Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for capturing and thereafter analyzing the images of a golf ball in a manner that permits various parameters associated with a golf shot, including the backspin and sidespin of the golf ball, to be reliably determined. Further, the method, apparatus and computer program product may be configured to separately calibrate each image that is captured in a timely manner.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for capturing and thereafter analyzing the images of a golf ball in a manner that permits various parameters associated with a golf shot, including the backspin and sidespin of the golf ball, to be reliably determined. Further, the method, apparatus and computer program product may be configured to separately calibrate each image that is captured in a timely manner.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided to permit golf swing conditions, such as spin loft, club speed, angle of attack and club path, to be determined without direct measurements of the club swing and, instead, to be based upon the launch conditions of the ball. Initially, a plurality of launch conditions of a ball may be determined, such as by means of a launch monitor. Based upon the launch conditions of the ball, components of momentum 1 PN normal and tangential to the colliding surfaces of the club and the ball may be determined, such as by means of a computing device. At least one club swing parameter may then be determined based upon the normal and tangential components of momentum PN and PT. In this regard, the club swing condition may be spin loft, club speed, angle of attack and/or club path.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product are provided to analyze human performance, such as a golf shot, as defined by an initial data set that is comprised of a plurality of data elements. Initially, at least one data element that constitutes an outlier is removed from the initial data set to create a representative data set, such as by removing a predetermined number of the largest and smallest data elements from the initial data set. A measure of the deviation, such as the standard deviation, of the representative data set is then determined. The initial data set is then filtered based, at least partially, upon the measure of deviation of the representative data set to create a filtered data set. The human performance is then analyzed based at least partially upon the filtered data set.

Abstract: A method and system is therefore provided for fitting a set of golf clubs to a particular golfer. In particular, the club fitting method and system assists a golfer in the selection of a set of golf clubs by providing objective indicia or scores representative of the manner in which the golfer hits golf shots with each of a number of different golf clubs. The club fitting method and system provide the golfer with numerical values representative of the consistency and performance of the golf shots made with a particular golf club, typically on an automatic basis. Based upon the relative numerical values representative of the consistency and performance of the golf shots made with a number of different golf clubs, the golfer can select the set of golf clubs which provides the combination of consistency and performance that is best suited for the golfer's game.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided in which the initial sidespin of a ball is measured such that the resulting flight path of the ball may be simulated more accurately. In this regard, a plurality of initial conditions of the ball, including sidespin, are measured, such as by a sensor including, for example, at least one camera that captures at least two images of the ball. The flight path of the ball is then determined, such as by means of a computing device, based upon the initial conditions including measurement of the ball spin. A representation of the resulting flight path is then created, again typically by means of the computing device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided that determine a measure of launch efficiency of a ball that is more readily understandable by golfers as being indicative of the quality of a shot. The method, apparatus and computer program product determine a calculated distance of travel of a ball based upon the measured launch conditions that may include the measured club speed. A maximum distance of travel of the ball is then determined. The maximum distance of travel may be determined for a ball struck by a club having the measured club speed and/or for a ball struck by a club having different launch angles and/or spin rate. The measure of launch efficiency is then determined based upon the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel, such as by forming the ratio of the calculated distance of travel to the maximum distance of travel.

Abstract: A method and system is therefore provided for fitting a set of golf clubs to a particular golfer. In particular, the club fitting method and system assists a golfer in the selection of a set of golf clubs by providing objective indicia or scores representative of the manner in which the golfer hits golf shots with each of a number of different golf clubs. The club fitting method and system provide the golfer with numerical values representative of the consistency and performance of the golf shots made with a particular golf club, typically on an automatic basis. Based upon the relative numerical values representative of the consistency and performance of the golf shots made with a number of different golf clubs, the golfer can select the set of golf clubs which provides the combination of consistency and performance that is best suited for the golfer's game.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for capturing and thereafter analyzing the images of a golf ball in a manner that permits various parameters associated with a golf shot, including the backspin and sidespin of the golf ball, to be reliably determined. Further, the method, apparatus and computer program product may be configured to separately calibrate each image that is captured in a timely manner.

Abstract: The correlation method and apparatus matches the impact location of an object at or near a predetermined target with one of many shots at the target. For example, the correlation method and apparatus can match the golf ball driven from a tee box with an impact location within the target area. The correlation method and apparatus can therefore identify which one of a number of golf balls landing within the target area was hit from a specific tee box at a golf practice range having numerous tee boxes using the same target area. The correlation apparatus includes a first sensor for determining a golf ball striking time at which the golf ball is driven from the tee box toward the target area. The correlation apparatus also includes a second sensor for determining the respective impact locations and times of a plurality of golf balls within the target area.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention scores a golf shot, such as a golf shot at a practice range, in order to provide a golfer with a meaningful index by which to measure their improvement and/or by which to compare their performance to the performance of other golfers at the practice range. The scoring method and apparatus determines the final position of the golf ball following the golf shot and generates a signal representative of the final position. The scoring method and apparatus also includes a signal processor for determining the score of the golf shot. The signal processor determines the score based upon a predetermined difficulty function and a dispersion distance between the final position of the golf ball and a predetermined target toward which the golf ball was driven.

Abstract: The golf ball tracking apparatus has a video camera for producing data representative of video images of a golf ball, a video frame processor connected to receive data from the video camera for determining the golf ball image position within a video frame of the camera, a flight path predictor responsive to the video frame processor for predicting the flight path of the golf ball in response to data from the video frame processor, and a motion controller responsive to the flight path predictor for controlling the movement of the camera to thereby track the actual flight of the golf ball.

Abstract: The golfing apparatus according to the present invention has a golf shot file providing a representation of at least one actual golf shot by the user. The golf shot representation includes at least a time and a distance of a golf ball travel. The apparatus also has a golf course file for providing a geographic representation of at least a portion of a golf course and simulation means for combining selected portions of the golf shot file and selected portions of the golf course file to simulate at least one golf shot on the selected portions of the golf course based upon at least one actual golf shot by the user. An image display responsive to the simulation means displays at least one simulated golf shot on the selected portions of the golf course.

Abstract: The golf ball tracking apparatus has a video camera for producing data representative of video images of a golf ball, a video frame processor connected to receive data from the video camera for determining the golf ball image position within a video frame of the camera, a flight path predictor responsive to the video frame processor for predicting the flight path of the golf ball in response to data from the video frame processor, and a motion controller responsive to the flight path predictor for controlling the movement of the camera to thereby track the actual flight of the golf ball.

Abstract: A golf game apparatus that simulates a total golf shot distance based upon the actual flight time of a struck golf ball at a practice range and the linear flight distance of the ball to an initial impact position on an adjacent target area. The flight time and linear flight distance are used to simulate a roll distance which may be added to the linear distance to thereby produce the simulated golf shot total distance. A display positioned adjacent the tee area of the practice range may display a simulated golf hole layout with the simulated golf shot total distance indicated thereon for the player. The simulated golf ball roll distance may take into account a predetermined type of golf course surface upon which the struck golf ball initially impacts.

Abstract: For detecting a quickly or sharply varying signal (the event) against a background of a more slowly changing ambient signal (the background), the envelope detector inputs the signal and full wave rectifies it. It sends the signal to the background filter and event filter, each of which includes an RC circuit. The background filter and event filter each independently process the signal to be evaluated in different manners based on the intrinsic frequency characteristics of the event signal, and of the background signal. The outputs of the two filter sections are sent to the decision section. Based on its processing, the decision section outputs a signal in one of two states, one corresponding to detection, and the other corresponding to non-detection.