System for determining performance characteristics of a golf swing
View Patent ↗An instrumented golf club system and methods are disclosed. A variety of golf swing parameters are measured by the instrumented golf club and wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer device. The portable computer device generates a user interface that displays the golf swing parameters against preferred golf swing parameters. The instrumented golf club system allows a golfer to receive feedback in real time while playing golf.
1. A self contained instrumented golf club, the golf club comprising:
a first accelerometer module removably mounted in a head of the golf club; and
a second accelerometer module mounted in a shaft of the golf club; and
an antenna that comprises a ferrule that connects the head of the golf club to the shaft of the golf club for transmitting swing data to a portable computer device.
2. The instrumented golf club of claim 1 , wherein the weight of the first accelerometer and the second accelerometer do not change the balance or center of gravity of the club.
3. The instrumented golf club of claim 2 , wherein the head of the golf club is a wood.
4. The instrumented golf club of claim 2 , wherein the head of the golf club is an iron.
5. The instrumented golf club of claim 1 , wherein the first accelerometer module senses acceleration along three orthogonal axes.
6. The instrumented golf club of claim 1 , further including an impact module configured to sense the location of impact with a golf ball.
7. The instrumented golf club of claim 6 , wherein the impact module comprises an array of strain gauges.
8. The instrumented golf club of claim 6 , further including a grip pressure sensor.
9. The instrumented golf club of claim 1 , further including a transmission module that wirelessly transmits golf swing data.
10. A computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions for causing a transmission module embedded within a golf club to perform the steps of:
receiving first golf swing data from a first accelerometer module removably mounted in a head of the golf club;
receiving second golf swing data from a second accelerometer module mounted in a shaft of the golf club; and
transmitting the first and second golf swing data to a portable computer device using an antenna that comprises a ferrule that connects a head of the golf club to a shaft of the golf club.
11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , further including computer-executable instructions for causing the transmission module to perform the steps of:
receiving ball impact location data from an impact module; and
transmitting the ball impact location data.
12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , further including computer-executable instructions for causing the transmission module to perform the steps of:
receiving grip pressure data from a grip pressure sensor; and
transmitting the grip pressure data.
13. A self contained instrumented golf club, the golf club comprising:
a first accelerometer module mounted in a head of the golf club;
a second accelerometer module mounted in a shaft of the golf club; and
an antenna that comprises a ferrule that connects the head of the golf club to the shaft of the golf club for transmitting swing data to a portable computer device.