Method and apparatus for sport swing analysis system

Abstract

A sports swing implement is coupled to reflective material in order to enhance the detection properties of the implement as it is swung.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a sports implement for swinging; and    a retroreflective strip coupled thereto for providing a distinct reflection pattern from one or more surfaces of the implement.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sports implement is a baseball bat.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sports implement is a tennis racquet.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the sports implement is a golf club.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 a light-absorbent material coupled to the implement to form at least one light reflection transition region between the light absorbent and retroreflective materials.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the implement comprises a receptacle for receiving the retroreflective material.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the implement is a baseball bat.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the implement is a tennis racquet.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the implement is a golf club.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a light-absorbent material coupled to the golf club to form at least one light reflection transition region between the light absorbent and retroreflective materials.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the light absorbent and retroreflective materials are coupled to the head of the golf club via adhesive.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the retroreflective material is a strip of predetermined width.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the retroreflective material is coupled to the implement in a predetermined orientation.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the receptacle is an indentation on the head of the golf club.  
   
   
       15 . A method of preparing a sports swing implement for analysis comprising the steps of: 
 (A) producing the sports swing implement; and    (B) applying retroreflective material to a surface of a sports implement.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step (B) of applying a retroreflective material comprises the step of: 
 (B1) applying retroreflective material to a surface of a golf club.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step (B) of applying retrorefelctive material comprises the step of: 
 (B2) applying a strip of predetermined width.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step (B) of applying retrorefelctive material comprises the step of: 
 (B3) applying a strip in a predetermined orientation.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step (B) of applying retrorefelctive material comprises the step of: 
 (B4) applying light absorbent material to form at least one light reflection transition region between the light absorbent and retroreflective materials.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step (A) of producing the implement comprises the step of: 
 (A1) forming a receptacle in the implement to receive retroreflective material.