Method and apparatus for determining parameters of the motion of an object

An apparatus for determining a parameter regarding the motion of a golf ball struck by a golf club held by a golfer, comprising:

• a) means for transmitting a plurality of radiation pulses comprising a first signal at a first frequency into the expected path of said golf ball;
• b) means for receiving a portion of said transmitted radiation pulses reflected off of said golf ball and said golf club, said received radiation pulses comprising a second signal;
• c) means, coupled to said means for receiving, for determining frequency differences between said transmitted first signal and said received second signal, wherein at least a portion of said frequency differences are substantially proportional to the velocity of said golf ball;
• d) means for ascertaining which portion of said frequency differences are substantially proportional to the velocity of said golf ball;
• e) means for calculating the parameter using said portion of said frequency differences and a predetermined value.

An apparatus for determining the angle of trajectory of a golf ball struck by a golf club held by a golfer, comprising:

• a) means for transmitting radiation pulses comprising a first signal at a first frequency into the expected path of said golf ball;
• b) means for receiving a portion of said transmitted radiation pulses reflected off of at least said golf ball after said golf ball has been struck by said golf club, said received radiation pulses comprising a second signal;
• c) means, coupled to said receiving means, for generating a sequence of difference pulses having durational periods substantially proportional to the reciprocals of corresponding frequency differences between said transmitted first signal and said received second signal, wherein at least a portion of said durational periods are substantially proportional to the velocity of the moving golf ball;
• d) means for determining values corresponding with the periods of said difference pulses;
• e) means for determining the rate of change between a plurality of consecutive ones of said values;
• f) means for using said rate of change to determine the angle of trajectory of said golf ball relative to level ground.

An apparatus for determining a parameter regarding the motion of a golf ball struck by a golf club held by a golfer, comprising:

• a) means for transmitting a plurality of radiation pulses comprising a first signal at a first frequency into the expected path of said golf ball;
• b) means for receiving a portion of said transmitted radiation pulses reflected off of said golf ball, said received radiation pulses comprising a second signal;
• c) means, coupled to said means for receiving, for determining frequency differences between said transmitted first signal and said received second signal, wherein, at least a portion of said frequency differences are substantially proportional to the velocity of said golf ball;
• d) means for calculating the parameter using said portion of said frequency differences and a predetermined function;
• e) trigger means for activating said means for calculating when said golf club strikes said golf ball.