Golf swing motion detection using an inertial-sensor-based portable instrument

This paper presents an inertial-sensor-based portable instrument and its associated swing motion detection algorithm to detect the following several major stages of a full golf swing motion: address, back swing, top of swing, down swing, impact, follow through, and finish. The portable instrument consisting of a microcontroller, a triaxial accelerometer, a triaxial gyroscope, and a Bluetooth wireless transmission module can be mounted on the golf club to measure swing motion signals. A swing motion detection algorithm composed of the procedures of signal collection, signal preprocessing, and swing motion segmentation has been developed for recognizing golf swing motion stages. Experimental results show that the portable instrument with its swing motion detection algorithm is a promising tool for serving as a training assistant tool for golfers.