Golf External News 87

Coach of the Month: Tom Flockhart

2 years ago Golf External News, , ,

Name:
Tom Flockhart

Age:
37

Coaching at:
McCleery Golf Academy – Vancouver, BC, Canada

TrackMan User since:
I used older models periodically since 2008 and purchased my TrackMan 4 in 2018

When and why did you start playing golf?
I was 12 years old when I found my passion for golf. It started out as a summer activity and quickly turned into a passion.

What was your HCP when you turned Pro?
+2

Which is your favorite golf course?
Jasper Park Golf Course in Jasper, Alberta, Canada

Do you have a favorite coach you follow and why?
I appreciate all of the information that is available on social media from coaches all around the world. I’ve learned a lot from watching videos online from Shauheen Nakhjavani and Joe Mayo.

I have also been very fortunate to work with some knowledgeable and experienced pros at McCleery Golf Academy. Mike Vanderwolf who is our Director of Instruction as well as Dan Axford and Jim Han. We continuously share ideas and I am always looking to improve my teaching approach.

Who is your favorite player and why?
David Duval because he was my favorite player when he came out on the tour as a rookie in 1995.

What is your best golf related achievement?
I won the 1996 Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) Championship as a 15-year-old and I also won the PGA of Canada playing ability test in 2002 with a 2 round score of 10 under par.

As a golf coach, what is the most common mistake among players you see?
The old “keep your head down” myth prevents many players from rotating their body through the ball. Too many players give up on a swing change before it can take effect too.

What are your greatest professional strengths?
My patience with people would be my biggest strength. I am also passionate about creating a fun and supportive environment for kids to help them improve at golf as well as build their self-esteem and self-confidence.

What’s in your bag?
Titleist 917D2 driver
917F fairway wood
818h 19 degree hybrid
AP2 irons 4-PW
50, 54 and 58 degrees Vokey wedges
Scotty Cameron putter

How often do you play golf yourself?
I try to get out as much as possible but the summers keep me busy teaching so I am lucky to play once a week.

What has changed since you started working with a TrackMan?
I am able to help golfers improve with a combination of video and TrackMan data. I use attack angle, low point, face to path and swing direction the most for adult golfers. With most of the kids that I teach, I just like to let them see how far they are hitting the ball and see if they can beat their record every lesson. As they progress, they become more interested in some of the other features and I can introduce more complex data when they are ready.

Which is your favorite TrackMan feature, and why?
The new impact location feature is great for explaining to beginner golfers and juniors why a shot felt how it did and why it went where it went based on where they hit it on the clubface. Something as simple as Total Distance or Club Head Speed can help with showing a golfer how much they have improved since they started taking lessons.

How and where can golfers get in touch with you?
All of my contact info is available on my website www.tomgolf.ca

Coach of the month:
Would you like to be the next TrackMan coach of the month?
All you have to do is sign up on TrackMan University and complete Level 1,
we will randomly pick a new coach every month.

Disclaimer: The answers in this interview have not been modified or changed, nor do they necessarily represent the views of TrackMan A/S.




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TrackMan Performance Putting | TrackMan Golf

2 years ago Golf External News, , ,

VALIDATE YOUR FEEL

A NEW ERA OF PUTTING INTELLIGENCE

Performance putting has entered a new era of how we practice, analyze and understand this critical part of the game. With groundbreaking data parameters on both club and ball, the next generation of putting intelligence will help amateurs and professionals alike unleash their full putting potential.

Comparable to your swing analysis, you can now connect and validate your inner spectrum of feel triggers with accurate, trustable feedback on your putting stroke. Welcome to a new world of putting.

PRACTICE ANYWHERE

PORTABLE AND READY IN SECONDS
With TrackMan’s performance data available anywhere you go, you can switch between green, bunker, and range sessions without losing your focus. Your TrackMan is your companion when and wherever you chose to work on your game.

While our products are technologically advanced, we designed the TrackMan 4 to be tremendously simple to set up. The interfaces are user-friendly and intuitive, and golfers at all levels immediately understand how they work. Benefit from the power of seamless practice.

PERFECT SYNCHRONY

CLUB & BALL DATA PLUS VIDEO, TIMED TOGETHER
With the TrackMan 4’s dual radar system and its internal camera perfectly synced in time and space, the information you receive is extremely accurate and actionable. Add as many as six iPhone cameras to capture additional angles. Navigate seamlessly between intuitive data and video dashboards to get the full overview and understanding of any putting stroke. Share your insights, instantly. Provide insights that exceed expectations.

THE ART OF PUTTING

CONSISTENT AND ADAPTABLE PUTTING
Your putts are now tracked from start to finish, and everything in between. Connecting the dots between green reading, intended speed and launch direction, TrackMan will accelerate the process to have what it takes to make successful putts, repeatedly. Besides providing actionable insights, data points also help eliminate doubt, build confidence, and unleash talent – one stroke at a time. Build talent and skill with actionable data.

Get the free TrackMan Performance Putting PDF here, the pdf includes setup, putting definitions and tips for practical use.




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Coach of the Month: James Erskine

2 years ago Golf External News, , ,

Name:
James Erskine

Age:
35

Coaching at:
Dumfries & County Golf Club

TrackMan User since:
2013

When and why did you start playing golf?
I started playing on our local putting green in Portpatrick from 5 years old as it was a few steps from my front door. Although you wouldn’t think I spent thousands on hours on a putting green watching me putt nowadays!

What was your HCP when you turned Pro?
1, I wasn’t very good at that point in time.

Which is your favorite golf course?
Turnberry Ailsa is my favourite but I love Old Head in Kinsale it is spectacular.

Do you have a favorite coach you follow and why?
Lynn Marriot & Pia Nilsson have been massively influential in my coaching style, I think the methods they have developed allow players to really take ownership for their individual game. As a coach/player they have assisted me transfer range play into course skills & ultimately performance.

Dean Robertson has been a close friend & mentor of mine for 15 years and his influences and experiences have assisted me greatly. Mike Hebron & Karl Morris have also been massively influential.

One the of the most influential coaches I’ve worked with was my old rugby coach Dougie Drysdale from Newton Stewart his ability to get the most out of his players was incredible and passion to get the most of his players was better than anything I’ve ever experienced. He really got the best out of each team member by understanding them as individuals which I feel is ingrained in my coaching style.

I try to follow as many coaches in a variety of sports as possible there is so much great information being shared in all walks of sport it helps massively.

Ultimately the best coach has to be yourself via experience & trial and errors. You’re either helping or hurting a player. You need to be mindful of this!

Who is your favorite player and why?
Tiger Woods no one in my lifetime has changed the game the way he has, his ability to engage with the shot & execute the shot under pressure is unrivalled. I loved growing up watching Greg Norman and Seve. The shot making skills these players had in the tank was simply phenomenal.

What is your best golf related achievement?
Coaching – I get so much satisfaction seeing all level of players develop into golfers regardless of the standard they reach. A few of my former juniors have played at International level and are now in collegiate of professional golf around the world which is very rewarding.

Assisting Liam Johnston to gaining his European Tour Card has to be up there. His journey over the last 5/6 years has been remarkable it’s great to see a player reaching this level and hopefully continues to improve. We have a great relationship and the journey has been full of up’s & downs. TrackMan has played a massive role in this journey especially when out on Tour his TM4 to help measure ball flight every week which is always changing due to conditions such as weather or altitude. Also allowing him to track his DNA & measure practice is something that will assist him on the European Tour in 2019.

Playing wise, I’ve won a few mini events but winning at Turnberry in 2013 paid for my wedding so that was good & took some pressure off golfing during marriage! Beating my Assistants is still main playing priority!

As a golf coach, what is the most common mistake among players you see?
I think that their ability to understand cause and effect of their own game is generally poor, if each player could spend 15 minutes a week working on their fundamentals and putting a little practice in every player would get better.

Utilising TrackMan to understand impact factors and how to improve them could make a massive difference and very quickly. Distance control awareness is a key for most players, so many clients believe they hit ball much further than they actually can, if players learned the average distance and how much there ball curved they would become better players instantly.

What are your greatest professional strengths?
I try my best to assist every player as much as possible, building relationships is key with my players. I genuinely care about them improving and will do anything possible to assist this process. I am passionate about learning and improving as a coach/player and love experimenting on TrackMan which allows me to assist all my pupils it is amazing what you learn by experimenting.

What’s in your bag?
Titeist TS3 9.5
Titleist TS3 15 degree
TMB 2 iron
Titleist Ap2 3-9
46,52 & 58 SM7 Vokeys
Scotty Cameron Putter
& plenty of balls!

How often do you play golf yourself?
Once a week if possible still highly competitive with my clients and members

What has changed since you started working with a TrackMan?
I think the learning experience and lesson environment is much simpler & fun which heightens the players understanding & experience. The screencast feature allows the player to build a portfolio of their game and is a great feature for both player and coach to utilise.

TrackMan software both outdoor & indoor allows the coach and player to offer a wider variety of content during lessons especially here in Scotland where weather is not its best during the off season. The ability to track players “DNA” is where I find TrackMan very useful. I like to build up players TrackMan data when they are playing well and find it a useful starting point when form dips in rebuilding that player’s game.

Which is your favorite TrackMan feature, and why?
The performance studio, & simulator software is incredible being able to accurately measure performance and develop skills allowing pupil & coach to transfer these skills from practice to play is way easier with TrackMan.

How and where can golfers get in touch with you?
www.dumfriesgolfshop.com
Facebook
Twitter

Do you have any suggestions, how TrackMan can do better or differently?
I think the advancement over the last few years in first class, improving putting to include Impact location would be great.

Coach of the month:
Would you like to be the next TrackMan coach of the month?
All you have to do is sign up on TrackMan University and complete Level 1,
we will randomly pick a new coach every month.

Disclaimer: The answers in this interview have not been modified or changed, nor do they necessarily represent the views of TrackMan A/S.




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ST ANDREWS LINKS – TRACKMAN RANGE

2 years ago Golf External News, , , ,


St Andrews Links case video. Laurie Watson – Head of Communications, Steve North – Director of Instruction and Rachel Lewis – Academy…


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Coach of the Month: Jeff Smith

2 years ago Golf External News, , ,

Name:
Jeff Smith

Age:
44

Coaching at:
TPC Summerlin

TrackMan User since:
2010

When and why did you start playing golf?
I started playing when I was 13 years old. I was exposed to the game by my uncle who was a recreational weekend player.

What was your HCP when you turned Pro?
Never played professionally.

Which is your favorite golf course?
Augusta

Do you have a favorite coach you follow and why?
I enjoy following many great instructors. I’ve learned so much from so many.

Who is your favorite player and why?
Tiger… pretty obvious 🙂

What is your best golf related achievement?
Coaching achievement I’m most proud of is coaching a player from High School to an NCAA Championship, winner on the WEB.com tour and winner on the PGA tour.

As a golf coach, what is the most common mistake among players you see?
Lack of understanding of ball flight.

What are your greatest professional strengths?
To communicate in such a way that makes complex subjects easily understood.

What’s in your bag?
Callaway Rogue driver, 3 wood and hybrid.
Apex Pro irons
Mack Daddy 4 wedges
Toulon putter
Chrome soft X ball

How often do you play golf yourself?
Not nearly enough!! I’m on the road traveling so much my golf is very limited these days.

What has changed since you started working with a TrackMan?
A deep understanding of the impact collision model (club path, face angle, attack angle, spin loft) has allowed me to teach players how to achieve more distance and better control the curve of their shots.

Which is your favorite TrackMan feature, and why?
The impact feature is a game changer in my opinion. It can help players optimize their equipment and prevent them from making unnecessary changes to their swing.

How and where can golfers get in touch with you?
Instagram: @radargolfpro
Twitter: @radargolfpro
Email: Jeffsmith@coursekings.com
Web: coursekings.com

Do you have any suggestions, how TrackMan can do better or differently?
Provide more continuous education opportunities by hosting events and bringing in experts in the field. Stronger roll-outs of new software releases.

Coach of the month:
Would you like to be the next TrackMan coach of the month?
All you have to do is sign up on TrackMan University and complete Level 1,
we will randomly pick a new coach every month.

Disclaimer: The answers in this interview have not been modified or changed, nor do they necessarily represent the views of TrackMan A/S.




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TrackMan’s Combine Test Now Mandatory In Performance Analysis for Germany’s National Golf Team

2 years ago Golf External News, , , , , , , , ,

By Sebastian Rühl – National Coach, Germany, junior female players

October 9th, 2009, was a big day for golf. At a summit in Copenhagen, Denmark, the IOC decided to bring back golf to the Olympic Games at the 2016 summer Games in Rio, Brazil. With the announcement, it was also declared that professional golfers were allowed to partake and compete – a significant change for the German Golf Association (DGV) and its structure at the time. Up to this point, the DGV was principally responsible for amateurs and their requirements. With the change, the DGV needed restructuring to include professionals in their systems and procedures. The structural change was significant as German law dictates that the leading association of a sport must take care of all their athletes preparing for the Olympics. The change was the foundation for a new, long-term athlete development program for German golf.

Looking at the Olympic disciples as a whole, every single one of them has a specific performance diagnosis test program. Endurance and power related sports like lifting require special power testing machines that measure different parts of the body. Each Olympic discipline has its own specific, performance-based tests, which have been developed and expanded over the years. With golf back in the Games, the German Olympic Sports Confederation demanded the DGV create tests to measure the performance of golfers preparing for the Games.

We began by studying a wide variety of sports participating in the Games before elaborating a solid, blueprint line up of tests to measure strength and weaknesses, and to diagnose performance: Strokes Gained is the ideal first step in the diagnosis of a golfer’s performance, followed by tests in mobility, stability, jumping, throwing and endurance, along with the more classic performance tests of putting, short game, long game, and mental stamina. Today, the DGV has a sound, structured, long-term player development program with goals and structures that adapt perfectly to the individual player in all key areas of the game. As we all know, golf is a complex sport, and great achievements are often a combination of many factors.

The TrackMan Combine Test is probably the best tool to measure the capabilities described above. It’s a test for players of all levels and ability and particularly well suited for long-term player development. Its score system is phenomenal as it motivates and encourages the player to do better next time while letting them compare their scores with the best in the world via the global online leaderboards. Many tests do not make the player perform better on the course. This one does, and that’s paramount to me, as players progress and grow. Players also feel the pressure, just like when they are in contention, and the protocol even provides them with instant feedback and reporting after completion, allowing us to study and understand their strengths and weaknesses more profoundly. I am a great fan of the book „Every shot must have a purpose“ by Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott. This same is true for the TrackMan Combine: Every shot has a purpose.

A Combine Test takes about 30 to 40 minutes, which for a coach is a perfect time frame to observe a player in order to get an idea of his or her shot-making skills. It allows me to get a good idea of their routines, grip, aim, stance, posture, and swing mechanics. I also video record them and anticipate when errors emerge as that’s when I get to know the player better and how they react to failure.

All data and test results are collected, analyzed and indexed, providing an excellent blueprint for each player. More importantly, it provides a platform for building specific training plans, addressing key components for the individual player, but always with a holistic approach and the big picture in mind. National team players do this complete ‘blueprint’ program twice a year, but the TrackMan Combine is performed regularly for training purposes.

I would like to end this article with a personal note that means a lot to me. We all are humans – coaches and players alike – with our own strengths and weaknesses, and in today’s world of technology, we can measure and quantify pretty much anything, especially with a big test line up like I described above. However, we also know the player who may hit it terribly on the range, yet manages to turn on the scoring-mode mindset on the course and shoot a 65. We must, therefore, do everything we can to preserve such strengths while at the same time help control, reduce and even eliminate a player’s weaknesses. Once we truly understand our players’ dreams, thoughts, beliefs, fears, and self-talk, and thereby position the human in the spotlight – then the numbers and data also make sense and come into play. That’s what I like to call having the big picture. But remember, the big picture wouldn’t be complete without the numbers, and without a TrackMan, I cannot make informed decisions, as the possibility of missing critical information would become imminent.




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