Learning to Walk with Video Instruction!

I had a brief discussion today with another pro concerning the use of video in golf instruction.

He has been teaching golf for many years and he is just now getting interested in the fashionable use of video as a teaching aid.
We share a sentiment that the use of video in instruction is not exactly the way to get better at the game, but a great way to pick apart your wardrobe and to try your best to dissect the meaning of the swing in as many frames per second as you can afford.

I once thought it would be helpful to have a young woman see her swing on video so that she could more easily understand what was creating the ball flight she was experiencing with her swing.   We had one of the best set ups of digital camera and computer software available.  I got her onto the mat and clicked the "record" button only to have her completely miss the ball.  I thought "boy this is gonna really help".  So we continued and I convinced her we should try to capture one that she actually made contact with.  She set up again and swung, this time making pretty good contact.  Both satisfied with what was captured, we went to review the swing.  I pulled the swing down and clipped it to show address position and the swing that hit the ball.
As I hit play I hear the quiet voice next to me say, "oh my God, those shorts make me look fat!"

I like to discuss the golf swing and learning the swing in terms of other things we learn.  For instance, could you imagine if we tried to teach our 1 and 2 year olds how to walk using video?  I have to laugh when I think about the situation and how it would take place.  "ok, Jr.,  I see you are leaning a little bit too far back and that's why you fell onto your pampered butt.  Next try just try standing a bit longer and then lean forward with your core and then bring your left leg up while pushing into the ground with the right leg.  What do you mean you don't get it?  Oh, I forgot you don't even know how to talk yet!!"

So what is the proper use of video in golf instruction?  I guess it depends on who's swing you are showing when you play it back to the student.  I always say, it's better to see what you ARE trying to do rather than making an indelible mark of poor physical movement and bad wardrobe choices on the  memory of the learner!

Get a Check Up!!!

Coming into the spring after a long, cold winter can be a wonderful thing...except if you are an occasional golfer. Any sort of swing you thought you had when the clubs were put aside last year, may not be waiting for you this spring! But don't fret yet, get a lesson!!

It would be a great step forward to get your swing checked out early in the season to avoid any early season injuries and get some positive swing thoughts in place before you begin your season's journey.

Call me today to schedule your "check-up" and you'll be glad you did.

John Bohlmann, PGA
Phone: 240-418-0636
email: j-Bohlmann@pga.com

Make the Best of the Winter Blahs

The winter in DC has been a record setter. Here we are in February and instead of seeing the usual bare trees and the dormant grasses, we have 2-3 feet (YES FEET!) of snow. What's a golfer to do? ! ?
Before you decide to pack up the truck and move to Bermuda, try to think of some ways to get yourself ready for a wonderful season of golf.
Here are a couple of considerations for this time of year:

Get your diet in order.
If you are like a lot of people in the winter, you have a tendency to be dormant and eat like you are not dormant. In the wintertime you can sustain yourself with much less food and try to consume more liquids (water preferred). Check up on your vitamin intake. With so little outdoor time you should consider supplementing your diet with some sort of vitamin D and calcium. These two have been proven to be blockbusters for aiding the body. Vitamin D is typically gotten from being outdoors, so unless you are venturing out in the cold on a daily basis for an extended period of time, I would suggest supplementing. You might even see your mood lift with vitamin D supplementation. Calcium is used for a variety of things in the body and most people don't get nearly enough in their diets. A good supplement contains both D and Calcium. Try a liquid version for easy assimilation by the body.

Stretch
If you don't have a daily stretching routine, you are missing one of the easiest ways to stay healthy. Just 15 minutes of stretching can give you tons more energy and ensure that your musculo-skeletal system is balanced. Golf is a one sided sport and the body requires a balancing act with stretching and exercises to maintain stability. Try the simple but thorough routine spelled out in the following link. If done every day, you will not only learn more about your body and its current state, but you will also gain a great deal of energy and flexibility at the same time!
click here for stretching exercises

Get some Cardiovascular Exercise
Kick the clothes off of the treadmill or exercise bike and start logging some miles. You don't have to ride the Tour de France every day or run the Boston Marathon. You just have to get on there and make a point of helping your body. When I say "help" I mean paying attention to the intensity of the exercise and the length of time you are spending. Start out ly and give yourself time to build up to at least 20 minutes of pretty intense exercise.
An appropriate intensity level can help you build your foundation for a healthy year and and a strong swing not to mention better cardiovascular health.

If you can get yourself into some sort of routine where the exercises and stretches become part of your daily activities, you are one step closer to keeping the body strong and healthy and ready to enjoy the warmth (whenever it arrives)!!!