then tell tell me: does video instruction really help?

I know its even risky to mention this, but I have to ask:

Is video instruction really valuable for the average player? The guy struggling to break 100? The guy looking to lose the slice, gain 20 yards, and do so with moderate effort in minimal time?

We all know the upsides of video. Aside from a great "upsell" for the professional, video instruction offers the following:

• A dream come true for the visual learner.... if he can get over the shock value: ("Does my swing really look THAT bad?")
• The opportunity to compare yourself "frame by frame" to somebody who plays for a really, really good living.
• The chance to see the motion of your club as it moves through impact. After all, there is nothing more important than that.

Although I don't use video instruction, I'm not opposed to it in theory. I think it can be tremendously valuable if used properly. I don't use it simply because I don't have it, and from a "business" standpoint it doesn't make sense for me to really seek it out. If you use video as a STUDENT, let me give you the following suggestions:

• Don't be discouraged. Your swing probably won't look as good as you expect it to, but that's OK. There is a lot more to being a good player than being a good swinger.
• Don't play "traffic cop" and let your instructor set priorities with you. If you want, you can find something "wrong" with a position in just about everybody's swing. If the top players aren't an exception, then neither are you. Remember, there is a lot more to being a good player than being a good swinger.
• Don't become a pretty-boy swinger with pretty fundamentals at the expense of a solid short game and course management savvy. As I like to say, there is a lot more to being a good player than being a good swinger.
• Remember that the top instructors get into heated debates about what grips, positions, and swing philosophies are correct. You will, to some degree, be subject to your instructors biases. Thankfully, there is a lot more to being a good player than being a good swinger.

I look at it this way. Most of the greatest players in history never used video as they learned the game. They learned to understand their contact and ball flight tendencies, and they based their learning around those results. I understand that times are changing and the top players use video as a resource now, but I doubt that any of them would tell you that video can replace the feel and understanding of ball flight principles.

As an instructor, I've always done my very best to teach a student to be able to see a ball in flight and answer this two-part question:

"According to the ball flight, the club path was__________ and the clubface was____________."

If a student couldn't answer that question accurately, quickly, and with confidence, then we weren't ready to move on to talk about body parts, positions, and theory. I'm convinced many students out there have never answered that question accurately, quickly and with confidence - therefore, they aren't ready for video anyway.

Please leave a comment or email me at kbless@pga.com

All the best!

KBPGA

If you think golf is hard....

I am a husband, a father of four, and a proud PGA Certified Professional (Golf Operations, Instruction, and General Management.)

Although I previously worked as a golf professional with the TPC Network for nine years, I currently live in Central Pennsylvania and have a lots of different jobs and interests. Full time, I work as a PGA Professional at Dick's Sporting Goods. That provides a modest but steady salary and some strong benefits for my large family. Aside from my full time position, I work with the following:


I teach private golf lessons at Nittany Country Club: http://www.nittanycc.com/

• My primary instruction focus is on short game and course management. Overall, I feel that the golf swing itself is generally "overtaught" while the rest of playing the game is generally"undertaught."


• I try to give my students practical, real-life information rather than focusing too much on angles, swing positions, and basic golf jargon. I try to give my students something different than what they could read or watch on TV.


• I work as an independent contractor, and Nittany CC benefits with a percentage of my lesson fees.


• Nittany CC is really a different, strategic hole facility. I've never seen a club where the members themselves get involved in the facility's daily operations. I really enjoy the casual "just be yourself" atmosphere.

I coach the State College High School Boys Golf Team: http://www.scasd.org/254720916124951260/site/default.asp

• What a favorite! I love working with the boys and helping them with their games and their lives as much as I can.


• The downsides include driving the big van and the occasional criticism, but I still wouldn't trade it.


• I'm very proud of our boys and think the class of 2011, specifically, has some really strong players.

I work with Golf Recruiters Network: http://www.golfrecruitersnetwork.com/ http://www.tmggolfmanagement.com/

• This site is currently under construction as Golf Recruiters Network is transitioning to become part of the larger Trenchant Management Group.


• GRN helps student golfers find the ideal schools where they can play collegiate golf. GRN works with creating a student profiles, sending out mailings and DVDs, and making initial contacts with coaches.


• GRN provides families some help with legwork and also somebody to talk to who has been through the process.
  

I stay in touch with Penn State PGM Progam: http://www.hhdev.psu.edu/rptm/pgm/

• Last spring, the PGM Program let me be a part of their Player Development Program, which helps students focus their practice time with the goal of passing the PGA Playing Ability Test.


• The Penn State PGM program is the best. Their faculty and student leaders really care about the program, the students (on a personal level,) and their standing in the industry.


• The Penn State PGM program has graduates in the TPC Network, as well as at facilities like Augusta National, Pebble Beach, and Shinnecock Hills.


• If you want to be a PGA Professional, go to Penn State.