The Golf Academy

What Exactly is a Golf Swing Analyzer?

On December 20, 2017

Today’s article comes from the web’s #1 equipment reviewer, Golf Assessor. The Golf Assessor team has reviewed hundreds of pieces of golf equipment and they were kind enough to look at swing analyzers for us today. Please enjoy and let me know what you think down below:

Twenty years ago the only ‘golf swing analyzer’ would have been watching video tutorials by David Leadbetter and trying to establish what you are doing wrong with your swing in comparison.

Swing Analyzers now come in a vast array of shapes and sizes and are either a phone based application or an actual golf swing device. When working out what you are looking for or needing from a swing analyzer you should keep the following in mind:

Build Quality

When it comes to build quality, you’re looking at two completely different things – software or hardware. How does the golf swing analyzer perform? Is it durable? Does it have a long battery life? Does it need upgrades or add-ons?

You also have to consider where you put it and whether it’s actually practical to use or not?

From our experience, most people will want a lightweight device that is attached onto the top of their grip. There are plenty of other methods, but this is the best in our opinion.

As for a software application, there are also certain minimum requirements. It needs to be compatible with iOS and Android. There also needs to be a strong connectivity with a decent range. A 360-degree view option for analysis is ideal, and an easy interface along with accurate data helps tremendously as well. Then it simply comes down to the extra specific features of each swing analyzer and how those features separate certain devices from the rest of the pack which can be the most difficult part of purchasing a swing analyzer.

Ease of Use

When you’re considering which swing analyzer to buy you want a device that is not only designed well but is also easy to use. How easy is it to set up the sensor? Does the data read easily? After that, if you can get the sensor and the app to connect at the same time that will make your life a whole lot easier.

Club calibration is one issue that not many have found the answer to dealing with. Let’s face it – that’s the boring part, so it needs to be over and done with as quickly as possible.

Once you’re ready to go, the dashboard is the most important thing. You need to be able to find your way around the menus, features, and statistics quickly and easily. Storing your swings and finding them shouldn’t be a chore, and any split screens, comparisons, and other imagery needs to be clean and uncluttered.

And of course, there is the data. It’s so hard to find that balance between supplying too little and too much data. In our opinion, the data just needs to be informative and provide the necessary information for you to improve. It’s hard to explain in words, but you’ll know when a device has succeeded in this department because you won’t have to think about it, everything will be presented seamlessly.

Value for Money

Cheap definitely does not equal good value so please keep that mind! It is, however, good to have certain price points in your mind. For $100 or less, you have to set realistic expectations. Once you start heading above $150, you’re then getting into the crutch numbers where you should be confident in the quality of what you’re purchasing.

And if you’re being asked to cough up north of 200 bucks, well, you should demand cutting-edge quality in return.

Based on all three of the points above, let’s pick out two Golf Swing Analyzers for you:

Epson M-Tracer Swing Analyzers

From the moment you open the box you know you have a quality product, not to mention how well it performs on the range.

In terms of features, the M-Tracer is faster, easier to use and more accurate than most of its competitors and that is something we’re certain of.

The M-Tracer is able to record data at a rate of 1,000 samples per second, which is a whole lot faster than most analyzers on the market and is the main reason why it is accurate to one-tenth of a degree.

The 3D view is a very cool feature and is one I found myself using a lot in conjunction with the V-Zone to analyze the finer details of my back-swing, down-swing and follow through. The Epson device also comes with a library of professional golf swing references to compare your swing with, which is incredibly addictive. The best part of this device though is just how simple it is to use.

If you are looking for the best middle-of-the range swing analyzer then we highly recommend the M-Tracer.

Zepp Golf 3D Swing Analyzer

The first time we used the Zepp Golf 3D Swing Analyzer, it didn’t feel right having the device clipped to my glove which made using the device a little awkward. It took a number of shots to trust the device wasn’t going to fly off my hand and also the device also recorded some strange data.

After the initial process was over, however, the Zepp was magnificent. To be fair, the Zepp 3D doesn’t have the full suite of features as some of the bigger guns, but it’s clear focus on the core elements of swing analysis and user-friendliness are as good as the best in the business.

Setting up and calibrating the device is incredibly easy, and the dashboard reflects this simplicity. There is some product-specific jargon to learn, but it’s not very complex.

In summary, Zepp has produced a user-friendly swing analyzer at a super affordable price, and because of that, we have given it our Best Value vote.

So there you have it, the three most important things to consider if you’re in the market for a swing analyzer and two products to check out if you’re still trying to do some last minute holiday shopping.

I hope you enjoyed today’s piece and have a great holiday season from The Golf Assessor team and us here at The Golf Academy.

Nine Best Golf Gifts: What To Buy For the Golfer in Your Life

By Sully

On December 8, 2017

In Golf Discussions

Great golf gifts are hard to find. There seems to be an endless list of products and equipment to choose from when it comes to shopping for gifts this holiday season. So how can you cut through the clutter to find the right gift for the golfer in your life?

Well, you could scour department stores and Amazon.com until your eyes turn red, or, you could check out the nine best gifts we’ve come across in stores and the web this holiday season. So stop searching and take a quick look at what we think are the nine best golf gifts for this holiday season.

Putt-A-Bout 3 Hole Putting Mat

The first item on our list is a classic putting mat for indoor practice during the winter. Putt-A-Bout takes the classic panel putting mat one step above its predecessors with this 9ft-3ft artificial green. This design features a kidney-shaped design with three different holes to aim at along with two “sand traps” behind the holes to keep any long putts from rolling under chairs or couches.

While I haven’t personally used this putting mat, the design looks very sleek, it boasts a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, and for a little less than $40, I think it is more than worth the investment if it means you’ll have a little less trouble shaking the rust off your short game in the spring.

2. Tiger Woods – How I Play Golf
The next item on our holiday list is a personal favorite of mine. Tiger Woods – How I Play Golf is a great all-around book on golf instruction for those looking to learn more about the game and improve over the winter months, told through the eyes of one of golf’s greatest athletes.

This book was actually the first golf gift I ever received and even though some of the pages are torn and coffee-stained now, I still reread Tiger’s chapter on mental toughness before each season. The book comes in a variety of different formats, however, the $15 hardcover option does make a great coffee table addition…

3. College Football Set of Three Headcovers and NFL 3 Pack of Contour Head Covers

Our next set of gifts bring together two great sports, football and golf. As both a student and a football fan a set of three headcovers is a great way to represent my school’s athletic program as well as keep my clubs safe during transportation.

While Team Effort by no means covers every college team, there are a wide array of collegiate schools, NFL teams, Hockey teams, and more available for the reasonable price of around $30 Amazon.com. A great choice for the football fan in your life!

5. TecTecTec VPRO500 Golf Rangefinder

Moving on we have a gift for a slightly more serious golfer. In this day and age, having a rangefinder on the course with you is a near necessity for any golfer looking to seriously improve or play at a competitive level. I will admit that for most of my golfing career I relied on a trained eye or course markings to determine my distance and during that time nothing was more frustrating than watching a great shot sail over the green because you used more club than you needed.

Now, at almost $150 this is no fleeting investment, after researching a variety of different rangefinders, I am very comfortable recommending the VPRO500 as one of the more well made, reasonably priced rangefinders on the market (and I think the 2000 positive reviews on Amazon would agree). So, while it might not be right for every golfer, this quality rangefinder is certainly something you should look into if you want to dial in your game next spring.

6. adidas Men’s Pure Trx Golf Shoe

Moving into some golfing apparel now, I would like to quickly highlight a particular piece of golf apparel that I can personally recommend. While there are countless types of shoes, pants, and shirts out on the market, the Adidas Men’s Pure Trx shoe has served me very well for the past two summers. Even though I might not make it out onto the course every day, this shoe has maintained its support and kept my feet dry through countless rounds thanks to the water-resistant material around the bottom of the shoe.

Now, while it might be possible to find a cheaper golf shoe out on the market, at around $70 I think the Pure Trx is a great combination of quality and affordability for the common golfer. Besides the great price, the black variation of the shoe is great at hiding dirt and grass stains which has kept my pair looking (somewhat) sleek and clean even after hundreds of rounds out on the links.

7. 6 In 1 Golf Multi-Function All In One Golfers Tool

Our next gift holiday gift is the 6 in 1 Golf Multi-Tool from Perfect Life Ideas. Included in the tool are a divot repair tool, ball marker, groove cleaner, scrubbing brush, spike wrench, and a knife which should be more than enough to help you accomplish any golf-related problem you might encounter out on the course.

Now, while this gift might not have the same flair that a new set of clubs or a fancy range-finder might have, I have personally used this tool almost every round of the year. After hooking the multi-tool onto my bag I never found myself rummaging through my bag looking for ball markers or a divot repair tool. This allows me to spend less time looking for equipment and more time focusing on my game. All of these great tools are packaged up for you at a price of around $12, which makes this is a great gift for golfers of all ages and skill levels.

8. Practice Golf Putting Green Flag With Cup

Our next gift idea is one very close to my heart, in fact, this might be my favorite golf-related gift of all time. This great gift idea is a flag and cup combination for your backyard. During my childhood, I would go out daily to different spots around my backyard and chip and putt at a similar flag/cup combination and the makeshift green that we created along with it.

While you could certainly use a different type of cup instead of buying this gift, it was great to go out to practice and have something “official” to shoot at. Not to mention this set also helps make your practice area look a little nicer when you’re not using it as well too. This flag and cup set might not be the fanciest gift or the easiest to set up (you’ll have to dig a small hole to put the cup in the ground which can be messy during the spring), but if you’ve ever thought of setting up a small practice area of your own, for under $20, I think this would be a great place to start.

9. Amen Corner Golf Canvas

To round out our list of the nine best golf gifts I want to switch gears just a little. Our last gift for today is a beautiful golf canvas featuring Amen’s Corner from Augusta National.

Now, I can’t promise that this beautiful 17″ x 15″ canvas will help you become a scratch golfer, but it certainly is a unique gift that would help any golf deprived family member make it through a long, cold winter. Plus, due to its size, it also makes a great addition to an office or desk space and, for $25, it’s an affordable way to start a small golf art collection of your very own.

The Wrap-Up

So, that’s it. All of our research into the best golf gifts of 2017 has led us to these nine great ideas. And while we’re very confident you would love any of these gifts we also want to hear what you think. What are you getting for that special golfer in your life? Let us know down below in the comments, and above all else, have a happy and safe holiday season this year, from all of us at The Golf Academy.

Aerated Greens: Why Courses Do It and How to Survive Playing on Them

By Sully

On November 28, 2017

In Golf Science, Golf Tips

As the weather starts to get colder and golfing season in the north starts to wind down, golfers have to fight against even more obstacles than normal (as if the game wasn’t hard enough) during their rounds. While the wind, rain, and rough turf might seem like more than enough to worry about, playing on aerated greens is an almost sure-fire way to cost you a few strokes during your round. So why do courses do this to us, and what can we do to try and manage our scores on an aerated green?

Why Do Golf Courses Aerate Their Greens?

A normal green compared to a vented one.

Golf courses take a lot of wear and tear over the season, and the turf is no exception. In order to ensure that the grass is healthy and consistent, most courses opt into some form of aeration both during the playing season and towards the end of the year.

During the playing season, courses usually choose to do venting aeration which is basically placing a bunch of small needles into the ground in order to break up the turf. This process is done throughout the year and is usually does not affect ball roll or playing conditions at all after a couple days.

But what do you mean we don’t notice? What are all of these holes on the green?

Core aeration compared to a normal green.

Well, along with venting aeration, many courses may choose an aeration strategy that is much more aggressive once play dies down for the year. This is known as core aeration.

When you mention aerated greens, core aeration is what comes to the mind of most golfers because it almost always results in the horrible, potholed, greens we have grown to dread towards the end of the season. During core aeration, holes of almost half an inch are removed from the ground and then replaced with sand. This removal of dirt cores causes the unsightly marks on the greens that many northern golfers are accustomed to late in the season.

Obviously, all of these small holes change the roll of the greens and the appeal of the golf course, so why do golf courses do this? The answer really is simple; it’s because they have to.

Golf courses aerate their greens for four major reasons, all of which affect turf health. Aeration is usually performed in order to remove organic matter, decompress the soil, improve the drainage of the soil, and help promote root growth. Without aeration, organic matter (i.e. bacteria and other plants) build up on the surface of the turf. This increase in the concentration of plant matter can prevent water from draining into the soil and can reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the roots, which ultimately limits growth. Aerating the soil can also relieve soil compression which not only helps grass grow better but ensures that the courses greens are firm and play fair, something that any golfer can appreciate.

How to Play on Aerated Greens

So great, we know that aeration is important, but how can we keep it from ruining our scores on the green? Aerated greens provide a unique challenge for golfers because they contrast the typically smooth and predictable motion of the ball. For example, if you dropped a ball straight down on a normal green you wouldn’t expect the ball to roll very far from where it landed. However, on an aerated green, if your ball lands on the side of a dirt core that has been removed it can travel in a completely different direction from the predicted ball flight.

So how do we make the best of aerated greens? The single most important piece of advice I can give you is to keep the ball low. As we mentioned above, having the ball land on the side of a removed core basically leaves the result of the shot to chance depending on the angle of impact the ball has with the hole. By keeping your ball flight low you have a higher chance of rolling the ball over each hole which will help keep your ball on a more predictable path towards the hole.

Besides keeping the ball low, hitting the ball slightly harder on chips and putts will help make up for the speed that is lost when the ball hits each bump. When I play personally, I usually plan on the ball rolling about 25% less than it would on a non-aerated green so you might have to add a little power to your putts and chips. This really depends on the number of holes on each green as well as their depth but that is something that is somewhat unique to each golf course.

While I’m sure all of us could agree that we would rather play on pristine greens all year, accomplishing this is no easy feat for the grounds crew of your favorite golf course. It can be frustrating to have your round derailed by a bad bounce on the green but hopefully, some of the tips we’ve talked about above will help keep your round and your sanity in check during these early winter rounds. So have some fun on the links before the snow starts to fly and have a great holiday season this year.

Draws, Slices, Hooks, and Every Other Ball Flight But Straight Explained

By Sully

On September 25, 2017

In Basics, Golf Tips

Any golfer that’s stepped out on the tee before has likely hit a shot that didn’t travel straight. But how do you explain these less than ideal ball flights? After all, if you can’t hit the ball straight (join the club), you might as well sound intelligent talking about your struggles with the game, right? So let’s talk about the difference between a slice, a hook, and all the other ball flights people throw around on the golf course.

The ball flight of a slice for a right-handed golfer.

Slices, Fades, and Pushes

The slice. Arguably the most common mechanical problem in golf, but what exactly is it? And how do all these other words relate to this age-old problem?

Put simply, the slice is a ball trajectory which results in the ball curving towards the direction your body was facing when you addressed the ball (which is right for a right-handed golfer). Similarly, a fade follows the same general path as a slice, however, it’s not as aggressive of a curve. A push, by contrast, doesn’t involve a curved trajectory at all. This trajectory does result in the ball landing in a similar place as a slice or fade but instead of the ball curving to get there, the ball travels straight to the target at an angle.

The ball flight of a hook for a right-handed golfer.

Hooks, Draws, and Pulls

The next set of ball flights mimic the slice, fade, and push but are simply mirrored to the other side. For a right-handed golfer, these three shot trajectories all result in the ball traveling to the left, however, they do so in different ways and to different degrees. Similarly to slice, the hook is a dramatic curve to the left while a draw is a smaller curve with the same general flight path. The pull is closely related to the push and results in a straight ball flight but a landing area that is similar to a hook.

Similarly to the slice, the hook is a dramatic curve to the left. A draw travels in the same direction as a hook but curves significantly less to the side. The pull, which is closely related to the push, results in a straight ball flight at an angle but travels to the same side as the hook and draw.

So there you have it, you’re well versed in all of the different types of ball flights! But how could you possibly remember all of that? Well, luckily for you all of the above ball flights (as well as a couple extra ones) are represented in the graphic below!

The nine different ball flights represented graphically.

Now, while none of this might help us hit shots straighter, being able to explain your ball flight at least lets you communicate your struggles with your playing partners, and that’s a start, right?

What is an A-Wedge?

By Sully

On July 17, 2017

In Golf Discussions

Image result for a wedge golf The technology of golf clubs is always changing and much of the more recent changes have been focused on wedge technology. Due to a demand for higher precision around the green, golf club makers have started to produce clubs with 50-52 degrees of loft along with the older 48 and 56 degrees of loft on a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. These new golf clubs are normally called gap wedges, or, as I recently learned, A-wedges.

What does the “A” stand for?

If you’re like me, you may have never even heard about an A-wedge until just now. Personally, I had no idea of the existence of this club until I gave a lesson to a young man about a week ago who happened to be carrying one. Eventually, after the lesson was done I got a chance to ask him what the “A” on his wedge stood for and, to my surprise, he actually gave me two answers, an “attack wedge” or an “approach wedge”. Apparently, I’m going to have to choose for myself what I prefer to call it…

Personally, I think I prefer attack wedge because that really is the purpose I have for my gap wedge (which is the same degree marking as his A-wedge). For me, when I’m about 110 yards away from the green I’m thinking of trying to stick my next shot close; I want to attack the pin.

What do you think? Have you ever heard of an A-wedge before or do you have a preference for what the “A” stands for? Either way, I’m always happy to learn something new about the golfing world!