Integrated putting training and green speed measuring apparatus and method of use thereof

Abstract

An integrated stimp-putt meter for use with a golf ball, putter and distance measure, for assessing golf ball speed along a given path is provided. The stimp-putt meter comprises: at least two transmitter/receiver pairs, for transmission and reception of an electromagnetic beam; a microcontroller in electronic communication with the transmitter/receiver pairs; a display in electronic communication with the microcontroller; and a housing. The transmitter/receiver pairs are located along a given path, and the transmitter and receiver of each pair are separated by a predetermined distance sufficient for a golf ball to pass through and positioned such that each beam is interrupted by the passage of a golf ball.

1 . An integrated stimp-putt meter for use with a golf ball, putter and distance measure, for assessing golf ball speed along a given path, said stimp-putt meter comprising: 
 at least two transmitter/receiver pairs, for transmission and reception of an electromagnetic beam, said pairs located along a given path, the transmitter and receiver of each pair separated by a predetermined distance sufficient for a golf ball to pass through and positioned such that said beam of each pair is interrupted by the passage of the golf ball;    a microcontroller in electronic communication with said transmitter/receiver pairs;    a display in electronic communication with said microcontroller; and    a housing.    
   
   
       2 . The integrated stimp-putt meter of  claim 1  wherein said transmitter/receiver pairs are photo transmitters/sensors.  
   
   
       3 . The integrated stimp-putt meter of  claim 2  wherein said microcontroller comprises a calculator to calculate golf ball speed and projected ball roll distance.  
   
   
       4 . The integrated stimp-putt meter of  claim 3  wherein said housing comprises a top and two sides.  
   
   
       5 . The integrated stimp-putt meter of  claim 4  wherein said transmitter/receiver pairs are approximately  6  inches apart along the given path.  
   
   
       6 . The integrated stimp-putt meter of  claim 5  further comprising a set of switches, said switches in communication with said microcontroller and said display, to permit switching from one mode to another mode.  
   
   
       7 . The integrated stimp-putt meter of  claim 6  wherein one of said modes is a calculation and display of a projected ball roll distance mode.  
   
   
       8 . The integrated stimp-putt meter of  claim 7 , wherein one of said modes is a green speed selection mode, to permit preselection of a stimpmeter reading of a green.  
   
   
       9 . The integrated stimp-putt meter of  claim 7 , wherein one of said modes is a floor speed selection mode, to permit preselection of a stimpmeter reading of a surface.  
   
   
       10 . The integrated stimp-putt meter of  claim 7 , wherein one of said modes is a preselected hole distance mode.  
   
   
       11 . A method of determining a stimpmeter reading of a given surface, said method comprising: 
 propelling a golf ball through a series of at least two pairs of electromagnetic radiation transmitter/receivers aligned along a given path;    calculating the speed of said golf ball based on the difference in time between the interruption of one beam and the interruption of at least one other beam;    calculating a projected ball roll distance;    measuring an actual ball roll distance;    calculating a stimpmeter reading for the given surface; and    displaying said stimpmeter reading for the given surface.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said transmitter/receiver pairs are photo transmitters/sensors.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said transmitter/receiver pairs are approximately 6 inches apart along the given path.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising switching a microcontroller from one mode to another mode.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein one of said modes is a calculation and display of projected ball roll distance mode.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein one of said modes is a green speed selection mode, to permit preselection of a stimpmeter reading of a green.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein one of said modes is a floor speed selection mode, to permit preselection of a stimpmeter reading of a surface.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein one of said modes is a preselected hole distance mode.  
   
   
       19 . A method of practicing putting for a selected green, said method comprising: 
 propelling a golf ball through a series of at least two pairs of electromagnetic radiation transmitter/receivers aligned along a given path on a selected green;    measuring the speed of said golf ball based on the difference in time between the interruption of one beam and the interruption of at least one other beam;    calculating a projected ball roll distance;    measuring an actual ball roll distance;    calculating a stimpmeter reading for the selected green;    displaying said stimpmeter reading for the selected green;    moving to a selected surface;    putting a golf ball through a series of at least two pairs of electromagnetic radiation transmitter/receivers aligned along a given path on the selected surface;    measuring the speed of the golf ball on the selected surface based on the difference in time between the interruption of one beam and the interruption of at least one other beam;    calculating a first stimpmeter reading for the selected surface;    displaying the first stimpmeter reading for the selected surface;    putting a golf ball through the series of at least two pairs of electromagnetic radiation transmitter/receivers aligned along a given path on the selected surface;    measuring the speed of the golf ball based on the selected surface on the difference in time between the interruption of one beam and the interruption of at least one other beam;    calculating a second stimpmeter reading for the selected surface;    displaying the second stimpmeter reading for the selected surface;    comparing at least one of the first and second stimpmeter readings for the selected surface with the stimpmeter reading for the selected green;    determining the distance that the golf ball would have traveled on the selected green; and    displaying the distance that the golf ball would have traveled on the selected green.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the integrated stimp-putt meter of  claim 1  is employed.