Bat for golf swing practice

The present invention relates to a practice swing bat and, particularly, to a bat which is capable of, during golf swing practice, calculating and displaying swing speed, virtual driving distance of each club, etc., and transmitting the same to a terminal so as to enable management of the same. To this end, the bat of the present invention comprises a swing measurement module.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage Patent Application of PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2015/005898 (filed on Jun. 11, 2015) under 35 U.S.C. § 371, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0082782 (filed on Jun. 11, 2015), which are all hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a bat for golf swing practice. The present invention relates to a bat for practicing swings and, more particularly, to a bat that can not only calculate and display the swing speed, the virtual driving distance for each club, etc., but also transmit the results to a terminal for management when the user practices golf swings. Also, a bat for golf swing practice based on the present invention recognizes the swing plane during a swing practice and transmits the swing plane to a terminal, enabling the user to personally check the result.

BACKGROUND ART

For a more enjoyable game of golf and to lower one's score, one has to hit the golf ball exactly with the face of a club, such as a driver, wood, iron, etc. To do so, it is important to establish an always consistent swing posture.

A golf swing performed as a rhythmical action not only enables a stable posture but also results in a stable trajectory of the golf ball and driving distance when an exact impact is achieved with each club. A golf swing may be divided into roughly seven steps, including the address, backswing, backswing apex (backswing top), downswing, impact, follow-through, finish, etc.

Korean Registered Patent No. 10-0982482 was provided for stable swing practice. The swing practice bat of the above registered patent lets the user know when the bat has reached the backswing apex point and the finish point by means of a sound made as a notifying ball impacts an alarm tube. In an indoor driving range, etc., the impact noise is not easily heard due to the noise made by other users practicing, etc. In making a golf swing, which requires concentration, this impact noise may disrupt the user's own swing practice. Also, the user has to burden the cost of buying a separate practice bat, and there is a lack of realism as the user has to practice swings with a practice bat that is different from a golf club.

When practicing golf swings, the address (posture) is important. For a user to check whether or not a normal address is being made, the user checks the so-called lie angle. Generally, the lie angle refers to the rear-side angle formed between the shaft of the golf club and the ground surface during the address. Generally, when a wedge is used, which has a shaft of a shorter length, the lie angle is greater, and conversely when a driver is used, the lie angle is smaller. Also, considering a specific golf club, a lie angle that is greater than normal (for example, when the distance between the golf ball and the tip of the foot is farther than normal) causes the heel portion of the golf club to be raised up from the ground surface. A lie angle that is smaller than normal (for example, when the distance between the golf ball and the tip of the foot is closer than normal) causes the toe portion of the golf club to be raised up from the ground surface. When the heel portion is raised up, the golf ball flies more to the right from the intended target direction. An effect comparable to a slice or a fade is obtained. When the toe portion is raised up, the golf ball would fly more to the left from the intended target direction. An effect comparable to a hook or a draw is obtained. It may thus be said that it is important for a user to check the lie angle during the address based on his/her own posture.

Also, there is a need for a device that can measure swing speed during use of the practice bat, so as to virtually estimate the driving distance for each corresponding club, and enable the user to check whether or not the strength, etc., of the shaft of the golf club owned by the user is adequate for the swing speed, etc., for suitable club fitting.

Furthermore, there is a need for a device that can measure the swing speed and predict the distance as converted for each club, to allow the user to maintain a consistent swing tempo. Also needed is a device that allows the user to check the swing trajectory, i.e. the swing plane, during swing practice and thus maintain a consistent swing plane.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

The present invention aims to resolve the problems above. More specifically, an objective of the present invention is to provide a bat that may be variably adjusted in length, in consideration of the fact that golf clubs can have different lengths, and can measure the user's swing speed to virtually display the driving distance if a golf ball were hit in such manner.

Also, another objective of the present invention is to enable the user to compare the address point and impact point and check whether or not the exact impact point was achieved, etc., by having the bat recognize the swing trajectory.

Another objective is to allow the user to check whether or not a club carried by the user is suitable for the user and thus provide information helpful for club fitting by having the bat calculate and display the speed by which it is swung.

Technical Solution

The present invention includes a head100; a first shaft200connected to one end of the head100; a length adjustment part300connected with the first shaft200; a second shaft400connected with the length adjustment part300and having a grip410formed at one end thereof to allow a gripping by a hand of a user; and a swing measurement module500mounted on at least one of the head100, the first shaft200, the length adjustment part300, and the second shaft400, wherein the swing measurement module500comprises: a swing speed measurement part520for measuring a swing speed of the user from a backswing apex point to a follow swing point; a mode setting part550for selecting a type of golf club according to a fixed length after a length adjustment by the length adjustment part300; and a driving distance conversion part530for comparing the swing speed recognized at the swing speed measurement part and a club set at the mode setting part550and converting the swing speed to the driving distance that would be obtained if a golf ball were virtually hit.

The swing measurement module500of the present invention may recognize the point at which the user makes an address for a practice swing, may further comprise a first sensor for recognizing a lie angle between the first shaft and a ground surface, and may further comprise a lie angle indicator part510for indicating the lie angle recognized by the first sensor.

The swing measurement module500of the present invention may further include: a second sensor for recognizing a trajectory of a swing during a practice swing by the user; and a transmission part for transmitting the recognized trajectory from the second sensor to a separate mobile device.

Inside the head100of the present invention, there may be included a notifying means140, the notifying means140comprising: a tube body141having a hollow inside; a movable body142configured to move within the tube body and made of a paramagnetic substance; a magnetic body143disposed on one side of the tube body141; and a fixed part144that is secured penetrating through an inside of the magnetic body143and is made of a paramagnetic substance such that the magnetic property of the magnetic body143is transferred to the movable body142for a magnetic coupling with the movable body142, while the swing measurement module500may further include an impact check part540for comparing and checking whether or not a point at which the movable body142detaches from the fixed part144and reaches the other side of the tube body141during a trajectory beginning at a downswing, passing through an impact point, and arriving at a follow-through, in a practice swing by the user, is in agreement with an impact point of a swing trajectory recognized by the second sensor.

Inside the head100of the present invention, there may further be included a vibration part150for informing the user of an address point in a tactile manner during a practice swing by the user.

Advantageous Effects

The present invention provides a bat that may be variably adjusted in length, in consideration of the fact that golf clubs can have different lengths, and can measure the user's swing speed to virtually display the driving distance if a golf ball were hit in such manner.

Also, a bat based on the present invention may recognize the swing trajectory to allow the user to compare the address point and impact point and check whether or not the exact impact point was achieved, etc.

A bat based on the present invention may calculate and display the speed by which it is swung, thereby providing information helpful for club fitting by allowing the user to check whether or not a club carried by the user is suitable for the user.

MODE FOR INVENTION

A detailed description of the present invention is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring toFIG. 1, the present invention includes, among others, a head100, a first and a second shaft200,400, a length adjustment part300capable of variably adjusting the total length of the shaft, and a grip410provided at the end portion of the second shaft.

Referring toFIG. 5, the present invention includes, among others, a swing measurement module500capable of measuring the swing speed, lie angle, swing trajectory, swing plane, etc., of the user, a battery600for supplying power to the swing measurement module500, and a charger part700for charging the battery600.

Referring toFIG. 1, the head100of the present invention is on the opposite side of the portion gripped by the user and is preferably heavier than the grip410side. To this end, referring toFIG. 2, a weight piece130may be provided in an inner portion of the head100. Preferably, the weight piece130may be inserted and secured after releasing a cap120fastened to the end portion side of the head100. It is preferable that the weight piece130have a variable weight, in order to allow adjustments according to the strength, build, gender, etc., of the user. This is possible by varying the size of the weight piece130or by varying the density for a weight piece130of the same size.

Referring toFIG. 1, an auxiliary notifying part110is provided on the inner side of the head100. The auxiliary notifying part110has the shape of a hollow pipe having a hollow inside and is provided with an auxiliary movable body112placed within. A magnet111is provided on one side of the hollow pipe shape. The auxiliary movable body112is preferably of a paramagnetic substance. As the auxiliary movable body112draws close to the magnet111side, the two are magnetically coupled. During the initial address made by the user, the auxiliary movable body112is positioned at the opposite direction of the magnet111due to its own weight. As the backswing is made, the weight of the auxiliary movable body112causes it to be magnetically coupled to the magnet111. During the downswing, the auxiliary movable body112is prevented from becoming detached from the magnet111by the magnetic force. Only at the exact impact point is the auxiliary movable body112detached from the magnet111by its own weight and the centrifugal force, etc., and dropped strongly in the opposite direction. As the auxiliary movable body112collides with a partition wall at the other side of the hollow pipe shape described above or with a separate noise-inducing disk113, a noise is created by the collision.

The magnet111described above may be a separate disk111that does not have a magnetic quality. In this case, at the time of the initial address, the auxiliary movable body112is at the side of the disk113, and during the backswing or after arriving at the backswing apex, is dropped to the disk111that is not magnetic. In this case also, the auxiliary movable body112is detached from the disk111due to self-weight and centrifugal force, etc., and collides with the other disk113to create a noise only when the exact impact point is reached. Thus, the user may know where the impact occurs.

A description of the swing measurement module500is provided below, with reference toFIGS. 2 to 6.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 5, the swing measurement module500includes, among others, a lie angle indicator part510, a swing speed measurement part520, a driving distance conversion part530, an impact check part540, a mode setting part550, a swing plane recognition part560, a display part570, and a transmission part.

Referring toFIG. 5, the data and images, etc., including the swing plane, etc., measured and processed at the swing measurement module500may be transmitted to a separately provided mobile device to be displayed and managed by an app installed thereon. Preferably, the swing measurement module500and the mobile device use a known near-field communication method, more preferably a near-field wireless communication method such as NFC, Bluetooth, etc.

Although there are no specific examples illustrated as regards the images, etc., of the app implemented on the mobile device, it would be conceivable to display a swing plane showing the swing trajectory, as inFIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 2illustrates the swing measurement module500as being mounted on the inside at the center of the head100. However, this is merely an example, and the swing measurement module500may be mounted on at least one of the first shaft200, length adjustment part300, and second shaft400. Alternatively, it may be provided as a separate component and mounted on the exterior of a bat based on the present invention. There is no particular limit in terms of the mounting position. It may be preferable to arrange the swing measurement module500at the head100portion to allow the user to check the swing trajectory.

Referring toFIG. 5, the swing measurement module of the present invention includes a first sensor (not shown). It is sufficient that the first sensor be a sensor capable of measuring the angle between the ground surface and a line linearly extending the first and second shafts200,400to the ground surface, during the initial address made by the user. For example, a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, or the like, may be utilized. The task of calculating the lie angle measured by the first sensor and transmitting the lie angle to the display part570is performed by the lie angle indicator part510. The user may check the indicated lie angle to visually see whether or not the address was satisfactory, etc.

Referring toFIG. 5, the swing speed measurement part520measures the swing speed within the section ranging from the user's backswing apex to the finish. This may be utilized for club fitting, as the user may compare the specifications for the driver, wood, iron clubs, etc., currently carried by the user with the measured speed and thus check whether or not the clubs carried by the user are suitable. Also, if the measured swing speeds are irregular, one may repeat the practice swings to achieve a consistent swing speed and tempo. Similarly, it is possible to measure the swing speed by utilizing a gyro sensor or acceleration sensor (not shown), etc.

Referring toFIG. 6, the swing speed is converted to the driving distance of a virtual golf ball, supposing that there was an exact hit with the swing speed measured via the swing speed measurement part520. There are about fourteen types of golf clubs, from the driver to the putter. A more enjoyable workout may be achieved by allowing the user to recognize the exact driving distance for each club, other than the putter. Each user may enter a virtual setting and get the result, for example, of about 200 m for a driver, about 130 m for the 7 iron, etc. To allow the user to check the virtual driving distance of a golf ball using a bat based on the present invention, a separate mode setting part550is provided. Using the mode setting part550, the user may set the current practice mode to the driver mode, 7 iron mode, etc. After comparing the measured swing speed and the practice mode setting, the driving distance conversion part530converts the swing speed to a virtual golf ball driving distance.

Methods of conversion may include using a separate empirical formula, using statistical conversion based on a database of swing speeds and driving distances achieved by professional golfers, and the like.

For the conversion of the virtual golf ball driving distance and for a more enjoyable and accurate practice experience by the user, a length adjustment part300is provided, in consideration of the fact that each club has a shaft of a different length. By manipulating the length adjustment part300to match the length of a driver shaft used to practice a swing, and entering a driver mode as the setting for the mode setting part550, the user may obtain a more accurate virtual golf ball driving distance converted from the corresponding swing speed.

Referring toFIG. 5, a swing plane recognition part560having a second sensor is provided. The swing plane recognition part560may read the trajectory of the practice swing made by the user and may recognize this as a swing trajectory, which is expressed in a linear form, a swing plane, which is expressed in a planar form, and the like. The recognized swing trajectory and swing plane may be transmitted via a transmission part to a mobile device to be displayed via an app installed on the device. The second sensor may be an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor. Other types of sensors capable of recognizing the swing trajectory, etc., may also be utilized.

A description of the impact check part540is provided below with reference toFIG. 5. The impact check part540compares and checks whether or not the point at which the movable body142, described later on, becomes detached from the fixed part144and reaches the other side of the tube body141during the trajectory beginning at the downswing, passing through the impact point and arriving at the follow-through, in a practice swing by the user, is in agreement with the impact point recognized by the second sensor.

Alternatively, the impact check part540recognizes the initial address of the user by way of the first or second sensor, etc., and then checks whether the impact point recognized after the backswing apex and downswing is in agreement or the impact point has reached the impact zone as inFIG. 8rather than the address point and transmits the results to the display part570. If an exact impact was achieved, the display part570may indicate the virtual golf ball driving distance or swing speed, etc. If an exact impact was not achieved, an error message may be shown. The display method of the display part570may be modified in various ways.

FIGS. 2 to 4illustrate the swing measurement module500mounted inside the head100, as well as the battery600, charger part700, etc., accompanying the module. Referring toFIGS. 2 to 4, it can be seen that a separate display part570and power button580are provided on the PCB.

Referring toFIG. 3, a notifying means140is provided on the underside of the PCB. Similarly to the auxiliary notifying means110described above, the notifying means includes a tube body141having a hollow inside, a movable body142that moves inside the tube body141and is made of a paramagnetic substance, a magnetic body143provided on one side of the tube body141, and a fixed part144that is secured penetrating through the inside of the magnetic body143and is made of a paramagnetic substance to transfer the magnetic property of the magnetic body143to the movable body142and enable a magnetic coupling of the movable body142. The fixed part144may be a screw made of a paramagnetic substance. By rotating the fixed part144in a regular or a reverse direction, the movable body142can be placed farther from or closer to the secured magnetic body143. Thus, the strength of the magnetic force applied by the magnetic body143on the movable body142may be adjusted. The operating mechanism of the movable body142is substantially the same as that of the auxiliary movable body112in the auxiliary notifying part110described above.

That is, when the backswing apex is reached, the movable body142is magnetically coupled to the fixed part144. After the downswing when the impact point is reached, the movable body142is detached to the opposite side of the fixed part144due to self-weight and centrifugal force, etc.

Supposing that the point at which the movable body142drops to the opposite side of the fixed part144is the impact point, as described above, this point is compared with the impact point of the swing trajectory recognized by the first or second sensor, whereby it can be checked whether or not an exact impact was achieved, as described above.

A description of the length adjustment part300is provided below with reference toFIG. 6.

The length adjustment part includes a rotation part310and an extension part320. Referring toFIG. 6, one side of the rotation part is secured to the inner surface of the second shaft400. If the second shaft400is rotated, the rotation part310secured thereto as an integrated body is rotated together. The other side of the rotation part310has a conical cross section with a male thread311formed on the outer perimeter. The extension part320has a female thread321formed on the inner surface to mate with the male thread.

When the rotation part310is rotated in the regular direction, the rotation part310moves forward towards the inside of the extension part320, so that the extension part320is increasingly pushed wider. The outer perimeter of the widened extension part320presses against the inner perimeter of the second shaft400. Thus, securing is achieved. Conversely, when rotated in the reverse direction, the rotation part310moves backward towards the outside of the extension part320, so that the widened extension part320is restored and loosened. In this manner, length adjustments are enabled.

A bat based on the present invention enables the user to recognize and improve swing speed. The user may also maintain a consistent swing speed. This may be converted into the driving distance of a virtual golf ball and displayed, providing increased enjoyment. As the shaft may be adjusted in length, the user may practice effectively with one bat simulating practice for different clubs.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention relates to a bat for golf swing practice. The present invention relates to a bat for practicing swings and, more particularly, to a bat that can not only calculate and display the swing speed, the virtual driving distance for each club, etc., but also transmit the results to a terminal for management when the user practices golf swings. Also, the bat for golf swing practice based on the present invention recognizes the swing plane during a swing practice and transmits the swing plane to a terminal, enabling the user to personally check the result.