Golf swing analysis method and apparatus

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for analyzing a golf swing. In particular, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for analyzing a golf swing utilizing a portable computing device such as a smart phone, wherein a golfer can wear the device and the device uses sensors to monitor swing motion, and more particularly monitor a golfer's hip mechanics during a golf swing.

1 . A method of analyzing a golfer's swing, comprising:
 (a) positioning a mobile computing device near a golfer's hips, wherein the mobile computing device has internal accelerometers that measure acceleration in three perpendicular axes;   (b) having the golfer take a swing at a golf ball;   (c) having the mobile computing device's microphone listen for the sound of the impact of the golf ball and the golf club;   (d) using the mobile computing device's accelerometers and internal logic to determine:   (i) a backswing hip angle;   (ii) the point in time at which the back swing hip angle is reached;   (iii) an impact hip angle taken at the time of impact of the golf ball and the golf club as determined by the mobile computing device's microphone;   (iv) the point in time at which the impact hip angle is reached;   (v) a follow through hip angle;   (vi) the point in time at which the follow through hip angle is reached; and   (vii) hip acceleration and deceleration through the golf swing.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , farther comprising:
 (e) having the mobile computing device's display screen display one or both of:   (i) the backswing, impact and follow through hip angles during the golf swing; or   (ii) a continuous plot of the changing hip angle through the swing together with hip acceleration and deceleration through the swing.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device is an iPhone. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (i) having the mobile computing device determine the tempo of the swing, wherein the tempo of the swing is the ratio of backswing time to downswing time; and   (ii) displaying the tempo of the swing on the mobile computing device's display screen.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein (e)(i) and (e)(ii) are simultaneously displayed together on the display screen of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (i) having the mobile computing device determine the point of maximum swing speed through the swing; and   (ii) displaying the point of maximum swing speed on the mobile computing device's display screen.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the backswing, impact, and follow through hip angles are displayed on an animated model. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein positioning a mobile computing device near a golfer's hips comprises placing the mobile computing device in the user's pants pocket. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (i) repeating the method of  claim 1  for a second golf swing; and   (ii) displaying the swing information as set forth in  claim 2  for the first and second golf swings simultaneously on the mobile computing device screen, thus allowing the golfer to compare the first and second swings.   
     
     
         10 . A mobile computing device-based system for analyzing a golfer's swing, comprising:
 (a) a mobile computing device;   (b) a microphone in the mobile computing device;   (c) internal accelerometers in the mobile computing device that measure acceleration in three perpendicular axes;   (d) a computer-based system in the mobile computing device for using the microphone to listen for the sound of the impact of a golf ball and a golf club; and   (e) a computer-based system in the mobile computing device for using the accelerometers and internal logic to determine:   (i) a backswing hip angle;   (ii) the point in time at which the back swing hip angle is reached;   (iii) an impact hip angle taken at the time of impact of the golf ball and the golf club as determined by the mobile computing device's microphone;   (iv) the point in time at which the impact hip angle is reached;   (v) a follow through hip angle;   (vi) the point in time at which the follow through hip angle is reached; and   (vii) hip acceleration and deceleration through the golf swing.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (a) a computer-based system in the smart phone for displaying one or both of:   (i) the backswing, impact and follow through hip angles during the golf swing; or   (ii) a continuous plot of the changing hip angle through the swing together with hip acceleration and deceleration through the swing.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the mobile computing device is an iPhone. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (a) a computer-based system in the mobile computing device for:   (i) determining the tempo of the swing, wherein the tempo of the swing is the ratio of backswing time to downswing time; and   (ii) displaying the tempo of the swing on the mobile computing device's display screen.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (a) a computer-based system in the mobile computing device for:   (i) determining the point of maximum swing speed through the swing; and   (ii) displaying the point of maximum swing speed on the mobile computing device's display screen.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 (a) a computer-based system in the mobile computing device for:   (i) recording the information as set forth in  claim 10  for first and second golf swings; and   (ii) displaying the information as described in  claim 10  for the first and second golf swings simultaneously on the mobile computing device screen, thus allowing the golfer to compare first and second swings.   
     
     
         16 . A mobile computing device-based system for analyzing a golfer's swing, comprising:
 a. mobile computing device;   b. internal accelerometers in the mobile computing device that measure acceleration in a plurality of axes   c. a computer-based system in the mobile computing device for using the accelerometers and internal logic to determine an objective measure of a golf swing.