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Bryson DeChambeau, Microsoft develop pressure-sensing grip

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Bryson DeChambeau, in a very Bryson DeChambeau move, joined forces with Microsoft and Seattle-startup Sensoria to work on a prototype “smart grip.” The grip is designed to analyze pressure applied throughout the swing.

The grip’s eight embedded sensors return real-time pressure data. It’s funneled through the cloud via Microsoft Azure, which ”graphically renders pressure of the hands in relation to the golf grip,” Microsoft noted in a blog post.

“The data collected from Bryson over time will be analyzed during future phases of the project in a machine-learning environment to build new intelligent golf-data streams, helping him determine the right grip and club usage, swing speed, rhythm, plane, and other performance and swing-mechanics variables,” Microsoft added in the post.

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Credit: Microsoft Technical Case Studies

And it seems Bryson DeChambeau wasn’t just some sort of guinea pig for Microsoft. Rather, Mike Downey, Principal Evangelist for Microsoft Sports Partnerships, discussed Bryson’s golf-related needs with the SMU alum. DeChambeau indicated that maintaining consistent grip pressure was important, and that there were no devices to measure the consistency of his pressure.

The smart grip Microsoft and Sensoria developed detects grip position and pressure levels throughout the swing, relaying data Microsoft Azure’s systems. That data was then rendered on a Microsoft Surface using XAMIL and Microsoft Visual Studio.

For the less technical among us, here’s what the rendering looked like.

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Credit: Microsoft Technical Case Studies

 

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Credit: Microsoft Technical Case Studies

And yes, the Smart Grips were built into DeChambeau’s existing JumboMax grips using a one inch square of embeddable microelectronics known as Sensoria Core.

Microsoft and the PGA Tour partnered in 2015 for a three-year deal, which saw Microsoft become the official operating system of the PGA Tour and its Surface tablets worked into the ShotLink shot tracking process.

Sensoria was founded in 2011 by former Microsoft employees. The Seattle-based company develops smart garments and IoE (Internet of Everything) wearable solutions.

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23 Comments

23 Comments

  1. Pingback: Golf Grip Pressure Guide - Get The Proper Grip Pressure Today - (MUST READ Before You Buy)

  2. Jim

    Dec 3, 2016 at 12:38 am

    I would rather have immediate feedback. If I’m griping too tight the grip should say “ouch or you are squeezing me too tight”. Seriously if I could feel a click when squeezing too tight that wouldn’t be a bad thing. Many times I catch myself holding on way too tight. Out.

  3. Grizz01

    Nov 28, 2016 at 3:18 pm

    This is really getting stupid.

  4. Harry

    Nov 28, 2016 at 1:35 pm

    The tech is cool, but Bryson should let someone else figure out what small changes affect before it hurts his game.

  5. Mr. Wedge

    Nov 28, 2016 at 12:40 pm

    Technology can be an invaluable tool. But sometimes it just goes overboard. This is one of those times.

  6. Jeff

    Nov 28, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    I think it would be great to have the ability to understand your grip pressure on your good shots and on your poor shots. No different than video. As visual creatures, we give lots of credence to things we can see, and we discount the things we can not see. This is why high speed video is so helpful to understanding how great players hit the ball. Having insight into non-visible aspects of the swing, like grip pressure and weight distribution is necessary to truly understand the golf swing.
    This could be very helpful in the short game, where feel is easier for average players to describe.
    Also, the data is transferred via XAML – not XAIML – https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc295302.aspx

  7. HarlyD

    Nov 26, 2016 at 11:04 pm

    Get a load of dat bat handle on his driver! Looks like a Louisville Slugger. What, 18 wraps of tape, or what?! Sheesh. Ain’t no feel in that thing!

  8. Guia

    Nov 26, 2016 at 6:43 pm

    This young man is trying his best to become a Robot.

  9. Petewc

    Nov 26, 2016 at 1:08 pm

    He better start winning with these ideas or no one will care. Need results

    • M Smizzle

      Nov 26, 2016 at 2:18 pm

      It’s not about winning….
      It’s about selling

  10. Mike

    Nov 26, 2016 at 12:41 pm

    That’s pretty cool. They could put accelerometers in there as well to get tempo data. Very cool tech in my opinion

  11. Mark

    Nov 26, 2016 at 6:10 am

    Dear Lord this man is danger of complete IT overload. Golf is a game of variables not computer readouts. Feel, natural ability and imagination are major elements. How did Snead, Hogan, Arnie, Jack etc ever get the ball in the air without all this tech? Talent perhaps?

    • Desmond

      Nov 26, 2016 at 11:19 am

      We are in an age of data – some always thirst for more. It may not directly help us, but some frontiersmen will use this to gather data that denies or confirm the validity of constant grip pressure, and we will learn. I’d just rather learn a swing. This data “stuff” is interesting, but I’d rather read the results of the study and apply rather than be the tester.

  12. Boobsy McKiss

    Nov 26, 2016 at 1:24 am

    Unfortunately it is the future. We’re going to have sensors in our socks, shoes, underwear, shirt, hat, sunglasses, grips, shafts and clubheads. Even in our home everything is going to be connected to apps and databases, such as our refrigerator, light systems, toasters, oven, every water faucet in our house, walls (yes, walls), etc. Every moment in our lives is going to be recorded somehow, and that information is either going to be stored on Azure (Microsoft), AWS (Amazon), GCP (Google), or IBM Cloud. Sad but true. I have to agree with the Alfredo. We are on the edge of a major information overload in not just golf, but everything in our lives. Do we really need to pressure sensitive grips to enjoy the game?

  13. Alfredo Smith

    Nov 25, 2016 at 10:52 pm

    Information overload. Simple is more. See target, aim at target, hit ball to target…

  14. M Smizzle

    Nov 25, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    This could be a game changer. Bryson is a winner!

  15. Desmond

    Nov 25, 2016 at 11:34 am

    I think Bryson will get an argument about constant grip pressure and its importance – some think it’s best to increase pressure throughout the swing.

    In the late 90’s, I had a training aid with a sensor in the grip that beeped when pressure was too high — the forerunner …. I put this in the same eBay bin as well as the Hat that beeped when your head moved – that was a decent idea that did not take off.

    • M Smizzle

      Nov 25, 2016 at 12:37 pm

      Takes a pretty sorry person to get on golfwrx and just be a complete downer

      • Desmond

        Nov 26, 2016 at 1:55 am

        Lighten up, Francis, and see a shrink. You’ve got issues.

    • John

      Nov 26, 2016 at 1:07 pm

      This whole generation of “be positive” about everything has absolutely zero critical analysis abilit, they just accept everything

      • Degrees

        Nov 28, 2016 at 11:57 am

        You do realize this is not the “millennial” to be calling out for having “zero critical analysis abilit[y]” because he has a FRIGGING PHYSICS DEGREE, but sure, old man, from your La-Z-Boy, let’s yukk it up about these damn kids and their lack of critical thinking skills, when you have a young kid LITERALLY using his science degree to run an EXPERIMENT on a HYPOTHESIS he has.

        I can’t understand why GolfWRX STILL allows anonymous internet comments in this, the Golden Age of the Troll, when most everyone compelled to post something reveals themselves as a COMPLETE NINCOMPOOP.

  16. Feel the Bern

    Nov 25, 2016 at 10:54 am

    This is the future.

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.

From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.

Specs/ Additional Details

-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)

-Original Anser Design

-PING PP58 Grip

-Putter is built to standard specs.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes

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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.

The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.

On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.

Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.

At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.

“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.

Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.

“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.

“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.” 

In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.

On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.

According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.

“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.” 

See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here. 

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Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage

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Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.

It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.

When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”

“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”

 

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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.

Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:

“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.

“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.

“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.

“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.

“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”

So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.

His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.

See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here

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