Studying biomechanics and kinesiology at the graduate level has given me an appreciation for the wonders of the technology of golf. The ability to precisely know the position, speed and tempo of the club throughout the swing can help golfers to fine tune their movement. It’s important that the student understands the rudiments of these mechanics in order to successfully integrate any proposed changes in address position, grip or movement. Clear, concise communication is one of my specialty areas.

 

I also hope to help you understand the importance of correctly fitted golf clubs.  Shaft stiffness, weight, and flex point can affect distance and direction. A small problem with lie angle at impact can make huge directional errors & great inconsistency between the long or midirons and the short irons. Head design can affect loft & carry and direction. If the clubs are a poor fit, neither lessons nor swing technology can help you progress past a certain level. The clubfitter should be fitting dynamically (you will be hitting golf balls) and the clubs should be rewarding your best athletic movement. With properly fitted clubs, learning can progress with congruence between the theoretical and the practical. I was a golf professional for 7 years before I had properly fitted equipment, and I was then finally able to really enjoy the game & shoot consistently lower scores.

 

After finishing my masters in biomechanics/kinesiology, I was loaded up with great information – but I soon discovered that translating those principles to performance was more of an art than a science. The mind & body have their own language – and my mind/body will likely translate that differently than yours! One of our tasks will be to find the concepts that your body understands, so that you can fully integrate a new, helpful idea into your swing. We can work together to identify words, images & concepts that facilitate learning.

 

Along the way I became interested in meditation and mindfulness. Many of us lose our confidence or ability to perform under what we perceive to be stressful circumstances – playing with your spouse or supervisor, or with an audience, or under less than pristine conditions.  We can identify and work with these, too!  For some players the greatest amount of progress will come in the arena of enjoyment.  Why else do we play?