|
|
Local golf professionals offer videotaped lessons
Published April 30, 2007 The Neat System aids swing training. Reporter's Perspecitve: Writing swingin' to the season. In the 1980s, when Dan Hilker was a collegiate golfer at the University of Northern Iowa, students were taught to swing a golf club by hearing directions and by watching their instructor make a swing. Hilker is no longer a collegiate golfer. Now, he is the golf facilities manager and Professional Golf Association (PGA) professional at Cascades Golf Course. Today, when Hilker teaches his students how to swing a golf club, he is able to do more than just show them his swing. He is able to show them their own.
Hilker is one of many golf professionals nationwide who is teaching golf lessons using video and computer programs. In Bloomington, three different golf courses offer options to have students videotaped during their lessons. While professionals say video feedback is a great teaching tool, some critics argue it may only benefit more advanced golfers.
Despite receiving some criticism, Hilker said video can be beneficial when used as a tool for lessons, and he thinks other teaching professionals agree.
“I would say well over 50 percent of golf instructors use video,” Hilker said.
However, David Koceja, an associate dean of research at the IU school of Health and Physical Education Recreation, argues video is only truly effective when used on advanced level golfers.
“Video can be very effective for highly skilled individuals, because highly skilled people are trying to correct very fine movements,” Koceja said. “Golf is very complex, and you have to know enough about the skill to be able to benefit.”
In his book Motor Learning Concepts and Applications, author Richard MaGill calls this idea augmented sensory feedback. This means learning is enhanced though the use of an external device, in this case, video. Video helps form a trusting relationship
Denny Dennis, the PGA professional at Bloomington Country Club, began teaching using the JC Video system in February 2006. Dennis said the best part about using the JC Video system is the library it includes, which stores video of various tour players. Dennis also likes being able to draw lines on the computer screen for his student.
“I can draw lines to show them the proper position for their feet, head, shoulders or posture,” Dennis said.
With his system, Dennis is able to draw a line on the screen demonstrating how the student’s body should be set up, and then together they can watch the body move away from the correct position.
“It’s a great thing for trust. A lot of time people don’t believe it when I tell them they are doing something incorrectly,” Dennis said. “But when they see it themselves, trust goes up a thousand percent.”
Dennis said he has given lessons using video to about 40 different individuals in the past year. He said video is a great tool for anyone who is a visual learner, though he finds men oftentimes find it especially helpful.
“Most men are particularly visual in their learning,” Dennis said. “But that’s not to say women can’t find video incredibly useful as well.” Bloomington resident Phil Thompson, 66, sometimes hits balls on the range at the IU public golf course on nice afternoons. Thompson said he has been golfing for many years and has had different types of lessons, both with and without video.
“I think each kind of lesson has its place,” Thompson said. “I like seeing myself on video because I can visualize what I’m doing. I think it just adds to you skill.” The IU women’s golf team
Another of the local video learning advocates can be found at the Indiana University public golf course. As the weather gets warmer, the IU women’s golf team often can be found on their practice tee at the IU course. Hundreds of little white balls go soaring through the blue sky. Bam. Cling. Whoosh. Over and over again, the women swing their clubs and send their balls flying.
At various times throughout the year, however, these women do more than just hit balls. Thanks to computer and videotape technology, coach Clint Wallman is able to record each woman as she swings. After the tape is made, all Wallman has to do is transfer the material from the tape to his computer system, called the Neat System, and the women have instant feedback. “Video really came into use in the early to mid ‘90s,” Wallman said. “Around ’95, about two in 10 professionals gave lessons using video and a TV, and maybe one in 30 did something computer aided.” The Neat System is similar to the JC Video system used by Dennis, except it is on a desktop computer. Like JC Video, the Neat System has the ability to store swings on a file, both from tour players and those students who are recorded. Wallman finds this useful because he can show the women on the team two of their swings from different sessions. Wallman said he thinks one of the major problem many golfers have is they don’t understand what a correct golf swing should look and feel like. He said the only visual input most people have is from watching TV. “They think they look like Tiger Woods or Annika until they see themselves on video,” Wallman said, laughing. “Then they think, oh, I look more like Elmer Fudd.” Video for advanced learners
Just a few miles down the road from the IU Public Golf Course, Hilker has a similar teaching method, which he uses to aid his more advanced students.
Hilker, who has been working at Cascades for four year, began teaching using video before he came to Bloomington. Prior to his current job, Hilker owned a course called The Links at Lily Creek in Jamestown, Ky.
Hilker said he began teaching lessons using video in the late ‘90s. He said he finds video is a great way to help people who understand what a golf swing is supposed to look like because they can see their own mistakes when they watch themselves.
“I think a lot of people think they know what their swing looks like, and they don’t,” Hilker said. “A lot of people are really surprised, myself included.”
Hilker said when he is giving a student a lesson involving video, he begins by taping the student swinging. Before he gives any instruction, he lets the student swing the club the way he or she is accustomed. Then Hilker and the student sit down and look at the video on the computer. Together, they discuss both the good and the bad elements of the swing.
“I try to pinpoint a certain problem and work that point really hard for a few weeks,” Hilker said. “You can only really fix one or two mechanical problem at a time.”
Hilker said after having one video session with a student, he often continues to work with the student away from the video camera until the proper change in the swing to be made. “I like to see the change happen before we do another video session,” Hilker said. Recent technology changes The way people are teaching golf lessons is constantly evolving and changing, Hilker said. He said some professionals use multiple camera set-ups in order to film students from behind, in front, and on-top.
Hilker said golf technology is changing in other ways too.
“There is a much more effortless swing now because of the way clubs are designed,” Hilker said. “Guys on the senior tour say they are hitting the ball 20 yards farther than they did in their prime.” In the past, people had to swing the golf club differently in order to hit clubs with steel shafts or wooden heads. Today, he said, people are swinging for the lighter weight graphite clubs.
Hilker said computer and video technology are not only being used for teaching lessons, but to help with club fitting as well.
“When you go to buy a set of clubs, they hook you up to a computer to find the right kind,” Hilker said. “It used to be about finding a swing that was right for your clubs. Now, it’s about finding a club that is right for your swing.” Tell us what you think. Would you ever try a videotaped golf lesson? Email Bloomington Source. |
