A golf ball launch monitor is disclosed that may be used with an alignment stick. The monitor has a default alignment and an image sensor adapted to capture an image of the alignment stick and communicate that image to a processor. The processor is configured to perform the following steps: (a) detect a horizontal edge within the image representative of the alignment stick by detecting large contrast changes; (b) convert each edge to a vector that starts at the sensor's focal point and projects into space based on the sensor's calibration; (c) locate the plane formed by the vectors by applying standard outlier removal and best fit analysis (d) determine the intersection of the plane and an earth tangential plane; and (e) calculate an azimuth alignment angle offset based on the line and the monitor's default alignment. The calculated azimuth alignment angle can then be used to adjust ball flight trajectory calculations.

A device for measuring flight data of a flying object by using a high speed image camera is provided. The device includes: a launch signal generator which determines whether the flying object is launched or not and generates a signal when it is determined that the flying object is launched; a high speed image camera which photographs the flying object after the launch signal generator generates the signal; and an integrated processing device which controls the high speed image camera and calculates preliminary flight data and final flight data from images photographed by the high speed image camera.

A device for measuring flight data of a flying object by using a high speed image camera is provided. The device includes: a launch signal generator which determines whether the flying object is launched or not and generates a signal when it is determined that the flying object is launched; and a first high speed image camera system which includes an integrated control unit and a high speed image camera which photographs the flying object after the launch signal generator generates the launch signal. The integrated control unit controls the high speed image camera and calculates preliminary flight data and final flight data from images photographed by the high speed image camera.

A device for measuring a flight data of a flying object by using a high speed image camera is provided. The device includes: a launch signal generator which determines whether the flying object is launched or not and generates a signal when it is determined that the flying object is launched; a second high speed image camera system which includes a controller and a high speed image camera which photographs the flying object after the launch signal generator generates the launch signal; and a processing device which calculates the final flight data from images photographed by the high speed image camera. The controller controls the high speed image camera and calculates the preliminary flight data from the images photographed by the high speed image camera.

A method for measuring a flight data of a flying object by using a high speed image camera is provided. The method includes: a first setting step in which an area through which the flying object must pass launch of the flying object is set to a first image capture area; a first photographing step in which photographing is performed once or more in the first image capture area by using the high speed image camera; a preliminary calculation step in which preliminary flight data of the flying object is calculated from images photographed in the first photographing step; a second setting step in which a second image captur

Virtual golf system for playing golf, comprising a plurality of trackable golf balls, wherein each golf ball comprises transmitting means for broadcasting electromagnetic beacon signals for detecting a position of the golf ball, a position determination unit comprising three receiving antenna's arranged for receiving beacon signals broadcasted by any of said plurality of trackable golf balls, and wherein said position determination unit is arranged to determine a position of said golf ball on a driving range based on time differences of a broadcasted beacon signal received by said receiving antenna's. A plurality of trackable golf balls and a plurality of players may be active at the same time. Trackable golf balls may be paired with specific players. A game controller advances a virtual game of golf each time a trackable golf ball is stroked by a player.

Embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems to custom fit golf clubs are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

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.

A system and method for tracking the flight of golf balls at driving range. The invention includes a plurality of hitting stations, a plurality of sensors, a computer, and a range surface. Each hitting station in the plurality of hitting stations includes a golf ball, a golf club, a monitor, and a sensor. At least one other sensor in the plurality of sensors is placed outside the hitting station. The flight path of the golf ball is calculated by the computer using parameters by the plurality of sensors. The method includes steps for determining whether a first sensor detected a first parameter and a second parameter, whether a second sensor detected a first and a second parameter, whether a third sensor detected a third parameter, and depicting the flight path of the golf balls using the first parameter, the second parameter, and the third parameter.

A single golf stroke achievement is forensically validated with minimal observer influence by digitally or electronically identifying a golfer and a golf ball, producing video recordings of the golf stroke, a subsequent flight of the ball, and arrival of the ball (if this occurs) at a target area which contains a golf cup, and detecting and recording entry of the golf ball into the cup (if this occurs).

Virtual golf system for playing golf, comprising a plurality of trackable golf balls, wherein each golf ball comprises transmitting means for broadcasting electromagnetic beacon signals for detecting a position of the golf ball, a position determination unit comprising three receiving antenna's arranged for receiving beacon signals broadcasted by any of said plurality of trackable golf balls, and wherein said position determination unit is arranged to determine a position of said golf ball on a driving range based on time differences of a broadcasted beacon signal received by said receiving antenna's. A plurality of trackable golf balls and a plurality of players may be active at the same time. Trackable golf balls may be paired with specific players. A game controller advances a virtual game of golf each time a trackable golf ball is stroked by a player.

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.

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.