WAM Golf

Analyze Golfing Mechanics to Reduce Pain & Injury

Soreness and a tight back are often common ailments after a day on the course. Chronic back pain and severe joint tension are not. From poor posture and techniques to insufficient stretching and conditioning, golfing mechanics affecting more than a golfer's game may need to be tweaked to avoid long-term injury. The golfer can stay in shape and protected on the green by analyzing mechanics and adopting the following pointers.

Pre-tournament Stretching & Strengthening

Stepping onto the tee and swinging the club without proper stretching can affect a golfer's range of motion, resulting in injury or chronic pain. Sports specialist Dr. Mark Gulyas recommends on GolfWeek.com that golfers have a warm-up regimen to prevent sprains to the spinal disc or ligament, lower-back problems, torso stress and muscle tightness. Stretching is just as important as strengthening for improving accuracy, consistency and a powerful swing.

Avoid injury and increase flexibility with the following tips by Dr. Gulyas:

• Stretch throughout a round of golf, especially before and after
• Strengthen the core, back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, and knees
• Engage in prolonged and slow warm-up stretches
• Train with rotational exercises and flexibility

Quick stretches from spine-health.com include:

• Hold the golf club behind the neck and shoulders; rotate the torso
• Pull knees to the chest to stretch hips
• Bend over and reach for toes to open up the hamstrings

Laser Spine Institute has been specializing in neck and back surgery alternatives since 2005. The outpatient surgery center offers spine recovery and rehabilitative exercise videos for a golfer who's already experiencing spinal strain and discomfort.

Swing Analysis

A golfer can only improve his game by practicing, and optimal practice includes self-analysis. Golfers rely on the Ubersense Golf app for recording and analyzing golf swings. Use the golf bag as a camera stand and make sure the camera is 6 to 10 feet away from the subject. (A mini-pod and the ground work fine too). An entire video recording of multiple swings can be split into single clips. Record 3 to 10 continuous swings for an optimal swing rhythm.

The golfer can use the footage to compare their various swings and technique. Videos can be controlled separately using the playback bar and viewed stacked on top of one another. Users can also save and capture annotations, such as drawings and slow motion, using the Coach Review feature.

Golf Yoga

Golf requires skill as well as stamina, core strength and flexibility. Yoga practice can help shape bodies and sharpen minds for dynamic movements. Katherine Roberts' Yoga for Golfers specializes in high-level golf training using yoga postures. She offers instructional videos that concentrate on the following areas:

• Flexibility
• Strength
• Balance
• Core
• Focus

The goal of Roberts' yoga-golf training is to condition the mind and body for top performance. The golfer can also learn about neck and back mobility, healthy eating habits and mental tips for improving the golf game.

Guest Post by Andy Wallace. 

Game-Changing Golf Technologies for the Ball, Club & Swing

The spirit of golf hasn't changed since the 1400s, yet the golf club has evolved incredibly, thanks to new materials and innovative technologies. The golf ball is also being revolutionized, and today's players can practice swing perfection with the assistance of cutting-edge designs and high-tech gadgets. Below is a glance at how technology continues to improve the sport of golf.

Ball

Golf enthusiasts were elated after news that OnCore's Evo Ball was recently approved by USGA and conforms to the Rules of Golf, according to Golf Getaways. OnCore's introduction of the Evo Ball into the golf community opens doors for new approaches to golf ball construction and the ability to tailor balls to meet various skill levels. Designed with a rigid, hollow metal core, the OnCore ball enhances the golfing experience and performance.

Clubs & Drivers

Who would win in a tournament between legendary golf champion Bobby Jones and today's most successful golfer Tiger Woods? Despite impeccable skill and remarkable talent, the title for golf master could come down to their respective tools. In the 1930s, rubber balls and hickory drivers were the foundations of a golfer's game. Golfing equipment has advanced as technologies have advanced, and the hickory driver lacks in comparison to the modern club.

PGA.com's Craig Sager visited a liquor store workshop in Selma, Ala., to learn about master club designer Tad Moore's perfectly crafted hickory golf club. Crafted with flexible wood and expertise, the strong hickory club with low torque still fell short to Nike Golf's metal club. Segar met with Tom Tites, Nike Golf's director of product creation, to experience the "Oven," where Nike cooks up new ideas for research and development that make the game of golf more fun and athletic. Cad Manager Tyrone Northcut creates digital club models to simulate specifications. For example, developers learn about center of gravity and inertia without having to build prototypes.

Nike also uses an electro-server to test swings and a series of doplar radars to watch the performance of the ball. Testing modern golfing equipment using advanced technologies provides data such as ball speed, launch angle, spin rate and landing angle. After testing a modern club, the tech-designed club was incomparably better than a retro hickory club.

Swing

Along with a superior-crafted club, perfect technique helps a golfer move from amateur to pro. Attach an app to your club to access swing data on a smartphone via Bluetooth. Compete in golf tournaments right on Pebble Beach via an HD golf simulator and a fast Internet connection.

• GolfTEC: Helps build golfing skills and techniques with Personal Club Fitting designed to improve swing and playing preferences using motion measurement and digital video; GolfTEC's CaddyMaster, g-SWING and g-PUTT systems also help with player improvement
• Swing Byte: Empowers the golf game by recording and analyzing swings using real-time data; app attaches to club, connects to smartphone and displays club speed, acceleration and angle as well as static and dynamic loft
• HD Golf Simulators: Simulates world-renowned golf courses using state-of-the-art image processing software, high-res digital images and geophysical data; provides shot analysis and swing dynamics

About the Author:

Gayle Allen

Gayle blogs about new technology when she is not watching her favorite sci-fi series.

The Exploding Golf Ball Joke

On our annual golf trip I'm always the guy who is in charge. The serious one who makes sure everyone is on time, no one gets hurt and the house or hotel we stay in is left in one piece. This is probably the reason no one suspected I would play a joke on the first tee just steps away from the clubhouse and starters. Did it work? See the results below: 

 

(Sorry for the footage, it was taken with an iPhone)

 How Did I Get Them To Do It

This took a little creativity. The first guy, Mac from 999 Places Blog, had just traveled 30 hours from Singapore to make our annual golf trip. I'm sure the sleep deprivation had something to do with it but as we rode over to the first tee I gave him a heartfelt talk on how much it meant to us that he made the trip and this is what our golf trips are all about. I then asked him to hit a ceremonial ball to open up the golf trip. I told him it didn't count and it was just like opening ceremonies at the olympics, just let it fly. He may never believe another word I say to him. 

Pulling this off a second time was a little trickier. This time we had to wait for my uncle to put his tee in the ground with the ball on it. Once he did that, Mac (the very same guy who we pulled the first prank on) distracted him by asking him for an interview on camera. While giving his interview I went behind him and swapped out his Pinnacle Gold for my exploding golf ball... you see the result.

It's a great practical joke to play on any golfer and it got a good laugh both times. It doesn't do any damage to the golf course or the club, just a little dust that can be wiped off. Each ball costs about $3.50 but it's likely I'll buy them in bulk going forward, I enjoyed this way too much.  

 

Three Ways Steve Jobs and The iPhone Have Impacted Golf

When we look back on the life of Steve Jobs it's unlikely we will see much regarding his impact on the game of golf. Steve Jobs was a visionary who had an impact on the world far greater than I could even imagine. Now, Apple is virtually everywhere and that includes the golf course.

(The iPing Cradle. One example of how Apple has impacted golf)

 To say he was successful at changing the world, in my opinion, an understatement. While Mr. Jobs had a vision to change the world and how people communicate, my guess is he wasn't focused on golf. Since this is a golf website, I would like to point out a few ways Steve Jobs impacted the golf industry.

Three Ways Steve Jobs Impacted The Golf Industry

If I took the time to think about it, I'm sure there are more than three. In fact, I'm sure there are some revolving around other Apple products. When I think of golf and Apple, I think of the iPhone. In my opinion, this one device brought how the game is played and shared to a new level. 

1. The Camera: Yes, camera phones were around before the iPhone but rarely with such quality. In most cases, I don't need to bring my camera to capture a golf course, my iPhone can do it. The quality of the camera on the iPhone has made it possible for golfers around the world to take pictures and share them with other golfers. We can all see the quality of the course and the beauty of the game without being expert photographers.

2. A Training Aid: Does anyone read golf books any more? Actually, I do probably more than most but the iPhone has created a new way for us to improve at the game we care so much about. Take a look at the iPing Cradle. This iPhone app can analyze your putting stroke so you can self correct it. The fact your phone can be used as a training aid to me is mind boggling and something all golfers can benefit from. 

3. All About The Apps: The second point touched on apps but it goes beyond training. Don't have a caddy? No problem. You can use your iPhone as a GPS to help you navigate around a golf course you have never played. Can't watch the golf tournament this weekend because you're at a wedding? Download an app and follow the leaderboard so you don't miss a beat. The iPhone has allowed us to take golf with us everywhere we go whether it's a video game or the latest news.

 The world will mourn the loss of a great man for a variety of reasons and the golf industry is no different. His inventions have made it easier for golfers to enjoy the game we love and share it all over the world. It's exciting to think about what the future holds and as technology continues to improve our game, we will be able to look back and thank Steve Jobs for paving the way. 

Metropolitan Golf Association Releases New App

The Metropolitan Golf Association, MGA, just made life a little better for its members when it released it's first app for the iPhone, iPad, and Android phones. Founded in 1897, the MGA provides services to golfers and golf industry businesses in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut region. The release of the app has been anticipated for months. 

(Image from the MGA website)

With thousands of apps available to golfers, it's tough to get excited when a new one is released. In most cases an app comes out and does not live up to the hype that's been created for it. In this case, it was the complete opposite.

My Three Favorite Features of The MGA App

3. The End Of The Handicap Dispute: You no longer need to worry if someone is being honest when they tell you their handicap on the first tee, you can look it up. Get the your friends actual handicap as well as prove to everyone what yours is. It's helpful when you shoot and 81 but claim you're a 17 handicap. Long live honest competition and $5 nassaus. 

2. Handicap Calculator: Goodbye math, hello technology. No need to look at the sheet posted in the clubhouse to figure out what your handicap is on the course. This app calculates it for you! Simply enter your handicap, select the Slope Rating for the course and it instantly gives you the handicap you should be playing to. Problem solved! 

1. Post My Score: One of the things I love most about the handicap process is posting my score. The first thing I do when I get home is tell my fiance how great the round could have been if I had just <insert golf cliche here>. After she tells me how great I am and how proud she is gives me the obligatory "I'm glad you had fun", I head to the computer and post my score. I no longer have to do this. Immediately following the round in the clubhouse I can open the app and post my score. It's a great time saving feature and makes life a little easier. 

More Great Features

If you're a social media geek like me, you can follow the MGA on Twitter and Facebook through the app. It's a great way to get up to the minute news on what's going on in the MGA and beyond. There are no annoying updates, it's only visible when you login and click the "SM" button.

If you're a tournament golfer, you can follow register, follow the standings, and see the results for MGA tournaments throughout the season. At a 10.7 I don't play in tournaments but for the good golfers out there, this is a great feature to register at the last minute for an event or see how your friends are doing in their tournament. 

Overall this is a great app for golfers who are part of the MGA. It's easy to use, has a ton of functionality and it's actually fun. So far I've had no bugs to report and it's yet to freeze. It's an app I look forward to using for many seasons to come and another reason I'm happy I paid the $35 to be a part of the MGA.