We have all played behind one of them… the golfer that just refuses to accept that they are not going to find their golf ball. Apparently these golfers that develop an unnatural attachment to their mass-produced golf balls have been around since the advent of the game (no surprise).

Let's take a look at some of the inventions that golfers have come up with to try to prevent that dreaded "lost ball."

One of the earliest inventions directed to a hard-to-lose golf ball is found in USPN 1620290 titled “Signal Ball” was filed in 1925! This "signal ball" includes a radial spring that is wound in a viscous material that causes the spring to slowly unwind while producing a "sharp and penetrating" sound. Check out the figures from the '290 patent below and think how that ball would feel when struck with a full-swing.

Next, USPN 3782730 titled “Golf Ball” gets more technologically advanced and includes "an electric squegging oscillator circuit, a battery therefor and a transmitting coil." A figure from the patent is reproduced below. The patent describes the battery as "a mercury cell located within the transmitting coil..." No environmental concerns there!

The next great advance in preventing lost-balls is disclosed in USPN 4614340 titled “Smoke Emitting Game Ball,” which I refer to as the flying smoke-bomb (seen below). Fortunately the patent discloses that "[a] wire net between 100 and 10 mesh is interposed between the outer shell and the layer of the smoke emitting material to cover at least the apertures to thereby prevent hot molten mass of the combustion product from spilling out of the apertures." Isn't that a relief... you won't get covered by the hot molten mass of the combustion product.

USPN 5447314 titled “Golf Ball Locating System and Operating Method” reverts back to the noise-generating model of golf ball detection. The patent describes the invention as: A sound emitting golf ball is provided for locating a golf ball after it is struck by a golf club. The system comprises a miniaturized electronic, battery powered piezoelectric sound generator surrounded by a shock absorber that is embedded inside a golf ball. The sound generating system is constructed with very small, inexpensive shock resistant components and embedded at the center of the golf ball inside the shock absorber. The system can be designed to operate in the audible or ultrasonic range. One key element to the '314 invention is the hand-held ultrasonic sensing system. I like the fact that in an effort to prolong battery life the invention is turned on and off by swiping a permanent magnet against the golf ball.

I never thought to steal driving range balls because they are crappy golf balls. Is driving range ball theft really an issue?

Next comes the invention found in USPN 5662533 titled “Golf Ball Locator Apparatus.” I cannot do this invention justice... therefore, the patent describes the invention (seen below) as:

A golf ball locating apparatus and a method of applying a reflective coating to the golf ball. The apparatus involves a handheld apparatus which locates a wayward golf ball and identifies its relative position to the handheld apparatus. The handheld apparatus is structured in two preferred embodiments: the first is a handheld apparatus that fits into a user's pocket; the second is a shaft arrangement which has two extendable wings to form a "T" shape. The pocket sized embodiment has a forward facing window to direct a beam from the apparatus. The beam of radiation reacts with a clear coating on the golf ball and is sensed by the apparatus which then illustrates, via a display, the relative location of the golf ball. The "T" embodiment has antennas embedded into the wings which emit a field which are disturbed by the coating on the golf ball; lights associated with the antennas are illuminated to show the operator which antenna is in the closest proximity to the golf ball. The coating on the golf-ball is applied through a variety of techniques and preferably covers the entirety of the golf ball. One methodology uses an impregnated cloth to wipe the golf ball immediately prior to placing the ball in-play. This assures a coating on the golf ball during each play.

 

Just so we are clear... the "beam" being referred to is a beam of radiation. The patent goes on to explain:

The pocket sized embodiment has a forward facing window to direct a beam from the apparatus. The beam of radiation from the window reacts with a clear coating on the golf ball and is sensed by the apparatus which then illustrates, via a display, the relative location of the golf ball to the handheld apparatus.



USPN 5662534 titled “Golf Ball Finding System” discloses "a special golf ball with an octant corner reflector resident within the center of the golf ball, as well as a convenient flashlight sized radar transmitter and receiver." The golfer simply uses the portable handheld radar transmitter and receiver to sweep a golf course for evidence of an echo from the "special" golf ball. I always wanted a portable handheld radar transmitter and receiver! (not really)

 

USPN 5743815 titled “Golf Ball and Identification System” (seen below) discloses the perfect gift for that golfer that has always been longing for a "glass encapsulated passive transponder implanted within the golf ball." If you are that golfer... seek help.

The golf ball of USPN 5910057 titled “Golf Ball with Distance and Locating System” (seen below) generates a high frequency signal which is detected by a hand held receiver (which looks like a calculator from the early 80's).

USPN 6113504 titled “Golf Ball Locator” continues the trend of impractical golf ball inventions... just read this description from the patent and check out these figures...

A golf ball locator system. The golf ball comprises a transmitter that transmits a coded signal, identifying the ball, and that is received by an array of receivers. The receivers measure either the angle of arrival, or the time of arrival of the signal, which is transmitted to a processor that uses triangulation calculations to generate location coordinates of the golf ball. The processor then transmits the location coordinates to a display unit. The display unit can be portable and viewed by the golfer. The display unit can simply display golf ball position coordinates in relation to a pre-existing golf course map, or display the golf ball on a map which may include various landmarks of the golf course. The system can further include a player location device that allows the system to give audio or visual traveling instructions to assist the golfer to locate his/her ball.

I believe the device only gives audible signals in the form of "you're getting hotter" and "you're getting colder." (kidding, of course) 

Finally, the pinnacle of overly complex golf balls is described in USPN 7207902 titled “Method and Apparatus for Locating and Recording the Position of a Golf Ball During a Golf Game.” Check out the figure below. Isn't the price of a dozen good golf balls high enough?

The very first claims of the '902 patent includes the following "said environmental sensing means selectively determines said conditions by sensing a pressure value exerted by a surface on said golf ball, and wherein said hand-held unit further comprises a processor for comparing the sensed pressure value with a known pressure value corresponding to a plurality of surfaces." Sounds practical, right? The next claim goes on to state "said surface is at least one of mud, dirt, wet sand, dry sand, dry grass, wet grass, water."  

I am going to go out on a limb here and offer $500 for a single golf ball that can tell me when the ball is in the mud, dirt, wet sand, dry sand, dry grass, wet grass, and water based upon the a sensed pressure value (and it must work for at least 9 holes)!  



Boy, those are some pretty interesting inventions, however I don't know if the game of golf is ready for them just yet.

Dave Dawsey - Tracking Golf Ball Inventions and Patents