Patent ID: 7713148
Filing Date: 2010-05-11
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A method of providing putting information overlaid on a video of the putting green comprising: receiving a start position of a golf ball relative to the putting green; receiving a desired target location representing a particular hole relative to the putting green; calculating a plurality of trajectories for a plurality of different putting styles that represent different capture velocities that would result in capture of the golf ball in the particular hole from the start position, by calculating gradients between adjacent points on a surface model of a putting green and predicting putt data by simulating a rolling motion of the golf ball using the gradients and equations of motion involving the plurality of different capture velocities that simulate the rolling motion of the golf ball on a sloped green including a calculation for an acceleration accounting for a frictional force including a coefficient of rolling friction, determining an optimal path trajectory for the particular hole and start position based on one of the plurality of trajectories corresponding to a desired putting style that corresponds to a particular capture velocity of the ball; computing a putting parameter for propelling the golf ball from the start position to the target location based on the optimal path trajectory, wherein the putting parameter comprises initial launch conditions comprising an initial putt angle, an initial velocity, and further computing an aim point distance perpendicular to the left or right of the target location for the particular hole and start position; graphically overlaying on a video of the putting green (a) an aim point icon representing the aim point distance wherein the aim point icon is a point located to the left or right on a line intersecting the target location, and wherein the line corresponds to an opposite side of the initial putt angle in a right triangle oriented with the right angle intersecting the target location; and (b) a visual representation of said optimal path trajectory.