Golf club fitting system and method

Abstract

A launch monitor and method for monitoring putting properties using cameras oriented at different locations and a reference target line; the launch monitor having a computing device for determining various properties of the putting event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A launch monitor comprising:
 a frame;   a first laser mounted to said frame, said first laser configured to produce a beam indicating a target line;   an overhead camera mounted to said frame and oriented along said target line;   a side camera mounted to said frame and positioned at a different orientation from said overhead camera; and   a computing device communicatively coupled to said overhead camera and said side camera,   wherein said overhead camera and said side camera are configured to capture motion data of a ball and communicate said motion data to said computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The launch monitor of  claim 1 , wherein said side camera is oriented orthogonally to said target line. 
     
     
         3 . The launch monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising a second laser mounted to said frame, wherein said second laser is configured to project a point onto a ground surface. 
     
     
         4 . The launch monitor of  claim 1 , wherein said computing device uses circle detection to locate and track a path of said ball. 
     
     
         5 . The launch monitor of  claim 1 , wherein said side camera is positioned at a lower elevation than said overhead camera. 
     
     
         6 . The launch monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising a display mounted to said frame,
 wherein said display is communicatively coupled to said computing device.   
     
     
         7 . The launch monitor of  claim 1 , wherein said computing device is configured to process said motion data from said overhead camera to determine an angle of deviation of a starting line of said ball relative to said target line. 
     
     
         8 . The launch monitor of  claim 1 , wherein said computing device is configured to process said motion data from said side camera to determine a starting speed of said ball. 
     
     
         9 . The launch monitor of  claim 1 , further comprising a club sensor mounted to said frame,
 wherein said club sensor is communicatively coupled to said computing device, and   wherein said club sensor is configured to capture motion data of a putter and communicate said motion data of said putter to said computing device.   
     
     
         10 . The launch monitor of  claim 9 , wherein said computing device is configured to process said motion data from said club sensor to determine one or more of: a speed of said putter, an arc of said putter, and a smash factor. 
     
     
         11 . A launch monitor comprising:
 a frame;   an overhead camera mounted to said frame in a first orientation;   a side camera mounted to said frame in a second orientation different from said first orientation; and   a computing device mounted to said frame communicatively coupled to said overhead camera and said side camera,   wherein said overhead camera and said side camera are configured to capture motion data of a ball and communicate said motion data to said computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The launch monitor of  claim 11 , further comprising a first laser mounted to said frame,
 wherein said first laser is configured to produce a beam indicating a target line.   
     
     
         13 . The launch monitor of  claim 12 , wherein said overhead camera is oriented along said target line and said side camera is oriented orthogonally to said target line. 
     
     
         14 . The launch monitor of  claim 13 , wherein said side camera is positioned at a lower elevation than said overhead camera. 
     
     
         15 . The launch monitor of  claim 14 , further comprising a display mounted to said frame,
 wherein said display is communicatively coupled to said computing device.   
     
     
         16 . The launch monitor of  claim 15 , wherein said computing device is configured to process said motion data from said overhead camera to determine an angle of deviation of a starting line of said ball relative to said target line, and
 wherein said computing device calculates said angle of deviation within at least 0.1 degrees.   
     
     
         17 . The launch monitor of  claim 16 , wherein said computing device is configured to process said motion data from said side camera to determine a starting speed of said ball, and
 wherein said computing device calculates said starting speed of said ball within at least 0.1 miles per hour.   
     
     
         18 . The launch monitor of  claim 17 , further comprising a club sensor mounted to said frame,
 wherein said club sensor is communicatively coupled to said computing device, and   wherein said club sensor is configured to capture motion data of a putter and communicate said motion data of said putter to said computing device.   
     
     
         19 . The launch monitor of  claim 18 , wherein said computing device is configured to process said motion data from said club sensor to determine one or more of: a speed of said putter, an arc of said putter, and a smash factor. 
     
     
         20 . The launch monitor of  claim 19 , wherein said computing device uses circle detection to locate and track a path of said ball.