Method and apparatus for analyzing a golf stroke

Abstract

A method of analyzing and practicing golf strokes, such as putting strokes, is provided. A surface is provided, wherein a golfer can practice one or more strokes in an environment simulating components of a golf course, such as a green. A club movement detector embedded in the surface and comprising a plurality of photodetectors and associated circuitry determines the position and velocity of the club face A head movement sensor detects rotational movement of the golfer's head during the golf stroke. An eye movement sensor detects movement of the eyes of the golfer during the golf stroke. A processor connected to the club movement sensor, eye movement sensor, and head movements sensor gathers movement data during the golf stroke and produces measurements corresponding to the golf stroke, such as eye, head, and club movement of the golfer. The invention includes measuring head movement data and wirelessly transmitting same for remote analysis during a golf stroke. Club head movement is sensed by an infrared ranger placed along a line perpendicular to the face of the clubhead. Eye, head, and club movement data can be combined into one or more serialized data streams, and transmitted wirelessly over one or more RF channels for remote reception and processing. Finger, wrist, and elbow movements can also be measured and analyzed during a golf stroke or a free throw setting.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for analyzing golf strokes comprising: 
 a sensor for sending a signal and receiving a reflected signal;    a reflective surface on a golf club head for reflecting the signal from the sensor back to the sensor; and    a transmitter for transmitting the reflected signal to a processor,    wherein the processor produces movement measurements of the golf club head during the golf stroke.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the signal comprises an infrared signal  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the infrared signal is generated by an infrared LED  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the reflected signal is received by an infrared phototransistor.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the measurements are compared to measurements of golfers of different skill levels.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the measurements comprise time traces.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor for sensing head movement of the golfer during the golf stroke.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second sensor includes an accelerometer for measuring head movement.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a third sensor for sensing eye movement of the golfer during the stroke.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the third sensor comprises an infrared eye movement detector for sensing movement of the eyes of the golfer during the golf stroke.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a controller connected to the first, second, and third sensors for producing a serialized data stream containing golfer movement data measured by the sensors.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is connected to a transmitter and the transmitter wirelessly transmits the serialized data stream to the processor.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for analyzing golf strokes comprising: 
 a first sensor for sensing movement of a golf club head during the golf stroke;    a second sensor for sensing head movement of the golfer during the golf stroke;    a third sensor for sensing eye movement of the golfer during the golf stroke; and    a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting sensed movement of the golfer and the club head to a remote processor, the processor producing measurements corresponding to the movement of the golfer and the club head during the golf stroke.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first sensor comprises an infrared ranger.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the infrared ranger detects club head position and velocity.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first sensor produces a signal corresponding to the movement of the putter.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the signal is sent to the processor for producing the measurements.  
     
     
         18 . A method for analyzing golf strokes comprising: 
 providing a golf club with a reflective back surface;    positioning the transceiver behind the golf glub and along a swing line of the club;    sending signals from the transceiver towards the club;    allowing the golfer to take a stroke;    receiving reflected signals from the reflective back surface of the club during the stroke;    transmitting the received signal to a processor; and    producing measurements at the remote processor corresponding to the movement during the golf stroke.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising sensing head movements of the golfer during the golf stroke.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising producing measurements corresponding to the head movements of the golfer during the golf stroke.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising sensing eye movements of the golfer during the golf stroke.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising producing measurements corresponding to the eye movements of the golfer during the golf stroke.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising comparing the measurements of the golfer to measurements of golfers of different skill levels.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising serializing the sensed data into a single data stream and then wirelessly transmitting the single data stream to the processor.  
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for analyzing free throw movements comprising: 
 a first sensor for sensing finger movement during a free throw;    a second sensor for sensing wrist movement during the free throw;    a third sensor for sensing elbow movement during the free throw; and    a processor connected to the first, second, and third sensors for producing measurements corresponding to the finger, wrist, and elbow movements.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a controller connected to the first, second, and third sensors for combining sensed movements into a single data stream.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the single data stream is transmitted to the processor for processing.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the single data stream is wirelessly transmitted to the processor for processing.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting sensed movement to the processor.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the measurements comprise time traces.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a fourth sensor for measuring eye movement during the free throw.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the fourth sensor measures vertical eye movement of an eye during the free throw.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein sensed eye movements are wirelessly transmitted to the processor.  
     
     
         34 . A method for analyzing movement during a free throw comprising: 
 providing sensors for measuring finger, wrist, and elbow movement;    attaching the sensor to a wearer's finger, wrist, and elbow;    allowing the wearer to take a free throw;    sensing finger, wrist, and elbow movement during the free throw; and    producing measurements corresponding to sensed finger, wrist, and elbow movements.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising sensing eye movement during the free throw.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising transmitting sensed movements to a processor for processing.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the step of producing measurements comprises producing time traces corresponding to sensed finger, wrist, and elbow movements.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising comparing the time traces to time traces of experts.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the step of sensing movements comprises sensing finger, wrist, and elbow movement during a basketball throw.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the step of sensing movements comprises sensing finger, wrist, and elbow movements during a baseball throw.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the step of sensing movements comprises sensing finger, wrist, and elbow movements during a golf swing.