Golf Club Shaft Vibration Analysis for Impact Point Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for estimating the impact point on a golf club head face surface during a swing are hindered by the difficulty of attaching sensors and interference with the golfer's natural swing motion.

Innovation Solution

An impact point estimation apparatus that uses time-series data from angular velocity and acceleration sensors attached to the golf club's grip or shaft, employing shaft characteristics to estimate the impact point without direct attachment to the head, thereby minimizing interference and enhancing accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If sensors are attached to the back of the face surface of the golf club head, then impact point estimation can be performed, but attaching the sensors becomes difficult and interferes with the golfer's natural swing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact point estimation accuracyVSAvoidsensor attachment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the golf club shaft as an intermediary medium to transmit vibration signals from the impact point to the sensors. Instead of attaching sensors directly to the club head, sensors are attached to the shaft where they can detect vibrations transmitted through the shaft material, eliminating the need for direct head attachment while maintaining measurement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical attachment system (sensors directly on the club head face surface) with a vibration transmission system through the shaft. The shaft acts as a mechanical conduit that transmits impact vibrations to sensors positioned elsewhere on the club, substituting direct contact measurement with indirect vibration-based measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If sensors are attached to the back of the face surface of the golf club head, then impact point estimation can be performed, but the sensors interfere with the golfer's natural swing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact point estimation accuracyVSAvoidinterference with natural swing

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shaft serves as an intermediary that decouples the sensors from the club head face surface. Sensors attached to the shaft do not contact the face surface and thus do not interfere with ball impact or the golfer's natural swing motion, while still capturing vibration signals transmitted through the shaft

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the sensors from the club head assembly and relocates them to the shaft. This separation removes the harmful factor (sensor interference with swing) while preserving the useful function (impact point detection through vibration analysis)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If sensors are not attached to the club head, then interference with swing is reduced, but impact point estimation accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswing naturalnessVSAvoidimpact point estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes direct mechanical contact measurement (sensors on the face surface) with indirect vibration transmission measurement through the shaft. The shaft's mechanical properties transmit impact vibrations to the sensors, enabling accurate impact point estimation without compromising swing naturalness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the measurement parameter location from the club head face surface to the shaft. By measuring vibrations at a different location (the shaft) rather than at the impact point itself, the system maintains measurement accuracy while eliminating interference with the swing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables easy and accurate estimation of the impact point by transmitting sensor data through the shaft, reducing interference with the golfer's swing and improving the accuracy of impact point detection.

Implementation Method 1

an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor which are attached to at least one of a grip and a shaft... detecting vibrations produced at the time of impact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration detection: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS10786717B2Impact point estimation apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.09.29 SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD

AI summary

Provided is an impact point estimation apparatus that is capable of estimating, easily and with high accuracy, an impact point on a face surface of a golf club head at the time of a golf swing. The impact point estimation apparatus includes an acquisition part configured to acquire time-series sensor data that is output from at least one of an angular velocity sensor and an acceleration sensor attached to at least one of a grip and a shaft of a golf club and an estimation part configured to estimate the impact point, according to a shaft characteristic which is a characteristic of the shaft, based on the sensor data.