I got into a discussion today with a coaching friend of mine - we were investigating the merits of 2D video versus radar launch monitors as feedback devices.
The facility that we coach at (Glen Abbey Academy) has a great indoor practice area, but ballflight is limited to 12 feet or so into the nets. We are fortunate to have access to Flightscope launch monitors to give us a good idea of what the ball's flight would be outside.
My friend and I shared concern that many students get too precise with the feedback they are getting from a video camera. Sometimes this feedback is used at the exclusion of the launch monitor data, or if we are outside, at the exclusion of the ball's flight. It didn't make sense to us that a player could have great ballflight numbers on the Flightscope, but then go nitpick his or her technique using a video camera, just because their swing might not "look good".
My opinion is that the video camera is often used in a way that is too precise. The 2D camera is great to get visual feedback in a general way, so that you can get a good picture of what your swing looks like. However, we can't start drawing lines and angles with any kind of useful precision, since the difference between a good and not so good shot may not even show up on that video.
To test this, videotape yourself making consecutive swings, trying to achieve the same kind of flight or contact each time. When you hit two in a row that feel really different (or if you are outside, wait until 2 balls fly really differently), then go back and watch those 2 swings on video. Even though they felt way different, or the ball's flight was really different, it is likely that your swing will look very much the same in each video.
We can't depend on the video camera for tiny little changes to our technique - the camera simply isn't precise enough to measure the minute changes in impact that can grossly effect ball flight.
Observe the ball flight, figure out what the club has to do differently to create a different flight, then play around with different visuals or feels (ie different technique) that could make the club move in that new way. Use video feedback as a general guide, but it should never be the primary feedback channel!!
The facility that we coach at (Glen Abbey Academy) has a great indoor practice area, but ballflight is limited to 12 feet or so into the nets. We are fortunate to have access to Flightscope launch monitors to give us a good idea of what the ball's flight would be outside.
My friend and I shared concern that many students get too precise with the feedback they are getting from a video camera. Sometimes this feedback is used at the exclusion of the launch monitor data, or if we are outside, at the exclusion of the ball's flight. It didn't make sense to us that a player could have great ballflight numbers on the Flightscope, but then go nitpick his or her technique using a video camera, just because their swing might not "look good".
My opinion is that the video camera is often used in a way that is too precise. The 2D camera is great to get visual feedback in a general way, so that you can get a good picture of what your swing looks like. However, we can't start drawing lines and angles with any kind of useful precision, since the difference between a good and not so good shot may not even show up on that video.
To test this, videotape yourself making consecutive swings, trying to achieve the same kind of flight or contact each time. When you hit two in a row that feel really different (or if you are outside, wait until 2 balls fly really differently), then go back and watch those 2 swings on video. Even though they felt way different, or the ball's flight was really different, it is likely that your swing will look very much the same in each video.
We can't depend on the video camera for tiny little changes to our technique - the camera simply isn't precise enough to measure the minute changes in impact that can grossly effect ball flight.
Observe the ball flight, figure out what the club has to do differently to create a different flight, then play around with different visuals or feels (ie different technique) that could make the club move in that new way. Use video feedback as a general guide, but it should never be the primary feedback channel!!
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