This article was published on March 5, 2013

GAME GOLF launches IndieGoGo campaign for new gadget and app that helps you analyze every swing


GAME GOLF launches IndieGoGo campaign for new gadget and app that helps you analyze every swing

Golf is a notoriously difficult sport to master, but GAME GOLF, an app and wearable device that can track, analyse and share your individual performances, has launched an IndieGoGo campaign today to fund its product and help you improve.

The solution, created by Active Mind Technology, starts with a small, almost cylindrical device called GAME that is clipped onto the player’s belt and tapped at the bottom. A series of secondary devices, which look like small discs, then fit into the top of the user’s golf clubs for additional data tracking.

When players are out on the green, they simply tap the top of the club’s handle against the GAME device sitting on their belt, letting them know that they’re about to retrieve a ball or start a new hole.

gamegolf1

The <3 of EU tech

The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!

Otherwise, GAME GOLF tracks all of the user’s data automatically, using a combination of positional technology, motion sensors and near field communication (NFC). All of it is then uploaded to the official app, where it can be reviewed or shared with other players.

The app can be used to review the trajectory of each shot – shown using Google Maps – as well as a whole host of counters for the number of shots taken, the par of the hole and more.

Active Mind Technology says GAME GOLF tracks all of the most important elements of the sport, including club-by-club performance, fairway accuracy, greens in regulation and putting – all of which are essential for knowing how to improve the next time you play.

The app also shows an overall Game Score that looks similar to the NikeFuel metric employed by Nike for its various fitness apps and gadgets – although it’s worth noting that GAME GOLF also uses a badge system for milestones and achievements, similar to Foursquare.

gamegolf2

GAME GOLF owners will have a profile, display picture and profile bio, which can be used to take part in leaderboards or post new activity to the app’s internal stream and other social networks.

The hardware itself has been designed by Yves Behar, CEO of fuseproject and chief creative officer at Jawbone, along with the rest of the fuseproject team – and it really shows. “The design of the GAME GOLF app and product has been closely integrated: a beautiful and dynamic presentation of play data, easy and fun ways to share, non-disruptive hardware and experience,” Béhar said.

The only concern revolves around battery life. Active Mind Technology suggests that it can last two rounds on a single charge – which isn’t particularly impressive.

Otherwise though, if you’re a keen golfer and want to improve your performance – this could be a perfect solution for working out how to improve your game and keep you motivated with each new round.

Active Mind Technology says GAME GOLF is the first in a series of devices that will be launched for soccer, cycling, swimming, biking, and other sports.

Image Credit: ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images & GAME GOLF

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.