Michael Tracey

Title: Michael Tracey - Innovator in Golf Technology

Introduction

Michael Tracey is an accomplished inventor based in Arlington, VA (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of sports technology, particularly in golf. His innovative approach has led to the development of a unique apparatus that enhances the understanding of golfer dynamics during a swing.

Latest Patents

Michael Tracey holds a patent for an "Apparatus and method for measuring reaction forces and weight shifts." This force plate data acquisition system is designed to measure, process, and analyze the vertical reaction forces and various weight shifts between the ground and a golfer's feet during a swing. The system utilizes plates supported on cantilever beams through ball bearings, which are attached to a rigid frame and instrumented with strain gauges configured in a Wheatstone half bridge arrangement. An eight-channel strain gauge data acquisition board in a central processing unit records strain information. The data collection can be independent or controlled by a motion analysis system to provide synchronous foot force and video information. A set of BASIC programs collects strain readings from the foot plates, processes the data, relates beam deflections to applied load, and plots reaction force and weight shift information on the computer screen. The graphs produced include total vertical reaction force, foot-to-foot weight shift, heel-to-toe weight shift, outside-to-instep weight shift, and the speeds of each. The data can also be normalized for comparison purposes.

Career Highlights

Michael Tracey is currently associated with the U.S. Golf Association, where he applies his expertise in golf technology. His work has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of biomechanics in golf, which can lead to improved performance for golfers at all levels.

Collaborations

Michael has collaborated with notable colleagues such as Steven Manuel Nesbit and Terry A Hartzell. Their combined efforts have contributed to the development of innovative solutions in the field of golf technology.

Conclusion

Michael Tracey is a pioneering inventor whose work in measuring reaction forces and weight shifts has the potential to revolutionize golf training and performance analysis. His contributions continue to impact the sport positively.