Brian Manzella
Administrator
I remember when the handheld video camcorder was first introduced, I was the first person in the whole region to teach with one in every lesson (1985).
In 1988, the local CBS affiliate WWL, #1 in news in the south, did a story on me the day after local newspaper TheTimes-Picayune did a story on me. The basic gist of both was this: This Manzella Guy uses VIDEO in every lesson, and is trying to apply physics and geometry too. My quotes in both pieces were something to effect of this: "Video may be new around here—but it here to stay. And so is science."
I was right, huh?
Anyhoo, there were lots of folks who thought video was a joke, and it would never last in the etching business.
Video over used in 2012? Maybe.
Flash in the pan since 1985? Hardly.
Here we are in 2012 and me and my "TrackMan running on every ball, in every lesson" is in year three, just like me and video was in 1988. And the naysayers are barking like dogs—again.
NEWSFLASH: Teaching with a machine that gives you club delivery data and ball-flight data is here to stay forever.
And ever.
AMEN.
10 years from now, it will be as utilized as video is now. Mark it down.
A perfect example of Trackman teaching, is my work last year with David Toms. No way you can see the minute differences in a swing that is basically 30 years old. You could video him from every angle, and go make measurements back at the computer, but by then David is already down the road. Teaching a world-class 40-something is more about removing things more than adding them. Small changes, little upgrades, and detail is everything. Subtle is mandatory unless you have a magic bullet. You don't have to wonder if the lessons were good, the next event is here. Sweat every shot on ShotLink and find out if you know what you are doing.
Now, I fixed him without TrackMan in 1988, and in 2003, and a quite few times in between. But now, everything is much better—and easier—because of my little orange pal. And now with "son of my Little Orange Friend," TMIII.
Today I gave one of my plus-handicappers a lesson. He was hitting it really good.
One little issue though—he was hitting down on it an average of 5.5° degrees with a 8-iron (not that bad) and also 5.5° down average with a 6-iron (not so good).
I fixed him, just like I did in our first lesson last year when we went from 7.5° down with a 7-iron to 4° down.
Below are two of his swings.
One is a six-iron from the 5.5° down series, pre fix. The other 3.6° down from the average of 3.9° down series of shots.
Which one is which?
If you think you can give this level of precision in a lesson—the kind that might produce the lowest 36-hole start to a PGA Tour event in history—without a device like TrackMan, you are kidding yourself and your customers.
The palatable, obviously better flight, better sound, better look, and more Tour like ooose from the swing, on the 3.9° downward series of shots is something you can't believe how easy it was too see.
An 5th grade Catholic School girl could see the difference.
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36802309?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="700" height="394" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
In 1988, the local CBS affiliate WWL, #1 in news in the south, did a story on me the day after local newspaper TheTimes-Picayune did a story on me. The basic gist of both was this: This Manzella Guy uses VIDEO in every lesson, and is trying to apply physics and geometry too. My quotes in both pieces were something to effect of this: "Video may be new around here—but it here to stay. And so is science."
I was right, huh?
Anyhoo, there were lots of folks who thought video was a joke, and it would never last in the etching business.
Video over used in 2012? Maybe.
Flash in the pan since 1985? Hardly.
Here we are in 2012 and me and my "TrackMan running on every ball, in every lesson" is in year three, just like me and video was in 1988. And the naysayers are barking like dogs—again.
NEWSFLASH: Teaching with a machine that gives you club delivery data and ball-flight data is here to stay forever.
And ever.
AMEN.
10 years from now, it will be as utilized as video is now. Mark it down.
A perfect example of Trackman teaching, is my work last year with David Toms. No way you can see the minute differences in a swing that is basically 30 years old. You could video him from every angle, and go make measurements back at the computer, but by then David is already down the road. Teaching a world-class 40-something is more about removing things more than adding them. Small changes, little upgrades, and detail is everything. Subtle is mandatory unless you have a magic bullet. You don't have to wonder if the lessons were good, the next event is here. Sweat every shot on ShotLink and find out if you know what you are doing.
Now, I fixed him without TrackMan in 1988, and in 2003, and a quite few times in between. But now, everything is much better—and easier—because of my little orange pal. And now with "son of my Little Orange Friend," TMIII.
Today I gave one of my plus-handicappers a lesson. He was hitting it really good.
One little issue though—he was hitting down on it an average of 5.5° degrees with a 8-iron (not that bad) and also 5.5° down average with a 6-iron (not so good).
I fixed him, just like I did in our first lesson last year when we went from 7.5° down with a 7-iron to 4° down.
Below are two of his swings.
One is a six-iron from the 5.5° down series, pre fix. The other 3.6° down from the average of 3.9° down series of shots.
Which one is which?
If you think you can give this level of precision in a lesson—the kind that might produce the lowest 36-hole start to a PGA Tour event in history—without a device like TrackMan, you are kidding yourself and your customers.
The palatable, obviously better flight, better sound, better look, and more Tour like ooose from the swing, on the 3.9° downward series of shots is something you can't believe how easy it was too see.
An 5th grade Catholic School girl could see the difference.
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36802309?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="700" height="394" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
