August 30, 2011
The Golfbreaks.com Tour Fit For Golf competition winners embarked on the 3rd stage of their programme with the European Tour Performance Institute and aboutGolf at St Omer Golf Club last week. The key focus at this stage was to analyze their progress using aboutGolf golf performance technology.
The participants have been following an exercise programme developed with Rob Hilman, Physio Unit Director at European Tour, and a golf instruction programme focused on the biomechanics of their golf swing with Jean-Jaques Rivet, Sports Biomechanics Consultant to European Tour.
Chris Hughman and Nick Blunt, the competition winners, began their day with a physical assessment with Rob Hilman putting them through their paces and asking lots of questions to gauge their progress since the first stage of the process. Rob had differing challenges with both Nick and Chris, largely due to the fact that Chris had developed an injury since their first meeting. While Nick worked on exercises to develop the strength and flexibility needed for a complete turn during the golf swing, Chris worked on exercises that would allow his injury to recover while continuing to improve upon the progress made so far. At this stage in the process it was particularly interesting to see whether both golfers had made the progress that they had hoped to make at the outset of the competition. It was clear early on that they were both finding exercises they had initially found difficult, much easier to complete.
Following a brief conversation with Rob it was time for Jean-Jaques to put the competition winners through their paces using aboutGolf performance technology. One thing that has become apparent throughout the process is the simplicity of Jean-Jacques methods, it is easy to over complicate and confuse an amateur golfer with too many ideas to work on. Jean-Jacques likes to focus on one key at each stage of the development and having worked on balance from set up to the top of the back swing and back to impact at the previous stages of the programme, the 3rd stage saw the guys work on the impact through the ball and into the follow through and finish. It is perhaps important to note that the guys are now beginning to see real improvements in their ball striking and alignment as a direct result of the work completed so far and validated by aboutGolf equipment.
While progress could be easily attributed to improved practice methods, there are tell tale signs that the improvements are a direct result of the work they have done to increase their strength and flexibility throughout the programme. The clearest example came when Chris was hitting a few balls at the end of the session, having hit his final ball he turned to Jean Jacques and sustained conversation for a few seconds, Jean-Jacques then asked Chris to look at his current position in order to understand his progress. Unbeknown to Chris he still stood in his finish position with nearly all his weight over his left knee, a fantastic development for a man who arrived just a couple of months ago unable to hold such a position for even a second. It is these little tell tale signs that really show the benefits of the process; it continues to surprise both golfers.
About Tour Fit for Golf
The Tour Fit for Golf Amateur Programme, launched in collaboration with the European Tour Performance Institute, plans to help recreational golfers of all standards optimize, for the first time, both their health and golf performance; the efficient use of the latest science and technology to improve sporting performance, has often been the deciding factor between winning and losing since the beginning of major championships. The aim of the Tour Fit Program is to use this knowledge amassed on the European Tour, to help all golfers avoid injury and to better understand the elements that are vital for delivering maximum energy into their golf shots in a repetitive way and how to test and train to improve their game.
About aboutGolf
aboutGolf is a world leader in golf simulator and golf performance technology. The more than 20-year-old, Ohio-based company is committed to developing and applying innovative, state-of-the-art technology to enhance and improve the game for golfers at every level. Its products, including PGA TOUR Simulators, aG Studio and Henry-Griffitts Custom Fit Golf Clubs, enable substantive learning and improvement in the game of golf. Learn more at www.aboutgolf.com.
Contact:
Mary Beth Lacy
760-346-6942
email: mb@mblacy.com
aboutGolf Ltd.
352 Tomahawk Drive
Maumee, OH 43537
Phone: 419-482-9095
www.aboutgolf.com
