I firmly believe that only when a coach really understands the golfer in front of him, can he truly expect to help that golfer reach their potential. It goes back to the old tailor’s mantra.....’measure twice, cut once’.

Each golfer is monitored whilst hitting shots with a variety of clubs, and video of the swing is taken. Once I have watched enough shots to give me the overview that I need, I will take the golfer to our video viewing room to analyse the swing in detail together and to create their improvement program. Video is played back at 50/60 frames per second which enables me to accurately track the movements of the golf club through even the fastest areas of the swing. The swing is analysed from a variety of angles, and in a multitude of different areas and can be compared to elite golfers swings to give the golfer a comparison to work with.

Only when the golfer is clear and happy with what we are going to work on, will we return to the range to start on the initial areas of their plan.

When compiling their plan, I will take certain things into account:

What can I improve that will REALLY make a difference to this golfers performance.
What are the PRIORITY areas that need to improve.
Can this golfer change this area successfully and without causing a negative effect.
Will they, with 100% certainty, be a better golfer for making this change.

If any areas that I have identified in my analysis fulfil all these criteria, then it forms part of the golfers plan. Generally, this is no more than 1 or 2 swing areas, some short game, on course coaching and potentially, some fitness exercises.

In my mind, this GUARANTEES success!

Video analysis is used as standard at the assessment stage of any individual coaching program that I undertake. It gives me the opportunity to analyse in much finer detail, the workings of a golfers swing, but also helps the pupil grasp how we need to develop their technique. The state of the art video analysis software that I use works at a higher rate of frames per second which gives more accurate feedback and will provide a clearer picture to the pupil of their swing faults and the improvement needed to develop.

Each pupil will have their swings kept in a video library to refer back to a later stage to monitor improvement. I will email the swings from each lesson along with some practice notes to the golfer so that they also have a record of their development which can be viewed on FREE viewing software available from the creators of my software at www.quintic.com. ‘Quintic player’ is available in the download section.

Once a video assessment has taken place, a personalised improvement plan will be created to put structure behind your route to better golf. For the swing section, I endeavour to coach you in a simple but highly effective process that minimizes any downturn in performance whilst changes are being made, but maximizes the end result, Improving your golf.

Firstly, I am committed to making the most of what a golfer already possesses, not trying to turn them into a golfer that they are unable to be.

I will also take into account any physical limitations identified through my detailed screening done at assessment stage, so that what I aim to coach you is something that I know you are physically and practically capable of achieving.

I will then coach you through this transitional period in a simple and clear way. I focus on one area at any one time and ensure that we have achieved the desired result before moving on. I use practice drills that you can use outside of coaching sessions so that you can make the most of your practice time and will structure the lesson regularity to ensure you have time to really work effectively on your swing before we move forward.

This way of conducting my coaching has been giving me success for some time and seems to give my students an easier passage through a period of change with less disruption to successful golf than they have experienced before.

Virtually every personalised improvement program that I create for my pupils will involve some short game work. For most golfers, only 40% of the game is played with the full swing and the remaining 60% is made up of the short game, that’s pitching, chipping, bunker shots and putting. For this reason, improving the short game is often the fastest and easiest ways to lower scores.

My ethos for coaching the short game is functionality. Creating something that works. The short game is based largely around ‘feel and judgement’ and it is essential that the golfer has the means to practice and improve this, alongside their technique. This certainly doesn’t happen when bogged down with technical overload! For most golfers, the priority is to develop 4 key skills in the short game:

• The ability to hit a high flying shot usable from a variety of distances.
• The ability to play a low running shot, giving greater accuracy from short range.
• The ability to get out of bunkers successfully.
• The ability to generally take 2 putts per hole.

With these simple skills that can be learnt relatively easily, the golfer will be eradicating a large proportion of the errors in their game.

I have created coaching and practice routines to suit the needs of golfers of all levels, with programs for beginners to give them the tools to hit simple but effective short shots, ranging right up to specialist short shot development programs for elite golfers who require a much higher level of accuracy and consistency. These programs have now been made more accessible by the introduction of my new Short Game Group Clinics.
  
If you are costing yourself shots with your short game, or feel you don’t possess the basic skills listed above, then you MUST devote time to working on your short game. I am confident that I can help you improve your short shots and as a result, significantly improve your scores.