Abstract: A system, device, and methods include or utilize a microphone, a processor, and a user interface. The microphone senses sound and in response outputs a sound signal indicative of the sound. The processor is coupled to the microphone to receive the sound signal, configured to analyze the sound signal to identify in the sound signal an impact of a golf club with a golf ball during a swing of the golf club and determine a characteristic of the swing of the golf club based on a portion of the sound signal corresponding to sound sensed, at least in part, before the impact. The user interface is coupled to the processor and configured to display information related to the characteristic of the swing as determined by the processor.

Abstract: A golf aid for assisting a user in reading a green includes a user tracking system to determine the location of a user on a golf course, a heads up display, and a processor. The heads up display is configured to be worn on the user's head, and to display an image within a field of view of the user. The processor is in communication with the user tracking system and with the heads up display, and maintains a representation of a topology for each of a plurality of golf greens, receives an indication of the location of the user from the user tracking system, identifies one of the plurality of golf greens that is the closest to the user, and displays a representation of the topology within the field of view of the user via the heads up display.

Abstract: Golf performance and equipment characteristics may be determined by analyzing the impact between a golf ball and an impacting surface. In some examples, the impacting surface may be a golf club face. The impact between the golf ball and the surface may be measured based on sound and/or motion sensors (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers, etc.). Based on motion and/or sound data, various equipment-related information including golf ball compression, club head speed and impact location may be derived. Such information and/or other types of data may be conveyed to a user to help improve performance, aid in selecting golf equipment and/or to insure quality of golfing products.

Abstract: An electronic tracking system for assisting a user in determining distances to landmarks and objects in a sporting environment includes a user tracking system for determining the location of a user, a heads up display for displaying information to the user, and a processor operable to communicate with the user tracking system and the heads up display. The heads up display is designed to be worn on the user's head, and to display an image within the user's field of view. The processor is programmed to determine a distance between the user's determined location and an object or a landmark on. This information is displayed via the heads up display as a numeric representation of the determined distance.

Abstract: An electronic tracking system is disclosed for assisting a user in determining distances to objects in a sporting environment. The system includes a user tracking system for determining the location of a user, a heads up display for displaying information to the user, and a processor operable to communicate with the user tracking system and heads up display. The heads up display is designed to be worn by the user, and to display images within the user's field of view. The processor is programmed to determine a distance between the user's determined location and an object, such as a ball, located within the sporting environment. This information is displayed via the heads up display as a numeric representation of the determined distance. If tracking a ball, the heads up display may display an object indication, such as an enhanced image or a comet tail, superimposed over or adjacent the ball.

Abstract: A golf aid system for assisting a user with a golf shot on a golf course includes a user tracking system configured to determine the location of the user on the golf course, a portable electronic device with a display screen, and a processor. The processor, which is operable to communicate with the user tracking system and the portable electronic device, is configured to determine one or more target locations on the golf course, with each of the target locations representing a recommended target for a respective one of the golf clubs. The processor directs the portable electronic device to display an indicator of the respective golf club proximate the corresponding target location via the display screen, such that the user perceives at least a portion of the indicator to be coincident with the corresponding one of the target locations.

Abstract: A golf aid for displaying one or more golf-related statistics to a user includes a golf ball tracking system for tracking a flight of a golf ball, a heads up display, and a processor in communication with the golf ball tracking system and the heads up display. The heads up display is configured to be worn on the user's head and display an image within the user's field of view. The processor is configured to compute one or more shot statistics from the tracked flight of the golf ball and display the one or more computed shot statistics within the field of view of the user via the heads up display. The one or more shot statistics include at least one of an initial ball speed, a spin rate, a carry, and a remaining distance to the pin.

Abstract: A golf aid for assisting a user in selecting a golf club from a plurality of golf clubs includes a user tracking system configured to determine the location of a user on a golf course, a heads up display, and a processor. The processor is in communication with the user tracking system and with the heads up display, and is configured to determine a plurality of target locations on the golf course, with each of the plurality of target locations representing an ideal target for a different one of the plurality of golf clubs. The processor then displays an indicator at one of the plurality of target locations via the heads up display, such that the user perceives a portion of the indicator to be coincident with the corresponding one of the plurality of target locations.

Abstract: Golf performance and equipment characteristics may be determined by analyzing the impact between a golf ball and an impacting surface. In some examples, the impacting surface may be a golf club face. The impact between the golf ball and the surface may be measured based on sound and/or motion sensors (e.g., gyroscopes, accelerometers, etc.). Based on motion and/or sound data, various equipment-related information including golf ball compression, club head speed and impact location may be derived. Such information and/or other types of data may be conveyed to a user to help improve performance, aid in selecting golf equipment and/or to insure quality of golfing products.

Abstract: A golf aid for displaying one or more golf-related statistics to a user includes a golf ball tracking system for tracking a flight of a golf ball, a heads up display, and a processor in communication with the golf ball tracking system and the heads up display. The heads up display is configured to be worn on the user's head and display an image within the user's field of view. The processor is configured to compute one or more shot statistics from the tracked flight of the golf ball and display the one or more computed shot statistics within the field of view of the user via the heads up display. The one or more shot statistics include at least one of an initial ball speed, a spin rate, a carry, and a remaining distance to the pin.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core having an outer surface, and intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover surrounding the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer defines a radially inward facing surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core, and the cover defines the outermost surface of ball. The outer surface of the core includes a plurality of polygonal land portions aligned on a common sphere. The outer surface of the core further defines a first plurality of annular grooves disposed about a first axis, a second plurality of annular grooves disposed about a second axis, and a third plurality of annular grooves disposed about a third axis. The first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are mutually orthogonal, and each groove respectively extends from the common sphere and is concave relative to the core.

Abstract: A golf aid for assisting a user in determining distances on a golf course includes a user tracking system configured to determine the location of a user on a golf course, a heads up display, and a processor. The heads up display is configured to be worn on the user's head, and to display an image within a field of view of the user. The processor is in communication with the user tracking system and with the heads up display, and is configured to determine a distance between the location of the user an object or a landmark on the golf course, and display a numeric representation of the determined distance via the heads up display.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core, an intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover layer surrounding the intermediate layer. The core defines an outer surface that includes a plurality of polygonal land portions substantially aligned on a common sphere, which has a diameter of between 22 mm and 32 mm. The intermediate layer has a radially inward-facing surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core, and has a radial thickness of between 4 mm and 9 mm. The outer surface of the core defines a first set of annular grooves disposed about a first axis, and a second set of annular grooves disposed about a second axis. Each of the first and second set of annular grooves extend radially inward from the common sphere, and the first axis and the second axis are orthogonal.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core, an intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover layer surrounding the intermediate layer. The core defines an outer surface that includes a plurality of polygonal land portions substantially aligned on a common sphere, which has a diameter of between 22 mm and 32 mm. The intermediate layer has a radially inward-facing surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core, and has a radial thickness of between 4 mm and 9 mm. The outer surface of the core defines a first set of annular grooves disposed about a first axis, and a second set of annular grooves disposed about a second axis. Each of the first and second set of annular grooves extend radially inward from the common sphere, and the first axis and the second axis are orthogonal.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating and providing selections of recommended golf balls, golf ball constructions, and configurations of golf ball construction components are provided. Such methods may involve obtaining or measuring spin measurements for a plurality of golf clubs for each of a plurality of golf balls. A linear relationship may be used to determine a spin slope for each golf ball on the basis of the set of spin measurements associated with that golf ball. In turn, a selection of a recommended golf ball, golf ball construction, or configuration of a ball construction component may be made based upon which golf ball has the larger spin slope.

Abstract: A golf aid includes a user tracking system configured to determine the location of a user on a golf course, a processor, and a heads up display. The heads up display is configured to be worn on the user's head, and to display an image within a field of view of the user. The processor is in communication with the user tracking system and with the heads up display, and configured to determine a distance between the location of the user and an object, and provide an indication of the determined distance to the user via the heads up display.

Abstract: A method and system determine a plurality of golf ball construction characteristics that constitute a golf ball construction. Each of the plurality of golf ball construction characteristics is determined on the basis of at least a measurement related to a golf shot parameter value obtained from samples of a specific golfer's golf swing. Accordingly, the golf ball construction may be custom-fit to golf swings of a specific golfer.

Abstract: Methods for selecting golf balls based on environmental factors are provided. Such methods involve indicating a golfing environment and establishing one or more corresponding environmental factors. Such methods may include ascertaining one or more trajectory components that are dependent upon the environmental factors. One or more aspects of golf ball construction may pertinent to the environmental factors, or to the trajectory components, may then be determined. Upon identifying a plurality of golf balls and a selection criteria related to the golf ball construction aspects, a golf ball may be selected.

Abstract: A golf aid including a practice mode for use while hitting a plurality of golf balls with a golf club includes a golf ball tracking system, a heads up display, and a processor. The golf ball tracking system tracks a plurality of golf ball trajectories, each corresponding to a respective golf ball being hit by the golf club. The heads up display is configured to be worn on the user's head and display an image within a field of view of the user. The processor is configured to compute one or more shot statistics for each one of the plurality of trajectories, display the one or more computed shot statistics and a plurality of trajectory traces within the field of view of the user.

Abstract: An electronic method for matching a user with a golf ball includes playing a first digital audio file to a user via a computer and playing a second digital audio file to the user via the computer. Each of the first digital audio file and the second digital audio file correspond to an acoustic response of a respective golf ball to a standardized impact force. The method then includes receiving an input from the user via the computer, where the input corresponds to a preferred acoustic response selected from the acoustic response of the first golf ball and the acoustic response of the second golf ball. Once the preferred response is determined, the method includes displaying a golf ball model that corresponds to the preferred acoustic response.