Blog

9 Sep 2013 Corina Pelloni

KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY

For anyone in the golf business, especially an instructor, it is imperative to keep up with the latest golf technology. Sometimes it concerns golf clubs, but more often than not, it is the technology related to improving the golfer’s game that is constantly improving. To illustrate my point, if we wrote a book on technology related to teaching the game just five years ago, the book would already be very obsolete. Some of the best products to hit the market heavily this year are the instant golf swing feedback devices. Most of these devices hook onto your golf club. There are even products that are placed in your golf glove. Products like this fall into the same category as video or training aids – they need a professional to interpret the data correctly for the student. That is why I think any serious instructor should invest in one of these devices. In some ways, technology can hurt the teaching business, but in many ways it can help. A student can now instantly see their path or speed, etc. But, they need the instructor to teach them how to improve it. The other benefit is the ability to have verification of what is actually happening in the swing. This is very similar to swing video analysis, except, instead of pictures, you are getting raw data and numbers. So, how do these devices work? The first of these devices came out from Germany and Japan several years ago. The engineering principal is based on measuring what the club is doing as it moves. Originally, string gauges built into the device and then placed on the club would send signals to a computer through Bluetooth technology. The technology behind it and the size has evolved, and the price has come down dramatically. How fast was the club moving? What direction? How much rotation? That is the basis of the feedback the device records. With the advent of smartphones and increased competition, there are more devices to choose from, and they are Apple- or Android-based, or both. No need for the bulky desktop or laptop computer. The specific feedback can vary, but typically it will instantly and accurately record clubhead speed, plane, path, shaft angles, and face position during the entire swing. The feedback shows up directly on your phone or tablet. If you use your imagination as an instructor, you could use this during the lesson to verify changes or improvements. There are so many ways to use this information to improve the swing that it would take several articles like this to cover it all. You could use it easily for someone looking for the keys in their swing to increase their clubhead speed, for example. Another easy example would be swing plane. One of the great things about these devices are the many 3D views you can see of the swing. You could instantly see if a new swing thought produced a different plane or path. A little experimentation by the professional is the best way to learn. Before buying, read the reviews, make sure you can return it if necessary, and pay close attention to how well it stays attached to the club. As I have preached to instructors for years, be open-minded when it comes to things that might help your students. Technology can be scary, but you have to jump in there and experiment. If you are instructor older than 50, it is imperative to keep up. Trust me, the young teachers will be using technology to help their students!

9 Sep 2013 Corina Pelloni

CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENTS

We have all been asked by a friend or colleague to play in a charity scramble, one of those six-hour tournaments where you swing out of your shoes to kill every drive.  Many golf professionals hate playing scrambles, especially ones that take up the entire day.  If you have to spend an extensive amount of time playing in a tournament such as this, consider it a great opportunity to build your business, and at the same time, benefit the tournament without playing a six-hour round. When I hear about charity tournaments, I call the tournament director or organizer, explain who I am, and that I would like to donate my time and skills to the tournament by giving free five-minute video lessons to the players.  100% of the time, the tournament organizer is ecstatic that you are offering this service. On the day of the tournament, I show up about 1 ½ hours prior to the start of the round.  I always go into the pro shop to say hi to the host golf professionals and let them know what I will be doing that day.  They are normally busy and don’t care that you are there, but I feel it is a great way to show your professionalism.  I find the tournament organizer and introduce myself. Once at the driving range, I fire up my iPad that is downloaded with swing-evaluation software.  I personally use V1 Golf; it is a $4.99 app on iTunes.  The participants will walk over and I will ask them to give me a quick 30-second snapshot of their golf game.  I take two videos: One from directly in front of the student, and one from behind looking down the target line. After giving them a one-minute video lesson, I will show them a quick drill to help their problem.  I explain that normally my lessons are 45 minute long and give them a brief synopsis of what I like to do.  After the lesson, I make sure to seal the deal with a handshake, thank them for playing in the tournament, and then hand them a business card. By donating your time, you are able to build a positive reputation in the community and also generate more lessons.  Most of the tournament organizers help with other tournaments and they call to invite me to other tournaments.  You will be surprised at how two hours of donated free time will help your business thrive and flourish.

9 Sep 2013 Corina Pelloni

I LIKE THE IDEA OF GOLF PLAYOFFS, BUT…?

I have been watching the FedEx Cup playoffs the past couple of weeks, but for the life of me, I can’t really understand what is going on. I have to rely on the announcers to let me know who is in what place and who is winning, even though the guy in first place might be in tenth place. Go figure. In every other sport, the playoffs are pretty simple – win and you move on, and the clock, so to speak, starts all over again. Every team or individual in the playoff has a chance to win – even the ones that barely sneak in at the last moment. I’m not sure that is true for the golf playoffs. Let’s see. They play tournaments from January until the Wyndham Championship in August. Based on their finishes, players earn points. At the end of the season, the top 125 in point totals go into the playoffs. This is where I start to lose it. The players keep their point total from the season going into the first playoff round. Nothing resets. Certainly, one can move up based on good play, but if the season points leader plays well, it is unlikely that the person in the last spot can ever win. Heck, the person in first place does not necessarily have to play the first event to move on. That might be more tolerable if everyone started at zero in the next playoff tournament – it would be like receiving a bye for having the best record during the regular season. I believe, in playoffs, everyone should start equal. After all, players are being eliminated at each event. As long as one keeps making the cut, when it gets to the final, with 30 players remaining, the winner of the playoffs should be the guy who shoots the lowest score on that last Sunday. At least I can rely on the TV announcers letting me know who the winner will be. Methinks the theory of relativity is easier to figure out.