Tennis training system

Abstract

A body worn electronic device and method for training a player to improve upon the stroke of an article such as a racket in a sport wherein the device senses parameters of the player's strokes to create a stoke profile, compares the sensed parameters of the stroke profile with electronically stored comparative stroke profiles and wherein feedback may be provided to the player based on the comparison of the players stroke profile and the comparative stroke profile.

1 . A system for improving stroke technique in tennis, the system comprising:
 (i) a limb-mountable device comprising one or more electronic sensors configured to collect data capable of defining a tennis stroke profile of a user,   (ii) a processor device in operable connection with the sensor(s),   (iii) a memory device comprising data defining a comparator tennis stroke profile, and optionally   (iv) a user feedback device,   
       wherein the processor device comprises software configured to compare the user tennis stroke profile with the comparator tennis stroke profile, and provide feedback to the user via the feedback device identifying similarities and/or differences between the user tennis stroke and the comparator tennis stroke. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the comparator stroke profile is superior to that of the user stroke profile. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the limb-mountable device is configured to be mountable on or about the wrist of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein one of the one or more sensors is an accelerometer and/or a rotation sensor and/or a magnetometer. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more sensors are selected and/or combined to discern at least 6 degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more sensors are selected and/or combined to discern at least 9 degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the processor device and/or memory device is/are disposed in, on, or about the limb-mountable device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the feedback device is a mobile processor-based device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mobile processor-based device is a smart phone. 
     
     
         10 . A limb-mountable device configured to be operable in the system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The limb-mountable device of  claim 10  comprising one or more sensors, a processor device and a memory device. 
     
     
         12 . The limb-mountable device of  claim 10  wherein one of the one or more sensors is an accelerometer and/or a rotation sensor and/or a magnetometer. 
     
     
         13 . The limb-mountable device of  claim 10  wherein the one or more sensors are selected and/or combined to discern at least 6 degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         14 . The limb-mountable device of  claim 10  wherein the one or more sensors are selected and/or combined to discern at least 9 degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         15 . Software configured to be operable in the system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A method for improving the stroke of a user, the method comprising the steps of:
 electronically recording data capable of defining a user stroke profile, providing a comparator stroke profile,   comparing the user stroke profile to the comparator stroke profile, and   providing feedback to the user indentifying similarities and/or differences between the user stroke profile and the comparator stroke profile.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the comparator stroke profile is superior to the user stroke profile. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step of electronically recording data capable of defining a user stroke profile comprises use of the limb-mountable device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step of comparing the user stroke profile to the comparator stroke profile comprises use of the limb-mountable device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step of providing feedback to the user comprises use of a mobile processor-based device.