Instruction
5 Reasons Why Golf Instruction Will Never Be The Same
I have been teaching golf full-time for more than 20 years and during this time I have seen countless training aids, swing theories and new technologies all claim to be the holy grail in golf instruction. Some of them were effective, while others didn’t work at all… remember the Kallassy Swing Magic?
Here’s five things that I think are the real deal in golf instruction and have the potential to make the game easier to learn and more fun to play. Thanks to them, golf instruction will never be the same… and that’s a good thing.
No. 1: Doppler Radar Launch Monitors
If you have read my GolfWRX instruction articles, you know that I use Trackman and feel that it has changed the way golf instructors see and view the swing. I’ve always stated, however, that Doppler Radar Launch Monitors like Trackman and FlightScope are tools that are only as useful as the teacher interpreting the information. As teachers learn more about the best ways to use them, fewer will be as obsessed with the position-perfect golf instruction that has become popular in recent decades. They’ll rely more on helping their students groove swings that are consistent and functional. That will lead to more individuality within golf swings on the professional tours and give students freedom to own more repeatable swings.
It doesn’t bother me if my top players have weird motions in their swings if they are able to repeat them under pressure. As time goes on, instructors will get away from trying to perfect a player’s launch monitors numbers, which can create robotic, doubt-filled swings. Golfers are not robots, and while it is good to see perfect numbers it’s more important to strive for consistency. No matter how good golfers are, they rarely can control their swing from day-to-day within 1 degree. Once instructors get past this boxed-in way of thinking, we’ll be off to the races.
No. 2: Gears Golf
3D Motion Analysis has been around for many years. In fact, I had one of the earliest systems in the 90’s and have been a huge fan of this technology ever since. The problem with past 3D Systems was that their club data didn’t show the whole picture. They assumed that the club shaft was an unbendable entity, giving us incorrect information as to how it would react, and impact point data was nonexistent. For that reason, we had no idea as to how much gear effect was occurring within each of the golfers’ shots. Then along came Gears Golf with solutions to both problems.
Gears takes into account how the body moves and gives accurate club data, including impact point. Because of that, there is no question as to what’s happening and how it’s occurring. As these systems become more popular, they will give instructors more insight into how the body and club work together and change golf instruction for the better.
The only downside of the technology? It must be enclosed in a special room, but one day that will not be the case. Consider me a fan!
No. 3: Force Plates
Like 3D Motion Analysis, center of gravity monitors and force plates have been around for many years, but now companies such as BodiTrak have allowed us to see how weight and pressure moves more accurately within the golf swing at a price that many instructors can actually afford.
We know that moving weight around in some fashion can add distance and power. The key is knowing how to move your weight and in what sequence your weight shift must occur so you can transition the club more effectively. We are learning that there are certain trace patterns of how the center of pressure moves, and as we continue to learn more, we will begin to see more trends among handicap levels and learn to improve golfers’ movements from the ground up.
No. 4: Golf BioSwing Dynamics
I was an exercise science major in college, so the role of the body within the golf swing has always been of interest to me.
In most cases, if golfers cannot move their bodies in a certain ways they will have trouble making swing changes. Programs such as the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) have done wonders to show us how golfers can train their bodies to be more functional and prevent long-term injuries. Such programs have been great for general golf fitness, but I feel that an understanding of what swings will work best for certain body types has been lacking… until now.
Mike Adams and E.A. Tischler have come up with a system called Golf BioSwing Dynamics that runs golfers through simple tests to determine how they move, what plane they will swing on, how much hip rotation they will have and so on. The instructor then uses this information to help teach the player how they will swing best from a biomechanical standpoint. The best part about this system is that it works with the training programs golfers are already using like TPI or the C.H.E.K Institute.
I spent two days learning about the system in a seminar last month, and it’s one of the most interesting things I have seen regarding mechanics since Homer Kelley came out with The Golfing Machine in 1969. Using their system, I can now understand how people tend to swing and what works best for their bodies from a biomechanical standpoint.
I have a feeling that Mike and E.A. are on to something, and that a better understanding of the golf swing through physical testing protocols will be the next great wave in instruction. I look forward to the day when we stop trying to force people into golf swings that counteract what their body wants to do naturally.
No. 5: The Next Generation of Instructors
The biggest change we’ll see over the next few generations? It will be the instructors themselves.
My generation of teachers has been fortunate to have so much revolutionary technology introduced during our peak, but we had to spend a lot of time experimenting with it so we knew how to best use it. We are on the downside of understanding how to use the new technologies and it’s because of this that we can mentor younger teachers better than ever before.
If I can help young teachers not make the same mistakes that I did when I was learning how to teach, then I am creating a better generation of teachers and this will continue generation after generation. The kids coming out of golf colleges have the internet and YouTube so they can learn whatever they want when they want to learn it. For that reason, they are more educated than we were when we started — they just lack the hours on the lesson tee honing their craft.
I think the next few generations of teachers will be better than we were and they will get there much faster than we ever did because they have people like us to train them. From a golf instruction standpoint, the game is and will continue to be in good hands.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Nick
Nov 13, 2014 at 1:03 pm
I think the million dollar question is how, with all this tech, the average golf score hasn’t moved the needle lower. I guess the answer is that data is just data unless you marry it with a solid plan for improvement and commitment to execute that plan and these tools only help with that so much.
tom stickney
Nov 13, 2014 at 2:04 pm
It’s been incorrect information from the instructors in the past (myself included!) until we knew more, inefficient practice from our students, and finally, 85% of the public does not take lessons thus the average handicap will never go down. But I take my share of the blame for sure, as I could have done more “coaching” in my early career rather than “teaching.”
James
Nov 12, 2014 at 9:25 am
My question is this, are instructors now going to use these tools to try and mold every golfer into the same patterns? That would be incorrect approach in my view. We are all built different, have physical limitations and so forth that drive the way we swing. Just seems to me the downside of modern teaching is someone like Trevino or Furyk or even Nicklaus would be told they must change their swings to some computer generated image to have success.
Tom Stickney
Nov 12, 2014 at 10:26 am
James…just the opposite. I let my students figure out how they can best move the number we need to change thus teaching individuality.
Mad-Mex
Nov 11, 2014 at 11:20 pm
I believe a warning should say that these are mere tools, you still NEED to TEACH how to CORRECT the flaws. you can get too involved with numbers these tools give, I have seen countless threads here were members do nothing but quote numbers! claiming their new boron-graphite-morybillidium shafted 460CC magnesium/beryllium driver combo has lowered their launch angle by .25 degrees and their rpm’s by 200,but never how this helped their game,, you cant teach athleticism or the “feel”. Being told by my teacher to try to “feel” like my left arm stay across my chest until it is pulled away after impact, did more to improve my scores (high 80’s to low 80’s with some high 70’s in a month and half)) Than all the video and numbers combined!!! Very nice article about what is out there.
tom stickney
Nov 12, 2014 at 12:17 am
Mad– Agree…if you don’t use the machines to teach the new “feel” to the student as well as how to audit if you are in the correct position then you are not doing them any favors….
jeff dantas
Nov 11, 2014 at 5:49 pm
A swing learning device is only as good as the one using it to teach others…the word Training Aid I assume means aiding in one’s training, yet the AIDS that are on the market Market do nothing like that.#theprocess check out the Sequence Stick for better information..
tom stickney
Nov 11, 2014 at 6:47 pm
And the training aids are only good if you remember the FEEL that they give you that’s different from your normal flawed motion
Frank McChrystal
Nov 11, 2014 at 3:29 pm
“The next generation of golf instructors will be better…….” Absolutely true that, there is only one direction they CAN go.
tom stickney
Nov 11, 2014 at 3:51 pm
You obviously have not had a good lesson experience to date…
JMaron
Nov 11, 2014 at 3:27 pm
“As time goes on, instructors will get away from trying to perfect a player’s launch monitors numbers, which can create robotic, doubt-filled swings. Golfers are not robots..”
Wow did that every hit home for me. I took some video lessons this winter and the pro’s whole process was about trying to get my numbers to fit Adam Scott and other pros in things like shoulder tilt. I went in thinking I had a pretty decent swing – came out completely self conscious. Worked my butt off trying to implement the changes but the results were a big decline in my ball striking numbers (fairways down 67 to 55).
I live in Canada – so I only get 6 months to practice outside. Took the lessons in March/April – gave up trying to implement those changes in Aug – started hitting it a little better at the end of the year, but the doubts are still there and I waffled back and forth trying to find my swing right through the end of the season.
tom stickney
Nov 11, 2014 at 3:52 pm
Agree…we have all been tied up trying to be something we are not…technology can be dangerous in the wrong hands
Barry S.
Nov 11, 2014 at 1:19 pm
No offense to anyone but IMO golf instruction is killing golf. Most of the teachers owe reparations to their students for junking up their golfing brains.
Form follows function.
tom stickney
Nov 11, 2014 at 3:54 pm
Barry–
Sadly there are good and bad teachers out there for sure…the problem is that we have no way to “test” all of us. If there was an accreditation process that was worth its weight, I’d be the first to sign up. The PGA of America is and always has done a poor job of training instructors.
Dennis Clark
Nov 11, 2014 at 4:04 pm
Truer words cannot be said…
Tom Stickney
Nov 12, 2014 at 10:26 am
D. Sad reality.
Oli Tucker
Nov 21, 2014 at 2:28 pm
Can’t comment in the PGA that side if the pond but coach education in golf a long way behind other sports.
Oli Tucker
Nov 21, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Great article.
Launch monitors just another teaching aid (a really good one). Down to the coach to control what information is used / shared with the player to help then reach their goals.
Matt
Nov 11, 2014 at 12:41 pm
Hi Tom, I’ve returned to the game recently and my irons + short game are ok considering my limited time to play, but struggling with consistency off the tee. Not a slice, hook, distance, equipment issue but topping it a few times each round on the tee only which can cost a lot of shots per round. I know the best medicine will be a few pro lessons, and I’m going to do that soon (just want a repeatable swing to bring me back to playing in the 80’s). So, I’m wondering if smart phone swing apps are helpful for time-strapped players like me, or perhaps something that should only really be used in conjunction with a coach?
tom stickney
Nov 11, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Anything is better than nothing; however, I’d start with a credible teacher in your area and use the app to support what you both are working on
ca1879
Nov 11, 2014 at 9:09 am
Tom – I agree that using a player’s innate swing tendencies is likely to increase as we understand them better, but a saying attributed to the great track coach Bill Bowerman comes to mind. He said, with respect to running form: “Do what’s natural as long as it’s efficient. If it’s not, then do what’s efficient until it’s natural.” Seems like that applies to the golf swing just as well.
Tom Stickney
Nov 11, 2014 at 9:37 am
Agree.
Pingback: This technology will lead to all golfers with perfect swings - The Mitchell Report
Chris
Nov 10, 2014 at 10:44 pm
More technology and yet scores and handicaps remain largely unchanged for your average joe. I’m sure there is a place for some technology but I question the benefit of sticking a 20 handicapper on a flightscope/trackman and filling his head with numbers relating to ball speed, spin and launch angle etc. The golf swing takes a second or so – how can we amateurs realistically expect to consciously change our impact parameters for more distance/better or a better ball flight?
The revolution that golf instruction needs is one of simplicity. I can tell how well or badly I’m hitting it by observing how my swing felt, the feel of ball on clubface, the position and angle of my divots and by observing the ball flight without having to analyse an avalanche of data.
Good golf is more art than science and I think instruction would benefit more from emphasising the development of touch and feel than on optimising ones trackman numbers. I’m sure touring pros can benefit by optimising the numbers but for the remaining %99 (the majority of the instruction consumers) analysing the data doesn’t make it any easier to make a swing improvement that leads to lower scores.
Tom Stickney
Nov 10, 2014 at 11:25 pm
It’s not about giving you the numbers. In fact I only use them to audit my own suggestions. If the numbers get worse then we need another feel. If you go to anyone and they fill your head with technical stuff I’d suggest you run the other way.
MikeOZ
Nov 11, 2014 at 7:18 am
yeah we are all like bubba watson and can work out our own swing. You sound just like any average golfer that is too stubborn to realise they need instruction. When you get it, you try it once, can’t make it work and go back to old habits.. thus your handicap remains the same.
Chris
Nov 11, 2014 at 7:59 pm
I’ve taken instruction and as a result gone from an 18 to 10 hcap but there wasn’t a launch monitor, 3D analysis or force plate in sight. I just checked forum recommendations and found a decent coach. I’m not against instruction at all but away from the lesson tee you have to be able to work on things yourself using ball flight and other feel based feedback.
tom stickney
Nov 13, 2014 at 4:54 pm
Agree totally chris
CD
Nov 11, 2014 at 1:53 pm
Why wouldn’t you want to optimise your numbers??? That means you’re improving ball striking?
You talk about conscious control – that’s half the problem, golf should be non-conscious. You don’t optimise your numbers by thinking about swinging on a path that is a precise degree! That’s madness! Do high handicappers seriously try to control impact consciously? I’m astonished. I’ve always felt you do it by feel and from proper, brain compatible suggestions. I’d want my coach to make a feel suggestion based on the calculated data not start talking 0.47474. Although I don’t immediately see the issue with knowing what you are doing either. I’m pretty open minded about that.
My only gripe with the article is I think you should strive for inconsistency not consistency, random applicable skill not ‘playing driving range’. Golf is a game of many different shots and you never have the same shot twice. I can’t think of one good golfer that wasn’t brilliant at being able to hit a full range of shots. I mean, the Opens are a fantastic test of ones ability to apply your skill in a multitude of conditions.
I agree with the basic premise of the article but it is interesting these are body and ball striking aids.
I think the biggest barrier to dropping handicaps are closed minded students, the distance-ego, and no-one takes enough playing lessons! Playing lessons IMO will cut you strokes time after time.
Chris
Nov 11, 2014 at 8:20 pm
Isn’t the reverse also true? that better ball striking = improved launch numbers? The article promotes the idea that the technology is going to revolutionise golf instruction. Sure it will further our understanding of swing mechanics etc. but I doubt that it will produce a vastly more reliable method of improving amatuer golfers over and above what good coaches have achieved in the past without the aid of video, 3d and radar.
I can see a time in the not too distant future when the range is full of personal launch monitors and people obsessing over reams of data after every shot.
Tom Stickney
Nov 11, 2014 at 9:38 pm
Chris. Better ball striking does not always mean better numbers overall. All depends on what your goal is.
Chris
Nov 12, 2014 at 12:19 am
Tom, do you care to elaborate on this? I can’t think of a circumstance where I would want to hit the ball worse in return for more optimal trackman numbers?
Tom Stickney
Nov 12, 2014 at 10:32 am
Chris…sure…what I was saying is that better numbers don’t always mean optimal results. Case in point former number one tour player hits 2-3 down with driver yet hits every fairway due to his higher spinloft numbers. Both values not “optimal” but functional for him.
tim
Nov 10, 2014 at 7:38 pm
This was a very interesting read. I have a question. How as a consumer of instruction can I be certain that my coach 1)uses these technologies and 2)is competent? I live in Indianapolis, Indiana if anyone knows of good high tech instructors.
Konnor
Nov 10, 2014 at 10:13 pm
Jeff Smith in Columbus Indiana, http://www.planeandsimplegolf.com/
Love everything he teaches and is well versed in numerous areas of technology. Helped shape countless players, myself included. Honestly recommend him to everyone I know. His website tells you everything you need to know. Not to mention an absolutely awesome indoor practice facility at Otter Creek.
More than worth the phone call!
Good luck!
Tom Stickney
Nov 10, 2014 at 10:25 pm
Konner– thx for the help.
tim
Nov 11, 2014 at 8:43 pm
Thanks Konnor! Columbus is a haul for me, but it sounds like it would be worth the drive.
Tom Stickney
Nov 10, 2014 at 10:25 pm
There are top teacher lists by golf, golf digest, golf for women, golf range association etc. And digest publishes a top teacher by state listing. Suggest you begin there.
tim
Nov 11, 2014 at 8:52 pm
Tom thanks for the response. I have not found the lists yet, but do these lists indicate the type of technology the instructors use? The lists I have seen just indicate the name of the instructor.
Tom Stickney
Nov 11, 2014 at 9:39 pm
You’ll have to contact them.
Brian
Nov 10, 2014 at 7:31 pm
Exceptional piece – brings back confidence for us who play well-enough but need to be tuned every now and then – but fear the pro due to the static and antiquated teaching methods which are usually presented in a no-exception manner.
Thank you –
Tom Stickney
Nov 10, 2014 at 10:26 pm
My pleasure brian
farmer
Nov 10, 2014 at 7:29 pm
As you pointed out, the key will be skilled use of these new tools. Buying a big box of Snap-On doesn’t make you a mechanic, all these tools, independently, will not make a great teacher.
Tom Stickney
Nov 10, 2014 at 10:22 pm
Farmer…the tech is only as good as the teacher using it.
Mike
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Tom, was the conference you talked about that E.A. Tischler and Mike Adams did their thing at in N.C.?
Tom Stickney
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:06 pm
They touched on it in nc, but they did a full class in phx
other paul
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:31 pm
You missed YouTube swing coaches like Mark Crossfield. I learned a lot about my swing from guys like him. Also learned a little about course management, and that there is no substitute for a flightscope/trackman and high speed camera.
Tom Stickney
Nov 10, 2014 at 4:06 pm
Good point!
Jeff
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:23 pm
I can’t say I fully understand any of those tools but I can say I feel like Tom Stickney has made me a more realistic student of golf. I don’t have the time or money to see a pro, and the only one near me is at a super expensive vacation lodge. But I watch instruction all the time and thanks to these articles I can take a drill outside, and know within 5 minutes if it’s gonna help me or if it feels foreign or forced. Thanks
And if IBF is the best pitchman you have for a strait driVing swing aid, your swing aid is toast.
Tom Stickney
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:32 pm
Thank you Jeff.
M. Norman
Nov 10, 2014 at 2:57 pm
A lil more shut at the top and less active hands is all we need in lessons.
Tom Stickney
Nov 10, 2014 at 3:32 pm
M…?
Tom Stickney
Nov 10, 2014 at 2:41 pm
Thx sir
Dan Sueltz
Nov 10, 2014 at 2:32 pm
And you, Tom, have been a pioneer in simplifying all of the data stuff so your students can learn and implement faster and easier.