ABOUT THE THE GARY PLAYER TECH LAB
The state-of-the-art Gary Player TechLab at the Vodacom
World of Golf could be mistaken for something out of
a science-fiction movie. Specific aspects of the golf swing
are measured on equipment that can be found nowhere
else in South Africa. techlab technical director Adriaan
Van Pletzen took us on a tour.
There are three main measurement tools used in the Techlab:
- The Dynamic Balance System
- The i-club Body Motion System
- The Sam PuttLab
These might seem like complicated systems at first, but once
you understand how they work, you will be amazed at the
improvements they can make to your swing and your putting.
1. The Dynamic Balance System
The Dynamic Balance System is a precise instructional tool
providing real-time
computer- assisted feedback, designed to
measure the golfer’s static weight distribution at address – and
dynamic weight transfer during the swing. This feedback
allows the teaching professional to explain, and the player to ‘feel’, the
correct weight transfer.
Your feet are placed on a piece of astroturf mat which has highly
sensitive pressure sensors underneath. These in turn are linked to a
computer which plots where the majority of your weight is throughout
the duration of your golf swing – for example, left foot or right
foot biased, heel or toe biased. The computer actually plots where the
majority of your weight is at specific points in the swing, and there
simply isn’t a better piece of equipment available to identify weight
transfer throughout the swing.
2. The i-Club Body Motion System
 This system displays a three-dimensional model of the golfer constructed
from a Body Motion System vest. The vest has a number of
key sensors inside which relay data to a computer that measures every
vital upper-body movement during the golf swing. Specifically, it
measures body motion in the following four key positions:
- Address
- Top of the swing
- Impact
- Finish
It’s amazing to see how the system picks up what the human eye and
video cameras are not able to record. The sensors determine what movement
your shoulders, lower torso, hips and spine are making throughout
the entire swing, as well as indicating which muscles are moving at what
point, so it basically shows you that if specific muscles are uncoiling in
the right sequence, you optimise your ball striking.
You are able to detect
if you are placing any unnecessary strain on specific parts of the body,
and all your swings can be played and replayed in real time to determine
where faults are occurring. For example, it can reveal that at the top of
your swing you were tilted too much to the right, or that throughout the
backswing you rotated your hips and shoulders together.
The BMS also has a Power Sequence Feature whereby the computer
measures acceleration and deceleration in the swing – and it can even
isolate shoulder speed so one is really able to get a full picture of what
a golfer is doing.
Another useful feature of the system is the dual modes through
which you gain feedback. In Training Mode, the system stops after
every shot, allowing you to analyse, and in Assessment Mode it allows
you to hit a number of shots while the system gathers data.
 3. The SAM PuttLab
The SAM PuttLab is an analysis and training system based on accurate
ultrasound measurements and is far more precise than any other similar
putting-measurement system. It analyses the 28 most important
parameters of your putting stroke and displays the results in easy-to-understand graphic reports. Within seconds the system gives you
individual feedback on your putting strokes. The analysis reveals even
the smallest details of your movements and allows you to develop
improvements and training strategies. The system measures critical
aspects such as:
-
Putter Path: Are you taking the putter back straight, inside
or outside and the path after you've struck the ball?
-
Puterhead rotation: Are you opening or closing the
clubface on impact?
-
Impact spot: Where on the putterface are you actually
making contact with the ball?
-
Timing: A measure of your putting stroke from
backswing to impact to followthrough.
This determines
whether you are accelerating or decelerating through the
putting stroke.
-
Face at address and impact: Are you returning the
face square?
The V1 Duel Camera System and FlightScope
 In addition, there are two more hi-tech systems the Techlab uses on
a regular basis. The V1 Dual Camera System uses two cameras which
are interlinked, one positioned face-on and the other down the target
line of the golfer. You are able to store and retrieve your digitally
recorded golf swing as well as use digital effects (zoom and video
overlay) to analyse your swing. The system also enables you to view
split-screen ‘side-by-side’ comparisons of your swing and compare it
to a professional, or previously recorded swing. As far as video
analysis goes, there’s nothing else like it.
FlightScope is an innovative, radar-powered ball-flight monitor system
that the Techlab has been using for some time at the Gary Player
Golf Experience. It’s a ball-tracking device which has radars that read
the ball on 400 000 different points during its flight compared to three
or four times during its launch by camera or other side-launch
monitors.
It accurately measures:
- Carry distance
- Ball launch speed
- Ball back and side spin
- Maximum height of flight
- Three-dimensional flight path
- Clubhead speed
- Elevation angle along entire trajectory
- Horizontal launch angle
The lab is used extensively by students of
the Gary Player School for Champions and one thing is for sure, the
more talented youngsters we have training in the Techlab, the more
champion golfers we will produce. The technology in the lab is mindblowing.
You need to see it to believe it, so if you are in the area, we
recommend you get over to the Vodacom World of Golf and have a
look for yourself. |
THE GARY PLAYER TECH LAB - The EXPERIENCE becomes a reality!
