PGA Show and Teaching Summit 2011

Well I just got back from a great week in Orlando!

PGA NATIONAL TEACHING AND COACHING SUMMIT

I spent two days at the Nick Faldo Golf Institute for the National PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit. There, I met a few notables including Michael Breed (who MC'd the event), Bobby Clampett (who've I've written about before), and really enjoyed a few presentations particularly Lou Holtz who gave a motivational and hysterical speech on coaching, Bob Toski -still going strong at 83 years young, Derek Shelton- a Tampa Rays Hitting Coach who talked about the similarities/differences in baseball and golf swing training, and the "debate" on ball flight laws between Trackman representatives and Dr. Gary Wiren (the father of ball flight laws)- very interesting.

The hot new word was "D plane"= an old, but new physics phenomenon that has been applied to ball flight "laws"- I'm still not sure if I totally understand it... I might need to go back to school!

I learned about some new 3d video analysis software debuting from Bentley Kinetics. For a second time, I saw a presentation about AIMPOINT green reading and I'm looking forward to becoming one of only approx 150 certified instructors in the country later this summer!

With all of that said and all of the research and data being collected and analyzed in all areas of the game because of technology....there were just as many experts/presenters that talked about how we need to get away from swing styles and overwhelming our students with technology and striving for the "perfect swing." There were many references to all the different and un-orthodox swings that have become some of the best players in history, and that its not about swing- its about skill. We need to as teachers help our students be more well rounded, apply skills to the course, spend more time practicing and teaching on the course- situational skill application, different lies, decision making, mental and emotional control- this is the way people will improve and enjoy the game more. We have to keep finding way sot make golf fun so we can retain students and players.

I see both sides of the coin. I can't ignore the research and technology and think that a lot of that, presented correctly and wisely by a teacher can really help a student. But like all things, balance between that and the "holistic"approach that was talked about too is the key. I guess that is what separates the good teachers/coaches from the GREAT... their ability to know when to make swing changes and when not to mess with raw talent- how to nurture different players in the right ways and to be well-rounded or having a team of people to help you help your students in all ways possible. I will try my best to be THAT kind of Coach.

THE PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW:

This was my 6th time attending the show over the last 8 years. It is an amazing huge show- I guess I'm numb to some of the excitement because I've been a number of times now. Its still fun to walk around, see the vendors, network with new and old friends and see what and who you can see. I am happy to report that some of the main manufacturers returned after a sabbatical...in particular, my sponsor Taylor Made had a very impressive, extensive booth that took up a whole WING at the convention center. Their new products were the highlight of the show from top to bottom. The new white R11 and burner line is good looking and you can adjust it numerous different ways- more than ever before. Ex.-you can take the 9degree head and change it down to 8 or up to 10. No more worrying if you bought the right driver..just turn the hosel!

People always ask me - "so what did you buy at the show?"... I did invest in some new swing analysis software Swing View Pro, that I'm excited about. I ordered a few new training aids included some of EyeLine's new products: portable full swing mirror, a putting steel ball, sweet spot pads and putting mirror. I also ordered Mike Bender's new Bender Stick- an adjustable foam rod that can be used as a guide or a blocker for swing training.

I saw a few live fashion shows including Puma and Callaway... both sporty and young. Goodbye old frumpy fashions... I think they are gone fore

Overall a great week- my brain is tired from all the excitement and my feet are tired from walking miles and miles as I am 34 weeks pregnant now.

I'm back home, and back to my reading project, so stay tuned for the next book review coming later this week!

Book #5 Bob Toski

Bob Toski's Complete Guide to Better Golf (c 1977)

I chose this book because I didn't know much about Toski and have always been told by peers "oh you have to read some of his stuff, its really good.." So I ordered this 1983 copy off Amazon.com because I couldn't find it in the store. This was definitely a piece of nostalgia...should I read it, or frame it? !

So this was originally published a few years before I was born... which means almost 15 years before I even picked up a golf club or ever read a golf instruction book. The whole time I was reading this book (illustrated/photographed in full color by the way:) as it states on the cover!) I had to laugh at a few things like "turn your cheek at address.." and "Reverse C for a swing that's free".... not exactly what you would hear now a days... also, "distance formula: add motion, subtract muscle". From what I understand that (the latter point) sums up Toski's teachings. The "60's- 70's" swing" like many things in those decades was more free. In golf terms: whippy, handsy and more about timing. Today timing is important but with all the research in bio-dynamics and popularity of fitness, there is much more muscle and much less hands in golf now.

In the book, Johnny Miller's grip was not criticized for being weak nor was Lee Trevino for being very strong, but the differences were recognized as style preferences. Toski (with Dick Aultman, Golf Digest) nicely illustrate the why and how of ball-flight patterns. In this faults and fixes section many times, Toski suggests slowing down a backswing or lengthening a backswing as a way to fix a problem. You would very rarely here this fix today when talking about how to fix topping or pulling.

I kept thinking.. okay, what is so special about this book? What made Bob Toski so renowned? I guess because I didn't live through it, its hard for me to understand what may have been earth shattering about this book at the time. Was it just a quintessential book of its time, laying out points of swing style and theory? Or was there some NEW idea that he presents that I just don't recognize since I didn't live through it? Maybe everything in this book was "new" at the time and I just don't realize it? Maybe someone out there can help?

One last note.. I did enjoy, for nostalgia sake, the 30+ pages at the end of the book with Toski's detailed analysis of various swing sequences from popular golfers at the time. That was kinda of neat to compare in my own mind how different the swings of today look.

So my personal takeaway on Toski is this: the average golfer is typically not in supreme physical condition, so a knee sliding, handsy approach to the swing could work in his/her favor and allow for decent speed to be created. However... the average golfer is looking for consistency and hands and timing are two of the hardest things to control from a consistency standpoint. It puts more importance on the coordination of the small muscles amount of practice it would take to train them to repeat a particular pattern in a particular timing to work. So therefore, the more modern swing driven by positions and patterns of the big muscles is simpler and easier to be consistent with for the average golfer.. in my opinion.


But of course its your choice...Hands or muscle... which kind of golfer are you?

Thanks for the perspective Mr. Toski. Its always refreshing to look back.