System and method for fitting golf clubs and sets

Abstract

The invention relates to devices, systems, and methods for fitting golf clubs. A golf club set is selected from among many golf clubs. A golfer can give information about an existing club set or hitting abilities. Systems of the invention use that information to identify a yardage gap to be covered by clubs and a number of clubs to span that yardage gap. The system can determine one or more yardage for each of the number of clubs and then propose a specific club for each yardage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for fitting golf clubs, the device comprising:
 a memory coupled to a processor operable to cause the device to:   receive a range of distances;   obtain a number N of clubs to be suggested;   determine a set of distances distributed across the range; and   suggest a club for each target distance.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device determines a set of N distances. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device determines a set of (N+1) distances, and the device is further operable to:
 identify an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the set; and   suggest the adjustable club for the two of the distances.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the range of distances is received as a longest playable iron distance and a driver distance. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the longest playable iron distance and the driver distance are received via an interaction between the device and RFID tags on the driver and the longest playable iron. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the device is further operable to obtain the number N based on a user's input of a longest playable iron N L  and a number of wedges N W . 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , further operable to
 calculate N as 12−N W −(10−N L ); and   calculate a gap by G=(D D −D I )/(N+1), and further wherein each distance in the set of distances is separated by the gap.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the set comprises N distances, and the device is further operable to:
 determine an alternative set of (N+1) distances distributed across the range; and   identify an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the alternative set.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further operable to:
 identify an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the set; and   suggest the adjustable club for the two of the distances.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , further operable to:
 send an identity of each suggested club to a server computer device; and   display an offer of at least one of the suggested clubs for a user to purchase.   
     
     
         11 . A method of fitting golf clubs, the method comprising:
 receiving, in an electronic device comprising a memory coupled to a processor, a range of distances;   obtaining a number N of clubs to be suggested;   determining a set of distances distributed across the range; and   suggesting a club for each target distance.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the set comprises N distances. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the set comprises (N+1) distances, and the method further comprises:
 identifying an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the set; and   suggesting the adjustable club for the two of the distances.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the range of distances is received as a longest playable iron distance and a driver distance. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the number N is obtained by a user's input of a longest playable iron and a number of wedges. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising calculating N by
     N= 12− N   W −(10− N   L )
   and calculating a gap by
   gap=( D   D   −D   I )/( N+ 1) 
   and further wherein each distance in the set of distances is separated by the gap.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the set comprises N distances, and the method further comprises:
 determining an alternative set of (N+1) distances distributed across the range; and   identifying an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the alternative set.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 identifying an adjustable club that is suited for two of the distances within the set; and   suggesting the adjustable club for the two of the distances.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing an identity of each suggested club on a server computer device; and   offering at least one of the suggested clubs for a user to purchase via the electronic device.   
     
     
         20 . A process for fitting golf clubs, the process comprising:
 downloading, using a device comprising a memory coupled to a processor, a set of computer program instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the device to
 receive a range of distances, 
 obtain a number N of clubs to be suggested, 
 determine a set of distances distributed across the range, and 
 suggest a club for each target distance; 
   storing the set of instructions in the memory; and   executing the instructions to aid in fitting golf clubs. device.   
     
     
         21 . A method for fitting golf clubs, the method comprising:
 offering, via a display on a mobile device comprising a memory coupled to a processor, a set of computer program instructions for download to the mobile device, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to cause the mobile device to
 receive a range of distances, 
 obtain a number N of clubs to be suggested, 
 determine a set of distances distributed across the range, and 
 suggest a club for each target distance.