Nike, Inc.

Karsten Manufacturing Corporation

Jeffrey Alan Hadden

Douglas Anthony Thornton

Bradley Charles Glenn

John T Stites

Gregory S Kramer

Jeremy N Snyder

James S Thomas

Daniel Alan Roberts

Daniel John Simpson

Sherry Lynn Jones

Carl L Madore

Raymond J Sander

Gary Gene Tavares

Joshua M Boggs

James Huang Lua

Chad Edward Bouton

Daniel Francis Wisniewski

Brian J Kammerer

Jeffrey Richard Held

Clifford N Dodson

Patrick K Hoffman

Robert M Boyd

Philip J Hatton

Garrick L Maenle

Mike Kelly

Arthur Parker Molinari

Nicholas A Leech

Michael Wallans

Mario Angelbert Lafortune

Rachel Thurston

Matthew S Young

Michael L Kelly

Ivan E Tornes

Garrick L Meanle

Charles A Plaxico

Golf performance and equipment characteristics may be determined by analyzing the impact between a golf ball and an impacting surface. In some examples, the impacting surface may be a golf club face. The impact between the golf ball and the surface may be measured based on sound and/or motion sensors (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers, etc.). Based on motion and/or sound data, various equipment-related information including golf ball compression, club head speed and impact location may be derived. Such information and/or other types of data may be conveyed to a user to help improve performance, aid in selecting golf equipment and/or to insure quality of golfing products.

Impact and sound analysis for golf equipment

A golf club head having accelerometer and gyroscope sensors measuring swing motion acceleration and angular rate values. Inputs of force and torque to the golf club head during the swing motion may be unknown, such that a system of motion equations may be used to calculate functions for the unknown input force and torque, as well as roll angle and pitch angle for the golf club head, and compensate for gyroscope bias, without using static leveling processes.

Golf clubs and golf club heads having a plurality of sensors for detecting one or more swing parameters

A golf club having a sensor that is releasably connected is disclosed, where the sensor comprises a plurality of inertial measurement units. Each inertial measurement unit is able to measure linear accelerations along three orthogonal axes and angular rates of rotation along the same three orthogonal axes. Each inertial measurement unit is positioned such that at least two of the axes of each inertial measurement unit are oriented differently. Additionally, a process may be implemented by a processor to expand the measurement range of the sensor.

A golf club having a sensor that is removably connected at one or more positions of the golf club where the sensor comprises an inertial measurement unit including an accelerometer capable of measuring linear accelerations in three orthogonal axes and a gyroscope capable of measuring an angular rate of rotation around the same axes. The sensor may further comprise a processor which may perform instructions to detect the impact of the golf club with a golf ball and determine the start of the golf swing without any additional input from the user. The sensor may further have a power management system to extend the life of the power source.

Golf clubs and golf club heads having a sensor

Swing analysis system using angular rate and linear acceleration sensors

Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.

Golf clubs and golf club heads

Golf club heads having sensors configured to measure one or more swing parameters are provided. The golf club head may include several gyroscopes and accelerometers. In one embodiment, the club head contains three gyroscopes that measure angular rate data along different orthogonal axes. At least one gyroscope may an analog gyroscope. Accelerometers may provide data regarding the three orthogonal axes associated with the gyroscopes. The club head may further include software and/or hardware that perform computer-executed methods for determining one or more swing parameters. Exemplary club heads may include a display device for displaying an output of the swing parameter(s). Further aspects of the invention relate to novel methods and algorithms for calculating measurements relating to the swing parameters.

Golf clubs and golf club heads having digital lie and/or other angle measuring equipment

A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. The head further has an indicator associated therewith, the indicator identifying a golf ball based on a vibration mode of the golf ball, such that the club head is configured to be used to strike the golf ball on the ball striking surface. In one embodiment, the face and the identified golf ball(s) may have the same or substantially the same vibration mode at one or more different swing speeds. The indicator may be positioned on the body or elsewhere on the club head, or may be alternately be positioned on a shaft connected to the head or separately from the ball striking device, such as in a written manual associated with the head.

Vibration modes of faces for golf club heads or other ball striking devices

Growing community of inventors

Worthington, OH, United States of America

Jeffrey Alan Hadden