Patent ID: 8113964

Claim:
A method for identifying in respect of a descending golf ball a position from among a plurality of launch positions from which the descending golf ball was launched, the method being performed by a computer and comprising the steps of: measuring, via sensors, descent parameters of the descending golf ball to derive at least a time of descent of the descending golf ball, within a last 10% of a carry trajectory of the descending golf ball, and a measure dependent on angle of descent in elevation of the descending golf ball; calculating, via the computer, a calculated estimate of flight duration of the descending golf ball as a function of the measure dependent on the angle of descent in elevation of the descending golf ball; measuring, via sensors, in respect of each launch position a measured interval of time between launch of a golf ball from an individual launch position of the plurality of launch positions and the time of descent of the descending golf ball; comparing, via the computer, the measured interval of time measured in respect of each launch position with the calculated estimate of flight duration of the descending golf ball to determine for which of the launch positions, of the plurality of launch positions, the respective measured interval of time is a close match with the calculated estimate; and identifying, via the computer, the launch position from which the descending golf ball was launched with the launch position for which the close match exists.