IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,458,860
Granted Patent B2
US 12,458,860 · App. 18/444,272 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Coaching aid for golf

Inventors: Matthew P. Doherty (North Palm Beach, FL); James F. Doherty, III (Raleigh, NC); William G. Moore (Raleigh, NC)
Assignee: SkyHawke Technologies, LLC
A63B69/3605A63B24/0021A63B71/0622G09B19/0038A63B2024/0056A63B69/36A63B2071/0691A63B2102/32A63B2220/12A63B2220/20A63B2220/70A63B2225/20A63B2225/50G01S19/19G16H20/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,458,860
App. No.
18/444,272
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods providing statistical analytics of golf performance for coaching including text, tabular, graphic, and image-based outputs that include trends information for the golfer, all based upon actual golf play on course situations, wherein the golfer inputs shot data during play, without interrupting the flow of the game, and uploads the shot data for analytics and review online, and wherein all information related to a given user are reviewable by an authorized coach user through a web-based coach access account. The system is further operable to provide the coach user rights for providing corrective or instructive feedback to the user, including visual recommendations such as modified target areas.

Claims (34)

1 . An apparatus for defining at least one target area for golf, comprising:

an application on a computing device configured for network communication with at least one server, wherein the at least one server is configured to store information and provide the information to the application;

wherein the application is configured to determine a starting position based on global positioning satellite (GPS) data;

wherein the application is configured to define a recommended target area including a center and at least one dimension;

wherein the application is configured to receive at least one target area shape modification;

wherein the application is configured to modify the recommended target area shape while maintaining the center of the recommended target area and the at least one dimension of the recommended target area;

wherein the application is configured to receive wind data and humidity data; and

wherein the application is configured to automatically modify the recommended target area based on the wind data and/or the humidity data.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the application is further configured to determine a three-dimensional distance between the recommended target area and the starting position, wherein the three-dimensional distance between the starting position and the recommended target area includes a difference in elevation.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to receive starting position lie data, wherein the starting position lie data includes slope data, wherein the computing device is configured to modify the recommended target area based on the starting position lie data, wherein the computing device is configured to display the modified recommended target area.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to receive a resting position, wherein the computing device is further configured to determine a three-dimensional distance from the resting position to the recommended target area.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the application is configured to receive a type of swing, and wherein the application is configured to define the recommended target area based on a comparison of the type of swing to historical data.

6 . An apparatus for defining at least one target area for golf, comprising:

an application on a computing device configured for network communication with at least one server, wherein the at least one server is configured to store information and provide the information to the application;

wherein the application is configured to determine a starting position based on geopositioning data;

wherein the application is configured to define a recommended target area including a center and at least one dimension;

wherein the application is configured to receive at least one target area shape modification;

wherein the application is configured to modify the recommended target area shape while maintaining the center of the recommended target area and the at least one dimension of the recommended target area;

wherein the computing device is configured to receive starting position lie data including slope data, wherein the computing device is configured to modify the recommended target area based on the starting position lie data; and

wherein the application is configured to receive wind data and humidity data, and wherein the application is configured to automatically modify the recommended target area based on the wind data and/or the humidity data.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the application is configured to receive current situational data, wherein the current situational data includes a type of swing, and wherein the application is configured to define the recommended target area based on the current situational data.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the application is further configured to determine a three-dimensional distance between the recommended target area and the starting position, wherein the three-dimensional distance between the starting position and the recommended target area includes a difference in elevation.

9 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the computing device is configured to receive a resting position, wherein the computing device is further configured to determine a three-dimensional distance from the resting position to the recommended target area.

10 . An apparatus for defining at least one target area for golf, comprising:

an application on a computing device configured for network communication with at least one server, wherein the at least one server is configured to store information and provide the information to the application;

wherein the application is configured to determine a starting position based on global positioning satellite (GPS) data;

wherein the application is configured to define a recommended target area including a center;

wherein the application is configured to customize the recommended target area in three dimensions based on starting position lie slope data;

wherein the application is configured to modify the recommended target area while maintaining the center of the recommended target area and at least one dimension of the three dimensions of the recommended target area; and

wherein the application is configured to receive wind data and humidity data, and wherein the application is configured to automatically modify the recommended target area based on the wind data and/or the humidity data.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the application is configured to receive current situational data, wherein the current situational data includes a type of swing, and wherein the application is configured to define the recommended target area based on the current situational data.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the application is further configured to determine a three-dimensional distance between the recommended target area and the starting position, wherein the three-dimensional distance between the starting position and the recommended target area includes a difference in elevation.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the computing device is configured to receive a resting position, wherein the computing device is further configured to determine a three-dimensional distance from the resting position to the recommended target area.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one server is configured to generate the at least one recommended target area based on historical performance for a club selection and weather data.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2024
From: DOHERTY, MATTHEW P.; DOHERTY, JAMES F.; MOORE, WILLIAM G.
To: PROLOOPER
Reel/Frame 066532/0496 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2024
From: PROLOOPER
To: SKYHAWKE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066532/0786 →
Continuity (14)
Continuation 17870201 · Jul 21, 2022
Continuation 17354703 · Jun 22, 2021
Continuation 16790273 · Feb 13, 2020
Continuation 16381712 · Apr 11, 2019
Continuation 15870359 · Jan 12, 2018
Continuation 15079086 · Mar 24, 2016
Continuation 14265218 · Apr 29, 2014
Continuation In Part 12501106 · Jul 10, 2009
Continuation In Part 12012943 · Feb 6, 2008
Continuation In Part 12012942 · Feb 6, 2008
Provisional Application 61134670 · Jul 12, 2008
Provisional Application 60899913 · Feb 7, 2007
Provisional Application 60899914 · Feb 7, 2007
Related Publication 20240189689A1 · Jun 13, 2024
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