Let's go to the video tape!

I want to invite some comments with this posting regarding your experiences with using video when taking a lesson. I was talking with a friend last night about the positives and negatives of using video cameras when I teach, and I am curious as to whether video (or other technology) has impacted your learning the game in one way or the other.

In general, I try to avoid using the video camera for most lessons I give. One thing I stress to all my students is the importance of feeling the swing, the clubhead, and how our bodies inter-connect during the swinging motion. In addition to this, I like to spend much of the time with experienced players discussing both how to improve ON-COURSE efforts as well as learning the reasons why sometimes things go wrong. When spending a lot of time with this kind of focus, video can become more of a distraction and can in many ways do more harm than good.

HOWEVER, there are some very good reasons to effectively use video in teaching. For one, when I work with individuals on VERY SPECIFIC moves (ie. weight shift problems or length of backswing or shoulder turn), video is very necessary so the student can see specifically where the problem is and what we are trying to accomplish. I also keep a binder full of still pictures of good golf swings, and use it to show trends and key areas that all good moves have in common.

One thing I try to avoid is using video to CREATE a swing. For example, I would not want to take a student and try to build his or her swing to look exactly like that of anyone else's. Each of us has our own swing -- specific to us, and we should work to perfect that one. What we can gain in comparing our swings to that of others is being sure some of our basics follow proven principles evident in those others. I would just caution that trying to copy other swings discourages us from bringing out the best in ours.

Again, I would really like to hear from any of you who have had experience with seeing your swing on video and what has been helpful in doing so. Please either comment on this page or send me an email via the link on the home page.