US20020187860A1

US20020187860A1 - Method and apparatus for analyzing a golf stroke

Info

Publication number: US20020187860A1
Application number: US10/107,910
Authority: US
Inventors: George Shoane
Original assignee: Rutgers State University of New Jersey
Current assignee: Rutgers State University of New Jersey
Priority date: 2001-06-07
Filing date: 2002-03-27
Publication date: 2002-12-12

Abstract

A method of analyzing and practicing golf strokes, such as putting strokes, is provided. A surface is provided, wherein a golfer can practice one or more strokes in an environment simulating components of a golf course, such as a green. A club movement detector embedded in the surface and comprising a plurality of photodetectors and associated circuitry determines the position and velocity of the club face. A head movement sensor detects rotational movement of the golfer's head during the golf stroke. An eye movement sensor detects movement of the eyes of the golfer during the golf stroke. A processor connected to the club movement sensor, eye movement sensor, and head movements sensor gathers movement data during the golf stroke and produces measurements corresponding to the golf stroke, such as eye, head, and club movement of the golfer. The measurements can be compared with those of professional golfers to determine the efficiency and accuracy of the putting stroke.

Description

SPECIFICATION

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/296,527 filed Jun. 7, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/317,944 filed Sep. 7, 2001, the entire disclosures of which are both expressly incorporated herein by reference.[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for golf stroke analysis, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for analyzing components of a golf stroke including club face movement and the physical movement of a golfer during a stroke. The present invention also relates to a method and apparatus for allowing golfers to practice and improve their golf strokes.

2. Related Art

In the field of sports, generally, and in the game of golf, particularly, there has been an increasing need to address specific questions posed by athletes concerning the body's forces and motions during athletic activities. Much information has been acquired about the golf swing and the physical forces associated therewith, including forces impacting the golf ball. Such information has been obtained using high-speed photography and videotape, and the components of the golf swing have been studied in great detail during, at least, the past 50 years. Unfortunately, such methodologies do not allow for real-time analysis of a golfers' stroke.

The putting stroke is a crucial element in the game of golf. Statistics compiled by the Professional Golfer's Association show that approximately 40% of the total strokes by professional golfers in a given round are spent on putting. Golf teaching professionals and sports psychologists frequently teach beginning and experienced golfers the importance of minimal or no eye and head movements throughout the putting stroke. Reduced eye movement is particularly important to successful execution of the putting stroke, because eye fixation at locations other than the ball can cause improper strokes and missed puts. Further, reduced head movement allows a golfer to maintain a stable image of a putting surface, thereby enhancing the golfer's accuracy at putting. If the golfer's head moves during the stroke, putting misalignment and missed putts can result. Additionally, putter head velocity and acceleration, in conjunction with a golfer's grip, are useful indicators of a golfer's putting accuracy and ability.

What would be desirable, but has not yet been provided, is a system for analyzing the aforementioned aspects of a golfer's putting stroke, and producing real-time results indicating the effectiveness and accuracy of the putting stroke, and for allowing golfers to practice their strokes while also receiving feedback information.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for analyzing golf strokes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for analyzing putting strokes.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for allowing a golfer to practice and improve his or her golf stroke, while receiving feedback thereon and allowing for the comparison of measurements of the swing to measurements of a professional golfer's swing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for measuring eye, head, and club movement during a golf stroke, including a putting stroke.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for analyzing a golf stroke including a club movement sensor for measuring club movement.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for analyzing a golf stroke including a head movement sensor for measuring head movements during the stroke.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for analyzing a golf stroke including an eye movement sensor for measuring eye movements during the stroke.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for analyzing a golf stroke including a processor for acquiring eye, head, and club movement data and processing same.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for comparing eye, head, and club movement data of a golfer to eye, head, and club movement data of golfers of various experience levels.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for determining the effect of different golf grips on eye, head, and club movement during a golf stroke, including a putting stroke.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for analyzing and practicing a golf stroke, particularly a golf putting stroke. A putting platform is provided, wherein a golfer can putt in an environment simulating a golf green. Information regarding the golfer's eye, head, and club movements during the putting stroke are acquired using a plurality of sensing devices. A club movement sensor in the putting surface measures club movements during the stroke, without requiring attachment to the club. Eye movement sensors measure left and right eye movements of the golfer during putting. A head movement sensor tracks rotational movement of the golfer's head during the putting strokes. The acquired motion data are gathered simultaneously by a processor, and time traces of club, head, and eye movement may be generated. The time traces can be compared to time traces of golfers of various experience levels to determine the accuracy and efficiency of the golfer's putting stroke. Additionally, the effect of various golfing grips on eye, head, and club movement can be measured and analyzed. As such, a golfer can practice and improve his or her golf stroke, and compare measurements thereof to measurements of others, such as professionals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other important objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: [0019]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention during use by a golfer. [0020]
FIG. 2[0021] a is a top view of the club movement sensor shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2[0022] b is a side view of the club movement sensor and a portion of the putting surface shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2[0023] c is an end view of the club movement sensor and a portion of the putting surface shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the head movement sensor shown in FIG. 1. [0024]
FIG. 4[0025] a is a side view of the eye movement sensor shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4[0026] b is a side view showing the eye movement sensor of FIG. 1 shown in greater detail.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing components of the present invention. [0027]
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a circuit configuration of the club movement sensor of the present invention. [0028]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing operation of the club movement sensor. [0029]
FIG. 8 is a graph showing a time trace of club movement during a putting stroke. [0030]
FIG. 9 is a graph showing a time trace of eye movement during a putting stroke. [0031]
FIG. 10 is a graph showing a time trace of head movement during a putting stroke. [0032]
FIG. 11[0033] a is a graph showing a time trace of club movement of an experienced golfer during a putting stroke.
FIG. 11[0034] b is a graph showing a time trace of club movement of a novice golfer during a putting stroke.
FIG. 12 is a graph showing simultaneous time traces of eye, head, and club movement during a putting stroke. [0035]
FIG. 13[0036] a is a graph showing simultaneous time traces of eye, head, and club movement of a novice golfer during a putting stroke.
FIG. 13[0037] b is a graph showing simultaneous time traces of eye, head, and club movement of an experienced golfer during a putting stroke.
FIG. 14 is a graph showing time traces of eye, head, and club movement when a conventional golf grip is used during a putting stroke. [0038]
FIG. 15 is a graph showing time traces of eye, head, and club movement when a cross-handed golf grip is used during a putting stroke. [0039]
FIG. 16 is a graph showing time traces of eye, head, and club movement when a one-handed golf grip is used during a putting stroke. [0040]
FIG. 17 is a table showing results of statistical analysis of conventional, cross-hand, and one-handed grips used during 3 foot and 9 foot putts. [0041]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for analyzing golf strokes, particularly a putting stroke. A variety of physical movements can be tracked and analyzed during the golf stroke, such as eye, head, and club movement, and time traces thereof can be produced in real time. The sampled data can be compared with pre-recorded time traces of golfers at different experience levels, to determine the accuracy and efficiency of the golfer's stroke. Further, the effects of various golf grips on eye, head, and club movement can be determined. A golfer can practice and improve his or her game, and compare measurements relating to his or her golf stroke to measurements of professionals. [0042]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. The system of the present invention comprises a variety of components which, operating in conjunction, provide golf stroke analysis. A putting [0043] surface 80 is provided for a golfer 20 for taking practice putting strokes using any club 30 and golf ball 34 known in the art. Movement of club 30 along a path generally indicated by line 32 can be analyzed by club movement sensor 60, embedded in putting surface 80, as will be hereinafter further described. Importantly, club movement sensor 60 does not obstruct the path of golf ball 34, allowing golfer 20 to putt normally and (hopefully) sink golf ball 34 into hole 82. Further, putting movement sensor 60 allows for the analysis of movement of club 30, without requiring the attachment of any apparatus thereto.
In an embodiment of the present invention, putting [0044] surface 80 can be partitioned into two or more surfaces that can be positioned lengthwise to allow for putts of varying lengths. For example, two sections of putting surface 80 can be joined to allow for putts of three feet in length, additional sections can be added to allow for putts of nine feet in length. Any combination of sections of putting surface 80 can provided for allowing putts of any desired length.
Movement of the head of [0045] golfer 20 during the putting stroke can also be measured by the present invention. Rotational movement of the head of golfer 20, indicated generally along axis 24, can be measured by head movement sensor 40, attached to helmet 41, as will be hereinafter further described. It is to be understood that other types of head movement (i.e., side-to-side) are contemplated by the present invention and considered within the scope thereof. Head movement sensor 40 can be any sensor known in the art, e.g., an accelerometer with wireless transmitter and receiver, that is capable of measuring rotational movement.
Eye movements of [0046] golfer 20 can also be analyzed by the present invention by eye movement sensor 50, as will be hereinafter further described. In a preferred embodiment, eye movement sensor 50 is an infrared device that tracks motion of both right and left eyes of a golfer. Other eye movement sensors are considered within the scope of the invention.
Movement data generated by [0047] eye movement sensor 50, head movement sensor 40, and club movement sensor 60, is transmitted to processor 70 by cables 72. It is conceivable that other means for transmitting the acquired data, such as radio frequency (“RF”) or infrared (“IR”) transmission, can be utilized to channel the acquired movement data to processor 70. The movement information gathered by processor 70 during a putting stroke can then be analyzed to determine the accuracy and efficiency of the putting stroke.
FIG. 2[0048] a is a top view of the club movement sensor of the present invention. Putting motion sensor 60 comprises first detector array 62, and second detector array 64, each of the detectors having a plurality of detectors 66. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, detectors 66 are infrared phototransistors. As a club moves along axis 32, shadows are cast on one or more of the detectors 66, whereupon the one or more detectors 66 turn electrically off. The outputs of detectors 66 of both first detector array 62 and second detector array 64 are then fed to processor 70 via cables 72. The second detector array 64 is positioned to track movement of the club to impact. Thereafter, the first detector array 62 is positioned to track movement of the putter after impact. The first detector array 62 is offset from the second detector array 64, so that golf ball 34 can travel freely along path 36 without traveling over detectors 66 of first detector array 62. Other spatial configurations of club movement sensor 60, first detector array 62, and second detector array 64 are considered within the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 2[0049] b is a side view of the club movement sensor 60 and putting surface 80 of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, detectors 66 are positioned at increasing intervals away from the ball 34, in both frontward and rearward directions. For example, the first four detectors 66 of first detector array 62 and second detector array 64, closest to ball 34, are spaced approximately ½ inch apart. The next two detectors are spaced 1 inch apart. The remaining two detectors are then spaced 2 inches apart. It is to be understood that additional detectors and other spatial arrangements are considered within the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 2[0050] c is an end view of the club movement sensor 60 and putting surface 80 of the present invention. The surface 80 can be constructed of wood boards 82, 84, and 86, such as particle boards, which are joined together and covered with artificial grass to form putting surface 80. Other materials capable of forming putting surface 80 are considered within the scope of the present invention. Putting surface 80 contains cavities for retaining embedded detector arrays 62 and 64.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the head movement sensor of the present invention. Rotational movement of a golfer's head about [0051] axis 24 can be measured during a putting stroke by sensor 44. A golfer wears hat or helmet 41 which transfers rotational movement of the golfer's head to sensor 44, via interconnections 42 and 43. Interconnections 42 and 43 are designed to mate interchangeably, and allow a user to step away from sensor 44 to disengage therefrom. It may be desirable to magnetize these components to facilitate engagement thereof. Interconnection 42 is attached to hat or helmet 41, and interconnection 43 is attached to sensor 44. Sensor 44 can be any sensor in the art that is capable of measuring rotational movement, such as a potentiomenter. According to an embodiment of the invention, sensor 44 is mounted via pivot 45 to a fixed surface, and output from sensor 44 is transmitted via cables 72. It is to be understood that various other configurations are considered within the scope of the invention. For example, sensor 44 could be mounted on the hat or helmet 41, and could be self-contained, i.e., not attached to a fixed surface. The sensor could contain a pendulum such that when one rotates his or her head, a reading is taken. Further, this reading could be wirelessly transmitted to the processor. Additionally, other headgear can be used to receive the golfer's head and transfer movement thereof to a sensor.
FIG. 4[0052] a is a side view of the eye movement sensor 50 of the present invention. Eye movement sensor 50 can be any sensor known in the art that is capable of measuring eye movements, such as a Skalar-Iris Model 6500 helmet-mounted infrared reflection device. Other comparable detection devices can be used with the present invention without departing from the scope thereof. In a preferred embodiment, eye motion sensor 50 contains one or more infrared detectors 52 that are pointed generally in the direction of the golfer's eyes and measure eye motion of the golfer (i.e., left-to-right and right-to-left eye motion). Output from the one or more infrared detectors 52 can be sent to a processor via cables 72, or wirelessly. Optionally, eye motion sensor 50 can be affixed to hat or helmet 41 via frame 54, or formed integrally therewith. Alternatively, the sensors can be incorporated on eyewear. Preferably, hat or helmet 41 and eye motion sensor 50 are manufactured to be lightweight, so that a golfer experiences minimal to no discomfort while wearing same during a golf stroke.
FIG. 4[0053] b is a side view showing the eye movement sensor 50 of the present invention shown in greater detail. Movements of a golfer's eyes, such as eye 26, can be tracked by infrared detectors 52. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, infrared detectors 52 of eye movement sensor 50 have a linear range of +/−25 degrees, a combined resolution of 5 minutes of arc, and a bandwidth of 200 Hz, but these tolerances are not required. Voltage output signals of eye movement sensor 50 represent eye movements of the golfer's eyes, and can be analyzed by a processor.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing component parts of the present invention. Outputs from the [0054] head movement sensor 40 and eye movement sensor 50 are connected to analog-to-digital (A/D) converters 90 and 92, respectively. Club movement sensor 60 is connected to digital input port 94. The resulting digital signals derived from each of the sensors 40, 50, and 60 are then processed in real time by processor 70. Processor 70 can be any computer system known in the art. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, processor 70 acquires the digitized movement data from each of the sensors, and outputs same. Such output may comprise synchronized time trace plots indicating movement of the right eye, left eye, club, and head of the golfer. As shown in FIG. 5, such data can be output through numerous channels (i.e., channels 1 through 4) for presentation to the golfer or for further data processing.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of the [0055] club movement sensor 60 of the present invention. A plurality of infrared sensors, such as phototransistors Q₁through Q_n, can be connected to provide club movement detection. For purposes of illustration, only phototransistors Q₁through Q₄are shown connected in the circuit of FIG. 6. Further, other light-sensing devices, such as CdS photocells, can be used in place of the phototransistors. Each of phototransistors Q₁through Q₄are connected to difference amplifiers D₁through D₄, which reduce noise in the signals generated by each of phototransistors Q₁through Q₄. Further, difference amplifiers D₁through D₄allow for the generation of an electrical signal corresponding to the leading edge (i.e., face) of a club passed over one or more of phototransistors Q₁through Q₄. Connected to difference amplifiers D₁through D₄are comparators C₁through C₄, which compare the outputs of each of difference amplifiers D₁through D₄to a threshold voltage V_T. It is to be understood that other circuit configurations of club movement sensor 60 not depicted in FIG. 6 are considered within the scope of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, 16 phototransistors are provided in club movement sensor 60 to produce a 16 bit digital signal in which one of the bits indicates the position of the club face.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing operation of the [0056] club movement sensor 60. Club 30, having a face 31, is passed over phototransistors of the club movement sensor 60, shown illustratively as Q₁through Q₄, generally along path 32 of a putting stroke. At a given point along the path 32 of the putting stroke, club 30 casts a shadow over one or more of the phototransistors of club movement sensor 60, turning same electrically off. As shown, club 30 casts a shadow over phototransistors Q₂and Q₃, turning them to an off state, while phototransistors Q₁and Q₄remain in an electrically on state. In an illustrative embodiment, the on state of the phototransistors is indicated as a voltage of 0 volts, while the off state is indicated as a voltage of +5 volts.
Voltage outputs from each of phototransistors Q[0057] ₁and Q₄are then sent to difference amplifiers D₁through D₄, wherein outputs from two of the phototransistors are processed by each of the difference amplifiers. When the input voltage of a first phototransistor connected to one of the difference amplifiers is lower than the input voltage of the second phototransistor, a negative voltage is produced. Conversely, when the input voltage of the first phototransistor is lower than the input voltage of the second phototransistor, a positive voltage is produced. Further, when the input voltages of the phototransistors are equal, zero voltage is produced. Thus, as shown in the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 7, voltage of zero produced by Q₁and a voltage of +5 volts produced by Q₂cause difference amplifier D₁to emit a voltage of −5 volts.
Outputs from each of the difference amplifiers D[0058] ₁through D₄are then sent to comparators C₁through C₄, and are compared thereby to a threshold voltage V_T. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, V_Tis 0.7 volts. Other values can be substituted for V_T. For input voltages that fall below V_T, a negative voltage (i.e., −12 volts) is produced. Conversely, for input voltages that exceed V_T, a positive voltage (i.e., +5 volts) is produced. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, a voltage of −5 volts provided by difference amplifier D_q, which is lower than V_Tof −0.7 volts, an output voltage of −12 volts is produced by comparator C₁. Accordingly, the position of face 31 of club 30 can be indicated by a single positive voltage produced by one of the comparators. Therefore, a voltage of +5 volts produced by comparator C₃indicates the position of club face 31 amongst the plurality of phototransistors.
Outputs from the sensors of the present invention can be utilized to produce time traces corresponding to eye, club, and head movements. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, C++ and MATLAB programs are used to generate position and velocity graphs as functions of time for club movement, left eye movement, right eye movement, and head movement. The generated time traces/graphs can then be compared amongst golfers at varying skill levels to indicate the efficiency and accuracy of the subject golfer. It is well known that any general purpose computer, programmed by languages known in the art, can be used to produce the time traces. [0059]
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be adapted to allow analysis and practice of all types of golf strokes, such as putting, driving strokes, iron stokes, chips, pitches, or other stokes. The apparatus of the present invention can be installed in commercial driving ranges, golf courses, or other practice locations, allowing golfers to quickly gauge the efficiency of their golf strokes and to receive feedback on practice strokes by returning real-time measurements of the strokes and comparing same to measurements of professional golfers. Further, the present invention can be adapted to allow practice and analysis of other sports involving stroke-like movements. [0060]

EXAMPLE

The apparatus of the present invention was experimentally tested on twelve volunteers, divided into three groups according to skill levels. Individuals with handicaps between 0 and 9 were placed in the first group, and individuals with handicaps between 10 and 20 were placed into the second group. Novices were placed into the third group. Each group had four volunteers. Each subject made twenty 3-foot putts and twenty 9-foot putts using the present invention, and results for each of the volunteers were compared. It was found that the typical low-handicapper exhibited a small head rotation (i.e., clockwise as seen from top) during the backstroke, compensated for by a smooth eye movement (i.e., vestibulo-ocular reflex), wherein steady eye fixation on the ball was maintained. Head rotation appeared to be associated with a slight shoulder turn during the putting stroke, and occurred less frequently for 3-foot putts but occasionally appeared for 9-foot putts. The typical mid-handicapper demonstrated a similar response pattern, but additionally exhibited saccadic eye movements (i.e., fast jumps in fixation) during the backstroke and at the time of impact. The typical novice golfer showed relatively large head rotations and compensatory eye movements, and exhibited frequent erratic eye fixations through the backstroke and during impact. [0061]
FIGS. 8 through 10 are graphs showing examples of measurements of club, eye, and head movement achieved by the present invention. FIG. 8 is a graph showing time traces of club movement during a putting stroke produced by the present invention. Club position, measured in centimeters, is graphed as a function of time, measured in seconds. Positive and negative club position values indicate movements toward or away from the hole, respectively. Position of the club is represented as a solid line, while velocity of the club is represented as a dashed line. The point of impact with the ball is illustratively represented as a club position value of 0, occurring between 1 and 1.5 seconds. [0062]
FIG. 9 is a graph showing time traces of eye movement during a putting stroke. Eye movements for both left and right eyes of the subject are indicated in the top and bottom graphs, respectively. Prior to capturing eye movement data, the subject fixated on three known locations (i.e., left end, middle, and right end of the [0063] club movement sensor 60 of the present invention), in order to provide adequate calibration data. Eye movement data acquired during the putt was then measured with reference to the calibration data, and eye position was recorded as displacement in centimeters of the left and right eyes along putting surface 80. The solid line of the graph indicates eye displacement in centimeters. Further, the dashed line indicates eye velocity.
FIG. 10 is a graph showing a time trace of head movement during a putting stroke. Prior to acquiring head movement data, the [0064] head movement sensor 60 was pre-calibrated to provide conversion from a measured voltage change to a corresponding angular rotation of the potentiometer shaft, which in turn corresponded to an angular rotation of the subject's head. This angle was then converted to a displacement of a hypothetical beam emanating from the center of rotation of the head, approximated by the position of the center between the two eyes of the subject, and measured in centimeters. As shown in the graph, head position is measured in centimeters from the center position of the head, and indicated as a solid line. The dashed line indicates head velocity.
FIG. 11[0065] a is a graph showing a time trace of club movement of an experienced golfer during a putting stroke. As can be seen, club movement is relatively smooth, with backward and forward movement being relatively uniform. These results can be compared to FIG. 11b, which shows a time trace of club movement of a novice golfer during a putting stroke. Backward movement is noticeably larger than forward movement, and there is a lack of uniformity between forward and backward movements.
FIG. 12 is a graph showing simultaneous time traces of eye, head, and club movement during a putting stroke. The dotted line across the four graphs indicates the moment in time in which the ball is struck. Thus, using the present invention, real-time plots of head, club, and eye movement can be generated simultaneously and compared. [0066]
FIG. 13[0067] a is a graph showing simultaneous time traces of eye, head, and club movement of a novice golfer during a putting stroke. The point of contact between the club face and the ball is represented in the graphs as occurring after 2 seconds. As can be seen from the graphs, a considerable amount of eye movement for both the left and right eyes of the subject occurred prior to the point of contact. Further, forward and backward club movements are not uniform, as there is greater backward movement than forward movement. Additionally, the occurrence of saccadic eye movement can be seen occurring prior to the putt.
FIG. 13[0068] b is a graph showing simultaneous time traces of eye, head, and club movement of an experienced golfer during a putting stroke. As can be seen, club, eye, and head movements for the experienced golfer appeared more uniform than the movements of the novice golfer, as shown in FIG. 13a. Club movements are also more uniform, with backward and forward movements being generally equal. Eye movements are significantly less than those of the novice golfer, and saccadic movements do not appear prior to contact between the club face and the ball. Additionally, head movement is reduced.
The present invention can also be utilized to determine the effect of various golf grips on putting performance. For example, club, eye, and head movements can be measured and compared for various golf grips, i.e., conventional, cross-hand, and single-hand grips. Results using these grips are shown in FIGS. [0069] 14-16.
FIG. 14 is a graph showing time traces of eye, head, and club movement when a conventional golf grip is used during a putting stroke. Time traces of club, eye, and head movements are shown for a typical 9 foot put using a conventional golf grip. For all traces, position and velocity are indicated by solid and dashed lines, respectively. The vertical dashed lines indicate the duration of the putt starting from the beginning of the backstroke and ending at the point of impact with the ball. FIG. 15 is a graph showing time traces of eye, head, and club movement when a cross-handed golf grip is used during a putting stroke. The same time traces are provided, and show results for the same 9 foot putt. FIG. 16 shows time traces using the one-handed grip. [0070]
The results shown in FIGS. [0071] 14-16 can be analyzed using statistical methods to determine the effect of the various grips on putting. FIG. 17 shows results of statistical analysis of conventional, cross-hand, and one-handed grips used during 3 feet and 9 feet putts. The results show differences between the putting grips for various parameters, including height to the subject's eyes, putt amplitude, putt duration, percentage of putts made, and STD of left eye, right eye, and head movements. To determine whether the difference between the results in adjacent columns are significant (i.e., p<0.1; H=1), one-tailed t-tests were performed.
Height to the subject's eyes was highest for one-handed grips, intermediate for conventional grips, and lowest for cross-handed grips. This can be attributed to the fact that one-handed subjects tended to stand more erect. Conversely, for cross-handed grips, the left hand is positioned lower on the club grip, thus lowering the left shoulder. Such a result tends to bring the head of the subject down as well, thus lowering the height of the head relative to the platform. The results for this category are the same for 3 and 9 foot putts. [0072]
Putt amplitude is not significantly different for the three putting grip styles for 3 foot putts. However, for 9 foot putts, amplitude for cross-handed grips are statistically significantly smaller than for either conventional or one-handed grips. This may be attributable to a restriction of right elbow motion in the backstroke, as a result of increased bend of the right elbow to compensate for a higher right hand position on the club. [0073]
Putt duration is longer for the one-handed grip than for either conventional or cross-handed grips, for both 3 and 9 foot puffs. This may be due to the increased length of the swing arm (i.e., club plus hand and arm), in the one-handed putt. Hence, if one considers this as a pendulum motion, the increased length corresponds to an increase in the period of motion, resulting, in turn, in an increase in the duration of the putt. [0074]
The percentages of putts made appear to be higher for cross-handed grips than for either conventional or one-handed grips, for both 3 and 9 foot putts. However, such comparisons are not statistically significant, except for 9 foot putts where the percentage made is statistically significantly higher for cross-handed grip than for conventional grip (p=0.006). [0075]
The STD of combined right and left eye movements is lowest for one-handed grips, intermediate for cross-handed grips, and highest for conventional grips, for both 3 and 9 foot putts. The results are all statistically significant except for the comparison between cross-handed and conventional grips for 3 foot putts (p=0.312). [0076]
The STD of head movements is lower for one-handed grips, intermediate for cross-handed grips, and highest for conventional grips, for 3 foot putts. These results are statistically significant except for the comparison between one-handed grips and cross-handed grips (p=0.151). However, for the 9 foot putts, there are no statistically significant differences among the putting grip styles. These findings suggest that head motion plays a more important role in shorter (i.e., 3 foot) putts than for longer (i.e., 9 foot) putts. Further, the results indicate that one-handed grips, and to a lesser extent, cross-handed grips, result in less head motion during the putt. [0077]
Having thus described the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit and scope thereof. What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims. [0078]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for analyzing golf strokes comprising:

a surface for supporting a golfer during a golf stroke;

means for sensing position of a golf club head during the golf stroke; and

a processor connected to the means for sensing position for producing measurements corresponding to position of the golf club during the golf stroke.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for sensing position of the club head comprises at least one photodetector array.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one photodetector array comprises a plurality of photodetectors for detecting club head position and velocity.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of photodetectors comprises a plurality of infrared phototransistors.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for sensing position of the club head further comprises means for determining a position of a leading edge of the club.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the means for determining the position of the leading edge of the club produces a signal corresponding to the position of the putter.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the signal is sent to the processor for producing the measurements.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for sensing position of the club head is embedded in the surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measurements are compared to measurements of golfers of different skill levels.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measurements comprise time traces.

11. An apparatus for analyzing golf strokes comprising:

a surface for supporting a golfer during a golf stroke;

means for sensing movement of the golfer during the golf stroke; and

a processor connected to the means for sensing movement for producing measurements corresponding to the movement of the golfer during the golf stroke.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for sensing movement comprises means for sensing head movement of the golfer during the golf stroke.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the means for sensing head movement comprises a potentiometer for measuring rotational head movement.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a helmet for a golfer to wear, the helmet interconnected with the potentiometer for transferring the rotational head movement to the potentiometer.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the time trace indicates head movement of the golfer during the golf stroke.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for sensing movement comprises means for sensing eye movement of the golfer during the stroke.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for sensing eye movement comprises an infrared eye movement detector for sensing movement of the eyes of the golfer during the golf stroke.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the measurements indicate eye movement of the golfer during the golf stroke.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the measurements comprise time traces.

20. An apparatus for analyzing golf strokes comprising:

a surface for supporting a golfer during a golf stroke;

means for sensing position of a golf club head during the golf stroke;

means for sensing movement of the golfer during the golf stroke; and

a processor connected to the means for sensing position of the golf club and the means for sensing movement of the golfer, the processor producing measurements corresponding to sensed golf club position and sensed golf club movement during the golf stroke.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for sensing position of the club head comprises at least one photodetector array.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least one photodetector array comprises a plurality of photodetectors for detecting club head position and velocity.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the plurality of photodetectors comprises a plurality of infrared phototransistors.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for sensing position of the club head further comprises means for determining a position of a leading edge of the club.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for determining the position of the leading edge of the club produces a signal corresponding to the position of the putter.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the signal is sent to the processor for producing the measurements.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for sensing position of the club head is embedded in the surface.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the measurements are compared to measurements of golfers of different skill levels.

29. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for sensing movement further comprises means for sensing head movement of the golfer during the golf stroke.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for sensing head movement comprises a potentiometer for measuring rotational head movement.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a helmet for a golfer to wear, the helmet interconnected with the potentiometer for transferring the rotational head movement to the potentiometer.

32. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least one of the measurements indicates head movement of the golfer during the golf stroke.

33. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for sensing movement further comprises means for sensing eye movement of the golfer during the golf stroke.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the means for sensing eye movement further comprises an infrared eye movement detector for sensing movement of the eyes of the golfer during the golf stroke.

35. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least one of the measurements indicates eye movement of the golfer during the golf stroke.

36. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the measurements comprise time traces.

37. A method for analyzing golf strokes comprising:

providing a surface for supporting a golfer;

allowing the golfer to take a golf stroke;

sensing movement of the golfer during the golf stroke; and

producing measurements corresponding to the sensed movement during the golf stroke.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising sensing head movements of the golfer during the golf stroke.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising producing measurements corresponding to the head movements of the golfer during the golf stroke.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising sensing eye movements of the golfer during the golf stroke.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising producing measurements corresponding to the eye movements of the golfer during the golf stroke.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising sensing position of a golf club during the golf stroke.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising producing measurements corresponding to the position of the golf club during the golf stroke.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising comparing the measurements of the golfer to measurements of golfers of different skill levels.

45. An apparatus for indicating movement of an object above a surface comprising:

a plurality of sensors disposed on the surface;

a plurality of difference amplifiers connected to the plurality of sensors; and

a plurality of comparators connected to the plurality of difference amplifiers, the plurality of comparators producing a digital signal having multiple bits, wherein at least one of the multiple bits corresponds to a position of the object above the surface.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise a plurality of phototransistors.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the plurality of sensors are disposed within the surface and face generally upward.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the digital signal is 16 bits.