Abstract:
A golf fitting apparatus can comprise a component option analyzer configured to calculate, based on physical characteristic information of an individual: (a) an initial component option group for a plurality of club components, the initial component option group comprising a first initial component option for a first club component, and a second initial component option for a second club component, (b) a first optimal component option for the first club component based on first golf shot data of a first test club having the first initial component option; and (c) a second optimal component option for the second club component based on second golf shot data of a second test club having the first optimal component option and the second initial component option. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/051,501 filed Mar. 19, 2008, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/976,077, filed Sep. 28, 2007. The disclosures of the referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to sport equipment, and more particularly, to methods, apparatus, and systems to custom fit golf clubs. 
     BACKGROUND 
     To ensure an individual is playing with appropriate equipment, the individual may be custom fitted for golf clubs. In one example, the individual may be fitted for golf clubs (e.g., iron-type golf clubs) according to the custom fitting process developed by PING®, Inc. to match the individual with a set of golf clubs. As part of the custom fitting process developed PING®, Inc., for example, a color code system may be used to fit individuals of varying physical characteristics (e.g., height, wrist-to-floor distance, hand dimensions, etc.), swing tendencies (e.g., hook, slice, pull, push, etc.), and ball flight preferences (e.g., draw, fade, etc.) with iron-type golf clubs. With custom-fitted golf clubs, individuals may play golf to the best of their abilities. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram representation of an example fitting system according to an embodiment of the methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture described herein. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram representation of an example processing device of the example fitting system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts a visual diagram representation of an example display of the example fitting system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  depicts a visual diagram representation of another example display of the example fitting system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  depicts a visual diagram representation of another example display of the example fitting system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  depicts a visual diagram representation of another example display of the example fitting system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  depicts a flow diagram representation of one manner in which the example processing device of  FIG. 2  may operate. 
         FIG. 8  depicts a flow diagram representation of another manner in which the example processing device of  FIG. 2  may operate. 
         FIG. 9  depicts a visual diagram representation of another example display of the example fitting system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  depicts a visual diagram representation of another example display of the example fitting system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  depicts a visual diagram representation of another example display of the example fitting system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  depicts a flow diagram representation of one manner in which the example fitting system of  FIG. 1  may operate. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     In general, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to custom fit golf clubs are described herein. The methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a fitting system  100  may include an input device  110 , a tracking device  120  (e.g., a ball launch monitor and/or a ball flight monitor), and a processing device  130 . The input device  110  and the tracking device  120  may be coupled to the processing device  130  via a wireless connection and/or a wired connection. The fitting system  100  may be used to fit various golf clubs such as driver-type golf clubs, fairway wood-type golf clubs, hybrid-type golf clubs, iron-type golf clubs, wedge-type golf clubs, putter-type golf clubs, and/or any other suitable type of golf clubs. 
     In general, the input device  110  may assist in the interview portion of a custom fitting session. The input device  110  may be coupled to the processing device  130  so that information associated with physical and performance characteristics of an individual  140  being fitted for one or more golf clubs (e.g., physical characteristic information  210  and performance characteristic information  220  of  FIG. 2 ) may be entered into the processing device  130  via the input device  110  (e.g., via one or more wired and/or wireless connections). In one example, the physical characteristic information  210  may include gender (e.g., male or female), age, dominant hand (e.g., left-handed or right-handed), hand dimension(s) (e.g., hand size, longest finger, etc. of dominant hand), height (e.g., head to toe), wrist-to-floor distance, and/or other suitable characteristics. The performance characteristic information  220  may include average carry distance of one or more golf clubs (e.g., average carry distance of a shot by the individual with a driver golf club, a 7-iron golf club, etc.), golf handicap, number of rounds played per a period of time (e.g., month, quarter, year, etc.), golf preferences (e.g., distance, direction, trajectory, shot pattern, etc.), and/or other suitable characteristics. The input device  110  may permit an individual to enter data and commands into the processing device  130 . For example, the input device  110  may be implemented by a keyboard, a mouse, a touch-sensitive display, a track pad, a track ball, a voice recognition system, and/or other suitable human interface device (HID). The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     The tracking device  120  may measure characteristics associated with a shot of a golf ball with a particular golf club (e.g., shot characteristic information  230  of  FIG. 2 ). To provide the processing device  130  with shot characteristic information  230 , the tracking device  120  may be coupled to the processing device  130  via one or more wired and/or wireless connection(s). For example, the shot characteristic information  230  may include speed of the golf club during a shot, speed of a golf ball in response to impact with the golf club, launch angle of the golf ball in response to impact with the golf club, back spin of the golf ball in response to impact with the golf club, side spin of the golf ball in response to impact with the golf club, smash factor of the golf ball (e.g., the speed of the golf ball divided by the speed of the golf club head), total distance of the shot, bend of the shot (e.g., relative to an initial direction due to side spin), off-center distance of the shot, and/or other suitable shot characteristics. The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     The processing device  130  may include a trajectory analyzer  240 , a shot dispersion analyzer  250 , a component option analyzer  260 , and a gapping analyzer  270 . The processing device  130  may also include a graphical user interface  280  and a database  290 . The trajectory analyzer  240 , the shot dispersion analyzer  250 , the component option analyzer  260 , the gapping analyzer  270 , the graphical user interface  280 , and/or the database  290  may communicate with each other via a bus  295 . As described in detail below, the processing device  130  may provide recommendations to custom fit the individual  140  with one or more golf clubs based on the physical characteristic information  210 , the performance characteristic information  220 , and/or the shot characteristic information  230 . In general, the trajectory analyzer  240  may analyze the shot characteristic information  230  to generate a two-dimensional trajectory display (e.g., one shown as  320  of  FIG. 5 ) and a three-dimensional trajectory display (e.g., one shown as  310  of  FIG. 4 ). The shot dispersion analyzer  250  may analyze the shot characteristic information  230  to general a shot dispersion display (e.g., one shown as  330  of  FIG. 6 ). The component option analyzer  260  may analyze the physical characteristic information  210 , the performance characteristic information  220 , and/or the shot characteristic information  230  to identify an optimal option for one or more components of a golf club. The gapping analyzer  270  may analyze the physical characteristic information  210 , the performance characteristic information  220 , and/or the shot characteristic information  230  to identify a set of golf clubs with substantially uniform gap distances between two neighboring golf clubs in the set and/or a progression in gap distances in the set (e.g., the gap distance between two neighboring golf clubs in the set may get wider or narrower through the set). The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Although  FIG. 2  may depict one or more components being separate blocks, two or more components of the processing device  130  may be integrated into a single block. While  FIG. 2  may depict particular components integrated within the processing device  130 , one or more components may be separate from the processing device  130 . In one example, the database  290  may be integrated within a central server (not shown) and the processing device  130  may download information from the database  290  to a local storage device or memory (not shown). The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , for example, the graphical user interface  280  may generate a plurality of displays  300 , generally shown as  310 ,  320 ,  330 , and  340 , simultaneously or concurrently. For example, the plurality of displays  300  may include a three-dimensional trajectory display  310 , a two-dimensional trajectory display  320 , a shot dispersion display  330 , and a component option display  340 . In general, the plurality of displays  300  may provide virtual depictions and/or information associated with a custom fitting session for golf clubs. Although  FIG. 3  may depict a particular number of displays, the plurality of displays  300  may include more or less displays to provide virtual depictions and/or information associated with a custom fitting session for golf clubs. Further, while  FIG. 3  may depict a particular configuration and size for the plurality of displays  300 , the graphical user interface  280  may generate the plurality of displays  300  in other suitable configurations, sizes, etc. The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the three-dimensional trajectory display  310  may generate one or more trajectories  400 , generally shown as  410 ,  420 , and  430 , associated with a particular golf club from an initial location  440  of a golf ball. That is, the three-dimensional trajectory display  310  may generate the trajectories  400  from the perspective of the individual  140  striking the golf ball and/or someone located proximate to the individual  140 . In one example, the three-dimensional trajectory display  310  may generate a first trajectory  410  indicative of a first shot of a golf ball using a particular golf club, a second trajectory  420  indicative of a second shot of a golf ball using the same golf club, and the third trajectory  430  indicative of a third shot of a golf ball using the same golf club. 
     Although  FIG. 4  may depict the first trajectory  410 , the second trajectory  420 , and the third trajectory  430  in a solid line, a broken line, and a dashed line, respectively, the trajectories  400  may be depicted by colors and/or shading patterns. In one example, the first trajectory  410  may be indicated by a first color (e.g., red), the second trajectory  420  may be indicated by a second color (e.g., blue), and the third trajectory  430  may be indicated by a third color (e.g., yellow). In another example, the first trajectory  410  associated with a first golf club, the second trajectory  420  associated with a second golf club, and the third trajectory  430  may be associated with a third club. The first, second, and third golf clubs may be different from each other in one or more component options as described in detail below (e.g., model, loft, lie, shaft, length, grip, bounce, weight (e.g., swing weight), etc.). In particular, the first trajectory  410  may be indicative of an average of a number of shots associated with the first golf club. The second trajectory  420  may be indicative of an average of a number of shots associated with the second golf club. The third trajectory  430  may be indicative of an average of a number of shots associated with the third golf club. Accordingly, the first trajectory  410  may be depicted by a first color (e.g., red), the second trajectory  420  may be indicated by a second color (e.g., blue), and the third trajectory  430  may be indicated by a third color (e.g., yellow). Although the above examples may describe particular colors, the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein may be used in other suitable manners such as shading patterns. 
     In addition to trajectory information as described above, the three-dimensional trajectory display  310  may also provide environment information such as, for example, altitude, wind speed, humidity, and/or temperature of the location of the custom fitting session. While  FIG. 4  and the above examples may depict and describe three trajectories, the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein may include more or less trajectories. The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , for example, the two-dimensional trajectory display  320  may generate one or more trajectories  500 , generally shown as  510 ,  520 , and  530 , relative to an optimal trajectory range  540 . Although  FIG. 5  may depict the optimal trajectory range  540  with dotted lines, the optimal trajectory range  540  may be depicted as a grayscale band. In particular, the optimal trajectory range  540  may be based on an optimal trajectory and a tolerance. An upper bound  542  and a lower bound  544  may define the tolerance relative to the optimal trajectory. The two-dimensional trajectory display  320  may provide a side view of the trajectories  500 . In particular, each of the trajectories  500  may be indicative of a shot with a particular golf club. For example, the first trajectory  510  may be indicative of a trajectory of a first shot with a golf club. The second trajectory  520  may be indicative of a second shot with the same golf club. The third trajectory  530  may be indicative of a third shot with the same golf club. Alternatively, each of the trajectories  500  may be indicative of an average of a number of shots associated with a golf club. For example, the first trajectory  510  may be indicative of an average of a number of shots associated with a first golf club. The second trajectory  520  may be indicative of an average of a number of shots associated with a second golf club (e.g., different from the first golf club). The third trajectory  530  may be indicative of an average of a number of shots associated with a third golf club (e.g., different from the first and second golf clubs). In particular, the first, second, and third golf clubs may be different from each other in one or more component options as described in detail below (e.g., model, loft, lie, shaft, length, grip, bounce, weight, etc.). The optimal trajectory range  540  may be indicative of a target range for an individual with particular swing parameters (e.g., swing speed, ball speed, etc.). Accordingly, the trajectories  500  may be compared to the optimal trajectory range  540 . 
     In addition to the trajectory information described above, the two-dimensional trajectory display  320  may also provide shot information associated with each shot such as, for example, club speed, ball speed, smash factor, launch angle, back spin, side spin, vertical landing angle, offline distance, and carry distance. Further, the two-dimensional trajectory display  320  may expand or hide the shot information associated with a set of shots. The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Turning to  FIG. 6 , for example, the shot dispersion display  330  may generate one or more perimeters  600  associated with shot dispersions, generally shown as  610  and  620 . Each of the perimeters  600  may be indicative of two or more shots taken with a particular golf club (e.g., visual measures of dispersion). Further, each perimeter may encompass a particular percentage of shots within an area (e.g., 90%) whereas a number of shots may fall outside of that particular perimeter (e.g., 10%). 
     In one example, the shot dispersion display  330  may generate a first perimeter  610  to inscribe a number of shots associated with a first golf club, and a second perimeter  620  to inscribe a number of shots associated with a second golf club (e.g., different from the first golf club). In particular, the first and second golf clubs may be different from each other in one or more component options as described in detail below (e.g., model, loft, lie, shaft, length, grip, bounce, weight, etc.). The first perimeter  610  may be indicated by a first color (e.g., blue) whereas the second perimeter  620  may be indicated by a second color (e.g., red). 
     The shot dispersion display  330  may provide a center line  630  to depict a substantially straight shot (e.g., one shown as  640 ). The center line  630  may be used to determine an offline distance  650  of each shot. A shot to the left of the center line  630  may be a hook shot, a draw shot, or a pull shot whereas a shot to the right of the center line  630  may be a slice shot, a fade shot, or a push shot. For example, shots inscribed by the first perimeter  610  may include hook shots, draw shots, and/or pull shots. Shots inscribed by the second perimeter  620  may include draw shots, slice shots, or fade shots, and/or push shots. 
     Although  FIG. 6  may depict the perimeters having elliptical shapes, the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein may include perimeters with other suitable shapes (e.g., circular, rectangular, etc.). The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     The component option display  340  may provide one or more options associated with one or more components of a golf club. In one example, the component option display  340  may depict one or more models of driver-type golf clubs offered by a manufacturer based on the physical characteristic information, the performance characteristic information, and/or shot characteristic information associated with the individual  140 . In particular, the component option analyzer  260  may identify a particular model based on swing speed of a golf club and gender of the individual  140  (e.g., model options). Based on the selected model option, the component option analyzer  260  may identify one or more lofts offered by the manufacturer with the selected model option (e.g., loft options). The component option analyzer  260  may also provide one or more type of shafts (e.g., regular, stiff, extra stiff, and soft) associated with the selected model option and the selected loft option (e.g., shaft options). For example, the component option analyzer  260  may identify shaft options based on swing speed of the individual  140 . Based on the selected model option, the selected loft option, and the selected shaft option, the component option analyzer  260  may identify one or more lengths associated with the selected model option, the selected loft option, and the selected shaft option. Further, the component option analyzer  260  may identify one or more grips associated with the selected model option, the selected loft option, the selected shaft option, and the selected length option. For example, the component option analyzer  260  may identify a relatively thinner grip so that the individual  140  may generate a less-curved ball flight (e.g., less side spin) if the individual  140  is hitting the golf ball with a slice trajectory but would like to have a straight trajectory. The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     The component option analyzer  260  and/or the component option display  340  may be used in connection with an interchangeable club head and shaft system to identify optimal options of each component of a golf club. By changing to various options of a particular component of a golf club while keeping other components of the golf club unchanged, the component option analyzer  260  may determine the optimal option for that particular component. In one example, various club heads with different lofts of the same model may be used to determine the optimal loft option for an individual. 
     To provide the individual  140  with a virtual experience during a fitting session, the processing device  130  may also receive environment characteristic information  235  ( FIG. 1 ) via the input device  110 . Accordingly, the processing device  130  (e.g., via the plurality of displays  300 ) may generate visual representation(s) of the environment in which the individual  140  may play a round of golf. For example, the environment characteristic information  235  may include golf ball conditions (e.g., brand of golf balls (such as premium quality golf balls or non-premium quality golf balls), construction of golf balls (such as two-piece balls, multi-layer balls, etc.), type of golf balls (such as distance balls, spin control balls, etc.), cover of golf balls (such as surlyn cover, urethane cover, etc.), weather conditions (such as temperature, humidity, wind, etc.), golf course conditions (such as altitude of a golf course, fairway surface condition of the golf course, green surface condition of the golf course, etc.) and/or other suitable environment conditions during a round of golf. 
     In one example, the individual  140  may typically play on golf courses located in relatively high-altitude areas but the location of the fitting session may be located in a relatively low-altitude area. Accordingly, the processing device  130  (e.g., via the input device  110 ) may receive the environment characteristic information  235  such as an approximate altitude of those golf courses so the trajectory analyzer  240  and/or the shot dispersion analyzer  250  may generate visual representations on the plurality of displays  300  based on the approximate altitude during the fitting session. As a result, the processing device  130  may use the shot characteristic information  230  (e.g., via the tracking device  120 ) and the environment characteristic information  235  to generate the trajectories  400  on the three-dimensional trajectory display  310 , the trajectories  500  on the two-dimensional trajectory display  320 , and/or the perimeters  600  on the shot dispersion display  330 . 
     In another example, the individual  140  may typically use a particular brand of premium quality golf balls during a round of golf. Although the individual  140  may be hitting non-premium quality golf balls (e.g., driving range golf balls) during the fitting session, the processing device  130  (e.g., via the trajectory analyzer  240  and/or the shot dispersion analyzer  250 ) may provide virtual representations as if the individual  140  was using the particular brand of premium quality golf balls during the fitting session. For example, the individual  140  may be hitting non-premium quality golf balls during the fitting session but the trajectory analyzer  240  may use data associated with the particular brand of premium quality golf balls in conjunction with the shot characteristic information  230  to generate the trajectories  400  on the three-dimensional trajectory display  310  and/or the trajectories  500  on the two-dimensional trajectory display  320 . The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Although the above examples may describe the fitting system  100  to custom fit the individual  140  with golf clubs, the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein may be used in other suitable manners. In addition or in place of the component option display  340 , for example, the processing device  130  may provide a multi-media display for informative or educational purposes. For example, the multi-media display may provide a video described various aspect of a golf club, the game of golf, etc. Thus, the processing device  130  may provide an informational or educational analysis instead of providing recommendations for one or more golf clubs. 
       FIG. 7  depicts one manner in which the processing device  130  of  FIG. 1  may be configured to identify components of a golf club to the individual  140  based on the physical characteristic information  210 , the performance characteristic information  220 , and/or the shot characteristic information  230  associated with the individual  140 . The example process  700  may be implemented as machine-accessible instructions utilizing any of many different programming codes stored on any combination of machine-accessible media such as a volatile or nonvolatile memory or other mass storage device (e.g., a floppy disk, a CD, and a DVD). For example, the machine-accessible instructions may be embodied in a machine-accessible medium such as a programmable gate array, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic media, an optical media, and/or any other suitable type of medium. 
     Further, although a particular order of actions is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , these actions can be performed in other temporal sequences. Again, the example process  700  is merely provided and described in conjunction with the processing device  130  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  as an example of one way to recommend a golf club to the individual  140 . The example process  700  may also be used with an interchangeable component system (e.g., interchangeable club head/shaft system) to provide different combinations of options for various components of a golf club (e.g., model, loft, lie, shaft, length, grip, bounce, and/or weight). 
     In the example of  FIG. 7 , the process  700  (e.g., via the processing device  130  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) may begin with identifying an option for each of a plurality of components of a golf club (block  710 ). In general, the process  700  may isolate each of the plurality components to determine the optimal option for each of the plurality of components. That is, the individual  140  may take one or more shots at a golf ball with a golf club including the first option of the first component. In one example, the fitting system  100  ( FIG. 1 ) may be fitting the individual  140  for a driver-type golf club. Accordingly, the component option analyzer  230  may identify a particular model for the individual  140  based on the physical characteristic information  210  and the performance characteristic information  220 ). The process  700  may monitor (e.g., via the tracking device  120  of  FIG. 1 ) one or more shots based on a first option of the first component (e.g., A 1 ) (block  720 ). 
     Based on the shot result from block  720 , the component option analyzer  230  may determine whether the first option (e.g., A 1 ) is an optimal option for the first component (block  730 ). If the first option is not the optimal option for the first component, the process  700  may proceed to identify a second option of the first component (e.g., A 2 ) (block  740 ). The process  700  may continue as described above until the component option analyzer  260  identifies an optimal option for the first component (e.g., A N ). 
     Turning back to block  730 , if the first option is the optimal option for the first component, the process  700  may proceed to identify an option for the second component based on the optimal option for the first component (block  750 ). Following the above example, the process  700  may determine an optimal loft associated with the optimal model. The process  700  may monitor (e.g., via the launch monitor  120  of  FIG. 1 ) one or more shots based on a first option of the second component (e.g., B 1 ) (block  760 ). 
     Based on the shot result from block  760 , the component option analyzer  230  may determine whether the first option (e.g., B 1 ) is an optimal option for the second component (block  770 ). If the first option is not the optimal option for the second component, the process  700  may proceed to identify a second option of the second component (e.g., B 2 ) (block  780 ). The process  700  may continue as described above until the component option analyzer  260  identifies an optimal option for the second component (e.g., B N ). 
     Turning back to block  770 , if the first option is the optimal option for the second component, the process  700  may proceed to identify the optimal options for first and second components (e.g., A N , B N ) (block  790 ). 
     Although  FIG. 7  may depict identifying optimal options for two components, the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein may identify optimal options for more than two components. While a particular order of actions is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. For example, two or more actions depicted in  FIG. 7  may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously. The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     As noted above, the process  700  may initially identify an optimal option of an initial component. In response to identifying the optimal option of the initial component, the process  700  may identify an optimal option of a subsequent component based on the optimal option of the initial component. Alternatively as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a process  800  may identify an optimal option of a component independent of an optimal option of another component. The process  800  may begin with identifying an option for each of a plurality of components of a golf club (block  810 ). The process  800  may monitor (e.g., via the launch monitor  120  of  FIG. 1 ) one or more shots based on a first option of the first component (e.g., A 1 ) (block  820 ). 
     Based on the shot result from block  820 , the component option analyzer  230  may determine whether the first option (e.g., A 1 ) is an optimal option for the first component (block  830 ). If the first option is not the optimal option for the first component, the process  800  may proceed to identify a second option of the first component (e.g., A 2 ) (block  840 ). The process  800  may continue as described above until the component option analyzer  260  identifies an optimal option for the first component (e.g., A N ). 
     Turning back to block  830 , if the first option is the optimal option for the first component, the process  800  may proceed to identify an option for the second component independent of the optimal option for the first component (block  850 ). The process  800  may monitor (e.g., via the launch monitor  120  of  FIG. 1 ) one or more shots based on a first option of the second component (e.g., B 1 ) (block  860 ). 
     Based on the shot result from block  860 , the component option analyzer  230  may determine whether the first option (e.g., B 1 ) is an optimal option for the second component (block  870 ). If the first option is not the optimal option for the second component, the process  800  may proceed to identify a second option of the second component (e.g., B 2 ) (block  880 ). The process  800  may continue as described above until the component option analyzer  260  identifies an optimal option for the second component (e.g., B N ). 
     Turning back to block  870 , if the first option is the optimal option for the second component, the process  800  may proceed to identify the optimal options for the first and second components (e.g., A N , B N ) (block  890 ). 
     Although  FIG. 8  may depict identifying optimal options for two components, the methods, apparatus, and systems described herein may identify optimal options for more than two components. While a particular order of actions is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. For example, two or more actions depicted in  FIG. 8  may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously. The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the processing device  130  may generate one or more gapping analysis displays, generally shown as  900  and  1000 , respectively. Each of the gapping analysis displays  900  and  1000  may provide visual representation of at least one gap distance, generally shown as  905  and  1005 , respectively, between two shots using different golf clubs (e.g., two golf clubs within a set). The gap distance  905  may be a distance between carry distances between two shots taken with two different golf clubs. In one example, the individual  140  may strike a golf ball with a 6-iron golf club for 150 yards whereas the individual  140  may strike a golf ball with a 5-iron golf club for 160 yards. Accordingly, the gap distance  905  between the 5-iron and 6-iron golf clubs may be ten yards. Further, carry distance, generally shown as  910  and  920  of  FIG. 9 , may be a distance traveled by a golf ball from impact with a golf club to landing. As a result, the gap distance  905  may be a distance between the carry distance  910  associated with a first shot  915  and the carry distance  920  associated with a second shot  925 . The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Alternatively as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the gap distance  1005  may be a distance between total distances between two shots taken with two different golf clubs. In particular, the gap distance  1005  may be a distance between total distances between two shots taken with two different golf clubs. Total distance, generally shown as  1010  and  1020 , may be the carry distance  920  and  930 , respectively, plus a distance traveled by the golf ball after landing to a final resting position. As a result, the gap distance  1005  may be a distance between the total distance  1010  associated with a first shot  915  and the total distance  1020  associated with a second shot  925 . The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Golf ruling bodies may define the number of golf clubs available to the individual  140  during a round of golf (e.g., the number of golf clubs that the individual  140  may carry in a golf bag). For example, the individual  140  may be permitted to carry up to fourteen clubs in his/her bag. However, the individual  140  may not be able to use all fourteen clubs effectively. As described in detail below, maintaining consistent gaps between the spectrum of golf clubs in a set (e.g., fairway wood-type golf clubs, hybrid-type golf clubs, iron-type golf clubs, wedge-type golf clubs, etc.) may assist the performance of the individual  140 . Alternatively, the individual  140  may have, use, and/or purchase more than fourteen golf clubs to have alternative options based on course conditions. 
     In general, the gapping analyzer  270  ( FIG. 2 ) may analyze the physical characteristic information  210 , the performance characteristic information  220 , and/or the shot characteristic information  230  to provide a set of golf clubs with consistent gaps. In addition to swing speed of the individual  140 , the gapping analyzer  270  may use the shot characteristic information  230  such as ball speed, ball launch angle, and ball spin rate of two or more shots associated with two or more golf clubs to calculate and extrapolate ball launch parameters (e.g., ball speed, ball launch angle, ball spin rate, etc.) for other golf clubs that the individual  140  may use. In one example, the individual  140  may take two or more shots with a first golf club (e.g., 7-iron). The individual  140  may also take two or more shots with a second golf club (e.g., hybrid 22°). Based on the shot characteristic information  230  of these shots and reference data of golf clubs that were not use by the individual  140  to take any shots during the fitting process, the gapping analyzer  270  may estimate ball launch parameters of various golf clubs for the individual  140 . For example, the reference data may be calculated and/or measured from shots taken by other individuals. The reference data may be stored in a database  290  ( FIG. 2 ). The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , for example, the gapping analyzer  270  may identify a plurality of golf clubs to complete a set associated with a substantially uniform gap distance. In one example, a gap distance may be the difference between two carry distances of two neighboring clubs. In particular, the gapping analyzer  270  may identify twelve golf clubs of a set with a substantially uniform gap distance between two neighboring golf clubs of the set (e.g., excluding a driver-type golf club and a putter-type golf club). Following the above example, the gap distance  1110  between the 8-iron golf club and the 7-iron golf club for the individual  140  may be ten yards (e.g., the carry distances are 130 and 140 yards, respectively). Accordingly, the substantially uniform gap distance between two neighboring golf clubs of the set may also be about ten yards as well. In one example, the gap distance  1120  between the 7-iron golf club and the 6-iron golf club may be ten yards (e.g., the carry distances are 140 and 150 yards, respectively). In a similar manner, the gap distance  1130  between the 6-iron golf club and the 5-iron golf club may also be ten yards (e.g., the carry distances are 150 and 160 yards, respectively). 
     In contrast to the gap distances  1110 ,  1120 , and  1130 , the gap distance  1140  between the 5-iron golf club and the 4-iron golf club for the individual  140  may be less than the substantially uniform gap distance of ten yards. Accordingly, the gapping analyzer  270  may identify a hybrid-type golf club instead of a 4-iron golf club to the individual  140  because the gap distance  1140  between the 5-iron golf club and the 4-iron golf club is less than the uniform gap distance of ten yards. To maintain a ten-yard gap distance between the 5-iron type golf club and the next golf club within the set, the gapping analyzer  270  may identify the hybrid 22° golf club because the gap distance between the 5-iron golf club and the hybrid 22° golf club may be ten yards (e.g., the carry distances for the 5-iron golf club and the hybrid 22° golf club are 160 and 170 yards, respectively). In another example, the gapping analyzer  270  may identify the hybrid 18° golf club instead of the hybrid 15° golf club because the gap distance between the hybrid 22° golf club and the hybrid 18° golf club may be ten yards (e.g., the carry distances are 170 and 180 yards, respectively) whereas the gap distance between the hybrid 22° golf club and the hybrid 15° golf club may be fifteen yards (e.g., the carry distances are 170 and 185 yards, respectively). By using the shot characteristic information  230  (e.g., ball speed, ball launch angle, ball spin rate, etc.) in addition to swing speed of the individual  140 , the gapping analyzer  270  may provide substantially uniform gap distances between two neighboring golf clubs within a set. 
     Alternatively, the gapping analyzer  270  may identify a progression in gap distances in a set of golf clubs (e.g., the gap distance between two neighboring golf clubs in the set may get wider or narrower through the set). In particular, the gapping analyzer  270  may identify a first gap distance for a first group of golf clubs in the set and a second gap distance for second group of golf clubs in the same set. In one example, the gapping analyzer  270  may identify the first gap distance of eight yards for the wedge-type golf clubs in a set, and a second gap distance of ten yards for the iron-type golf clubs. Further, the gapping analyzer  270  may identify a third gap distance of 15 yards for the fairway wood-type golf clubs. 
     Although the above example may describe the gap distance as the difference between two carry distances of two neighboring clubs, the gap distance may be the difference between two total distances of two neighboring clubs. The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     In the example of  FIG. 12 , a process  1200  may begin with receiving the physical characteristic information  210  associated with the individual  140  (e.g., via the input device  110 ) (block  1210 ). The process  1200  may also receive the performance characteristic information  220  associated with the individual  140  (e.g., via the input device  110 ) (block  1220 ). In addition, the process  1200  may receive the shot characteristic information  230  associated with the individual  140  (e.g., via the tracking device  120 ) (block  1230 ). Further, the process  1200  may receive the environment characteristic information  235  associated with the individual  140  (e.g., via the tracking device  120 ) (block  1235 ). 
     Based on the physical characteristic information  210 , the performance characteristic information  220 , the shot characteristic information  230 , and/or the environment characteristic information  235 , the process  1200  (e.g., via the trajectory analyzer  240 , the shot dispersion analyzer  250 , the component option analyzer  260 , and/or the graphical user interface  280 ) may generate the plurality of displays  300  (block  1240 ). In addition, the process  1200  (e.g., via the component option analyzer  260 ) may identify an optimal option associated with one or more components of a golf club (block  1250 ). Further, the process  1200  (e.g., via the gapping analyzer  270 ) may identify a set of golf clubs with gap distances between two neighboring golf clubs in the set (block  1260 ). As noted above, the gap distances may be substantially uniform throughout the set of golf clubs. Alternatively, the gap distances may increase or decrease progressively based on the type of golf clubs throughout the set of golf clubs. 
     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. Further, one or more actions depicted in  FIG. 12  may not be performed at all. In one example, the process  1200  may not perform the block  1260  (e.g., the process  1200  may end after block  1250 ). The methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard. 
     Although certain example methods, apparatus, systems, 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, systems, and/or articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.