Swing efficiency index calculation device, method, and program

Abstract

A swing efficiency index calculation device according to one embodiment of the disclosed technology comprises an index calculation unit 1 that calculates an index representing the efficiency of a golf swing by using the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm in the golf swing and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of a club in the golf swing. The index becomes larger as the relative angular velocity of the club with respect to the leading arm becomes larger, and becomes larger as the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm in the golf swing becomes larger.

Description

Swing efficiency index calculation device, method, and program

[0001] The disclosed technology relates to a technology for assisting learning of exercises such as swings.

[0002] When swinging a golf club or baseball bat, it is important to hit the ball as far as possible in addition to hitting it in the right direction. The normal velocity of the contact surface of the club or bat just before impact is closely related to the direction and distance of the ball. This normal velocity is also called swing speed.

[0003] Increasing swing speed requires learning an efficient swing technique that takes advantage of individual physical movement characteristics. Dynamic analysis of the golf swing based on a double pendulum model has shown that an efficient way to increase swing speed is to take advantage of the natural increase in angular velocity of the second pendulum (club) that occurs during the swing due to a decrease in the angular velocity of the first pendulum (leading arm). However, because the movements of the leading arm and club during the swing are extremely fast, it is difficult for the player to grasp the quality of their swing through somatosensory or visual perception. Therefore, there is a need for technology that can evaluate swing efficiency and support and promote learning of efficient swing techniques.

[0004] In a golf downswing, the angle between the long axis of the leading arm and the long axis of the club is generally maintained at a constant angle close to a right angle for a while after starting, then begins to change midway through, and becomes almost linear at the time of impact. The angle between the long axis of the leading arm and the long axis of the club is also called the cock angle. The phenomenon in which the cock angle begins to change midway through the downswing is called uncocking or release.

[0005] It is known that when and where uncocking occurs may affect the efficiency of a swing. Based on this knowledge, a technique is known in which the cock angle is estimated using inertial sensors attached to the player's leading arm and the club, the time when uncocking occurs in the player's swing is estimated, and feedback is provided in the form of a graph or words (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). Examples of inertial sensors are an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a geomagnetic sensor.

[0006] Chun, S., Kang, D., Choi, H.-R., Park, A., Lee, K.-K., & Kim, J. "A sensor-aided self coaching model for uncocking improvement in golf swing. Multimedia Tools and Applications", 72(1), 253279. (2014).

[0007] In the background art, it was assumed that the ideal uncock occurs when the dominant arm is pointing downward at approximately 30 degrees from horizontal, and the deviation between the uncock and the ideal in the player's swing was evaluated. However, such a geometric uncock evaluation had no mechanical basis, and it was unclear whether training to improve the evaluation value would lead to an improvement in swing skill.

[0008] The disclosed technology aims to provide a swing efficiency index calculation device, method, and program for calculating a swing efficiency index that has not been proposed before.

[0009] A swing efficiency index calculation device according to one aspect of the disclosed technology includes an index calculation unit that calculates an index representing the efficiency of a golf swing using the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm in the golf swing and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the club in the golf swing. The index has a larger value as the relative angular velocity of the club with respect to the leading arm increases, and as the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm in the golf swing increases.

[0010] The disclosed technology makes it possible to calculate a swing efficiency index that has not been proposed before.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a swing efficiency index calculation device. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the processing procedure of a swing efficiency index calculation method. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the magnitude |Ω of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm. arm (t)| and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the club's major axis |Ω clubFIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of how to calculate the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of how to calculate the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of an index representing the efficiency of a golf swing. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of processing by the impact detection unit 3 and the feedback control unit 4. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of visual information. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of processing by the impact detection unit 3 and the feedback control unit 4. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a computer.

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosed technology will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that components having the same functions in the drawings are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0013] [Swing Efficiency Index Calculation Device and Method] As shown in FIG. 1, the swing efficiency index calculation device includes an index calculation unit 1 and a feedback information generation unit 2, for example.

[0014] The swing efficiency index calculation method is realized, for example, by each component of the swing efficiency index calculation device performing the processes of steps S1 and S2 shown in FIG.

[0015] <Index Calculation Unit 1> The index calculation unit 1 receives as input the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm in the golf swing and the angular velocity of the major axis of the club in the golf swing.

[0016] The angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm is, in other words, the angular velocity of the rotational motion of the major axis of the leading arm A. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotational motion of the major axis of the leading arm A is a rotational motion with the head H of the person performing the golf swing as the fulcrum. The magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm A is expressed as |Ω arm Let (t)|

[0017] The angular velocity of the club's long axis is, in other words, the angular velocity of the rotational motion of the long axis of the club C. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotational motion of the long axis of the club C is a rotational motion with the wrist W of the person making the golf swing as the fulcrum. The magnitude of the angular velocity of the club's long axis is expressed as |Ω club Let (t)|

[0018] There may be a time period in which the major axis of the leading arm and the major axis of the club do not rotate.

[0019] The person who performs the golf swing and is the target of exercise support is called the support recipient.

[0020] 4 , to obtain the angular velocity of the long axis of the leading arm, for example, a triaxial gyro sensor is fixed to the leading arm of the support recipient so that one axis of the triaxial gyro sensor is parallel to the long axis of the leading arm. Similarly, to obtain the angular velocity of the long axis of the club, for example, a triaxial gyro sensor is fixed to the club so that one axis of the triaxial gyro sensor is parallel to the long axis of the club.

[0021] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the y-axis, which is one axis of the three-axis gyro sensor, is fixed so as to be parallel to the long axis, as shown in FIG. 5, the angular velocity ω about the x-axis of the three-axis gyro sensor is x (t) and the angular velocity ω around the z-axis of the 3-axis gyro sensor z (t), the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis |Ω(t)|=((ω x (t)) 2 +(ω z (t)) 2 ) 1 / 2 can be obtained.

[0022] In this way, for example, the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm |Ω obtained from the three-axis gyro sensor arm (t)| and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the club's major axis |Ω club (t)| is input to the index calculation unit 1.

[0023] The magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm is |Ω arm (t)| and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the club's major axis |Ω club (t)| may be obtained by a method other than the above. For example, the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the main arm |Ω arm (t)| and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the club's major axis |Ω club (t)| may be obtained from the two-dimensional or three-dimensional position of the marker obtained by optical motion capture or from video data captured by a high-speed video capture device.

[0024] The index calculation unit 1 calculates an index representing the efficiency of a golf swing using the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm in the golf swing and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the club in the golf swing (step S1). The index representing the efficiency of a golf swing may be abbreviated as a "swing efficiency index" or simply an "index." The calculated index is output to the feedback information generation unit 2.

[0025] The index representing the efficiency of a golf swing increases as the relative angular velocity of the club with respect to the leading arm increases, and as the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm in the golf swing increases.

[0026] An example of an index representing the efficiency of a golf swing is the SIP (Swing Interaction Product), which will be explained below. SIP(t) at each time t can be calculated, for example, by the following formula (1).

[0027] SIP(t)=||Ω club (t)|-|Ω arm (t)||×|Ω arm (t)|...(1) In this way, the index representing the efficiency of the golf swing can be obtained, for example, by multiplying the magnitude of the difference between the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the club by the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm.

[0028] It is known that the swing speed of a golf club can be efficiently increased by taking advantage of the natural increase in the angular velocity of the club that occurs during the downswing due to the decrease in the angular velocity of the leading arm. That is, the relative angular velocity of the club with respect to the leading arm, ||Ω, club (t)|-|Ω arm (t) The larger the ||, the more efficient. The relative angular velocity of the club to the leading arm ||Ω club (t)|-|Ω arm The area corresponding to (t)|| is shown by dots in Figure 6. In Figure 6, the solid line represents the magnitude of the angular velocity of the club's major axis, |Ω club (t)|, and the dashed line indicates the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm |Ω arm (t)||Ω, the relative angular velocity of the club with respect to the leading arm.club (t)|-|Ω arm (t)|| can increase due to either an increase in the angular velocity of the club or a decrease in the angular velocity of the leading arm. Here, exerting excessive muscle force to reduce the angular velocity of the leading arm will actually reduce the efficiency of the movement. To reduce the angular velocity of the leading arm, it is sufficient to simply relax the muscle force that was being exerted for acceleration, and from the viewpoint of movement efficiency, it is preferable not to exert excess muscle force. Therefore, in the above SIP(t), the relative angular velocity ||Ω of the club with respect to the leading arm is club (t)|-|Ω arm (t)|| is the angular velocity of the leading arm |Ω arm (t)|. This means that the relative angular velocity is underestimated as the angular velocity of the leading arm decreases. Therefore, by practicing swing training to increase SIP(t), it is expected that an efficient swing will be acquired in which the angular velocity of the club naturally increases without excessively reducing the angular velocity of the leading arm.

[0029] <Feedback Information Generator 2> The feedback information generator 2 receives the index calculated by the index calculator 1 as input.

[0030] The feedback information generating unit 2 generates feedback information for the golf swing based on the index (step S2).

[0031] The feedback information is presented to the support recipient who is performing a golf swing. The feedback information may be presented to the support recipient via a person other than the support recipient. An example of a person other than the support recipient is the support recipient's coach. In this case, the feedback information is first presented to the support recipient's coach. The coach then conveys the feedback information to the support recipient.

[0032] <<Example 1 of Feedback Information>> For example, the feedback information is a presentation sound that changes depending on the index. In this case, the feedback information generator 2 generates the presentation sound that changes depending on the index. In this case, the presentation sound is emitted from a speaker (not shown) and presented to the support recipient.

[0033] The presentation sound that changes according to the index may be a presentation sound whose center frequency changes according to the index. In this case, the feedback information generator 2 generates the presentation sound so that the center frequency of the presentation sound is proportional to the index. For example, the feedback information generator 2 may generate the presentation sound so that the center frequency of the presentation sound increases as the index increases. On the other hand, the feedback information generator 2 may generate the presentation sound so that the center frequency of the presentation sound increases as the index decreases.

[0034] For this purpose, the feedback information generator 2 generates, for example, a base signal b(t). Then, the feedback information generator 2 filters the base signal b(t) through a band-pass filter f so that the center frequency of the sound signal after the base signal b(t) is band-pass filtered is proportional to the index SIP(t). band Then, the feedback information generator 2 determines the bandpass filter f band (t) to the base signal b(t) to obtain the presented sound o SIP (t)=f band (t)*b(t), where * denotes a convolution operation.

[0035] The base signal is, for example, noise or a basic waveform. The noise is, for example, white noise, pink noise, or Brownian noise. The basic waveform is, for example, a sawtooth wave, a square wave, a triangular wave, or a pulse wave such as a sine wave. The basic waveform may also be a pure tone, which is a sound consisting of a single frequency.

[0036] In this way, by making the center frequency of the presented sound proportional to the index SIP(t), the change in the index SIP(t) is perceived by the support recipient as the pitch of "wind noise." For example, if the presented sound is generated so that the center frequency of the presented sound increases as the index increases, the support recipient can learn how to swing efficiently by training to make the "wind noise" as audible as possible.

[0037] The intensity and frequency characteristics of wind noise generated by the movement of a club change significantly depending on the swing speed. For this reason, it is thought that, based on experience, swingers estimate their own swing speed from the perceptual characteristics of the wind noise and use this as a clue for swing training. For this reason, it is thought that presenting SIP(t) using a means of expression that simulates natural phenomena such as wind noise would be effective.

[0038] The feedback information generator 2 may set the amplitude of the presentation sound proportional to the index. For example, the feedback information generator 2 may set the presentation sound louder as the index increases. On the other hand, the feedback information generator 2 may set the presentation sound louder as the index decreases.

[0039] The magnitude of the post-impact indicator SIP does not affect the ball. Furthermore, the sound being emitted during the follow-through swing can be disruptive to the training. Therefore, the sound being emitted to the support recipient may be stopped after the impact is detected. This can avoid disrupting the training during the follow-through swing.

[0040] To this end, the swing efficiency index calculation device may include an impact detection unit 3 and a feedback control unit 4, which are indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 1. An example of the processing by the impact detection unit 3 and the feedback control unit 4 is shown in Fig. 7. The impact detection unit 3 detects an impact in a golf swing (step S3). After detecting the impact, the feedback control unit 4 stops presenting the presentation sound to the support recipient (step S41).

[0041] For example, a sound signal generated by a golf swing is input to the impact detection unit 3. This sound signal is acquired, for example, by a microphone placed near the support recipient making the golf swing. In this case, the impact detection unit 3 detects an impact based on the input sound signal. For example, the impact detection unit 3 determines that an impact has occurred when the power of the input sound signal exceeds a predetermined power level.

[0042] In addition, the impact detection unit 3 may detect the impact from a signal obtained from an acceleration sensor attached to the body or club of the person being supported, the two-dimensional or three-dimensional position of a marker obtained by optical motion capture, or video data captured by a high-speed video recording device.

[0043] When the impact detection unit 3 detects an impact, information indicating that an impact has been detected is output to the feedback control unit 4 .

[0044] When receiving the information that an impact has been detected, the feedback control unit 4 stops presenting the presentation sound to the support recipient. Note that the feedback control unit 4 may resume presenting the presentation sound after a predetermined time has elapsed (step S42).

[0045] <<Example 2 of Feedback Information>> The feedback information may be visual information about at least one of the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm, the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the club, an index representing the efficiency of the golf swing, and a sound signal generated by the golf swing.

[0046] An example of visual information is the graph in Figure 8. In this example, the visual information is the magnitude of the angular velocity of the club's major axis |Ω club (t)| and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm |Ω arm 8, the solid line represents the magnitude of the angular velocity |Ω(t)| of the club's major axis and the SIP(t) which is an example of an index representing the efficiency of the golf swing. club (t)|, and the dashed line indicates the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm |Ω arm (t)|, and the dashed line indicates SIP(t). Furthermore, in FIG. 8, the relative angular velocity of the club with respect to the leading arm ||Ω club (t)|-|Ω arm (t) The area corresponding to || is shown by a dot.

[0047] In this example as well, the swing efficiency index calculation device may include an impact detection unit 3 and a feedback control unit 4, which are indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 1. An example of the processing of the impact detection unit 3 and the feedback control unit 4 is shown in Fig. 9.

[0048] The impact detection unit 3 detects an impact in a golf swing (step S301). The method of detecting the impact is the same as that described in <<Example 1 of Feedback Information>>.

[0049] If no impact is detected, the feedback control unit 4 performs a graph display update process (step S402). The graph display update process is carried out by calculating, for example, Ω up to time t-1, where t is the current time. club (t), Ω arm (t), SIP(t) graph to the left, and the Ω at time t appears on the right edge of the graph. club (t), Ω arm (t), SIP(t) graph addition process.

[0050] When an impact is detected, the feedback control unit 4 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed (step S401). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the feedback control unit 4 performs a graph display update process (step S402).

[0051] When a predetermined time has elapsed, the feedback control unit 4 stops updating the graph display (step S403). This allows the support recipient to easily check the visual information. For example, when the visual information is the graph of FIG. 8, by stopping the update of the graph display, in other words, by making the graph a still image, the support recipient can easily check the Ω in the series of backswing, downswing, and follow-through swing. club (t), Ω arm (t), SIP(t) can be easily verified.

[0052] The feedback control unit 4 may resume the graph display update process after a further predetermined time has elapsed (step S404).

[0053] [Modifications] The specific configurations of the embodiments of the disclosed technology are not limited to the configurations described above. The specific configurations of the embodiments of the disclosed technology can be appropriately modified in design, etc., within the scope of the spirit of the embodiments of the disclosed technology.

[0054] The various processes described in the embodiments of the disclosed technology may not only be performed chronologically in the order described, but may also be performed in parallel or individually depending on the processing capacity of the device performing the processes or as needed.

[0055] Data may be exchanged directly between the components of the swing efficiency index calculation device, or may be exchanged via a storage unit (not shown).

[0056] Furthermore, a device (terminal) for using the device, system, or method of the present invention via a network (telecommunications line) may also be provided. The "device (terminal) for use" may be provided with functions (e.g., control function, decoding function, restoration function, input / output function, etc.) necessary to obtain the effects of implementing the device, system, or method of the present invention.

[0057] It goes without saying that other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0058] All publications, patent applications, and technical standards mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent application, or technical standard was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0059] [Program, Recording Medium] The functions realized by the components described in this specification may be implemented in circuitry or processing circuitry, including general-purpose processors, application-specific processors, integrated circuits, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), CPUs (Central Processing Units), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, programmed to realize the described functions. A processor includes transistors and other circuits and is considered to be circuitry or processing circuitry. A processor may also be a programmed processor that executes a program stored in a memory.

[0060] In this specification, a circuitry, unit, or means is hardware that is programmed to realize or performs the described functions, which may be any hardware disclosed herein or any hardware known to be programmed to realize or perform the described functions.

[0061] If the hardware is a processor considered to be a type of circuitry, the circuitry, means, or unit is a combination of the hardware and software used to configure the hardware and / or processor.

[0062] The various processes described above can be implemented by loading a program that executes each step of the above method into the recording unit 2020 of the computer 2000 shown in Figure 10, and operating the control unit 2010, input unit 2030, output unit 2040, display unit 2050, etc.

[0063] The program describing the processing contents can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, which may be, for example, a magnetic recording device, an optical disk, a magneto-optical recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or any other suitable recording medium.

[0064] The program may be distributed by, for example, selling, transferring, lending, etc. portable recording media such as DVDs and CD-ROMs on which the program is recorded. Furthermore, the program may be stored in a storage device of a server computer, and then transferred from the server computer to other computers via a network, thereby distributing the program.

[0065] A computer that executes such a program may first temporarily store the program recorded on a portable recording medium or transferred from a server computer in its own storage device. Then, when executing a process, the computer reads the program stored on its own recording medium and executes the process in accordance with the read program. Alternatively, the computer may read the program directly from a portable recording medium and execute the process in accordance with the program. Furthermore, the computer may execute the process in accordance with the program each time a program is transferred from a server computer to the computer. Alternatively, the server computer may not transfer the program to the computer, but may instead execute the process through a so-called ASP (Application Service Provider) service, which realizes the processing function by issuing an execution instruction and obtaining the results. Furthermore, the server computer may execute the process at the terminal using a so-called SaaS (Software as a Service) service, which allows users to use part of a server computer along with the program. In this embodiment, the program includes information used for processing by an electronic computer that is equivalent to a program (such as data that is not a direct instruction to a computer but has properties that dictate computer processing).

[0066] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the device is configured by executing a predetermined program on a computer, but at least a part of the processing contents may be realized by hardware.

Claims

1. A swing efficiency index calculation device comprising: an index calculation unit that calculates an index representing the efficiency of a golf swing using the magnitude of the angular velocity of the long axis of the leading arm in a golf swing and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the long axis of the club in the golf swing, wherein the index has a larger value the greater the relative angular velocity of the club with respect to the leading arm, and the greater the magnitude of the angular velocity of the long axis of the leading arm in the golf swing.

2. A swing efficiency index calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the index is calculated by multiplying the magnitude of the difference between the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the club by the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm.

3. The swing efficiency index calculation device according to claim 1, further comprising a feedback information generation unit that generates feedback information for the golf swing based on the index.

4. The swing efficiency index calculation device according to claim 3, wherein the feedback information is a presentation sound that changes according to the index.

5. A swing efficiency index calculation device according to any one of claims 4 to 10, further comprising: an impact detection unit that detects an impact in the golf swing; and a feedback control unit that stops the presentation of the presentation sound after the impact is detected.

6. The swing efficiency index calculation device of claim 3, wherein the feedback information is visual information about at least one of the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the leading arm, the magnitude of the angular velocity of the major axis of the club, the index, and a sound signal generated by the golf swing.

7. A swing efficiency index calculation method, comprising: an index calculation step in which an index calculation unit calculates an index representing the efficiency of the golf swing using the magnitude of the angular velocity of the long axis of the leading arm in a golf swing and the magnitude of the angular velocity of the long axis of the club in the golf swing, wherein the index has a larger value the greater the relative angular velocity of the club with respect to the leading arm, and the greater the magnitude of the angular velocity of the long axis of the leading arm in the golf swing.

8. A program for causing a computer to execute each step of the swing efficiency index calculation method of claim 7.

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