| System, method and computer program product for estimating club swing condition(s) from ball launch measurements -> Monitor Keywords |
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System, method and computer program product for estimating club swing condition(s) from ball launch measurementsRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Projectile Addressing Surface And Target, Or Distance Marker (e.g., Course, Putting Green With Cup, Driving Range, Miniature Golf Course, Etc.), Electrical Sensor Or Electrical Indicator Responsive To Swingable Implement Or ProjectileSystem, method and computer program product for estimating club swing condition(s) from ball launch measurements description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060068927, System, method and computer program product for estimating club swing condition(s) from ball launch measurements. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/606,254, filed Sep. 1, 2004 and entitled System and Method for Estimating Club Swing Conditions From Ball Launch Measurements, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The embodiments of the present invention relate generally to techniques for estimating one or more golf swing conditions and, more particularly, to techniques for estimating one or more of the spin loft, the club speed, the angle of the attack and the club path. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Many golfers work consistently to improve their game. One tool that has been developed to assist golfers in analyzing their golf shots is a golf ball launch monitor. Golf ball launch monitors are used extensively to provide detailed information regarding the velocity of the ball, the launch angle of the ball, the side spin of the ball and the like. As such, golf ball launch monitors are quite useful in training sessions to evidence the manner in which swing changes affect the resulting golf shots. Similarly, launch monitors are quite useful in club fitting to provide feedback on the golf shots hit by a golfer with different clubs such that the golfer can more intelligently select the most suitable set of clubs for their game. Further details regarding launch monitors are provided in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/360,196, filed Feb. 7, 2003, entitled "Methods, Apparatus and Computer Program Products for Processing Images of a Golf Ball", the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. [0004] However, golf ball launch monitors generally only provide information regarding the golf ball following the impact of the club head with the golf ball. Since the swing of the golf club up to and including impact with the golf ball dictates the manner in which the golf ball will be launched, it is also commonly desirable to obtain information regarding the golf swing itself. In this regard, information regarding those golf swings that result in poor golf shots could be analyzed in relation to those golf swings that result in better golf shots in an attempt to identify the characteristics of the golf swing that led to the different results so as to provide feedback on aspects on the golf swing that should be corrected to more consistently hit good shots in the future. [0005] Accordingly, it would desirable to provide an apparatus and method that is capable of providing information regarding a golf swing without requiring golfers or golf professionals to purchase additional training equipment. If information regarding the golf swing could be gathered, however, the attributes of the golf swing that lead to good and bad golf shots could be determined in order to provide a golfer with valuable information that identifies those characteristics of their golf swing that need to be monitored in order to consistently produce good golf shots. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] A method, system and computer program product are provided according to embodiments of the invention which address at least some of the needs and shortcomings identified above. In this regard, the method, system and computer program product may be capable of determining a plurality of launch conditions of a ball, such as by means of a launch monitor. Based upon the launch conditions of the ball, the method, system and computer program product may also be capable of determining, such as by means of a computing device, a component of momentum P.sub.N normal to the colliding surfaces of the club and the ball as well as a component of momentum P.sub.T tangential to the colliding surfaces of the club and the ball. Further, the method, system and computer program product may be capable of determining at least one club swing parameter based upon the normal and tangential components of momentum P.sub.N and P.sub.T. In this regard, the club swing condition may be spin loft, club speed, angle of attack and/or club path. As such, in one embodiment, a golf ball launch monitor may be employed to determine a number of launch conditions of a ball and then to process those measured launch conditions to determine one or more club swing conditions. As such, the club swing parameters of one embodiment can be determined in a manner that is independent of any direct measurements of the club swing. Once determined, the club swing conditions may then be utilized by a golfer to determine the impact of various club swing conditions upon the resulting golf shots. [0007] In one aspect, the determination of the tangential component of momentum P.sub.T may be based upon the radius of the ball, the spin of the ball and the moment of inertia of the ball. Additionally, the determination of the normal component of momentum P.sub.N may be based upon the mass of the ball, the velocity of the ball and the tangential component of the momentum P.sub.T. [0008] According to another aspect, the determination of the spin loft may be based upon the normal and tangential components of momentum P.sub.N and P.sub.T, the respective masses of the club head and the ball, the radius of the ball, the respective moments of inertia of the ball and the club head, the velocity of the ball and the distance in a tangential direction between the center of gravity of the club head and the location of impact between the club head and the ball. Additionally, the determination of the club speed may be based upon the normal and tangential components of momentum P.sub.N and P.sub.T, the respective masses of the club head and the ball, and the spin loft. [0009] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the determination of the tangential component of momentum P.sub.T and the spin loft is based upon the back spin of the ball without consideration of other spin components of the ball. Additionally, the determination of the angle of attack may be based upon the normal and tangential components of momentum P.sub.N and P.sub.T, the launch angle of the ball and either the loft angle of the club or the spin loft. [0010] Still further, the determination of the tangential component of momentum P.sub.T and the spin loft may be based upon the side spin of the ball without consideration of other spin components of the ball. In addition, the determination of the club path may be based upon the normal and tangential components of momentum P.sub.N and P.sub.T, the launch angle of the ball, and the spin loft. [0011] Accordingly, methods, systems and computer program products are provided according to the various embodiments of the present invention to permit golf swing conditions, such as spin loft, club speed, angle of attack and club path, to be determined without direct measurements of the club swing and, instead, to be based upon the launch conditions of the ball. As a result, a launch monitor can be utilized to capture the launch conditions of the ball such that the club swing conditions can then be determined. The golfers are accordingly provided meaningful information regarding their club swing conditions that will assist the golfer in improving their game without having to invest in additional training equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) [0012] Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: [0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to one embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a club head and ball upon impact; [0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the angle of attack of a golf club relative to the launch angle of the golf ball and the vector normal to the face of the golf club; and [0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the angle of attack of a golf club relative to the launch angle of the golf ball and the spin loft of the golf club. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0017] The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. [0018] A system 10 for estimating for at least one club swing condition according to embodiments of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The system typically includes a launch monitor 12 for determining the plurality of launch conditions of a ball. While the system, method and computer program product of the embodiments of the present invention will generally be described hereinafter in conjunction with the swing of the golf club, the system, the method and computer program product of other embodiments in the present invention may be employed in conjunction with other types of balls, such as baseballs, softballs, etc., and in conjunction with other types of clubs, such as baseball and softball bats, etc. Continue reading about System, method and computer program product for estimating club swing condition(s) from ball launch measurements... Full patent description for System, method and computer program product for estimating club swing condition(s) from ball launch measurements Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System, method and computer program product for estimating club swing condition(s) from ball launch measurements patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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