The present invention provides a video-based, combined informational/training system for user activity related applications. In one embodiment, the system (2) includes a video recording assembly (10) and a measuring device (4) located at a user activity site (6) such as a tee box of a golf driving range. A video tape (60), including activity specific information on a first, pre-recorded portion thereof, is provided to the user for use in the video recording assembly (10) at the user activity site (6). The video tape (60) is cued for recording user specific information on a second portion of the video tape (60) during a practice session. The sensor (4) determines corresponding parameter information, such as estimated golf ball carry distance, for display on video tape (60). The video tape (60) and video recording assembly (10) cooperate to provide a mechanism for preventing or discouraging use of unauthorized tapes and to ensure proper usage of the system (2).
A computer software controlled method of fitting a golf shaft to a golfer having steps of electronically determining the selection of a shaft by electronically testing, recording and storing a golfers reliable club head swing speeds values and face angle/degrees at impact. Testing to determine flex choice based on face angle/degrees at impact is completed first and then testing to determine stiffness based on head speed is completed second.
A video system, comprising a pair of digital video cameras and a data prosing system, which is used to determine the location of a golf ball during flight and the location of the golf ball when its flight is completed. The video cameras are fixedly mounted on a golf cart and boresighted to insure that the field of view for one camera overlaps the field of view for the other camera allowing the golf ball to be tracked after the golf ball is struck by the golfer. Each of the video cameras has an image array comprising a plurality of image sensing elements. As the golf ball travels along its flight path a light image of the golf ball is detected by at least one of the image sensing elements of the image array for each camera during a scan of the camera's image array. Each camera generates a data bit stream indicating the location of the image sensing elements on the image array which sense the golf ball's light image for each scan of the image array. The data bit streams are supplied to the data processing system which then calculates the departure vector, a trajectory path and a circular impact probability (CIP) location for the golf ball when the golf ball lands on the golf course. A monitor provides the golfer with video data indicating the golf ball's circular impact probability location.
A sport performance evaluation method and system. The method includes storing a user-defined physical profile, displaying a set of images where each image in the set depicts a different variation of an element of imperfect sport performance, and selecting at least one image in the set most closely depicting an element of imperfect sport performance exhibited by a user who is associated with the user-defined physical profile. The method also includes diagnosing at least one cause for the imperfect sport performance based upon the stored at least one selected image and the stored user-defined physical profile. The system can include a user-defined physical profile and at least one set of images depicting an element of imperfect sport performance where each image in the set depicts a different variation of the element. The system can also include at least one data repository and at least one computing device.
A system (20) for capturing and analyzing golf club information and golf ball information during and after a golfer's swing is disclosed herein. The golf club information includes golf club head orientation, golf club head velocity, and golf club spin. The golf club head orientation includes dynamic lie, loft and face angle of the golf club head. The golf club head velocity includes path of the golf club head, attack of the golf club head and downrange information. The golf ball information includes golf ball velocity, golf ball launch angle, golf ball side angle, golf ball speed manipulation and golf ball orientation. The golf ball orientation includes the true spin of the golf ball, and the tilt axis of the golf ball which entails the back spin and the side spin of the golf ball. The system includes camera units (26 and 28), a trigger device (30) and a computer (22).
A system (20) for capturing and analyzing golf club information and golf ball information during and after a golfer's swing is disclosed herein. The golf club information includes golf club head orientation, golf club head velocity, and golf club spin. The golf club head orientation includes dynamic lie, loft and face angle of the golf club head. The golf club head velocity includes path of the golf club head, attack of the golf club head and downrange information. The golf ball information includes golf ball velocity, golf ball launch angle, golf ball side angle, golf ball speed manipulation and golf ball orientation. The golf ball orientation includes the true spin of the golf ball, and the tilt axis of the golf ball which entails the back spin and the side spin of the golf ball. The system includes camera units (26 and 28), a trigger device (30) and a computer (22).
