Instruction
GolfTEC’s groundbreaking study shows why you aren’t a pro golfer
GolfTEC has spent the past 21 years collecting and storing motion measurement data from more than 90 million golf swings and six million lessons. With the SwingTRU Motion Study, presented publicly in April, the company released the analysis of those findings, indicating how they’re turning Big Data into big results for their students — students who are dropping an average of seven strokes over the course of their lessons.
In broadest terms, crunching the data from the SwingTRU study identified six specific swing positions that correlate strongly to improvement: areas in which there are marked differences between elite amateurs/professionals and higher-handicap golfers. These include hip sway at the top of the swing, shoulder tilt at the top of the swing, hip sway at impact, hip turn at impact, shoulder tilt at impact and shoulder bend at the finish of the swing.
Of course, it’s important to mention that, for GolfTEC instructors, the positions and where individual students fit are merely references and points of departure in the course of a series of lessons. Here’s one of the six swing positions, hip turn at impact, highlighting the difference between high-handicapper and professional golfers at that moment in the golf swing.
The wealth of data from the largest-ever, fact-based study of golfers’ swings is staggering, and from an application standpoint, we’re just seeing the “tip of the iceberg,” says GolfTEC CEO Joe Assell. To learn more about the study, I spoke with Nick Clearwater, Senior Director of Instruction for the Centennial, Colorado-based company.
BA: How do you describe the study in a nutshell to a layman?
NC: The best way to describe the SwingTRU Motion Study is that it is the most fact-based analysis of the golf swing ever conducted. That is obviously a bold statement, but we say it because it is the first and only example of Big Data being applied to analyze the golf swing. What it proved was that there are specific body positions within the swing that directly correlate to handicap level and play a key role in improving distance, accuracy and consistent contact. In other words, the best players in the world routinely position their bodies in a very precise way, and the further golfers deviate from these positions, the higher their handicaps tend to be. While we will likely unveil additional findings from the study over time, the initial roll-out highlights six of these positions.
By understanding the specific movements correlated to swing and scoring success, it allows GolfTEC coaches to focus on those key motion elements that are proven to have the greatest impact on improvement. Essentially, we’re taking the guess work and theory out of instruction and focusing on just the facts.
[Clearwater indicated that for frequently asked questions and highlights with actual students, visit www.golftec.com/SwingTRU.]
BA: How was it done?
NC: Over the past 21 years, GolfTEC has collected and stored motion measurement data on more than 90 million golf swings, captured during more than six million lessons since 1995. In total, we’ve archived more than 225 terabytes of data, which is roughly equivalent to the entire library of iTunes HD movies. For the SwingTRU study, a statistically significant slice of this accumulated data was examined to learn the differences between how golfers of all handicaps – from tour players to aspiring students and beginners – move throughout the swing. Once we started diving into the data, which was about two years ago, we discovered patterns in how professionals and elite amateurs use their bodies as compared to higher-handicap golfers.
In terms of actually capturing and storing the motion data, we utilized our proprietary teaching technology that includes electromagnetic sensors strategically placed on the student to measure incredibly detailed movements in a three-dimensional space. In fact, the Polhemus® PATRIOT Digitizer that we use to capture pinpoint data of the golfer’s movement is the same electromagnetic technology the U.S. Olympic Committee has relied on to improve athlete performance.
BA: This doesn’t lead to a dreaded “method teaching” approach though, right?
NC: The phrase “method teaching” is often defined as instructing golfers to all swing the same regardless of their own unique problems. GolfTEC coaches always treat each individual golfer uniquely; we do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. This study simply does what no one else in golf can, which is use a large sample of golfers to compare how the average player at every handicap level moves their body relative to the average player you may see on the PGA Tour.
These findings are a tremendous resource for golfers that struggle with their own games. Simply understanding the six concepts outlined in this first version of the study would be a great way to begin learning the game, and also a great starting point for an experienced golfer wanting to get past a plateau in their improvement.
BA: What’s the application for the average golfer visiting GolfTEC?
NC: The SwingTRU Motion Study reinforces that every golfer should have their swing measured. Without those objective measurements, the average golfer may be severely missing the opportunity to lower their scores by assuming or guessing at what part of their swing needs work. GolfTEC coaches measure every client and use those motion measurements to solve the client’s individual golf problems.
Simply put, if you are the average golfer who wants to get better at the game, the very best initial step you can take is getting your swing measurements and comparing them to the swing measurements of the best golfers on the planet. That comparison will then give you a factual analysis for solving problems that ail your game (with your GolfTEC coach helping you every step of the way).
BA: Can you identify a few surprising/interesting/relevant findings?
NC: We believe many of these motion measurements will surprise golfers and instructors, which will go a long way to help to eliminate bad advice and common misinterpretations of the golf swing. For example, the commonly taught idea that the hips should move away from the target in the backswing to load “behind” the ball is a direct contradiction to the results found in the SwingTRU Motion Study. Professional golfers were found to move their hips more toward the target at the top of the swing than high handicappers.
Another example is how many less-skilled golfers make backswings without tilting their shoulders toward the ground because they’ve been told to keep their shoulders level during the backswing, or perhaps just don’t know any better. This directly contradicts what the best players do according to our study, which is quantified by measuring the average degrees of shoulder tilt in relation to skill level. A 30-handicap, in this case, tilts their shoulders 25 degrees at the top of the backswing, while a professional golfer tilts their shoulders 36 degrees.
These are just two examples of how the findings from the study can not only help to pinpoint an ideal starting block for improvement, but also help to dispel grossly misinterpreted information which has been taught and consumed for many years.
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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BON JOVI
May 26, 2016 at 1:32 am
Im not a pro bc I only hit my driver 220 yards…. My approach shots miss the mark too often, and my chipping isnt the best. Also putter is hot or cold (sometimes I actually putt like a pro)!
Other than that Im basically a pro
OH
May 25, 2016 at 10:24 am
While I’m sure there are plenty of great nuggets from this study they certainly didn’t shed any light on much of anything in this article. I’ve spent nearly 6 months in the GolfTec program and it shaved 8 strokes off my handicap, so I can attest that (with the right coach) you can improve. I’d love to see something more comprehensive from GolfTec on this study, though. Not just a couple of Q&A comments that don’t really tell us more than most people already know.
B. Parsons
May 23, 2016 at 1:30 pm
Dumb article only meant to drum up business. It’s more of an advertisement. Fail…
Nick
May 23, 2016 at 6:44 am
I wonder how big a difference there was between different pros in this study? did all pros show similar characteristics or is this an average with some quite big differences?
Pete
May 21, 2016 at 6:25 am
People get better and even good with, what they practice hard.
The knowledge and beliefs of golf not being a sport sits tight in the public. Therefore probably more than not an average golfer is not as athletic, as required to swing properly.
More so, i think there are some idioms many weekend players have heard over the years of their head moving or hitting down on or at the ball. All these facts of misinterpretations of what are causal to correct actions have driven hobbyists to faulty tracks on what to do.
The fundamental should have been told in a way, people really understand, that is is not desirable to hit down, but sweep the ball forward. The mental image will influence the action more than anything else. Detailed single adwise of the cause, instead of action will make people do wrong things and most defenately hinder them from getting better in ball striking, yet they get better in whacking the clubhead down.
All these empiric studies should be applied in teching. Not to point out, what is differen, but re-think and organize the methods to implement the right actions and mental images instead of the cause.
Gazza
May 21, 2016 at 5:27 am
How is this Ground breaking? All they are doing is quantifying (with Averages) what everyone who knows a thing about golf is aware of anyway.
Tour players have forward shaft lean of 5degress, you have -2 degrees… now that’s what you need to work on!
Justin Wells
May 24, 2016 at 12:01 pm
You really think the majority of golfers know this stuff? If you asked the average shaft lean question to 1,000 amateur golfers I think less than 10 would actually know the right answer (vs guessing correctly). The biggest problem I see with amateur golfers in buying new equipment is they do not pay enough attention to their shaft choice. It’s way beyond regular vs stiff at this point. The shaft lean you mentioned creates a de-lofted club face and with the proper angle of attack allows for increased distance without sacrificing optimal ball flight. Furthermore, shaft lean is usually dictated by proper hip rotation through the shot (as explained in the article). The quicker you move your hips through the zone, the quicker you can move your hands through the zone (if your hands lag you’ll block everything). So, I think this article will be good for some people looking to try a few things on their own. I don’t think it’s going to increase GolfTec’s business at all when people can just go to their local teaching pro if they really want a lesson.
The absolute best advice you can give any one single amateur golfer… look at your swing on video!!!!! get a friend to record you at the driving range and you’ll probably find out a few things that you didn’t even know were going on.
DB
May 20, 2016 at 11:22 pm
Back in the day we simply said, the left shoulder must rise upwards whilst the right arm extends down at impact (RH Golfer) . Didn’t need a fancy machine and countless hours of swing videos to see that the long hitters make that motion. Nor is it a recipe for guaranteed success, Iv seen many golfers very capable of playing at a high standard who don’t hit the angles we are supposed too. But golf is about more than doing one thing right. The best do all things extremely well.
DJ
May 20, 2016 at 7:08 pm
free lesson: take two weeks off…then quit the game altogether
Lenny
May 20, 2016 at 6:57 pm
Please let the high handicappers take a few lessons and speed up the game…nothing wrong with using some trick golf swing if it gets you down the fairway, onto the green and into the hole…if GolfTech, Don Trahan, Moe Norman golf etc can get players moving forward we all win..
ken
May 23, 2016 at 9:47 am
One does not need golf swing analysis and lessons in order to improve their pace of play.
What they need is to simply use common sense.
Get butt out of the cart, figure out approximate yardage, take three clubs, go to ball.
Play ready golf.
Result is an instant 30 minutes off each round.
Moe Norman
May 23, 2016 at 5:32 pm
Really?? Yeah – 3 clubs – shank one with your 6 iron – good thing you brought your 7 iron – shank again – opps hit the tree and went backwards – back to the 6 iron – shank – 7 again – oops, another shank – off to the third club – shank over the green into the water – good think you brought 3 clubs to speed up play – oh wait – you cant even hit the ball – you know the clubface – right here – the flat part with the grooves on it – thats where you should hit the ball – yep thats right – keep swinging as hard as you can and now try and hit that clubface – you are all set – no need for lessons – you got it.
Lenny – I liked your response – Golf is tough – the best players in the world work with a coach(s)
Justin Wells
May 24, 2016 at 12:04 pm
you’re right Moe…. a lot of time is wasted hitting poor shots and looking for lost balls. Even if you hit it short, as long as it’s straight you can play very fast. BUUUUT… everyone wants to hit the long ball!!
parker
May 20, 2016 at 6:16 pm
This is not a study. This is advertising. I can’t find that they have published anything in any kind of academic journal or released the subset of data used to create their infographics. So it’s not a study. They haven’t even hinted at their methods.
This is not an interview either. It’s advertising. It reeks of sponsored content although I don’t see a disclosure anywhere.
And even if this was a study, all it really does is continue the myth narrative in golf, that golf is really hard and complex and that we don’t really understand it and we need to study it and measure it and keep trying to improve and take lessons and see a pro and this that and the other… I think this is what turns a lot of people off to the idea of golf.
Doug Hansen
May 23, 2016 at 12:34 pm
+1
EX TEC
Dec 29, 2016 at 11:22 pm
I would ask Golftec to provide specific details on which tour players they measured. Previously they have used obscure tour players and with their putting model the only two players they measured were their at the time Directors of Instruction.
mhendon
May 20, 2016 at 5:00 pm
You can study how the pro’s move and what the pro’s do, and you can study how the avg high handicapper moves and what he/she does but in the end you can’t teach athleticism. Contrary to popular belief golf is a sport that requires athleticism to play it well period.
Steve
May 20, 2016 at 6:51 pm
100% agree as with any Pro sport athleticism is the key, we called it hand eye coordination years ago…But if we separate Pro Golf from Amateur or even Country Club Golf there are many ways to get some good results on the Amateur level course and players…Amateurs need to understand if you want to play “good golf” once a week, once a month, 3 times a year then band aid golf instructions maybe the way to go Swing ideas like Square to Square, Moe Norman type swings and swing machine type golf swings can get amateurs playing very good golf as long as they understand they are playing for FUN and will never have Pro level games…..
The Real Swanson
May 21, 2016 at 2:32 am
Completely agree. I’m a former 3 handicap (now 7-10 only play once a month, if that) with a pretty good swing, but I have terrible flexibility. I’ve never been able to touch my toes (even when I was young), I’m 6′ 4″ and have a large wrist to floor measurement. I have early extension in my swing and have tried various methods to reduce it but I’m now in my mid 40’s so accept that is unlikely to happen. I definitely feel this has limited my ability but I’ve broken par several times on challenging courses and am happy with my golfing achievements.
ken
May 23, 2016 at 9:52 am
Early extension….Ok I learned from a friend who is about your height. He eliminated a lot of his moving parts in the swing. He had distance issues. So he simply cut back on the length of his swing arc. The result was the power curve was where it should be. 6″ from the ball and through the ball. Instead of half way through the downswing.
Try it.
Chris Riley
May 20, 2016 at 2:47 pm
So is this a fault of the swing or the physical limitations of the body. Are people not getting the right hip turn because they are too tight or not strong enough or because they haven’t taught their body to make a move it is capable of?
golfraven
May 20, 2016 at 2:25 pm
I would like to see the tools they use as a commercia app so I could go away and work on that stuff after having as evaluation with a pro when purchasing this app. This is where the real business is.
Clay
May 20, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Golftec will release the rest of their findings once you buy another lesson package… seriously I tried them when I first started golfing and my impression after 25 lessons is their only goal is to sell you more lessons, your improvement is irrelevant to them.
name goes here
May 20, 2016 at 4:28 pm
Exactly. I won a free swing eval and it ended with the “pro” saying I should by a lesson package valued at over $3000. No thanks. Guy had me shanking consistently by the end of the session, and it took me weeks to fix my swing thanks to his “advice” I foolishly tried to replicate in my practice.
Joe
May 20, 2016 at 4:34 pm
$3000!!!! Wow, that is very expensive, I had no idea they were that expensive, too much. Sounds hard sell.
Joshuaplaysgolf
May 20, 2016 at 5:41 pm
Typically when making significant changes, there’s regression first. It’s the whole ‘this feels weird’ ‘good, that means we’re making changes’ thing. Im a scratch player, made a decent sized change in my stance this season and spent 6 weeks (partially because of crappy Colorado weather) putting up horrific 76-77’s until i was able to get comfortable with/trust it. I have an issue trusting Golftec, and personally wouldn’t go to them…my fear being the big-box store cranking out stock, ill-fitting clubs also cranking out ‘stock’ swings, but that’s my own perception issue. If your going to drop any instructor because you don’t see immediate results, your probably not going to find very many instructors or make very much progress.
PuffyC
May 24, 2016 at 5:59 pm
So are you shocked (shocked I say!!) when you go to the car dealership and they want to sell you the most expensive model? I would hope not, and it’s the same with GolfTec. You can buy a $3000 package or you can buy a $500 package, just depends on what you want. Personally, I’ve taken about 15 lessons with GolfTec over the past year and a half and have dropped 12 strokes from my average round. That’s after hacking around for over 30 years and making no real progress. The key is using the cameras. You may think you know what your swing is doing but I guarantee you don’t unless you’re watching it every single time. And as far as the price goes, I found it to be a steal. The average head pro where I’m at charges around $125 an hour and there’s no way I could get anything close to what GolfTec offered even for twice the price.
With that said, lessons alone won’t make you a better golfer, nor will the latest clubs. But if you take a lesson a month, get some clubs that fit you and practice 3 times a week for a year, you’ll start seeing significant progress. The problem is nobody wants to hear that and nobody wants to do it, and instead they’ll just keep pounding away, grooving their flawed swing, insisting lessons don’t work and that their clubs suck.
Joe
May 20, 2016 at 4:31 pm
It is a business, I would expect selling is their prime concern. Since these are canned lessons how would they know if you are progressing? Were you able to talk or correspond with an instructor?
ken
May 23, 2016 at 9:55 am
Golf tech is pretty good. At least according to those to which I’ve spoken. The however is, Golf Tech is very expensive.
For example, they wanted $200 for a club fitting. $150 if I bought clubs form them.
That is beyond my budget.
I mean, how many times do they want their customers to pay for their Track Man?
Joe
May 20, 2016 at 2:18 pm
Every article presented brings out the nay sayers, we live in society of negativity and armchair know it alls.
It is a very interesting article and is probably right on about the physical characteristics of amateur vs pro. Of course to incorporate this into your playing habits is a different thing altogether. At my age I will never be coordinated or supple enough to repeat these finding. For a youngster learning the game and taking lessons it is beneficial information.
Of course anyone who plays knows that method alone and practice won’t let you play at a pro level, but will help you reach goals you otherwise would not.
Scooter McGavin
May 20, 2016 at 1:59 pm
No, sorry. The findings of this “groundbreaking” study are not why people are not pro golfers. We’re not on tour because we didn’t spend years taking weekly lessons and practicing for 6-8 hours a day. Correlation and causation…
Jon
May 20, 2016 at 1:57 pm
The reason I am not a pro golfer is because of loft…Lack Of F’ing Talent.
LinksGypsy
May 20, 2016 at 1:08 pm
90 million swings tracked! That’s an achievement in itself, I doubt any other competitor can say they’ve given that many lessons. With the numerous motions in a golf swing, clearing your mind before a swing can be a daunting task – just apply six motions – okay now that’s doable. Thinking about going pro isn’t the answer, just thinking about improving my own swing is how I’m viewing this study.
Ra
May 20, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Completely and utterly meaningless.
Can you putt?
Justin Wells
May 24, 2016 at 12:10 pm
it doesn’t matter if you’re the best putter the world has ever seen… if you can’t hit greens in regulation you’re never gonna make birdies! Putting isn’t what gets you on tour, it’s what makes you stand out and win after you’ve already made it! being a great scrambler on and around the greens will save you a lot of pars, but you’ll have a really hard time shooting under par if you aren’t setting yourself up with 8-10 legitimate birdie chances per round. Driving the ball is underrated, no one beats Rory when he’s hitting it straight. set yourself up with a shorter approach from the fairway than the rest of the field and you’ll have a better chance of hitting it close and making the putt.
300 Yard Pro
May 20, 2016 at 11:59 am
You’re not a pro golfer because you are taking lesson at GolfTEC, thats why.
Lefty16
May 20, 2016 at 11:25 am
GolftTec, Yep all about numbers we cant reach!! A good instructor will adapt to what you can do not what you cant do. How can you compare an “average” golfer to a Tour Player! That’s all they ever do there. Waste of $$ and time.
PutterMan
May 20, 2016 at 12:07 pm
But isn’t it good to know what the numbers are, if they are essentially saying they’ve proven that certain positions have an undeniable impact on overall performance? Higher handicaps might not be able to reach the “optimal” numbers with consistency, but unless I’m off base, they are saying the closer you can get the better you’ll perform, as evidenced by the 90 million swings they analyzed.
Tom
May 20, 2016 at 11:10 am
I have more shoulder and hip rotation after I’ve had four beers.
bk216
May 20, 2016 at 10:59 am
I did a swing evaluation over the winter and it was helpful. a lot of information in just 90 minutes. but my first round I had 87 swing thoughts. I play at about a 10 and told them I wanted to get to a 5 handicap. Apparently that required 25 lessons. At over $2000 I had lost interest at that point.
GAH05
May 21, 2016 at 9:08 am
After my spring evaluation they tried to get me to sign for over $3,000 for the year. I do see benefits with their teaching methods but to have me in every week for lessons is just too much. I asked about a quarterly package or an la carte lesson pkg at my pace but the instructor was against it so I said have a nice day. Money grab, no way I would want or commit to lessons all year on a weekly basis.
Regis
May 23, 2016 at 10:45 am
I’ve flirted with the idea but you’re right about the cost. For that kind of money I could take a late winter break, and enroll in top level golf school in Florida or Arizona. In either case my bad habits would gradually sneak back into my game (They always have) but at least with the golf school I get a vacation out of the deal. Unless of course you are anticipating returning to Golf Tec for follow up every few months. But for that kind of money I could return to the same golf school every year…………
Don
May 20, 2016 at 10:53 am
I have tried Golftec on 3 occasions and just like any form of instruction it boils down to the instructor. The system they use is just a tool. What the instructor gets out of the data to assist you is going to be most prevalent. My first experience was the best and I had very noticeable improvement. But the instructor moved on and I was saddled with someone else who started changing the things I was already working on with the original instructor. I ended up quitting. I gave it another chance at another location and the instruction was somewhere in the middle between the first and second instructor. Same system differing results. I may go back if I can find the right instructor for me and my game.
PutterMan
May 20, 2016 at 10:38 am
90 million swings…holy moly, that is a ton of data to record. Had no idea GolfTEC had such a following. Anyone here ever been in for lesson or fitting with them? I wonder if they have numbers on things like chipping and putting. Would love to see those but the site doesn’t indicate they exist, or at least they haven’t been published yet. It did however show the actual graphs for each of the six positions and a line indicating correlation to handicap, kinda cool. Good on them for taking the time to sift through the data and sharing it all. Got to imagine we’re going to start seeing more “Data” golf stories with all the stat-tracking apps and TrackMan training sessions becoming so common. A brave new world.
cgasucks
May 20, 2016 at 9:56 am
Of course!! Why didn’t I think of that!?!? How stupid of me…I’ll just have to work on my hip and shoulder turn and I’ll be on the PGA tour in no time! Putting and chipping is overrated anyway.
name goes here
May 20, 2016 at 9:55 am
“Hey everybody – lets get you to mimic a tour pro who has 8 hours a day to perfect their swing and body, while you sit in a cubical during that time and come here for a lesson once a month after work.” Sure…that’ll work!
Jack
May 20, 2016 at 9:10 am
The ol’ Golftec method. If you just rotate your shoulders to a perfect 90 degrees and turn your hips at impact to 36 you’ll it it like a pro.
4pillars
May 20, 2016 at 8:52 am
I’m 60 years old.
This is why I am not a pro golfer. Nothing to do with hipturn angle.
larrybud
May 20, 2016 at 8:41 am
” A 30-handicap, in this case, tilts their shoulders 25 degrees at the top of the backswing, while a professional golfer tilts their shoulders 36 degrees.”
Are you speaking of shoulder plane from down the line relative to the ground? With what club? What height of player, etc?
beejaybee
May 20, 2016 at 9:03 am
Can be rephrased to “A 30-handicap golfer does not tilt their shoulders enough to the top of the backswing.”
AllBOdoesisgolf
May 20, 2016 at 8:18 am
groundbreaking?? I think everyone knows why