Golf Club Elongate Marker Visual Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golfers find it difficult to achieve the optimal impact position due to the club moving at high speed, making it challenging to align the shaft with the center of the club head arc, and conventional setups do not align with the optimal impact position, requiring complex movements during the backswing and downswing.
Innovation Solution
A golf club with an elongate marker aligned in a plane defined by specific vectors, assisting players in optimizing the lean angle and launch angle by providing visual feedback through apparent foreshortening, guiding the player to align the shaft with the center of the club head arc and promoting a 'hands ahead' position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional setup position is used with shaft aligned to body centerline, then player can easily set up, but complex movements are required during backswing and downswing to achieve optimal impact position
Solution Approach 1:
The marker is pre-aligned at a specific angle (5-15 degrees from vertical) during club manufacturing or setup. This preliminary positioning provides visual guidance that automatically directs the shaft to the optimal impact position (aligned with lead shoulder and center of club head arc) during the swing, eliminating the need for complex mid-swing adjustments.
2Manufacturing precision
If shaft is aligned with center of club head arc at impact, then optimal impact position is achieved, but club moves at high speed making it difficult to identify the position
Solution Approach 1:
The elongate marker provides continuous visual feedback throughout the swing. When the shaft is correctly aligned with the center of the club head arc, the marker assumes a specific apparent foreshortened appearance that gives immediate visual confirmation to the player that the optimal impact position has been achieved, enabling real-time detection despite high swing speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The marker's visual appearance changes based on its orientation relative to the player's view. At the optimal impact position, the marker exhibits apparent foreshortening that creates a distinct visual signal, allowing the player to detect the correct position through this optical effect rather than relying on speed or position alone.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional complex movements are performed during backswing and downswing to achieve optimal position, then shaft can be aligned with center of club head arc, but consistency of swing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By pre-setting the marker at the correct angle and using it as a visual guide during setup and swing, the player can achieve precise shaft alignment without requiring complex mid-swing movements. This simplifies the swing mechanics and improves consistency through repetition.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex mechanical swing adjustments with a visual guidance system. Instead of relying on kinematic complexity to achieve alignment, the marker provides optical guidance that simplifies the mechanical requirements of the swing while maintaining precise alignment.
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
Simplifies the golf swing by eliminating complex hand and body maneuvers, ensuring the shaft and lead arm are aligned with the club head arc, promoting a consistent and accurate impact position, and building muscle memory for the optimal position.
Implementation Method 1
assisting a player in optimising the position of the golf club... the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker extends in a plane defined by a first vector in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ground and a second vector substantially parallel to a normal of the face of the club head
Data Source
Figure 1a~2a
Figure 2B~3a
Figure 3b~3c
AI summary
A golf club comprising an elongate shaft having a grip at a first longitudinal end thereof; a club head coupled to a second longitudinal end of the elongate shaft, the club head comprising a sole and a ball striking face; and, an elongate marker comprising a longitudinal axis orientated such that, when the sole of the golf club lies substantially parallel to the plane of the ground, the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker extends in a plane defined by a first vector in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ground and a second vector substantially parallel to a normal of the face of the club head. In use, the marker assists the player in optimising the orientation of the golf club and, particularly but not exclusively, assists in achieving a "hands-ahead" position". Methods for adapting a golf club and manufacturing a golf club are also disclosed.