In Search of Perfection
So how do you improve your game? The odd lesson with your club pro, listening to your fourball partners, reading magazines, or do you go the intensive route?
The James Andrews School of Golf, based at Sedlescombe near Hastings, goes for the latter. And intensive it is, spread over either a two, three or five day programme.
Every aspect of the game is covered – driving, long irons, pitching, chipping and putting. At the heart of the teaching system is the digital camera studio, where every element of your swing can be minutely analysed. 4 cameras are used from all angles.
Once downloaded onto the computer, the swing can be replayed at any speed, or stopped at critical points to make up to 32 checkpoints.
The system used is the golf analysis system for professionals. A CD re-writer allows each lesson to be recorded and downloaded onto a CD that you can take home and replay at your leisure.
The programme also allows you to compare your swing with that of some of the world’s top professionals.
“Seeing is believing,” warns James, and it’s fascinating to see your own swing dissected in this way.
For a start, mine turned out to be nothing like I had imagined it to be. It was far steeper than I had thought, my left arm was too bent and the club was going too far past parallel at the top, absolutely horrid.
So, back to the tee for my first lesson. Stance, grip, takeaway, shoulder turn – all checked and adjusted. Time to try again. Lights cameras… action.
The swing felt strange and I didn’t think the club was going much further back than halfway.
But as James says, seeing is believing. The video evidence proved it. A nice compact back swing, good follow-through, good balance.
The final proof, if proof was needed, came on the driving range where my seven iron shots sailed effortlessly into the distance. So far so good.
“How’s your chipping,” James inquired. “Okay,” I replied confidently. Three chips onto the practice green behind the clubhouse convinced him it was far from okay. Too steep again. Too much wrist break.
Lesson number two swiftly followed. No cameras this time, just a friendly, relaxed approach to explain the whys and wherefores of the shot and build up confidence.
After lunch it was back to the driving range for a warm up before going out onto the course for 18 holes with three of the eight resident professionals. Trying to remember everything wasn’t easy but bit by bit my game began to fall into place.
To be honest, all the benefits of the coaching didn’t come until later, back on my home course, when the lessons had time to sink in.
So was it worth it? If you’re only an occasional golfer, probably not. But if you’re serious about the game, it’s time and money very worthwhile spent.
