Golf ball trajectory prediction method, golf ball trajectory prediction apparatus, and golf club selection method

Abstract

A golf ball trajectory prediction method that can predict the trajectory of a golf ball with high accuracy is provided. The golf ball trajectory prediction method includes: a swing measurement step of measuring a golfer's swing using a test golf club; a head behavior prediction step of predicting a behavior of a head of a target golf club when using the target golf club, with a measurement value of the swing measured in the swing measurement step as input; a ball initial behavior calculation step of calculating an initial behavior of a golf ball after colliding with the head of the golf club, based on the behavior of the head predicted in the head behavior prediction step; and a ball trajectory prediction step of predicting a trajectory of the golf ball, from the initial behavior of the golf ball calculated in the ball initial behavior calculation step.

1 . A golf ball trajectory prediction method comprising:
 a swing measurement step of measuring a golfer's swing using a test golf club;   a head behavior prediction step of predicting a behavior of a head of a target golf club when using the target golf club, with a measurement value of the swing measured in the swing measurement step as input;   a ball initial behavior calculation step of calculating an initial behavior of a golf ball after colliding with the head of the golf club, based on the behavior of the head predicted in the head behavior prediction step; and   a ball trajectory prediction step of predicting a trajectory of the golf ball, from the initial behavior of the golf ball calculated in the ball initial behavior calculation step.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball trajectory prediction method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein in the ball initial behavior calculation step, the initial behavior of the golf ball after colliding with the head of the golf club is calculated using a regression equation derived beforehand from collision analysis between the head of the golf club and the golf ball, with a prediction value of the behavior of the head predicted in the head behavior prediction step as input.   
     
     
         3 . The golf ball trajectory prediction method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein in the ball initial behavior calculation step, the initial behavior of the golf ball after colliding with the head of the golf club is calculated by collision analysis based on a finite element method, with a prediction value of the behavior of the head predicted in the head behavior prediction step as input.   
     
     
         4 . The golf ball trajectory prediction method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein in the swing measurement step, a meeting rate of the golf ball in the swing is further measured, and   in the head behavior prediction step, only a swing with a meeting rate not less than a predetermined threshold is used as input, from among the swing measured in the swing measurement step.   
     
     
         5 . The golf ball trajectory prediction method according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the meeting rate is an initial speed of the launched golf ball with respect to a speed of the head of the golf club upon impact.   
     
     
         6 . The golf ball trajectory prediction method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein in the swing measurement step, the initial behavior of the golf ball in the swing is further measured, and   the initial behavior of the golf ball measured in the swing measurement step and the initial behavior of the golf ball calculated in the ball initial behavior calculation step are compared with each other, to correct a result of the calculation that is based on a prediction value of the behavior of the head.   
     
     
         7 . The golf ball trajectory prediction method according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein in the swing measurement step, the initial behavior of the golf ball in the swing is further measured, and   the initial behavior of the golf ball measured in the swing measurement step and the initial behavior of the golf ball calculated in the ball initial behavior calculation step are compared with each other, to correct a result calculated from the regression equation.   
     
     
         8 . The golf ball trajectory prediction method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the initial behavior of the golf ball includes an initial speed, a launch angle, and a spin rate of the golf ball after colliding with the head of the golf club.   
     
     
         9 . The golf ball trajectory prediction method according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the regression equation is derived from motion analysis based on a finite element method.   
     
     
         10 . A golf ball trajectory prediction apparatus that:
 measures a golfer's swing using a test golf club;   predicts a behavior of a head of a target golf club when using the target golf club, with the measured swing as input;   calculates an initial behavior of a golf ball after colliding with the head of the golf club, based on a prediction value of the behavior of the head; and   predicts a trajectory of the golf ball, from the calculated initial behavior of the golf ball.   
     
     
         11 . The golf ball trajectory prediction apparatus according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the initial behavior of the golf ball after colliding with the head of the golf club is calculated using a regression equation derived beforehand from collision analysis between the head of the golf club and the golf ball, with the prediction value of the behavior of the head as input.   
     
     
         12 . A golf club selection method of selecting a golf club based on a trajectory of a golf ball predicted by the golf ball trajectory prediction method according to  claim 1 .