Smart tag for a golf club

Abstract

A golf club system includes a golf club, a detection unit, and a smart tag. The golf club has a golf club head, a shaft, and a grip. The detection unit is standing on or raised above the ground plane. The smart tag is a computer-readable marking on the golf club. The smart tag is detected by the detection unit when the golf club is positioned within a detection zone associated with a sensor of the detection unit. The detection unit collects data associated with a user swinging the golf club for transmission to a computing device. The sensor defines the detection zone as a volume extending to an extent of a radius R about a reference axis that is perpendicular to the ground plane and extending vertically along the reference axis above the ground plane.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A golf club system, comprising:
 a golf club having a club head, a shaft, and a grip;   a detection unit that is standing on a ground plane or raised above the ground plane; and   a smart tag, wherein the smart tag is a computer-readable marking on the golf club, wherein the smart tag is configured to be detected by the detection unit when the golf club is positioned within a detection zone associated with a sensor of the detection unit, such that the detection unit collects data associated with a user swinging the golf club for transmission to a computing device,   wherein the sensor defines the detection zone as a volume extending to an extent of a radius R about a reference axis that is perpendicular to the ground plane and extending vertically along the reference axis above the ground plane.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is carried by the detection unit and the detection zone is located adjacent the detection unit. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor and the detection zone are distanced from the detection unit. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart tag is located on the club head of the golf club. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart tag is located on a face of the club head. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart tag is located on the shaft or the grip of the golf club. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart tag includes locating information that points to a remote database in which data associated with the golf club is stored and maintained. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart tag includes a uniform resource identifier configured to access a remote database in which a user profile is stored and maintained, and wherein the detection unit is configured to permit performance data to be tracked and stored within the remote database in connection with the user profile. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart tag is printed on or applied to the golf club. 
     
     
         10 . A golf club system, comprising:
 a golf club having a smart tag;   a detection unit having a sensor that defines a detection zone, wherein the detection unit is raised above a ground plane or standing on the ground plane; and   a computing device configured to operate a software application, wherein the smart tag is detected when located within the detection zone, and data associated with the golf club is transmitted to the computing device via the sensor for automatic entry into the software application,   wherein the sensor is adjustable to calibrate a radius R of the detection zone relative to a reference axis that is disposed at an angle relative to the ground plane.   
     
     
         11 . The golf club system of  claim 10 , wherein the smart tag is provided on at least one of a club head, a shaft, or a grip of the golf club. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club system of  claim 10 , wherein the data associated with the golf club includes one or more of a club type, a club brand, a club model or edition, a shaft type, a shaft brand, a shaft model or edition, a shaft length, a shaft stiffness, a shaft material, a shaft shape, a shaft color, a grip type, a grip brand, a grip model or edition, a grip thickness, a grip length, a grip size, a grip thickness, a grip material, a grip color, a hosel type, a hosel length, a hosel material, a hosel size, a hosel assembly adjustment or settings, a hosel color, a ferrule type, a ferrule brand, a ferrule model or edition, a ferrule size, a ferrule material, a ferrule color, a weight type, a weight brand, a weight model or edition, a weight size, a weight mass, a weight attachment type, a weight location or settings, a club head type, a club head color, a club head loft angle, a club head lie angle, a club head weight, a club head size, a club head volume, a club head shape, a club head material, a club head sole bounce, a club head sole design, a club head sole width, a club head crown design, a club head center of gravity location, a club head product of inertia value, a club head coefficient of restitution, a club head face angle, a club head face thickness, a club head face size, a club head face design, a club head offset, a club head topline thickness, a club head blade length, a club head scoreline length, a club head scoreline spacing, a club head blade profile shape, a club head leading edge type, a club head par area length, a club head groove type, a club head groove design, a club head coefficient of resistance, a club head impact point location, a club head impact sound, a club head impact feel, a club head filler material, a club head filler density, a club head finish type, a club head insignia, a club head medallion design, or a number of clubs of a golf club set. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club system of  claim 10 , wherein the smart tag is a computer-readable marking. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club system of  claim 10 , wherein the detection unit is spaced apart from the sensor and the detection zone. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club system of  claim 10 , wherein the detection unit is a smartphone that is configured to operate a mobile application that, in response to detecting the smart tag within the detection zone, communicates with a remote database to display data associated with the golf club on a GUI. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club system of  claim 10 , wherein the data associated with the golf club or data associated with a user is stored in the smart tag or the smart tag includes locating information that points to a remote database in which the data associated with the golf club or the data associated with the user is stored and/or maintained, and wherein the smart tag or the remote database includes a user identifier for identifying the user associated with the golf club. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a golf club system, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a detection unit having a sensor, wherein the sensor defines a detection zone having a radius R extending about a reference axis that intersects the sensor;   detecting a smart tag within the detection zone, wherein the smart tag includes data associated with a golf club or a user;   receiving, by a computer, an authentication from the user in response to a prompt from the detection unit;   receiving, by the computer, the data associated with the golf club or the user from the smart tag via the sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor is carried by the detection unit and the detection zone is located adjacent the detection unit, the smart tag is located in a club head of the golf club, and the smart tag is configured to communicate using a short-range wireless connection. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor defines the detection zone and is distanced from the detection unit, the smart tag is located in a shaft of the golf club, and the smart tag is configured to communicate using a short-range wireless connection. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the smart tag is a computer-readable marking that is applied to the golf club. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the data associated with the golf club or the user is stored in the smart tag or in a remote database that is accessible via locating information included in the smart tag. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the smart tag or the remote database includes a user identifier for identifying the user associated with the golf club. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the smart tag or the remote database includes a user profile in which performance data is stored and/or maintained, the performance data including at least one of club speed, attack angle, dynamic loft, club path, face angle, face to path, spin loft, swing plane, swing direction, low point, impact height, impact offset, dynamic lie, ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, launch direction, spin axis, height, curve, landing angle, and carry. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising adjusting the sensor to calibrate the radius R and/or an angle of the reference axis relative to a ground plane.