A launch monitor that includes substantially all of its functional components on or within a housing is disclosed. In one embodiment, the launch monitor is capable of being transported and used in any desired location. One or more camera's, flashes, and triggers may be used to acquire images of a golf club and golf ball. The launch monitor is preferably capable of receiving and transmitting data over a wireless network. Acquired images and other data may be analyzed by a processor, and then displayed using an LED, LCD or other type of display or printer. The launch monitor may "recognize" a plurality of golf clubs and golf balls based on an optical fingerprint. The optical fingerprints, which are preferably stored in a memory, allow the launch monitor to identify a golf club and/or ball substantially soon after they are placed in the field of view of the monitor Optical fingerprinting enables automatic record keeping, and storing performance data and equipment used simultaneously. This feature eliminates tedious record keeping, eliminates data entry errors, and enables rapid equipment optimization.
The sole shape can be designed with ease. The invention provides a method for designing an iron sole shape that includes the steps of setting different parameter values (S1) relating to a sole shape while keeping parameters other than those of the sole shape constant, preparing an iron club (S2) having the parameter values that have been set, a tester using the iron club that has been prepared to hit a ball (S4), measuring a path of the club head (S5) using a camera to obtain data relating to a position and a velocity of the club head, and determining whether or not the sole shape is favorable (S6) based on the data that have been obtained.
