Golf Club Having Impact Sensor

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/943,832, filed Nov. 11, 2024, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/597,641, filed Nov. 9, 2023, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

This disclosure relates generally to golf clubs, and more particularly to selectively adjustable tuning of the acoustics of, and detecting impacts to, golf clubs during or following an impact with a golf ball.

The acoustics (e.g., sound) of a golf club upon impact with a golf ball is important to many golfers. Often, the acoustics of a golf club can influence a golfer's decision to purchase the golf club and can affect the golfer's confidence when hitting the golf club. Some golfers prefer a relatively loud sound over a short duration, others may prefer a relatively muted sound over a longer duration, while yet others may prefer some other combination of sound characteristics. The advanced materials used in today's modern golf club heads can result in a muted sound, which might not be preferable for all golfers. Additionally, the sound of a golf club is fixed at the factory and non-adjustable after leaving the factory. Moreover, any adjustment to the golf club head after leaving the factory that changes the acoustics of the golf club usually results in a drop in the performance of the golf club. Designing a golf club that enables the selective adjustment of the sound heard when the golf club makes impact with a golf ball, without changing the performance of the golf club, is difficult. Another difficulty with conventional golf clubs is detecting the occurrence and location of an impact with a golf ball during a golf swing.

The subject matter of the present application has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the shortcomings of golf clubs and associated golf club heads, that have not yet been fully solved. The subject matter of the present application has been developed to provide a golf club and golf club head that overcome at least some of the above-discussed shortcomings. In some examples, the above-discussed shortcomings are overcome by providing a golf club and an associated system that enable selective adjustment or tuning of the acoustic profile of the golf club head without adjustment to the performance of the golf club, as well as effectively detecting and determining the location of an impact with a golf ball.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of examples, which may or may not be claimed, of the subject matter, disclosed herein.

Disclosed herein is a golf club including a golf club head. The golf club also includes a shaft coupled to the golf club head, a grip attached to the shaft, and an actuator configured to generate a sound. The golf club further includes an impact sensor configured to detect an impact of the golf club head with a golf ball and an electronic controller configured to command the actuator to generate the sound in response to the impact sensor detecting the impact of the golf club head with the golf ball. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 1 of the present disclosure.

The actuator, the impact sensor, and the electronic controller are fixed directly to one of the golf club head, the shaft, or the grip so that the actuator, the impact sensor, and the electronic controller co-move with the golf club. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 2 of the present disclosure, wherein example 2 also includes the subject matter according to example 1, above.

The golf club further includes a power source configured to supply electrical power to the electronic controller. The power source is fixed directly to one of the golf club head, the shaft, or the grip so that the power source co-moves with the golf club. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 3 of the present disclosure, wherein example 3 also includes the subject matter according to example 2, above.

The golf club head includes an interior surface and an interior cavity defined at least partially by the interior surface. The actuator and the impact sensor are fixed directly to the interior surface of the golf club head and located within the interior cavity of the golf club head. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 4 of the present disclosure, wherein example 4 also includes the subject matter according to example 3, above.

The electronic controller and the power source are fixed directly to the golf club head. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 5 of the present disclosure, wherein example 5 also includes the subject matter according to example 4, above.

The electronic controller is fixed directly to the interior surface of the golf club head and located within the interior cavity of the golf club head. The golf club head further includes a rear power-source port external to the interior cavity. The power source is seated in the rear power-source port. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 6 of the present disclosure, wherein example 6 also includes the subject matter according to example 5, above.

The power source includes a battery and a power cable port that is accessible from an exterior of the golf club head. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 7 of the present disclosure, wherein example 7 also includes the subject matter according to example 6, above.

The electronic controller and the power source are fixed directly to the shaft of the golf club. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 8 of the present disclosure, wherein example 8 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 2-4, above.

The golf club head further includes an activation sensor configured to detect when use of the golf club head is desired. The electronic controller is activated based on input from the activation sensor. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 9 of the present disclosure, wherein example 9 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-8, above.

The activation sensor is one of a motion sensor or a photosensor. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 10 of the present disclosure, wherein example 10 also includes the subject matter according to example 9, above.

The golf club head further includes a motion sensor configured to measure at least one swing characteristic associated with a swing that results in the impact of the golf club head with the golf ball. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 11 of the present disclosure, wherein example 11 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-10, above.

The electronic controller is further configured to command the actuator to generate a verbal swing-feedback sound in response to the at least one swing characteristic measured by the motion sensor. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 12 of the present disclosure, wherein example 12 also includes the subject matter according to example 11, above.

The golf club head includes a front portion including a strike face and an interior surface opposite the strike face. The golf club head includes one of a crown insert or a sole insert each including an interior surface. The impact sensor is attached directly to the interior surface of the front portion. The actuator is attached directly to the interior surface of the crown insert or the sole insert. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 13 of the present disclosure, wherein example 13 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 1-12, above.

The golf club includes multiple impact sensors spaced apart about the interior surface of the front portion. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 14 of the present disclosure, wherein example 14 also includes the subject matter according to example 13, above.

The golf club includes multiple actuators spaced apart about the interior surface of the crown insert or the sole insert. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 15 of the present disclosure, wherein example 15 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 13-14, above.

Further disclosed herein is a method of selectively adjusting an acoustic sound of a golf club head. The method includes steps of detecting an impact of a golf ball with a strike face of a golf club head during a golf swing, and based on the detected impact with a golf ball, generating an artificial sound that, when combined with a natural impact sound resulting from the impact of the golf ball with the strike face, achieves a target sound. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 16 of the present disclosure.

The method further includes a step of selecting one of multiple target sounds and the step of generating the artificial sound achieves a selected one of the multiple target sounds. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 17 of the present disclosure, wherein example 17 also includes the subject matter according to example 16, above.

The method further includes steps of detecting a second impact of a golf ball with the strike face of the golf club head during a second golf swing, and based on the second detected impact with the golf ball, generating a second artificial sound that, when combined with a second natural impact sound resulting from the second impact of the golf ball with the strike face, achieves the target sound. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 18 of the present disclosure, wherein example 18 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 16-17, above.

Additionally disclosed herein is a system that includes a golf club. The golf club includes a golf club head, a shaft coupled to the golf club head, a grip attached to the shaft, an impact sensor configured to detect an impact of the golf club with a golf ball, and an electronic controller configured to command the actuator to generate the sound in response to the impact sensor detecting the impact of the golf club with the golf ball. The system also includes an external computing device external to the golf club and configured to communicate with the electronic controller. The sound commanded by the electronic controller is based on input received from the external computing device. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 19 of the present disclosure.

The external computing device is configured to communicate wirelessly with the electronic controller. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 20 of the present disclosure, wherein example 20 also includes the subject matter according to example 19, above.

The external computing device is configured to enable selective adjustment of the sound commanded by the electronic controller. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 21 of the present disclosure, wherein example 21 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 19-20, above.

The external computing device is configured to communicate swing feedback information based at least partially on the impact sensor detecting the impact of the golf club with the golf ball. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 22 of the present disclosure, wherein example 22 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 19-21, above.

Also disclosed herein is a golf club head. The golf club head includes a body, an actuator fixed directly to the body and configured to generate a sound, an impact sensor fixed directly to the body and configured to detect an impact of the golf club with a golf ball, and an electronic controller fixed directly to the body and configured to command the actuator to generate the sound in response to the impact sensor detecting the impact of the golf club with the golf ball. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 23 of the present disclosure.

The body includes a front portion that includes a strike face and an interior surface opposite the strike face. The body further includes one of a crown insert or a sole insert each including an interior surface. The impact sensor is attached directly to the interior surface of the front portion. The actuator is attached directly to the interior surface of crown insert or the sole insert. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 24 of the present disclosure, wherein example 24 also includes the subject matter according to example 23, above.

The golf club head includes multiple impact sensors spaced apart about the interior surface of the front portion. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 25 of the present disclosure, wherein example 25 also includes the subject matter according to example 24, above.

The golf club includes multiple actuators spaced apart about the interior surface of the crown insert or the sole insert. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 26 of the present disclosure, wherein example 26 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 24-25, above.

The golf club head further includes a power source fixed directly to the body and configured to supply electrical power to the electronic controller. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 27 of the present disclosure, wherein example 27 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 23-26, above.

Further disclosed herein is a golf club. The golf club includes a golf club head, an impact sensor configured to detect an impact of the golf club head with a golf ball and to generate an electrical output signal indicative of the impact location on the golf club head, an electronic controller configured to process the electrical output signal from the impact sensor to determine the impact location on the golf club head, and a display configured to visually indicate the impact location on the golf club head based on the processed electrical output signal. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 28 of the present disclosure.

The display is integrated into the golf club head. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 29 of the present disclosure, wherein example 29 also includes the subject matter according to example 28, above.

The display is an external computing device configured to wirelessly receive the processed electrical output signal from the electronic controller and visually indicate the impact location on the golf club head. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 30 of the present disclosure, wherein example 30 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 28-29, above.

The golf club further includes a communication module configured to transmit the processed electrical output signal to an external computing device. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 31 of the present disclosure, wherein example 31 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 28-30, above.

The electronic controller is further configured to store historical impact location data and to analyze the historical impact location data to provide feedback on a swing of a golfer. The preceding subject matter of this paragraph characterizes example 32 of the present disclosure, wherein example 32 also includes the subject matter according to any of examples 28-31, above.

The described features, structures, advantages, and/or characteristics of the subject matter of the present disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments and/or implementations. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to impart a thorough understanding of embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the subject matter of the present disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific features, details, components, materials, and/or methods of a particular embodiment or implementation. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments and/or implementations that may not be present in all embodiments or implementations. Further, in some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure. The features and advantages of the subject matter of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the subject matter as set forth hereinafter.

Reference throughout this specification to “one example,” “an example,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example of the present disclosure. Appearances of the phrases “in one example,” “in an example,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same example. Similarly, the use of the term “implementation” means an implementation having a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with one or more examples of the present disclosure, however, absent an express correlation to indicate otherwise, an implementation may be associated with one or more examples.

The following describes embodiments of golf club heads in the context of a driver-type golf club, but the principles, methods and designs described may be applicable in whole or in part to fairway woods, utility clubs (also known as hybrid clubs), irons, putters, and the like.

In some examples, the golf club head of the golf club described herein is a driver-type golf club head, which can be identified, at least partially, as golf club heads with strike faces that have a total surface area of at least 3,500 mm{circumflex over ( )}2, preferably at least 3,800 mm{circumflex over ( )}2, and even more preferably at least 3,900 mm{circumflex over ( )}2 (e.g., between 3,500 mmand 5,000 mmin one example, less than 5,000 mmin various examples, and between 3,700 mmand 4,300 mmin another example). Additionally, in certain examples, driver-type golf club heads include a center-of-gravity (CG) projection, parallel to a horizontal axis (i.e., a y-axis of a three-dimensional reference coordinate system, as defined below), which is at most 3 mm above or below a center face of the strike face, and preferably at most 1 mm above or below the center face, as measured along a vertical axis (i.e., a z-axis of the three-dimensional reference coordinate system). Moreover, in some examples, driver-type golf club heads have a relatively high moment of inertia about a CG vertical axis (i.e., CG z-axis) (e.g. Izz>400 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2 and preferably Izz>450 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, more preferably Izz>500 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, and even more preferably Izz>530 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, but less than 590 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2 in certain implementations), a relatively high moment of inertia about a CG horizontal axis (i.e., CG x-axis) (e.g. Ixx>250 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, preferably Ixx>300 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, more preferably Ixx>350 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, and even more preferably Ixx>390 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, but less than 470 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2 in certain implementations), and preferably a ratio of Ixx/Izz is greater than 0.60, 0.62. 0.64, 0.68, 0.70, and preferably a ratio of Ixx/Izz is less than 0.90, 0.88, 0.86, 0.84, 0.82, 0.80, 0.78, 0.76. Preferably, a ratio of Ixx/Izz is between 0.63 and 0.76, inclusive. According to certain examples, a sum of Ixx and Izz is greater than 780 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, 800 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, 825 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, 850 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, 875 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, 900 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, and 925 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2, but less than 1100 kg-mm{circumflex over ( )}2. The CG z-axis and the CG x-axis form part of a CG coordinate system, having an origin at the CG of the golf club head, where the CG z-axis passes through the CG of the golf club head and is parallel to the z-axis of the three-dimensional reference coordinate system, and the CG x-axis passes through the CG of the golf club head and is parallel to an x-axis of the three-dimensional reference coordinate system.

Referring to, a schematic block diagram of a systemfor selectively adjusting or tuning the acoustics of a golf club is shown. The systemincludes a golf cluband an external computing device. The golf clubincludes an actuatorand an impact sensor. Both the actuatorand the impact sensorare attached to a structural component of the golf cluband thus co-move with the golf clubwhen the golf clubis swung to impact a golf ball. As presented below, in some examples, the actuatorand the impact sensorare attached to one or more structural components of a golf club headof the golf club.

The actuatoris configured to generate a sound (i.e., an artificial sound) in response to an electrical input signal. The sound is adjustable by varying the characteristics of the electrical input signal. For example, the intensity, frequency, and/or duration of the sound can be varied by changing the intensity, frequency, and/or duration of the electrical input signal. In one example, the actuatoris a self-contained speaker that generates an acoustic wave and is independent of other structural components of the golf club. However, in other examples, the actuatoris configured to vibrate one or more structural components of the golf clubso that the one or more structural components emits an acoustic wave, thus effectively converting the one or more structural components into a speaker.

The actuatoris a piezoelectric actuator in some examples. The piezoelectric actuator is made of piezoelectric materials, which are defined as material that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy or converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. In the case of the piezoelectric actuator, the piezoelectrical material converts the energy from the electrical input signal to a mechanical vibration, which generates the acoustic wave (i.e., sound or soundwave). The acoustic wave can be proportional to the electrical input signal received by the actuator. Although the actuatorof the golf club headis shown as a single box in, the actuatorcan be a single actuator, in certain examples, or multiple actuators, in other examples. The one or more actuators may be able to generate acoustic waves within a particular sound spectrum. For example, the one or more actuators may generate sound waves in the 1 Hz to 5 kHz range or in the 2 kHz to 8 kHz range. One or more of the actuators may have a purpose that is the same as or different than another one or more of the actuators. For example, one actuator may be configured to generate sound within the 1 Hz to 1500 Hz range only, another actuator may be configured to generate sound within the 1400 Hz to 2800 Hz range only, and another actuator may be configured to generate sound within the 2700 Hz to 4100 Hz range only. Alternatively, the actuators may all operate in a higher Hz range that is of a more desirable sound to a user (e.g., in the 2500 Hz to 3800 Hz range, or in the 3500 Hz to 4800 Hz range) and the actuators may be used in unison to combine sound waves into a combined soundwave having a larger amplitude or larger pressure sound within that range. A desirable range for a sound spectrum for a driver-type golf club head can be in the 2500 Hz to 4900 Hz range, such as 2800 Hz to 3800 Hz range, 3000 Hz to 3200 Hz, 3500 Hz to 3800 Hz, 3900 Hz to 4200 Hz, 4300 Hz to 4900 Hz, in some examples.

One or more actuators may be connected to a power source (e.g., power source, which can be a battery) that enables active vibration dampening or acoustic quieting by the one or more actuators. For example, an actuator on a sole portion may be connected to a power source and may be used to dampen an undesirable sole mode. Or, the one or more actuators may be connected to other structures such as the crown portion or skirt portion of the golf club head, which is described below in more detail.

The one or more actuators may also be used for active noise cancellation, acoustic quieting, or cancellation of undesirable sound generated by the club head at impact. Accordingly, the one or more actuators (piezoelectric) may be used to generate desirable vibrations (sound) or cancel undesirable original vibrations (sound) from the structure. Additionally, the one or more actuators may have different purposes and may be strategically located within the golf club head structure and controlled to achieve those purposes.

The impact sensoris configured to generate an electrical output signal in response to detecting an impact of the golf clubwith a golf ball. In some examples, the generation of the electrical output signal, independent of the characteristics of the electrical output signal, identifies an impact with a golf ball. In other words, the impact sensorcan be configured to generate an electrical output signal only when an impact, sufficient to be considered an impact with a golf ball, is received by the golf club. In other examples, the impact sensoris configured to generate an electrical output signal in response to any impact and one or more characteristics of the electrical output signal, meeting a threshold level, indicate an impact with a golf ball. For example, an electrical output signal having an intensity greater than a threshold intensity indicates an impact with a golf ball. In some examples, the characteristics of the electrical output signal vary in response to the characteristics of the impact. For example, the intensity of the electrical output signal can vary based on the force of the impact with the golf ball. In this manner, the impact sensornot only can detect an impact with a golf ball, but it can provide data that enables a determination of the location and/or quality of the impact. The impact sensoris a piezoelectric sensor or a strain gauge in some examples. The piezoelectric sensor is made of piezoelectric materials, which convert the energy from vibration of the piezoelectric material, caused by the impact, to the electrical output signal. The electrical output signal can be proportional to the vibration of the piezoelectric material of the impact sensor. Although the impact sensorof the golf club headis shown as a single box in, the impact sensorcan be a single impact sensor, in certain examples, or multiple impact sensors, in other examples.

The golf clubalso includes an electronic controllerand a power source. In some examples, as shown by dashed line in, the actuator, the impact sensor, the electronic controller, and the power sourceform part of a golf club headof the golf club. The power sourceis configured to provide electrical power to the electronic controller. In some examples, the power sourceis a battery, which can be a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. When the power sourceis a rechargeable battery, the golf clubcan include a charging port configured to receive a charging cable through which electrical power is received for recharging the battery. When the power sourceis a non-rechargeable battery, the battery (or batteries) can be replaced when depleted, such as by removing a cover of the golf cluband removing the old battery from a battery receptacle of the golf cluband inserting a new battery into the battery receptacle.

The electronic controllerutilizes the electrical power from the power sourceto process electrical output signals from the impact sensorand to generate and transmit electrical input signals to the actuator. Both the electronic controllerand the power sourceare attached to a structural component of the golf club headand thus co-move with the golf clubwhen the golf clubis swung to impact a golf ball. As presented below, in some examples, the electronic controllerand the power sourceare attached to one or more structural components of a golf club head, grip, and/or shaft of the golf club.

In some examples, the electronic controllerincludes a processor, memory, and input/output (I/O) peripherals on one or more circuit boards. The memory stores control logic and the processor is configured to execute commands according to the control logic. Accordingly, the functionality of the electronic controlleris defined by the commands stored in the memory and executed by the processor. According to some examples, the electronic controllerreceives an electrical output signal from the impact sensor, processes the electrical output signal, and generates an electrical input signal, which is transmitted to the actuator. The characteristics of the electrical input signal, and thus the characteristics of the acoustic vibrations generated by the actuator, are based on the characteristics of the electrical output signal and one or more parameters defined by the control logic. Generally, the control logic is programmed to generate an electrical input signal that results in acoustic vibrations, generated by the actuator, that shifts the natural impact sound from the impact with the golf ball to a target sound defined by the control logic. The natural impact sound is the unmodifiable sound generated by the impact with the golf ball and is based on the materials and the structure of the golf club head of the golf club. The sound (e.g., acoustic vibrations) generated by the actuatoris designed to combine with the natural impact sound to create a combined or resulting sound equal to the target sound defined by the control logic. Although the natural impact sound cannot be adjusted, the sound generated by the actuatorinteracts with the natural impact sound to produce the target sound. The target sound is what is heard by the golfer. In this manner, the golf clubcan be selectively and adjustably acoustically tuned. For example, an impact that generates an undesirable sound (e.g., 2100 Hz or lower), when combined with the sound generated by the actuator, results in a more desirable sound (e.g., between 2500 Hz and 4000 Hz) to effectively dampen unwanted vibrations.