A system for the enhancement of a televised golf broadcast, which requires:
obtaining detailed topographic measurements of golf greens; inputting
these data into a Geographic Information System (GIS) program, smoothing
the data, and generating contours on a selected interval; storing and
processing the contour data such that it may be viewed from various other
perspectives; selecting a real-time televised image of a golf green from a
plurality of camera positions; synchronizing and superimposing the contour
database image over the televised feed; computing and processing equations
of motion which take into account the location of the golf ball relative
to the golf cup, the weight of the golf ball, the effect of the wind, the
Stimpmeter speed of the green, and the gravitational influence of the
slope of the green, to determine a path the putt can take to roll into the
cup or to come to rest within 18 inches of the cup; and displaying the
combined images along with the projection of the calculated ball path on a
real-time televised broadcasts. Before the golfer strikes the golf ball
toward the cup, this system provides the viewer with a visual image of an
optimal path the golf ball can traverse to result in a successful putt.
With the addition of the contours and the calculated trace of the putt
trajectory, the viewer has a visual assessment of the break of the putt,
without depending upon the announcers' comments. Accordingly, the viewers
visual experience is substantially enhanced by knowing in advance of the
player's putt, the line which the ball must take to the cup.
