motion of the ball and club after impact. The known quantities in these equations are the initial conditions, i.e., club head motions and impact point coordinates, and the many mechanical parameters of the club head and golf ball, e.g., masses, mass moments of inertia, centers of mass, face loft angle, and face radii of curvature. The explicit algebraic expressions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,821,209 to Manwaring et al. [0009] The stereo mechanical approximation has drawbacks, however, because: (1) the effects of the shaft on the impact, although small, are not negligible, and it is desirable to obtain quantitative measures of these effects for shaft design purposes; (2) shaft stresses cannot be computed in any realistic manner; (3) the explicit algebraic expressions obtained are still too complex to permit assessments to be made of the effects of design parameter changes except by working out many specific cases with the aid of a computer; and (4) the coefficient of restitution approximation may not be accurate because the sliding and sticking time of the ball at the impact point is not taken into account. In addition, the coefficient of restitution approximation is poor because different amounts of stress wave energy may be "trapped" in the shaft under different impact conditions. [0010] In an effort to improve the accurate modeling of the contact between the club and the ball, a model published by Ralph Simon, titled "The Development of a Mathematical Tool for Evaluating Golf Club Performance," ASME Design Engineering Conference, New York, May 1967 (pages 17-35) was improved and updated mathematically. In addition, the modeling may also be implemented by a golf ball model described in the paper titled "Spin and the Inner Workings of a Golf Ball," by W. Gobush, 1995, in a book titled Golf the Scientific Way, Editor A. Cochran, Aston Publishing Group, Hertfordshire. Both models were shown to give roughly equivalent results on studies of a golf ball hitting a steel block. [0011] Therefore, a continuing need exists for a monitoring system that is capable of determining the trajectory and launch conditions of a golf ball without requiring a golfer to strike the golf ball. Moreover, a continuing need exists for a monitoring system that includes software that reduces the complexity associated with fitting a golfer with golf equipment. Furthermore, a continuing need exists for a monitoring system that more accurately predicts a golfer's ball striking performance. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] According to one aspect, the present invention comprises a method for predicting a golfer's ball striking performance. The method includes determining a plurality of pre-impact swing properties for a golfer based on the golfer's swing with a golf club. The plurality of pre-impact swing properties may include, for example, an impact location, an orientation of a golf club head, and the golf club head speed. [0013] The method also includes determining a plurality of equipment properties that may include a plurality of golf ball properties and plurality of golf club properties. It is desirable for the plurality of golf ball properties to include a coefficient of restitution at a plurality of velocities and a time of contact at a plurality of velocities. Furthermore, it is desirable for the plurality of club properties to include a center of mass of the club head, a center of the club face, and a moment of inertia. [0014] Additionally, the slippage between the golf club and the golf ball is preferably determined. The slippage may be based on the plurality of ball properties, the plurality of club properties, and the plurality of pre-impact swing properties. The slippage may be determined by computing each time step, in microsecond time intervals, for a first slip period, a stick period, and a second slip period between the golf club and the golf ball. It is desired that each time step is based on at least a transverse force of the golf ball, a coefficient of friction of the golf ball, and a normal force of a golf ball. [0015] A predicted trajectory and a plurality of predicted ball launch conditions of the golf ball if struck with the golf club may then be generated. The predicted trajectory and ball launch conditions are based on, for example, the slippage, the plurality of equipment properties, and the plurality of pre-impact swing properties. [0016] In one embodiment, the method further comprises determining the properties of the shaft of the golf club on the impact of the golf ball with the club head. The properties of the shaft may include a longitudinal force component and a torque component. [0017] The predicted trajectory may include at least one of distance, flight path, landing position, and final resting position of the golf ball. In addition, the plurality of predicted ball launch conditions may include at least one of side spin, back spin, rifle spin, azimuth angle, launch angle, and velocity. [0018] According to another aspect, the present invention comprises a method for predicting a golfer's ball striking performance. The method includes determining a plurality of pre-impact swing properties for a golfer based on the golfer's swing with a golf club. The plurality of pre-impact swing properties may include, for example, an impact location, an orientation of a golf club head, and the golf club head speed. [0019] The method also includes determining a plurality of equipment properties that may include a plurality of golf ball properties and plurality of golf club properties. It is desirable for the plurality of golf ball properties to include a coefficient of restitution at a plurality of velocities and a time of contact at a plurality of velocities. Furthermore, it is desirable for the plurality of club properties to include a center of mass of the club head, a center of the club face, and a moment of inertia. [0020] In addition, the effect of properties of a shaft of the golf club on the impact of the golf ball with the club head may be determined. The properties of the shaft preferably include a longitudinal force component, a torque component, a shear force, a bending moment, density, shear modulus, and Young's modulus. [0021] A predicted trajectory and a plurality of predicted ball launch conditions of the golf ball if struck with the golf club based on the properties of the shaft, the plurality of equipment properties, and the plurality of pre-impact swing properties may then be generated. In one embodiment, the predicted trajectory includes at least one of distance, flight path, landing position, and final resting position. Moreover, the predicted ball launch conditions include at least one of side spin, back spin, rifle spin, azimuth angle, launch angle, and velocity. Continue reading about Method for predicting ball launch conditions... 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