Golf Swing Measurement and Analysis System

Abstract

An integrated golf club comprising standard golf club shaft and an integrated electronics system golf club head apparatus for directly measuring physical parameters of the golf club head motional acceleration swing forces and golf club head face and golf ball impact forces and further processing those measurements and transmitting the measurement data wirelessly to a user interface device. The integrated electronics system golf club head comprises several optimized assemblies that support electronic measurement, processing and wireless communication functions that are integrated with a customized golf club head shell and club face to provide a golf club head with physical properties that are substantially similar to that of a regulation play golf club head of same type. The user interface device that receives wirelessly transmitted data further processes the data and provides the golfer with useful golf swing and impact metrics in multiple different user selectable formats.

1 . An integrated club face assembly comprising at least:
 a first outer layer with first predetermined material properties;   a second inner layer with second predetermined material properties;   a monolith layer made of electrically non-conducting material that contains at least one impact sensor element.   
     
     
         2 . The integrated club face assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first outer layer further comprises a predetermined size and shape and thickness, the second inner layer further comprises a predetermined size and shape and thickness, the monolith layer further comprises a predetermined size and shape and thickness, and wherein the a means of optimizing at least all said predetermined sizes, shapes, thicknesses and material properties of the first, second, and monolith layers define a club face assembly structure that has substantially the same coefficient of restitution as a regulation club face according to professional golf association rules. 
     
     
         3 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The club face assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the monolith layer includes a thickness and hardness selected to result in the regulation coefficient of restitution. 
     
     
         14 . The club face assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined material properties are the same as the second predetermined material properties. 
     
     
         15 . The club face assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second inner layer acts as a rigid layer behind the monolith layer and is rigidly connected to a club housing with a welded seam. 
     
     
         16 . The club face assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second inner layer acts as a rigid layer behind the monolith layer, the monolith layer being positioned between the first and second layers and in contact with both layers. 
     
     
         17 . The club face assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the monolith layer includes a polycarbonate material. 
     
     
         18 . The club face assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the monolith layer includes a non-brittle epoxy material. 
     
     
         19 . The club face assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the monolith layer includes a polymer material. 
     
     
         20 . The club face assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the monolith layer includes pre-formed pockets housing a plurality of sensor elements including a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor being closer to an edge of the club face assembly than the second sensor, and wherein data from the first sensor is calibrated based on a different calibration coefficient than for data from the first sensor. 
     
     
         21 . A golf club head comprising at least:
 a face that includes:
 an outer layer having first predetermined material properties; 
 an inner layer with second predetermined material properties; and 
 a non-conductive material layer that contains at least one impact sensor element, wherein the inner layer is within the club head and attached to the non-conductive material layer; and 
   a club shell that is rigidly attached to the club face.   
     
     
         22 . The golf club head of  claim 21 , wherein the non-conductive material layer includes a thickness and hardness selected such that club face has a coefficient of restitution of a regulation golf club head. 
     
     
         23 . The golf club head of  claim 21 , wherein the club shell is rigidly attached to both the outer layer and the inner layer. 
     
     
         24 . The golf club head of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one impact sensor element includes a sensor matrix that includes a first sensor horizontally displaced from a second sensor, and a third sensor vertically displaced from both the first and second sensors, wherein data from each of the first, second, and third sensors is calibrated based on different calibration coefficients. 
     
     
         25 . The golf club head of  claim 24 , wherein the sensor matrix includes three horizontal rows of sensors, each vertically displaced from one another. 
     
     
         26 . A method of manufacturing an integrated club face assembly, comprising:
 forming an outer layer with first predetermined material properties;   forming an inner layer with second predetermined material properties;   forming a non-conductive material layer that contains at least one impact sensor element; and   attaching the non-conductive material to the inner layer with a durable adhesive.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein forming the nonconductive material layer includes creating a first portion with a first half pocket and a second portion with a second half pocket, placing a sensor between the first and second half pockets, and pressing the first and second portions together. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the first portion is formed to contain a small pass through opening, and wherein the method further includes connecting the sensor via the pass through to an electronics assembly that sits within the club head. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising selecting materials and adhesives for the outer layer, the non-conductive material layer, and the inner layer such that the face has a coefficient of restitution that complies with professional golf association rules for regulation golf clubs. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising programming different calibration coefficients for a first impact sensor element than a second impact sensor element, based on the first impact sensor element having a different proximity to an edge of the club face than the second impact sensor element.