Methods and apparatuses related to monitoring basketballs are described. In particular, a system for monitoring basketballs may include at least one non-intrusive sensor for sensing motion of a basketball during a missed basketball shot as the basketball travels along a rebound flight path from a basketball goal. The system may also include at least one processor configured to i) generate, based on the sensed motion, trajectory parameters that characterize one or more states of the basketball along the rebound flight path and ii) generate feedback information using the trajectory parameters. The system may further include at least one feedback output mechanism for providing the feedback information to a user.

A system for illustrating the flight of a sports ball includes a radar, an imager, and a controller. The imager is configured to image a moving sports ball. The controller is configured to (i) receive, from the imager, an image including the moving sports ball, (ii) receive, from the radar, radar data associated with the moving sports ball, (iii) determine, from the radar data, a portion of a trajectory of the moving sports ball, (iv) alter the image to illustrate the portion of the trajectory relative to the moving sports ball, and (v) output the altered image.

A system and method for analyzing and improving the performance of a body motion of an animal or human subject requires instrumenting a subject with inertial sensors, monitoring a body motion of interest, converting sensor data into motion data and animation, comparing the motion data with existing data for motion related performance parameters, providing a real-time, information rich, animation and data display of the results in color coded displays; and based on the results prescribing a training regime with exercises selected from a library of standardized exercises using standardized tools and training aids.

Embodiments herein describe a wristband for securing the smart electronic wrist device to the human subject. A heart rate sensor, coupled to the wristband of one embodiment, attaches to the human subject, and to generate electronic signals responsive to the heart rate of the human subject. An analog to digital signal converting circuit (ADC), electronically coupled to the heart rate sensor, to receive electrical signals generated by the heart rate sensor. A digital signal encoding circuit, electronically coupled to the ADC, to convert the electrical signals to data signals. A wireless communication interface to transmit the digital signals wirelessly to a handheld phone call device. The handheld cellular device is wirelessly coupled to the smart electronic wrist device to receive data concerning the human subject derived from the data hear rate signals, and is also coupled to the data communication network to transmit the data heart rate signal.

A system and method for creating content such as artificial reality (AR) messages at an event, particularly among members on a social network, thereby enhancing and expanding the event experience. Typically, a participant shares an event with spectators, such as friends or a subset of friends in the participant's social network. The AR message may include geo-referenced artificial reality words, products or symbols and appear in a perspective view of the event to the participant or spectators. In addition to creating an active gallery for an event, messages, audio and video can be exchanged among participants and spectators, and virtual goods, money, bets, applause, other feedback, and donations exchanged.

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.

A golf system includes a striking area; a target area including a plurality of physical targets positioned at different locations relative to the striking area; and 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 struck from the striking area, update a virtual location of a virtual golf ball on the virtual golf hole; and generate signals to provide an indication of which of the plurality of physical targets represents a direction of the pin location based on the virtual location of the virtual golf ball and the locations of the physical targets.

A system and method wherein ball spin rate and axis orientation are determined according to an electronic circuit that includes a magnetometer spin sensor module and, in the alternative, an electronic circuit that includes a spin sensor module with a plurality of accelerometers.

A golf launching monitoring arrangement allows equipment to be placed at a position behind the player (i.e., behind the golf ball), to measure both club and ball movement. A 3D scan of the club head before the play serves two purposes: 1) 3D registration that enables accurate measurement of the club head position and orientation for the camera system measuring the club movement from the back; 2) for reconstruction of the launching scene. With a 3D model of the club head, a simple 3D model of the golf ball and accurate measurement of their movement during the play, a full 3D golf launching scene can be reconstructed authentically. With this reconstruction, the movement of both the club head and the resulting ball movement can be replayed at any viewing angle, with any frame rate and at whatever resolution for the players or the coaches to view and analyze.

A golf ball alignment device includes a golf ball having an exterior surface. Indicia is disposed on the exterior surface of the golf ball. The indicia include first and second line segments extending along a portion of the golf ball at a spaced interval. The spaced interval is narrower at a first end of each line segment than at a second end of each line segment such that the line segments converge from the second end of the line segments to the first end of the line segments. The indicia provide an alignment reference on the golf ball for a user to align the line segments with at least one of an intended direction of travel of the golf ball and a club head used to strike the ball in the intended direction of travel.