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. appl. Ser. No. 11 / 198,570, filed Aug. 4, 2005, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. appl. 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. appl. 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...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0031] Another object and advantage is to display a computer generated humanoid image of the correct body position of the student relative to the current swing plane orbital location of the club attachment. This provides swing position reinforcement to help the golfer achieve correct club and body movement. This is an ideal learning situation since the student golfer takes the initiative rather than being led through each step and receives real-time reinforcement for his motion decisions.

[0032] Another analysis activity places the golfer on a golf course or practice range where the ball flight and distance are predicted based upon the real-time analysis of the swing leading to and following the ball impact

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 patents, choosing a particular template is an uncertain task, because the body type and swing type must be matched to the golfer.

Then, the golfer must attempt to emulate the complex body movements executed by a professional, which can be very difficult, frustrating for beginning and advanced golfers, alike, and perhaps of no particular advantage in achieving the club and body movements th

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