Patent Application
20240325845
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Great Britain Patent Application GB 2304916.6 filed Apr. 3, 2023, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, including without limitation, the specification, claims, and abstract, as well as any figures, tables, appendices, or drawings thereof.
The present invention relates to a golf training apparatus and/or to a method of use thereof.
Although the following description refers almost exclusively to golf training apparatus for use on or with a golf putter, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention could be used on or with any type of golf club, such as for example, a wood, a driver, an iron, a hybrid, a wedge, a putter and/or the like, or even any similar task which requires the performer to coordinate action where precise aim and intentional alignment is essential for a successful outcome.
In order for a golfer to improve their performance, it is important for them to regularly train and receive accurate feedback on the position of their golf club at different sections of their golf swing, the timing and movement of their golf swing and the orientation of their golf club relative to an intended target. Many golfers have a personal golf coach to verbally provide this feedback to them during a golf lesson. However, regular use of a personal golf coach is expensive and therefore prohibitive for many golfers, and it does not help when the golfer is practising on their own.
In an attempt to overcome this problem, there are a number of golf training aids that are available in the marketplace that provide automatic feedback to a user in order to help them improve their golf performance. Many of these golf training aids are in the form of inertial measurement units (or IMUs) that are attached or detachably attached to the user and/or to a part of the user's golf club, with the majority of such aids being attachable to a shaft of the user's golf club. Such aids are able to capture a large range of statistical measured data relating to, for example, the impact position of a golf ball with the club head, swing data, speed data, positional data, player movement data and/or the like. The aids can store this data for later retrieval and/or can communicate the data to a user's mobile phone, with a separate or remote electronic unit or computer, with a user's smart watch and/or similar. However, problems associated with these type of devices are that they are either not calibrated or, if they are calibrated, the calibration is not accurate or tends to drift over time and use. As such, the user may be required to constantly re-calibrate the training aid, which is time consuming and is likely to put the user off from regularly using the training aid. The position of some of the current IMUs on the golf club can significantly alter the weight and feel of the golf club, thereby resulting in the user's training position being different to the user's competition position, such that trained positions and techniques are not readily transferable to competition positions and techniques. Yet further, many of the current training aids only provide information on where the golf club shaft is in three dimensional space and not where the golf club head that will actually impact the golf ball is, or any information on where the golf club head is relative to a target the golfer might be aiming for. Many current training aids also do not take into account the interaction that emerges between the golfer, the task and their environment. As such, the prior art provides only limited feedback information and application for allowing improvement of a user's golf performance.
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide golf training apparatus that overcomes the abovementioned problems.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a method of using golf training apparatus that overcomes the abovementioned problems.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided golf training apparatus according to claim 1.
Thus, the apparatus of the present invention provides a means of calibrating or re-calibrating the sensing means or other sensing means associated with the golf club to at least one known target, other than a golf ball, in use. This significantly increases the accuracy of the data being generated and/or collected by the sensing means and/or apparatus and helps to reduce or prevent drift of the apparatus and/or sensing means, parameter measurements/data accuracy over time and use. The resulting apparatus can be relatively simple and more cost effective to produce and use compared to conventional training aids, and can allow a greater range of performance statistics to be captured by the apparatus. For example, the apparatus can be used to provide direct or indirect feedback on at least one measured parameter which is specific to the user, their equipment and/or performance. In addition, or as alternative, the apparatus can be used to provide user feedback based on an ecological dynamics training method, as is explained in more detail below. An advantage of this is that one or more constraints can be added, modified and/or removed using the apparatus to provide augmented feedback to the user.
Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention can be used to augment the player/user undertaking kinaesthetic imagery, simulation of a golf swing task without a golf ball and/or the rehabilitation of golf swing motor skills. For example, use of the apparatus of the present invention to aid sensory motor learning, guidance and rehabilitation of impairments such as Vision, Focal Dystonia and Parkinson's Disease and/or the like in golf players.
Detection of the at least one target means is used to calibrate or re-calibrate the sensing means to an absolute point of physical reference for calibration or as zero, thereby generating absolute golf club orientation data (i.e. in the world coordinate system). This allows one or more parameters subsequently measured by the sensing means, one or more other sensing means and/or one or more associated IMUs to be calibrated relative to the target/sensing means calibration value.
In one embodiment the sensing means, first sensing means, second sensing means and/or further sensing means are a sensing device, first sensing device, second sensing device and/or further sensing devices respectively.
In one embodiment the target means is a target or target apparatus.
In one embodiment the pre-determined value to which the sensing means is calibrated to can be changed and/or adjusted in use, thereby allowing re-calibrating of the sensing means in use. This can allow adjustment of one or more constraints placed on the user using the apparatus in use. For example, the target means could be moved or the pre-determined value allocated to the target means can be changed and/or adjusted.
Preferably examples of the one or more constraints that can be altered using the apparatus of the present invention can be the position of the at least one target means in use and/or the like.
In one embodiment detection of the at least one target means by the sensing means allows a distance of the sensing means and/or golf ball from the at least one target means to be measured or calculated and/or calibration of the sensing means includes measuring or calculating the distance of the sensing means and/or golf ball from the at least one target means. Knowing how far a golf ball and/or the sensing means is from the at least one target means allows other parameter calculations to be accurately measured, thereby providing enhanced feedback to a user.
Preferably the distance measurement between the sensing means, the at least one target means and/or the golf ball is via a triangulation process or mathematical triangulation process. For example, any conventional mathematical triangulation process can be used to measure the distance.
In one embodiment an initial approximation of the distance of the sensing means and/or golf ball from the at least one target means is determined during an initial detection stage of the sensing means with the at least one target means. Once the at least one sensing means has detected the position of the at least one target means, refinement of the approximate distance then takes place using a mathematical triangulation process to provide an accurate distance of the sensing means and/or golf ball from the at least one target means. In one embodiment the sensing means is arranged to sense one or more parameters, in addition to sensing the at least one target means.
In one embodiment the golf training apparatus includes and/or is associated with one or more other sensing means and/or IMUs (i.e. separate and/or different to the target sensing means). Preferably the one or more other sensing means and/or IMUs are arranged to sense, detect, measure, generate and/or calculate one or more parameters. These parameters may be the same and/or different to the one or more parameters detected, sensed, measured, generated and/or calculated by the target sensing means.
In one embodiment the one or more other sensing means and/or IMUs can be coupled by wired or wireless means, physically coupled, directly or indirectly coupled and/or communicatively coupled to the target sensing means in use or to micro-processing means associated with the target sensing means.
Preferably the one or more other sensing means and/or IMUs can be calibrated and/or re-calibrated using the at least one detected target sensing means calibration data.
In one embodiment, the target sensing means are arranged to lock onto the at least one detected target means in use to allow continuous or substantially continuous calibration and/or re-calibration of the sensing means, one or more other sensing means, IMUs and/or apparatus in use.
Preferably the sensing means is continuously or substantially continuously searching for and/or detecting the at least one target means in use, thereby allowing continuous or substantially continuous calibration and/or re-calibration of the apparatus, sensing means, one or more other sensing means and/or IMUs in use.
In one embodiment the calibration and/or re-calibration of the apparatus, sensing means, one or more other sensing means and/or IMUs in use is arranged to take place live and/or in real time.
In one embodiment the calibration and/or re-calibration of the apparatus, sensing means, one or more other sensing means and/or IMUs takes place a pre-determined time after the at least one target means has been detected and/or after one or more parameters have been detected by the target sensing means.
In one embodiment the apparatus, the sensing means, the one or more other sensing means and/or the IMUs includes timing means and, once the at least one target means has been detected by the sensing means, the timing means is arranged to provide one or more time based markers. Thus, for example, a time based marker can be associated with the calibration, re-calibration, the one or more parameters sensed by the sensing means or other sensing means and/or the like.
Preferably the timing means allows time based event markers to be generated; temporal data to be generated relating to any time point or points during a golf swing or action epoch, temporal golf club orientation data to be measured, sensed, calculated, generated and/or the like using the apparatus. For example, the one or more time based markers can be used with other quotients in a golf action epoch and/or golfing environment to calculate rolling resistance, one or more surface artifacts, topography and/or the like.
In one embodiment a combination of the distance measurement of the sensing means and/or golf ball from the at least one target means and the one or more time based markers allow one or more parameters to be calculated, alone or in combination with data from other sensing means, such as for example, time to ball impact and/or time of ball flight to be measured and/or calculated. In some embodiment an accurate time to ball impact and/or time of ball flight may also require ball tracking data from ball tracking sensing means. The ball tracking sensing means can form part of the present invention in one embodiment.
Preferably the data gathered from the one or more other sensing means and/or IMUs is typically relative golf club orientation data (i.e. on a local club coordinate system) but the use of and/or combination with the calibration data generated by the target sensing means, provides absolute golf club orientation data to be generated by the apparatus from all sensing means and/or IMUs associated with the apparatus.
Preferably the timing means is in the form of a timing device, clock and/or the like.
In one embodiment the sensing means includes first sensing means and at least second sensing means (also referred to herein as other sensing means).
Preferably the first and at least second sensing means are located or locatable in different positions on or in the apparatus, the golf club, the golf ball, on or with a user of the apparatus; are located a spaced distance apart and/or remote from each other, sense one or more different parameters, relate to different golf training systems and/or the like.
In one embodiment the sensing means, the first and/or the at least second sensing means is any sensing means or device that allows the sensing of its position relative to the at least one target means in use, such as for example, optical sensing means or device, ultrasonic sensing means or device, magnetic sensing means or device, radio wave sensing means or device, laser sensing means or device and/or the like.
In a preferred embodiment first sensing means is in the form of an optical sensor, such as a camera or image capture device for example.
Preferably the at least second sensing means is in the form of or includes one or more inertia measuring units (IMUs), global positioning systems (GPS), optical sensing means or device, accelerometers, golf training systems and/or the like.
The sensing means, or the first sensing means is provided on, in, associated with and/or locatable with a head portion of a golf club in use. By providing sensing means that can be provided on, in and/or associated with the head portion of a golf club in use and can sense the position of itself with respect to the at least one target means, this allows the golf training apparatus to provide more accurate and useful data on the orientation and/or location of the head portion of the golf club relative to the target means at any point in the golfer's swing, action epoch or movement. The data that can be generated by the apparatus of the present invention is more useful, has wider application and is more applicable to the normal movement patterns of a golfer's swing compared to prior art training systems. In addition, by providing the sensing means or first sensing means in association with the head portion of the golf club, this allows the weight distribution of the golf club to be more aligned to that of a conventional golf club that might be used in golf tournaments/competitions, thereby providing a more accurate training aid for the golfer.
In one embodiment the one or more parameters being sensed in use and/or the data on which the apparatus can generate includes any or any combination of the movement of the golf club; movement of the golf club head portion; the direction of movement of the golf club; the direction of movement of the golf club head portion; the direction the sensing means is pointing in (and therefore, for example, the direction the golf club or golf club head portion is pointing in) relative to the at least one target means; the speed of movement of the golf club head portion and/or golf club; the position of the golf club or golf club head portion relative to the at least one target means in use; the distance the sensing means and/or a golf ball is from the at least one target means and/or the like.
The golf club on which the sensing means or first sensing means is provided in use includes a shaft portion and a head portion located at an end of said shaft portion. Preferably at least part of the shaft portion is arranged to be gripped in the hands of a golfer/user in use, and typically at an end opposite from the head portion end of the shaft portion.
Preferably at least one surface of the head portion is arranged to impact a golf ball in normal use of the golf club.
In one embodiment the sensing means or first sensing means is a separate and/or independent unit that is attached or detachably attached to the head portion of the golf club in use.
In one embodiment the sensing means or first sensing means is integrally formed with the head portion of the golf club.
In one embodiment the sensing means or first sensing means is aligned or substantially aligned with the head portion of the golf club, and further preferably is aligned or substantially aligned with the golf ball impact surface of the golf club in use. Thus, for example, a front surface of the sensing means or unit in which the sensing means is located is aligned with a front or impact surface of the golf club.
Preferably the alignment can be physical and/or visual alignment.
Further preferably the sensing means or first sensing means is mechanically aligned or substantially mechanically aligned with the head portion of the golf club, and further preferably with the golf ball impact surface of the golf club in use.
In one embodiment if alignment between the sensing means and the head portion of the golf club and/or the target means is not possible, a mathematical formula can be used to estimate the alignment, at least until such time as alignment between the sensing means, the golf club and/or the target means is possible.
Preferably the sensing means or first sensing means is arranged to face in the same direction as the golf ball impact surface of the head portion of the golf club in use.
In one embodiment the sensing means or first sensing means is provided in, on and/or associated with a housing or unit housing.
Preferably attachment means or an attachment mechanism are provided on and/or associated with the sensing means, the housing or unit housing to allow attachment or detachable attachment of the sensing means, the housing or unit housing to the golf club, the shaft portion of the golf club or the head portion of the golf club in use.
In one embodiment the sensing means, the housing or unit housing is attached or detachably attached via attachment means or an attachment mechanism to the shaft portion of the golf club but in such a way that at least part of the sensing means is aligned or substantially aligned with the head portion of the golf club.
In one embodiment the attachment means can include any or any combination of welding, adhesive, friction fit, hook and loop fastening (VELCRO®), one or more clips, screws, nuts and bolts, magnets, straps, bands, clamps, ties, inter-engaging members, protrusions, recesses, apertures and/or the like.
In one embodiment the sensing means or first sensing means are arranged so as to be transverse, perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the ball impact surface or putting face of the head portion of the golf club.
Preferably the sensing means or first sensing means is arranged to be offset or laterally located with respect to the golf ball impact surface of the golf club in use.
Preferably the position of the sensing means on, with and/or associated with the head portion of the golf club is such so as to allow calibration and/or re-calibration of the sensing means, and therefore the head portion of the golf club, with the at least one target in use. This significantly reduces the time and effort associated with calibration and/or recalibration that is found with prior art golf training systems.
Preferably the housing or unit housing is made from a robust and/or rigid housing to provide strength and rigidity to the same. The housing or unit housing typically protects the sensing means located in the same.
Preferably the housing or unit housing is watertight or substantially watertight, or waterproof or substantially waterproof to prevent water ingress to the same that may damage the sensing means in use.
Preferably the sensing means is arranged so as to be able to detect the presence of the at least one target means in use.
Preferably the sensing means is located remotely, separately and/or independently from the at least one target means in use.
In one embodiment the optical sensing means or device includes one or more optical sensor arrays; one or more linear arrays; one or more image capturing devices, such as for example a camera, video camera, image streaming device and/or the like.
Preferably the optical sensing means or device are arranged to detect at least one optical target means in use.
Preferably the optical sensing means or device is arranged to take one or more images, one or more “snap shots”, video, image streams and/or the like in use.
Preferably visual and/or image data is extracted from the one or more images, one or more “snap shots”, video, image data streams and/or the like and used to identify where the optical sensing means is or was at any point in time with respect to the at least one target means.
In one embodiment the optical sensing means or device is continuously or substantially continuously taking images, “snap shots”, video, image data streams and/or the like during use of the apparatus.
In one embodiment the optical sensing means or device is arranged to capture one or more images, “snap shots”, video, image data streams and/or the like based on the one or more pre-determined parameters. For example, the one or more pre-determined parameters could include one or more pre-determined time points, one or more pre-determined positions, one or more pre-determined speeds or accelerations and/or the like.
Preferably the one or more pre-determined parameters can be pre-selected or selectable by the manufacturer, by a user and/or by a third party, such as by a golf coach and/or the like.
In one embodiment the ultrasonic sensing means or device includes one or more ultrasonic sensors.
Preferably the one or more ultrasonic sensors are used to identify where the ultrasonic sensing means is or was at any point in time with respect to the at least one target means and/or one or more ultrasonic target means.
In one embodiment the magnetic sensing means or device includes one or more magnetic sensors.
Preferably the one or more magnetic sensors are used to identify where the magnetic sensing means is or was at any point in time with respect to the at least one target means and/or one or more magnetic target means.
In one embodiment the sensing means, the first and/or at least second sensing means can be arranged to sense when a ball has been impacted via the golf ball impact surface of the golf club in use. For example, the sensing means can include a microphone, contact switch, audio detection means, vibration detection means and/or the like.
In one embodiment the apparatus, the sensing means, the first and/or at least second sensing means can include or consist of acceleration means to provide acceleration data relating to the user, the golf club, the shaft portion of the golf club and/or the head portion of the golf club in use. For example, an accelerometer could be provided.
In one embodiment the apparatus, the sensing means, the first and/or at least second sensing means can also include a global positioning system (GPS) to provide global positioning data, directional data, movement data and/or the like, relating to the user, the golf club, the shaft portion of the golf club and/or the head portion of the golf club in use.
In one embodiment the first sensing means is in the form of a camera, image capturing device or optical sensor that is arranged to detect the at least one target means in use, and the at least second sensing means is in the form of a camera, image capturing device or optical sensor that is arranged to detect one or more parameters other than the at least one target means, such as for example, to detect the impact position of the ball on the golf head impact surface, the position of the user's body, the direction the user's eyes are looking in and/or the like.
For example, the first sensing means is provided on or associated with the head portion of the golf club to detect the target means, and the second sensing means could be provided on or associated with user's glasses to detect the direction the user is looking at.
In one embodiment the at least one target means is any target means or device that can be sensed and/or detected using sensing means. For example, the at least one target means can include optical or visual target means, ultrasonic target means, magnetic target means, radio frequency target means, laser target means and/or the like.
Preferably the at least one target means is portable or substantially portable, and/or movable or substantially movable in use. This allows the at least one target means to be moved and/or transported to a suitable position or positions in use.
In one embodiment the at least one target means is a final target a golfer is trying to hit a golf ball to for a shot.
In one embodiment the at least one target means may not be a final target a golfer is trying to hit a golf ball to for a shot, but may, for example, be a temporary target that can be removed after calibration. For example, the at least one target means may be a temporary target the head portion of the golf club may need to face or point towards in order for a golfer to hit a golf ball to a different final target in use.
Preferably the at least one target means is distinguishable from the background or environment the target means is placed in use.
In one embodiment at least one target means includes first target means and at least second target means.
Preferably the first target means and the at least second target means are distinguishable from each other, such as for example via the use of one or more different codes, identification means, identification data, having a different optical or visual appearance, different fiducial markings and/or the like.
Preferably the first target means is a portable, substantially portable, movable and/or substantially movable in use.
Preferably the at least second target means is also portable, substantially portable, movable and/or substantially movable in use. However, the at least second target means could be fixed if required. For example, the second target means could be provided in, with and/or associated with a golf hole into which a golfer is trying to putt their golf ball.
Preferably the at least second target means is for location at the actual or final target the golfer may be trying to hit the golf ball to, whereas the first target means is for location in a position, that can be an intermediate position, that, for example, the head portion of the golf club may need to face for at least part of the golf swing in order for the golf ball to reach its final intended target (which is different to the intermediate target).
It will be appreciated that the target means can still be used for calibration and to augment motor skill training interventions such as kinaesthetic imagery of a golf swing task without a golf ball and/or the rehabilitation of the golf swing motor skills. For example, the apparatus of the present invention can be used to aid sensory motor learning, guidance and rehabilitation of impairments such as Vision, Focal Dystonia and Parkinson's Disease and/or the like in golf players.
In one embodiment the at least one target means includes fiducial means or one or more fiducial markers that can be placed in the field of detection of the sensing means for sensing by the sensing means. In one example, the sensing means and/or the one or more fiducial markers associated with the target means can be used to determine the distance of the sensing means from the at least one target means. This allows the golf club to be used as a distance measuring device for improving accuracy and/or positioning of the golf club, golf ball and/or golfer in use.
Preferably the sensing means are arranged to detect the fiducial means or markers and to lock on to the same in use.
Preferably the apparatus includes micro-processing means or a micro-processor to process data received from the sensing means, IMUs and/or other sensing means in use.
Preferably the micro-processing means uses one or more algorithms to extract, process and/or generate data, sensed data and/or target means data in use.
In one embodiment the micro-processing means is provided in the same housing or unit housing as the sensing means. However, the micro-processing means could be provided in a separate or independent housing and can be attached or detachably attached to the golf club, integral with the golf club and/or could be provided remote from the golf club.
Preferably the micro-processing means includes any micro-processing device or chip, computer, computer circuitry, mobile phone, portable hand held device, laptop, tablet and/or the like.
In one embodiment the apparatus can provide feedback data based on the data from the sensing means, IMUs and/or other sensing means in real time or as live data feedback. This arrangement may not comply with competition rules and so in one example may be limited for use as a training tool option only.
In one embodiment the apparatus includes data storage means or memory means to allow data to be stored and/or transferred for use at some point in the future. This arrangement may comply with competition rules in one example and may be used to analyse performance during golfing competitions, or after the golfing competition has finished.
In one embodiment user feedback means or mechanism can be provided to feedback data to a user. For example, the user feedback means could inform a user when the sensing means is not facing or pointing in the direction of the at least one target means.
Preferably the user feedback means is arranged to provide live or real time feedback data to a user.
Preferably the user feedback means includes audio, visual and/or kinaesthetic feedback means, such as for example, an alarm, auditory, a light or light emitting diode (LED), vibration feedback, a haptic device, a vision tracking device, an object tracking device, an anatomical kinematic measuring device, an augments reality device and/or the like.
Preferably the user feedback means can be provided on the golf club or can be provided remote to the golf club, such as on an item worn by the golfer, such as a watch, item of jewellery, to a user's mobile phone, hand held electronic device, computer and/or the like.
Preferably the apparatus of the present invention can be used in an indoor and/or outdoor setting or environment.
Preferably the apparatus can be used in conjunction with other training aids, IMUs, golf systems, environmental, geographic terrain data and/or the like. For example, the apparatus of the present invention could be used with an adaptive terrain platform system, such as for example, The Zen Green Stage®, to provide further data feedback or a combination of data feedback to a user, such as for example, gradient or surface data over which the ball will travel in use. It could also be linked to other inertia measurement units (IMUs), such as for example, IMUs provided on a user's glasses, clothing and/or the like.
Preferably the apparatus can be used with any type of golf club, such as for example, a wood, a driver, an iron, a hybrid, a wedge, a putter and/or the like.
Preferably the data extracted by the apparatus of the present invention can be used to measure and/or analyse any or any combination of six degrees of freedom of movement of the user, the golf club and/or head portion of the golf club, any accessories worn by the golfer in use and/or the like.
Preferably the six degrees of freedom of movement include left/right movement (X axis movement), up/down movement (Y axis movement), forwards/backwards movement (Z axis movement), Yaw movement (rotation about the Y axis), Pitch movement (rotation about the X axis) and Roll movement (rotation about the Z axis).
In one embodiment the apparatus includes user actuation means or mechansim to allow user actuation of the apparatus in use. For example, the user actuation means may include a switch, dial, button, auditory, brain-computer interface, anatomical gesture recognition device, haptic, one or more transducers, neuromuscular stimulation, a visual display device, a vision tracking device, an object tracking device, an anatomical kinematic measuring device, an augmented reality device, a virtual reality device and/or the like. The user actuation means could, in one example, be used to switch the apparatus between operational and non-operational conditions, to select one or more parameters to be measured, to allow data to be transferred and/or the like.
In one embodiment the apparatus is actuated automatically on detection of movement or one or more pre-determined movements of the apparatus or sensing means in use or on detection of target means by the sensing means.
In one embodiment electrical power supply means are provided to supply electrical power to the apparatus and/or sensing means in use. The electrical power supply means could include any electrical supply device, one or more batteries, rechargeable batteries, mains power supply, solar power and/or the like.
In one embodiment the apparatus includes communication means or apparatus to allow data to be communicated to and/or from the same. For example, the communication means or apparatus could include transceiver means, a transmitter, a receiver and/or the like.
In one embodiment the communication means could be provided in, with and/or in association with the housing, unit housing, sensing means, one or more other sensing means, micro-processing means and/or the like.
Preferably the data is communicated by wired or wireless means. For example, data can be communicated via WIFI, Bluetooth and/or the like.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of using golf training apparatus according to claim 23.
According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a golf training recording and transmission apparatus and/or a method of use thereof.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided golf training apparatus, said golf training apparatus including at least first sensing means provided on, associated with and/or locatable on or with a golf club in use; and at least one target means detectable by the sensing means, the at least one target means being a target different to a golf ball that the golf club is to hit in use and being locatable separate to and remote from the sensing means and/or golf club in use; characterised in that the golf training apparatus includes at least second sensing means for sensing one or more parameters different to the at least one target means in use, and wherein the apparatus is arranged such that the first sensing means detects the at least one target means and, once detected, use the detected position of the at least one target means to calibrate the at least first sensing means and the at least second sensing means in use.
Preferably the at least first and second sensing means are calibrated and/or re-calibrated to the same pre-determined positional data generated via detection of the at least one target means by the first sensing means.
According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided golf training apparatus and/or methodology that can be used to detect, measure and/or provide information to a performer on key artifacts of a multi-directional gaming performance environment. For example, the target, the location of one or more golf balls in relationship with the target and/or each other, one or more geographical constraints, independently and/or together to inform and/or influence a task and action outcome.
According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided golf training apparatus and/or methodology that can be used to detect and/or measure key artifacts and/or markers in an action epoch and/or multi-dimensional gaming performance environment, to generate data and use this data to provide feedback, to augment actuation of learning, interaction and/or rehabilitation of organismic sensory-motor control action fidelity.
According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided golf training apparatus, said golf training apparatus including sensing means provided on, associated with and/or locatable on or with a golf club in use; and at least one target means for providing a target that is detectable by the sensing means in use, the at least one target means being a target different to a golf ball that the golf club is to hit in use and being locatable separate to and remote from the sensing means and/or golf club in use; characterised in that the golf training apparatus is arranged to detect the at least one target means and, once detected, use the detected position to measure or calculate a distance the sensing means and/or a golf ball is from the at least one target means in use.
Thus, the apparatus of the present invention can provide the following advantages:
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following figures, wherein:
The present invention relates to golf training apparatus that can be used to bring about an improvement in skill acquisition, movement education and/or the performance of a user or athlete. It can also be used to augment player/user undertaking kinaesthetic imagery of a golf swing task without a golf ball and/or the rehabilitation of the golf swing motor skills. In particular, the apparatus is used to improve the adaptive movement patterns of a user or athlete using theory based, at least in part, on ecological dynamics.
Ecological dynamics is a scientific framework that looks at how living organisms form processes of action, behaviour and cognition in the environment that the organism is operating in, rather than independently of the organism's environment. This framework has allowed an athlete training method to be developed called “Constraints-Led Approach” or CLA. The CLA method of training takes a holistic and individual approach to learning by considering the interactions between different “constraints”; the performer, the environment and the task being performed. The apparatus of the present invention provides a means of prescriptive and/or corrective feedback personal to the athlete/performer in one embodiment but also provides the means to allow use of the CLA training method to allow manipulation of the constraints placed on the athlete/performer in one embodiment.
The three underlying concepts of the CLA training method are:
The apparatus of the present invention can be used in either or both an indoor or outdoor environment and provides augmented feedback to a user (also referred to as an athlete or performer) of the apparatus. The feedback can include physically recorded data feedback and/or cognitive feedback. The apparatus can be used to control, challenge and/or adjust one or more of the three underlying concepts in one example.
The apparatus of the present invention and the feedback produced by the apparatus can be used in a way to improve the adaptive movement of the user or athlete.
Referring to
The golf putter 4 includes a putting shaft portion 6 having a first end 8 and a second opposite end 10. The shaft portion 6 is elongate and is arranged for a golfer to grip the same in their hands adjacent first end 8 in use.
A head portion 12 is provided at the second end 10 of shaft portion 6. The head portion has a golf ball impact surface 16 for impacting with a golf ball 18 in use.
The golf training apparatus 2 includes sensing means in the form of a sensing unit 20 that is attached laterally of the head portion 12 via attachment means. In this example, the attachment means is in the form of a band 22 but it will be appreciated that any suitable attachment means could be used to attach the sensing unit to the head portion 12 in use.
A front surface 24 of the sensing means is aligned or substantially aligned with the golf ball impact surface 16 of the putter head portion 12 such that the entire front surface of the golf ball impact surface and front surface 24 are planar or substantially planar. As such, the sensing means is facing the same direction as the impact surface 16 of the putter head portion 12 in use.
The sensing unit 20 in this example is an optical sensor in the form of a camera 25, with a camera lens 26 for capturing visual data, images and/or video in use. However, other sensing means could be used.
The apparatus 2 further includes optical or visual target means in the form of target 28 that is portable and can be moved to a suitable location by a user in use. The target 28 is separate to and independent of the sensing unit 20 and can be moved to a remote location with respect of the sensing unit 20 in use.
In the illustrated example the target 28 includes a base portion 30 for supporting the target 28 on a ground surface in use and a visual target portion 32 protruding upwardly from the base portion 30. A visual image, which in this example is a bullseye image 34, is provided on the visual target portion. However, other fiduciary markings can be provided on the target portion that are detectable by the camera in use.
The visual bullseye image 34 is visually distinguishable from the background against which the target 28 is placed in use.
The target 28 can be a final target the golfer may be trying to hit the golf ball 18 to, such as a putting hole, or it could be an intermediate target that the impact surface 16 of the putter head portion 12 has to face and be aligned with in order for the ball to reach a different final target, such as the arrangement shown in
The apparatus 2 can also include micro-processing means 35 for processing the images captured by the camera and for extracting data relating to the position and/or direction of the putter head portion 12 relative to the target means 28, the distance the sensing means is from the target means 28, the speed of movement of the putter head portion 12, the timing of the movement of putter head portion 12 and/or the like. One or more algorithms can be used by the micro-processing means to extract data from the captured images to provide feedback data to the golfer that can be used as a valuable and accurate training tool.
For example, in use, the camera 25 searches for and detects the fiducial marker 37 on the target 28, as shown in
Thus, according to
Using the micro-processor 35, the data from the optical camera sensor 25 is used to generate absolute (i.e. in the world coordinate system) golf club orientation information at a relatively low temporal frequency.
Using the micro-processor 35, the data from the IMU sensor 40 is used to generate relatively high temporal frequency golf club orientation information. This is typically relative (i.e. in the local club coordinate system).
The micro-processor uses the combination of the signals from the optical camera sensor 25 and the IMU sensor 40 to provide relatively high frequency absolute golf club orientation information (i.e. in the world coordinate system).
The IMU sensor 40 (which can include a plurality of IMU sensors if required) can additionally detect relevant event markers throughout the golf action epoch.
It will be appreciated that the direction of arrows in
The apparatus 2 can also include data storage means to allow data to be stored in use. This allows a user to study data after they have finished a training session. However, live data could be provided in one example if required.
The apparatus 2 can include power supply means to allow power to be provided to the camera and/or the micro-processing means.
User feedback means, such as for example a wrist band, augmented superimposed optical information displayed through wearable glasses, and the like, with an optical display, could be provided to signal to a user whether the camera is aligned/calibrated with the target 28 in use. For example, a green light could be displayed on the wrist band if the sensing unit 20 is correctly aligned/calibrated with the target 28 or a red light could be displayed on the wrist band if the sensing unit 20 is incorrectly aligned/calibrated with or out of sight of the target 28.
Referring to
The micro-processing means can triangulate the position of the first visual target 28, the second visual target 36 and/or the sensing unit 20 to allow data to be extracted relating to the position, the distance, movement and speed of the putter head portion 12 with respect to the first and/or second targets during a golf swing in use.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2304916.6 | Apr 2023 | GB | national |
