They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Does that make seeing your golf swing worth ten thousand words or even dollars? I and most pros think so, as well as many players. That is why high speed video cameras are used in so many golf lessons. Seeing your swing, which puts a picture of it in your mind's eye, adds to and increases feeling your swing. The more senses that are used in lessons and practice, the better and faster the learning experience. The speed of the golf swing, especially in the fastest places like the impact zone, makes clearly seeing the body, and the faster moving arms, hands and club, difficult for even the trained eye of a teaching professional. Enter the hand held DVD cameras with mini video screens that many teachers and amateurs use to video and check out their swing in slow motion.
Most of these cameras can be bought in any of the electronic super stores or camera shops and even wherever cameras are sold. They can cost from around three to four hundred dollars and up to over a thousand. The number one point to remember, if you purchase one for viewing your golf swing, is to check that it has a SPORTS MODE speed. To stop the video to see the swing approaching impact, at impact and just after impact and other parts of the swing clearly, you have to have sports mode. A camera has to be able to record the swing at a minimum of 2000 second shutter speed to show a clear and solid picture when you view the swing frame by frame or with stop action. Some cameras even have speed selection option where you can choose 1000, 2000, 4000 and up to 10,000 second shutter speeds. But for simplicity, the sports modes or regular high speed modes work fine. You'll be able to see everything crystal clear.
I usually record all first lessons with a new student. I feel it is necessary to get a complete and up close look of their swing. Because the recording, evaluation, explanation and analysis takes a minimum of 45 minutes, I always make first lessons a minimum of 2 hours, so there is plenty of time for re-training the needed setup and swing changes, and writing my diagnosis and prescription form I give them at the end of the lesson.
I record their 3 swings using a wedge, 7 iron, 4 or 5 iron and driver from face on and down the line. I also will video my swing after completing theirs using a 7 iron and driver from both views. From the face on view, we see all the setup variables of grip, shaft position, ball position, width of stance, feet angles and weight distribution, take away and shoulder turn and eye position relative to the ball at the top of the backswing. The down the line angle is where I check posture, takeaway path and clubface angles, plane, shaft angles, shoulder turn, and finish position relative to the target. Naturally, I also check out many other variables that affect balance and motion, and the cause of swing problems we are seeing.
When we view the swings, I tell them to look at their setup and swing and then mine and for them to see if they can recognize any differences between their setup and swing and mine. The key here is I tell them I am using my swing as the PPGS model (I do it pretty well) and what we identify as different in their setup and swing from mine; we will move them closer to looking like my setup and swing. I think this works well because first they now have a mental picture and explanation of what and why I am telling them what they need to do. And, most importantly, I am asking them to do as I do, not just as I say, and can't do. The best leadership is by example.
Once you know what you want to do, and know why it has to be done, using a camera is a valuable tool to see and check your progress and, when needed, to find out what is wrong. If you are really dedicated to the game of golf, and practice a lot, getting your own camera to check yourself out and keep your setup and swing fine tuned between lessons can be your best bet to playing consistent and good golf. And, don't forget to use it to check out your short game, especially putting.
A picture is worth a thousand words'¦and a video a whole lot more!
The Surge!
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