A novel integrated golf ball launch monitor for measuring flight path
parameters for a golf ball is disclosed. This integrated launch monitor
includes a housing that includes a sensor, a user output device, and a
processor. The processor performs the steps of monitoring a trigger zone,
determining that the golf ball has launched from the trigger zone,
capturing position information for the golf ball with the sensor,
calculating the flight parameters using the position information, and
outputting the flight parameters on the user output device. A display
and/or a speaker may be added to the monitor as a means of outputting the
flight parameters from the processor to a user of the monitor. The
integrated launch monitor may be sized and constructed to be portable and
may also include a battery (which may be rechargeable). The monitor may
also include a lamp positioned to direct an illuminating light into the
sensor's field of view and can include a data interface to a display
monitor, a computer, a game station, or a golf simulator. The housing may
also be in a clamshell configuration.