GB2268080A - Sports teaching system - Google Patents

Abstract

A sports teaching system comprises two cameras (11, 12) mounted to provide images from two directions of a person performing a golf swing which are displayed on at least one display monitor (14 or 16). A first video recorder (17) records images received from one or both of the cameras and a second video recorder (18) continuously records images received from the cameras (11, 12) or the first recorder (17). The display monitor can be linked to a microprocessor arrangement or computer which allows images displayed on the monitor (14, 16) to be mapped and the mappings to be stored. The mappings can be subsequently retrieved and superimposed on an image displayed on the monitor (14, 16) for teaching purposes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPORTS TEACHING SYSTEM This invention relates to a sports teaching system and more particularly, although not exclusively, to such a system for teaching golf.

The teaching or coaching of a person in the game of golf commonly takes place on a practice range and this teaching or coaching is usually undertaken by a qualified professional golfer. Until recently the teaching or coaching was performed by the professional golfer verbally instructing the person how to execute the correct movements for producing a better golf swing, demonstrating the correct movements by performing them himself or by assisting the person to perform the correct movements by guiding him whilst he is swinging the golf club to perform these movements.

Recently it has become common for professional golfers to utilise a hand held video camera whilst teaching, to take images of the person being taught swinging the golf club, it being possible then to play back the video subsequent to a lesson to give the person a visual indication of his swing and from which the professional golfer can identify the person's swing faults.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which is an improvement over the abovementioned prior art systems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention therefore there is provided a sports teaching system comprising one or more cameras mounted for viewing of a person performing a sporting action, at least one display means to display visual images of said person by said camera and at least one recorder means linked to said camera and said display means to record visual images received from said camera and to play back such recorded images on said display means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a sports teaching system comprising one or more cameras mounted for viewing of a person performing a sporting action, at least one display means mounted for viewing by said person whilst performing a sporting action to display visual images of said person performing said sporting action received by said camera and at least two recorder means linked to said camera and said display means, a first of said recorder means being actuable to record visual images received from said camera and to play back such recorded images on said display means and a second of said recorder means being actuable to continuously record visual images received from either said camera or said first recording means.

With this arrangement it is possible for a person being taught to be given a visual indication of their performance both uncorrected and corrected and since it is possible for a person to view himself whilst performing the actions, the person can sense the physical feel of the uncorrected and corrected movements.

Preferably two cameras are provided, one mounted to view a person from a first direction and a second mounted to view a person from a second direction. Preferably the first and second directions are substantially orthogonal to each other. Said first direction may be so as to view the person from the front and the second direction may be so as to view the person from one side.

Said one or more camera may comprise a high resolution video camera.

The display means may preferably comprise a visual display unit (VDU) or a television.

The first recorder means may comprise a high quality high resolution video recorder and the second recorder means may comprise a conventional video recorder.

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which shows a schematic representation of one system according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a sports teaching system 10 comprising first and second video cameras 11, 12 to receive visual images of a person performing a golf swing on mat 13. First and second display monitors 14, 16 are connected to the cameras 11, 12 so as to be capable of displaying the visual images received thereby. The cameras 11, 12 are also connected to first and second video recorders 17, 18 which record visual images received by the cameras in a manner to be hereinafter described. The recorders can be situated locally or can be situated remote therefrom.

The first and second video cameras 11, 12 comprise high resolution video cameras and are mounted so as to view a person on the mat from respectively a first direction indicated by arrow X and a second direction indicated by arrow Y, the directions indicated by the arrows X and Y being substantially orthogonal of each other.

The first and second display monitors 14, 16 are linked to the first and second video cameras 11, 12 respectively and operate to display the visual information received from the video cameras 11, 12. Each display monitor 14, 16 can be adapted to display visual images received from either or both of the video cameras and to enable this to be achieved, a switching arrangement (not shown) can be provided.

The first video recorder 17 comprises a high quality, high resolution video recorder which is linked to both first and second cameras to receive visual images therefrom. The first video recorder 17 can receive images either from one or both of the first and second video cameras and, once again, a switching arrangement (not shown) can be provided to allow this to be achieved.

The first video recorder 17 is operable to allow playback of recorded images at reduced speed, or even to freeze images, without significant loss of resolution thereof for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The second video recorder 18 comprises a conventional video recorder and is linked to the first video recorder 17. The second video recorder 18 is also connected to the first video recorder 17 to allow the images being played back via the first video recorder 17 to be recorded by the second video recorder 18 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

In use the system operates as follows: The person undertaking a lesson from a professional golfer stands on the mat in front of a net 19 facing the first camera 11. The person makes one or more swings with a golf club and strikes the golf balls off the mat 13 into the net 19. Whilst the person is proceeding in this way, his actions are watched by the golf professional and are viewed by the first and second video cameras 11, 12 -and the visual images received by one of the cameras 11, 12 are recorded on the first video recorder 17. A switching arrangement is provided which allows switching between the cameras 11, 12 so that images from different directions can be recorded as desired. The information received by the first and second cameras 11, 12 is also displayed respectively on first and second monitors 14, 16.The second video recorder 18 operates to record in a continuous manner all visual images received from the first video recorder 17 as will be described hereinafter.

Once a person's swing has been recorded by the first video recorder 17, the professional is able to indicate to the person his swing faults. In order to assist him in doing so, the professional can rewind the video tape on the first recorder 17 and can play back the recording of the person swinging the golf club and striking the balls on either the first or second display monitor, or both, at a reduced speed or can freeze the image. Since the first video recorder 17 is a high quality, high resolution recorder, it means that the image played back at reduced speed or the frozen image still retains its high level of resolution and is thus clear for viewing purposes. Whilst the professional is playing back the recording from the first video recorder 17, whether at reduced speed or not, and is pointing out the errors in the person's swing, the visual images from the first video recorder 17 being played back are recorded on the second video recorder 18 which, as previously described, is continuously recording, via the connection between the recorders. The second video recorder also records the professional's verbal comments by way of a microphone arrangement (not shown) connected to the second recorder.

This process can be repeated as often as necessary with all visual images and verbal comments being recorded on the second video recorder 18.

The first video recorder can also be linked to a suitably programmed computer or microprocessor based apparatus which allows an image displayed on either the first or second display monitor 14 or 16 to be mapped so as to create the outline of a part of the whole thereof, which outline can be stored and can be called up at any subsequent time and superimposed on the image displayed on either of the display monitors 14 or 16.Thus for example, when an image of a person's swing is being displayed on any one of the monitors 14 or 16, it is possible for the image to be frozen and the outline of a part or all of the image to be drawn by way of superimposition of computer generated lines over the frozen image either manually by the computer operator, who may be the golf professional using, for example, a light pen or a computer control such as a mouse connected to the computer or alternatively the computer may be suitably programmed to recognise a relevant part of the displayed image, e.g. a person performing a golf swing and to create the outline of the image, and if desired to store the outline automatically.Thus an outline of a person in a particular swing position can be stored in the system and this would make it possible to compare the swings of a person on different occasions of use of the system so as to enable improvement to be visually identified. Furthermore, if desired, it would be possible to take outlines of one or more top tournament professionals' swing positions and to store them, these representing correct swings, and to superimpose such outlines on those displayed visual images of a person being taught so as to enable a comparison to be made with the swing movements of a top tournament professional.

Thus it will be appreciated that at the end of the lesson, the second video recorder 18 will have recorded all visual images and verbal comments received either from the cameras 11, 12 or the first video recorder 17 including outlines superimposed over the visual images using the computer.

It will be appreciated that should the professional wish to demonstrate to the person a correction to his swing or set-up, he can place the person in such corrected position and the person is then able both to visualise the correct position by looking at the image of him in the correct position in the first display monitor 14, with or without an outline superimposed over the image by the computer, and is also therefore able to identify for himself what the correct position feels like physically. It has been determined that if a person is able both to see and feel a corrected position of set-up or swing movement, there is an increased likelihood of that person being able to repeat that position or swing movement.

If desired, the switch arrangements herein described can be combined into a single switching system which allows the manual or automatic switching between the display of images received from one or both of the first and second video cameras on one or both of the display monitors and the switching system allowing the second video recorder to record the images being played back by the first video recorder 17. For example the switching system can comprise a suitably programmed computer or microprocessor arrangement which may be the computer mentioned above.

The term video camera as used herein is intended to cover closed circuit television on scanning cameras which do not incorporate a recording capability and is not intended to be restricted to a video camera of the conventional recording kind.

With this arrangement it is possible for the person being taught to be given a visual indication of their performance both corrected and uncorrected and since it is possible for the person to view himself whilst performing the actions, the person can sense the physical feeling of the corrected or uncorrected movement.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

The term "swing positions" as used herein is intended to cover any instantaneous position achieved by a part of a golfer's body during the performing of a golf swing including the set-up position and follow through position.

Claims (9)

1. A sports teaching system comprising one or more cameras mounted for viewing of a person performing a sporting action, at least one display means to display visual images of said person by said camera and at least one recorder means linked to said camera and said display means to record visual images received from said camera and to play back such recorded images on said display means

2.A sports teaching system comprising one or more cameras mounted for viewing of a person performing a sporting action, at least one display means to display visual images of said person by said camera and at least two recorder means linked to said camera and said display means, a first of said recorder means being actuable to record visual images received from said camera and to play back such recorded images on said display means and a second of said recorder means being actuable to continuously record visual images received from either said camera or said first recording means.

3. A sports teaching system according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein two cameras are provided, one mounted to view a person from a first direction and a second mounted to view a person from a second direction.

4. A sports teaching system according to claim 3 wherein the first and second directions are substantially orthogonal to each other.

5. A sports teaching system according to claim 4 wherein said first direction is so as to view a person from the front and said second direction is so as to view the person from one side.

6. A sports teaching system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said display means and said cameras are linked to a control system.

7. A sports teaching system according to claim 6 wherein said control system is operable to allow a whole or part of a displayed image to be mapped and said mapped image to be stored for subsequent retrieval.

8. A sports teaching system according to claim 7 wherein said stored mapped images can be retrieved and superimposed over an image displayed on said display means.

9. A sports teaching system according to claim 1 or claim 2 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.