Golf Digest "Make Me Better" Challenge:

[DarkPrince]

I was going to post this in my "my swing" post, but I thought it might be good for a new topic:

So Golf Digest has a challenge that they are doing this year (I think it's at least the 2nd year) where players can post their scores, upload videos, look at their stats, and look at video tips that revolve around the subject they choose to focus on.  This includes free score/stat tracking, long and short game handicaps, and a large library of video lessons and tips.  The focus subjects are divided into Power, Consistency, Scoring, Short Game, Driving, and GD Women, and each of these gives you kind of a short list of videos they feel would likely apply.  You can also set goals for yourself, mine right now is to shoot 78 or better, since 79 was the lowest score I shot last year and my only time breaking 80. You also can create a "game plan" which lets you create a custom playlist of videos that you want to focus on.

One of the interesting options you have is to upload videos of your swing (via V1 free edition available for DL on the GDChallenge site or Apple AppStore) and have them analyzed by participating PGA Instructors for absolutely free.

For the fun of it I uploaded my videos up to the Golf Digest Challenge for free video analysis, and after a few weeks I got an email today saying it had finally been analyzed by Mike Richards from an academy in Cool Springs, FL, and sent to my V1 Locker. When I downloaded it I was actually excited to see what someone was going to say about it, unfortunately it seemed disappointing.  I already knew ~75% of this without him even having to mention it from both Iacas' comments and from talking to my PGA Pro/Ast. Pro.  The thing is that I knew my swing was goofy and ugly , but it's kind of disconcerting to not hear any positives about it, like not even a "good setup posture" or alignment or something.  The thing I really would have appreciated is some kind of drills or an explanation of what I can do in specific to work on these things.  For instance, how do I actually work on keeping my head from dropping, what's something I can work on to get the club on plane, how can I work on getting my hips to rotate more...etc  It's great that I got a free analysis, but when it feels like all it is saying is "you're doing X and Y wrong, work on it," I don't quite feel like it was worth a 2 week wait, I mean I can't complain because it was free, but I just hoped for a little more drill oriented, and a little less getting drilled :P  Link for the video is below, just wanted to see if anyone had any opinions on the subject of the challenge, or second opinions on what the guy told me.

And an example/screenshot of the stats page.

(To view bigger picture, click on the image, then when the zoomed window pops up, right click and click view image, then zoom in).

[JackLee]

You are swinging with your arms and hands.  That's why your body is not in the correct position at impact.  You need to swing with your body and hands, as explained in the master key instruction that I use.

[DarkPrince]

Originally Posted by JackLee

You are swinging with your arms and hands.  That's why your body is not in the correct position at impact.  You need to swing with your body and hands, as explained in the master key instruction that I use.

I don't mean to turn this into another "my swing" post, I just wanted to post the video to give users an idea of what to expect if they upload their videos and choose to try this service.  The nice thing about this forum is that as users we have the ability to essentially get free video instruction, lessons, and drills through Iacas and the other forum leaders. I've gotten more info from an apprentice (apologies if  that's not your title Iacas :P) in the PGA program on a forum than a director of instruction at a golf academy on the other side of the country, and the one on the forum I can likely get replies or updates from within a few hours to a few days who also has a number of drills he can explain instead of just "you're doing this wrong." I think I'm going to talk with my PGA instructor later this week when I get a chance and see what he thinks about it since Dan is my man.

[kurisu]

I guess the issue is more related to the fact you couldn't choose the instructor in this "challenge". Even for video lessons, I think it's important to know the persons who are behind and will do the analysis. Also, while I agree the guy goes straight to what he wants to say and doesn't say anything really positive to build up the student's confidence, you have to remember that you're submitting to "golf digest", not a specific academy. Do you know if this guy or perhaps his colleague from the same academy will do the next analysis? Or can it be someone else from somewhere else with completely different ideas and ways of teaching?

I'm not going to comment on what the instructor says, that's beyond the point (although it's tempting), but unless I know what the guy teaches, and read some kind of feedback on this guy's credentials, I can't trust him. And it is important to have trust between a student and a teacher. If there is no trust, the student can't get better, I mean listening to this guy is like reading a magazine: does the guy know my tendencies or does he give tips he would give to any other random guy?

I am a Evolvr user for two reasons: 1- I've chatted with Erik and read enough that I know I can trust the guys at The golf Evolution. 2- I know what they teach and I know what kind of images they are after.

If it's possible to have the same guy doing all of the video lessons, and you like what the guy teaches and how he does it, then it might work. Otherwise, it's not worth the trouble/aggravation in my opinion.