During 2004, I focused my writings for each publication on “non-traditional” instruction methods.  I believe reading about how you place the pad of the hand on the club and how the left wrist supinates so many degrees and how much weight you transfer at certain times of the swing can be monotonous, boring, and certainly repetitive.  Almost anyone can and has written about these subjects.  The authors I find interesting in reading are the ones who write something different and new, something that I have not read about before.  Relating to golf instruction, I believe that an instructional article should offer new and creative ways for me to improve my golf game.  Based upon the positive feedback, I have received from the articles written in 2004, I am going to continue in this new and different direction for 2005. 

For this issue, I am going to focus on a few different ways to evaluate technology and its role in your golf improvement.  As technology has advanced, so has golf instruction.  Just as there are many choices of drivers, putters, balls, and other equipment, there are just as many choices of golf instructors.  The process of how you choose your golf instructor is as unique as your fingers’ prints.  However, just like there are certain things you check when buying a car or a house, there are certain items you should inquire about before deciding to take instruction. 

Swing Aids – Swing aids in my opinion are tools that help you improve your game by providing immediate kinesthetic feedback.  In other words, the aid should tell you through an immediate feeling, whether you are performing a swing correction properly.  Swing aids should work similarly to a young child insisting on touching a hot stove.  When they finally get their way and touch the stove, the heat of the burner gives an immediate feedback through a kinesthetic reaction.  Most likely, the child will learn that the stove is hot and will not touch it again.  Unfortunately, golfers need to touch the hot stove many times for the body to begin to understand its actions and the reaction it can cause.  Repetitive motion using immediate feedback response has proven to be a very effective way for a human of any age to learn a particular skill.  In choosing an instructor, look for an instructor who invests their time, money, and professional reasoning in the use of swing aids.  Insure that an instructor is using swing aids that help you “feel” differences between what you are taught to achieve and how you are currently swinging the golf club.  Swing aids do not have to be expensive.  They just have to be effective.

Video – Video swing analysis has become a staple for all golf instruction.  It is no longer an option.  If you are paying for instruction that does not include video review of your game, you should reconsider why you are paying for golf instruction.  Video, when used correctly, is a third pair of eyes (you and your instructor are first and second).  This is similar to a doctor using an X-Ray or M.R.I, to diagnosis a health issue.  A good golf instructor has the ability to see the flaw first, and use his or her knowledge of that flaw to diagnose a cure or drill for you to practice to realize improvement.  If your golf instructor is relying on the video to tell them everything, eventually you the student will lose trust in their ability to help you.  A doctor relies on his schooling, knowledge, and the continual practice of his/her craft to diagnose your ailment using the symptoms you exhibit and communicate.  A good golf instructor who relies on knowledge, schooling, and the continual practice of providing golf instruction can similarly diagnose your swing flaws.  Once diagnosed under normal circumstances, a doctor orders a test (X-Ray and M.R.I. in this example) to confirm the diagnosis.  A good golf instructor does the same thing.  The doctor does not use the films to calculate his diagnosis.  The doctor limits your exposure to those films.  There is a reason for that (I have spoken to many physicians about this throughout the years).  Your doctor uses the films in a limited capacity to explain to you the pinpointed diagnosis, and to set you on a course of improved health.  Your doctor realizes that you do not have the expertise to fully comprehend the entire film.  Your golf instructor should be using video in the same manner.  Video should confirm the diagnosis to you, not the instructor.  Your instructor should use video in a way that helps you understand your flaws and how to improve, not to explain the golf swing to the minutest degree.  I would second guess a doctor’s ability to help me if he or she did not use their ability and confirm their thoughts with tests.  Why are you relying on an instructor who is not “practicing” golf instruction in the same manner?

Clubfitting – The emergence of ball flight/launch monitors has made this area of our sport even more critical for the average golfer.  The data derived from these tools is a valuable asset to determining the correct club set-up for any golfer.  An ill-fit golf club can significantly affect the way a ball flies, no matter how much instruction you have received and incorporated into your game.  Slight adjustments to shaft flex and construction, loft angle of a club, grip size, and other properties of a golf club can increase or decrease specific spin ratios of the ball.  These ball spin adjustments can increase the distance your ball travels and the accuracy in which it travels.  Optimizing your equipment can increase your chances of playing better shots.  If you do have plans on getting fitted and purchasing new golf clubs this year, do yourself a favor and make sure someone who not only has these types of tools, but also is highly trained in using these tools to optimize a golfers’ ability to reduce a score is fitting you. 

Internet – The internet is fast becoming a creative tool to help golfers improve.  Beware of the product or person that wants more personal information than actual data of your game.  This is a sure sign you will be getting a lot of “spam” versus instruction.  Internet based improvement is designed to focus on follow-up, continuing the learning curve, and offering alternative communication means for a pupil and instructor who have distance between them.  Sending videos of drills, set-up instructions, swing thoughts, sharing of statistical reporting and data, and other improvement-based ideals is the optimal way of using the internet to continue your golf improvement plan.  You can also use the internet to simulcast a practice session or set-up a follow-up lesson.  I firmly believe that most of this type of communication should be included in the price of instruction, not an added expense.  My reasoning for this is that an instructor should be showing you that they have more interest in you then just being a paying customer.  Within reason, your golf instructor should take interest in other aspects of your life related to golf.  There are outside factors that influence your ability to play golf, practice golf, and enjoy the game.  Your instructor should be aware of these factors, be willing to make reasonable adjustments to those factors to accommodate you, and not charge you for small considerations.  When you make a special request of an instructor through this means of instruction, you should expect to pay for that service.

Golf Software – There are numerous types of golf software to purchase in today’s golf product market.  You must fully understand the reasons why you need the software and how you intend to use the software to get the maximum amount of benefit from the product.  Examples of these types of products are statistical reporting and analysis programs, home based swing analysis programs, pre-recorded instructional/interactive programs, and pupil/teacher interactive programs.  Determine your true needs for this type of product versus being enticed by bells and whistles.  You can eliminate the need to purchase this type of software by incorporating what you currently have on hand and adapting it to your needs.  Be cautious using swing analysis programs without an “objective trained eye.”  Insure that the programs integrate easily with other software on your computer, your e-mail software or provider, and the internet service you use.  When in doubt, seek the opinion and advice of others who you know that have made similar purchases.  Moreover, when you are in serious doubt, save your money.

Simulators – The simulator has fast become a way product that helps you learn to play better and a great way of enjoying the game indoors.  These products are expensive.  They can integrate many of the other products I have detailed earlier in the article.  The bottom line to this enjoyable tool is that nothing replaces ball flight analysis.  A machine can calculate your ball flight and predict within reasonable margin of error where a shot will fly.  Seeing your ball actually fly to a target is the ultimate determination of game improvement.