Systems and methods for golf ball selection

Abstract

A system for selecting a golf ball comprises a ballistics data input configured to receive ballistics data for a plurality of golf balls and for a plurality of launch conditions; a material data input configured to receive material measurement data for each of the plurality of golf balls; a data structure generation module configured to generate a data structure for each of the plurality of golf balls based on the ballistics data and measurement data; an indexing module configured to index the data structures relative to each other; a interactive feedback module configured to solicit and receive launch monitor data and preferences; a modeling module configured to generate a performance model based on the launch monitor data and preferences; and a selection module configured to select one of the plurality of golf balls based on the index and the performance model.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for selecting a golf ball, comprising a computing device comprising a memory and a processor executing software, the software comprising:
 a ballistics data receiving software module configured to receive ballistics data for a plurality of golf balls and for a plurality of launch conditions;   a material data software module configured to receive material measurement data for each of the plurality of golf balls;   a data structure generation software module configured to generate a data structure for each of the plurality of golf balls based on the ballistics data and measurement data;   an indexing software module configured to index the data structures relative to each other;   an interactive feedback module configured to solicit and receive measured launch monitor data from a launch monitor and preferences specific to an individual user;   a modelling software module configured to generate a unique performance model based on the launch monitor data and preferences specific to the individual user, the generated performance model comprising a plurality of dynamically generated and linked, multi-stage prediction models each being specific to the individual user sand each predictive of approximate flight when striking a ball with one of a plurality of golf clubs and performance characteristics generated based on measured swing characteristics of the individual user swinging each of the plurality of golf clubs collected from the measured launch monitor data; and   a selection software module configured to select one of the plurality of golf balls based on the index and the unique performance model and to provide identification of the selected golf ball to the individual user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising, a ranking software module configured to rank the plurality of golf balls based on the index and the performance model specific to the individual user's swing characteristics measured across the plurality of golf clubs, wherein the selection software module is configured to select a trial set of golf balls to test by a golfer from the golf balls in top positions of the golf ball ranking and to present the golfer with options to obtain the trial set for testing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the material measurement data further comprises golf ball hotness and acoustics predictions. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ballistics data includes swing robot data using the different golf club types and replicating the swings of golfers at the three levels of golfer ability. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the preferences comprise individual golfer's swing characteristics including angle of attack in striking a ball, launch angle of the ball on impact, and ball spin rate. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the golfer's swing characteristics are generated from launch monitor data for the user using different types of golf club and playing conditions. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the golfer's swing characteristics are generated from interactive profiling questions. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interactive input software module is configured to solicit and receive club information indicative of the individual user's golf club specifications as part of the preferences;
 wherein the modeling software module is configured to generate the performance model specific to the individual user's swing characteristics and the received club information; and   wherein the selection software module is configured to select at least one golf ball matched to the club information received.   
     
     
         9 . A computer implemented method of interactively selecting a golf ball for a player, comprising:
 receiving ballistics data for a plurality of golf balls and for a plurality of launch conditions;   receiving material measurement data for each of the plurality of golf balls;   generating a data structure for each of the plurality of golf balls based on the ballistics data and measurement data;   indexing the data structures relative to each other;   soliciting and receiving measured launch monitor data from a launch monitor and preferences specific to an individual user;   generating a unique performance model based on the launch monitor data and preferences specific to the individual user, the generated performance model comprising a plurality of dynamically generated and linked, multi-stage prediction models each being specific to the individual user sand each predictive of approximate flight when striking a ball with one of a plurality of golf clubs and performance characteristics generated based on measured swing characteristics of the individual user swinging each of the plurality of golf clubs collected from the measured launch monitor data; and   selecting one of the plurality of golf balls based on the index and the unique performance model and to provide identification of the selected golf ball to the individual user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the golf ball material data further comprises hotness and acoustics predictions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the preferences are solicited and received based on at least a user's answers to a plurality of interactive questions regarding playing characteristics and preferences. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the measured launch monitor data comprises the user's swing characteristics.