More and more, technology is becoming a pivotal part of golf. From launch monitors to wearables to tiny sensors that can track how golfers play, technology is giving golfers more information that helps them improve and gain insight into the game.
Microsoft continues to be at the forefront of golf technology, having worked with TaylorMade on using its Microsoft Band product for game tracking, working with the PGA Tour to improved ShotLink and putt tracking inside the ropes, and now working with Bryson DeChambeau to develop smart-grip technology.
DeChambeau was looking for a way to use technology to figure out his grip placement and pressure on every shot, then being able to compare that data to shot performance to come up with an ideal grip for his swing that could be repeatable. Microsoft was game to the challenge, working with a wearable company called Sensoria to develop a smart grip that can track that data.
Eight sensors in the smart JumboMax grip work with a Sensoria Core unit, which takes up less than a square inch, to deliver real-time information about grip presence and pressure. It's visualized on a Web-based app using Microsoft's Azure cloud platform. In addition to the grip pressure, a bunch of club movement data is sent over low-energy Bluetooth to the app.