Measuring the Golf Swing Pattern Using Motion Tape for Feedback and Fault Detection

Abstract

Golfers must hone the sequence of the golf swing for consistent and efficient results, where a good golf shot is both precise and accurate. It takes countless hours of practice to develop the skill, and methods such as video feedback and coaching serve as aids to the process. However, few methods outside of visual observations exist to identify factors in the swing that cause a poor shot. Most golf analysis equipment is expensive and requires extensive setup time. Some systems only measure the physics of the ball and are limited to the practice range, whereas wearable sensors for golf are limited to specific motions such as the wrist. To address these challenges, a fabric-based, on-body sensor was developed and investigated to assess biomechanical movements during the swing. The wearable sensor, herein referred to as Motion Tape (MT), is a low-profile, disposable, self-adhesive, skin-strain sensor formed by spray-coating piezoresistive graphene nanocomposites directly onto kinesiology tape (K-tape). The objective of this study is to use MT to identify key movements in the swing sequence at four body locations: wrist, flexor carpi, anterior deltoid, and torso. First, MT sensors were fabricated for testing. Second, a human subject test protocol recording the golf swing of an experienced golfer was designed and conducted with participants wearing four MT sensors at the aforementioned locations. Last, the test data were processed, and the results showed that MT was able to identify unique movements during the swing. The MT data was analyzed using machine learning algorithms to identify movement abnormalities associated with poor swings. This allows for analysis of swing tempo for direct feedback to the golfer for improved performance.