Golf Swing Video Analysis for Club Head and Ball Flight Estimation

The patent creates a virtual copy of the golf swing analysis system through video processing. Instead of using physical measuring devices, the system captures swing videos and generates virtual measurement data by calculating feature amounts (club head position, club shaft angle, ball position) and converting them to estimated behavior parameters. This virtual copying approach maintains measurement precision while eliminating complex hardware requirements.

The patent replaces mechanical measuring devices with an information processing system that uses video cameras and computational algorithms. The mechanical measurement system is substituted by capturing visual data and processing it through feature extraction and conversion formulas to obtain estimated head speed, ball flight, and other parameters, thereby eliminating the need for specialized measuring equipment.

The system enables self-service swing analysis by allowing golfers to use their own smartphones or cameras to capture swing videos. The information processing apparatus automatically processes these videos, extracts features, and generates analysis results without requiring the user to operate complex measuring devices. The golfer simply points the camera at the swing and receives detailed feedback on head speed, ball flight, and technique.

The patent makes the swing analysis system universal by using standard video cameras and smartphones that everyone already possesses. Instead of requiring specialized measuring equipment, the system can be accessed by any golfer with a mobile device, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining measurement precision through sophisticated video processing algorithms.

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing conversion formulas that relate video-derived feature amounts to actual club head behavior parameters. These formulas are created through calibration and validation processes before actual swing analysis, ensuring that when the system processes swing videos, it can accurately convert visual features into precise estimates of head speed, angle, and ball flight without requiring complex real-time measurements.

The patent segments the swing analysis process into distinct stages: video capture, feature amount calculation (extracting club head position, club shaft angle, ball position), and conversion to estimated behavior parameters. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized independently, maintaining measurement precision while reducing overall system complexity. The feature extraction and conversion can be performed using standard computational algorithms rather than complex hardware.