Golf club having impact sensor

Abstract

A golf club includes a golf club head, a shaft coupled to the golf club head, a grip attached to the shaft, and an actuator configured to generate a sound. The golf club also includes an impact sensor configured to detect an impact of the golf club head with a golf ball, and an electronic controller configured to command the actuator to generate the sound in response to the impact sensor detecting the impact of the golf club head with the golf ball.

1 . A golf club comprising:
 a golf club head;   a shaft coupled to the golf club head;   a grip attached to the shaft;   an actuator configured to generate a sound;   an impact sensor configured to detect an impact of the golf club head with a golf ball; and   an electronic controller configured to command the actuator to generate the sound in response to the impact sensor detecting the impact of the golf club head with the golf ball.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator, the impact sensor, and the electronic controller are fixed directly to one of the golf club head, the shaft, or the grip so that the actuator, the impact sensor, and the electronic controller co-move with the golf club. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club according to  claim 2 , further comprising a power source configured to supply electrical power to the electronic controller, wherein the power source is fixed directly to one of the golf club head, the shaft, or the grip so that the power source co-moves with the golf club. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the golf club head comprises an interior surface and an interior cavity defined at least partially by the interior surface; and   the actuator and the impact sensor are fixed directly to the interior surface of the golf club head and located within the interior cavity of the golf club head.   
     
     
         5 . The golf club according to  claim 4 , wherein the electronic controller and the power source are fixed directly to the golf club head. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the electronic controller is fixed directly to the interior surface of the golf club head and located within the interior cavity of the golf club head;   the golf club head further comprises a rear power-source port external to the interior cavity; and   the power source is seated in the rear power-source port.   
     
     
         7 . The golf club head according to  claim 6 , wherein the power source comprises a battery and a power cable port that is accessible from an exterior of the golf club head. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head according to  claim 4 , wherein the electronic controller and the power source are fixed directly to the shaft of the golf club. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head according to  claim 1 , further comprising an activation sensor configured to detect when use of the golf club head is desired, wherein the electronic controller is activated based on input from the activation sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head according to  claim 9 , wherein the activation sensor is one of a motion sensor or a photosensor. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head according to  claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor configured to measure at least one swing characteristic associated with a swing that results in the impact of the golf club head with the golf ball. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head according to  claim 11 , wherein the electronic controller is further configured to command the actuator to generate a verbal swing-feedback sound in response to the at least one swing characteristic measured by the motion sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the golf club head comprises a front portion comprising a strike face and an interior surface opposite the strike face;   the golf club head comprises one of a crown insert or a sole insert each comprising an interior surface;   the impact sensor is attached directly to the interior surface of the front portion; and   the actuator is attached directly to the interior surface of the crown insert or the sole insert.   
     
     
         14 . The golf club according to  claim 13 , wherein the golf club comprises multiple impact sensors spaced apart about the interior surface of the front portion. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club according to  claim 13 , wherein the golf club comprises multiple actuators spaced apart about the interior surface of the crown insert or the sole insert. 
     
     
         16 . A method of selectively adjusting an acoustic sound of a golf club head, the method comprising steps of:
 detecting an impact of a golf ball with a strike face of a golf club head during a golf swing; and   based on the detected impact with a golf ball, generating an artificial sound that, when combined with a natural impact sound resulting from the impact of the golf ball with the strike face, achieves a target sound.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising a step of selecting one of multiple target sounds and the step of generating the artificial sound achieves a selected one of the multiple target sounds. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising steps of:
 detecting a second impact of a golf ball with the strike face of the golf club head during a second golf swing; and   based on the second detected impact with the golf ball, generating a second artificial sound that, when combined with a second natural impact sound resulting from the second impact of the golf ball with the strike face, achieves the target sound.   
     
     
         19 . A system comprising:
 a golf club comprising:
 a golf club head; 
 a shaft coupled to the golf club head; 
 a grip attached to the shaft; 
 an actuator configured to generate a sound; 
 an impact sensor configured to detect an impact of the golf club with a golf ball; and 
 an electronic controller configured to command the actuator to generate the sound in response to the impact sensor detecting the impact of the golf club with the golf ball; and 
   an external computing device external to the golf club and configured to communicate with the electronic controller, wherein the sound commanded by the electronic controller is based on input received from the external computing device.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the external computing device is configured to communicate wirelessly with the electronic controller. 
     
     
         21 .- 32 . (canceled)