.4 STRIKE CHARACTERISTICS DETECTOR

eAC GROUNP 0 011 T ® present disctosuo relates generall te a method and system for !Mlag or selecting a golf bail fo a specified gofer,

00021 The distance that a golf ball travels is dependent en the ciuh _;: delivery of said dub. to the ball {i.e., the swirig), and the- ball us d, Aeeerdirigij?,. Il is iesffa ie far a goSier to makean appro rlala selection aiae lf all in order to maximize periermanee for a. given swng, it would ha adv ntages to have a convenient way of obtaining s i g information that can he used to select an appropriate golf ball.

SUMMARV

£0003} A system .0 m tmd for filing a got ball disclosed. The system and method ma be used with my sla la det mi es go s a ing characteristics,, th reby aiding in the selection of an appropriate ball tor the golfer. Trie system and method may include fitting a golf bait by using a swing

characteristic detector that produces a mark created by the impact between a. club face and a. golf bail.

[0004] In one aspect, me disclosu e provides a me hod of selecting a golf ball for a golfer that m y include a plurality of steps. For example, the method may include a step el placing a first swing characteristic detector between a golf C * face and a golf ball The method ma include a step of examining a first mark on the first swing characteristic detector raade by the golf club face striking the golf hat! to determine at feast one golf swing characteristic. The method may include a step of selecting an appropriate got ball for the golfer baaed on the at least one golf swi g characteristic.

[00 51 I n some em bodi mer¾!s, the at le st Qm got swing eh ar sotehstie may comprise at least one of the followi g; club head speed, angle of attack, d na ic iott club path, impact location, and c bface angle.

£000$ 3 The step of examining the first mark may include comparing the first mark on the first swing haracteristic detector to a §ykfe.

[øø0?] Trie method may include a step of piecing a second swing characteristic detector between the golf dub face and the golf hath The method may include a slop of examining a second mark on the second swing

characteristic detector made by the golf dub striking the gel ball to determine the at toast one golf swing characteristic.

10000] The step of placing a first swing characteristic detecto r between a golf club face and a golf bail may Include applying the first swing characteristic detector to a go! club lace,

fOOQi] The m thod may include photographing H s first mark. |0 10] The step of exa ning tte.lrsi mark may include folding t e f rs! s i g characteristic detector along a dimeter of the first m rk and comparing the diameter of t e first mark to a guide,

|0 11J The step of examining the first mark may comprise placing the first swing characteristic detector on a scanner and activating the scanner to scan the first swing characteristic detecto .

0012} The method m y include a step of activating a computer attached to the scanner. The computer m y be capable of evaluating a scanned image generated by the scanning step.

| 013J another aspect, the disclosure provides a got! bail fitting analysis system for a. computer that may comprise a database of Known golf ball profiles based on at least one golf swing characteristic. The system may include an input device for inputting a value for at least one golf swing characteristic. The system may further comprise stored instructions for calculating a ball fit value using the mpui value and the database of known profiles. The system ^; may comprise a display for displaying at feast one recommended got bait

001 } in some embodiments, the Input device may comprise a scanner,

|0015J The at: least one golf swing: ehaiactensle may com rise a

plurality of golf swing characteristics and the input device may allow Inputting of values of a plurality of golf swing characteristics.

|0018} in some embodiments,: the Input device may comprise a screen allowing a user to select from a pluralit of patterns of marks.

100 71 In some embodiment t e Input device may comprise a sensor. 001 SI In some embodime ts, the input device may comprise a user interface prompting a user to input data relating to a mark created by an impact between a golf ball and a golf ciob face,

£001 SJ In some embodiments, t e Input device may comprise an optical unit capable of receiving optical data relating to a mark created by an impact between a golf ball and a golf club face. |0δ20] In scsme em&odidttnts, the optical unit may be ..included, on a handheld dev se.

[ 0211 in yet another aspect, t e disclosure prov des a. golf oal l m analysis kit that may nclude set of golf alls. The kit may c mprise a ck g ng configured to house the set of golf b l s. The kit may comprise a set ol

instructions associated with the packagi g. Trie kit may comprise ai. least one swing characteristic detector associated i n the packaging. The kit may comprise a guide associated with the packaging. In som embodiments the guide may toe disposed on the packaging. The kit may comprise a sal of swing characteristic detectors.

|O0S!2J Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the

invention will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be inclttcted tUn this description and this summary, he wth the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF OESCH TIO OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023| The invention cart h i®t understood wiih m t m to e following drawings and description. The eorn onen!e in the figures are n t necessarily to scale , emphasis ins ad being l ced upon illustrating the principles of the invention, Moreover, in the figyres, like reference numerate designate corresponding parts throughout the different views,

[0024] FIG, 1 is a front view of a golf club;

[O02S] FIG., 2 is & front view of a golf club to which an embodiment of a swing characteristic detector has been applied;

[0Q2SJ FiG. 3 is a front view of a golf club to which an embodirneti of a swing characteristic detector has been applied;

IP S?! FiG., 4 is a side view of a golf club and gel bail showing a. zero angle of attack;

[DOSS] FiG, 5 is a top view of a golf club to which m m diment of a swing characteristic detector as bean applied and a golf Pal! showing a square hit;

[OOiSSJ FiG., 8 s a perspective view of a golf club to which an

embodiment of a st ike characteristics detector has teen applied and a golf bail showing the two fust after impact m striking step;

[0030] FIG, 7 is a front view of the golf dub of F GS. 4-6 showing a mark resulting from of the stroke;

[0031] FIG, 8 is a side view of a golf c ub and gof ball showing a negative angle of attack;

[0032] FIG. 9 i a front view of the golf club of F!G.12 sho ing a mark resulting of the stroke;

[0033] FIG, 10 Is a top view of a golf dub- and golf tell show ng a strike near a heal end of the club from a stroke that is sightly open with a posti e angle of attached: S J ^' FIG. 1 1 s& a feint v ew of a golf club showing a mark esoling from ¾ st oke that Is slightly o en with a positive angle of attaok

[0035] FiG. 12 s a perspective view snowing a use visually inspecting a marked club;

|003§] FIG:.. 13 is a perspective view showing a user placing

embodiment of a smn ch-arac eristic detector on a ssaoner;

|0037| FiG. 14 is a schem tic viaw showing tfie use of computer in evaluating a w ng and a swing ch act ristic- detector:

[00381 FiG, 15 is a

of the analysis of a mark in flowchart torn;

FiG. 16 is a schematic view showing the- steps of a embodiment of the analysis of a mark in flowchart form;

fOG40J FiG. 7 is a view of a swing characteristic, defector before and after being folded aiong a diameter of a mark;

|00 1] FiG, 18 is a view of a user comparing the folded swing

characteristic detector of FIG, 17 to a chart on a sleeve; and

|0O4£] FiG, 19 is a view of a smaripfione being used to analyze a mark Mi by a golf bail on a awing characteristic detector:.

[0043] The eset embodiments m te to structures and steps, used to determine one or more of a go fer's s ng characteristics to determine an appropriate ball lor that golfer lo use m lay. Trie res nt mbodimen s invol using a swing characteristic defector configured to change properties open impact w t a ball For example, In aariie embodim t, the swing characteristic detector may fee a. pressure- sensitive medium that develops & mark upon impact it a ball Toe mark may b produced by a change in color and/or shading. For example, the mark m y i>@ a darkened area on the medium. The appearance of the swings characteristic detector after impact reveals one or mom s ing characteristics, which can then further be used to select an appropriate) bail. The medium may be made of any material suitable for ei g placed between a golf club face and a gel ball during Impact bet een th two, In some embodiments, the medium may include a sheet or sard of material, for ex mple, the medium may include a paper sheet impregnated with chemicals that responds to pressure applied D the she©! by darkening and/or changing color. In some embodiments, as discussed below, the medium may be a. material sprayed on one of the golf club and golf ball.

|00 4] FIG, 1 shows golf club 10 that may bo used in connection with the presently disclosed embodiments. Throughout the FIGS,, an Iron is sho . However, any type of dub could be used in connection w th the present embodiments. For example, a driver or wood could instead be used, A different iron could instead be used. To some extent, a putter could instead be used. The selection ot this particuiar club is to show visual consistency among the FIGS., rather than to indicate a specific club that must be used m connection with the present em e m nts. Any club or clubs may be used,

[0045] The club 10 includes a variety of typical parts and properties. The club i 0 includes a shaft 1 , The shah may be made of any appropriate material such as wood, grap ite, plastic, m tal, or any suitable material or blond of losta is, The eiu i r includes a stub- ead 14 that, as mentioned above, ma take a v riety of shapes and size and may be made of any suitable material or blend of materials. The dub head 14 and shaft 12 may be -joined In my

conventional manner with conventional materials and methods. The club head includes a club face 16. The club race can include a region 20 ihaf includes a pluralt of spaced grooves 18. These features are well-known. Club 0 can us® aoy of the conventional configurations.

I004SJ In some embodiments, the detector may be placed Pet een the golf ball and the club fact without being applied to either of the got ball or the club face. In some embodiments, the detector may he applied to the golf ball The present embodiments as illus.ra.ed show a swing characteristic detector tha may be applied tc a club lace. For example, in some embodiments, the detector may Pe removably applied to the club face with a relatively weak adhesive, The adhesive ma be sufficiently strong to allow for secure attachment: to the face oi the club, but may also bo sufficiency eak to allow for the detector's removal, as will be disclosed below,. However, In other situations, it may do desirable lo use different system for creating a marking. For example, the MARKrn** product available at market-goif .com allows a golfer to spray a golf club with the product and strike a ball thereby creating a mark on the club where the bail has c me into contact with tfie club. An alternative product ma be a. ball that includes a coating that provides a mark on a club face and/or a golf bait or label or other surface applied to the golf ball or club face. Any of these products could be considered to be swing characteristic detectors. Certain of these possible choices would be more easily used with computer applications of the present embodiments, as will become appare t through a discussion of the remainder of ih systems below, but may be used In othe applications of the present mbo iments.

[0 4?1 FICL 2 shows club 0 in use with a first swing characteristic detector 100, The first detector 100 Is applied to the club face 10, The outer sis© and shape 02 am desirably large enough that toe first swing characteristic detector 100 can accurately detect the -desired swing characteristic, as will be discusse ^; in greater detail oalow, FIG, 3 shows if¾& club 10 in u¾ w th a saoond or alternative swing -characteristic detector 104, in this embod!ms t fts second sw ng characteristic detector 104 covers substantially the entire clu face 16. if desired, the second swing characteristic detector 104 can conform to the grooves 18 on the c u face 16 or any otter features of the club face 1§ as desired,

IO N83 Both the first swing c racteristic detector 100 and the second swing characteristic detector 4 are configured to discolor or become marked on impact thereby forming a pattern when the du 10 strikes a bail 200, as Is shown, for example m FIG, 4, In fte context ol the present embodiments, it is desirable that the ball 200 be a. Known golf bali, le. a known brand and type. It Is helpful If the known ball has known characteristics, such as construction, center of gravity, compression _* and the like, so that swing characteristics can be accurately determined, However, an examination of a swing characteristic detecto can stlil produce t e same ge eral result, even with an unknown b il, as will be described below.

fO0 i] As sew in FIGS, 4-7, a golfer (not shown) will strike a ball 200 with a club 10, The stroke show In FIG, 4 reveals thai In this instance, the bail 200 is struck with a zero angle of attack. The stroke shown in FIG, 5 reveals that in this instance as well, the ball Is hit squarely, in the embodiment shown In FIGS. 4-7, trie swing characteristic detector chosen Is the smalle swing characteristic detector 100. As shown most clearly In FIG. 6, when a ball 200 Is struck with a club 0, the bal compresses and rebounds in a well-known manner. The peripheral edge 102 el the swing characteristic detector 1 0 ^: should b sized and shaped to permit the ball 200 to compress and foe smaller than the shape and size defined by the peripheral edge 102,

|θ05δ] Alter the ball 200 has compressed and rebounded to leave the club face 16, It leaves a mark on the awing characteristic detector 100. As seen in FIG, ? _< when the ball 2 0 is struck squarely or with a square or sero ciubfaoe angle and at a zero angle of attack, the mark 300 may have a substantially circular peripheral shape Although the halt 200 may com ress, In many cases .he dim es 202 see FIG. 8) do not completely flatten, Aooori!lngj¾c wit in the periphery 302 may be a plu alit of dim le. m ks 304 that represent the areas whe e e d m le cavities do not contact the s ing characteristic detector 0, The shape of the dimple marks 304 are substantially circular and correspond generally to the shape of the periphery 302,

£0051) The first swing characteristic detector 1 and second s ing characteristic: detector 1 4 both have va ice properties. For example, first detector oo and second detector 04 may become marked or discolored when they are ubjec ed to an impact This property allows them to receive markings from the impact between a ball and a club lace. The present embodiments may include a variety of designs, in some embodiments, the swing characterist c detector may be placed between a golf ball and a club face such that: the ball arid the club face both contact the detecto at the same point during impact Such a placement may cause t e detector to develop a mark at the point of impact between the golf bail and the club ac ,

[00$2] FIGS, 4~? show the use of a smaller sized version of a swing characteristic detector 1 GO. The remaining FIGS, show the use of a full steed version of a swing characteristic detector 104. The disclosed embodiments are used to select an appropriate ball for a golfer. A goiter who Is capable of regularly hitting a golf ball in a. manner that would allow the use el a small sized detector, such as the detector 1 0, is more likely to have a predictable golf s ing, on average, than a golfer who is unaware of his or her swing patterns. Accordingly, it may be desirable to use the full sized swing characteristic detector 1 4 in many c ses, and the FIGS., show such a use. If a swing characteristic detector smaller than the full sized detector is used. It ma be desirable to estimate the surface area of the club lace 18 that will be contacted by the golf ball 200 upon striking and compression. The swing characteristic detector may he sized to be at least large enough to capture a complete mark, in addition, the swing characteristic detector may he si ioned to saver t e surface area of the- club face i S that will be contacted by & go f il upon s ring and compression,

im j When a golfer strikes a bail 20δ a club lace 16 In a manner that is net fufi squ re or thai lias a nonzero angle of attack, the mark or pattern felt on a swing characteristic detector will be elongated. When a golfer hits a onzero, non-square stroke, the compression of ifce ball by the dub will be less efficient than in a square, zero angle stroke and will cause the compression marking to be elongated in a gen r lly predictable manner. The mark on the detector can be compared to circular reference to determine how the golfer's s ing or stroke differs from a square, zero angle of attack stroke, The circular reference ma be considered to e aligned with the narrowest area ol the mark left on the club face. When such a circular reference is so aligned, it may reveal areas where there are no markings within the circle and areas outside of the circle that are marked. The areas within the circular reference that show no markings are caused by an absence of contact between the ball and the detector. The areas outside the circle that show markings are caused by contact in that area between the ball and the detector. An examination of wh e those areas of absence of contact within the circle and the areas of compression outside the circle can assist in determining one or more swing characteristics. Examples of marks that may bo created by different types of strokes and how those marks may be interpreted appear below, and are merely exemplary of many different types of strokes that different: golfers may bit,

I0CNS4J FI6S, 8-8 show a stroke which has a negative angle of attack and a square olubfaoe angle. When a golfer bits a ball 200 with a negative angle of attack and a square clubface, the mark made by the ball 20 may be similar to the mark 360 shewn In FIG. 9. The mark 360 differs from the mark 300 that Is created wit a zero angle of attack angle. A circular reference 382 appearing in dashed lines may be Included on the swing characteristic detector 104. The circular reference 362 may be used for comparison with the mark 360, When a negative angle is demonstrated, the mark 360 may appear elongate slightly from the .bottom to to , as illustrated- irt the diagram. The elongation and irregular compression also is ste * in the s of absence of oontael between the ball and the circular reference 362, which are numbered as 364 and 386. Tre mark 380 slio s Increase in comp ession in the region numbered as 388, T e mark 360 may be slightly narrower ars top than o bottom. Additionally, the mark 360 s ws that the dimples leave dimple m ks 370 thar appear to be slightly smaller toward the center of the mark 360 than the top of he mark 360. This difference In stee and absence of dimple marts in the center of the mark 360 may indicate tha the center of he golf bail compressed as the golf bai contacted the club face.

00551 FIGS. 10-11 show a stroke with both norvsero angle of attack and a non-square ciu faee angle. As shown in Fl<3. 1 1 _f the mark 400 left by the golf ball is elongate slightly from the bottom heel area toward the top toe area. Such a mark would i dicate that the golfer hit a stroke with a positive angle of attack and an open face. A circular reference 420 appearing in dashed line may ho included on the swing characteristic detector 4, The circular reference 420 may be used for comparison with the mark left by the golf hail, The mark 400 may include dimple marks 350 that are slightly smaller toward the center of the mark 360 than the are closest to the top toe area of the club 10. This diffe ence in !aa and an absence of dimple marks in the center of the mark 380 may Indicate that the center of the golf ball compressed as the golf ball contacted the club face. fOOSSJ in addition to bei g able to detect trie stroke characteristics, the swing characteristic detector 04 ma also be designed to be able to detect where along the club face 10 the ball 260 makes contact with the club face 16. In FIG, 10, the golfer Is maki g a stroke where the club 10 contacts the ball near the heel 401 of the club 10, As may be seen In f IS, 1 , the mark 400 is positioned near the heel 401 of the club 10. It is common for the ball to be hit with an open face towa d the heel 401 of the club 10.

[00i?l in addition, the swing characteristic detector may be designed to provide information regarding the cluhhe&d speed. The wing characteristic detector may do this in two ways. First the swing characteristic detector may be designed to change into a ariety of .colors upon impact I stead of the■ ^■ detector providing. a singe discoloration col r wr e t e ball Hi th detector may be made of material that changes in o one of a variety of col s depending on i force applied.. Tne dubhead speed may be related to the force applied lo the ball, and accordingly, an examination of the detector will eve l what the dubhead speed was during the stroke. In addition, the dubhead speed will affect tfte degree of compression ol the bail A higher olobhead speed wi! produce more force and flatten the ball more substantially than a slower dubhead speed. hus, the size of the diameter of a mark left by a. bail may Indicate the e!ubtiead spaed. In some mbodiments, as discussed below with fe nce to FlQS, 7-18, the diameter of the mark may he nal s d by being compared with a guide. In some

embodiments, the size of the dimple markings could be examined to determine an estimate of the oiu ead speed. In some eases, such as where there is significant deformation of the bail due to a mishit condition, it may be more difficult to make such a calculation,

[øø£$] The swing characteristic detector may, therefore, be used to determine a variety of swing characteristics,: The left-right deformation can provide informato : regarding the clubface angle. The degree of deformation can provide a measurement of how much the ciu face angle differs from a square dutftce angle, if an . Th top-bottom deformation can provide information regarding the: angle of attack. The degree of deformation oan provide a -measuremera ol bow greatly the angle of attack differs from a lero angle of attack. The position of a mark on the detector can provide an indication of how much the positio of the bail is from the center of the club on impact:. The shading or color of the ma k or size of the dimples can provide an indication of eiuhhead speed.. The swing

characteristic detector can provide any or all of these datanolnls with a single hit fOQSS] The structure described may be used in a system for selecting a golf hall for a golfer. In one embodiment, a swing characteristic detector Is applied between the golf club 10 and the golf bail 200 ^: , as was described in greater detail above,. A golfer than strikes the ball 200 ith the club 0, desirably striking the Pail 206 with the lace IS of the golf dub, thereb marking the swing character detector fac 1 i with a ma k or pattern, TPs mark is then examined to de e mine at least one s ing c a acter sti from among those available to be determined, as as further described above. The s ing characteristic determined may be any of .he following: club head speed, angle of attack, dynamic Soft dub paft, impact location, a d ciubface angle. Otber data gathered sudi as bail flight

characteristics could be used in conjunction with the impact analysis to more accurately characterize t e swing analysis.

[00601 The step of examining the mark may take a variety ot forms, as is shown in F 3S. 2 and 3. The stop of examining t e mark may involve the s e of visually ns ectin the mark, as shown in Fie, 12, in F16. 12, user 500 ex mines a mark S08 on a swing characteristic detector 504 applied to a dub 510, The user 500 may use a variety of instruments to determine one or more of the swing characteristics. First, the user 500 may use a ruler 520 or other measuring device to determine a degree of deformation.. The mm 500 may alternatively use a set of calipers 530 to make a more detailed measurement The user 500 may also use a protractor 540 or other Instrument for de ermining the angle of the de!omiat om The user 500 may also use a chart or guide 550. For example, in some embodiments, as discussed with respect to FIGS. 17 and IS, a guide may be provided on the packaging In which a set of gelt balls are provided to the use . The guide 550 may include various types of information. The guide 55 could sim l be a guide that provides the user 500 with dubhead s eeds for varying shading and or colors of impressions. The guide 550 may also include sample ma ks that the user 500 can compare to the mark 5QS to determine other swing characteristics from the mark 506, Other features of the mark 506 may also be measured to be used alone or m a calculation. For example, a user may wish to calculate the major and minor axes of the mark, and this result may yield additional information.

100 11 As shown in IG, 18, in some embodiments, a guide 1 02 or reference ma be provided on the exterior of the packaging In which the golf balls are sold in. For exam le* a guide 002 m y fee ^■ provided en a. sleeve 1000 and/or box in lilai t e gol b ils am sold im in s ma em odiments, a set of golf bails and a set of swing characteristic defectors may h® provided as a kt in the same packaging. In some emb diments, tie set of s ing characteristic detectors may be identity!. In some em odiments, lh& set of swing characteristic detectors may include swing characteristic defectors of various shapes and/or si es

co res ond ng to various typos of club faces- Fo example, the set of swng characteristic detectors may include a plurality of a first type of swing characteristic detectors, a plurality of a second type of swing characteristic detectors, and a plurality of a third type of swing ch ract se detectors. Each of the first, second, and third types of swing characteristic detectors may correspond with various types of club faces, in such embodiments,, a single kit may be used with a variety of clubs, in some embodiments, he sw ng characteristic detectors may be color coded and/or may include another type of indicia indicating the type of swing characteristic detector and/or distinguishing the individual swing characteristic detectors from one another. Providing the swing cha ac e istic detectors and bails in a kit may ensure that the type of swing characteristic detector corresponds with the type of golf ba!(s) used for analysis. The kit ma also include ins!roeticns for using the swing characteristic detectors and guide,

|0062| The guide 10 2 shown in FIG, 18 is a triangular shaped gui . Referring to FIGS. 17-18, in such an embodiment, a user 600 may remove the swing characteristic detector 602 from a golf club (nor shown in this RG,), The user ®w may fold the swing characteristic detector 602 along a diameter of the m k 504, as indicated by the two arrows to the right of the swing characteristic detector 80.2, As ow in FIG. 18, the use §00 may hold the folded swing characteristic detector 602 next to the guide 1082 to determine which point on the chart has a height aligning with the diameter o! the mark 604, The size of ihe diameter of the mark 604 may correlate with club head speed. In some

embodiments, the guide 1002 may have ranges of diameters denoted by color, shading, or other typo of indicator. As shown in FJO. i8 _t the ranges may be denoted by pattern 1004, pattern 1008, a tern 1010, attern 010, and pattern 1 12». Each range roay c resp nd to a club S s eed od/or another s ng characteristic. T us, me user SGO may a¾n the mark S04 wit the- range matching the diameter at the mark 604 to determine rie dub ead speed and/or other swing characteristic of the swing resulting in the mark 604 on the swing characteristic detector 602. In some embodiments, instructions for using the guide 1002 and swing characteristic detector 602 ma fee provided on the side ot the sleeve 1000 and/or on a separate piece of paper provided inside the sleeve 00, it Is understood that other types of guides may fee provided on or with the exterior of the sleeve 1 00 and/or box in whic the golf balls are sold In. For example, either s ing characteristic detector 602 or guide 1002 may be clear in areas or transparent or translucent. In such an em odimen so that swing characteristic detector 602 and/or guide 002 may ibe an overlay, whore swing characteristic detector 601 and guide 002 are slacked for comparison of the markings on each without needing to fold swing characteristic detector 601 and guide 1002.

[0063] As an alternative to a visual Inspection solely by a user 500, FIG, 13 shows an automated system that maybe used in connection with the rese t method. In FIG, 13, the user 600 may remove the swing characteristic detector 602 from the golf club foot shown In this FIG,) and may place the detectoncluding the mark 804 Into a scanner 606 in operative position,. While a. flatbed scanner 608 Is shorn it will be apparent to one having ordinary skill In the art that any structure or method that is capable oi reading optical data may be used in place of the flatbed scanner §06 shown with or without additional equipment For example, the detector 002 could be placed Into a holder and scanned using a business card scanner or otter automatic feed scanner or the detector could be scanned using a handheld scanner, Alternatively, a camera may be used to capture the optical or visual data. For example, in some embodiments, as discussed with respect to FI6. 1 , the came may be provided In a srnartphons. Though the term "smartphone ^* la u ed* a smartphone may be considered to be any type of handheld device capable of accepting Input from a user and calculating; a re o se or an l sing the ^■' input, preferably with a eonrteeikm to a etwork of same sort, including but not felted lo a LAN and the internet Trie v su l or optica dat ma do acquired ov an Know me hod in the present embodiments. Once the optical data from the scann has been generated, the data may be sent lo a computer 608, The optical data may be evaluated by software in the computer 808 to determine one or mor of the swing

characteristics, such as any known im ge analysis software or algo ithm .

Altern tivel , the optical data may be displayed on ma monitor 6 0 and: the ser may use various software or hardware measuring and evaluating tools to perform a visual inspection of the mark 604 As an example, the computer 608 may include a graphical interface or screen that includes a plurality of exemplary pasterns representing marks that can be created by a golfer's stroke.. A user can select the pattern closest to the mark created by a golf stroke to calculate or identify stroke c aracteristics..

[0064] In embodiments in w ic the detectorm applied to a club face or golf ball it may be desirable to use a removab e swing characteristic detector if a scanner is to be used. The use of a flexible swing characteristic detector allows the detectof to be easily placed in a flatbed or other standard scanner. The use of an inflexible detector, such as mark made directly en the etui creates additional complexity In getting an accurate scan. In such a case, it may be desirable o use a handheld scanner or camera to evaluate the mark accurately.

[00S5J It is also noted that the scanner described and shewn Is describee ⁾ and shown as evaluating a single mark. If desired, a more complicated optical scanning system may be used. For example, in some embodiments, a use may take multiple strokes with a single s i g characteristic detector applied, A more robust optical scanning system and/or analysis software may be able to distinguis between a plurality of marks on a single detector. Such a method and scanner also comes within the scope of the present embodiments,

[DOSS] In still a further embodiment. It Is possible that a swing

characteristic detector may be embedded into a. golf club and that the detector be given the capability of sensing the compression of a golf ball against a golf club face and generating data similar to that available by using a swing characteristic detector that generates visible data. If such a sensor is used as the detector, the sensor must be able to transmit data to the computer either by a wired or wireless connection. Any conventional wired or wireless system may be used. A

compatible software or hardware capable of interpreting the data from the sensor is desirably included to generate relevant data to allow the selection of a ball.

Such data may simply be the generation of a visual representation of the mark that would have been created on the ball with another sort of detector.

[0087] Additional data regarding a golfer's swing may be collected. For example, data may be collected regarding more than one of the golfer's clubs. In such a case, a second swing characteristic detector can be applied between a second golf club and a golf ball. The golfer may then strike the ball with the second golf club. The second mark on the swing characteristic detector is then examined and at least one golf swing characteristic is determined. Alternatively, data may be collected regarding more than one of the golfer's strokes with the same club. In such a case, a second swing characteristic detector may be positioned between the golf club and the golf ball. The golfer may strike the ball with the golf club. The further mark on the swing characteristic detector is then examined to determine the at least one golf swing characteristic. In such

instances, it may be advantageous for each of the examinations of the mark to determine the same golf swing characteristic. These values can then be averaged or otherwise input into a calculation to determine appropriate ball fit.

[0088] Once each of the examination steps has been completed, the results of the examination steps are used to select a golf ball. The golf ball can be selected based on golfer's swing characteristics. The present system can be used as a component in the system disclosed in copending and commonly owned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 201 1/0009215, entitled Method and System For Golf Ball Fitting Analysis, and published on January 13, 201 1 , which is incorporated herein by reference. fOOSif The ste of selecting a coif ball can take a variety of forms. For ^■ exam le, a computer may e used, to select and identify an appropriate golf ball tor a golfer as will e shown elo . Alternatively, a selection step may be per formed without a computer. For example, a char! may be provided that shows a variety of possible marks that may be made on the club face and that identifies a corresponding ball for each possible mark. Alternatively, a chart m instruct a golfer how to evaluate the mark to determine one or more swing characteristics a«d then Instruct the goiter how to select a ball based on trie resulting Information, In the context of the present embodiments, any electronic or printed system may be u ed to convey the appropriat information, in some embodiments, a. printed system may be disposed within packaging and/Or on packaging. For exam le,, a printed system may be included on sleeve 1000 (FIG. 16). Althoug a chart form may be helpful, the data need not be organized in chart form. The s em: can include any type of information that Is helpful in translating the data generated in the marking and evaluating steps into information that mn be used: to select an appropriate bail,

[0070] The steps in the above embodiments can be considered as a flowchart tor selecting a got! ball as shown in FIG. 15. Step SOD may include placing a detector mch that the detector Is between bait and a club during impact. For example, step 800 may include applying a swing characteristic detector to one of a. ball and a club. In another embodiment step 800 may include placing a swing characteristic between a ball and a club without applying the swing characteristic detector to the ball or the club.

07 1 Step Q2 may include striking the bail with the club, thereby m ki g a mark the swing characteristic detector, for example, if the swing characteristic detector is applied to the club, striking the golf ball may cause the golf ball to make a mark on the club.

[0072] In step 804, the user may visually inspect the mark on the swing characteristic detector. For example, If the swing characteristic detector Is applied to the club, step 804 may include visually inspecting the club- In some emhodimesits, step 864 m y ^' include the user si pi tooking at the mark left on t e s ing ehara¾etistie detector by - ^' this club u § the golf ball, \n embodiments in which a swing characteristic detector Is a Bsd to om of the club or golf ball, step 804 m include the user removing the swing characteristic detector from a club or golf ball In some embodiments, for example as shown in FIGS. 11 and 18, slop 804 ma include the user folding the swing characteristic detector S02 along a diameter of the mark 60 .

|0O7$3 Step SOS may include comparing the mark to known data to evaluate the mark and determine one o more swing characteristics. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17-18. step 808 may include comparing the diameter of the mark 604 to tb guide 1002, As discussed above, the guide 1002 may show patterns indicat ng ranges of club head speeds and/or other swing characteristics. The range matching the diameter of the mark indicates the club head speed and/or other characteristics of th swing resulting so the ma k 604 on the swing: characteristic detector 602, For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG, 18» the diameter of the mark 604 matches up with the pattern 1006. The pattern 1006 may indicate a certain swing characteristic. Step 808 may include using the s ing characteristic data, to select a golf ball. In some embodiments, as discussed above. Instructions may be provided in a kit. These inslryotlons may inform a user about how to use the swing characteristic detector 602 and the guide 1002 to select a go! ball.

[0074] Turning now to FKL 14, go! ball fitting analysis system fo a computer system that may he used in ball selection is shown . The computer system may include a computer 700, in some embodlrrtents, as discussed below with respect to FIG, 19, t e computer 700 may foe provided In a smart one, A database may be associated with ttie computer 700 such that the database may he accessed by the computer 700. The database may be associated with the computer in a number of ways. The database may be stored on a hard drive In the computer 700, It may also be stored on a CO* DVD, floppy disc, or other media that III into a drive 712 on the computer 700, ll may also be stored on a

iXA.< removable media, such as a USB drive 716: that may be irtser ed ^' into art available pe : ort the oomput ir ^' OO, Alternatively, fie database can be stored remotely on the internet 718 or another loc ls networked . computer (not w )«

10 751 n input or receiving device is also associated with trie computer 700. The input device can take one of a number of forms, in the embodiment s own in FIG. 4, the n ut device may include a selector 714 arid a scanner 710, The sel cto 714 is any device capable of indicating to trie computer that data s desired lo be input into the computer 700. The selector 714 may be a manual dial, keyboard, mouse, tablet, voice command module, microphone or other device able to be actuated by a user. The input device may prompt a user to select a particular club being used, whether It is a first or second striking stop, and any number of other relevant pieces of data. Alte ativel , the input device may simply be a device that launches a user interlace that instructs the user which step to perform at which time, which club to use, or the like. There are no precise re uirements for the input device. The scanner 710 associated with the computer 700 may be the scanner referred to earlier in this disclosure _* in any event, the input device is used to input the swing characteristics into the computer 700, As noted, the scanner 710 may be used atone to determine the s ng characteristics, the user may input the swing characteristics via the selector 714, or Hie swing characteristics can be Input via the selector 714 and the scanner 710.

0078] in addition, a launch monitor 720 or other apparatus ma also be associated with the computer 700. If, tor example, the computer 700 is used to instruct a user how to perform the steps, the launch monitor 720 may be helpful in providing: additional feedback to the user. The launch monitor 720 can: be used to determine, for example, whether a golf ball has been hit during the process. In addition, speakers or other equipment could be used without a great deal of added complexity.. In addition, as noted above, a sensor may be associated with a golf club face and a computer to transmit information from the club to the computer 700 and may form part of the input device, il. ί |0 ?7] Slored instructi ns am also associated with the oornpu er 700 such t he stored instructions msy bo acce sed by the computer. TOO. The Instructions may e associated with the computer a number of ays. The instroctlons ma be sco ed on a d drive in trie computer 700, it may so be stored on a GO, DVD, floppy disc, or other media that fit into a drive 71 £ ort the computer 700. It may also be stored o a removable med a, suc as a USB dnVe 716 that may be inserted into an available port on the computer 700. Alternatively, the stored instructions can be stored remotely on Ihe internet 7 6 or another locally networked computer (not shown}. The stored instructions may calculate a bail fit value using t e characteristics input via the input device and the database of known proles. The stored instructions may match these data points together and generate a recommendation of a particular ball for a user,

fOGTSJ Once the instructions have generated a recommendation lor a user, a display may display one or more recommended balls. The display may take a number of forms. The display may be a monitor associated with and attached to he compil r, Alternatively, the display may be a printed pa er dispensed from a printer associated with the computer. The display could also be the display of a code or color that is then further correlated with various bails in a separate step. Finally, the display could be the dispensing of a ball or sleeve of balls that Is recommended. The display could also include displaying information on more than one ball recommended for a user. For example, if a golfer has some clubs where ihe angle of attack Is significantly different from other clubs, it may be desirable lor the goiter to try more than one ball to determine which ball is optimal. The display could take other forms as well, as long as the user is able to use the data to select one or more appropriate balls from the data displayed.

[0079] As mentioned above, in some embodiments, a handheld device may be used for fitting a golf ball. The handheld device may have a camera a id a computer. For example, the handheld device may be a srnartphone. As shown In FIG. 19, in some embodiments, the method of fitting a golf ball may Include using a smartphone 1 100 having a camera. For example, the smartphone 1 t o may include n iPhane, commercially available-, from Ap l Inc. The c e m .he smartphooe 1 00 ma be used to capiut* optical or mi ta, in some embodiments, instead of or 1ft addition to user SQO examining the mark SOS on She s ^tig: characteristic detector 504, as shown in FIG. 12, the smartp on© 11 GO may be used to anal z the mark 506 on the swing characteristic detector 504 ap lie to the club 510. Trie s artp or e 1 0 ma Include a smartphoiie application that s configorad to analyze t e mark 5 on the sw ng characteristic detector 504 applied to the club 510. For example, the sniartphone application may be " ike Golf 36 ^ and such a smartphone application may e configured to analyze the ma k $06 on the s ng c racteristic detector 504 applied to the club 510. As is wall known, smaftpbones include computers configured to ccess the internet Any of the features discussed above as being associated with computer 700 may be associated with the computer of smartphone 11 GO. in some embodiments, smartphone 1 00 may include an Input device, as discussed above with refe ence to FIG. 1 . For exa le, the smartp ooe 1100 may include buttons, dials, selectio boxes, and/or drop down menus appearing on a. semen of the smarlphone 1100 _* A user may input Information identifying details useful for analysis. For example, the details may include the ball type, club type, diat user's name into the input device. The smariphona 1100 ma use Hiese details to analyze the users swing and to determine ball recommendations lor IM user. fOOSOJ The steps in the above embodiments can be considered as a flowchart for selecting a gel! bail as s own In FIG. 18. Step 900 may include positioning: a swing characteristic detector between a ball and a club. For example, in some embodiments, step 000 may include applying the swing characteristic detector to cfub face. Step §02 may Include staking the ball with the club, thereby making a mark o the swing Characteristic detector. Step 804 may include collecting optical data regarding the mark on the detector, For example, In some embodiments, step 904 may include using the scanner 710 to collect optical data, in embodiments In which the detector 504 is applied to club 510, step 904 may include removing the swing characteristic detector 504 f rom the e S C) and inse ing sw ng characteristic de to S64 in the scanner 710,. In other embodiments, step S04 may include using a camera, such as fie ca era of smartphone 1100 (FI0..1 ), to collect optical data- photographing the mark on the ebb, in: ste eo6. _f t e optical data may be compared ID a database to evaluate the mark and determine one or more swing characteristics. In -some embodiments, step 906 is performed by a computer. For example, step 908 may be performed by the computer 700 or the computer in the smajtphone 1 100, Step 90S may include using the swing characteristic data to select a got ball, in some embodiments, th computer 700 or the computer in the smartphone 1 100 may sel ct a golf bail ased on the swing eharaeterisiicCs} determined in step 906,

[0O6 J While various embodiments of the invention ham h n

described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are i i the scope of the invention.

Accordingly, l s invention is not In be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equi alents _* Also, v ious modifications and changes may ho made wH n the scope of lie attached claims. Each of the disclosed embodiments may be combined: with one another.