Measuring and remotely-analyzing grip pressure for swinging objects in sports

Abstract

A grip pressure measurement device is embedded in a swing object used for sports, such as a golf club or a racquet. Embedding can occur during manufacturing or as an after-market modification. The grip measurement device comprises one or more pressure sensors, a local processor, and a network interface. One embodiment of the pressure sensors measures from two sides, a side of contact with a player's hand and a side of contact with the swinging object.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for, dynamically providing real-time feedback based on remote analysis for grip pressure on a golf club while swinging, in a mobile device comprising at least a first type of transceiver and a second type of transceiver different from the first type of transceiver and a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
 responsive to a specific swing of the golf club by the specific athlete, receiving swing information from the grip measurement device in real-time with the specific swing, over a first type of wireless data communication network;   identifying a portion of the swing information necessary for remote analysis at the grip at the grip pressure analysis server;   transmitting the identified swing information portion along with account information for the specific athlete to a grip analysis server, over a second type of wireless data communication network;   receiving swing analysis information from the grip pressure analysis server based at least upon previously received configuration information for the specific athlete and previously received golf club information for the golf club, over the second type of wireless data communication network;   determining swing feedback on the specific swing for the specific user based at least in part on the received swing analysis information; and   sending swing feedback information to the grip measurement device for output to the specific athlete in real-time with the specific swing, over the first type of wireless data communication network.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of sending swing feedback information over to the grip measurement device for output to the specific athlete comprises at least one of:
 providing a visual output based on the swing feedback information to the specific athlete;   providing an audible output based on the swing feedback information to the specific athlete; and   providing a tactile output based on the swing feedback information to the specific athlete.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining swing feedback on the specific swing for the specific user based at least in part on the received swing analysis information comprises:
 determining a degree of deviation between the specific swing and an ideal swing.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving swing context information for the specific swing comprising at least one of: distance to a hole, degree of incline or decline, and wind speed.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving golf club information from the specific athlete, the golf club information comprising at least one of: length of a shaft of the golf club, weight of the golf club, and dimensions of the golf club, wherein the golf club information affects the swing feedback.   
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an identifier for the grip measurement device; and   automatically retrieving golf club information, the golf club information comprising at least one of: length of a shaft of the golf club, weight of the golf club, and dimensions of the golf club, wherein the golf club information affects the swing feedback.   
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the swing information comprises a grip pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the swing information comprises a grip pressure to the golf club and a grip pressure from the hand. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the swing information comprises a grip pressure for individual fingers.