PUTTING PRACTICE APPARATUS FOR EVALUATING STRIKING SPEED AND TEMPO OF PUTTER

Abstract

A putting practice apparatus for evaluating the striking speed and tempo of a putter includes: an emitting unit (100) that emits light and is provided in a first sensor installation part; a light receiving unit (200) that receives the light emitted from the emitting unit (100); a speed detecting unit (300) and a position measuring unit (400) which respectively detect the speed and measure the position of the golf ball (1); a calculation control unit (500) for performing calculations in order to detect the initial position value of the golf ball (1) as measured by the position measuring unit (400) and the movement speed (Vb) and the moving distance (Hb) of the golf ball (1) as measured by the speed detecting unit (300); and a storage unit (600) for storing the measured speed (Vb) and the measured distance (Hb) of the golf ball (1).

Claims

1. A putting practice apparatus, which includes sensor mounting units mounted to face each other and to be spaced apart from each other in parallel with a moving direction of a golf ball (1), the putting practice apparatus comprising: an emitting unit (100) or a light receiving unit (200) disposed on a first sensor mounting unit of the sensor mounting unit to emit light; a light receiving unit (200) or an emitting unit (100) disposed on a second sensor mounting unit of the sensor mounting unit to receive light emitted from the emitting unit (100); a speed detecting unit (300) for detecting the speed of the golf ball (1) and a position measuring unit (400) for measuring the position of the golf ball (1) by checking the moment that the golf ball passes when the light receiving unit (200) receives the light emitted from the emitting unit (100) and the golf ball (1) is putted, further comprising: a calculation control unit (500) for calculating to detect an initial position value of the golf ball (1) measured by the position measuring unit (400) and a moving speed (Vb) and a moving distance (Hb) of the golf ball (1) measured by the speed detecting unit (300); and a storage unit (600) for storing the measured speed (Vb) and the measured distance (Hb) of the golf ball (1).

2. The putting practice apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emitting unit (100) includes: a first emitting unit (110) for emitting light to detect the initial position of the golf ball (1); a second emitting unit (120) for emitting light to detect the speed of the golf ball (1); and a third emitting unit (130) for emitting light to detect the strike speed and tempo of a putter (2) moving behind the golf ball (1) to strike the golf ball (1), and wherein the light receiving unit (200) includes: a first light receiving unit (210) mounted to face the first emitting unit (110) to receive light emitted from the first emitting unit (110); a second light receiving unit (220) mounted to face the second emitting unit (120) to receive light emitted from the second emitting unit (120); and a third light receiving unit (230) mounted to face the third emitting unit (130) to receive light emitted from the third emitting unit (130).

3. The putting practice apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the third emitting unit (130) includes: a third-first emitting unit (131) mounted adjacent to the first emitting unit (110); and a third-second emitting unit (132) mounted to be spaced apart from the third-first emitting unit (131) at a predetermined distance Dc, and wherein the third light receiving unit (230) includes: a third-first light receiving unit (231) mounted to correspond to the third-first emitting unit (131); and a third-second light receiving unit (232) mounted to correspond to the third-second emitting unit (132).

4. The putting practice apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in a case in which time to detect through the third-first emitting unit (131) and the third-first light receiving unit (231) after the putter (2) starts backswing is t0, and in a case in which time to detect through the third-first emitting unit (131) and the third-first light receiving unit (231) after the putter (2) converts backswing into downswing and moves forward is t1, the tempo (T) is defined as T=t1−t0.

5. The putting practice apparatus according to claim 4, wherein in a case in which time to detect through the third-second emitting unit (132) and the third-second light receiving unit (232) after the putter (2) is converted into downswing and moves forward is t2, and a distance between the third-first emitting unit 131 and the third-second emitting unit (132) is Dc, the speed (Vp) of the putter (2) is defined as Vp=Dc/(t1−t2).

6. The putting practice apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the tempo T and the speed Vp of the putter measured by backswing and downswing of the putter (2) are stored in the storage unit (600), the calculation control unit (500) calculates the moving speed (Vb) and the moving distance (Hb) of the golf ball (1) after the putter (2) strikes the golf ball (1), and then, the calculated values are stored in the storage unit (600).

7. The putting practice apparatus according to claim 6, wherein after the putter (2) performs putting of i times (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n−1, and n), the tempo values Ti measured per putting are stored in the storage unit (600), the calculation control unit (500) calculates a standard deviation (Tsd) and an average (Tav) of the tempo Ti measured by the number of times, and the calculated standard deviation (Tsd) and average (Tav) are stored in the storage unit (600).

8. The putting practice apparatus according to claim 7, wherein in a case in which the standard deviation (Tsd) and the average (Tav) are measured j times (j=1, 2, 3, . . . , m−1, and m), an average value of the measured standard deviation (Tsd) is called a standard deviation reference value (Tsd_b), and an average value of the measured average value (Tav) is called an average reference value (Tav_b), the standard deviation reference value Tsd_b is defined as:
Tsd_b=[Tsd_1+Tsd_2+Tsd_3+ . . . +Tsd_m−1+Tsd_m]/m], and the average reference value Tav_b is defined as:
Tav_b=[(Tav_1_Tav_2+Tav_3+ . . . +Tav_m−1+Tav_m)/m].

9. The putting practice apparatus according to claim 8, wherein in a case in which a current standard deviation value of a tempo Ti_now currently measured by a plurality of putting practices is Tsd_0 and a current average value is Tav_0, if the standard deviation value Tsd_0 of the currently measured tempo Ti_now is smaller than the standard deviation reference value Tsd_b (Tsd_0<Tsd_b), it is determined as ‘Improved tempo’, if the standard deviation value Tsd_0 of the currently measured tempo Ti_now is equal to the standard deviation reference value Tsd_b (Tsd_0=Tsd_b), it is determined as ‘Normal tempo’, and if the standard deviation value Tsd_0 of the currently measured tempo Ti_now is larger than the standard deviation reference value Tsd_b (Tsd_0>Tsd_b), it is determined as ‘Bad tempo’.

10. The putting practice apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in the state in which it is determined as ‘Improved tempo’ (Tsd_0<Tsd_b), in a case in which a value that an absolute value of a difference value between the average value Tav_0 of the currently measured tempo Ti_now and the average reference value Tav_b is divided by the average reference value Tav_b is less than 0.1 (|Tav_0−Tav_b|/Tav_b<=0.1), it is determined as ‘Very improved tempo’.

11. The putting practice apparatus according to claim 6, wherein in a case in which a speed value of the putter (2) measured by the number of putting times after the putter (2) performs putting of i times (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n−1, and n) is called Vpi, and the speed of the golf ball 1 moving after being struck by the putter (2) is called Vbi, if the speed values Vpi having the same speed among the Vpi (herein, i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n−1, and n) are divided by speed, each speed is Vp q (here, q=1, 2, 3, . . . , k−1, k, k+1, . . . , u−1, and u), and if the speed of the putter 2 is Vp_k, the fastest speed of the golf ball 1 is called Vb_k_max, and wherein in a case in which the speed of the putter (2) is Vp q, the fastest speed of the golf ball (1) moving by the strike of the putter (2) is defined as Vb q-max, and the Vp-q and the Vb q-max (here, q=1, 2, 3, . . . , k−1, k, k+1, . . . , u−1, and u) are stored in the storage unit (600).

12. The putting practice apparatus according to claim 11, wherein in a case in which the current speed of the putter (2) measured by the current putter practice is called Vpc and the moving speed of the golf ball (1) struck by the putter is called Vbc, the same speed as the Vpc is found from the Vp q (here, q=1, 2, 3, . . . , k−1, k, k+1, . . . , u−1, and u), when the speed constant is Vpc=Vp_k, a speed constant Vconst=(Vbc)/(Vb_k_max), and when Vconst≥1, it is determined as ‘Very accurate strike position’, when the speed constant is 0.95≤Vconst≤1, it is determined as ‘Improved strike position’, when the speed constant is 0.9≤Vconst≤0.95, it is determined as ‘Normal strike position’, when the speed constant is 0.85<Vconst≤0.9, it is determined as ‘Effor-required strike position’, when the speed constant is 0.8<Vconst≤0.85, it is determined as ‘Bad strike position’, and when the speed constant is Vconst≤0.8, it is determined as ‘Strike position to be corrected’.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of putting.

[0039] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a putting practice apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the putting practice apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a principle of a tempo measuring method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a principle of a club speed measuring method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] FIG. 6 is a schematic front illustrating a general putter head.

MODE FOR INVENTION

[0044] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, thicknesses of lines and sizes of constituent elements may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience in explanation.

[0045] Furthermore, terms to be described later are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, and may differ depending on the intentions of a user or an operator or custom. Accordingly, such wordings should be defined on the basis of the contents of the overall specification.

[0046] In addition, the embodiment disclosed hereinafter does not limit the scope of the present invention, but corresponds to merely exemplary terms of constituent elements presented in claims of the present invention, and the embodiments that include replaceable constituent elements as equivalents of the constituent elements defined in the overall specification and claims may be included in the scope of the present invention.

[0047] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of putting, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a putting practice apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the putting practice apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a principle of a tempo measuring method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a principle of a club speed measuring method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a schematic front illustrating a general putter head.

[0048] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the putting practice apparatus 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes sensor mounting units mounted to face each other and to be spaced apart from each other in parallel with a moving direction of a golf ball 1.

[0049] The putting practice apparatus 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: an emitting unit 100 disposed on a first sensor mounting unit of the sensor mounting unit to emit light; a light receiving unit 200 disposed on a second sensor mounting unit of the sensor mounting unit to receive light emitted from the emitting unit 100; a speed detecting unit 300 for detecting the speed of the golf ball 1 and a position measuring unit 400 for measuring the position of the golf ball 1 when the light receiving unit 200 receives the light emitted from the emitting unit 100 and the golf ball 1 is putted.

[0050] Moreover, the putting practice apparatus 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes: a calculation control unit 500 for calculating to detect an initial position value of the golf ball 1 measured by the position measuring unit 400 and a moving speed Vb and a moving distance Hb of the golf ball 1 measured by the speed detecting unit 300; and a storage unit 600 for storing the measured speed Vb and the measured distance Hb of the golf ball 1.

[0051] Furthermore, the emitting unit 100 includes: a first emitting unit 110 for emitting light to detect the initial position of the golf ball 1; a second emitting unit 120 for emitting light to detect the speed of the golf ball 1; and a third emitting unit 130 for emitting light to detect the striking speed and tempo of a putter 2 moving behind the golf ball 1 to strike the golf ball 1.

[0052] Additionally, the light receiving unit 200 includes: a first light receiving unit 210 mounted to face the first emitting unit 110 to receive light emitted from the first emitting unit 110; a second light receiving unit 220 mounted to face the second emitting unit 120 to receive light emitted from the second emitting unit 120; and a third light receiving unit 230 mounted to face the third emitting unit 130 to receive light emitted from the third emitting unit 130.

[0053] In addition, the second emitting unit 120 and the second light receiving unit 220 are used to measure the speed and direction of the golf ball directly after putting. Since such a technical idea has been already described in the related art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0054] Moreover, the third emitting unit 130 includes: a third-first emitting unit 131 mounted adjacent to the first emitting unit 110; and a third-second emitting unit 132 mounted to be spaced apart from the third-first emitting unit 131 at a predetermined distance Dc.

[0055] Furthermore, the third light receiving unit 230 includes: a third-first light receiving unit 231 mounted to correspond to the third-first emitting unit 131; and a third-second light receiving unit 232 mounted to correspond to the third-second emitting unit 132.

[0056] Additionally, in a case in which time to detect through the third-first emitting unit 131 and the third-first light receiving unit 231 after the putter 2 starts backswing is t0 and time to detect through the third-first emitting unit 131 and the third-first light receiving unit 231 after the putter 2 converts backswing into downswing and moves forward is t1, the tempo T is defined as T=t1−t0.

[0057] In addition, in a case in which time to detect through the third-second emitting unit 132 and the third-second light receiving unit 232 after the putter 2 is converted into downswing and moves forward is t2 and a distance between the third-first emitting unit 131 and the third-second emitting unit 132 is Dc, the speed Vp of the putter 2 is defined as Vp=Dc/(t1−t2).

[0058] The tempo T and the speed Vp are important elements influencing on the putting distance (moving distance of the golf ball). In this instance, the tempo is maintained consistently, but the speed Vp is varied according to the putting distance.

[0059] That is, a user can accurately control power and correctly send the golf ball to a desired distance when controlling a putter rotational speed while maintaining the tempo consistently and increasing or decreasing the distance of backswing according to the putting distance. Therefore, it is very important to train and practice the speed Vp of the putter according to consistent putting tempo and putting distance, and it is an essential matter to improve putting skills.

[0060] Hereinafter, a method of providing information about the user's tempo will be described in detail.

[0061] The tempo T and the speed Vp of the putter measured by backswing and downswing of the putter 2 are stored in the storage unit 600, and then, the calculation control unit 500 calculates the moving speed Vb and the moving distance Hb of the golf ball 1 after the putter 2 strikes the golf ball 1, and then, the calculated values are stored in the storage unit 600.

[0062] Moreover, after the putter 2 performs putting of i times (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n−1, and n), the tempo values Ti measured per putting are stored in the storage unit 600, the calculation control unit 500 calculates a standard deviation Tsd and an average Tav of the tempo Ti measured by the number of times, and the calculated standard deviation Tsd and average Tav are stored in the storage unit 600.

[0063] The average Tav of the tempo Ti is defined as (T1+T2+ . . . +Tn)/n, and the standard deviation Tsd of the tempo Ti is defined as:

[00001]$\mathrm{Tsd}=\sqrt{\frac{\underset{i=1}{\overset{n}{.Math.}}{\left(\mathrm{Ti}-\mathrm{Tav}\right)}^2}{n}}.$

[0064] In addition, in a case in which the standard deviation Tsd and the average Tav are measured j times (j=1,2,3, . . . , m−1, and m), an average value of the measured standard deviation Tsd is called a standard deviation reference value Tsd_b, and an average value of the measured average value Tav is called an average reference value Tav_b,

[0065] the standard deviation reference value Tsd_b is defined as:

Tsd_b=[Tsd_1+Tsd_2+Tsd_3+ . . . +Tsd_m−1+Tsd_m]/m], and

[0066] the average reference value Tav_b is defined as:

Tav_b=[(Tav_1_Tav_2+Tav_3+ . . . +Tav_m−1+Tav_m)/m].

[0067] Furthermore, the standard deviation reference value Tsd_b and the average reference value Tav_b are stored in the storage unit 600.

[0068] Additionally, in a case in which a current standard deviation value of a tempo Ti_now currently measured by a plurality of putting practices is Tsd_0 and a current average value is Tav_0, if the standard deviation value Tsd_0 of the currently measured tempo Ti_now is smaller than the standard deviation reference value Tsd_b (Tsd_0<Tsd_b), it is determined as ‘Improved tempo’.

[0069] In addition, if the standard deviation value Tsd_0 of the currently measured tempo Ti_now is equal to the standard deviation reference value Tsd_b (Tsd_0=Tsd_b), it is determined as ‘Normal tempo’.

[0070] Moreover, if the standard deviation value Tsd_0 of the currently measured tempo Ti_now is larger than the standard deviation reference value Tsd_b (Tsd_0>Tsd_b), it is determined as ‘Bad tempo’.

[0071] In the state in which it is determined as ‘Improved tempo’ (Tsd_0<Tsd_b), in a case in which a value that an absolute value of a difference value between the average value Tav_0 of the currently measured tempo Ti_now and the average reference value Tav_b is divided by the average reference value Tav_b is less than 0.1 (|Tav_0−Tav_b|/Tav_b<=0.1), it is determined as ‘Very improved tempo’.

[0072] In other words, after the putter 2 performs putting of i times (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n−1, and n), a standard deviation Tsd and an average Tav of the tempo values Ti measured per putting are calculated.

[0073] Furthermore, the standard deviation Tsd and the average Tav are measured j times (j=1, 2, 3, . . . , m−1, and m), and a standard deviation reference value Tsd_b and an average reference value Tav_b measured j times are calculated.

[0074] Additionally, a standard deviation value Tsd_0 and an average value Tav_0 of a tempo Ti_now currently measured by a plurality of putting practices are calculated, and the standard deviation value Tsd_0 and the standard deviation reference value Tsd_b are compared with each other.

[0075] That is, the putting practice apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention compares data measured by the current putting practices and data stored previously with each other to measure and determine consistency of the current putting tempo and provide the result to the user.

[0076] Meanwhile, hereinafter, a method of providing information on the striking position of the putter to the user will be described in detail.

[0077] In a case in which a speed value of the putter 2 measured by the number of putting times after the putter 2 performs putting of i times (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n−1, and n) is called Vpi, and the speed of the golf ball 1 moving after being struck by the putter 2 is called Vbi, if the speed values Vpi having the same speed among the Vpi (herein, i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n−1, and n) are divided by speed, each speed is Vp q (here, q=1, 2, 3, . . . , k−1, k, k+1, . . . , u−1, and u), and if the speed of the putter 2 is Vp_k, the fastest speed of the golf ball 1 is called Vb_k_max.

[0078] In other words, the speed value of the putter 2 measured by the number of putting times after the putter 2 performs putting of i times (i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n−1, and n) is called Vpi, and the speed of the golf ball 1 is called Vbi.

[0079] In addition, the speed values Vpi having the same speed among the Vpi (herein, i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n−1, and n) are divided by the speed Vbi of the golf ball.

[0080] That is, the putter 2 performs putting one hundred times, and speed values of the putter 2 and speed values of the golf ball 1 corresponding to one hundred times are measured. In this instance, the speed values having the same speed of the putter 2 are grouped, and the grouped speed value is divided by the speed value of the golf ball.

[0081] That is, the speed values of the putter 2 are the same, but the speed values of the golf ball 1 corresponding to the speed values of the putter 2 may be different. In a case in which the user putts the golf ball using the central portion A5 of the putter head, which is a spot point, the golf ball shows the fastest speed, and as the golf ball gets farther from the central portion, the speed of the golf ball is reduced and the moving distance of the golf ball is also reduced.

[0082] Moreover, in a case in which the speed of the putter 2 is Vp q, the fastest speed of the golf ball 1 moving by the strike of the putter 2 is defined as Vb q-max, and the Vp-q and the Vb q-max (here, q=1, 2, 3, . . . , k−1, k, k+1, . . . , u−1, and u) are stored in the storage unit 600.

[0083] Additionally, in a case in which the current speed of the putter 2 measured by the current putter practice is called Vpc and the moving speed of the golf ball 1 struck by the putter is called Vbc, the same speed as the Vpc is found from the Vp q (here, q=1, 2, 3, . . . , k−1, k, k+1, . . . , u−1, and u), when the speed constant is Vpc=Vp_k, a speed constant Vconst=(Vbc)/(Vb_k_max), and when Vconst≥1, it is determined as ‘Very accurate strike position’.

[0084] In addition, when the speed constant is 0.95<Vconst≤1, it is determined as ‘Improved strike position’. When the speed constant is 0.9<Vconst≤0.95, it is determined as ‘Normal strike position’. When the speed constant is 0.85<Vconst≤0.9, it is determined as ‘Effor-required strike position’. When the speed constant is 0.8<Vconst≤0.85, it is determined as ‘Bad strike position’. When the speed constant is Vconst≤0.8, it is determined as ‘Strike position to be corrected’.

[0085] Of course, the Vconst sections and terms for expressing determination can be changed properly.

[0086] That is, the putting practice apparatus 10 according to the present invention measures the tempo, which is the time till the golf ball passes the initial start point again after the user putts the golf ball at the initial start point of backswing and performs downswing, by using optical sensors and provides data on consistency of the tempo at the time of putting, thereby improving practice effect of the user.

[0087] Moreover, the putting practice apparatus 10 according to the present invention measures the speed of the putter 2 and the speed of the golf ball, and provides additional information, such as characteristics of the putter 2 or strike conditions at the central point A5, through relationship between the measured speed of the putter 2 and the measured speed of the golf ball, thereby helping the putting practice.

[0088] Therefore, compared with the conventional putting devices providing only the putting distance and the putting direction, the putting practice apparatus having the third emitting unit 130 and the third light receiving unit 230 according to the present invention can measure tempo, which is the core element for determining the putting distance, and provide feedback to the user so that the user can achieve consistent tempo and learn effective practice methods, thereby improving the user's putting skill.

[0089] In addition, the putting practice apparatus 10 according to the present invention allows the user to understand characteristics of the putter that the user is using and predict a strike position of the golf ball 1 through the speed relationship between the golf ball 1 and the putter 2, thereby helping the user to strike the golf ball at a correct strike point (the central point A5 of the putter).

[0090] Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0091] Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements should be considered to be within the scope of the invention, and the detailed scope of the invention will be disclosed by the accompanying claims.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0092] 1 Golf ball 2: Putter [0093] 10 Putting practice apparatus 100: emitting unit [0094] 110 First emitting unit 120: Second emitting unit [0095] 130 Third emitting unit 131: Third-first emitting unit [0096] 132 Third-second emitting unit 200: Light receiving unit [0097] 210 First light receiving unit 220: Second light receiving unit [0098] 230 Third light receiving unit 231: Third-first light receiving unit [0099] 232 Third-second light receiving unit 300: Speed detecting unit [0100] 400 Position measuring unit 500: Calculation control unit [0101] 600 Storage Unit