Takomo

Context

This project was completed as part of a half-semester assignment for the Human-Computer Interaction course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Over several weeks, the design process progressed from initial UX research and contextual inquiry to usability testing and the creation of a high-fidelity prototype. The final design, developed in Figma, was crafted to align seamlessly with Takomo Golf's existing brand identity and website template.

Behind the Design Process

Type: Group Project

Role: UX Designer

Industry: Sports Tech

Duration: September – October 2024

Problem

The process of fitting golf clubs can be inaccessible for many golfers due to the lack of convenient online tools. Existing tools often feel impersonal, leaving users unsure about the recommendations they receive. Takomo Golf’s website lacked this feature altogether, limiting its ability to compete with larger brands offering these services.

Goal

Design and prototype an online fitting application that seamlessly integrates with Takomo Golf’s existing site (both visually and functionally) and helps golfers of all skill levels select the best clubs for their game.

Contextual Inquiry

We conducted a contextual inquiry with primary users (experienced golfers) and secondary users (new golfers), excluding non-golfers. After the interviews, we created models (flow, sequence, and cultural) to map user interactions and uncover insights, ensuring the design met the needs of active golfers.

Primary Users

Experienced Golfers

Secondary Users

New Golfers

Unexpected Users

Non golfers

Maps

Findings

Golfers want detailed recommendations to justify high-cost purchases, but limited questions reduce confidence. A clean, intuitive design is essential for usability, while trust in recommendations prevents users from seeking validation elsewhere. The tool’s flexibility for home use is convenient but can lead to mistakes if the process isn’t clear.

🧐

Detailed recommendations

🫧

Clean design

🤝

Trust

🫥

Clear

Takeaway

A key takeaway from our contextual inquiry, models, and findings was the importance of creating a tool that combines detailed, trust-building recommendations, a simple and intuitive interface, and clear guidance throughout the process. Addressing these elements would ensure the tool meets the diverse needs of both experienced and new golfers while maintaining accessibility and usability in various settings.

HMW Statment

How might we create a trustworthy and user-friendly online golf fitting tool that provides personalized recommendations?

Our Approach

A step-by-step web-based design was the best solution to address user needs for an intuitive and trustworthy online golf fitting tool. This format allowed users to navigate easily, track their progress, and make informed decisions, all while maintaining consistency with Takomo Golf’s brand identity.
We incorporated user feedback and implemented features to enhance clarity, trust, and usability throughout the tool.

Key Points:

Clear step-by-step pages with progress indicators and back buttons for easy navigation.
Detailed club recommendations with specs for options like IRON 101T and comparisons to alternatives like IRON 201.
A clean layout with a simple color palette, large buttons, and labels to simplify the user journey.
Transparent explanations to build trust and confidence in the recommendations.

Low-Fidelity Screens & Prototype

The low-fidelity prototyping phase began with sketching wireframes to outline the user journey and establish a clear structure for the online fitting tool. These wireframes guided the creation of interactive low-fi designs, focusing on simple layouts, intuitive navigation, and essential input fields like sliders and dropdowns. This stage allowed us to test the user flow and identify pain points early, setting a solid foundation for refinement in the high-fidelity phase.

Final Screens & Prototype

Our final prototype reflects user insights and fully aligns with Takomo Golf's brand identity. We streamlined the experience by removing the AI swing analysis, refining question wording, and applying a cohesive color scheme and typography from the Takomo style guide. Each screen features a background image that immerses users in a lush golf course, making it feel like a real professional iron fitting. The result is a clean, user-friendly interface that delivers personalized iron recommendations, bridging convenience and quality.

Get Started Page

Step 1: Age & Gender Helps match club weight, shaft, and forgiveness to the golfer’s strength, flexibility, and swing tendencies.

Step 2: Hand & Height Ensures correct club orientation and fit by matching club length and lie angle to the golfer’s height and dominant hand.

Step 3: Handicap or Typical Score A golfer’s handicap or average score provides insight into their skill level. Higher-handicap players may benefit from more forgiving irons with larger sweet spots, while lower-handicap players may need more precision and workability in their clubs.

Step 4: Longest Iron You Can Hit This question helps assess a golfer’s ability to hit longer irons, which require more ball-striking skill. Players who struggle with long irons may be better suited for hybrids or higher-lofted irons, while better ball strikers may prefer traditional long irons.

Step 5: Distance Your 7-Iron Carries The carry distance of a 7-iron is a strong indicator of a golfer’s overall power and swing speed. This data helps fitters determine loft gaps, shaft flex, and clubhead design that will best optimize distance and control.

Step 6: Top 3 Iron Characteristics By selecting their preferred characteristics, such as forgiveness, feel, or workability, golfers can prioritize what matters most to their game. This allows the fitting to be customized to match their playing style and personal preferences.

Step 8: Shot Shape Shot shape helps fitters understand a golfer’s natural ball movement (fade, draw, or straight). This information can be used to recommend irons with weighting or offset that help correct ball flight or enhance natural shot tendencies.

Step 7: Ball Flight A golfer’s typical ball flight—whether high, low, or mid—affects the recommended iron set. Players who hit the ball too high may benefit from stronger-lofted clubs, while those who struggle to get the ball in the air may need irons with a lower center of gravity.

Step 9: Swing Speed Swing speed directly influences shaft flex and club selection. A faster swing speed often requires a stiffer shaft for control, while a slower swing speed benefits from more flexible shafts that help generate additional launch and distance.

Page 10: Iron Recommendations Based on all collected data, the final page provides three tailored iron recommendations that best suit the golfer’s physical attributes, skill level, and playing preferences. These recommendations optimize performance, consistency, and overall enjoyment of the game.