Rangefinding devices and methods for golfing

Abstract

A device comprises a rangefinder, memory, display, and processor. The rangefinder can measure a distance between a user and a target on a course. The memory stores data concerning a plurality of clubs including a hitting distance for each of the golf clubs. The processor, which is connected to the rangefinder, memory, and display, is configured to select, based on the measured distance, a recommended golf club and to determine a recommended swing speed for a golfer to hit a golf ball with the recommended golf club. The processor is further configured to cause the display to indicate the recommended golf club and swing speed. The device may alternatively or additionally comprise an inclinometer and calculate an adjusted distance based on tilt and the distance, and select the recommended golf club based on the adjusted distance.

1 . A device for use while golfing, the device comprising: 
 a rangefinder that determines a distance between a user and a target on a golf course;    a memory storing data concerning a plurality of golf clubs, the data including a hitting distance for each of the golf clubs;    a display that can be viewed by the user;    an input device for receiving from the user an indication of a selected hitter ability from at least two different hitter abilities; and    a processor in communication with the rangefinder, the memory, the display, and the input device, the processor being configured to select, based on the distance, the hitter ability, and the data, a recommended golf club from the plurality of golf clubs, the processor being further configured to cause the display to indicate the recommended golf club.    
   
   
       2 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an inclinometer mounted in alignment with the rangefinder so as to measure an inclination of a line-of-sight between the user and the target and wherein the processor is in communication with the inclinometer and wherein the distance includes an adjusted distance based on the inclination and a line-of-sight distance from the user to the target.  
   
   
       3 . A device as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the display depicts at least one of the distance and the adjusted distance.  
   
   
       4 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a swing speed for a golfer to hit a golf ball with the recommended golf club, the processor being further configured to cause the display to indicate the determined swing speed and the display depicts a meter to indicate the determined swing speed.  
   
   
       5 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 one or more sensors selected from the group comprising a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an altimeter, an anemometer, a compass, and a barometer, wherein said one or more sensors are connected to the processor such that the processor can access one or more variables measured by the sensors, and wherein the processor selects the recommended golf club based on the one or more measured variables.    
   
   
       6 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the input device allows the user to indicate a type of golf ball such that the processor can access the indicated golf ball type, and wherein the processor selects the recommended golf club based on the indicated golf ball type.  
   
   
       7 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an interface port for connecting to a computer apart from the device, and    wherein the data concerning the plurality of golf clubs is custom data for a golfer transferred to the device via the interface port.    
   
   
       8 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the data stored in the memory further concerns a plurality of different golf balls, and wherein the processor is further configured to select a golf ball to hit with the recommended golf club, the processor being further configured to cause the display to indicate the golf ball.  
   
   
       9 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the data includes for each golf club a hitting distance for a soft swing speed, a medium swing speed, and a hard swing speed.  
   
   
       10 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the data includes for each golf club a hitting distance for each of the different hitter abilities.  
   
   
       11 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the data concerning the plurality of golf clubs is scaled by a factor based on the hitter ability.  
   
   
       12 . A device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hitting distance includes a range of hitting distances.  
   
   
       13 . A method of using an electronic device in aid of golfing, the method comprising: 
 determining a distance between a user and a target on a golf course;    accessing data concerning a plurality of golf clubs, the data including a hitting distance for each of the golf clubs;    the electronic device identifying, based on the distance, the data, and a hitter ability selected by a user from at least two different hitter abilities, a recommended golf club from the plurality of golf clubs; and    the electronic device displaying the recommended golf club for viewing by the user.    
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising determining an inclination of a line-of-sight between the user and the target and computing an adjusted distance on the basis of the determined distance and the inclination and wherein the step of identifying the recommended golf club is based on the adjusted distance.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the data includes for each golf club a hitting distance for each of the different hitter abilities.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 13 , further comprising scaling the data by a factor based on the selected hitter ability.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 13 , where the step of determining the distance includes measuring a line-of-sight distance using a laser rangefinder.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the step of determining the distance between the user and the target comprises: 
 determining a position of the user utilizing a GPS system;    determining a position of the target utilizing a map; and    computing, based on the position of the user and the position of the target, the distance.    
   
   
       19 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 determining, based on the determined distance and the recommended golf club, a recommended swing speed for a golfer to hit a golf ball with the recommended golf club; and    displaying for viewing by the user the recommended swing speed.    
   
   
       20 . A method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the step of computing an adjusted distance is based on one or more of the following: 
 (a) an initial velocity of a golf ball;    (b) an altitude of the user above sea level;    (c) a barometric pressure;    (d) an ambient temperature; and    (e) a relative humidity;    
   
   
       21 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the hitting distance includes a range of hitting distances.  
   
   
       22 . A device for use while golfing, the device comprising: 
 a rangefinder that can determine a distance between a user and a target on a golf course;    a memory storing data concerning a plurality of golf clubs, the data including a hitting distance for each of the golf clubs;    a display that can be viewed by the user; and    a processor connected to the rangefinder, the memory, and the display, the processor being configured to identify, based on the distance and the data, a recommended golf club from the plurality of golf clubs and to determine a recommended swing speed for a golfer to hit a golf ball with the recommended golf club, the processor being further configured to cause the display to indicate the recommended golf club and the recommended swing speed.    
   
   
       23 . A device as set forth in  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 an inclinometer held in alignment with the rangefinder so as to measure an inclination of a line-of-sight between the user and the target, wherein the inclinometer is connected to the processor such that the processor can access the measured inclination, wherein the processor is further configured to compute an adjusted distance based on the distance determined by the rangefinder and the measured inclination, and wherein the processor identifies the recommended golf club and determines the recommended swing speed based on the adjusted distance.    
   
   
       24 . A device as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the display depicts the adjusted distance.  
   
   
       25 . A device as set forth in  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 one or more sensors selected from the group comprising a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an altimeter, an anemometer, a compass, and a barometer, wherein said one or more sensors are connected to the processor such that the processor can access one or more variables measured by the sensors, and wherein the processor selects the recommended golf club and determines the recommended swing speed based on the one or more measured variables.    
   
   
       26 . A device as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the display depicts a graphical scale to indicate the recommended swing speed.  
   
   
       27 . A device as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the data concerning the plurality of golf clubs comprises for each golf club a soft swing speed, a medium swing speed, and a hard swing speed.  
   
   
       28 . A device as set forth in  claim 22 , further comprising an input device connected to the processor for receiving from the user an indication of a selected hitter ability from at least two different hitter abilities, and wherein the data includes for each golf club a hitting distance for each of the hitter abilities and the processor identifies the recommended golf club based on the selected hitter ability.  
   
   
       29 . A device as set forth in  claim 22 , further comprising an input device connected to the processor for receiving from the user an indication of a selected hitter ability from at least two different hitter abilities, and wherein the data concerning the plurality of golf clubs is scaled by a factor based on the hitter ability and the processor identifies the recommended golf club based on the selected hitter ability.  
   
   
       30 . A device as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the hitting distance includes a range of hitting distances.  
   
   
       31 . A method of using an electronic device in aid of golfing, the method comprising: 
 receiving an input from a user including a first hitting distance of a first golf club in a set of golf clubs;    calculating a hitting distance for one or more of the other golf clubs in the set based on the first hitting distance;    storing the first hitting distance and the one or more calculated hitting distances in memory;    determining a target distance between the user and a target on a golf course;    identifying, based on the target distance and the stored hitting distances, a recommended golf club from the set of golf clubs; and    displaying the recommended golf club for viewing by the user.    
   
   
       32 . A method as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein the input includes a second hitting distance for a second golf club in the set and the hitting distance for one or more of the other golf clubs in the set is interpolated based on the first hitting distance and the second hitting distance.  
   
   
       33 . A method as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein the input includes a second hitting distance for a second golf club in the set and the hitting distance for one or more of the other golf clubs in the set is extrapolated based on the first hitting distance and the second hitting distance.  
   
   
       34 . A method as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein the hitting distance for one or more of the other golf clubs in the set is calculated based on a hitting distance increment between golf clubs.