Intelligent golf club recommendation technology

Abstract

Examples relate to golf assistance systems for providing environmentally-adjusted club recommendations during golf play. An example system includes a communication-enabled laser range finder with distance measurement circuitry, wireless communication circuitry, wind direction input controls, and a display interface. A networked processing device comprises a processor and memory configured to execute software storing golfer-specific shot performance data normalized to baseline atmospheric conditions. The networked processing device establishes wireless communication with the communication-enabled laser range finder to receive target distance and slope measurements, obtains real-time atmospheric data including air density, temperature, humidity, and wind conditions, and calculates effective shot distances for multiple golf clubs by processing the atmospheric data with the golfer-specific shot performance data. The networked processing device determines club recommendations and transmits them to the communication-enabled laser range finder, which displays the recommendations filtered according to wind direction input.

1 . A golf assistance system comprising:
 a communication-enabled laser range finder comprising:
 distance measurement circuitry configured to determine a target distance to a golf course target; 
 wireless communication circuitry configured to transmit the target distance; 
 a wind direction input control configured to receive a wind direction input; and 
 a display interface configured to present calculated environmental data; and 
   a networked processing device comprising a processor and memory, the networked processing device configured to:
 execute software that stores golfer-specific shot performance data normalized to baseline atmospheric conditions; 
 establish a wireless communication with the communication-enabled laser range finder; 
 receive the target distance from the communication-enabled laser range finder; 
 obtain real-time atmospheric data including one or more or an air density, a temperature, a humidity, and a wind condition; 
 calculate an effective shot distance for one or more golf clubs by processing the atmospheric data with the golfer-specific shot performance data; 
 determine a club recommendation based on a comparison of the calculated effective shot distance with the target distance; and 
 transmit the club recommendation and effective shot distance to the communication-enabled laser range finder for a presentation in the display interface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the effective shot distance comprises generating an output based on one or more of:
 determining an air density based on one or more of a temperature, a pressure, or a humidity from the real-time atmospheric data;   calculating a kinematic viscosity effect on ball flight physics;   processing a wind vector component for one or more wind directions; or   applying a height-adjusted atmospheric pressure calculation based on a slope measurement.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising integrating the output with the golfer-specific shot performance data to determine an achievable carry distance for the one or more golf clubs under prevailing environmental conditions. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication-enabled laser range finder further determines a slope and a height difference relative to the golf course target. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the display interface comprises a multi-zone display configured to simultaneously present the target distance, the slope, the height difference, the wind direction input, the effective shot distance, and the club recommendation. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display interface presents at least the club recommendation and the effective shot distance filtered according to the wind direction input. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wind direction input control is configured to allow a selection of the wind direction input relative to a pointing direction of the communication-enabled laser range finder. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the display interface is configured to filter and present only the club recommendation and the effective shot distance corresponding to the selected wind direction. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication circuitry implements bidirectional data packet transmission protocols configured for real-time exchange of measurement data and calculation results between the communication-enabled laser range finder and the networked processing device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the golfer-specific shot performance data includes one more of: a ball launch speed, a backspin rate, a launch angle, or a horizontal carry distance data collected using a golf launch monitor and normalized to standard atmospheric conditions. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for providing an environmentally-adjusted golf club recommendation, comprising:
 wirelessly receiving, at a networked processing device, a target distance measurement from a communication-enabled laser range finder;   obtaining, by the networked processing device, real-time atmospheric data from a weather data source;   accessing, from memory of the networked processing device, stored golfer-specific shot performance data normalized to baseline atmospheric conditions;   calculating, by a processor of the networked processing device, an effective shot distance for one or more golf clubs by processing the real-time atmospheric data with the stored golfer-specific shot performance data;   determining a club recommendation by comparing the calculated effective shot distance with the target distance measurement;   wirelessly transmitting the club recommendation and the calculated effective shot distance to the communication-enabled laser range finder; and   displaying, on the communication-enabled laser range finder, the club recommendation and effective shot distance corresponding to a wind direction input received at the communication-enabled laser range finder.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein calculating the effective shot distance comprises one or more of:
 determining an air density based on one or more of a temperature, a pressure, or a humidity from the real-time atmospheric data;   calculating a kinematic viscosity effect on ball flight physics;   processing a wind vector component for one or more wind directions; or   applying a height-adjusted atmospheric pressure calculation based on a slope measurement.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing the target distance measurement, the atmospheric data, the calculated effective shot distance, and the club recommendation for future analysis.   
     
     
         14 . A system for adapting golf play to prevailing conditions, comprising:
 a networked processing device configured to run a software application; and   a communication-enabled laser range finder;   wherein the networked processing device and the communication-enabled laser range finder are configured to communicate wirelessly;   wherein the software application is configured to:   store a golfer's shot performance data;   obtain local weather data;   receive a measurement from the communication-enabled laser range finder;   calculate an achievable distance for a golf club under current conditions;   select a recommended club; and   transmit the recommended club to the communication-enabled laser range finder.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the golfer's shot performance data includes ball launch speed, backspin rate, launch angle, and horizontal carry distance for each club. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the communication-enabled laser range finder is configured to: measure distance, slope, and height difference to a target on a golf course;
 receive wind direction input from the golfer; display the recommended club and a modified target distance.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the software application is further configured to calculate a “home conditions” distance value for the golfer to aim for. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the software application is configured to calculate achievable distances based on air density, kinematic viscosity, and wind speed for multiple wind directions. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the communication-enabled laser range finder comprises a display configured to show wind direction setting, effective distance, and club recommendation.