A golf ball is disclosed herein that includes at least one radar detectable mark such that a projected pattern is formed when the at least one radar detectable mark is radially projected onto an outer surface of the golf ball. The projected pattern can have a first wave profile mapped along a path defined by a first spherical arc on the outer surface of the golf ball. The projected pattern can comprise at least one first crest and at least one first trough. The projected pattern can have a periodic function selected from: a sine wave, a sawtooth wave, a triangle wave, or a square wave.

A software driven method for allowing amateur golfers to interact with a professional golfer utilizing inter alia, real life golf professional video footage, the method including a library of stored digitized video clips of a professional golfer hitting golf shots on a golf course while golf swing data of each shot is being taken by a launch monitor, video clips of the professional golfer discussing strategy for how his/her golf shot is or was attempted to be played, the professional golfer's golf swing data converted to a golf ball path that gets displayed against the backdrop of a virtual golf hole replicating the physical golf hole the golf shot was taken on, the software user's golf swing data, taken by a launch monitor and converted to a golf ball path displayed against the backdrop of the same virtual golf hole that the professional golfer's golf ball path is displayed on, and wherein the simulator software is configured to allow the user to play a simulated game of golf in tandem with the professional golfer and compare results to that of the professional golfer. The digitized archive of video clips includes clips taken from many years of professional golf play, allowing for clips from retired golfers or golf professionals.

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.

The present invention pertains to a ball-striking aid apparatus or simulator that includes a chassis for holding a ball and allowing rotation thereof, one or more sensors for detecting one or more ball stroke parameters and optionally a computing device being in communication with the one or more sensors and adapted to provide an input with respect to the one or more parameters.

The present disclosure provides a wireless signal transmitting ball to be used in practice or gameplay of a sport and/or other entertainment activities. The ball of the disclosure comprises a microprocessor unit configured to record, process, and transmit data to a paired device. Further disclosed is a method of actuating the ball between different modes. The ball could be used by players during practice to record data about their performance. The ball could also be used by players or game officials or referees to keep score, adjudicate and decide the gameplay. For example, the information about location of the ball could be used to track balls that could potentially be lost. Additionally, data about spin, trajectory, speed, force applied and the like could be used by players or broadcasters for gaining insights to add to viewing pleasure.

A reciprocating unidirectional electromagnetic resistance device includes a shaft having a flywheel installed to a first end of the shaft, an electromagnetic braking unit, and a first sensing device. A spring return device and a second sensing device are installed at a second end of the shaft, and a pull rope device is installed at the middle of the shaft. The electromagnetic braking unit and the spring return device are integrated into a single module and provided for an operator to perform a reciprocating motion to pull out a pull rope of the pull rope device and drive the shaft, the flywheel and the spring return device synchronously, and the electromagnetic braking unit acts an electromagnetic resistance onto the flywheel, so that the flywheel has the excellent precise resistance of the electromagnetic braking unit. When released, the pull rope can be retracted to achieve the reciprocating motion effect.

A system and method for measuring golf ball trajectory characteristics is disclosed. A device may collect a user and ball magnetometer and accelerometer frame of reference vectors. A device may calculate frame of rotation coefficients from the user magnetometer frame of reference vector, the user accelerometer frame of reference vector, the ball magnetometer frame of reference vector, and the ball accelerometer frame of reference vector using a Kabsch Algorithm. A device may collect a ball magnetometer time series matrix from the ball magnetometer as the ball is in flight. A device may process the ball magnetometer time series through a Rodrigues Rotation Formula using the frame rotation coefficients to create a rotation vector. A device may calculate a prior vector difference and a second prior vector difference. A device may calculate the spin axes by multiplying the prior vector difference by the second prior vector difference. A device may calculate a Theta vector by taking an arccosine of a dividend of a product of the prior vector difference multiplied by the second prior vector difference divided by a product of an absolute value of the prior vector difference multiplied by an absolute value of the second prior vector difference. A device may calculate the spin rate by dividing a change in Theta by the change in time. A device may display the spin rate and the spin axes on a display device.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for 3D flight tracking of objects include a method including determining a three dimensional trajectory based on initial observations, extrapolating the three dimensional trajectory backward in time to generate an extrapolated trajectory, calculating distance measures between the extrapolated trajectory and defined physical locations, waiting for additional observations when none of the distance measures satisfy a threshold distance, identifying one of the defined physical locations as an origin when only one of the distance measures satisfies the threshold distance and an error measure satisfies a predefined criteria, identifying one of the defined physical locations as the origin when two of the distance measures satisfy the threshold distance and only one of first and second error measures satisfies the predefined criteria, and waiting for additional observations when neither the first error measure nor the second error measure satisfies the predefined criteria.

Electronic tracking systems are disclosed for assisting users with locating objects in a sporting environment. One such system includes a ball tracking component that tracks a game ball while moving in the sporting environment, and a heads up display that is worn by the user. This heads up display has an electronic display screen with a transparent display area that dynamically displays images within the user's field of view. A processor, which communicates with the ball tracking component and heads up display, is programmed to detect movement of the game ball, and responsively determine launch characteristics and/or flight characteristics of the moving game ball. The heads up display displays the launch/flight characteristics contemporaneous with an object indication adjacent to or superimposed over the moving game ball as the game ball is visible through the transparent display area of the display screen within the user's field of view.