Patent ID: 9675857
Date: 2017-06-13
CPC Classifications: A63B

Claim:
1. An apparatus for testing a golf club, the apparatus including: a support frame that is to be located on a ground surface; a first shaft that is supported above the ground surface and is rotatable relative about a first axis to the support frame, the first axis being inclined to the vertical; a first motor that is configured to rotate the first shaft; a first platform that is connected to the first shaft for rotation with the first shaft; a second shaft that is rotatable relative to the first platform and is spaced from the first axis, the second shaft being rotatable relative to the first platform about a second axis, the first and second axes being non-parallel; a second motor that is configured to rotate the second shaft; an elongate member having an inner section that is connected to the second shaft such that the elongate member rotates about the second axis with rotation of the second shaft, an outer section with an outer end, and a swivel joint that connects the inner and outer sections such that the outer section is rotatable relative to the inner section through a pre-determined range of angles; a gripping device for holding a golf club, the gripping device being connected to the outer end of the elongate member by a revolute joint; and a controller that is configured to generate a first motor drive signal that is transmitted to the first motor to cause the first shaft to rotate relative to the support frame, and a second motor drive signal that is transmitted to the second motor to cause the elongate member to rotate relative to the first platform, whereby, in use, the apparatus moves the golf club held in the gripping device through a downswing that extends from an initial position to at least an impact position in which the golf club head would impact a golf ball; and the controller is configured or configurable to generate first and second motor drive signals that cause the first and second motors to rotate such that during the downswing: the angle between the elongate member and the first axis decreases as the club head approaches the impact position, and the outer section rotates relative to the inner section such that, at the impact position, the golf club face is in an aligned position in which the golf club face is perpendicular to the golf club head velocity when the golf club head is at the impact position.