# US 12,109,473 B2 · Method and device for simulating golf shots for a user > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,473 B2 - Document ID: US12109473B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/652,216 - Filed: 2022-02-23 - Published: 2022-06-09 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-26 - Assignees: Trackman A/S - Applicants: Trackman A/S - Inventors: Fredrik Tuxen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109473B2 ## CPC - A63B 69/36: for golf - A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user} - G09B 19/0038: {Sports} - A63B 69/3605: {Golf club selection aids informing player of his average or expected shot distance for each club} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## Abstract A method and a device are for simulating a golf shot for a user. The method includes receiving golf course information and receiving historical golf shot capabilities of the user in combination with generating at least one current golf shot simulation based on a current position of a golf ball on the golf course, the golf course information and the historical golf shot capabilities of the user and determining a strategy for the current golf shot based on the at least one current golf shot simulation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for simulating a golf shot for a user, comprising: generating a plurality of golf shot simulations for completing a hole on a golf course based on a current position of a golf ball on the golf course, golf course information and historical golf shot capabilities of the user for a set of different shot types, the historical golf shot capabilities comprising launch parameters including one or more of speed, spin rate and spin axis of a ball launch, wherein each of the launch parameters is represented by a correlated statistical descriptor for each of the respective shot types, wherein each of the plurality of simulations is generated as a three-dimensional path of a simulated shot using simulated launch parameters including one or more of a simulated speed, a simulated spin rate and a simulated spin axis for a given shot type and applying a ball trajectory model in view of the simulated launch parameters to determine a simulated final rest position of the simulated shot on the golf course, wherein the simulated launch parameters for the simulated shot are determined based on the launch parameters, wherein the simulated final rest position is associated with a probability, wherein a first simulation is generated from the current position and at least one second simulation is successively generated for completing the hole from a first simulated final rest position of the first simulation; and determining a strategy from the current position including a probability for completing the hole in a number of shots based on the simulated final rest positions and associated probabilities for the first simulation and the at least one second simulation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the golf course is a simulated golf course in a virtual environment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising generating the at least one current golf shot simulation based on current environmental conditions associated with the current position of the golf ball on the golf course. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the current environmental conditions include at least one of wind speed, wind direction, temperature, pressure and humidity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the launch parameters further include one or more of angle and direction for the ball launch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the golf course information includes information related to at least one of golf hole distance, golf hole placement, topography, ground conditions and hazards. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: simulating at least two golf shot options based on a set of shot parameters based on the historical golf shot capabilities of the user, wherein a first one of the golf shot options is simulated using at least one different shot parameter than a second one of the golf shot options; and determining the strategy for the user by choosing one of the simulated golf shot options having a probability for a lowest score possibility relative to the other ones of the simulated golf shot options. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein a bounce and roll model predicts a final rest position of the golf ball for each of the simulated golf shot options based on the simulated initial impact of the golf ball with the golf course and a topography of the golf course at the simulated initial impact. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a dispersion area for the simulation, the dispersion area reflecting an area within which a golfer's attempt at a simulated shot is likely to land based on a degree of uncertainty for the simulation corresponding to the historical golf shot capabilities of the user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: displaying the simulation on a display, the displayed simulation including a simulated path of the golf ball and a dispersion contour based on the dispersion area. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: generating a first golf shot simulation for a golf shot taken with a first golf club and a second golf shot simulation for a golf shot taken with a second golf club; and displaying the first and second simulations simultaneously on the display for visual comparison, wherein the displayed first and second simulations comprise graphical representations of the first and second simulations overlaid on a geographical layout of the golf course. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an expected number of golf shots required by the user to complete a hole corresponding to a first shot strategy based on the historical golf shot capabilities of the user and the current position of the user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising generating a second shot strategy wherein the first shot strategy results in a lower number of expected shots and having lower calculated odds of success, the second shot strategy resulting in more expected golf shots and having calculated odds of success higher than for the first shot strategy. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising positionally tracking at least one of the user and the golf ball to determine a launch location for a golf shot. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein a GPS performs the positional tracking. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of a radar and an imager performs the positional tracking. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising manually inputting launch location information via a user interface. ### Claim 18 A device for simulating a golf shot for a user, comprising: a memory storing golf course information, historical golf shot capabilities of the user for a set of different shot types, wherein the historical golf shot capabilities comprise launch parameters including one or more of speed, spin rate and spin axis of a ball launch, wherein each of the launch parameters is represented by a correlated statistical descriptor for each of the respective shot types, data corresponding to a position of a golf ball on a golf course and golf course information corresponding to a geographical layout of the golf course; and a processor generating a plurality of golf shot simulations for completing a hole on the golf course based on a current position of the golf ball on the golf course, the golf course information and the historical golf shot capabilities of the user, wherein each of the plurality of simulations is generated as a three-dimensional path of a simulated shot using simulated launch parameters including one or more of a simulated speed, a simulated spin rate and a simulated spin axis for a given shot type and applying a ball trajectory model in view of the simulated launch parameters to determine a simulated final rest position on the golf course, wherein the simulated launch parameters for the simulated shot are determined based on the launch parameters, wherein the simulated final rest position is associated with a probability, wherein a first simulation is generated from the current position and at least one second simulation is successively generated for completing the hole from a first simulated final rest position of the first simulation, the processor determining a strategy from the current position including a probability for completing the hole in a number of shots based on the simulated final rest positions and associated probabilities for the first simulation and the at least one second simulation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the golf course is a simulated golf course in a virtual environment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19, wherein a bounce and roll model considers simulated ground conditions including one or more of soft ground conditions, hard ground conditions, or normal ground conditions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19, wherein a bounce and roll model considers simulated ground conditions including one or more of fairway ground conditions, rough ground conditions, or green ground conditions.