Systems and methods for fitting golf equipment

Abstract

A golf equipment fitting system that uses advanced technology to not only objectively identify the optimum equipment for the golfer, but to also identify and help correct swing flaws so that the golfer can achieve optimum performance on the golf course. Thus, in one embodiment, golf fitting includes collecting data related to the golfer's swing and determining if the golfer's swing technique should be modified based at least in part on the collected swing data. When it is determined that the golfer's swing technique should be modified, then providing swing instruction to the golfer. When, however, it is determined that the golfer's swing technique is fine, then collecting data related to how the golfer's swing launches a golf ball. Finally, golf equipment, e.g., golf clubs, can be specified based on the collected swing data and launch data.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for fitting a golfer with golf equipment using a launch monitor and an optimization engine running on a processor, the method comprising:
 (a) in the launch monitor, receiving launch data related to how the golfer launches a golf ball using a golf club, the golf club comprising a grip, shaft, and a club head, the club head comprising a loft, center of gravity, an orientation, and a weight distribution;   (b) determining velocity information, spin information, and launch angle information imparted to the golf ball based on the launch data;   (c) in a processor, determining optimized values of velocity, spin, and launch angle to achieve a combination of high repeatability, a tight ball placement dispersion, and distance equal to or greater than at least a fixed minimum distance, based on the determined velocity, spin, and launch angle information and the extrapolated distance and flight path and not based on linear relationships, wherein the determining optimized values of velocity, spin and launch angle are determined by maximizing velocity for a given golfer and determining optimized values of spin and launch angle based on the maximized velocity;   (d) correlating the optimized values of velocity, spin, and launch angle with changes in at least one of the golf ball, grip, shaft, and club head required to achieve the optimized values of velocity, spin, and launch angle; and   iteratively making changes to the golf club based on the correlated changes and repeating (a)-(d) until the determined velocity information, spin information, and launch information approximately matches the optimized values of velocity spin and launch angle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change in the club head is related to the center of gravity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extrapolating a distance and flight path based on the velocity, spin, and launch angle information; and
 displaying information related to the extrapolated distance and flight path as well as the launch data.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the information related to the launch data is displayed in a graphical format. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising capturing images of a golfer's swing with a video system and determining swing data based on the captured images. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising correlating the captured images to a load pattern of the golfer's swing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising, determining if the golfer's swing technique should be modified based on the determined swing data, and modifying the golfer's swing technique based on the swing data when it is determined that the swing technique should be modified. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising correlating the swing data to changes in parameters related to the shaft being used in step (a). 
     
     
         9 . A method for fitting a golfer with golf equipment using a launch monitor and an optimization engine running on a processor, the method comprising:
 (a) capturing images of a golfer's swing with a video system and determining swing data based on the captured images;   (b) receiving further swing data from sensors;   (c) deriving a baseline swing matrix based on the swing data;   (d) determining if the golfer's swing technique should be modified based on the baseline swing matrix and modifying the golfer's swing technique when it is determined that it should be modified;   (e) specifying shaft characteristics based on the baseline swing matrix;   (f) in the launch monitor, receiving launch data related to how the golfer launches a golf ball using a golf club, the golf club comprising a grip, shaft that comprises the shaft characteristics, and a club head, the club head comprising a loft, center of gravity, an orientation, and a weight distribution;   (g) determining velocity information, spin information, and launch angle information imparted to the golf ball based on the launch data;   (h) in a processor, determining optimized values of velocity, spin, and launch angle to achieve a combination of high repeatability, a tight ball placement dispersion, and distance equal to or greater than at least a fixed minimum distance, based on the determined velocity, spin, and launch angle information and the extrapolated distance and flight path and not based on linear relationships, wherein the determining optimized values of velocity, spin and launch angle are determined by maximizing velocity for a given golfer and determining optimized values of spin and launch angle based on the maximized velocity;   (i) correlating the optimized values of velocity, spin, and launch angle with changes in at least one of the golf ball, grip, shaft, and club head required to achieve the optimized values of velocity, spin, and launch angle; and   iteratively making changes to the golf club based on the correlated changes and repeating (f)-(i) until the determined velocity information, spin information, and launch information approximately matches the optimized values of velocity spin and launch angle.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , in a swing module, collecting swing data from strain gauges related to how the golfer swings the golf club, the swing data comprising a load time, load pattern, peak load, and swing ramp;
 determining if the golfer's swing technique should be modified based at least in part on the collected swing data; and   based on a determination that the golfer's swing technique should be modified, using the swing data to correct the swing flaws.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , in a swing module, collecting swing data from strain gauges related to how the golfer swings the golf club, the swing data comprising a load time, load pattern, peak load, and swing ramp;
 determining if the golfer's swing technique should be modified based at least in part on the collected swing data; and   based on a determination that the golfer's swing technique should be modified, using the swing data to correct the swing flaws.