Golf Club Head Accelerometer for Short Game Alignment Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golfers face challenges in improving their short game performance due to inconsistent club face alignment and stroke path deviations, leading to lost strokes and inefficiencies in practice time, as existing training aids primarily focus on the long game and do not effectively address these issues.
Innovation Solution
A short game training device equipped with a 3-axis linear accelerometer, microprocessor, status light, speaker, and wireless audio/data transmitter, which attaches to a golf club and provides real-time feedback on club face alignment and stroke path deviations by orienting the accelerometer at a 45° angle to the vertical plane, allowing for precise measurement of lateral errors and club face misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a full-swing training aid is used, then long game performance is improved, but short game performance remains unaddressed
Solution Approach 1:
The training device is segmented into club-head-specific components with accelerometers positioned at specific locations (e.g., 4 o'clock position for putters) to provide targeted feedback for different short game strokes, making the training aid adaptable to various club types while maintaining precise measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically adjusts its feedback mechanism based on stroke type detection, using different accelerometer axes for different stroke categories (putting, chipping, pitching) to maintain versatility across multiple stroke types while providing precise, context-specific alignment measurements
2Measurement precision
If real-time feedback is provided for every stroke parameter, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device extracts and processes only the essential stroke parameters relevant to short game performance (lateral deviation, club face angle, stroke path) using selectively oriented accelerometer axes, providing sufficient measurement precision while avoiding unnecessary processing complexity from measuring all possible motion parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The device implements partial measurement by focusing on the critical alignment parameters for short game strokes rather than comprehensively measuring all stroke characteristics, achieving adequate precision for improving putting and chipping while keeping the processing system simpler
3Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs periodic sampling of accelerometer data at strategically chosen moments during the stroke (address position, impact moment, follow-through) rather than continuous monitoring, maintaining adequate measurement precision for alignment feedback while significantly reducing processor activity and battery consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The device maintains continuous readiness to measure by keeping the accelerometer powered and calibrated, but only activates full processing and feedback generation when stroke parameters indicate an actual shot is being taken, ensuring measurement precision is available when needed while minimizing energy consumption during idle periods
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enhances short game proficiency by providing real-time error feedback, reducing processor complexity, extending battery life, and allowing for more efficient practice by helping golfers maintain accurate club alignment and stroke paths, thus improving overall short game performance.
Implementation Method 1
comprises a three-axis linear accelerometer
Data Source
AI summary
A short game training device 10 for use with a golf club comprises an two-axis linear accelerometer 12, a fastener 50 for removably attaching the accelerometer to the golf club head H so that the X and Y axes of the accelerometer 12 are disposed approximately parallel with the club face and oriented at approximately a forty-five degree angle with respect to a substantially vertical plane V containing the aim line A established when addressing the golf ball G with the club face aligned perpendicularly to the aim line A, a detectable alarm 18, and a microprocessor 14 for calculating differences in forces measured by the X and Y axes during a timed interval subsequent to positioning the club and for activating the alarm 18 when the differences exceed a selected threshold.