DIGITAL COMPASS BALL MARKER

摘要

The present invention extends to a digital compass ball marker that can be used to provide timely information to assist the golfer in determining a direction and force for a golf shot on a green. The digital compass ball marker can output this information using minimal information input by the golfer so that the use of the ball marker does not slow play, and in many cases, can speed play. The information provided by the ball marker can include a force with which to hit the shot and a direction to aim.

主权项

1. A digital compass ball marker for determining the location of a ball on a green of a golf course, the ball marker comprising:
a housing containing an indication for orienting the ball marker with respect to a hole in the green when the ball marker is placed on the surface green proximate to a position of a ball lying on the green, the orientation defining a line from the ball marker that intersects the hole; a compass that determines an angle between the line defined by the orientation and true north; an input module for receiving user input that defines an estimated distance between the position of the ball and the hole; a communication module that transmits the determined angle and the input distance to a server system and receives recommended swing parameters for putting the ball into the hole, the recommended swing parameters being calculated using the determined angle, the input distance, a known position of the hole, and known topography of the green; and a display for displaying the recommended swing parameters.