Patent Application
20070249428
Some golfers believe that the art of putting is a subjective skill based primarily on the golfer's confidence and “the right feel” during the address and putting stroke. Other golfers believe that good putting results from the development and execution of proper putting mechanics. In fact, both “the right feel” and good putting fundamentals are requisite skills that lead to consistently good putting. The golfer's failure to execute proper putting mechanics inevitably leads to poor putting and causes extra strokes during a golf match.
The following are common putting errors: misalignment of a clubface relative to break and speed of the ball, inconsistent clubhead path during the putting stroke, inability to properly read the break in the green, excessive opening/closing of the clubface during the stroke, inconsistent ball speed control, failure to accelerate the putter through impact, incorrect putter position relative to ball's lie on the green, failure to maintain the hands ahead of the clubhead during the stroke, improper approach angle of the putter through impact, failure to maintain the clubface square to the intended stroke line, lack of confidence in making the putt, failure to solidly strike the ball with the putter, poor grip and improper posture at address.
In his book, Putt Like the Pros, Dave Pelz suggests, “Putting is 43% of the game of golf. The average golfer shoots 95 and will average thirty-eight putts per round.” To put this in perspective, if Tiger Woods averaged 38 putts per round his stroke average would climb to 78. These numbers illustrate the importance of good putting, even for the best player in the world today. Pelz also offers, “Golfers misalign their intended line as much as 75% and therefore make compensating putting stroke errors in an effort to redirect their misalignment at address. Nick Faldo recently remarked, “The name of the game is turning three shots into two!” Improved putting is key to achieving that objective.
Thus it is apparent that millions of golfers cannot putt well because they cannot align their putters, read the greens or control the distance the ball travels after impact. Generally, the problem is not a lack of natural ability. The available putting aids are limited by the approach they take to teaching the art of putting. These products typically train mechanics or alignment, but do not comprehensively and simultaneously teach alignment, speed control and proper mechanics. But good putting requires consistent and proper clubface alignment at address (relevant to break), proper and repeatable mechanics and the learned skill of touch for speed. Teaching putting without teaching the simultaneous execution of these skills is not really teaching putting at all.
One embodiment of the invention comprises a putting training device further comprising: a surface over which a golfer executes a putting stroke, an electric field generator, an electric field detector, a plurality of electrodes responsive to the electric field generator each for producing an electric field, and wherein as the golfer executes the putting stroke one or more of the electric fields is perturbed, and wherein the electric field detector detects the perturbed electric field to determine parameters related to putter head movement.
Another embodiment comprises a method for conducting putting training for a golfer executing a putting stroke. The method comprises generating electric fields through which the golfer executes the putting stroke; detecting perturbations in the electric fields caused by a putter moving through the electric fields during the putting stroke; and responsive to detected perturbations, determining a relationship between the putting stroke and a desired putting stroke for various putting stroke parameters.
The present invention can be more easily understood and the advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent when the following detailed description of the present invention is read in conjunction with the figures wherein:
In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale, but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the invention. Like reference characters denote like elements throughout the figures and text.
Before describing the invention in detail it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and the specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention.
The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive.
The putting training device of the present invention teaches and reinforces techniques to improve a golfer's putting game, especially putting under about ten feet. Practicing with the training device will develop the golfer's putting skills, increasing the number of successful short putts during a match. The golfer uses his/her personal putter with the putting training device of the invention. The invention does not require use of a special putter, awkward training aid attachments, putter attachments or restrictive rails for controlling the clubhead during the training session. All such putting training aids are undesirable as they restrict the golfer's putting “feel.” The device of the present invention teaches putting to maximize a player's feel using the player's personal putter and without attachments or restrictive devices surrounding the putter at address. There is no contact between the training device and the putter during the stroke, but the stroke mechanics are accurately monitored regardless of putter size.
The device enhances a player's feel for ball speed around the hole. As is known, as the ball slows down the effects of gravity increase. Therefore if the ball speed is not correct around the hole/cup the putt will be either high or low, unless there is no break in the green to the hole/cup. While monitoring clubface motion and enhancing “feel” the device also teaches a player the necessary mechanical skills for consistent putting, regardless of the player's skill level. These two putting skills are inseparable. The device further verifies the putter's alignment with a guideline within ⅛ inch (in one embodiment) over a twenty feet length. The combination of these multiple features improves a player's alignment, stroke mechanics and ball speed around the hole/cup.
In one embodiment the device provides four skill levels (also referred to as error levels) to address the needs of all golfers from novice to professional. The trainer can be used outside in full sunlight, on the course or on any indoor or outdoor putting surface, including the golfer's home or office. The golfer learns to putt with feel and to hit putts to impart the proper ball speed for any degree of putt break. He can practice firm putts with little break and softer putts with considerable break. The device helps the golfer identify the putting style that best suits his game. By using the putting trainer of the present invention the golfer gains trust in his stroke mechanics and the ability to make small adjustments, improving putting consistency and confidence.
The training device of the present invention, in its various embodiments, improves the golfer's putting game by increasing the number of successful putts within 10, 15 and even 20 feet from the pin, minimizing any confusing technical (mechanical) thoughts during balls address and/or during the putting stroke, improving the golfer's ability to read greens more accurately, enhancing the ability to correctly align the putter face, developing repeatability of the putter's path without restricting the stroke, controlling the clubhead speed and inertia at impact, improving ball speed control around the hole, reducing clubface rotation through impact, enhancing a player's putting confidence, visually improving a player's ability to “see the line,” decreasing the backspin/rebound effect at impact, validating a putter's aim within about ⅛″ at twenty feet, teaching green reading at any ball speed and for any green break, guaranteeing a putter's path within ¼″, ½″, ¾″ or 1″ of a guideline (responsive to a user-selected error level, each level corresponding to one of the four deviations from the guideline), improving the putter's pitch angle to ensure solid hits, verifying clubface alignment before every putt, developing a natural cadence during the stroke and teaching a touch for speed, alignment and mechanics.
According to one embodiment, the trainer of the present invention employs a control device (e.g., a microprocessor or microcontroller) that can be upgraded to include additional beneficial features. These upgrades include an interface to Bluetooth or other wireless (or wired) networks, camera add-ons and software upgrades to more precisely track putting habits.
The device can interface with a computer, via a network link for example. A software application executing on the computer receives and manipulates the data collected during the putting stroke to provide additional information for improving the golfer's putting game, such as graphs and charts that depict various parameters of the golfer's putting stroke. The putting training device can also communicate with a removable storage device (for example, a jump drive) for downloading the collected information to the storage device for more detailed analysis on a separate processing platform.
The device includes the capability to teach and monitor the putter head during the putting stroke, including putting strokes taught by various golf instructors and professionals. In one embodiment, the device teaches the newest stroke methodology, popularized by Stan Utley, that involves an inside to square, to back inside stroke theory as the clubface stays perpendicular to the stroke radius. According to Utley's theory the clubhead moves in a gently curving path that is about 2 degrees from the centerline that intersects the ball. The clubface should stay square (perpendicular) to this arcuate path during the backstroke and the forward stroke.
In another embodiment, the device teaches a putting theory made popular by Dave Pelz, where the putting stroke moves straight back on the backstroke and straight through on the forward swing while the clubface stays perpendicular to the path during the entire stroke.
Thus the device offers the golfer a choice of putting theories and implements monitoring techniques pertinent to either popular putting theory. The device also monitors two putting stroke fundamentals that are common to any putting stroke: return of the clubface to impact the ball at the same angle as the angle at address, and regardless of the stroke path (linear or arcuate), the perpendicular orientation of the clubface to the path at every point along the path. The present invention simultaneously monitors both clubface angle and path for accuracy relative to a desired position/orientation. Audio and video indicators, operative responsive to the monitored results, provide instantaneous feedback to the golfer.
Golfers continue to buy new technology to improve their handicap. Preliminary studies with the training device of the present invention indicate a handicap reduction of about 15% to 20% for an average player. This calculates to a handicap reduction of about 5 to 7 strokes. The average player taking 95 strokes for a round can break 90 by improving his putting game with the training device of the present invention. With a lower average score and the player's ability to score more consistently, the game is more enjoyable encouraging him or her to play golf more frequently.
The device also improves a golfer's putting form and consistency by sensing the putter's alignment to and deviation from a designated path and by monitoring a descending arc circumscribed by the clubhead during the down stroke. The angle of descent is adjustable and related to the putters loft at address. All putters vary in loft and therefore to properly and consistently roll the ball for speed, the angle of descent must be carefully controlled during the stroke. When the angle of descent properly matches the putter head loft, both ball skip/bouncing (caused by an angle of descent that is too low) and drag/excessive loft (causing backspin) are reduced and the ball rolls its intended distance. Loss of ball speed inevitably causes the putt to be missed as the ball does not reach the desired target on the green at the desired speed.
Excessive lifting of the putter head from a surface of the putting training device activates an alarm or other warning indicator. The angle of descent is monitored by the device with real time audible/visual feedback to the golfer before the ball is hit. In one embodiment the angle between the surface of the device and the ground or surface on which the device rests is adjustable to monitor any angle of descent and detect deviations from the desired angle of descent.
In addition to sensing the motion of the clubhead, the device includes an alignment mechanism for aligning the device with either the hole or an imaginary point near the hole to allow for breaks on the green. The device verifies alignment at address and assists the golfer in applying the correct ball roll arc for optimal accuracy.
The training device senses putter head alignment and motion by using sensors that detect putter deviation from a prescribed line or arc visibly inscribed on an upper surface of the device. The sensors are monitored by an apparatus that compares the relative position of the puffer head with a prescribed reference position at multiple points during the stroke. Responsive to the relative position, the controlling apparatus provides stroke feedback information to the user via visible and/or audible indicators.
In a preferred embodiment, the device 10 generates an electric field and analyzes field perturbations caused by the putter 4, in particular perturbations caused by motion of the putter 4. The putter path is monitored from a time when the putter 4 moves backward on the backswing and continues through the downswing until immediately prior to impact of the putter 4 with the ball 1. The monitoring ends when the putter crosses a start electrode (described further below) on the downswing.
An electric field emanates from electrodes on a lower surface of the trainer surface 2. The electrodes also monitor the electric field and detect putter-induced field perturbations. Each electrode preferably comprises a conductive elongated strip, with the plurality of electrodes oriented such that when excited by an electric field generator the electrodes create electric fields along the putting stroke path, including especially certain strategic points along the path.
An electric field generator 30 (see
In one embodiment the electric field generator 30 comprises an electric field imaging device part number MC33794 available from Motorola, Inc. of Schaumberg, Ill. and the microprocessor (or microcontroller) comprises a microprocessor part number MSP4301232 available from Texas Instruments, Inc. of Dallas, Tex.
The electric field generator 30 further comprises a receiver/detector connected to the currently-active electrode for monitoring the generated field as disturbed by any objects within or proximate the field and for producing a signal representative thereof. The signal is converted to a DC value that therefore represents the current from the active electrode to the grounded electrodes and other grounded objects that affect the field distribution. Field perturbations caused by an object entering, exiting or stationary within the field, such as the putter, are detected by the receiver/detector as a change in this DC value. Specifically, an object within the field modifies the field between the active electrode and the surrounding grounded objects, modifying an effective capacitance between the active electrode and the grounded objects. The effective capacitance increases as the object approaches the active electrode and the measured DC value is inversely related to the effective capacitance.
The shape and size of the object can be determined by using multiple electrodes in the region where the object is expected and observing the capacitance change for each electrode. The electrodes that experience a capacitance change have a portion of the object proximate thereto. The object is not proximate any electrodes that experience no capacitance change.
The physical location of the electrodes illustrated schematically in
In one embodiment (not illustrated) one or more of the electrodes 34-38 is replaced with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes each independently generating a field responsive to the electric field generator 30. Putter velocity and acceleration can be determined from the field perturbations as described above. Thus in one embodiment the putter velocity, acceleration and position can be determined at any point during the putting stroke and the golfer visually or aurally advised of these parameters during the putting stroke. It is generally desired for the putter to be accelerating during the forward stroke; the putting training device of the present invention can confirm that acceleration. The velocity, acceleration and position data can also be stored and provided to the golfer in the form of a graphical or numerical display.
The golfer begins using the training device 10 by placing a ball in the cutout 44. As he moves the putter to the start electrode 38 at address, the field at each electrode (as perturbed by the putter) is determined and a reference DC voltage for each electrode is generated responsive to the measured field. These DC reference voltages are used for determining putter position during the putting stroke. The training device can accommodate any size putter.
In effect, the start electrode 38 operates as a switch that initiates the monitoring process (including determining the reference DC voltage values) when the putter is first placed proximate the start electrode 38 and terminates the process when the putter crosses the start electrode 38 during the down stroke, immediately prior to ball impact.
As the golfer continues his backstroke, the receiver/detector monitors the field at each electrode and generates a DC voltage responsive thereto. Putter motion is thereby determined relative to the toe electrode 34, the toe height electrode 35, the heel height electrode 36 and the heel electrode 37. In particular movement of the toe 6 and the heel 5 relative to the two toe electrodes and the two heel electrodes is determined.
An analog-to-digital converter 45 interposed between the electric field generator 30 and the microprocessor 50 converts the measured DC voltage values to a binary value. The microprocessor 50 compares the digitized voltages representing the monitored fields at the electrodes with the reference voltages. In one embodiment, the voltage decreases as the putter 4 moves toward an electrode. The specific electrode experiencing the decreased voltage indicates the direction in which the putter has varied from the guideline 3 and/or identifies an increase in putter height above the surface 2.
In one embodiment of the invention, the electric field generator 30 and the microprocessor/microcontroller 50 cooperate to sequentially supply the field-generating current to a single electrode 34-38 and monitor a single electrode at any given time during a cycle interval. The process cycles through multiple iterations of the cycle during the putting stroke to activate each electrode 34-38 multiple times during the putting stroke.
In one embodiment, the microprocessor/microcontroller 50 selects one electrode at the beginning of an 8 msec window and the electric field generator supplies a current to the selected electrode to create the field. The microprocessor remains idle until the window expires. During the next 8 msec window the microprocessor 50 reads the data supplied from the A/D converter 45, i.e., a digitized version of the field-representing voltage detected by the receiver/detector in the electric field generator 30. This value is compared with the reference value for the selected electrode to determine if a deviation in excess of a selected error value has occurred, activating the alarm 70 responsive thereto. The microprocessor 50 then activates a different electrode, cycling through all electrodes multiple times during both the backstroke and the forward stroke of the putting stroke.
The microprocessor 50 determines putter movement relative to a decreased voltage at the specific electrodes as described below.
Start electrode 38: The device 10 waits for an indication that the putter 4 has been placed over the start electrode 38 and has moved beyond the start electrode before determining a reference voltage for all electrodes. The device 10 continues to monitor the putter path until the putter 4 crosses the start electrode 38 immediately before the ball is struck.
Toe electrode 34: The putter 4 has moved away from the guideline toward the toe side if at anytime during the putting stroke (including both the backswing and the downswing) the voltage decreases from the reference value for this electrode. The voltage difference is compared with the value for a selected error level (1-4) and an alarm (visual or aural) triggered if the difference is greater than or equal to this error level.
Heel electrode 37: The putter 4 has moved away from the guideline toward the heel side if at any time during the putting stroke (including both the backswing and the downswing) the voltage decreases from the reference value for this electrode. This voltage difference is compared with the value for the selected error level (1-4) and an alarm triggered if the difference is greater than or equal to this error level.
Toe height electrode 35: An increased voltage at this electrode (from the reference value for this electrode) indicates that the toe 6 of the putter 4 has been lifted from the putting surface 2 during the putting stroke (including both the backswing and the downswing). This voltage change is used to adjust the voltage determined at the toe electrode 34, compensating the toe electrode voltage for movement of the toe 6 above the putting surface 2 and thereby removing the effects of toe lift from the toe electrode voltage, since the latter is intended to detect only lateral toe deviation from the guideline.
Heel height electrode 36: An increased voltage at this electrode (from the reference value for this electrode) indicates that the heel 5 of the putter 4 has been lifted from the putting surface 2 during the putting stroke (including both the backswing and the downswing). This voltage change is used to adjust the voltage determined at the heel electrode 37, compensating the heel electrode voltage for movement of the heel 5 above the putting surface 2 and thereby removing the effects of heel lift from the heel electrode voltage, since the latter is intended to detect only lateral heel deviation from the guideline.
Error level electrode 40: A decreased voltage at this electrode indicates that the putter 4 has been placed over the error level electrode 40 to change an error level setting (four error levels 1-4 in one embodiment). The error level cycles thru the four levels while the putter 4 is over the electrode, movement of the putter away from the electrode causes selection of the then-current error level.
The error levels indicate a measured voltage deviation from the expected value that represents a deviation of the putter from the guideline. In an embodiment with four error levels, the error levels indicate deviations during any part of the putting stroke as follows.
One of the LEDs (light emitting diodes) 65, 66, 67 and 68 is illuminated to indicate the selected error level.
Reset electrode 39: A decreased voltage at this electrode indicates that the putter has been placed over reset electrode. Responsive to the decreased voltage, the device 10 resets all alarms and reinitializes the system.
A toe alarm LED 61 illuminates when the toe 6 deviates from the guideline 3 by more than the distance associated with the selected error level. For example, if error level 3 is selected, the toe alarm LED 61 illuminates when the toe deviates from the guideline by more than ½ inch.
A heel alarm LED 63 functions similarly with respect to the heel 5. A height LED 62 illuminates when either the toe height or the heel height exceeds a starting height of the putter 4 by an amount greater than the deviation of the selected error level.
In one embodiment one or more of the LEDs 61-63 and 65-68 are partially shielded by a shroud (not illustrated) extending upwardly from the surface 2, allowing the golfer to determine if any one or more of the LEDs is illuminated when the device 10 is used under bright light conditions, such as outdoors in heavy sunlight.
An audible alarm 70 is also activated responsive to one of the monitored positions exceeding the selected error level deviation.
The microprocessor 50 of
The power supply 80 of
A data output module 82 of
An alignment module 84 of
The cadence module or indicator 88, controlled by the microprocessor 50 includes a plurality of LEDs that illuminate (or flash) responsive to the putting stroke. This feature teaches a player a proper cadence during the putting stroke, including the backstroke, the forward stroke and the transition between the back and forward strokes. The feature further provides an indication of the length of putter travel during the backstroke. The cadence feature trains the golfer to develop a smoother putting stroke, reducing clubface errors in the forward stroke by improving the player's ability to return the clubface to its original starting orientation and improves the golfer's ability to control ball speed by providing a better sense of distance control, i.e., the distance that the ball will travel when struck by the putter.
In one embodiment the cadence control feature of the invention can measure the putter forward speed and provide the golfer with an indication of that speed. The putter forward speed directly affects the ball speed due to momentum transfer when the club strikes the ball, as determined by the mass of the ball and putter (or the difference in the two masses). Thus by controlling his putter speed according to indications provided by the cadence control feature, the golfer directly controls the balls speed and controls the ball travel distance.
As described above, an advantageous feature of the golf putting aid of the present invention is the immediate, reliable and accurate verification of a putter's alignment and movement before and during the putting stroke in three dimensions, by improving control of the putter's pitch angle through impact and by reducing any unnecessary right and left movement of the putter through the back and forward strokes. The combination of these unique features and the verification of the clubface angle at address, impact and any other point in the backstroke or forward stroke allows any golfer to improve distance control and clubface angle control relative to a linear or arcuate desired clubface path. The golfer will thereby sink more putts, improve his score and enjoy the game more often.
Another embodiment of the invention, a golf putting aid 99 illustrated in
The shroud 105 comprises a box-like structure with an open front surface as illustrated. Indicia representing a golf ball (labeled G-L) and a hole (labeled A-E) are formed on an inside surface of a lower face 105A of the shroud 105. The hole C represents the cup (and in one application is aligned with the cup when the shroud 105 is placed on the green). An inch scale 108 (see
A laser beam 110 generated by the laser source 100 illuminates the shroud 105 as illustrated in
During the putt backstroke the golfer attempts to move his putter head 6 along the guideline 3. Upon squarely striking the ball 1, the ball should follow the path of the laser beam 110. If the golfer correctly reads the green and imparts the correct speed, the ball will break at the speculated break point and fall into the cup.
Thus the shroud 105 and the laser beam 110 provide the golfer with a visual aiming point along a straight line that directs his attention during the swing. Without the shroud and laser beam the golfer lacks an aiming point as there are no distinguishing features that can serve as an aiming point on the putting surface. Use of the shroud 105 also provides the putter with a distance control mechanism as he attempts to strike the ball with a momentum that will result in the ball reaching the shroud at the correct speed. If the shroud is located at the hole, that desired ball speed is such that if the cup was not present the ball would roll to a stop about 15 inches beyond the center of the cup. To further assist with ball speed control if desired, the golfer can place the shroud 105 about 15 inches behind the cup and impart a speed to the ball that would bring the ball to a stop at the shroud 105 if the hole was not present.
The golfer experiences a known depth perception problem as he looks at the hole 112 and lines up his putt, since the hole is a flat object (two dimensions) in his field of view. The lack of depth perception causes the golfer to lose his “feel” for the distance to the hole. The shroud, a three dimensional object, provides a better depth perception visual clue for the golfer than the two-dimensional hole, giving her a better “feel” for the distance to the hole.
As illustrated in another application of
The shroud can be used in full sunlight on the practice green or inside the comfort of the golfer's home, shadowing the aiming point to permit the golfer to see the laser beam 110. In another embodiment, the shroud further comprises an illuminating device (such as a light emitting diode) that is illuminated responsive to the impinging laser beam to further assist the golfer in identifying the aiming point.
In lieu of the hole representations A-E, the golfer can also use one of the golf ball representations G-L (aiming for a point one balls to the right of the hole, for example) or the inch scale 108 (aiming for a point nine inches to the left of the hole, for example) as the end point alignment for the laser beam 110.
In yet another embodiment, the guideline 3 comprises two linear line segments, a segment 130 collinear with guideline 3 and a segment 134 forming an acute angle with the segment 130. See
Another embodiment comprises an adjustable slope feature for the base 102 permitting adjustment of an angle α (see
The guideline 3 (backstroke line) can be substantially straight as illustrated in
In another embodiment illustrated in
As the club is moved by the golfer along the electrodes 200 and 202, a sinusoidal waveform is produced at a frequency representative of the club speed and the disturbance of the electric field is proportional to the area of the electrode effected by the club. The microprocessor/microcontroller 50 of
In the embodiment including both the electrodes 200 and 202, the phase relationship between the two sinusoidal signals is representative of the clubface angle, such as in
Thus use of the electrodes 200 and 202 provides the following information:
The various stroke parameters measured and determined according to the various embodiments described above can be stored or recorded for later analysis, either in the form of data values or graphs/charts illustrating the club stroke path, for example. Using the graphical information, the golfer can verify the clubface angle (i.e., the angle between the clubface and the centerline) at any point during the stroke and determine where the clubface is opened or closed. This information can be used by the golfer (or his coach) to identify deficiencies in the putt stroke and initiate remedial measures, such as better club speed control.
In another embodiment, one or more of the measured various parameters are combined to create a score for the putt stroke. The score can be displayed as a numerical value on a visual display or by illuminating a number of visual indicators (light emitting diodes) according to the score. Individual measured parameters can also be displayed in lieu of or as a supplement to the stroke score.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (assemblies, devices, circuits, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.
The present application claims the benefit of the Provisional Patent Applications No. 60/829,715 filed on Oct. 17, 2006 and No. 787,575 filed on Mar. 30, 2006.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60829715 | Oct 2006 | US | |
| 60787575 | Mar 2006 | US |
