Golf swing analysis apparatus and method

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for user analysis of his or her golf swing during use of an associated golf club. The apparatus includes first and second spaced display elements positioned so that they appear to a user of the club similarly located relative to the golf club head face, each providing a light emanation (active or passive) during a golf stroke that is or appears to be consistent. A light emitting display, such as a plurality of light emitting elements, is positioned between the first and second elements, and a control unit is associated with the light emitting display for activating and deactivating the display thereby providing several short intervals of light emission during the golf stroke. The apparatus may be integrated into a golf club or a separate unit releasably attachable to a club.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This Application is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 714,420 filed on Nov. 17, 2003 by Halleck et al. and entitled “Golf Swing Analysis Apparatus And Method”, which prior application is currently pending.Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to aids for golfers to improve their play, and, more particularly, relates to devices and methods for analyzing a golfer's swing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It is known that the ability to strike a golf ball correctly is important to a golfer's continued enjoyment of and improvement in the game. Thus, most golfers expend considerable effort to refine and perfect their golf swing. In the last few years, golf has moved from a somewhat elite sport to one with a more general public appeal. Despite the greater appeal, it has been noted that golfers as a group are not significantly improving. It is apparent that correcting defects of swing is difficult, even if one has ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The method for aiding a golfer in golf swing analysis and improvement of this invention includes providing apparently consistent light emanations during a golf stroke from first and second spaced positions that are similarly located relative to an associated golf club head face. Several short intervals of light emission are provided from a location between the first and second positions during the golf stroke. A persistence display perceptible by a user of the golf club is thus established having a ladder-like configuration that varies in appearance responsive to the user's golf swing.

[0010] The apparatus and methods of this invention provide feedback to the user in performance, train the user for improved muscle memory, and help to build specific user muscles. The apparatus functions with the eye persistence of a user to provide a persistence display during a stroke that intuitively illustrates defects in a user's swing, particularly those related to golf club head face angle and path, ball impact point, and head velocity. Correction is suggested by variations in the appearance of the persistence display.

[0015] It is yet another object of this invention to provide apparatus and methods for aiding a golfer in golf swing analysis that provides effectively for observation by a user of a plurality of swing components and that provides a user with timely and intuitive swing correction information.

[0016] It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus and methods for aiding a golfer in golf swing improvement by accommodating observability of club face angle, club head path, club face / ball impact point, and club head velocity, both absolute and relative, by a user during a golf stroke.

[0018] It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus integrated with or attachable to a golf club for aiding a golfer in golf swing improvement that includes first and second spaced display elements positioned so that each appears similarly located relative to an associated golf club head face and with each providing at least an apparently consistent light emanation during a golf stroke, an elongated light emitting display positioned between the first and second spaced display elements, and a control unit operatively associated with the elongated light emitting display for activating and deactivating the elongated light emitting display to provide several short intervals of light emission from the elongated light emitting display during the golf stroke.

[0020] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method for aiding a golfer in golf swing analysis and improvement that includes the steps of providing at least apparently consistent light emanations during a golf stroke from first and second spaced positions similarly located relative to an associated golf club head face, and providing several short intervals of light emission from a location between the first and second positions during the golf stroke.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, most golfers expend considerable effort to refine and perfect their golf swing.

Despite the greater appeal, it has been noted that golfers as a group are not significantly improving.

It is apparent that correcting defects of swing is difficult, even if one has access to a “pro” to assist in the process.

One problem in developing a good golf swing is the fact that there is a discontinuity between muscle memory and visual cues.

Furthermore, since a golf club head moves so quickly through a golfer's line of sight, it is difficult to judge the characteristics of the flight of the club head at impact.

Heretofore known devices have not, however, proven to be effective for visualization by a user of much more than the path of club head travel, have not provided a golf swing display that provides a user with intuitive swing correction information, have not provided timely feedback, and / or have required specialized clubs or club adaptation.

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