Spin detector for golf games

Claim 2

In an indoor golf game, an apparatus for measuring the spin imparted to a driven golf ball comprising: a tee area from which a golf ball may be driven; target means for receiving the impact of a ball driven directly to said target means from the tee; and means for measuring the force exerted upon said target means by the spin on the golf ball impacting thereon.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said force measuring means includes means mounting the target means for movement in a direction generally normal to the line of flight of a driven golf ball so that said target will be displaced upon impact by the angular impulse of a golf ball having a spin thereon a distance in said generally normal direction proportional to the spin on the impacting golf ball; and means for measuring the force which the target means exerts on the mounting means as a result of such displacement.

Claim 4

In an indoor golf game, an apparatus for measuring the spin imparted to a driven golf ball comprising: a tee area from which a golf ball may be driven; target means for receiving the impact of a ball driven directly from the tee; means for retaining said target in a preselected position and means operationally coupled to said retaining means for sensing therethrough forces upon said target means exerted exclusively in a direction substantially normal to the flight path of the ball impacting the target.

Claim 5

In an indoor golf game, an apparatus for measuring the spin imparted to a driven golf ball comprising: a tee area from which a golf ball may be driven; target means for receiving the impact of a ball driven directly from the tee; means for retaining said target in a preselected position and means operationally coupled to said retaining means for sensing therethrough forces upon said target means exerted exclusively in a direction substantially normal to the flight path of the ball impacting the target.

Claim 6

In an indoor golf game, an apparatus for measuring the spin imparted to a driven golf ball comprising: a tee from which a golf ball may be driven; a spherical target means for receiving the impact of a ball driven directly from said tee, means resiliently mounting the spherical target means with its focus and said tee in coincidence whereby the angular impulse associated with a golf ball having spin thereon imparted to said target means upon impact of the ball tends to cause the target means to move in a plane substantially normal to the direction of travel of a ball hit from the tee; and means for measuring the force which the target means exerts on said resilient mounting means as a result of being struck by a spinning golf ball.

Claim 7

In an indoor golf game, an apparatus for measuring the spin imparted to a driven golf ball comprising: a tee from which a golf ball may be driven; a spherical target means for receiving the impact of a ball driven directly from said tee, means resiliently mounting the spherical target means with its focus and said tee in coincidence whereby the angular impulse associated with a golf ball having spin thereon imparted to said target means upon impact of the ball tends to cause the target means to move in a plane substantially normal to the direction of travel of a ball hit from the tee; and means for measuring the force which the target means exerts on said resilient mounting means as a result of being struck by a spinning golf ball.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said spherical target means is made from a net which is capable of capturing a golf ball.

Claim 9

In an indoor golf game, an apparatus for measuring the spin imparted to a driven golf ball comprising: a tee From which a golf ball may be driven; a spherical target formed out of netting against which a ball strikes when driven directly from the tee, said spherical target having its focus at the tee and so presenting a surface normal to the direction of the flight of a golf ball driven from the tee; a pair of vertical means mounting the target at each end thereof, each mounting means including a fixed vertical shaft having a concentric cylinder mounted for rotation thereabout, said net being secured to said cylinder and wound thereabout and each cylinder being spring biased about the fixed shaft in opposite directions to keep the netting taut whereby the angular impulse associated with a golf ball having spin thereon in combination with the impulse associated with the velocity of said ball is imparted to the target thereby tending to cause each cylinder to unwind an amount proportional to the spin and velocity imparted to the golf ball; a pair of means, one associated with each cylinder, for measuring the unwinding force which the target exerts on each cylinder after the target has been struck by a golf ball and providing a signal representative thereof; and means for subtracting the signals representative of the two unwinding forces thereby providing a signal representative of the sidespin imparted to the golf ball.

Claim 10

In an indoor golf game, an apparatus for measuring the spin imparted to a driven golf ball comprising: a tee From which a golf ball may be driven; a spherical target formed out of netting against which a ball strikes when driven directly from the tee, said spherical target having its focus at the tee and so presenting a surface normal to the direction of the flight of a golf ball driven from the tee; a pair of vertical means mounting the target at each end thereof, each mounting means including a fixed vertical shaft having a concentric cylinder mounted for rotation thereabout, said net being secured to said cylinder and wound thereabout and each cylinder being spring biased about the fixed shaft in opposite directions to keep the netting taut whereby the angular impulse associated with a golf ball having spin thereon in combination with the impulse associated with the velocity of said ball is imparted to the target thereby tending to cause each cylinder to unwind an amount proportional to the spin and velocity imparted to the golf ball; a pair of means, one associated with each cylinder, for measuring the unwinding force which the target exerts on each cylinder after the target has been struck by a golf ball and providing a signal representative thereof; and means for subtracting the signals representative of the two unwinding forces thereby providing a signal representative of the sidespin imparted to the golf ball.