Here's a link to video of my golf swing. It was recorded at the Clublink Academy at Glen Abbey where I teach. Our winter school runs until the end of March, and then we transition to outdoors in mid-late April. There are lots of options to come work on your game, whether you are male or female, young or old, beginner or pro!!

FACE ON VIEW

DOWN LINE VIEW

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!!

I had the pleasure of playing a round of golf yesterday in the Czech Republic with Dr. Tim Lee. Well, part of that is true...we were using the simulator at Precision Golf in Oakville. Go check it out, tell Chris and Joe I sent you!

I am fortunate to call Dr. Lee a colleague and a friend; he is one of the world's leaders on motor learning and development.

One thing that strikes me every time we talk is how simple his thoughts on learning are. The coaches and instructors in the Canadian PGA are well-trained in methods for helping people learn. Tim Lee's work is quoted in our training sessions, in fact.

I often overthink some of these theories in an effort to make my lessons and coaching sessions better. When I ask Tim about how to help people get better at golf, it's not really as complicated in his mind as it is in mine...he says "Whatever you do a lot, you will get better at"

How simple is that?! We talk so much about blocked vs random practice, and trying to practice with a purpose and all these other details. But the essence of it is the Law of Practice: Do something a lot and you will improve!

So, if you are spending a lot of time just smashing one club, time after time into a net, or a simulated range like we have at the Braeben Academy or at Precision Golf, you will get better at smashing that club. However, if you're looking to improve at the ENTIRE game of golf, perhaps that is what you should be practicing. Golf is a game, and it is meant to be played...Happy Family/Presidents day!

Please follow this link to a great article by Gray Cook, who is a human movement specialist. I hope this article will get you thinking about more than just training for a better golf game, but a better quality of life!

Gray Cook - Organic Exercise

Lag is a term used in golf most often to describe how the clubhead trails behind the hands and arms in the downswing, just like in a throwing motion. Ideally, we want to maintain the angle between the club and our lead arm for as long as possible (picture looking at a golfer face-on), which gives us a higher potential energy. Check out the pictures above of baseball pitchers right before they release the ball, you can see how their hand and the ball are lagging behind their elbows. But you can also see the potential speed created, even in a still picture.

Below, you can see a vid I made yesterday, which might give you an image of how to create and sustain the Lag in your golf swing.

In the video, I was trying to shoot the confetti paper out of the tube as far forward of my front foot as possible. In your swing, it may help for you to feel that you are trying to throw the clubhead down, out and away from you, as far forward of your front foot as well!

Let me know what you think!

Don't tell my friends, but I've been working on my table tennis skills at home while nobody is here. My roommate Mike has a sweet table in the basement, and we got eachother new "bats" for Christmas...the new rubber can really spin the ball!

So, in this clandestine practice that I was doing today, I was working on my serve. After watching some vids on YouTube (the guys at PingSkills.com are awesome), I wanted to try their techniques out.

After a little exploration, I developed some nice little spinners. One thing that really helped my consistency was visualizing where I wanted the first bounce to hit on my side after I struck the ball. I'll try it again tomorrow, but this technique really improved both my accuracy and control.

Naturally, I translated what I was doing in developing my ping skills into how it could help your golf game....I can't help it, everything comes back to golf!

A couple things stand out:
 
First, with just a little guidance and not much technical "how-to" instruction, I got enough out of the YouTube videos to be motivated to go practice myself. I had a couple pointers to get me started, but the best "tip" or "technique" was the one that I discovered on my own (the visualization of the landing spot). You can do the same in your golf...find a coach or instructor who can help guide you, but also motivate you to get creative and explore on your own. This is where you are most likely to find your AHA! moments.

Secondly, and a little more golf skill related, was the reminder that putting your mind on your intention can really help your motor skill development. In my ping pong practice, I tried many different types of serve, but my mind was mostly internal, in what my body or hands were doing. When I started to think externally, about where I wanted the first bounce to land on the table, my body and hand just reacted in a nice, athletic and coordinated fashion.

So perhaps the next time you do some chipping in the basement, indoors at a golf facility, or even outdoors (if you are lucky enought this time of year), put your mind in the area of the green (or carpet) that you want the ball to land, and let your instincts find a way to get the ball there. You may like your results!!

Stay tuned for details of my golf fitness seminars coming up this off-season...email me for details, or check back here soon!

Gray Cook is a world leader on human movement and performance. If you are looking to improve your fitness during the off-season, please check out this video on the Chop and Lift!!

Last night I helped my mom put our family Christmas tree up in the house. We did a nice job getting it trimmed properly and set up nice and straight. As it is always unavoidable, needles were everywhere on the floor from the trip from garage to family room.

Being the good son that I am, I quickly grabbed a broom and helped tidy up. It reminded me of one of my favorite golf images that helps build good impact angles.

When we use a broom or paintbrush properly, we press down and forward, and the shaft or handle leads the bristles in the direction that we are sweeping. There is no flipping or flopping at any point, otherwise the Fir tree needles would fly everywhere!

Keep this in mind when you work on your chips and pitches. I like to hit lots of short shots in the basement, where I just chip into a camp chair. The feeling is that the handle of the golf club pulls the head end through the impact area, fairly slowly and deliberately, as though I were sweeping. I'll even attach a medium-sized paintbrush to the bottom of the club to really get the image.

I hope this is a good way to enjoy the busy holiday season and still get some practice in!! Grab a broom after family dinner and work on your game!!

So I've been spending some time in the simulators at Braeben the past couple weeks, which is a total blast. It's fun to play all the different courses, and hit balls on a range and see my ball dispertion.

However, I'm going to resist the urge to keep smashing away all winter, because the best thing I can do over the off-season is get my body moving better come spring time. Just like our boys Sydney Crosby and Steven Stamkos, and all other great athletes, they take the off-season to get healthy and stronger.

I will do some fine skills training, however. I had a lot of success last year just working on hitting some pitches into a net. I feel that impact is fairly similar for all shots off the ground, whether it is a small chip or full 3-iron. By working on my impact fundamentals at slow speed, it isn't taxing on my body physically, but is a nice reminder for my brain of how I want the club to be aligned as it strikes the ball.

Come up to Braeben and see us, or give me a shout if you would rather do some learning in the Hamilton or Burlington area!!

Stay tuned for more...