Apparatus and method for controlling the hitting accuracy in the case of a golf club

Abstract

A device is used for controlling the accuracy with which the striking face ( 16 ) of a golf club strikes a golf ball. It has a plate-shaped sensor ( 18 ), which can be fastened on the striking face ( 16 ) and by means of which the point of impact can be localized. The sensor ( 18 ) is connected via signal lines ( 26 ) with a measuring and computing circuit ( 30 ), which can be releasably fastened on the shaft ( 12 ) or on the back of the head of the golf club, is mounted, together with an electrical voltage source, in a housing ( 28 ) and which, in the course of every hit, performs a measuring process for determining the coordinates of the impact point relative to the position of a predetermined reference point ( 22 ). A radio module ( 34 ), connected with the measuring and computing circuit ( 30 ), transmits the results of the measurements to an evaluating device ( 36 ), like a cell phone or the such, for the program-controlled evaluation and display of the results of the measurements on a display screen ( 40 ).

1 . A device for controlling the accuracy with which the striking face of a club head of a golf club strikes a golf ball, characterized by
 a plate-shaped sensor, which can be releasably fastened on the striking face in a defined position, by means of which in the course of striking a golf ball the exact point of the position of the impact point in a coordinate system can be localized by measuring an electrical voltage, which changes proportionally to the change of the distance from the coordinates,   a housing, which can be releasably fastened on the shaft or on the back of the head of the golf club, containing an electrical voltage source and an electronic measuring and computing circuit, which acts together with the sensor via signal lines, by means of which a measuring process for determining the coordinates of the impact point in relation to the position of a predetermined reference point can be performed in the course of each impact on a golf ball, and   a radio module, connected with the measuring and computing circuit, for the wireless transmission of the results of the measurements to an evaluation device in the nature of a cell phone, smart phone or PDA for the program-controlled evaluation and display of the results of the measurements on its display screen.   
   
   
       2 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that the plate-shaped sensor is a touchpad, with a rectangular support plate having a first electrically conductive layer applied to its front, which is connected along two oppositely located edge areas with respective printed strip conductors connected to a signal line, and with a flexible protective plate arranged in front of the support plate, to whose back a second electrically conductive layer has been applied which is connected along two oppositely located edge areas with respective printed strip conductors, which are connected to a signal line and extend transversely in respect to the strip conductors connected with the first conductive layer, wherein the conductive layers are separated by elastic spacers, whose restoring force has been selected in such a way that there is a temporary contact between the conductive layers only when a golf ball strikes an impact point. 
   
   
       3 . The device in accordance with  claim 2 , characterized in that the protective plate is fixedly connected in a material-to-material manner with the support plate in the edge area, except for at least one air inlet and outlet opening. 
   
   
       4 . The device in accordance with  claim 2 , characterized in that the support plate is maximally 1 mm thick and is flexible. 
   
   
       5 . The device in accordance with  claim 2 , characterized in that the active sensor face of the sensor is approximately 45 to 55 mm wide, and for putters approximately 20 mm high, and for clubs for pitching and chipping 20 to 30 mm high. 
   
   
       6 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that the plate-shaped sensor can be releasably attached to the striking face by means of a foil, which is adhesive on both sides. 
   
   
       7 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that the signal lines have a plug connection, which can be released, between the sensor and the measuring and computing circuit. 
   
   
       8 . The device in accordance with  claim 1 , characterized in that the housing of the measuring and computing circuit can be fastened in a frictionally connected manner to the shaft  12  via a rubber-like contact face by means of a clamping strip. 
   
   
       9 . A method for determining the position of the impact point of a golf ball on the striking face of a golf club by means of a device in accordance with  claim 2 , characterized in that during the time of the contact between the conductive layers at the impact point an electrical voltage is
 alternatingly applied between respective oppositely located edge areas of one of the conductive layers, and a voltage measurement is performed at least at one of the edge areas of the respectively other conductive layer, and that the voltage values are converted into coordinates of the impact point by means of a proportionality factor.