GB2318982A

GB2318982A - Golf club with sensors

Info

Publication number: GB2318982A
Application number: GB9623398A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Paul Wood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-11-05
Filing date: 1996-11-05
Publication date: 1998-05-13
Also published as: GB9623398D0

Abstract

A sporting implement, eg a golf club, has sensors which can detect parameters during and/or subsequent to use of the implement, eg the swing of the club, and a display for these parameters. The sensors may be for be acceleration/velocity of the club (sensor 18), point of impact of the head of the club with a ball (sensor 14), or the stress/strain of the club during the swing (sensor 19 fig 1). The expected distance and direction of a ball's flight can thus be calculated. There may be an LCD/LED display 21 on the shaft 13, or information may be transmitted to a remote receiver using an infra red data link. An audible noise, eg speech or variable tones may indicate the parameters measured. Sensed wind speed and direction may also be accounted for in calculating the trajectory of the ball, and any information can be stored, recalled and amended.

Description

IMPROVED SPORTING IMPLEMENT This invention relates to an improved sporting implement.

Sporting implements are used in the performance of many sports, for example tennis racquets, golf clubs, squash racquets, cricket bats, etc.

It can be advantageous as an indication of a player's performance or player's ability to be able to measure various parameters associated with the implement when in use, for example the speed of movement of the implement during performance of a sporting action or the part of the implement contacted by another object, for example a ball, during performance of the action. It can also be advantageous to be able to calculate and display, from the measured parameters, an indication of the anticipated result of the use of the sporting implement, for example the approximate distance an object struck with the implement will travel or the opposite direction of travel of the object relative to the intended direction of travel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sporting implement which has these advantages.

According to the present invention therefore there is provided an improved sporting implement incorporating therein sensors to detect a combination of the following parameters during or subsequent to performance of a sporting action, velocity of implement in use, point of impact of object with implement, direction of travel of object after impact with implement and distance of travel of object after impact with a implement, said implement also including at least one indicator means upon which one or more said measured parameters can be displayed.

With this arrangement, it is to provide an improved sporting implement which provides advantageous feedback of information regarding use of the implement by a sports player.

Preferably the sensors comprise at least one acceleration sensor mounted on or in a convenient part of the implement, for example the handle or shaft, a strain sensor mounted in any suitable position on the implement and at least one impact sensor on or in a part of the implement which strikes an object.

The sensors may be connected to a central control means which receives signals from the sensors in accordance with sensed parameters and may, if required, calculate other data for display from the sensed parameters. Preferably the control means comprises a microprocessor which is disposed within the implement.

Preferably the control means is linked to said indicator means and produces the data for display on the indicator.

Preferably the indicator comprises an LCD or LED display. Where, for example, the implement comprises a golf club, the indicator can be provided in the end of the handle.

The control means may include memory whereby data can be stored and recalled at any desired time by a user of the implement. User operable controls can be provided which are operable to allow entry, recall or amendment of data stored in the memory and to be displayed on the indicator means.

The control means may also be capable of using the measured parameters to produce an audible indication rather than a visual indication of the measured parameters. The audible indicator may be provided by connecting the control means to a voice synthesiser means which generates a synthesised voice which recites the measured parameters. This is particularly advantageous for blind persons who wish to use the implement.

Alternatively, the audible indicator can be provided by an audible tone which varies in volume, frequency or pitch, depending on the measured parameters.

As an alternative, a transmission means can be provided on or in the implement which transmits measured parameters from the sensors to a remote location at which is situated a control means. The transmission means may be adapted to transmit data at high frequencies and in a preferred embodiment an infra red data link is used to transmit data from the implement to the remote control means.

The sporting implement is preferably battery powered, i.e. it is selfcontained and has no trailing wires.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 comprises a schematic representation of one form of sporting implement according to the present invention; and Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of two parts of the implement of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 one form of sporting implement 10 according to the present invention in the form of a golf club. The implement for the purpose of description is shown as a golf club, but it should be realised that the implement can be any other form of sporting implement which lends itself to the same advantageous features.

The golf club comprises a club head 11 which is used to strike a golf ball linked to a handle (or grip) 12 which is gripped by a golfer, in use. The handle 12 is linked to the club head 11 via a shaft 13. Conventionally, the head 11 and shaft 13 are formed from metallic material and the handle 12 is preferably formed from a rubberised material and conventionally in practice the handle 12 is formed by a sleeve 16 or rubberised material mounted on and extending around an end of the shaft 13 remote from the head 11.

In the golf club shown in the figure, various sensors are provided at various positions on the club. In particular, impact sensors 14 are provided in the part of the head 12 which strikes the golf ball (the'face" 17 of the golf club), along with an acceleration sensor 18 (shown more clearly in Figure 2), and a strain sensor 19 is mounted on or in the shaft 13. The handle includes therein the microprocessor control device (not shown) which is electronically linked to the sensors 14, 18, 19 and receives signals from the sensors 14, 18, 19 indicative of parameters sensed by the sensors.

The microprocessor control device is linked to a display 21 of any suitable form (see Figure 2) which conveniently can be provided in the end 22 of the handle 12. The display 21 can be a LED or LCD display of conventional form and is shaped and configured so as to be capable of fitting in the end 22 of a handle 12 of a conventional golf club.

In use, a sportsman will, it is envisaged, use the sporting implement whilst undertaking training or practice in the sport in question. Considering in particular when the sporting implement is a golf club, the golfer will, it is envisaged, use the golf club on the practice ground or even in their own garden.

The golfer will take his normal stance and will attempt to strike a conventional golf ball in accordance with his usual golf swing. During the performance of this practice shot, the acceleration sensor 18 in the golf club head measures the speed at which the club head 1 1 impacts with the golf ball. This speed is used to calculate data relating to the distance of travel of the golf ball. The impact sensors 14 on the golf club head 12, in particular in the face 17 which strikes the ball, sense both the position of impact of the golf ball on the club face 17 and the direction of impact of the golf ball by the club face 17. This sensed information is used to calculate data relating to the distance of travel of the golf ball, the direction of travel of the golf ball and the accuracy of the strike of the ball relative to a predetermined ideal striking position (commonly known as athe sweetspot") on the club face 17. The strain sensors 19 in the shaft 13 measures the flex and stresses in the shaft during swinging of the golf club. This sensed information is used to assist in the calculation of data relating to the distance of travel of the ball.

All of the sensed information produced by the sensors 14, 18, 19 during the swing is fed back to the microprocessor control means (not shown) and the microprocessor control means calculates the abovementioned data from the sensed information by the sensors. The microprocessor can incorporate a memory, or alternatively a separate memory can be provided linked to the microprocessor, in which all sensed information can be stored as desired. User operable controls can be provided if desired which allow input of additional information into the control means to influence the calculation made, for example the type of golf ball being used and in these circumstances it may be possible for the memory to contain data relating to all of the golf balls currently on the market which is needed to effect the calculations. The user operable controls can take the form of switches mounted on the handle (shown schematically at 23 in Figure 2).

The control means is linked to the display 21 which can selectively display one or more of the calculated data, i.e. distance of travel of golf ball, direction of travel of golf ball, position of impact of golf ball on club face 17 relative to sweetspot, golf balls used, etc. The display 21 can also display the sensed information directly, if desired.

The calculated data can be stored in the memory or may be deleted or amended using the user operable controls 23. The calculated data previously stored can be recalled and displayed on the display for comparison with subsequent shots.

It will be appreciated that with the implement of the present invention, a useful training or practice aid is provided for the enthusiastic sportsman insofar as it enables important information concerning the performance of the sportsman and that information can be utilised to assist in improving the performance subsequently.

It will also be appreciated that it is an important feature of the present invention that the implement is matched in both weight and other characteristics to a conventional implement of the same kind in order that measured performance using the implement of the invention can be compared directly to performance of the same sporting action with the conventional implement.

It may also be possible to incorporate a sensor (not shown) in or on the implement which determines wind speed and direction whereby the sensed information can be fed to the microprocessor device to compensate calculated data for the effects of the wind prior to display. It may also be possible for the microprocessor control device to be linked to a suitable transmitting device (not shown) whereby calculated data can be transmitted to a remote display for display. The transmitter can transmit the data at infra red frequencies. Alternatively, it may be possible for the sensors 14, 18, 19 to transmit the sensed information to a remote microprocessor control device which performs the calculations and displays the calculated data remotely. In these circumstances the microprocessor control device can be a personal computer linked to a printer.

The golf club is ideally battery powered, i.e. it is self-contained and has no trailing wires. The battery is preferably rechargeable and may be recharged by solar powered units in the golf caddy.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims

1. An improved sporting implement incorporating therein sensors to detect a combination of the following parameters during or subsequent to performance of a sporting action, velocity of implement in use, point of impact of object with implement, direction of travel of object after impact with implement and distance of travel of object after impact with a implement, said implement also including at least one indicator means upon which one or more said measured parameters can be displayed.

2. An improved implement according to claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise at least one acceleration sensor mounted on or in a convenient part of the implement.

3. An improved implement according to claim 2 wherein the at least one acceleration sensor is mounted on the handle or shaft.

4. An improved implement according to claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise a strain sensor mounted in any suitable position on the implement.

5. An improved implement according to claim 1 wherein the sensors comprise at least one impact sensor provided on or in a part of the implement which strikes an object.

6. An improved implement according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the sensors are connected to a central control means which receives signals from the sensors in accordance with sensed parameters.

7. An improved implement according to claim 6 wherein the central control means calculates other data for display from the sensed parameters upon the indicator means.

8. An improved implement according to claim 7 wherein the control means is linked to the indicator means and produces the data for display on the indicator.

9. An improved implement according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the indicator comprises an LCD or LED display.

10. An improved implement according to any one of claims 1 to 9 in which the implement comprises a golf club and the indicator is provided in the end of the handle.

11. An improved implement according to any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein the control means includes memory whereby data can be stored and recalled at any desired time by a user of the implement.

12. An improved implement according to claim 10 wherein user operable controls are provided which are operable to allow entry, recall or amendment of data stored in the memory and to be displayed on the indicator means.

13. An improved implement according to any one of claims 6 to 12 wherein the control means is capable of using the measured parameters to produce an audible indication of the measured parameters.

14. An improved implement according to claim 13 wherein the audible indication may be provided by connecting the control means to a voice synthesiser means which generates a synthesised voice which recites the measured parameters.

15. An improved implement according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the audible indication is provided by an audible tone which varies in volume, frequency or pitch, depending upon the measured parameters.

16. An improved implement according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein a transmission means is provided on or in the implement which transmits the sensed measured parameters from the sensors to a remote location at which is situated a control means.

17. An improved implement according to claim 16 wherein the transmission means is adapted to transmit data at high frequencies.

18. An improved implement according to claim 17 wherein an infra red data link is used to transmit data from the implement to the remote control means.

19. An improved sporting implement according to any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein the sporting implement is battery powered.

20. An improved sporting implement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.