Golf Tee Structures, Assemblies, and Systems with Improved Accuracy

Abstract

Golf is waning in popularity partly because of the difficulty of becoming a good player. A key aspect of this difficulty is in using a golf club to drive a ball in a desired direction. To make this easier, the present inventor devised, among other things, a directional golf tee structure that enables players to select a drive direction by orienting the golf tee in the desired direction and then using a golf club to strike a portion of the golf tee instead of the ball. The struck portion of the golf tee filters out or reduces the effect of golf club swing errors, thereby promoting greater accuracy. In some embodiments, the tees are configured for specific loft angles, fade, and/or draw attributes, not only providing a variety of play and training options, but ultimately making golf easier and more enjoyable for players of all skill levels.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A golf tee structure comprising:
 a portion configured to support a golf ball above a selected portion of ground; and   a strike body having first and second opposing convex surfaces, the first convex surface configured to receive an input force from a golf club head and the second convex surface configured to contact a portion of the supported golf ball and transfer only a portion of the input force to the golf ball.   
     
     
         15 . The golf tee structure of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second opposing convex surfaces are spherically convex. 
     
     
         16 . The golf tee structure of  claim 14 , further comprising first and second ground stakes extending from the golf ball structure and configured for insertion into a selected portion of ground. 
     
     
         17 . The golf tee structure of  claim 16 , wherein the first ground stake is shorter than the second ground stake. 
     
     
         18 . The golf tee structure of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first and second ground stakes includes barbs. 
     
     
         19 . The golf tee structure of claim  2 , further comprising a sensor configured to produce an electrical signal in response to the input force, and a wireless transceiver configured to transmit a wireless signal based on the produced electrical signal to a smart phone or a tablet computer. 
     
     
         20 . A golf tee assembly comprising:
 a golf tee structure configured to support a golf ball above a select portion of ground, the golf tee structure including at least one sensor and a first wireless transceiver coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to transmit information based on the one sensor to a computing device having a second wireless transceiver configured to communicate with the first wireless transceiver.   
     
     
         21 . The golf tee assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the golf tee structure further comprises:
 a golf ball support configured to support the golf ball above a selected portion of ground;   a directional indicator structure attached to the golf ball support to indicate a desired flight line direction for the golf ball; and   a force filter attached to the golf ball support and having a first surface configured to receive an input force from a golf club head and a second surface configured to contact a portion of the golf ball and inhibit transfer of undesired portions of the input force to the golf ball.   
     
     
         22 . The golf tee structure of  claim 21 , wherein the force filter comprises first and second opposing convex surfaces, with the first surface configured to contact a golf ball positioned on the golf ball surface and the second surface configured to receive input force from a golf club head. 
     
     
         23 . The golf tee structure of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second opposing convex surfaces are spherically convex. 
     
     
         24 . The golf tee structure of  claim 21 , further comprising first and second barbed ground stakes extending from the golf ball structure and configured for insertion into a selected portion of ground. 
     
     
         25 . A method of operating a golf tee structure, the method comprising:
 receiving in the golf tee structure a drive force from a golf club head; and   inhibiting or restricting undesired vector components of the drive force from influencing direction of flight of a golf ball.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein inhibiting or restricting undesired vector components comprises:
 receiving the drive force at a first spherically convex surface of an object;   transmitting a portion of the drive force substantially orthogonal to a portion of the first spherically convex surface through a central region of the object to a second spherically convex surface of the object, with the second surface contacting the golf ball,   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising inserting the golf tee structure into a ground to indicate a desired direction of flight of a golf ball, prior to receiving the drive force. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising transmitting a wireless signal from the object to an external device in response to receiving the drive force. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the wireless signal is representative of one or more acceleration components and the external device includes a smartphone. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising displaying data based on the one or more acceleration components on a display of the smartphone.