TRACKING OF HANDHELD SPORTING IMPLEMENTS USING COMPUTER VISION

A path and/or orientation of object approaching an athlete is tracked using two or more cameras. At least two sets of video images of the object are obtained using at least two different cameras having different positions. Motion regions within video images are identified, and candidate locations in 2D space of the object is/are identified within the motion region(s). Based thereon, a probable location in 3D space of the identifiable portion is identified, for each of a plurality of instants during which the object was approaching. A piecewise 3D trajectory of at least the identifiable portion of the object is approximated from the probable locations in 3D space of the object for multiple instants during which the object was approaching the athlete. A graphical representation of the 3D trajectory of the object is incorporated into at least one of the sets of video images.