Method and apparatus to determine golf ball trajectory and flight

A method of calculating the trajectory of an object in an outdoor environment based on flight characteristics measured while the object is moving in a predetermined field-of-view comprising the steps of:

• providing a launch monitor system comprising a first camera unit pointed toward the predetermined field-of-view;
• taking at least two images of the object in the outdoor environment and while in the predetermined field-of-view, the at least two images taken at two different times;
• determining the locations and orientations of the object in the predetermined field-of-view from the images;
• calculating launch conditions of the object from the locations and orientations of the object;
• and
• calculating the trajectory of the object from the calculated launch conditions.

A method of calculating the trajectory of an object based on flight characteristics measured while the object is moving in a predetermined field-of-view comprising the steps of:

• providing a portable launch monitor system comprising a first camera unit pointed toward the predetermined field-of-view and a second camera unit pointed toward the predetermined field-of-view, wherein the first and second cameras are focused on overlapping portions of the field-of-view;
• capturing images of the object with both the first and second camera units at least at two different times while the object is in the predetermined field-of-view;
• determining the locations and orientations of the object in the predetermined field-of-view from the images;
• calculating launch conditions of the object from the locations and orientations of the object;
• and
• calculating the trajectory of the object from the calculated launch conditions.