13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Ball State lab helps analyze golf swing

Ball State lab helps analyze golf swing

Muncie - A specialized lab is helping athletes and doctors do a better job. It's where sports and science meet.

Kirsty O'Connor has a beautiful golf swing. It landed her a full ride to Ball State. Now with the help of biomechanic technology, her game is getting even better.

At a campus lab, her 1.5-second swing is dissected. The analysis requires a lot of data, some of which is collected through sensors on the floor - sort of like your Wii fit at home - and also through sensors placed on the athlete. They are little Styrofoam balls covered by reflective fabric.

High-speed motion capture cameras mounted around the room pick up on the 43 points of light on the athlete and take up to 480 frames per second. Computers use those points to map her swing, which her coach analyzes for quality of movement by studying the angles of the body.

"She has some limited mobility issues with the shape of her back and her spine," said Katherine Mowat, head coach.

Speed and weight shift are key to a long drive.

"At impact her weight transfer is about 50-50 when it really should be more like 80-20," said Mowat.

For Kirsty, the solution is enhanced stretching and strength exercises. Researchers say doctors are sending patients here for clinical help too.

"Individuals that have had stroke, functional outcomes after a rehabilitation, children with cerebral palsy, using gait analysis to direct treatment intervention, surgical approaches," said Eric Dugan, outlining some of the reasons that bring people to the lab.

While many sports are analyzed here, the speed and rotation in golf makes it ideal for a third analysis.

"For me to physically see what I'm doing wrong is easier to correct than being told what I am doing is wrong," said Kirsty.

The lab offers this analysis to the general public as well. Click here to learn more.