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 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.

Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.

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.

A golf club fitting apparatus and a method for fitting using the apparatus are provided. The golf club fitting apparatus may be attached to a golf club and provide fitting information including effective lie angle and effective loft angle. The golf club fitting apparatus includes a lower surface that contacts a butt end of a grip, an upper surface opposite the lower surface, and a side surface connecting the upper and lower surfaces. An angle indicator is disposed at a predetermined angle relative to a shaft axis of the golf club so as to rest in a neutral position when the golf club is in a normal address position.

Disclosed herein is an electronic device holder comprising a body having a back portion, a first body end, a second body end, and a first and second side portion. The device holder further comprises a clamp on the back portion of the body that is configured to removably attach and secure the body of the electronic device holder to a golf club shaft. The clamp comprises a first and second arm portion each comprising a support portion, an arcuate portion, and a guide portion. The guide portions assist in aligning and inserting the electronic device holder onto the golf club shaft. Furthermore the first body end, the first side portion, and the second side portions of the holder body comprise curved portions that assist in securing the electronic device into the holder. Other embodiments and systems are described herein.

Real-time sports competition is hosted by a server between remote opponents. The interactive sports game play involves sport specific tools simulating equipment used for in-person sports competition with projectiles. Opponents are paired for sports competition using the sport specific tools, including identifying opponents from the plurality of players to compete. A competitive sports game is hosted between the paired opponents by receiving input from each player sourced from a sport specific tool with sensors to determine motion of the specific sport tool caused by players, and wireless circuitry to transmit motion data to the user computers, wherein motion data includes at least velocity and impact force against a projectile. A winner of the competitive sports game can be determined.

A variable golf putter is disclosed. The variable golf putter includes a putter head coupled to the lower end of a shaft, the putter head having a head hitting surface, and a hitting member selectively coupled to the putter head. The hitting member has various hitting surfaces, whereby it is possible to perform putting practice in various manners. In addition, the hitting member and the hitting material made of a material different from the material of the hitting member are formed integrally with each other, whereby it is possible to provide various hitting sensations and thus to efficiently perform putting practice.

A training aid for use in developing putting mechanics is disclosed. The aid comprises a base that is placed on a practice putting surface. The base includes a guide rail shaped to describe two superimposed arcs that define the optimal 3-dimensional path for a putting stroke. The training aid includes a practice putter that has a notch in the base of the putter head that fits over the guide rail. The notch causes the putter head follow the path defined by the guide rail. Deviation from the optimal path results in friction between the notch and guide rail, which in turn provides tactile feedback to the user that they are off the optimal path. The device also includes features that allow for optimal placement of the golf ball relative to the intended line of the putt and marking to assist in gauging the distance the golf ball will travel.