Abstract:
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a substrate layer having a first and second sides, and at least one thermochromic compound layer to generate a set of temporary marks. The set of temporary marks is configured to include a first temporary mark at a first impact location associated with a first impact to a surface of a first object by a second object, and subsequent temporary marks at subsequent impact locations associated with subsequent impacts to the surface of the first object. The thermochromic compound layer can be in direct contact with the second object during the first impact, and is configured to enable the first temporary mark to fade throughout a fading period accommodative of the subsequent impacts, and to remain distinguishable throughout the fading period from the subsequent temporary marks. Other examples, embodiments and related methods are described and claimed herein.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to golf equipment, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus to indicate impact of an object. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In golf, the performance of an individual may be improved by inspecting and examining various aspects of the individual&#39;s golf swing. In particular, the club face of a golf club head may be inspected and examined after the swing to determine the point of impact on the club face by a golf ball. By hitting the golf ball at the optimal location on the club face, the individual may maximize accuracy and distance of the golf ball. Dirt particles, grass stains, and/or an impression of a golf ball on a club face may indicate the point of impact on the club face by the golf ball. Alternatively, an impact indicator affixed to the club face may also be used to determine the point of impact on the club face by the golf ball. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram representation of an example impact indicator according to an embodiment of the methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein. 
         FIG. 2  depicts another perspective diagram representation of the example impact indicator of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts another perspective diagram representation of the example impact indicator of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  depicts another perspective diagram representation of the example impact indicator of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  depicts a cross-section side view of an example impact indicator. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a cross-section side view of another example impact indicator. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a cross section side view of another example impact indicator. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a cross-section side view of another example impact indicator. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a cross-section side view of another example impact indicator. 
         FIG. 10  depicts a cross-section side view of another example impact indicator. 
         FIG. 11  depicts a cross-section side view of another example impact indicator. 
         FIG. 12  is a flow diagram representation of one manner in which an example impact indicator of  FIG. 13  may be manufactured. 
         FIG. 13  depicts a cross-section side view of another example impact indicator. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     In general, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to indicate impact by an object are described herein. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 1-4 , an impact indicator  100  may include an impact surface  110 . In particular, the impact surface  110  may generate one or more temporary marks in response to impact by one or more objects to the impact indicator  100  (e.g., an impression of a golf ball). Each temporary mark may be associated with an area of impact on the impact surface  110  by an object. 
     The impact indicator  100  may be used in a variety of ways such as for golf fitting, instructional, educational, and/or other suitable purposes. In one example, the impact indicator  100  may be affixed to a club head of a golf club (e.g., a driver-type club, a fairway wood-type club, an iron-type club, a hybrid-type club, a putter, etc.). In particular, the impact indicator  100  may be disposed on a portion of the club face (not shown) of the club head (e.g., a dimension of 2.9 inches×1.4 inches (73.66 mm×35.56 mm)). Alternatively, the impact indicator  100  may cover the entire surface area of the club face. In response to impact by an object, the impact surface  110  may generate one or more temporary marks, generally shown as  210 ,  310 ,  410 ,  420 ,  430 ,  440 , and  450  of  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , respectively. As described in detail below, each temporary mark on the impact surface  110  may be associated with an area of impact on the club face by a golf ball and depict a portion of the golf ball (e.g., an impression of one or more dimples). 
     In one example, a life cycle associated with the impact indicator  100  may be described in connection with time t 0 , t 1 , t 2 , and t 3  (i.e., t 0 &lt;t 1 &lt;t 2 &lt;t 3 ) and depicted by  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 , respectively. Initially at time to, the impact indicator  100  may be affixed to a club face and ready for use as illustrated in  FIG. 1  (e.g., no temporary marks on the impact surface  110 ). For example, the impact surface  110  may be associated with a grayish color. 
     In response to an initial impact by a golf ball at time t 1 , the impact indicator  100  (e.g., via the impact surface  110 ) may generate a temporary mark  210  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . In one example, the temporary mark  210  may be associated with a whitish color. As noted above, the temporary mark  210  on the impact surface  110  may be associated with an area of impact on the club face by the golf ball. For example, the temporary mark  210  may depict a portion of the golf ball (e.g., an impression of one or more dimples). 
     The temporary mark  210  of  FIG. 2  may begin to fade after time t 1  and become the temporary mark  310  of  FIG. 3  by time t 2 . The temporary mark  310  of  FIG. 3  may begin to fade after time t 2  and become the temporary mark  410  of  FIG. 4  by time t 3 . Accordingly, the temporary mark  410  of  FIG. 4  at time t 3  may be more faded than the temporary mark  310  of  FIG. 3  at time t 2  and the temporary mark  210  of  FIG. 2  at time t 1 . 
     With the temporary mark  410  being substantially faded by time t 3 , the impact indicator  100  may be reused to indicate subsequent impacts by golf balls. For example, the impact indicator  100  may generate other temporary marks, generally shown as  420 ,  430 ,  440 , and  450  in  FIG. 4 , with each temporary mark may correspond to an impact by a golf ball after the initial impact by a golf ball at time t 1 . The impact indicator  100  may generate the temporary marks  420 ,  430 ,  440 , and  450  after time t 2  and before time t 3 . 
     Each temporary mark  410 ,  420 ,  430 ,  440 , and  450  may be distinct from each other. Although two or more impacts by an object may occur within a substantially proximate area of the impact surface  110 , the corresponding temporary marks may be distinguishable from each other. In particular, a relatively less-faded mark may indicate a relatively more-recent impact by a golf ball on the impact surface  110 . In one example, the temporary mark  450  may be more recent than the other temporary marks  410 ,  420 ,  430 , and  440  because the temporary mark  450  may be relatively less faded than the other temporary marks  410 ,  420 ,  430 , and  440 . 
     In addition the impact surface  110 , the impact indicator  100  may include one or more graphical representations, generally shown as  140 . For example, the graphical representation(s)  140  may be an alignment mark, a logo, a phrase, a trademark, and/or other suitable marks. In particular, alignment marks may be used to align the impact indicator  100  to a plurality of grooves on a club face of a golf club head. The graphical representation(s)  140  may be located in various areas of the impact indicator  100  (e.g., sides, top, bottom, center, upper-right corner, lower-right corner, upper-left corner, and/or lower-left corner of the impact indicator  100 ). In one example, the alignment marks may be located on left and/or right sides of the impact indicator  100 . 
     While  FIGS. 1-4  may depict the impact surface  110  being associated with a grayish color, the impact surface  110  may be associated with other suitable color (e.g., black, blue, green, red, orange, yellow, brown, etc.) and/or any combination thereof. Although the above examples may be described with respect to a club face of a golf club head, the impact indicator  100  may be affixed to other portions of a golf club. In one example, the impact indicator  100  may be affixed to the sole of the golf club head so that each temporary mark on the impact surface  110  may correspond to an area of impact on the sole by the ground. Further, while the above examples may be described with respect to golf, the methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein may be applicable to other sports. For example, the impact indicator  100  may be affixed to a hockey stick, a baseball bat, a tennis racket, a target, etc. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.  026  Referring to  FIG. 5 , for example, an impact indicator  500  may include a substrate layer  520  and a thermochromic compound layer  530 . The substrate layer  520  may be made of a durable material to withstand multiple impacts by an object (e.g., golf balls). Thus, the impact indicator  500  may be used for more than one fitting or practice sessions. For example, the substrate layer  520  may be a filmic-type material such as a polyester-type material and/or other suitable type of materials. Further, the substrate layer  520  may be a variety of colors (e.g., white, black, blue, green, red, orange, yellow, brown, etc. and/or any combination thereof). The substrate layer  520  may include a first side  522  and a second side  524 . As described in detail below, the first side  522  may engage a surface. In one example, the first side  522  of the substrate layer  520  may engage a club face (not shown) of a golf club head. 
     The thermochromic compound layer  530  may overlay the second side  524  of the substrate layer  520 . In particular, the thermochromic compound layer  530  may overlay a portion or the entire surface area of the second side  524  of the substrate layer  520 . The thermochromic compound layer  530  may generate one or more temporary marks in response to impact by an object. The thermochromic compound layer  530  may be in direct contact with the object during impact by the object on the impact indicator  500 . As a result, the thermochromic compound layer  530  may operate as an impact surface  510  of the impact indicator  500 . 
     The thermochromic compound layer  530  may be a reusable, temperature-sensitive layer. In general, the thermochromic compound layer  530  may encapsulate a donor and an acceptor together to form a first color. For example, the thermochromic compound layer  530  may be associated with a grayish color (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 1 ) at a reference temperature such as ambient temperature (e.g., a reference state). The thermochromic compound layer  530  may include an electron donor, an electron acceptor, and a desensitizer. In particular, the donor, the acceptor, and the desensitizer may be encapsulated together within a single capsule medium. In one example, at or less than the reference temperature (e.g., less than or equal to the ambient temperature), the desensitizer may be in a solid state, and the combination of the donor and the acceptor may form a colored dye (e.g., a grayish color). At a temperature higher than the reference temperature (e.g., greater than the ambient temperature), the desensitizer may melt and dissolve the colored dye into separate, colorless donor and acceptor (e.g., transparent). 
     As noted above, the impact indicator  500  may change color (e.g., one or more portions of the thermochromic compound layer  530  may become transparent) as the donor and the acceptor of the thermochromic compound layer  530  dissolve within the single capsule medium when temperature increases. A portion of the energy associated with an impact by a golf ball to the club face may generate a temporary mark on the impact surface  510  (e.g., a white or whitish color mark as shown in  FIG. 2 ). Temporary marks on the impact indicator  500  may vary based on the color of the substrate layer  520 . In one example, a temporary mark may be a white or whitish color mark if the substrate layer  520  is associated with a white or whitish color because one or more portions of the thermochromic compound layer  530  become transparent. 
     In contrast to other impact sensitive recording media with dye capsules that rupture and generate permanent marks (e.g., separately encapsulated donors and acceptors), the electron donor and the electron acceptor of the thermochromic compound layer  530  are pre-combined to form the colored dye. In response to an increase in temperature, the desensitizer of the thermochromic compound layer  530  may separate the donor and the acceptor from each other so that the donor and the acceptor are colorless (e.g., one or more portions of the thermochromic compound layer  530  may become transparent). The donor and the acceptor of the thermochromic compound layer  530  may re-combine to form the colored dye as the temperature of the impact surface  510  decreases and returns substantially to the reference temperature (e.g., the temporary marks  310  and  410  as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , respectively). As a result, the impact indicator  500  may be reusable after the thermochromic compound layer  530  returns substantially to the reference state. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     As mentioned above and illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the impact indicator  100  may include one or more graphical representations  140  such as an alignment mark, a logo, a phrase, a trademark, and/or other suitable marks. Turning to  FIG. 6 , for example, an impact indicator  600  may include a substrate layer  620 , a first thermochromic compound layer  630 , and a second thermochromic compound layer  640 . The substrate layer  620  may include a first side  622  and a second side  624 . The first thermochromic compound layer  630  may be associated with a first color (e.g., a grayish color) and the second thermochromic compound layer  640  may be associated with a second color (e.g., a blue color). Alternatively, the first and second thermochromic compound layers  630  and  640  may be associated with the same color (e.g., black) but vary in contrast so that the first and second thermochromic compound layers  630  and  640  may be distinguishable from each other. The first and second thermochromic compound layers  630  and  640  may overlay a portion or the entire surface area of a second side  624 . In particular, the first thermochromic compound layer  630  may overlay the second side  624  of the substrate layer  620  so that the first thermochromic compound layer  630  may be in direct contact with a golf ball when the golf ball impacts the club face of the golf club head. As a result, the first thermochromic compound layer  630  may operate as an impact surface  610  of the impact indicator  600 . 
     The second thermochromic compound layer  640  may be associated with one or more graphical representations such as a logo, a word, a phrase, a trademark, an alignment mark, and/or other suitable marks. The second thermochromic compound layer  640  may overlay the second side  624  of the substrate layer  620  so that the graphical representations may be visible. In one example, the first and second thermochromic compound layer  630  and  640  may be adjacent to each other. In particular, the first and second thermochromic compound layers  630  and  640  may be disposed on one or more portions of the second side  624  of the substrate layer  620  but not on each other. As a result, both the first and second thermochromic compound layers  630  and  640  may be in direct contact with a golf ball when the golf ball impacts the club face of the golf club head. As a result, the first and second thermochromic compound layers  630  and  640  may operate as an impact surface  610  of the impact indicator  600 . The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     In the example of  FIG. 7 , an impact indicator  700  may include a substrate layer  720 , a first thermochromic compound layer  730 , and a second thermochromic compound layer  740 . The substrate layer  720  may include a first side  722  and a second side  724 . The first and second thermochromic compound layers  730  and  740  may be disposed on one or more portions of the second side  724  of the substrate layer  720 . Further, the first thermochromic compound layer  730  may be disposed on the second thermochromic compound layer  740 . 
     The first thermochromic compound layer  730  may include a plurality of first portions with each first portion having a first thickness (x 1 ), generally shown as  732 ,  734 ,  736 , and  738 . The first thermochromic compound layer  730  may also include plurality of second portions with each second portion having a second thickness (x 2 ), generally shown as  750 ,  752 ,  754 ,  756 , and  758 . The plurality of first portions  732 ,  734 ,  736 , and  738  may be disposed on the second thermochromic compound layer  740 . The plurality of second portions  750 ,  752 ,  754 ,  756 , and  758  may be disposed on the second side  724  of the substrate layer  720 . Accordingly, the second thermochromic compound layer  740  may be associated with a thickness of x 2 -x 1 . For example, the first thickness (x 1 ) may be relatively thinner than the second thickness (x 2 ) so that and the one or more graphical representations associated with the second thermochromic compound layer  740  may or may not be visible. The first thermochromic compound layer  730  may be in direct contact with a golf ball when the golf ball impacts the club face of the golf club head. As a result, the first thermochromic compound layer  730  may operate as an impact surface  710  of the impact indicator  700 . The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , for example, an impact indicator  800  may include a substrate layer  820 , a first thermochromic compound layer  830 , and a second thermochromic compound layer  840 . The substrate layer  820  may include a first side  822  and a second side  824 . The first and second thermochromic compound layers  830  and  840  may be disposed on one or more portions of the second side  824  of the substrate layer  820 . In particular, the first thermochromic compound layer  830  may include a plurality of first portions with each first portion having a first thickness (x 1 ), generally shown as  832 ,  834 ,  836 , and  838 . The first thermochromic compound layer  830  may also include a plurality of second portions with each second portion having a second thickness (x 2 ), generally shown as  850 ,  852 ,  854 ,  856 , and  858 . The plurality of first portions  832 ,  834 ,  836 , and  838  may be disposed directly on the second thermochromic compound layer  840 . The plurality of second portions  850 ,  852 ,  854 ,  856 , and  858  may be disposed on the second side  824  of the substrate  820 . 
     In contrast to the impact indicator  700  of  FIG. 7 , the first thermochromic compound layer  830  may be disposed on the second thermochromic compound layer  840  and one or more portions of the second side  824  of the substrate layer  820  in a uniform manner. Accordingly, the first thickness (x 1 ) may be equal to or substantially equal to the second thickness (x 2 ). The first thermochromic compound layer  830  may be in direct contact with a golf ball when the golf ball impacts the club face of the golf club head. As a result, the first thermochromic compound layer  830  (e.g., portions  832 ,  834 ,  836 ,  838 ,  850 ,  852 ,  854 ,  856 , and  858 ) may operate as an impact surface  810  of the impact indicator  800 . The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , for example, an impact indicator  900  may include a substrate layer  920 , a first thermochromic compound layer  930 , and a second thermochromic compound layer  940 . The substrate layer  920  may include a first side  922  and a second side  924 . The first thermochromic compound layer  930  may be disposed on one or more portions of the second side  924  of the substrate layer  920 . The second thermochromic compound layer  940  may be disposed on one or more portions of the first thermochromic compound layer  930  so that the one or more graphic representations associated with the second thermochromic compound layer  940  may be visible. Further, one or more portions of each of the first and second thermochromic compound layers  930  and  940  may be in direct contact with a golf ball when the golf ball impacts the club face of the golf club head. Thus, the first and second thermochromic compound layers  930  and  940  may operate as an impact surface  910  of the impact indicator  900 . The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Although the above examples are described with respect to thermochromic compound layers (e.g.,  630 ,  640 ,  730 ,  740 ,  830 ,  840 ,  930 , and  940  of  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9 , respectively), either of the of the first or second thermochromic compound layers  630 ,  640 ,  730 ,  740 ,  830 ,  840 ,  930 , and  940  may be replaced by a non-thermochromic compound layer to provide one or more graphical representations (e.g., an alignment mark, a logo, a phrase, a trademark, etc.). While  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9  may illustrate particular size and thickness for each layer, the layers associated with the impact indicators  500 ,  600 ,  700 ,  800 , and  900  may vary in size and thickness. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     As noted above, the impact indicator  100  may engage a surface (e.g., a club face of a golf club head) in various manners. For example, the impact indicator  100  may be affixed to a club face with tape and/or other suitable adhesive materials. In the example, of  FIG. 10 , the impact indicator  1000  may include a substrate layer  1020 , a thermochromic compound layer  1030 , and an adhesive layer  1060 . The substrate layer  1020  may include a first side  1022  and a second side  1024 . In one example, the thermochromic compound layer  1030  may be disposed on one or more portions of the second side  1024  of the substrate layer  1020 . In another example, the thermochromic compound layer  1030  may cover the entire surface area of the second side  1024  of the substrate layer  1020 . 
     The adhesive layer  1060  may be disposed on one or more portions of the first side  1022  of the substrate layer  1020 . Alternatively, the adhesive layer  1060  may cover the entire surface area of the first side  1022 . The adhesive layer  1060  may include pressure-sensitive adhesive to affix the impact indicator  1000  to a club face (not shown). The impact indicator  1000  may be releasable so that the impact indicator  1000  may be peeled off of the club face and affixed to another club face. Further, the impact indicator  1000  may be repositionable so that the impact indicator  1000  may be adjusted in various directions (e.g., up, down, left, right, etc.) on the club face. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     To protect an adhesive layer of the impact indicator  100  (e.g., the adhesive layer  1060  of  FIG. 10 ) prior to use, the impact indicator  100  may include a release liner. Referring to  FIG. 11 , for example, the impact indicator  1100  may include a substrate layer  1120 , a thermochromic compound layer  1130 , an adhesive layer  1160 , and a liner layer  1170 . The substrate layer  1120  may include a first side  1122  and a second side  1124 . The thermochromic compound layer  1130  may be disposed on one or more portions of the second side  1124  of the substrate layer  1120 . 
     The adhesive layer  1160  may include a first side  1162  and a second side  1164 . The adhesive layer  1160  (e.g., via the second side  1164 ) may be disposed directly on one or more portions of the first side  1122  of the substrate layer  1120 . The liner layer  1170  (or backing material) may be disposed on one or more portions of the first side  1162  of the adhesive layer  1160 . For example, the liner layer  1170  may be a silicone-coated paper and/or any other suitable materials. The liner layer  1170  may prevent the impact indicator  1100  from adhering to unintended surfaces. Accordingly, the liner layer  1170  may cover and/or protect the adhesive layer  1160  until the impact indicator  1100  is used. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
       FIG. 12  depicts one manner in which an impact indicator  1300  ( FIG. 13 ) may be manufactured. In the example of  FIG. 12 , the process  1200  may begin with providing a substrate layer  1320  with a first side  1322  and a second side  1324  (block  1210 ). The process  1200  may dispose a non-thermochromic compound layer  1340  on the second side  1324  of the substrate layer  1320  (block  1220 ). In particular, the non-thermochromic compound layer  1340  may be associated with one or more graphical representations such as an alignment mark, a logo, a word, a phrase, a trademark, and/or other suitable marks. 
     The process  1200  may continue with overlaying a thermochromic compound layer  1330  on the second side  1324  of the substrate layer  1320  (block  1230 ). In particular, the thermochromic compound layer  1330  may be applied to the second side  1324  of the substrate layer  1320  in a uniform manner. For example, the thermochromic compound layer  1330  may be printed on the second side  1324  of the substrate layer  1320 . The thermochromic compound layer  1330  may be disposed on one or more portions of the second side  1324 , generally shown as  1350 ,  1352 ,  1354 ,  1356 , and  1358 . With the non-thermochromic compound layer  1340  disposed on one or more portions of the second side  1324 , the thermochromic compound layer  1330  may be disposed on one or more portions of the non-thermochromic compound layer  1340 , generally shown as  1332 ,  1334 ,  1336 , and  1338 . The thickness of the portions  1350 ,  1352 ,  1354 ,  1356 , and  1358  may be equal to or substantially equal to the thickness of the portions  1332 ,  1334 ,  1336 , and  1338 . The thermochromic compound layer  1330  may be in direct contact with a golf ball when the golf ball impacts a club face (not shown) of a golf club head associated with the impact indicator  1300 . Thus, the thermochromic compound layer  1330  may operate as an impact surface  1310  of the impact indicator  1300 . 
     To affix the impact indicator  1300  to a club face of a golf club head or other suitable surfaces, the impact indicator  1300  may include an adhesive layer  1360  with a first side  1362  and a second side  1364 . Accordingly, the process  1200  may dispose the adhesive layer  1360  (e.g., via the second side  1364 ) to the first side  1322  of the substrate layer  1320  (block  1240 ). In one example, the adhesive layer  1360  may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive or other suitable adhesive. 
     To cover and protect the adhesive layer  1360  from adhering to unintended surfaces, the process  1200  may include a liner layer  1370 . In particular, the process  1200  may dispose the liner layer  1370  on the first side  1362  of the adhesive layer  1360  (block  1250 ). 
     Further, the process  1200  may die cut the impact indicator  1300  to form a particular shape (block  1260 ). In one example, the process  1200  may die cut the impact indicator  1300  into a shape corresponding to a club face of a golf club head (e.g., the shape of the impact indicator  100  of  FIG. 1 ). Based on the shape of the impact indicator  1300 , the process  1200  may strip off any excess material from the liner layer  1370  (block  1270 ). In particular, the voids in the excess material associated with the liner layer  1370  may form the shape of the impact indicator  1300  (e.g., the excess material may form the reverse or negative of the shape of the impact indicator  1300 ). The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     The example process  1200  of  FIG. 12  is merely provided and described in conjunction with the impact indicator  1300  of  FIG. 13  as an example of one way to manufacture an impact indicator. Although the process  1200  may be described above with a non-thermochromic compound layer, the process  1200  may dispose a thermochromic compound layer associated with the graphical representation(s) on the second side  1324  of the substrate layer  1320  instead of the non-thermochromic compound layer  1340 . As a result, the impact indicator  1300  may include two thermochromic compound layers. While the process  1200  may be described above with respect to a club face of a golf club head, the process  1200  may be applicable other suitable sport equipment or surface. Further, Although  FIG. 12  depicts a particular number of blocks, the process  1200  may not perform one or more blocks. In one example, the impact indicator  1300  may be affixed to a surface with tape or glued to the surface. As a result, blocks  1240  and  1250  of the process  1200  may not be necessary. In another example, blocks  1260  and  1270  of the process  1200  may not be necessary. In addition, while a particular order of actions is illustrated in  FIG. 12 , these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. For example, two or more actions depicted in  FIG. 12  may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously. In one example, blocks  1260  and  1270  may be performed simultaneously or concurrently. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard. 
     Although the above examples may be described with respect to a golf club face, the methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein may be applicable to other suitable sport equipments or surfaces. For example, the impact indicator  100  may be affixed to a sole of a golf club head, a portion of a hockey stick, a portion of a baseball bat, a portion of a racket, etc. 
     Although certain example methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this disclosure covers all methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.