Apparatus, method and computer program product for obtaining a measure of launch efficiency

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided that determine a measure of launch efficiency of a ball that is more readily understandable by golfers as being indicative of the quality of a shot. The method, apparatus and computer program product determine a calculated distance of travel of a ball based upon the measured launch conditions that may include the measured club speed. A maximum distance of travel of the ball is then determined. The maximum distance of travel may be determined for a ball struck by a club having the measured club speed and/or for a ball struck by a club having different launch angles and/or spin rate. The measure of launch efficiency is then determined based upon the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel, such as by forming the ratio of the calculated distance of travel to the maximum distance of travel.

1 . A method of obtaining a measure of launch efficiency of a ball, the method comprising: 
 determining a calculated distance of travel of the ball based upon measured launch conditions of the ball;    determining a maximum distance of travel of the ball upon being struck by a club having any combination of launch angle and spin rate; and    determining the measure of launch efficiency based upon the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the measured launch conditions comprise a measured club speed, and wherein determining the maximum distance of travel comprises determining the maximum distance of travel for a ball struck by a club having the measured club speed.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the measured launch conditions comprise a measured ball speed, and wherein determining the maximum distance of travel comprises determining the maximum distance of travel of a ball having the measured ball speed.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the measured launch conditions comprise a measured ball speed, and wherein determining the maximum distance of travel comprises determining the maximum distance of travel of a ball having a ball speed based upon the measured ball speed as adjusted for any change in spin loft necessary to obtain an optimum ball spin.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the measured launch conditions comprise a measured ball speed, and wherein determining the maximum distance of travel comprises determining the maximum distance of travel of a ball having a ball speed based upon the measured ball speed as adjusted for any change in spin loft necessary to obtain an optimum ball spin and as further adjusted for a distance that the ball is offset from a predefined impact position on the club.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein determining the measure of launch efficiency comprises forming a ratio of the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for obtaining a measure of launch efficiency of a ball, the apparatus comprising: 
 a processing element capable of: 
 determining a calculated distance of travel of the ball based upon measured launch conditions of the ball;  
 determining a maximum distance of travel of the ball upon being struck by a club having any combination of launch angle and spin rate; and  
 determining the measure of launch efficiency based upon the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel.  
   
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the measured launch conditions comprise a measured club speed, and wherein said processing element is capable of determining the maximum distance of travel by determining the maximum distance of travel for a ball struck by a club having the measured club speed.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the measured launch conditions comprise a measured ball speed, and wherein said processing element is capable of determining the maximum distance of travel by determining the maximum distance of travel of a ball having the measured ball speed.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the measured launch conditions comprise a measured ball speed, and wherein said processing element is capable of determining the maximum distance of travel by determining the maximum distance of travel of a ball having a ball speed based upon the measured ball speed as adjusted for any change in spin loft necessary to obtain an optimum ball spin.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the measured launch conditions comprise a measured ball speed, and wherein said processing element is capable of determining the maximum distance of travel by determining the maximum distance of travel of a ball having a ball speed based upon the measured ball speed as adjusted for any change in spin loft necessary to obtain an optimum ball spin and as further adjusted for a distance that the ball is offset from a predefined impact position on the club.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein said processing element is capable of determining the measure of launch efficiency by forming a ratio of the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel.  
   
   
       13 . A computer program product for obtaining a measure of launch efficiency of a ball, the computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising: 
 a first executable portion capable of determining a calculated distance of travel of the ball based upon measured launch conditions of the ball;    a second executable portion capable of determining a maximum distance of travel of the ball upon being struck by a club having any combination of launch angle and spin rate; and    a third executable portion capable of determining the measure of launch efficiency based upon the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel.    
   
   
       14 . A computer program product according to  claim 13  wherein the measured launch conditions comprise a measured club speed, and wherein said second executable portion is further capable of determining the maximum distance of travel for a ball struck by a club having the measured club speed.  
   
   
       15 . A computer program product according to  claim 13  wherein said third executable portion is further capable of determining the measure of launch efficiency by forming a ratio of the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel.  
   
   
       16 . A method of obtaining a measure of launch efficiency of a ball, the method comprising: 
 determining a calculated distance of travel of the ball based upon measured launch conditions of the ball including a measured club speed;    determining a maximum distance of travel of the ball upon being struck by a club having the measured club speed; and    determining the measure of launch efficiency based upon the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel.    
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein determining the maximum distance of travel comprises varying at least one of a launch angle of the ball and a spin rate of the ball for a ball struck by a club having the measured club speed.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein determining the measure of launch efficiency comprises forming a ratio of the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus of obtaining a measure of launch efficiency of a ball, the apparatus comprising: 
 a processing element capable of: 
 determining a calculated distance of travel of the ball based upon measured launch conditions of the ball including a measured club speed;  
 determining a maximum distance of travel of the ball upon being struck by a club having the measured club speed; and  
 determining the measure of launch efficiency based upon the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel.  
   
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein said processing element is capable of determining the maximum distance of travel by varying at least one of a launch angle of the ball and a spin rate of the ball for a ball struck by a club having the measured club speed.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said processing element is capable of determining the measure of launch efficiency by forming a ratio of the calculated distance of travel and the maximum distance of travel.