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Golfplan App by Paul Azinger Review

June 4th, 2011

Golfplan App by Paul Azinger ReviewGolfplan is an App from/endorsed by Paul Azinger and this post will be a review of it. First, let me give you a little history into how this post came about. If you didn’t know, Paul Azinger is a fairly active Twitter user (as am I) and this morning I asked Paul a question about one of the videos on the app talking about fixing a slice. My question was this:

John Graham tweet to Paul AzingerIn reply, Paul was kind enough to reply and I thank him for that, he said,

Paul Azinger reply to John Graham

Clearly, Paul felt that I had asked a question without having the full information in front me. I thought that was a fair stance so I purchased the app and decided to write a review on it. Many of you know me as a strict but fair reviewer and I will try to continue doing so. This will serve as part 1 of the review discussing just the section of the app related to slicing with the driver.

The app is quite extensive consisting of 72 videos for the $0.99 fee with the option to upgrade for an additional $1.99 for 28 new videos for practicing indoors.  So far, it appears to be based on Paul’s belief that there are 3 things every player must have, a good caddy, good stats and good instruction. Golfplan is designed to accomplish the good instruction piece which includes tips and drills. There is also another app called Golfshot: Golf GPS for $29.99 that can be used in concert with Golfplan to track statistics, offer a plan of improvement based on those results and offers over 35000 premapped golf courses with aerial images serving as the caddy role. Between these two apps, the 3 things every player must have are covered.

I don’t plan on purchasing or reviewing Golfshot: Golf GPS but let’s take a look at Golfplan.

The main thing this review will cover is the instructional information contained in the videos as it relates to shots to the right with the driver. The video I saw on twitter that prompted my initial question was about correcting a slice caused by an open face. Here’s the video:

So let’s take a look at the other slice explanations Paul asked me to look into.

Ok. So now, we’ve all had a chance to watch the same videos with the same instruction out in the open.  I understand that apps are designed to be simpler versions of information for the masses. However, I do not like it when information becomes so simplified that some pieces are missing making the information given possibly incorrect. That is the case in all of these videos. In an attempt to over simplify an incredibly complex event, the balls flight, this app falls way short of providing real information that can help someone.  In not one of these videos is the simplest explanation of how “slice spin” is created. In not one video, is there a reference to the face and path relationship that causes and actual shot where the ball curves right(slice for a right hander).

I am looking at this app from the eyes of an instructor and I’m sure my views are not shared by everyone. I’ve heard many good things from others about this app which can lead me to believe that the other apps out there fall even shorter than Golfplan does on the instruction side. Is it worth $.99? Sure is. Is the instruction worth $.99? Sure is.Would I recommend it? No, I would not.

If $.99 instruction is what you are looking for, Golfplan won’t disappoint. It certainly makes me think about putting something together but that won’t happen for quite a while.

Please consider sharing this review with others in the market by using the Social Media buttons located at the bottom of this post or forwarding the email to anyone you think might enjoy it.

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Posted in Product Reviews

Stack and Tilt Seminar

April 29th, 2011

Stack and Tilt - Axe ManStack and Tilt. The mere mentioning of the words can typically create polarization in most groups of golf professionals and players. It’s amazing to me how extreme that can get. For me, it’s just another opportunity to learn. Today, I attended a Stack and Tilt seminar given by Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer. It was our annual Western New York PGA Education meeting.

I’ve written a bunch of times how I feel that information should be given a level ground to play on. Once on the field, the information can be investigated, studied and evaluated. However, sometimes you have to go right to the source to get the correct information before you can put it out into the field. This is where I think Stack and Tilt has suffered. The information that continues to get criticized isn’t the information that I saw today. The information that continues to get criticized should get criticized because it’s bad information but it’s not the information that I heard today. It’s also not the information that I hear coaches and players mention all the time.

As far as an instructional seminar goes, I thought it was excellent.  The information given was excellent. The stories were excellent. The demonstration was impressive. A little side note on the demonstration as it was rainy and 46 with a pretty strong crosswind from the left. Mike Bennett can flat out hit the ball. No question about that. I was able to take some nice video of Mike to add to my information and swing analysis library.

Back to the seminar. There was an extensive talk about taxonomy. Here’s a definition from dictionary.com:

tax·on·o·myTaxonomy Example

[tak-son-uh-mee]

–noun

1. the science or technique of classification.

This is the science that Stack and Tilt is based on. It is a system of measurement and classification of elements in a golf swing.  Looking at pictures and video one could attempt to classify and organize the elements of a golf swing and then look for any causality that may exist.  The more extensive and complete the investigation, the greater the likelihood to find causalities that exist or don’t exist.  I think this taxonomy aspect is either not known or often overlooked by its critics. This was the area that I learned the most about and wish to continue learning more about.

Based on their taxonomy, Mike and Andy have attempted to put together a sequence of elements that they feel would be able to help all golfers and decrease the barriers of entry to the game (too difficult).  In order to do this, they have put together certain elements that they feel will decrease the amount of time it takes a new golfer to improve enough that they will continue playing.  In its simplest form, Mike and Andy are trying to grow the game of golf.

To aid in this task, they have also put forth their own idea about which items should be considered as fundamental and why. Their taxonomy has led them to see that the typical fundamentals of Grip, Aim, Stance and Posture simply don’t occur the same way or in the same shape for all players, including elite players. By default, this means that those elements of grip, aim, stance and posture can not be fundamentals. However, their taxonomy has shown that they all control low point well, generate enough power to play the game at a high level and have a fairly predictable movement of the ball. So, using these fundamentals as the focus to breaking down the barriers of entry into golf, Stack and Tilt was created.

Why don’t I hear this information being talked about when I hear discussions on the Stack and Tilt swing? I think the answer is because most times, the person talking hasn’t researched the topic enough to know. I also think that the look and terminology have created a division amongst those that know and those that don’t. Constantly, I hear talk about how this Stack and Tilt player is no good or how this player left Stack and Tilt and went to someone else yet I never hear the reverse.  I am not saying that I want to know when players leave coaches for someone else but it does seem to create a false dichotomy of Stack and Tilt vs Orthodox Instruction. I don’t necessarily believe that they are opposites in whole but certainly contain some differences.

All in all, I have to say that the seminar was a great event for me. I learned some information that I know I can use to help golfers of all skill levels improve. I know that I have a greater understanding of some elements in the golf swing.

What more can you ask from an educational seminar?
Don’t let the three little words Stack and Tilt scare you.

11 comments »

Posted in Golf Lesson, Golf Swing, Product Reviews, Teaching Techniques

Online Golf Lessons – P7Golf Review

April 26th, 2011

P7.com LogoOnline Golf Lessons have become very popular and with high speed video combined with knowledgeable instructors can be a nice alternative for students. There are many places that a student can go to get such instruction. Why they would choose this method over in person instruction can vary but is usually related to cost, time and/or location. Hence, the online golf lesson business is there. P7Golf.com is a new option for online golf lessons and one that I highly recommend.

P7Golf.com was started by James Ridyard and Javier Nigard from the UK and Sweden respectively.  Both are highly accomplished coaches that have experience working with beginners and tour players alike. Follow this link to read up on their influences: P7.com Instructors – James Ridyard and Javier Nigard. Lessons can be given in English, Swedish and Spanish.

After registration, students simply video their swing, upload it and will receive a video response along with pictures and notes for practice. There is a choice of 3 different pricing options; a single lesson, a monthly fee and a yearly fee. Here are a couple of examples of pictures to give you an idea of the type of information and progress made by the student.

P7Golf.com ComparisonP7Golf.com Comparison 2

You can find information about pricing and registration by stopping by their website at P7Golf.com. I have known James and Javier for quite some time and they receive my full endorsement on their new project. They have both helped me learn so much and their willingness to share information has been greatly appreciated. I have had first hand experience working with James when I went to the UK last summer and I can tell you that it was an amazing experience.

In my opinion, you will have a hard time finding 2 more dedicated and informed professionals as James and Javier. If you know James or Javier or someone that might be interested in online golf lessons, please consider sharing this information by using the Facebook and Twitter share buttons located at the bottom of this post.

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Posted in Golf Lesson, Product Reviews

Club Pro Training Aid – Review

April 22nd, 2011

Club Pro StandThe Club Pro Training Aid is a training aid designed to help simplify some things for the new and beginning golfer. I received one in the mail not to long ago and was asked to try it out and write what I thought.  So, here goes.

One of the features of the Club Pro is shown in the picture to the left. It can be used as a stand to hold any extra clubs you might bring to the green so they stay dry and aren’t lost. Its a very light weight aid that easily can hook onto your bag and come with you to the green or tee.  The white parts sticking into the ground are a hard plastic but they aren’t pointed at the ends so I could see a problem getting them into really dry or firm turf.  Aside from that, the black rubber piece my club is leaning against is stable and won’t scratch graphite shafted clubs.

The Club Pro came with an instructional DVD discussing the many features of the aid. Basically, it is a ball placement and alignment aid. It has two rails each with three red lines on them and is useable for right and left handed golfers. The idea is that there is a stance aiming rod and a ball position with clubface aiming rod.  The DVD goes into how to change your stance, ball positions and clubface alignment to produce different shots.  Sadly, the instruction is all based on incorrect ball flight laws and is inaccurate.  There’s a sample of how to hit a high draw on the Club Pro website telling you to aim your feet to the right and the clubface to the left. We’ve all heard that story before. Bad Information.

However, I think there is one very good use for the Club Pro that I will use when I teach.  Every once in a while, I’ll run into someone that can’t seem to frame the golf ball well and strike it in the middle of the club face.  I think the Club Pro can help with this picture.

Club Pro Training AidHere you can see what I am referring to. I think it can used quite nicely to help someone frame the impact area to encourage more centered hit shots.  Granted, this can also easily be done by using those driveway reflectors we see all over the place. However, this is smaller and won’t scratch up things like those markers sometimes can. I haven’t tried it yet but this set-up may also work on the putting green as well. I think it might be a little tight for that but I’m not sure.

All in all, I can’t recommend this product at the price point it is being sold for. If someone was looking for a club holder, this certainly will do that and it may help with contact. Aside from that, only a new or beginning golfer would receive some benefit with the stance and ball position guides provided by the Club Pro.  It could work to help give a general understanding of ball position with different clubs and help someone stand in a more similar spot time and time again but the ball flight information provided in the DVD makes it impossible for me to recommend use of the Club Pro as discussed in them.

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Posted in Product Reviews

The Golf Forum

March 2nd, 2011

Golf ForumThe Golf Forum. A place to learn and share ideas? A place to debate ideas and information about the golf swing? A place to promote oneself? I think an argument can be made for each of these.

A few years ago, I started an extensive search for more golf information and a way to promote myself. What I found was way more involved than what I was looking for.  I found golfers looking for help. I also found an intricate web of alliances created by like minded individuals sometimes based around a particular swing style or sometimes just based on wealth of knowledge. Admittedly, I was way, way over my head. I thought I knew a little about the golf swing and quickly found out that that was exactly the case. I knew little about the golf swing.  I spent lots and lots of time reading books that I had and archived forum posts. I started on GolfWRX, spent time at Manzella’s, Richie3Jacks and Lynn Blake.

At each place, I learned a little more and met some good friends. I also made some enemies. It’s hard to avoid doing both, I think, if you actually participate.  I don’t think it’s a good or bad thing. It’s just the way it goes.  I typically will play devil’s advocate and have discussions supporting opposite viewpoints.  This doesn’t typically go over very well as people get frustrated that they can’t label you or put you in a camp.  The camp mentality is alive and well. Based on what you say, you are immediately tagged and placed into one of a few camps that supposedly consist of like minded individuals.

I used to enjoy my time in these places but was drawn away by social media. Social media provided me with an opportunity for real time discussion. Golf Forums tend to be ask a question and wait for a day. Twitter provided near immediate response and it included some of my good friends already.  It also grew quickly and consisted of more open minded individuals that didn’t work under this camp mentality. There were also more people willing to openly share information and viewpoints about everything. This has caused me to pretty much remove myself from golf forums all together. You can still find me most days on Twitter (@johngrahamgolf) and Facebook.

The interesting question is whether or not the golf forum can survive much longer. I know there are a bunch of golf fourms that do very well and have lots of traffic. What I don’t know is the demographic of the participants. Is it mostly pros or ams? Have they turned into nothing but echo chambers where like minded people come together to pat each other on the back? I think this is mostly the case but some are very open as well.

A few weeks ago, a golf ‘forum’ of sorts was started on Facebook for teaching professionals to discuss whatever.  It was a closed group so the teachers could speak candidly. I was a little unsure of how this group would work.  Would pros be willing to vigorously debate or just be polite? Would it simply be a promotional place?  After a week or so, it blew up. There was a large discussion about whether or not to fix path or face first. A set of polarizing figures set up camp and were ready to defend there viewpoint. Complete with support and reinforcements from their camp members.   Quickly, it turned into a big deal with one side saying face and the other side saying path.  There was limited name calling and some unprofessional statements made but in general it had some good and interesting points in it. I’ve always enjoyed this type of debate. Especially, since there was no way one side could edit or delete the other sides comments. Sadly, this deleting happens way to often in the golf forum setting. The owner of the forum would structure and frame the debate in any way they wanted. This would diminish the free flow of information.  This free for all environment is why I like social media so much. Good information wins and poor information loses. No one can make it look like they won by deleting posts.

At one point, one of the participants mentioned that the other side (sntilters, moradists or tgm literlists) was the reason why every good forum has been run over.  It was a very intriguing comment because he has a very successful forum. It made me wonder if he thought his forum was losing strength and expanding on that if all forums were losing strength. I think they are. I simply don’t see the types of discussions I used to see. Maybe it’s just me.

Please consider checking out the forums I mentioned as well as add any others that you would like to promote by adding them in the comment section. There are many, many more than what I have listed here including iseek, sandtrap, abs and the list goes on and on.  I will stick with Facebook and Twitter with an occasional peek at a forum if I hear something good is going is on.

Please consider sharing this information with other that you think may want to read it or have an opinion on it by using the FB share or tweet buttons located at the bottom of the post.

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Posted in Product Reviews, Social Media