Golf grip hand structure efficiency device and method of use

Abstract

A golf grip hand structure efficiency device and a method of using the device are disclosed. The device is used determine a value of a new parameter for a golfer called a golf grip hand structure efficiency value. A golfer's determined golf grip hand structure efficiency value is used to determine base gripping and swinging structures for the golfer within applicable swing improvement and/or clubfitting processes or may be used in any other desired manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 simultaneously measuring values of a predetermined parameter independently about each hand at one or more points of a swing made by a performed, the swing performed without the use of any device that can aid in unifying the hands at any point of the swing;   analyzing at least one point of the swing, comparing the measured values of the predetermined parameter about each hand of the performer; and   calculating a value of a determined parameter that indicates an efficiency of the performer's grip hand structure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined parameter is at least one of a three-dimensional orientation of a determined point about each hand, a two-dimensional angle along a determined plane about each hand, an amount of degrees of rotation of each hand from one determined point of the swing to another, and a distance between determined points about each hand. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein three-dimensional orientation values about each hand relative to each other at the at least one point of the swing analyzed are compared against reference three-dimensional orientation values about each hand relative to each other at a point just before or at the beginning of the swing or compared against another developed reference criterion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the golf grip hand structure efficiency value of the golfer's golf grip hand structure is determined as a percentage that is reduced from one-hundred percent by ten percent for every one degree of difference in orientation of the hands relative to each other along a determined plane at the at least one point of the swing analyzed as compared against the reference criterion used or determined by comparing against another developed reference criterion for determining the golfer's golf grip hand structure efficiency value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising a golf swing improvement or clubfitting process implemented for the golfer, with the golfer using a hands-only gripping structure when performing a base reference swing if the golfer's determined golf grip hand structure efficiency value is eighty percent or higher, and a golf grip substitute device about and to help unify the hands when performing a base reference swing if the golfer's determined golf grip hand structure efficiency value is less than eighty percent, or applying another developed criterion to determine whether the golfer should use a hands-only or golf-grip-substitute-aided gripping structure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined parameter is measured by at least one sensor, the at least one sensor configured to be disposed about the hands of the golfer while performing a golf swing, configured so that the hands can achieve movement independently of one another throughout the course of the swing, and configured to simultaneously measure values of the predetermined parameter independently about each hand throughout the course of the swing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising further implementing a golf grip hand structure improvement, swing improvement, or clubfitting process or program wherein at least one output from the method is used to make at least one decision within at least one step of the process or program. 
     
     
         8 . A process comprising:
 placing at least one sensor device about the hands of a performer, the at least one sensor device configured to simultaneously measure the values of a predetermined parameter independently about each hand at one or more points of a swing made by the performer;   having the performer perform a swing without the use of any device that can aid in unifying the hands;   analyzing at least one point of the swing, comparing the measured values of the predetermined parameter about each hand of the performer; and   calculating a value of a determined parameter that indicates an efficiency of the performer's grip hand structure.   
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor device comprises a tube-like length of silicone-like flexible rubber, approximately one-eighth to one-half of an inch in diameter and of a length that extends entirely through but not substantially beyond the hands of the golfer along an axis comparable to that which a golf club would occupy, with two wireless three-dimensional motion or orientation sensor units, substantially non-interfering with the hands of the golfer throughout the course of the swing, placed within or about the rubber at locations approximately where the centers of each hand of the golfer are or other determined locations when the device is placed within the hands. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor device comprises two discrete wireless, three-dimensional motion or orientation sensor units, substantially non-interfering with the hands of the golfer throughout the course of the swing, of which each sensor unit enclosure is independently affixed to the back part of each hand of the golfer, approximately opposite to the center of the palm of each hand or other determined location about each hand. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined parameter is at least one of a three-dimensional orientation of a determined point about each hand, a two-dimensional angle along a determined plane about each hand, an amount of degrees of rotation of each hand from one determined point of the swing to another, and a distance between determined points about each hand. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein the golf grip hand structure efficiency value of the golfer's golf grip hand structure is determined as a percentage that is reduced from one-hundred percent by ten percent for every one degree of difference in orientation of the hands relative to each other along a determined plane at the at least one point of the swing analyzed as compared against the reference criterion used or determined by comparing against another developed reference criterion for determining the golfer's golf grip hand structure efficiency value. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , further comprising a golf swing improvement or clubfitting method implemented for the golfer, with the golfer using a hands-only gripping structure when performing a base reference swing if the golfer's determined golf grip hand structure efficiency value is eighty percent or higher, and a golf grip substitute device about and to help unify the hands when performing a base reference swing if the golfer's determined golf grip hand structure efficiency value is less than eighty percent, or applying another developed criterion to determine whether the golfer should use a hands-only or golf-grip-substitute-aided gripping structure. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 8 , comprising further implementing a golf grip hand structure improvement, swing improvement, or clubfitting method or program wherein at least one output from the process is used to make at least one decision within at least one step of the method or program. 
     
     
         15 . A device comprising:
 at least one sensor, the at least one sensor configured to be disposed about the hands of a performer while performing a swing, configured so that the hands can achieve movement independently of one another throughout the course of the swing, and configured to simultaneously measure values of a predetermined parameter independently about each hand at one or more points of the swing.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a tube-like length of silicone-like flexible rubber, approximately one-eighth to one-half of an inch in diameter and of a length that extends entirely through but not substantially beyond the hands of the golfer along an axis comparable to that which a golf club would occupy, with two wireless three-dimensional motion or orientation sensor units, substantially non-interfering with the hands of the golfer throughout the course of the swing, placed within or about the rubber at locations approximately where the centers of each hand of the golfer are or other determined locations when the device is placed within the hands. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises two discrete wireless, three-dimensional motion or orientation sensor units, substantially non-interfering with the hands of the golfer throughout the course of the swing, of which each sensor unit enclosure is independently affixed to the back part of each hand of the golfer, approximately opposite to the center of the palm of each hand or other determined location about each hand. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one two-dimensional or three-dimensional video camera, placed at a distance away from the golfer so as to be able to comprehensively capture the hands of the golfer throughout the course of the swing, the at least one camera, in association with any needed software elements, configured to determine the golfer's golf grip hand structure efficiency value. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 15 , comprising a golf grip hand structure or golf swing development or improvement process or program wherein at least one output from the device is used to make at least one decision within at least one step of the process or program. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 15 , comprising a golf club fitting process or program wherein at least one output from the device is used to make at least one decision within at least one step of the process or program.