A system for measuring golf ball trajectory characteristics is disclosed. The system includes artificial grass with a launch location for a golf ball and a plurality of wide-angle distance optical sensors mechanically connected to the artificial grass positioned such that a field of measurement of each wide-angle distance optical sensors intersects. The system also includes a central processing unit connected to the wide-angle distance optical sensors, the central processing unit configured to collect distance measurements from the wide-angle distance optical sensors and to determine a velocity of a trajectory of the golf ball from the launch location to the intersection of the field of measurement of each wide-angle distance optical sensors given a distance between the plurality of the wide-angle distance optical sensors, a distance between the plurality of the wide-angle distance optical sensors and the launch location, and the distance measurements from the plurality of the wide-angle distance optical sensors. Once the velocity of the trajectory of the golf ball is determined, the central processing unit transmits the velocity to a display.

Golf entertainment venues with a computing system configured to optically identify and track graphical images located on golf balls hit by players. The graphical image located on a golf ball can be associated with a player and the computing system can assign the player a score when that player's golf ball successfully arrives at a target area. In some embodiments, the graphical images can be printed on the golf balls using, for example, a single pass inkjet printing technique. In some embodiments, the computing system can be configured to sort golf balls based on optically identified graphical images.

An exerciser includes: sensor installation units provided to be spaced apart from and face each other in a direction parallel; a radiation unit for radiating light, in a first sensor installation unit; a light receiving unit for receiving the light radiated from the radiation unit, in a second sensor installation unit; a speed detection unit for detecting a speed of the golf ball by checking a moment the golf ball passes; a position measurement unit for measuring a position of the golf ball; an operation control unit for performing calculation to detect an initial position value of the golf ball and a moving speed Vb and a moving distance Hb of the golf ball; and a storage unit for storing the measured speed Vb and distance Hb of the golf ball.

Golf stroke training apparatus, as well as methods and systems to train a golfer to improve golf strokes, including putting strokes, wherein the golf stroke training apparatus provides a planar surface that can be levelled statically to the surface below it and can be adjusted by adding slope and/or pitch in quantifiable measurements and with a high degree of accuracy, wherein the repeatable golf stroke environments so provided permit repeatable and quantifiable golfer stroke actions and analysis and leading to golf stroke consistency.

A system includes a processor configured for leveraging reference ball flight data associated with an individual and a reference club having a reference loft angle to compute predicted ball flight characteristics for other candidate golf clubs having loft angles different from the reference loft angle. The predicted ball flight characteristics include predicted distances of golf shots the individual is expected to make using the candidate golf clubs that can further accommodate a computed recommendation of optimal loft angles for a consistently gapped golf club set.

There are proposed a virtual golf simulation device and a virtual golf simulation method. According to an embodiment, there is proposed a virtual golf simulation device, including: a memory configured to store a hardness value indicative of the degree of hardness of a terrain in a virtual golf course; and an image processor configured to simulate the movement trajectory of a ball on the virtual golf course based on shot data on a user's golf shot and the hardness value.

A spectator system and method that displays different views of an event, such as a sporting event, and in particular uses a position selected by the spectator to assist in displaying a view from the selected position. The spectator, using an internet device can zoom, pan, tilt and change the view, as well as change the view to another position, such as a finish line, goal, or a participant position (e.g. Driver of car #3 or Tiger Wood's position). The starting viewing position can be specified, as well as the target position or orientation from the starting viewing position. Vital information on the sporting event or a participant can be appended to the view. In some forms, artificial reality or any geographic referenced datasets can be used and combined, such as 3D imagery or 3D renderings, to enhance the experience.

A golf system includes a plurality of striking areas, each striking areas being associated with a respective set of targets. The golf system includes at least one sensing device for sensing one or more parameters regarding the travel of a physical golf ball. A processor is configured to: access a database including golf hole data, the golf hole data defining relative positions of a tee-off location and a pin location for a virtual golf hole; based on the one or more parameters regarding the travel of the physical golf ball, update a virtual location of a virtual golf ball; generate signals to provide an indication of which of the plurality of striking areas or corresponding set of targets a next shot is to be struck from or to; and generate signals to provide an indication of which target in a set of targets represents a direction of the pin location.

A sports ball is configured to enhance detection of spin properties by radar. The ball includes a spherical body having a first reflectivity with respect to radiation generated by a radar to be used in detecting spin of the ball. In addition, the ball includes a plurality of markers. Each of the markers has a second reflectivity with respect to the radiation generated by a radar to be used in detecting spin of the ball. The second reflectivity is different from the first reflectivity. The markers are distributed on the ball so that every great circle extending around an exterior surface of the ball is within a distance d of a projection on the exterior surface of the ball of at least one of the markers. The distance d is less than a radius of the ball.

A system and methods for custom-fitting golf clubs and golf club components is disclosed. Data is generated by a tracking device as a plurality of golf swings are performed by an individual. The data comprises motion and orientation information associated with a golf ball and with a golf club. The data is displayed using a graphical user interface. A plurality of shot characteristics is determined from the data. The shot characteristics are used to recommend golf clubs and golf club components that adjust a golfer's swing where the golfer exhibits the plurality of shot characteristics.