Interpreting Video

[RIduffer]

I took a tour of an indoor golf training facility today. They have several putting greens and short game areas, plus hitting mats with swing video equipment. They also have training aids, strength/flexibility equipment, and instructors on hand who work with you. It's affordable (probably cheaper than all the buckets I've been buying), and the head instructor is a very accomplished player and instructor.

I got to hit some balls and see my swing on video for the first time...yikes . The head instructor actually commented that my swing was not bad, but littered with compensations. Basically getting way off-plane and saving it with the hands.

On the video my club ascends very steeply in the backswing, and the shaft is way above the original plane line at impact. I also have a chicken wing through impact, which the instructor explained was my hands outracing the body (or the body not rotating properly through the shot).

He had me using a training aid which was helping me rotate around my body more. It felt and looked on the video like more of a one plane swing approach (I could be way off on that though). I was skeptical because I have never had success trying to flatten my swing. He assured me he wasn't encouraging a flat swing, just more on plane. To my surprise, I was hitting the ball really well after adjusting.

I am probably going to join this place, because I will be able to practice chipping and putting everyday, and receive hands on instruction with video. Just wondering what people's thoughts are on using video analysis for improving your game. Have you had good results with this approach? Also how would you interpret (or go about improving) the swing flaws I mentioned? I realize it would be easier if you could see my swing, but I don't have anything I can post yet. Maybe I will be able to in the future. Thanks.

[jamo]

Sounds cool, whats it called? and where is it?

Good indoor ranges are hard to come by.

[RIduffer]

  jamo said:

Sounds cool, whats it called? and where is it?

Elite Golf in Seekonk, MA. Very nice staff and impressive set up.

[jamo]

To attempt to answer your first questions, watching video is the easiest way to improve your swing. You need to be able to focus on the video and the quality of contact that you make rather than ball flight or what the simulator says.

[RIduffer]

  jamo said:

To attempt to answer your first questions, watching video is the easiest way to improve your swing. You need to be able to focus on the video and the quality of contact that you make rather than ball flight or what the simulator says.

It was pretty surprising when I saw my swing on video. I mean, I knew my swing was far from textbook, but I couldn't believe what an ugly chicken wing follow through I had. I make swings at home in the mirror, but those are slow-motion so they look OK.

After using that swing aid, I felt like I was swinging around my waist. But on video it looked pretty normal. Just another feel vs real example I guess.

[RIduffer]

Sorry, my initial post was probably a little long and scattered. Let me just ask a basic question related to swing video analysis.

Should the shaft be on the same exact plane line at impact as it was at address? Is this the basic goal of swinging on plane?

[zenchili]

Video does show it all, doesn't it. I have had some shocking moments myself looking at video and comparing it to what I thought I was doing. Over time I have learned to use video as an effective tool to analyze and improve the swing. Often what we think we are doing and feeling, isn't actually what we are doing. Video really demonstrates that and is an awesome tool if you know how to analyze what you are looking at and know what it should look like. If the system has video reference try to use the videos of pros that are most like your swing. In other words, if you have a one plane swing, don't choose a two plane pro.

There was a place like that near me, I spent all winter there and it was awesome. Unfortunately they closed down so now I do simulator, video and work with training aids at home.

The shaft does not need to be on the same plane as it was at address. If you are swinging correctly and have a one plane type of of swing, you'll the see the right elbow following that original plane. On the downswing you would then see the right elbow coming down on that line with the club head on the same path that it went up or a tad flatter.

[Wali]

Are you using a high speed video camera (200-300fps) for your analysis? If so what make and model?
Most standard video cameras are too slow to catch the downswing action.

[zenchili]

  Wali said:

Are you using a high speed video camera (200-300fps) for your analysis? If so what make and model?

I use the Sanyo FH1. It is a consumer grade video camera, records on SD cards, can do full 1080p HD. However there is a slow motion mode at a lower resolution that does 240 frames per second. I use this a lot. You can see video footage from it a the following link:

This is my swing as of December also, the videos on this link were taken at the traveler's championship in Hartford, CT and include Vijay, AK, Zach Johnson, Bubba Watson, Danny Lee and Rickie Fowler