Putting Alignment System Using Lateral Imaging Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf swing trainers provide flawed feedback when the putter face is not directly aimed at the intended target, due to variance from the intended target line, which can be significant and unnoticed by players, affecting the accuracy of the training and correction of stroke flaws.
Innovation Solution
A putting alignment system featuring a lateral imaging alignment guide with indicia and a secondary alignment system that includes a forward receiver sensor and emitter, which captures and records the motion of the club lower distal tip reflector, generating XYZ data using a trigonometric algorithm to accurately locate the golf club in a coordinate system, providing precise alignment feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing golf swing trainers use algorithms to monitor and analyze club position without calibrating to the intended target line, then the system can provide feedback on stroke mechanics, but the feedback becomes flawed and inaccurate when the putter face is not directly aimed at the intended target
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration by detecting the alignment between the putter face and the intended target line before the actual putting stroke. The alignment guide with indicia and camera establishes a reference target line position in advance, allowing the system to compensate for any variance between the putter face orientation and the true target line during feedback generation
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment guide with indicia serves as an intermediary element between the putter face and the camera. This intermediary provides visual references that the camera can detect to calculate the precise orientation of the putter face relative to the intended target line, enabling accurate alignment measurement without directly observing the target line itself
2Productivity
If the system provides feedback without verifying putter face alignment to the target line, then the feedback generation process is simple and quick, but the feedback may contain significant undetected variance from the intended target line
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary alignment detection using the camera to capture images of the alignment guide indicia before the putting stroke. This pre-stroke calibration establishes the target line reference, enabling the system to generate reliable feedback without adding significant time to the overall process
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through the alignment guide indicia to the golfer during the addressing phase, allowing the golfer to self-correct alignment before the stroke. This immediate visual feedback loop ensures reliable alignment information is obtained without requiring complex post-stroke analysis
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 system ensures accurate alignment of the golf club face with the intended target line, providing reliable feedback for improving the golf swing by eliminating variance and offering precise alignment data for both the golfer and remote coaching.
Implementation Method 1
The main camera captures and records motion of the lateral imaging alignment guide
Implementation Method 2
The forward receiver sensor detects orientation of the club lower distal tip reflector when the club lower distal tip reflector is facing the forward receiver sensor
Implementation Method 3
The emitter emits radiation toward the club lower distal tip reflector
Data Source
AI summary
A putting alignment system includes a lateral imaging alignment guide having a set of indicia, including an upper indicia, a lower indicia, a right indicia, and a left indicia. The lateral imaging alignment guide has a generally flat body that is configured to removably connect to a golf club shaft. A club lower distal tip reflector is configured for mounting on a distal tip of a golf club. A lateral imaging apparatus includes an imaging system. The imaging system has a main camera. The main camera captures and records motion of the lateral imaging alignment guide. A secondary alignment system includes a forward receiver sensor. The forward receiver sensor detects orientation of the club lower distal tip reflector when the club lower distal tip reflector is facing the forward receiver sensor.