Patent classifications
A63B69/3685
Smart system for display of dynamic movement parameters in sport and training
A system that wirelessly integrates actual golf equipment, game apparatus, or gaming tool, with a computer and the internet to allow players remotely located from one another to play a competitive real or simulated game. An individual player may opt to play solo or practice to improve basic golfing or sports techniques. The system includes any sports implement or smart golf clubs, a golf ball receptacle and a golf club motion sensing devices, all containing circuits and 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 display screen displays player information and visually simulates and controls a game between one or more local computer players or via the internet having similar equipment and remotely located from each other. The computer displays player information such as anatomical motion or data, game apparatus, gaming tool, or sports implement information simultaneously, and visually simulates and controls a game between two players via the internet having sports equipment remotely located from each other, providing graphics animation and graphics to learn and compete by. Standard sports implements may be retrofitted with the sensors and associated circuitry to convert such implements as clubs into smart dubs 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.
Sporting equipment alignment device
A golf head alignment device has a bubble float assembly having a circular rod portion having a first end and a second end, a liquid encapsulated within the circular rod portion and a bubble formed within the liquid, a first indicator presented on a left side of the rod portion, a second indicator presented on a right side of the rod portion, a central portion of the circular rod portion defined between the first indicator and the second indicator, a front side, a back side with the back side being covered with a portion of a reflective material, and a grip having a top having a cutout portion, the cutout portion for receiving the bubble float assembly therein, and a secondary alignment indicator provided in the grip with the secondary alignment indicator for centering the bubble in the central portion.
SWING QUALITY MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
A system that measures a swing of a bat with one or more sensors and analyzes sensor data to create swing quality metrics. Metrics may include for example rotational acceleration, on-plane efficiency, and body-bat connection. Rotational acceleration measures the centripetal acceleration of the bat along the bat's longitudinal axis at a point early in the rotational part of the swing; it is an indicator of the swing's power. On-plane efficiency measures how much of the bat's angular velocity occurs around the swing plane, the plane spanned by the bat and the bat's sweet spot velocity at impact. Body-bat connection measures the angle between the bat and the body tilt axis, which is estimated from the trajectory of the hand position on the bat through the swing; an ideal bat-body connection is near 90 degrees. These three swing quality metrics provide a simple and useful characterization of the swing mechanics.
Swing analysis method using a sweet spot trajectory
A method for analyzing sensor data from baseball swings (or swings in similar sports) that transforms data into a reference frame defined by the bat orientation and velocity at impact. The trajectory of the sweet spot of the bat is tracked through the swing, and is analyzed to generate metrics describing the swing. A two-lever model of the swing may be used to model the effects of body rotation and wrist rotation. Data may be analyzed to identify relevant events during the swing such as start of downswing, commit (wrist release), on-plane, peak bat speed, and impact. Illustrative swing metrics derived from the sweet spot trajectory, the swing plane reference frame, and the two-lever model include: forward bat speed, on-plane rotation, hinge angle at commit, hinge angle at impact, body rotation ratio, body tilt angle, and swing plane tilt angle.
Putter with alignment aid
A putter head comprising a novel alignment structure is disclosed herein. In particular, the putter comprises an alignment sphere attached to an upper surface of a lower flange and an alignment ring suspended over the lower flange and vertically aligned with the alignment sphere. When a golfer has oriented the putter properly in front of a golf ball at address, the alignment sphere will appear to the golfer to be encircled by the alignment ring.
Golf training aid
A golf training aid that may be attached to any golf club that may force a golfer's hands into the proper grip position for various types of golf shots is provided. The device and methods of the present disclosure may further allow a golfer to practice these shots to build muscle memory and to ingrain the proper grip positions into memory to allow for repeated and consistent shot performance.
Putting training aid
A putting training aid includes a weighted roller assembly. The weighted roller assembly includes a bracket member and a weighted roller mounted relative to the bracket member such that the roller is rotatable about a central axis relative to the bracket member. The roller has a weight of at least 18 ounces. A connection is configured for connection of a putter shaft to the bracket member. The connection may be through a direct connection to the bracket member. The connection may be through a support tray connected to the bracket member.
Putter With Alignment Aid
A putter head comprising a novel alignment structure is disclosed herein. In particular, the putter comprises an alignment sphere attached to an upper surface of a lower flange and an alignment ring suspended over the lower flange and vertically aligned with the alignment sphere. When a golfer has oriented the putter properly in front of a golf ball at address, the alignment sphere will appear to the golfer to be encircled by the alignment ring.
Golf Putter Alignment System
A golf putter alignment system is disclosed herein. The alignment system has two alignment markers placed above the strike face of a putter head on the front top surface of the putter head. The alignment markers are centered about a midpoint that corresponds to the horizontal center of the strike face, with the distance between the centers of the alignment markers corresponding to the diameter of a golf ball. The alignment markers can be mounted on top of or integrally with the putter head to provide visual alignment markers on the front top surface. The alignment markers are formed from several materials with colors that contrast with the color of the front top surface. The alignment markers can be formed from fiber optics, in which the light emitting ends of fiber optics are positioned to form the alignment markers on the top front surface of the putter head. The alignment markers are positioned within the putter head to provide the light capturing surfaces of the fiber optics exposure to ambient light, which in turn is emitted from the ends of the fiber optics.
Method and system for improving golf putting accuracy using a birdie-line golf glove and straight-edged putter grip
A method and system for improving the accuracy of putting a golf ball that includes a golf glove for use with a putter grip that has a straight edge, with the golf glove having a visual line alignment feature/illustration that allows a golfer to place his or her hand in a repeatable, proper position on the grip of the putter. The golf glove employed is devoid of any putter attachment feature, such as hook-and-loop fastener material on the glove or the golf grip and is further devoid of any indicia affixed to the back-hand portion of a glove that could be viewed as an alignment indicia, as it only complicates and confuses a golfer when putting. Preferred embodiments include a golf glove that includes a marking forming a straight line that diagonally crosses the palm portion of the glove such that, when worn by a wearer, provides the wearer with a visual indication of the proper gripping position of a golf putter, such putter having a grip that has at least one flat surface and an edge extending down the axial length of the grip that can be aligned with the visual indicator markings/line on the golf glove.