Golf club apparatuses and methods

摘要

Methods and systems for managing golf clubs and for collecting golf data, such as golf strokes, are described. In one embodiment, a golf data collection system includes a golf accessory worn on the golfer's wrist, such as a watch, equipped with a GPS receiver, impact sensing and motion sensing means, and a transceiver to communicate with golf club tags (e.g. at 2.4 GHz such as Bluetooth). The golf accessory senses the motion of the golf club being swung by the golf and/or senses the impact of the golf club striking the golf ball. When swinging motion or impact is sensed the device uses the transceiver to communicate with golf club tags. The closest golf club (i.e. the club in the golfer's hand during the swing) is captured as the club used by the swing based on RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). Other embodiments are also described.

主权项

1. A system for collecting golf data, the system comprising:
a set of golf club RFID tags, the set including an RFID tag having an RF transmitter and at least one sensor, wherein the RF transmitter is configured to transmit club data, the club data including one or more of a club identifier or a club status indicator, for the RFID tag; and a portable device comprising:
a mechanism configured to attach the portable device to a golfer's arm or hand,a processing system,an RFID receiver coupled to the processing system, wherein the RFID receiver is configured to receive the club data from the RF transmitter of the RFID tag in the set of golf club RFID tags,an impact sensor coupled to the processing system, wherein the impact sensor is configured to detect a shock transmitted up a golf club to the golfer's arm or hand from an impact of the golf club on a golf ball and to provide, in response to detecting the shock, an impact signal to the processing system which indicates that a stroke has occurred, anda motion sensor coupled to the processing system, wherein the motion sensor is configured to detect motion of the portable device and to provide, in response to detecting the motion, a motion signal to the processing system which indicates whether the portable device is moving; wherein the processing system is configured to filter the club data received from the RF transmitter based on the motion signal received from the motion sensor.