Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for measuring aerodynamic characteristics of a golf ball

US6286364A · kind A · utility

92Cited by
8References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 17, 1999
Grant dateSep 11, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 17, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA63B43/008
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and a system for measuring the spin decay rate of a golf ball. The system includes an indoor testing area, a launching device, and a measuring device positioned at a final position along the ball's flight path. When the ball is launched by the launching device, the measuring device measures the spin rate and speed at the final position. Then, the launching device can launch the ball at the speed and spin rate of the final position and a new final speed and spin rate are measured again. The spin rate difference from launching to the final position is used to determine the spin decay rate. By using discrete spin decay rate measurements, the spin decay rate profile of a golf ball during its entire flight can be measured in the indoor area.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.