Gary Newkirk / Tiger Woods Foundation
Instructor Roman Gonzales works with students.
In our golf program at the Tiger Woods Learning Center, we were so excited to have access to the technology from the Tiger Woods: My Swing app to teach young people the basics of the game. The app features Tiger Woods' actual golf swing, something that all our students really enjoy watching. We introduce the concepts of a fundamental swing to beginning golfers, which allows students to see how a golf club works during an efficient swing. We use each of Tiger's swings, filmed using every club, as the model to showcase the different length of swings and describe how the body moves and works in the swing. Within the app, there are three speeds for the playback. I generally show Tiger's swing in extra slow, slow and full speed to point out the key positions of the body at address, impact and finish.
For our Saturday Player Development Program, we utilize My Swing with the intermediate and advanced golfers who are passionate and dedicated to competitive golf. During these training sessions, we allow students to record their own swing. I group the students together for a quick three minute tutorial on how to use the interface of the app.
Within five minutes, the students are able to record their swing, compare and contrast their swing with Tiger's and even email the video to their friends and family. The students enjoy comparing their swing with Tiger's with the side-by-side comparison feature. This provides instant feedback and reinforces the importance of grip, stance, posture and alignment.
Speaking from an instructional standpoint, the My Swing app is one of the easiest swing analysis apps currently on the market. They simplified the app with only the most necessary tools for a golf teaching professional. While recording swings, there is a golfer set-up template (a golfer's silhouette at address) that makes capturing swings centered in frame and at the appropriate height. This is important when giving feedback to students because the correct camera angle is needed to properly identify any swing flaw.
When using the playback feature the quality of video is remarkable. Lines, circles, or angles can be drawn in or erased in a matter of touches. The standard lines for video swing analysis are there but the unique feature of this app is the use of the "Tiger Lines"- Tiger Woods' own point of view when using lines in the swing analysis playback. Immediately after recording a swing, a built in golf professional will recommend 1-2 adjustments to correct the swing.
Thought the app, students also have the opportunity to set up a Golfshot account. This account enables students to be part of a huge golf network of peers, friends, fellow golfers and their swing coach. Once they're logged in to the account, students can record their swings, wherever they are, and send the footage to their instructor. The instructor can then comment on the swing, leave notes or even a voice recorded message providing feedback. This enables a coaching relationship with the students even beyond lessons on the golf range.
Through the Golfshot account, students can also track their own scores, handicap, and statistics like: greens hit in regulation, scrambling and sand saves. I personally enjoy hearing the student's accomplishments. We hear about our student's "first par or birdie" stories or "breaking 90" and through this network we are able to track our student's progression, even if they are not physically at the Tiger Woods Learning Center.
In summation, the Tiger Woods My Swing app is the best swing analysis app out there. It's very simple and easy to use, providing feedback and detailed instruction. Teachers can use it anywhere, film any type of swing, from a putt to a full-swing driver, and keep in touch with students all around the world. The best part of it all is that now students everywhere have access to the same technology that Tiger uses during his practice rounds and access to the same swing techniques his coaches use with him. I mean, where else can you compare your swing to one of the game's greatest golf swings?
