WO2011032573A1

WO2011032573A1 - Method for producing a noise that guides a golf player while hitting a golf ball

Info

Publication number: WO2011032573A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/006773
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Jaekel; Arnold Herp
Original assignee: Richard Jaekel; Arnold Herp
Priority date: 2009-09-19
Filing date: 2009-09-19
Publication date: 2011-03-24

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, wherein, by means of a plate-shaped impact sensor (18) removably attached to the impact surface (16) of a normal golf club, a measuring and calculating circuit (30), and an evaluation device (36), the points of impact of the golf club are accurately located and the rotational directions, speed, and duration of the swing motions of the club head (10) are determined by way of a yaw rate sensor (65) when the golf club hits the golf ball. After a number of practice hits, the hits having an optimal position of the point of impact and an optimal course of the speed of the club head (10) are selected. Thereafter, a noise (46) that lasts during the swing motion at least until the club hits the golf ball and that corresponds to the speed curve (45) by means of a change in the volume or pitch in a smooth manner is generated, the noise being stored and being reproduced by the evaluation device (36) during further hits.

Description

A method of generating a sound directing a golfer in hitting a golf ball

The invention relates to a method for producing a golf player when hitting a golf ball, in particular when putting conductive noise.

It is known that when hitting a golf ball, especially when putting, a uniform in all strokes, even under unfavorable conditions, a steady rhythm and a swift implementation of the striking motion essential prerequisites for good game results. For this reason, you have already, z. B. by metronome noises, given a certain rhythm for the impact movement. It remained unclear how the optimal, individual rhythm can be determined. Among other things, it depends on the physique, age and temperament as well as the experience and training condition of a golfer. These are factors that change over time, possibly even in the short term. Accordingly, the individual rhythm, whose phases are measured in tenths of a second, must be adjusted again and again. For this are methods that are cumbersome and require of a normal situation on a golf course deviating conditions, such. B. shooting or the use of special golf clubs, unsuitable. It is also very difficult to find the optimal rhythm, if you can not compare the respective actual rhythm with a measurable criterion of success beat by beat. The meeting of the hole is out of the question, because you need the success criterion not only for the last but also for all other punches. The invention is therefore based on the object to create a procedural ^¬ ren of the aforementioned type that can be practiced at any time very simple and fast and optimized by means of a ^¬ tive is objective performance review for each beat.

The above object is achieved in that

during a plurality of each consisting of a backswing and a Vorschwung practice beats with a golf club approved for tournaments by a on the club surface of the golf club releasably mounted, plate-shaped impact sensor in conjunction with an electronic measuring and arithmetic circuit and an evaluation device in a strike against the Gölfball the location of the impact ^¬ point in a coordinate system by measurements of a proportional to the change in distance from the coordinate axes changing, electrical voltage is localized and by a mounted on the golf club yaw rate sensor whose sensitive axis extends substantially parallel to the lower edge of the striking surface , in conjunction with the electronic measuring and calculating circuit and the evaluation unit, the direction of rotation, speed and duration of the back and Vorschwungbewegun- gene of the club head are determined

then the punches with optimal location of the impact point and individually optimal course of the over time applied speed of the head of the golf club selected and

followed by a continuous change in volume during the backswing and during the pre-swing until at least the impact against the golf ball and / or pitch and / or characteristic of the optimum speed curve corresponding noise is generated, which is stored and reproduced in further beats by the evaluation device.

A system suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention, consisting of a normal golf club with a plate-shaped impact sensor and rotation rate sensor attached thereto, and a measuring and arithmetic circuit which is connected via radio with an evaluation device in the manner of a mobile phone, smart phone or PDA in Compound is described in International Patent Application PCT / EP2008 / 002319. This system can register, display and save the location of the point of impact at which the golf ball touches the clubface with respect to the optimum point - the so-called sweet spot. This is an objective criterion for the accuracy of the leadership of the golf club available. At the same time, the acceleration values and times of the individual phases of the swing movements are recorded for each beat by the rotation rate sensor, from which the speeds and angular deflections can be determined. In addition, it is also possible to detect changes in the inclination and angular position (deloft / addloft, open / close) of the clubhead in certain points or phases of the swinging motion at the same time as a criterion for the accuracy of the clubguide guidance by further rotation rate sensors.

When determining the rhythm of movement, it is fundamentally possible to assume from the acceleration, over time,

Speed or angle deflection curves are assumed. For the sake of simplicity, the following is only from the Speed curve spoken. This means that in this appli ^¬-making as well as the other two, meaning the individual swing motion characterizing curves.

A golfer can with the above equipment, for. B. in conjunction with his also used in tournaments putter and preferably initially under favorable external conditions train normally and concentrate on the exact execution of his punches, without being distracted or influenced by the small and light sensors incl. Measurement and calculation circuit , He can after each stroke or after several strokes the z. B. from the speed curves readable movement rhythm with the location of the corresponding impact points of the ball on the clubface and recognize at which rhythm the impact points the sweet spot and the inclinations and angles come closest to the specifications and whether this rhythm and the positive result already with a certain regularity. If this knowledge is present, it is necessary to solidify the rhythm, so that he himself under unfavorable conditions, for. B. in strong winds, gradients or under the tension of a golf tournament, keep.

The aid according to the invention for this purpose is the proposed, the registered, optimal swing motions modeled, the other swing movements accompanying and while the golfer conductive noise. Its most important function is the specification of the rhythm, which leads to a quasi-automatic movement through frequent practice. The rhythm is essentially determined by the temporal start and end points of the optimal speed curve, whose Zero-passage at the end of the backswing and the times of highest speed determined. Some or all of these times may be determined by superimposing the ongoing noise with other, e.g. B. sudden noise, to be emphasized.

In addition, the continuous over the speed curve noise has the further function of causing the golfer by lautmalerische replication of increasing without interruption, then decreasing to zero and then increasing again to hit the ball speed, despite any external interference, z. Finally, with the same rhythm, the noise can be adjusted to the respective momentary measure of the positive and negative acceleration by the acoustic dynamics of the swell and / or the frequency change that are appropriate for the speed curve Express speed and make the golfer beat accordingly.

With regard to the goal of a continuously flowing

Swinging movement is recommended to produce a sound that does not stop at the reversal point of the movement, the transition from the return swing in the advance, where the speed is zero, but at a low level of volume or frequency only by a bottom.

After the blow against the golf ball, the further, declining flapping motion has no influence on the movement of the ball. The acoustic guidance of the golfer by the proposed sound may therefore end at this time. On the other hand, it comes to the rhythm of most Golfer when the sound curve corresponding to the speed curve lasts beyond the time of the impact against the golf ball until the end of the pre-swing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the impact sound conducting noise does not start abruptly, but is thereby announced that he has a certain recognition melody or an acoustic countdown, z. In the form of metronome beats. During the signature tune or countdown, the golfer completes his preshot routine by aiming the ball and hole in the ready to hit position, immediately thereafter, without having to wait indefinitely for the onset of the conductive noise to begin the backswing , The noise can be z. B. be a gradually increasing and decreasing or ascending and descending whistling, hissing or musical instrument sound.

If a golfer tries, for. B. by changing his posture, another leadership of the golf club or a shift of its focus on improving his game results, he will usually have to change the speed curve of his stroke movement. The change then again leads via an optimization by comparing the determined during a plurality of practice beats positions of the impact points of the ball on the clubface and possibly additionally their inclinations and angles with the respectively associated speed curves or their characteristic characteristics, then the preferably program-controlled on the evaluation to be carried out generation of the optimal speed curve corresponding simulated sound and finally the playback this noise in the other strokes. If the rhythm of the speed curve, initially considered optimal, does not turn out to be ideal in the following practice phase, this is noticeable in the accuracy with which the ball is hit in the area of the sweet spot and the inclinations and angles of the face are maintained. and then there may be further corrections of the rhythmic

Blowing motion are made.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. Show it :

a golf club with a suitable one

Equipment for extraction and production

a noise that is a golfer

especially in putting;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the am

Shaft of the golf club according to FIG. 1

attachable measuring and calculating circuit, and

Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of an individual speed curve of a

Golfer along with an audio waveform representation of a conductive noise.

In Fig. 1, a suitable for use in tournaments golf clubs is shown schematically, the club head with 10, shaft 12 and handle 14 are designated. On the striking surface 16 of the club head, a plate-shaped impact sensor 18 explained in more detail below, whose active sensitive area is denoted by 20, is fastened. The directions of the coordinates x, y and z used below are also entered. Their common starting point is in Sweet Spot 22 of the clubface 16.

The sensor 18 is connected via a plug connection 24 and to a cable 26 combined signal lines with a mounted in a protective housing 28, generally designated 30 sensor electronics with a measuring and arithmetic circuit, which is mounted by means of an easily detachable fastening mechanism 32 on the shaft 12 and a radio module 34, preferably Bluetooth, with a shown in Fig. 1A, mobile evaluation device 36 in the manner of a mobile phone, smartphone or PDA is in communication whose corresponding radio module with 38, flat screen with 40 and keyboard with 42 are designated. Optionally comes as an evaluation device 36, a laptop in question.

In the evaluation unit 36, the y and z coordinates of the hit point of a golf ball registered by the sensor 18, determined by the measuring and calculating circuit 30, are programmatically evaluated and graphically displayed together with the coordinates of the impact points of further ball strokes ,

The sensor 18 has the structure described in WO 2009/026951 AI. It consists of a by means of a double-sided adhesive film on the impact surface 16 fastened support plate and an outside of this arranged protective plate. The Support plate may for example consist of glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin. The protective plate may be made of plastic (preferably polyester).

On their mutually facing inner sides of the support plate and the protective plate are each provided with an electrically conductive layer. These may be semiconductor layers according to US Pat. No. 6,239,790 Bl, which have a certain linear electrical resistance. Between the two electrically conductive layers spacers are arranged in sufficient size and distribution, which ensure that the conductive layers only come into contact with each other, if the flexible protective plate regional or punctual as for example in a hit against a golf ball, a sufficient Pressure is exercised. The protective plate is glued firmly in the edge region with the support plate, but at least one ventilation opening remains free, which is designed in the manner of a labyrinth seal, so that the sensor 18 is dust and splash-protected to IP54.

Along the edge regions of the carrier plate extend printed printed conductors, which are electrically connected in pairs opposite each other along their length with one of the conductive layers. Each of the four tracks is connected to the measurement and calculation circuit 30 via a signal line continuing in the cable 26.

If the flexible protective plate is pressed in at a point so that its conductive layer contacts the other conductive layer on the carrier plate, as described in WO 2009/026951, after alternately applying a certain reference voltage to be connected to one of the two conductive layers interconnects a voltage to be measured, which increases and decreases in proportion to a change in the distances of the impact point of the loaded with the reference voltage tracks or coordinate axes, so that after a calibration, z. B. by printing on four symmetrically about the zero point 22 of the coordinate system register marks 44, the y and z coordinates can be determined. The measurements are carried out continuously with a suitable sampling frequency of 4 to 8 kHz in order to be able to reliably determine the position of a point of impact during the pressure duration in both coordinate directions. In addition, the time of impact of the golf ball and the pressure duration can be determined.

2, the essential parts of the measuring and calculating circuit 30 are shown. They are mounted in the housing 28 on a circuit board 60 and interconnected in the usual way.

Most important is a microcomputer labeled RAM of 62, FLASH memory, A / D converters, inputs and outputs (GPIOs) and serial interface, preferably UART and SPI. The microcomputer 62 controls the application of the reference voltage to the signal lines connected to the electrically conductive layers, registers the voltages and associated times measured during the measurement processes, and calculates the coordinates of the points of impact. These are buffered and forwarded via the radio module 34 with an antenna, preferably a ceramic antenna 35, to the evaluation device 36. The power supply is a battery 64, the charge controller is shown at 66. The charging takes place via a socket 68, preferably a USB socket of the type Mini-B or a 2.5 mm Jack socket. About this socket and the microcomputer 62 can be reprogrammed.

The measuring and calculating circuit 30 further includes a rotation rate sensor (gyroscope, gyro) 65 which is mounted in the housing 28 so that its sensitive axis substantially parallel to the impact surface 16 and the lower edge, ie normal to the plane of the pivoting movement of the reference point 22 at Putting, extends. Suitable yaw rate sensors 65 are commercially available, for example, under the designations Epson XV-3500TB, Murata Gyrostar, InvenSense IDG-300 and Analog Devices ADXRS 300. In cooperation with the microcomputer 62, the rotation rate sensor 65 determines a series of measured values, for. 100 per second, the angular velocity of the clubhead 16 during its reciprocal swing motion during puttering, over the time of about 15 seconds. plotted, a speed characteristic 45 in the manner of the diagram shown in Fig. 3 result. In it, the rest or starting position is shown at A. From here, the angular velocity and accordingly also the velocity of the clubhead measured in m / sec in the backward direction first increases, then decreases until at B the end of the backswing in the rearmost position of the clubhead is reached.

There, the angular velocity in the direction of impact is zero and the forward motion begins. It becomes faster, then progressively slower, until C hits the golf ball at C, until at D the end of the forward swing in the foremost position of the clubhead is reached. This is followed by an unillustrated backward movement until the club head returns to its starting position. From the course of the characteristic 45 of the angular velocity of FIG. 3, the acceleration can be derived. Integral formation gives the angles traveled and in this way can determine the position of the putter at the end of the backswing and the advance and control the vertical position of the face when hitting the ball. Multiplication of the angular velocity with a body size dependent radius gives the speed of the clubhead during the individual phases of the puddle and at the time of impact with the ball. Moreover, the characteristic 45 provides the exact duration of the backswing and the advance until the ball hits Golfers pay particular attention to the quotients of these time periods as well as the shape of the curve 45 in the transitional area from the backswing to the forwardswill, which may reveal, for example, an uncertainty expressing itself by hesitation.

With particular advantage, the measuring signals of the rotation rate sensor 65 can be used to control the function of the plate-shaped sensor 18. Namely, the latter needs to be activated by the microprocessor 62 only when the measurement results of the rotation rate sensor 65 are within certain limits and thereby indicate that a putt has been started with an acceptable return and start of the pre-swing. By the activation of the impact sensor 18 only during the pre-swing immediately before the impact against the ball and after pre-examination of the initial sequence of movements is achieved that not every impact of the striking surface against a hard object and not a slow Probewwung passes into the evaluation of concentrated executed Pütts , Further advantages are provided by the use of a two-axis or three-axis rotation rate sensor 65 which, in addition to the sensitive axis parallel to the y-axis shown in FIG. 1, has at least one further sensitive axis parallel to the x-axis and / or the z-axis. Alternatively, three separate rotation rate sensors could be used for each one of the said axes. Man can in this way, starting in each case from the starting position A of the golf club before the beginning of the backswing, the rotation rate z. B. to measure all three axes and determine the inclination and angular position of the clubface.

The angular velocities ascertained by the microcomputer 62 from the measurement signals of the rotation rate sensor 65, as well as the coordinates of the impact points determined from the measurement signals of the impact sensor 18, are transmitted via the radio link 34, 35, 38 to the evaluation unit 36 where they are evaluated and visualized according to the program.

The evaluation unit 36 operates in the master mode in order, if necessary, to receive, store and evaluate the measurement data of a plurality of measurement and calculation circuits 30, which are each transmitted to the evaluation device 36 by means of Bluetooth via a suitable transmission protocol, preferably SPP or HDI and to visualize. In this way, for. B. Two or four players directly compare their evaluated data in a common graph.

In practicing putting with the golf club illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be noted that over time, when the conditions (weather, local conditions, ability to concentrate) are favorable, the precision of improved on the leadership of the golf club and a certain movement rhythm of the swing movement develops. The improvement in the precision of beating can be recognized by the fact that the impact sensor 18 regularly registers hits in or near the sweet spot 22 and adheres to the specifications for the inclination and angular position of the striking surface. The ability acquired by the training to hold and guide the golf club very closely is attributable to the simultaneously developed and steadily increasing rhythm of the striking movement, which is expressed in an individual speed curve 45 according to FIG.

Unfortunately, many golfers get lost in the concept and rhythm when the outside circumstances are unfavorable when putting. This is also registered by the impact sensor 18 and the rotation rate sensor 65 in such a way that now the impact points on the club face are further away from the sweet spot 22, inclination and angular position deviate from the specifications and the speed curve 45 is significantly changed according to FIG. In particular, a delay in the area of the transition from the backswing in the Vorschwung, ie at the point B, has.

Experience has shown that in difficult situations a deterioration of the trained precision of the club guidance can be avoided or only to a lesser extent occurs if the golfer manages to maintain his well-practiced rhythm even under the more difficult conditions. Helping the golfer is the goal of the present invention. Prerequisite of the proposed assistance measure is the foregoing systematic practice of the club leadership with success control by means of the impact sensor 18 and possibly additionally by means of one or two other rotation rate sensors for controlling the inclination and angular position (deloft / addloft, open / close) of the club head. Parallel to this, the steadiness of the individual speed or rhythm curve 45 according to FIG. 3 has been registered by means of the rotation rate sensor 65. So that this rhythm, which could be proven by the above measurements as optimal, goes into flesh and blood and is maintained under unfavorable conditions, you can programmatically, z. B. in the evaluation unit 36, one of the speed curve 45 corresponding noise, which is modeled on the time course of the speed of the club head. Such a noise is graphically represented in FIG. 3 both directly in connection with the representation of the speed curve 45 and additionally in connection with the pictorially shown positions of the golfer during a striking movement and designated by 46. It is an audio-waveform representation in which a sequence of closely spaced waves or just vertical bars on a longitudinal axis with their positive and negative amplitude z. B. expresses the change in the volume. Background of such sounds, the z. As are known from movies and radio plays is the fact that fast moving objects cause an air movement that can be perceived as a noise, and this noise also changes with changes in speed. The noise can z. As a hissing, hissing or whistling, which increases in volume with increasing speed. But for the purposes of the invention is also a noise z. B. in the manner of a whistling sound generated by the lips or a sound generated by a musical instrument, in which the increase in speed is symbolized by a sliding transition to higher tones. The type of sound may also change as speed changes, eg. B. from a breathed at slow speed noise to a higher speed in a hissing noise. The graph 46 of the noise in Fig. 3 could therefore also z. B. Characterize a changing over time pitch.

In the example of Figure 3, the noise continues from the beginning of the backswing at A to the end of the forward swing at D. If desired by a golfer, the conductive noise could last only from time A to impact against the ball at time C. As shown in Fig. 3, the volume also at point B, where the speed is zero, does not go back to zero as well, but remains audible to cause the golfer to make a continuous, rapid movement.

To meet individual wishes for selecting one of the kind personally preferred noise, z. B. the individual speed curve 45 shown in FIG. 3 are transmitted by the evaluation device 36 to an Internet portal that offers different sounds for selection and calculated in the rhythm of the speed curve, the type selected noise and makes available. Alternatively, even the evaluation device 36, analogous to a supply of ringtones on mobile phones, have stored different types of sounds and programmatically generate a selected noise according to the characteristic of the velocity curve.

Also on request, the conductive noise can be superimposed by Metronomschläge z. B. at the points A, B, and C to emphasize the rhythm.

The conductive noise can begin as soon as the golfer starts the backswing. In addition, there is also the possibility of a certain period of time before the onset of the signal generated by the evaluation 36 sound also from this device a recognition tune, also referred to as a jingle, play and z. B. to transfer to a worn by the golfer earphones. The signature melody accompanies the so-called preshot routine, during which the golfer concentrates on his posture and the finish line between the ball and the hole. The signature tune has two advantages: it remains the same regardless of the golfer's external circumstances and physical condition, encouraging relaxation and calm concentration before the beat. In addition, it is advantageously noticeable that the conductive noise starts immediately after the recognition melody or after a certain short period of time which remains in the memory. Therefore, the golfer does not need to wait for the conductive noise or to follow this, taking into account the reaction time. The Preshot routine flows smoothly into the swing movement.

Claims

claims

1. A method for creating a golfer at

Hitting a golf ball, especially when putting, conductive noise, characterized in that

during a plurality of each consisting of a backswing and a forward swing practice beats with a tournament authorized golf clubs by a on the striking surface (16) of the golf club releasably mounted plate-shaped impact sensor (18) in conjunction with an electronic measuring and calculating circuit (30) and an evaluation device (36) in a hit against the golf ball, the location of the impact point in a coordinate system by measurements of a proportional to the change of the distance from the coordinate axes changing, electrical voltage is localized and by a on the

Golf clubs mounted rotation rate sensor (65) whose sensitive axis extends substantially parallel to the lower edge of the striking surface (16), in conjunction with the electronic measuring and calculating circuit (30) and the evaluation device (36) the direction of rotation, speed and duration of the return and advance movements of the club head (10) are determined, then the punches are selected with optimum position of the impact point and individually optimal course of the over time applied speed of the head (10) of the golf club and

then, during the backswing and during the forward swing, until at least the impact against the golf ball, by sliding change of the Volume and / or pitch and / or characteristic of the optimal speed curve (45) corresponding noise (46) is generated, which is stored and reproduced in further beats by the evaluation device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that by a multiaxial rotation rate sensor (65) or at least one further rotation rate sensor changes in the inclination (deloft / addloft) and / or the angular position (open / close) of the striking surface (16) and determines these values be used in addition to the optimal location of the impact point to the selection of the individually optimal speed curve.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the noise (46) also in the reversal point (B) of the movement, the transition from the backswing in the Vorschwung, where the speed is zero, persists.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the speed curve (45) corresponding noise (46) over the time (C) of the impact against the golf ball out to the end (D) of the advance continues.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the noise (46) a recognition melody or an acoustic countdown, z. In the form of metronome beats.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the noise (46) is a sliding on and descending or ascending and descending whistle, Fauchoder musical instrument sound.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the continuous noise (46) at the beginning (A) and / or in the scheduled time (B) for the reversal of the direction of movement and / or in the scheduled time (C) for the impact against the Golf ball is overlaid by a sudden noise.