Long Distance Learning

Filed in archive Golf Instruction on January 1, 2008

The internet has opened up a world of opportunity for golfers. Not only can you read golf blogs like this one and dozens of others on a daily basis, you can literally shop the world for golf equipment.

You can also shop the world for golf instruction. And that is probably the most exciting development for golfers in an internet age.

The web has created business opportunities that are seeing more and more golf instructors teaching online.

It's like long distance learning.

How does this work? Many of you have probably already seen such websites.

The premise is based on swing analysis. You record your swing (some sites don't care if you use a cameraphone but a proper digital camera is best in my view), submit the recording as a file upload to the host site where it is reviewed by a golf instructor who records his comments and sends the file back to you.

There's a little more to it than that. For example, the instructor uses software to demonstrate with superimposed colored lines where your club, arms, legs or hips should be during the backswing or downswing.

This is standard computer analysis stuff.

Of course, you don't get this for free; you have to join. And this is where you have to do some consumer research.

It's important to remember that this is golf instruction which is predicated on communication. So, how well do the online instructors communicate? It's tough to find out without joining, isn't it?

My advice would be to fire off an email and inquire about instructors' bios: where they have taught, how long they have taught, etc.

And the corollary of this is what do they teach? I came across a site by clicking on a Google ad on my own site called 24-7GolfCoach.com. I opened the link and after poking around, discovered by accident that it was emphasizing the one-plane swing theory.

That's not what I want for my golf swing. It may be okay for you. The point is find out before you join up.

Prices to join vary. The above-mentioned site offered month by month membership for $14.95 or 3 month memberships for $44.85 - exactly three times the monthly rate. No discount there!

There's a new site in the U.K. called WebGolfCoach.com that does offer discounts on groups of lessons. They also boast the Scottish National Golf Coach as a spokesman for the site. Throw in a couple of euros and you can get a coffee, too.

Ultimately, the value of these sites has to be carefully measured against one-on-one teaching where feedback is instant and the lesson is very much hands-on.

And video instruction begins with a good recording of your swing. If you don't have access to a camera and someone to operate it properly, you might be better off with face-to-face lessons. Remember, the instructor is working only from the video file you send him or her.

Yes, there is a world of opportunity for golfers thanks to the web. But one man's opportunity could be another man's waste of time and money.