# US 12,179,081 B1 · Portable putting drill system and methods of using the same

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- Number: US 12,179,081 B1
- Document ID: US12179081B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/542,671
- Filed: 2023-12-16
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2023-12-16
- Applicants: Yansheng Zhao
- Inventors: Yansheng Zhao
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179081B1

## CPC

- A63B 69/3614: {using electro-magnetic, magnetic or ultrasonic radiation emitted, reflected or interrupted by the golf club}
- A63B 24/0003: {Analysing the course of a movement or motion sequences during an exercise or trainings sequence, e.g. swing for golf or tennis}
- A63B 69/3676: {for putting (A63B69/3608, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3697 take precedence)}
- A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user}
- A63B 2071/0625: {Emitting sound, noise or music}
- A63B 2220/833: Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
- A63B 2225/50: Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

Present disclosure relates to a portable putting drill system. The portable putting drill system includes a sensor array, a drill data collection circuit, and a mobile electronic device. The sensor array collects putting drill data including a striking speed, striking angle of a putter, and whether putter hits its sweet spot. Drill data collection circuit includes a data collection circuit for receiving the putting drill data collected by the sensor array, a data processing circuit for processing the putting drill data received, a data reporting circuit for reporting results of the putting drill data processed, and a wireless connection circuit for transmitting the results of putting drill data processed to a mobile electronic device wirelessly over a communication network. Mobile electronic device displays processed putting drill data, provides audio output to a user in real time to enhance putting drill experience, and saves historic statistics of putting drill data.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of using a portable putting drill system, comprising:
setting up, by one or more users, the portable putting drill system on a green of a golf course or on an indoor putting drill area, wherein the portable putting drill system comprises a sensor array, a drill data collection circuit, and a mobile electronic device;
entering, by the user on the mobile electronic device, putting drill information and goal on mobile electronic device, wherein the putting drill information and goal comprises: name of putting drill participant, the date of the putting drill, the location of the putting drill, projected putter speed in miles per hour, Green Rate, golf course slope, and angle between a club hole and a fairway, and number of putting drill for each round;
starting, by the user, a putting drill by setting a counter to zero, and swing a gold putter at a golf ball positioned at a center of the sensor array from right to left;
collecting, by the drill data collection circuit through the sensor array, putting drill data after each putter strike, wherein the putting drill data comprises a striking speed of a putter, a striking angle of the putter, and whether a striking surface of the putter hits a sweet spot of the putter;
incrementing the counter by one after each putter strike, and the drill data collection circuit collects putting drill data for this strike through the sensor array, processes the putting drill data, and reports to the user through the mobile electronic device for audio or visual feedback to the user;
displaying, by the mobile electronic device after each putter strike, statistics of current round of putting drill data for the user to review, and audio and visual feedback to the user to improve future putting drill;
when the counter of the mobile electronic device does not reach the number of strikes for each round, the method continues to collecting putting drill data step;
when the counter of the mobile electronic device reaches the number of strikes for each round, the method asks the user whether to continue the putting drill, or end the putting drill;
the method continues to start over another round of putting drill when the user chooses to continue the putting drill;
the method ends when the user chooses to terminate the putting drill.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the portable putting drill system comprises:
the sensor array, wherein the sensor array collects putting drill data;
the drill data collection circuit, wherein the drill data collection circuit comprises a data collection circuit for receiving the putting drill data collected by the sensor array, a data processing circuit for processing the putting drill data received, a data reporting circuit for reporting the results of putting drill data processed, and a wireless connection circuit for transmitting the results of putting drill data processed to the mobile electronic device wirelessly over a communication network; and
the mobile electronic device, wherein the mobile electronic device displays the processed putting drill data, and provides audio output to a user in real time to enhance the putting drill experience.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor array comprises:
a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are installed on a first sensor support member; and
a third sensor and a fourth sensor, wherein the third sensor and the fourth sensor are installed on a second sensor support member,
wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, the third sensor and the fourth sensor form a rectangle shape, the first sensor and the third sensor form a pre-strike reference line, the second sensor and the fourth sensor form a post-strike reference line, the sensor array collects putting drill data, and wherein the sensor array comprises at least one of: a set of laser sensors, a set of optical sensors, a set of ultrasonic sensors, a set of electromagnetic sensors; and a combination of these sensors.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of using the portable putting drill system of claim 3, wherein the mobile electronic device comprises an Apple iPad, a mobile smart phone, and a tablet computer, and the user receives the audio output of the mobile electronic device through an audio output device, wherein the audio output device of the mobile electronic device comprises an internal speaker of the mobile electronic device, wirelessly connected earphones, earbuds, headsets, headphones and Apple AirPods.