Which Helps To Improve Your Game: Instruction or New Golf Equipment?
Posted by Jeremy Griffin on Tue, Aug 09, 2011 @ 10:00 AM
The answer to the question of whether good instruction or the newest equipment will improve your golf game the most, depends on each golfer’s personal experience and current skilllevel. An instructor like myself, who does not have a golf equipment retail business, will be tempted to answer that good instruction is more important. A golf retailer with no lesson income would likely say new equipment would help more. And your answer may depend on where you are in your golf learning curve.
It seems to me that lessons are more important for a beginner. If you don’t know how to properly strike a golf ball, equipment can’t help you do that. The best equipment can only do so much. Beginners still need to acquire the necessary golf ball striking skills to reach their personal goals. Conversely, a person whose swing habits are well-engrained could benefit significantly from technology. Regardless of your position in this argument, it probably makes sense that both should be used if economically possible; and you care about getting the most from your game.
What is Good Golf Instruction?
Good golf instruction should be timely. What I mean is; a golfer needs to hear, see or experience the right thing at the right time within their golf development. Correct information can be presented properly; but that does not mean that an individual is ready to receive it at his present skill level, interest or understanding.
Good instruction utilizes every known method for learning. Modeling, coaching, mentoring, learning progressions, shot making stations, custom club fitting, video analysis, learning aids, playing lessons, golf fitness, bio-mechanics, mental conditioning, time management, goal setting and more.
The Newest Golf Equipment
At the very least, you should buy golf equipment that is good enough so that it will not be a negative factor in your shot making ability. Technology has improved where inexpensive equipment can look and even perform reasonably well. Game improvement features such as a more forgiving club head and consistent, durable graphite golf shafts are available in a large majority of clubs in all price ranges.
But be careful, and don’t try to save money if it sacrifices your ability to accomplish the basics of the golf game. I have seen driving range loaner clubs that were so bad the unsuspecting beginner never had much of a chance to hit a decent shot. I can remember small children showing up for group instruction on junior golf day with their dads 2-iron. I spoke to their parents about them needing better fitting equipment, only to hear replies about not wanting to invest in new equipment until they were convinced their child would stick with it. This mindset will almost guarantee failure. I have seen adults make the same mistake with their own golf equipment decisions.
Equipment for both juniors and adults have greatly improved. The light and flexible features of graphite shafts have been a huge improvement for junior golf equipment. I have been especially impressed by the innovations of the number one graphite shaft manufacturer, Aldila. I’ve been in golf for more than 50 years and until recently I had never heard or read about a shaft going from round to oval during a golfers swing. One of the shafts to meet this problem is called the Aldila RIP. The Aldila RIP employs patent-pending technology and exclusive materials to completely transform shaft design from the inside out. The result is a revolutionary shaft with optimum flex and torque characteristics with incredible feel. In addition, the hoop strength, or cross-sectional stability, of the shaft is also increased to provide greater shaft stability near the club head for maximum shot control. Of the three components; grip, shaft and head; without a doubt the golf shaft is the most dynamic and therefore Aldila provides measurable playing benefits for a wide variety of golfers.
What do you think of this debate? We’d love to hear your thoughts. We will continue this dialogue in Part 2 of this 3 part series, where I will expand on “What is good instruction?”
Aldila’s golf blog is dedicated to bringing you information, news and entertainment about golf and to helping all of us get more enjoyment from the game through golf technology and equipment innovation.
Author Joe CoWhick is a former PGA Head Professional and the founder of Joe CoWhick Golf Innovations, which is dedicated to teaching and improving play in golf. Joe has been part ofvarious PGA sections, including;Iowa,Illinois, Gateway and Metropolitan NY; and he’s given more than 25,000 video lessons in 10 seasons at the world-famousRichard Metz Golf Studio. You can find out more at: www.joecowhickgolf.com.