Golf Club Fitting Project Revised Needs

For about four years now I have been listening to (and far overspending my original budget already) one contractor after another tell me how much better they feel inertial-type sensors would be for this project (over video for example), yet not one entity to date has been able to deliver even the crudest prototype that operates successfully. So I need to look further into other possibilities.

Briefly reviewing, this part of the project comprises first accurately tracking/logging golf club movement data (specifically along the plane responsible for weight sensations) before any part of a golf swing is begun (the pre-swing period). Every swing, including every practice swing made, has its own pre-swing period. The effective clubhead weight sensed by a golfer during this period helps to regulate the entire subsequent golf swing.

Once this club motion, which can be extremely subtle, is precisely captured, the data needs to be fed through an appropriately designed algorithm(s) to determine a rotation point location along the length of the club. The location can vary significantly from golfer to golfer even using the same exact golf club (with some golfers not producing one at all). This advanced golf club specification, named waggle weight, will help uncounted golfers swing and play better. But the overall system can go nowhere until the pre-swing club movements of golfers can be accurately and comprehensively tracked and analyzed.

The crude attached PDF document has been posted here previously and contains excruciating details of previous suggestions, attempts, experiences, and partial work to date, all of which have failed miserably to date. Initially browsing through just the images and videos linked through the document might help one to understand the project fundamentals, with additional details in the text as desired. A couple of the most recent attempts and failures have not yet been added to the document.

But an important new visual can be seen at the address [login to view URL], this being a short video of a representative motion (other waggle variations/styles can be provided) of what needs to be skillfully analyzed. The video was taken with an older camera, perhaps at only 30fps. The relatively simple 2D view presented is really the only one needed to analyze for and determine the relevant rotation point location. While the club section containing the two fluorescent markers was zoomed in on as much as possible for hopefully better analysis, the total club length and distances from the grip end to each of the markers are known and not particularly difficult to measure and mark pretty accurately.

Though not in the majority, several have tried to steer me more toward video analysis and expressed how far technologies like computer vision have come, such as being able to expertly track and analyze the movement(s) of the two markers (or something comparable). Thus, I would particularly like those more experienced at video analysis to chime in if interested. It seems to me that the technology should be available to determine a rotation point location from this type of video with sufficient accuracy for this project to proceed, and perhaps be less costly and quicker to implement from this point.

I am, however, still quite open to discussing inertial-type sensors or other available technologies. Such sensors do have advantages, such as easier 3D analysis that can contain very valuable information, and the ability to track golfer waggling movement when out of camera range (which can happen frequently). Plus, even after multiple conversations many people just cannot seem to properly understand the basics of what is needed now. The newly added video link might help in that regard and might prompt different suggestions for sensor or other technology use. Time is critically of the essence. Thanks.

This disclosure and its attachments are copyrighted materials.

Algorithm Electronics Imaging Motion Graphics Software Development

Project ID: #12537136

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