This invention relates to a system that interconnects real golf or other sports equipment to a computer. From hereon, sports apparatus, sports equipment, sports equipment items, are examples of a gaming apparatus, unit, tool, or item, and the latter should be understood to be included in the former. In a preferred embodiment the computer is coupled wirelessly to sports implement component, in one embodiment, the sporting equipment is a race car steering wheel coupled with a driver's hand, boxing gloves coupled with a fist, tennis racquet, couple with a tennis ball, basketball coupled with a shooting hand, football couple with a throwing hand, bicycle coupled with a pedal, bowling ball coupled with a bowling throw, soccer couple with a kick, volleyball coupled with a hitting hand, baseball bat coupled with a baseball, all using sensors including accelerometers, gyroscopes and a compass and or a combination of multiple sensing devices.

A system that wirelessly integrates actual game equipment with a computer and the internet to allow players remotely located from one another to play a competitive real or simulated game of golf. An individual player may opt to play solo or practice to improve basic golfing techniques. The system includes smart golf clubs, a golf ball receptacle, and a golf club motion sensing devices, all containing circuits, contact and or noncontact motion sensors coupled with signal processing and radio frequency transmitter circuitry to wirelessly communicate game performance information to a remote receiver-computer. The computer displays player information and visually simulates and controls a game between one or more local players or via the internet having similar equipment and remotely located from each other. Standard golf clubs may be retrofitted with the sensors and associated circuitry to convert such clubs into smart clubs for use with the system. The system employs specially developed computer software to process player performance data, control game play, communicate game information between players, generate and control visual simulations, and display player performance information and dynamic motion parameters.

A multifunctional self-contained system that wirelessly integrates actual sports equipment with a computer providing critical feedback to improve all aspects of a player's game, and also allows players to play an actual competitive real or visually simulated game or sports with one or more players. Therefore, an individual player may opt to play solo or practice to improve basic golfing skills and techniques. The system includes sport implements that include, but are not limited to, smart golf clubs, a golf ball receptacle and a golf club motion sensing device, all containing circuits with contact sensors and or motion sensors coupled with signal processing and radio frequency transmitter circuitry to wirelessly communicate game status and performance parameters to a remote receiver and computer. The computer then optionally displays important parameters such as proximity of a sports implement contact face to an object, the impact of a sports implement with a sports equipment item, wherein the contact force, contact time, impact location, face angle, spatial orientation of a sports implement in motion, and the subsequent energy, velocity, and trajectory of game projectile such as a golf ball. The sports implements can be further equipped with motion sensing devices, and its motion and swing trajectory is visually simulated on the computer display. Standard sport implements which include, but are not limited to, golf clubs may be retrofitted with the device sensors and associated electronic circuitry to convert such clubs into smart clubs for use with the system. The system employs specially developed computer software to process player performance data, control game play, communicate game information to players, generate and control visual simulations, and display player performance information.

Novel tools and techniques for teaching a player the proper alignment when addressing a golf ball. In one aspect, such tools and techniques provide an alignment aid that allows the player to visualize both the intended target line of the shot as well as the position of the ball relative to the player's stance, allowing the player to easily modify his stance to obtain the proper alignment.

The present invention relates to a divot-detecting golf swing mat and, more particularly, to a divot-detecting golf swing mat characterized by comprising: a hitting mat (110) having artificial turf (111) formed on the upper side thereof such that a golf ball (B) can be seated thereon; a divot-detecting sensor array portion (120) installed beneath the hitting mat (110) so as to measure hitting of a club head (H), which is transferred through the hitting mat (110), through sensors arranged in an array type; a control portion (130) for calculating information regarding hitting of the club head (H) sensed by the divot-detecting sensor array portion (120); a golf ball position designating portion (150) installed on a side surface of the rear side of the hitting mat (110) so as to designate the position of the golf ball (B); and a display portion (140) for displaying the information regarding hitting of the club head (H) and the position of the golf ball (B).

The invention discloses a golf ball hitting system for training assistance in the technical field of golf. A main control chip is controlled by a remote control server module so as to control a light-guiding line module and a laser light generator to display on the ground: a target point; a linear motion trajectory of a putter to stabilize the direction; the back swing length and the follow-through length to operate the swing amplitude of the putter; and a laser light point to guide the swing speed of a club head and stabilize the rhythm. With the assistance of the invention, the putting performance of a golfer can be effectively improved.

A golf swing training system includes light source(s) configured to emit light beam(s), one or more sensors configured to sense the emitted light beam(s) from the light source(s), one or more feedback indicators configured to indicate the path of the golf club and/or an angle of a club face of the golf club, and a control circuit in communication with the one or more feedback indicators and the one or more sensors. The control circuit is configured to receive one or more signals from at least one of the sensors, and in response to receiving the one or more signals, turn on at least one of the feedback indicators to output the audible sound or light to indicate the path of the golf club and/or the angle of the club face of the golf club.

A golf swing training system includes light source(s) configured to emit light beam(s), one or more sensors configured to sense the emitted light beam(s) from the light source(s), one or more feedback indicators configured to indicate the path of the golf club and/or an angle of a club face of the golf club, and a control circuit in communication with the one or more feedback indicators and the one or more sensors. The control circuit is configured to receive one or more signals from at least one of the sensors, and in response to receiving the one or more signals, turn on at least one of the feedback indicators to output the audible sound or light to indicate the path of the golf club and/or the angle of the club face of the golf club.

A system that wirelessly integrates actual drum equipment and singing equipment with a computer and the internet to allow musicians and or singers remotely located from one another to play music and or a competitive real or simulated music and or singing competition. An individual musician may opt to play music solo or practice to improve basic music, drumming, and or singing techniques. The system includes smart music and drum systems, an audio detection system, and drum motion sensing devices, all containing circuits and contact sensors or motion sensors, coupled with signal processing and radio frequency transmitter circuitry, thereby wirelessly communicating game performance information to a remote receiver-computer. The computer displays musician and or singing information, and visually simulates and controls a music and or a singing competition between two or more musicians, via the internet, having similar equipment and remotely located from each other. Standard drum sets may be retrofitted with the sensors and associated circuitry to convert such drum sets into smart drum sets for use with the system. Standard microphones may be retrofitted with the sensors and associated circuitry to convert such microphones into smart microphones for use with the system. The system employs specially developed computer software to process musician performance data, control the music competition, communicate music and information between musicians and or singers, generate and control visual simulations, and display singer and or musician performance information.

In a first aspect, a system for monitoring a swing is provided that includes (1) a swing measurement device adapted to couple to a swinging object and to output a signal indicative of a characteristic of the swinging object; (2) a wireless transmitter coupled to the swing measurement device and adapted to wirelessly transmit the signal output by the swing measurement device; and (3) a wireless device adapted to receive the wirelessly transmitted signal and to provide information regarding the swinging object based on the received signal. The wireless device is a cellular telephone or personal digital assistant (PDA). Numerous other aspects are provided.