Golf ball marking system and method

Abstract

A system and method for analyzing impact of a golf club with a golf ball to assess a golfer's golf club swing, equipment and/or alignment. A pattern is marked on an impact side of a golf ball with transferable ink. A face of a golf club is then aligned with the impact side of the golf ball wherein the pattern is square with the face of the golf club. Subsequently, the golf club is swung, impacting the impact side of the golf ball with the face of the golf club. Upon impact, the pattern marked on the impact side of the golf ball is transferred to the face of the golf club. The transferred pattern on the face of the golf club is then analyzed to assess the golfer's golf club swing, equipment and/or alignment.

1 . A method for analyzing impact of a golf club with a golf ball to assess a golfer's golf club swing, equipment and/or alignment, the method comprising: 
 marking a pattern on an impact side of a golf ball with transferable ink;    aligning a face of a golf club with the impact side of the golf ball wherein the pattern is square with the face of the golf club;    swinging the golf club;    impacting the impact side of the golf ball with the face of the golf club wherein the pattern marked on the impact side of the golf ball is transferred to the face of the golf club; and    analyzing a transferred pattern on the face of the golf club to assess the golfer's golf club swing, equipment and/or alignment.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein marking the pattern on the golf ball further comprises aligning a pattern guide on the golf ball to mark the pattern on the impact side of the golf ball.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising placing the golf ball on a tee to elevate the golf ball and square the marked pattern on the golf ball with the face of the golf club.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein analyzing the transferred pattern further comprises using a comparison guide to analyze the transferred pattern with known results to assess the golfer's golf club swing, equipment and/or alignment.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the marked pattern is a filled circle.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the marked pattern is at least one vertical line.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the marked pattern is at least one horizontal line.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the marked pattern includes at least one vertical line.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the marked pattern is at least two concentric circles.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the marked pattern is a geometric pattern.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transferable ink is permanent.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transferable ink is non-permanent.  
   
   
       13 . A method for assessing a golfer's golf club swing, golf equipment and/or alignment by analyzing impact of a golf club with a golf ball, the method comprising: 
 marking an impact side of a golf ball with a first mark using transferable ink;    aligning a face of a golf club with the impact side of the golf ball;    swinging the golf club;    hitting the impact side of the golf ball with the golf club face wherein the first mark on the golf ball is transferred to the golf club face to create a second mark on the golf club face; and    analyzing the second mark with respect to an instruction guide including known transferred marks to assess the golfer's golf club swing, golf equipment and/or alignment.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first mark is a filled circle for assessing alignment of the golf club face with the golf ball.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first mark is a plurality of horizontal lines for assessing an angle of hitting the impact side of the golf ball with the golf club face.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first mark is a plurality of vertical lines for assessing a swing path of the golf club.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first mark is a line for assessing a lie angle for a head of the golf club and for assessing alignment of the golf club face with the golf ball.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first mark includes a vertical line and a horizontal line intersecting at their respective center points, the first mark for assessing a lie angle for a head of the golf club and for assessing alignment of the golf club face with the golf ball.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first mark is a plurality of concentric circles for assessing an angle of hitting the impact side of the golf ball with the golf club face and for assessing compression of the golf ball.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein marking the impact side of the golf ball further comprises aligning a pattern on the golf ball for defining the first mark.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 13 , and further comprising placing the golf ball on a tee to elevate the golf ball and square the first mark on the golf ball with the golf club face.  
   
   
       22 . A method for analyzing impact of a golf club with a golf ball to assess a golfer's golf club swing, equipment and/or alignment, the method comprising: 
 marking an impact side of a golf ball with transferable ink to define a first mark;    swinging a golf club wherein a face of the golf club is aligned with the impact side of the golf ball such that the face of the golf club contacts the impact side of the golf ball and the first mark on the golf ball is transferred to the face of the golf club to create a second mark on the face of the golf club; and    analyzing the second mark to assess the golfer's golf club swing, equipment and/or alignment.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the first mark is a filled circle for assessing alignment of the golf club face with the golf ball.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the first mark is a plurality of horizontal lines for assessing an angle of hitting the impact side of the golf ball with the golf club face.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the first mark is a plurality of vertical lines for assessing the golfer's swing path of the golf club.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the first mark is a line for assessing a lie angle for a head of the golf club and for assessing alignment of the golf club face with the golf ball.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the first mark includes a vertical line and a horizontal line intersecting at their respective center points, the first mark for assessing a lie angle for a head of the golf club and for assessing alignment of the golf club face with the golf ball.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the first mark is a plurality of concentric circles for assessing an angle of hitting the impact side of the golf ball with the golf club face and for assessing compression of the golf ball.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 22  wherein marking the impact side of the golf ball further comprises aligning a pattern for defining the first mark on the golf ball.  
   
   
       30 . An impact analyzer system for golfers, the system comprising: 
 a marker of transferable ink for marking a golf ball with a first mark; and    a guide detailing selectable configurations of the first mark.    
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , and further comprising at least one tee for holding the golf ball such that the first mark is aligned with a golf club face.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 30 , and further comprising a template for aligning with the golf ball, the template defining a pattern for at least the first mark.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the guide provides interpretation of a second mark on a golf club face produced by transfer of the ink from the golf ball to the golf club face upon impact.