GolfTEC on the radio

June 8, 2011

Will new technology help you succeed on the course? That was the question of the day posed to GolfTEC.

GolfTEC Director of Club Fitting, Doug Rikkers, was recently interviewed on In The Rough, a radio broadcast on the golf forum The Hacker’s Paradise.

In the interview, JB asks Doug how the latest technology can help a golfer’s game and if GolfTEC offers a way for the average golfer to check for gaps in their bag. Doug also discussed loft and lie angles and JB brought up Dustin Johnson’s driver. Specific to the swing plane and swing mechanics, Doug informed golfers that the number on their club doesn’t matter as much as having the right club for their individual swing.

It was surprising to JB when Doug said only between 10-20% of golfers GolfTEC sees for a Set Analysis are playing clubs are perfectly suited – including loft, lie, grip and shaft – for their game. GolfTEC’s 30-minute Set Analysis is on sale until Father’s Day weekend, but Doug said this isn’t a way for GolfTEC to sell clubs, a Set Analysis is the first step toward better golf for golfers of all skill levels.

To visit The Hacker’s Paradise, read comments about the radio show and listen to the entire show, click here. For more information about a GolfTEC Set Analysis, visit www.CheckMyBag.com.

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Golf’s Greatest Myths

June 7, 2011

This article appeared in the June edition of GolfTEC’s Momentum Newsletter. There are many myths and misconceptions golfers have about the game. Here are 6 of the most common myths…debunked!

  1. You’re a good putter. For the average tour pro, on a relatively flat green, the distance from which they will make half of their attempted putts is nine feet. For the amateur golfer, the distance for holing 50% of their putts is one-third of that: three feet.

    Similar to driving, however, golfers underestimate their number of putts per hole and putts per round. A golfer who regularly shoots a 92 averages 38 or more putts per round. Golfers shooting under 80 average around 32 putts per round.

  2. Playing softball or baseball will ruin your golf swing. Baseball swings are, in fact, VERY closely related to golf swings. Essentially there is no backswing in baseball – this is a good thing for baseball because many golfers create impact flaws because of mistakes they make in the backswing.

    The bat is swung a couple of feet above the ground and most golfers think this means that the shoulders swing level through the baseball or softball. In fact, the right shoulder is much lower or more tilted to the right for strong hitters, just like it is in golf. If you were to hit a pitch out of the dirt and try to drive that pitch toward center or right-center field you would essentially be making a great golf or baseball swing.

    Good baseball and golf swings have almost identical weight shift positions at the top, they should have roughly the same length of swing and they both require little effort and good timing to create power and speed.

  3. You hit it long off the tee. Amateur golfers overestimate their driving distance on average 15-30 yards, according to a 2004 Golf Digest study. Golf Digest also speculated that the higher the handicap, the greater the exaggeration.  Golfers with a handicap above 10 might hover right around the 200-yard mark.
  4. Your clubs are okay. In a recent poll, 70% of GolfTEC Coaches said they thought their clients were playing with the wrong clubs. In a parallel study, 70% of the clients were satisfied with their current set of clubs. With a GolfTEC Set Analysis you can see where you have room for improvement in your bag. Visit www.CheckMyBag.com to schedule a 30-minute Set Analysis for only $49.
  5. Driver should be parallel to the ground at the top of the swing. Watching Tiger Woods’s drive in slow motion on YouTube might not be the best way for the average golfer to position their club in the backswing. Drawing the club back until it is parallel to the ground is likely too far for most golfers. Your Coach will be able to help you determine the best position in your backswing to get the most power, distance and accuracy.
  6. If I know what’s going on, I can fix it. Many golfers think that if they could recognize the one or two problems with their swing, they could watch online tips and fix it. Sometimes golfers believe just seeing their swing on video is enough to make a difference. However, the belief that improvement happens after recognizing and fixing one swing problem is false. Swing changes that lead to lower scores require a trained eye and sequential lessons. Even if you realize the problem, your Coach can give you the drills and pointers to make the changes happen.

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Changes in Golf Club Technology

May 13, 2011

New club technology comes at you faster than a speeding golf ball. Since 2000, manufacturers have stepped up their game with nearly every new product line creating clubs that can increase accuracy and distance.

Even in the past three years, golfers who have not updated certain clubs are missing out on advances that could close gaps in their bag and drop strokes from their game. With the help of Doug Rikkers, GolfTEC Director of Club Fitting, we’ve compiled this short list of advancements in golf club technology. What are your clubs missing?

Past 1-2 Years

1. Lie angle adjustment – Some drivers, such as the Titleist 910, and hybrids, like the Adams Idea Pro, can now be customized either at the factory when ordering, or in some cases by the golfer as they choose.

2. Aerodynamics – Driver head designs now take into account the aerodynamics of the head. This technology results in less wind resistance and more clubhead speed.

3. Lighter weight components – Advancements in technology now allow manufacturers to build clubs that are 50 grams lighter than they were just a couple years ago. The Cleveland Launcher XL279 is an example of a club created to use its lighter weight to increase swing speeds and distance.

Last 3-5 Years

1. Higher MOI – Moment of Inertia (MOI) is a technical way of expressing a club’s resistance to twisting on off-center hits. These higher MOI head designs mean more distance and accuracy on off-center shots.

2. Better graphite shafts – Manufacturing techniques have improved over previous methods. As a result graphite shafts perform more consistently than before.

3. Adjustable face angles – Several manufacturers, such as Nike and TaylorMade, offer the ability to adjust loft and face angle. These adjustments allow the player to customize their settings to maximize launch conditions.

6-10 Years Ago

1. Longer shaft lengths – In the continued effort to gain distance, nearly all the manufacturers began making driver shafts longer to increase clubhead speed.

2. Adjustable weight technology – Manufacturers recognized the effect weighting can have on ball flight and began introducing this technology as a corrective measure to eliminate slices and hooks.

3. 460 CC driver heads – 460CC is the largest the rules of golf allow. As club materials got lighter, manufacturers were able to increase the head size without making them too heavy. All the manufacturers took advantage of creating these larger heads that are more forgiving and less penalizing on off-center hits.

The GolfTEC 30-minute Set Analysis is on sale now. Find out if your clubs are ready for the season.

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Golf Club Checkup

May 10, 2011

70% of golfers don’t think they need new clubs…

Recent Study Finds Most Golfers Could Improve with Different Clubs

Golf club technology has advanced significantly with improvements such as adjustable club faces, MOI and lighter shafts. Golfers who have not had their clubs professionally checked in the last three years are probably missing out on yards and accuracy, according to a recent GolfTEC study on set make up.

GolfTEC tracked the sets of thousands of golfers and discovered that almost all had at least one opportunity for improved performance through new equipment.  Some of the most common mistakes found in a golfer’s set are mis-matched shaft flex, bounce issues in their wedges and yardage gaps in a number of places.  The irony is that in a related survey, 70% responded that they thought their clubs were a good match for their swing.

To answer the question “Do I need new clubs?” GolfTEC created a fact-based approach to quickly, affordably and definitively help golfers stop guessing.  The Set Analysis is the best way a golfer can discover what their clubs are missing.

A Set Analysis identifies

-       Gaps in the bag as a result of a lifestyle or swing change

-       The 2-3 equipment issues in a golfer’s bag that are costing distance or accuracy

-       Opportunities created by newer club models

“We developed the Set Analysis to solve the industry problem that the wrong clubs stand in the way of golfers playing their best golf,” said Joe Assell, GolfTEC CEO and Co-Founder. “GolfTEC was the only company with the database of swing research and club fitting technology to create something like a Set Analysis for the average golfer.”

Starting with a multi-point checklist and including a gap analysis and flex review, a GolfTEC Set Analysis by a Certified Personal Coach provides a fact-based review of every club in the bag. Often, golfers who are playing with the wrong clubs don’t realize the problem and continue to be frustrated with specific clubs that aren’t right for their swing. Other golfers find themselves disappointed when they don’t have the right club for a shot.

The Set Analysis will debut this month at over 140 GolfTEC Improvement Centers for only $49, regularly $85.

“It was time for players to be offered a more comprehensive look at the weak spots in their bag,” said Mike Clinton, GolfTEC Co-Founder and COO. “The Set Analysis is a 30-minute dynamic process where problems are identified and solutions are evident. Golfers will finally have a road map to a better, more well-rounded bag at a reasonable price.”

For more information or to schedule a GolfTEC Set Analysis visit www.CheckMyBag.com. 


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We’re excited to announce…

February 16, 2011

GolfTEC Named to Golf Digest’s Top 100 Club Fitter List

GolfTEC’s “Precision Matching” approach becomes the new gold standard in club fitting

Five GolfTEC Improvement Centers were recently named to Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Best Club Fitters.  The prestigious list, published annually, recognizes outstanding performance in improvement through equipment.  To make the list, locations must be open to the public, have access to clubs made by the top manufacturers and be nominated by a Golf Digest golf course rater, a golf association executive or top golf instructor.  The list of America’s Best Club Fitters was narrowed down from more than 700 nominees and then published in the February Hot List issue of Golf Digest.

The five GolfTEC Improvement Centers named were: GolfTEC Main Line (Rosemont, PA), GolfTEC Omaha, GolfTEC Cleveland West, GolfTEC Denver Tech Center (Denver, CO) and GolfTEC Honolulu.

“In the last few years there has been a surge of new golf club technology and today’s clubs are amazing, but all of that sophistication only works if the club matches your swing,” said Ty Walker, GolfTEC Denver Tech Center Director of Instruction.  “The better the match, the more benefit you will receive.  Our precision matching system lets us maximize both distance and accuracy in a way that was not possible with just a launch monitor.”

GolfTEC recently developed the third generation of club fitting technology, a Precision Matching system that is now the gold standard of fitting.  Precision matching involves matching a golfer’s swing to a database of laboratory tested clubs and takes in to account many performance variables.  This approach represents a quantum leap past the lie boards and launch monitor systems of the past that have several built-in biases.  GolfTEC’s approach utilizes objective computer analysis to filter through thousands of club options and recommend a few clubs specifically matched to the golfer’s swing. After discussing personal preferences and price points, the GolfTEC Coach narrows the options to a couple of options, which are tested in the GolfTEC bay.  The clubs are ordered and delivered in about week.

GolfTEC’s approach to equipment performance also includes a proprietary Set Analysis Session, which is usually recommended before a club fitting session.  In it they review all of the clubs in a golfer’s set and check for the 10 most common equipment performance problem areas.  Then a software program calculates and flags any concerns.

“Many of our clients have a club they hate to swing, or complain about being between clubs.  Our Set Analysis helps us pinpoint the problem areas and prioritize the best correction,” said Nick Paez, GolfTEC Cleveland Franchisee.  “At GolfTEC, we like to say ‘Don’t just get new clubs, get new results, and our fact-based approach makes it easier to accomplish that, even with thousands of options available.”

For more information about GolfTEC services or locations, visit www.golftec.com.

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