Apparatus for detecting spin of golf ball in indoor golf playing system

Abstract

Abstract In an indoor golf playing system, it is very advantageous if a golfer can determine the amount of side spin, i.e., slice or hook imparted to the ball. The ball is placed at a known point which is part of the indoor system and is hit into an impact surface such as a wall or screen which displays a picture of an appropriate portion of a golf course as it is seen by a golfer. A row of detectors is positioned in front of the impact surface and, as the golf ball is hit toward the surface and crosses the row of detectors, it actuates one or more of the detectors to produce an output. In this manner, the path of the ball travelling towards the surface is detected. The ball, upon hitting the surface, rebounds back toward the golfer and is again detected by one or more of the detectors as it passes back through the row of detectors. The angle at which the ball rebounds from the surface is a function of the side spin imparted to the ball by the golfer. Therefore, by detecting the point at which the ball crosses the row of detectors as it travels toward the surface and comparing this point to the point at which the ball travels through the row of detectors as it rebounds from the surface, the amount of side spin can readily be determined. In the event the golf ball is to be hit from points of origin that may not be determined, a second row of detectors may be positioned between the first row of detectors and the points of origin.

Inventors

• 👤 A Angelos

Bibliographic Details