Golf-ball compression measurement

Abstract

A hand-held compression-tester for golf balls applies a biasing force to the golf-ball, loads it, and then releases the load so that only the biasing force remains. Based on the evolution of a loading curve during these intervals, the compression-tester estimates a compression value.

Having described the invention, and a preferred embodiment thereof, what we claim as new, and secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising a hand-held golf-ball compression meter, said golf-ball compression meter comprising a housing having a wall forming a circular opening on a first side thereof, a computing system, an internal support structure, a strain-gauge load beam, an actuator, and a display, wherein said opening has a first circumference sized to receive a golf-ball, wherein said actuator is configured to apply a first force to said golf-ball, wherein, said internal support structure is transmit a second force from said golf-ball to said load beam, wherein said computing system is configured to receive, from said load beam, a load signal indicative of said second force, wherein said computing system derives, obtains said load signal, a time series of force values, wherein said computing system derives, from said time series, a golf-ball compression value, and wherein said computing system causes information indicative of said golf-ball compression value to be displayed on said display. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said internal support structure comprises first and second golf-ball retainers that face each other and that define between them a space for positioning said golf-ball for measurement of said compression value thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said internal support structure comprises a compression pin positioned on a shim above said strain-gauge load beam. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said computing system is configured to cause said display to indicate said compression value using at least one of textual information and graphic information. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said golf-ball compression meter comprises a communication interface for transmitting data to an external receiver. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a linkage that causes the compression meter to transition between a first state in which the compression meter applies a first force to the golf ball and a second state in which the compression meter applies a second force to the golf ball.