Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture to measure, analyze and share golf swing and ball motion characteristics

Abstract

Embodiments of systems, methods, computer-readable media and article of manufacture related to measuring, analyzing and sharing golf swing and ball motion characteristics are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 determining positions of a golf ball with a portable electronic device at least one of before, during and after at least one golf stroke performed with a golf club; and   determining a motion characteristic of the golf ball with the portable electronic device based on data associated with the positions of the golf ball.   
     
     
         2 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising determining at least one of a stroke characteristic with the portable electronic device based on data associated with the positions of the golf ball. 
     
     
         3 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining at least one stroke characteristic with the portable electronic device based on data associated with the positions of the golf ball; and   wherein the at least one stroke characteristic comprises at least one of closing angle, impact angle, tempo, impact lie angle and loft angle associated with the at least one golf stroke.   
     
     
         4 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the portable electronic device is removably attached to the golf club. 
     
     
         5 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein determining a position of the golf ball comprises:
 capturing at least one image of a golf ball with an image capture device of the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device being removably attached to the golf club; and   determining the position of the golf ball with the portable electronic device based on data associated with the captured image of the golf ball.   
     
     
         6 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein determining a position of the golf ball comprises the portable electronic device receiving data associated with the position of the golf ball. 
     
     
         7 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein determining a position of the golf ball comprises an individual selecting a location on a virtual representation of a golf course on a display of the portable electronic device, the location selected by the individual representing a position of the golf ball on the golf course. 
     
     
         8 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 capturing a plurality of images of the golf ball with the portable electronic device; and   displaying a trajectory of the golf ball on a display of the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         9 . A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein determining motion characteristics of the golf ball comprises determining at least one of acceleration, velocity or displacement associated with non-rotational or rotational motion of the golf ball. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 capturing a plurality of images of a golf ball with an image capture device of a portable electronic device at least one of before, during and after at least one golf stroke performed with a golf club, the portable electronic device being removably attached to the golf club; and   determining motion characteristics of the golf ball with the portable electronic device based on data associated with the captured images of the golf ball.   
     
     
         11 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising determining at least one stroke characteristic with the portable electronic device based on data associated with the captured images of the golf ball. 
     
     
         12 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising displaying a trajectory of the golf ball on a display of the portable electronic device based on data associated with the captured images of the golf ball. 
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein determining motion characteristics of the golf ball comprises determining at least one of acceleration, velocity or displacement associated with non-rotational or rotational motion of the golf ball. 
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 determining at least one stroke characteristic with the portable electronic device based on data associated with the captured images of the golf ball; and   wherein the at least one stroke characteristic comprises at least one of closing angle, impact angle, tempo, impact lie angle and loft angle associated with the at least one golf stroke.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
 determine positions of a golf ball with a portable electronic device at least one of before, during and after at least one golf stroke performed with a golf club; and   determine a motion characteristic of the ball with the portable electronic device based on data associated with the positions of the golf ball.   
     
     
         16 . A computer-readable medium as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the instructions when executed by the computer further cause the computer to determine at least one of a stroke characteristic with the portable electronic device based on data associated with the positions of the golf ball. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable medium as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the instructions when executed by the computer further cause the computer to:
 determine at least one stroke characteristic with the portable electronic device based on data associated with the positions of the golf ball; and   wherein the at least one stroke characteristic comprises at least one of closing angle, impact angle, tempo, impact lie angle and loft angle associated with the at least one golf stroke.   
     
     
         18 . A computer-readable medium as defined in  claim 15 , wherein determining a position of the golf ball comprises:
 capturing at least one image of a golf ball with an image capture device of the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device being removably attached to the golf club; and   determining the position of the golf ball with the portable electronic device based on data associated with the captured image of the golf ball.   
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable medium as defined in  claim 15 , wherein determining a position of the golf ball comprises the portable electronic device receiving data associated with the position of the golf ball. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-readable medium as defined in  claim 15 , wherein determining a position of the golf ball comprises an individual selecting a location on a virtual representation of a golf course on a display of the portable electronic device, the location selected by the individual representing a position of the golf ball on the golf course. 
     
     
         21 . A computer-readable medium as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the instructions when executed by the computer further cause the computer to:
 capture a plurality of images of the golf ball with the portable electronic device; and   display a trajectory of the golf ball on a display of the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         22 . A computer-readable medium as defined in  claim 15 , wherein determining motion characteristics of the golf ball comprises determining at least one of acceleration, velocity or displacement associated with non-rotational or rotational motion of the golf ball.