Swing position recognition and reinforcement

Abstract

A method and device is used to teach and simulate swing mechanics. A camera is coupled to a computer such that frames including an image of a golfer swinging a golf club may be captured. A key part of the image is identified by the computer in sequential frames captured from the camera, and the image is compared to swing mechanics of a known standard golfer. The position of the known standard golfer is capable of following the natural swing of a student golfer, and the method and device are capable of providing real-time feedback to the student golfer during the golfer's swing. An instant replay may be used to reinforce good swing mechanics. A marker attachment may be used to assist in tracking and analyzing the swing mechanics of the images. Parameters relating to club angle and apparent club length may be compared to a known standard for a plurality of reference swing positions in order to determine the swing mechanics of the student golfer during practice instruction and within a golf simulation game to determine ball trajectory. A ball launch monitor may be integrated with the image analysis, which improves the effectiveness of the method and device synergistically.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 345,651, filed Jan. 17, 2003, now abandoned in favor of this application, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 878,447 filed on Jun. 11, 2001, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,675.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The field relates to golf instruction and golf simulators. BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART [0003] A golf swing requires the synchronized actions of more than 80 different muscles in a way that is not particularly intuitive or consistent with the human framework. Focusing on the totality of these various muscle movements surpasses the ability of the conscious mind. This requirement for complex and unnatural muscle movements is the principle reason why golf is considered to be a difficult game to master. Even if one is successful in correctly...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] A golf swing training method and apparatus analyzes the image of a student golfer and matches certain parameters of the swing to determine the swing mechanics of the student golfer. The parameters may be used to provide reinforcing feedback, such as visual and audible feedback to the student golfer, as the student golfer is practicing the student golfer's swing mechanics at the student golfer's own pace. The parameters may be used to accurately predict the flight path of the ball by determining club head speed, direction and rotation during the swing and at impact with the ball. In one example, the parameters are coupled with a simple launch monitor to determine the flight path of the ball, which allows a small, inexpensive camera to be attached to the computer directly.

[0017] In another example, a short club may be used in a limited area with one or more simulated golf balls during instruction. The device is capable of teaching good swing mechanics for a club of any length. In one example, swing position recognition is accomplished by an attachment of one or more colored spheres just below the grip on the club shaft. Swing position reinforcement based upon the recognized step-by-step progress of the golf swing verifies correct body and club position during a computer-provided lesson. Swing position recognition also allows the golfer to watch his or her cutout images swinging at various locations on a background golf course during a simulated golf game. When the computer has recognized and analyzed the nature of a particular golf swing problem and its solution, then the presentation to the student is more effective using computer generated graphics and audio methods. Since the computer's recognition software can correlate the club position with the position of the student's body parts, a more focused and systematic approach can be taken by the student to learn to swing correctly. Receiving a quantitative rating based upon the quality of the swing movements and viewing the predicted ball flight makes learning and practicing more enjoyable, taking the mystery out of the analysis of golf swing mechanics.

Problems solved by technology

This requirement for complex and unnatural muscle movements is the principle reason why golf is considered to be a difficult game to master.

Even if one is successful in correctly emulating the precise body movements of a given professional, it is unclear that the club movements that are actually produced are correct for a particular person given his or her physical differences.

Training tools exist that focus on body movements during the golf swing, but none describes or teaches correct club movement in terms of geometric position of the golf club, club head rotation and three dimensional shaft direction at every point of the golf swing.

And none performs computer image recognition of the golf club and body position to guide the club movements, analyze the swing and predict the ball flight.

But these recordings lack interactivity because it is only after the student has completed the exercise that he or she can view comparisons.

The computers involved receive and display images but do not recognize or analyze club or body movements.

The computer receives and displays images but does not recognize the student's actual club or body movements, leaving the entire burden of swing analysis to the student and his or her instructor.

No effort is made by the above cited patent to systematically describe correct body position as a function of correct golf club movement.

In the above noted patent there is an uncertain task in deciding which professional's templates to use.

Then attempting to emulate the complex body movements executed by that professional can be very difficult and perhaps of no particular advantage in achieving the club and body movements that are correct for the student, given the physical differences between the student and the professional such as differences in anatomy, physiology, flexibility, and strength

This method does not help the student to know if the geometric location of the club is correct at any point.

This method fails to detect very common problems, such as that of the golfer bending his forward arm during the back swing producing a swing whose arc is too narrow yet able to satisfy criteria indicating that the swing is correct.

With nothing other than a light beam to communicate to the student, the above cited patent lacks the effectiveness and accuracy of image analysis and video presentation.

It suffers from not being able to review the analysis of a given swing many times at different speeds.

This method is not interactive with the golfer and does not teach or include a pattern of an ideal golf swing as is explained below.

Previous inventions do not have the benefit of the computer instantaneously recognizing, analyzing, understanding and responding to the motion of the student's golf club and reinforcing the club and body positions.

While simulation based on analyzing the flight of the ball is effective in determining the ball flight, such simulation is ineffective in correcting a student golfer's swing mechanics.

Even experience golf pros have great difficulty in determining and explaining the exact cause of a student golfer's poor swing mechanics.

A video camera may be used to analyze the golf swing, but a student golfer has a hard time understanding what a correct swing should look like.

This artificial and unnatural pacing of the student golfer causes subtle changes in the swing mechanics, which are not repeated when the student golfer swings at his or her own pace.

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