Performance Index Modeling for Golf Greenside Bunker Shots: IMU Sensor based Approach

There has been substantial scientific experimental research undertaken with the aim of determining factors that contribute to club-head speed while few on effects of club-head speed on drives, irons shot and putts in the game of golf. However, analysis of club-head velocity for an effective greenside bunker shot has not, and identification of associated key features for evaluation to obtain performance index relative to professional golfers (PG). Data from twenty-two (22) golfing subjects were analyzed through mathematical model that was applied at club-head peak velocity. For an effective greenside bunker shot, results indicated that PG delivered very high club-head speed at impact, low handicap golfers (LHG) delivered high club-head speed while novice golfers (NG) had low club-head speed. Result also showed that optimized performance index (OPI) value increased as the golfer's handicap index increased dramatically relative to PG golfers. The result of this study may serve as a novelty to the scientific analysis of an effective greenside bunker shot peak velocity and identification of golfer's performance index for skills enhancement through proper training guidelines.