Systems and methods for determining optimum putting speed and angle

Abstract

Systems and methods for calculating a path of a golf ball on a putting surface and for calculating an ideal putt direction and speed to cause a golf ball in an initial location on a putting surface to, when putted, enter a hole in a putting surface as described are significantly more computationally efficient and rapid. The efficiency allows implementation of the systems and methods with lower-powered computing devices, including mobile computing devices such as smart phones and the like.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 083,013 (Attorney Docket No. 16649.8), filed Nov. 21, 2014, and entitled “Systems and Methods for Determining Optimum Putting Speed and Angle”. This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 538,129 (Attorney Docket No. 16649.9), filed Nov. 11, 2014, and entitled “Digital Compass Ball Marker”, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 737,837 (Attorney Docket No. 16649.6), filed Jan. 9, 2013, and entitled “Digital Compass Ball Marker” (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,992,345), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 585,122 (Attorney Docket No. 16649.5), filed Jan. 10, 2012, and is entitled “Digital Compass Ball Marker”, and is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12 / 240,086 (Attorney Docket No. 16649.2), filed Sep. 29, 2008, and entitle...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]According to some implementations, a precision of calculation of each reverse path may increase as the calculated reverse paths pass more closely to the initial location of the golf ball. Similarly, a step size between current positions and previous positions of each reverse path may be decreased as the calculated reverse paths pass more closely to the initial location of the golf ball. According to some implementations, at each repetition of the steps of determining which of the reverse paths passes closest to the initial location of the golf ball and calculating an additional plurality of reverse paths leading from the hole, an angle between the most widely spaced of the additional plurality of reverse paths is approximately halved.

[0021]Implementation of the invention may be associated with special-purpose electronic devices as dedicated golf aids, or may be associated with general-purpose electronic devices, such as an app or program running on any of a variety of electronic devices. Implementation of the invention is significantly less computationally intensive than existing methods for determining a putting speed and angle, allowing for implementations that are less expensive than currently available systems and devices. Additionally, results can be provided more quickly, thereby speeding play.

Problems solved by technology

Even when an accurate measurement is obtained, it can be difficult for the player to account for ground conditions and varying slopes of some greens.

However, caddies are generally not available for the average golfer.

However, when putting or chipping on the green, where both the direction and force of the shot must be precisely determined, such GPS devices provide little benefit.

However, as stated above, these devices provide little benefit once the ball is on or in close proximity to the green.

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