System, method, and apparatus for measuring golf club deformation

Abstract

Provided is a system for measuring golf club deformation that can easily measure golf club deformation during a golfer's golf swing as usual. A measurement system ( 1 ) according to the present invention is provided with an image pickup apparatus ( 4 ), attached to a golf club ( 3 ) and facing a direction that includes at least one identifier attached to the golf club ( 3 ) for specification of a position on the golf club ( 3 ), and with a measurement apparatus ( 2 ) that measures the golf club deformation based on position information of the at least one identifier, the position information being acquired from an image of the golf club captured by the image pickup apparatus ( 4 ) during a swing.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A system for measuring golf club deformation during a swing of a golf club by a golfer, comprising:
 an image pickup apparatus attached to the golf club and facing a direction that includes at least one identifier attached to the golf club for specification of a position on the golf club; and   a measurement apparatus configured to measure the golf club deformation based on position information of the at least one identifier, the position information being acquired from an image of the golf club captured by the image pickup apparatus during the swing.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the measurement apparatus comprises:   an image acquisition unit configured to acquire the image of the golf club during the swing from the image pickup apparatus;   a position information acquisition unit configured to recognize the at least one identifier in the acquired image and to acquire position information of the recognized at least one identifier; and   a measurement unit configured to measure the golf club deformation based on the acquired position information.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one identifier is provided on a head of the golf club. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the golf club deformation is at least one of movement of a head and flex of a shaft of the golf club. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the image pickup apparatus weighs less than 90 g. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the image pickup apparatus is attached immediately below or near a grip of the golf club. 
     
     
         15 . A method for measuring golf club deformation during a swing of a golf club by a golfer, comprising:
 capturing an image of the golf club with an image pickup apparatus during a golf swing using the golf club, the golf club including at least one identifier for specification of a position on the golf club and having the image pickup apparatus attached thereto facing a direction that includes the at least one identifier;   acquiring the image of the golf club during the swing from the image pickup apparatus;   recognizing the at least one identifier in the image captured by the image pickup apparatus and acquiring position information of the recognized at least one identifier; and   determining the golf club deformation based on the acquired position information.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for measuring golf club deformation during a swing of a golf club by a golfer, wherein
 the apparatus measures the golf club deformation based on position information of at least one identifier attached to the golf club for specification of a position on the golf club, the position information being acquired from an image of the golf club captured during the swing by an image pickup apparatus attached to the golf club and facing a direction that includes the at least one identifier.