Armbands and related devices for golf skill training

Abstract

A golf skill training system includes two armbands to be securely wrapped around the upper arms of the golf player, where the two armbands are either linked to each other by an elastic band, or separately linked by two elastic bands to the player's torso at chest height. Sensors are provided on the elastic band or bands to measure the amount of stretch in each band. During a golf swing, the elastic band or bands may become stretched, and the amounts of stretch measured by the sensors serve to indicate whether the two arms are too far apart from each other or one or both arms are too far from the torso during the swing. Additional elastic bands with sensors may be provided. The golf skill training system further includes movement sensors attached to the player's waist and knees to measure the rotation and movement speed of these parts of the body. The data sensed by the armband sensors, the waist sensors and/or the knee sensors during a swing are synchronized and analyzed to determine the quality of the movements. The analyses may be performed in real time to provide feedback to the player. Wearable vibration devices may be integrated with the movement sensors or separately provided to communicate the feedback information to the player.

1 . A golf skill training system, comprising:
 an armband assembly configured to be worn by a golf player, the armband assembly including a first armband and a second armband each configured to be wrapped around an arm of the player, one or more elastic bands affixed to the first and second armbands and configured to be located in front of the player, and at least one sensor integrated in each of the one or more elastic bands and configured to measure an amount of stretch of the elastic band.   
     
     
         2 . The golf skill training system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more elastic bands include a first elastic band affixed to the first armband and configured to be affixed to a body harness, and a second elastic band affixed to the second armband and configured to be affixed to the body harness. 
     
     
         3 . The golf skill training system of  claim 2 , further including the body harness. 
     
     
         4 . The golf skill training system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more elastic bands further include a rear elastic band affixed to the first and second armbands, configured to be wrapped around a back of the player. 
     
     
         5 . The golf skill training system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more elastic bands include a single elastic band affixed to both the first and second armbands. 
     
     
         6 . The golf skill training system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more elastic bands further include a rear elastic band affixed to the first and second armbands, configured to be wrapped around a back of the player. 
     
     
         7 . The golf skill training system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more movement sensors configured to be attached to a waist of the player, and one or more movement sensors configured to be attached to each knee of the player. 
     
     
         8 . The golf skill training system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensors of the armband assembly and the movement sensors attached to the player's waist and knees are configured to transmit measurement data to a data processing system. 
     
     
         9 . The golf skill training system of  claim 8 , further comprising the data processing system, wherein the data processing system is programmed to analyze the measurement data received from the sensors to evaluate movements of the player and to generate suggestions for the player. 
     
     
         10 . The golf skill training system of  claim 9 , wherein the data processing system is integrated in one of the sensors of the armband assembly or one of the movement sensors. 
     
     
         11 . The golf skill training system of  claim 9 , further comprising one or more wearable vibration devices, communicatively coupled to the data processing system, and configured to generate vibrations to provide suggestions for the player. 
     
     
         12 . The golf skill training system of  claim 11 , wherein the wearable vibration devices are integrated with the movement sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The golf skill training system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensors of the armband assembly are configured to transmit measurement data to a data processing system. 
     
     
         14 . The golf skill training system of  claim 13 , further comprising the data processing system, wherein the data processing system is programmed to analyze the measurement data received from the sensors to evaluate movements of the player and to generate suggestions for the player. 
     
     
         15 . The golf skill training system of  claim 14 , wherein the data processing system is integrated in one of the sensors of the armband assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The golf skill training system of  claim 14 , further comprising one or more wearable vibration devices, communicatively coupled to the data processing system, and configured to generate vibrations to provide suggestions for the player.