Biomechanical Analysis of Golf Swing Motion Using Hilbert-Huang Transform

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Science
• Motion Analysis

Background:

• Traditional golf swing analysis tools (high-speed cameras, Trackman) are expensive and inaccessible.
• Understanding biomechanical differences between straight and slice golf trajectories is crucial for improvement.
• Identifying key swing components causing slices can aid skill development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an affordable inertial motion capture system for accurate golf swing analysis.
• To differentiate between motions producing straight and slice golf trajectories.
• To conduct a biomechanical analysis of golf swings using the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT).

Main Methods:

• Utilized an affordable inertial motion capture system to record golf swing movements.
• Applied the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT) for detailed biomechanical analysis of recorded motions.
• Analyzed data from an average golfer, a single handicapper, and beginner golfers.

Main Results:

• Identified distinct differences in instantaneous frequency and amplitude between straight and slice trajectories at impact.
• For average golfers, increased head and left leg motion amplitudes at impact correlated with slice trajectories.
• Detected specific joint movements (hip, left arm) in single handicappers associated with slices; beginner swings showed variability.

Conclusions:

• The proposed HHT-based motion capture framework effectively distinguishes biomechanical differences in golf swings.
• The system can identify key movements contributing to slice trajectories across different skill levels.
• This approach offers a cost-effective solution to help golfers refine their technique for straighter shots.