Visualizing Mental State Announcing "Smart Light Golf"

On October 13, NTT West and Golf Digest Japan held a launch event at Grand Cube Osaka in Kita Ward, Osaka City, for "Smart Hikari Golf." This service utilizes vital data and IoT technology to "visualize" a golfer's mental state during a round.

This service visualizes a player's mental state by acquiring and analyzing vital data such as heart rate and acceleration through wearable sensors.

In golf, often called a mental sport, it aims to support skill improvement and provide new enjoyment by helping players understand and control their optimal mental state.

Additionally, with the cooperation of tour pro Shinichi Yokota, who holds a master's degree in medicine, the service interprets golfer psychology and displays appropriate advice to help players adjust their mental state.

The presentation event was attended by NTT West President Kazutoshi Murao, Pro Yokota, and guest Pro Miho Koga, featuring system explanations and hands-on demonstrations.

Regarding President Murao's first demo shot, Pro Yokota, having assessed his mental state, advised, "Don't fight the tension." His second shot was a nice one, drawing applause from the audience.

Noticing that his mental state was more tense for the second shot than the first, Yokota quipped, "You're the type who gets nervous when praised," drawing laughter from the audience.

Pro Koga demonstrated a professional shot in a very relaxed mental state. He shyly smiled, saying, "During matches, I actually scored better when I was a bit irritable. Seeing mental balance data for the first time is a little embarrassing."

Pro Yokota explained, "Everyone has their own optimal mental balance, so being relaxed doesn't always lead to better results." He added that discovering the balance when hitting satisfying shots is part of the fun of Smart Hikari Golf.