Using video is a must when it comes to improvement

• By Craig Renshaw, SwingFix instructor
• Dec 12, 2012 7:00 PM ET

Teaching and coaching the golf swing the past 22 years has given me the opportunity to meet and work with interesting people from all over the world.

The one thing that never ceases to amaze me is that golfers believe they have an inherited gene somewhere in their body that will allow them to figure out what they are doing wrong in their swing.

Rarely will a golfer admit that they can’t figure out their swing, and in most instances they end up asking a friend or playing partner who scores only as well or worse than they do for advice.

Why would you go to someone with no experience for swing advice? Would you take your car to be repaired by a plumber? Would you have your air conditioner looked at by a CPA?

Video is a valuable learning tool, and if you’re not taking advantage of it, you’re probably not improving as much or as quickly as you’d like.

• Craig Renshaw

Of course not!

So why let someone who is unqualified give you suggestions about your swing?

Underestimating the value of coaching and the benefits of video analysis are two challenges that teaching professionals face every day.

Here are a few interesting facts provided by the National Golf Foundation. The average score for the average man is 97, while for the average woman it’s 110. Also, the average handicap has dropped by less than one shot over the last few years.

Why do you think that is?

One reason is a lack of utilizing proper coaching or teaching. The National Golf Foundation reports that around 12 percent of all golfers take lessons from a golf professional. It also reports that more than 60 percent of all golfers believe that they get more information from friends, magazines or TV then from a qualified golf professional.

If someone really wants to improve their game, they need to make sure that they give themselves the best opportunity.

One way to do this is to get your swing looked at by a teaching professional that can video your swing and show you what you’re doing wrong.

Why use video? Because what a person thinks they are doing and what they are actually doing are usually two totally different things.

Utilizing video allows a teaching professional to point out things to the student in their swing that they would not normally be able to see.

Video is a valuable learning tool, and if you’re not taking advantage of it, you’re probably not improving as much or as quickly as you’d like.

Take an online lesson with Craig Renshaw.