Method for matching a golfer with a particular golf club style

Abstract

A method is disclosed for matching a test golfer with a particular golf club selected from a group of golf clubs having a plurality of styles. The method utilizes data set derived in an initial procedure in which the club style preferences for each of a large number of pre-test golfers is recorded and correlated with a set of performance parameters for the golf swings of such pre-test golfers. This data enables the pre-test golfers to be classified into subgroups, in which golfers within the same subgroup generally prefer the same club style and golfers in different subgroups generally prefer different club styles. After this data set has been established, the test golfer takes a golf swing with a golf club, while performance parameters for the swing are measured. Based on the measured performance parameters and the previously established data set, the test golfer is classified according to swing type, and the optimum golf-club is then selected from the plurality of styles of golf clubs.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A system comprising:
 a first device configured to be attached to a golfer to be fitted, the first device comprising at least one sensor configured to measure at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion while the golfer swings at least one test golf club; and   a computing device located remote from the first device, the computing device comprising a database storing a data set indicative of correlations between a plurality of test golfers' measured hand or wrist motions obtained while swinging a plurality of dissimilar golf clubs and the test golfers' subjective golf club preferences from among the plurality of dissimilar golf clubs,   wherein the first device is configured to send a first signal indicative of the at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion to the computing device, and   wherein the computing device is configured to receive the first signal from the first device and determine a recommended golf club configuration for the golfer based at least in part on the first signal and the stored data set.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the computing device is configured to send a second signal indicative of the recommended golf club configuration to the first device or to another device. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion comprises a measurement of the golfer's hand acceleration. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion comprises a minimum speed of the test golfer's hands during a transition from the test golfer's backswing to the test golfer's downswing. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion comprises a measurement of the golfer's hand acceleration. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion comprises a measurement of the golfer's hand position during the test golfer's swing. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion comprises a measurement of the test golfer's wrist uncocking. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion comprises a measurement of the golfer's hand rotation. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion comprises a time duration from the start of the test golfer's downswing to a time of peak hand speed. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of dissimilar golf clubs have different golf club shaft weighting characteristics. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of dissimilar golf clubs have different golf club shaft flexibility characteristics. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the computing device is configured to select the recommended golf club configuration from among a set of golf club configuration options that differ with respect to shaft flexibility, shaft weighting, or both shaft flexibility and shaft weighting. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the first device comprises a gyrometer. 
     
     
         39 . A system comprising:
 a first device configured to be attached to a golfer to be fitted, the first device comprising at least one sensor configured to measure at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion while the golfer swings at least one test golf club, wherein the at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion comprises a measurement of the golfer's hand acceleration; and   a computing device comprising a database storing a data set indicative of correlations between a plurality of test golfers' measured hand or wrist motions obtained while swinging a plurality of dissimilar golf clubs and the test golfers' subjective golf club preferences from among the plurality of dissimilar golf clubs,   wherein the first device is configured to send a first signal indicative of the at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion to the computing device, and   wherein the computing device is configured to receive the first signal from the first device and determine a recommended golf club configuration for the golfer based at least in part on the first signal and the stored data set.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the computing device is configured to send a second signal indicative of the recommended golf club configuration to the first device or to another device. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of dissimilar golf clubs have different golf club shaft weighting characteristics. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the plurality of dissimilar golf clubs have different golf club shaft flexibility characteristics. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the computing device is configured to select the recommended golf club configuration from among a set of golf club configuration options that differ with respect to shaft flexibility, shaft weighting, or both shaft flexibility and shaft weighting. 
     
     
         44 . A system comprising:
 a first device configured to be attached to a hand or wrist of a golfer to be fitted, the first device comprising at least one sensor configured to measure at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion while the golfer swings at least one test golf club; and   a computing device comprising a database storing a data set indicative of correlations between a plurality of test golfers' measured hand or wrist motions obtained while swinging a plurality of dissimilar golf clubs and the test golfers' subjective golf club preferences from among the plurality of dissimilar golf clubs,   wherein the first device is configured to send a first signal indicative of the at least one measurement of the golfer's hand or wrist motion to the computing device, and   wherein the computing device is configured to receive the first signal from the first device and determine a recommended golf club configuration for the golfer based at least in part on the first signal and the stored data set.   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the first device comprises a gyrometer.