Tim Conaway, a three-time Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, is the owner of Conaway Golf Performance in Bradenton, Florida.
Tim Conaway on the importance of implementing multiple technology platforms in your indoor studio:
I opened an indoor teaching studio two years ago and work with golfers of all skill levels to improve their skills and increase the enjoyment they derive from the game. We have two hitting bays at Conaway Golf Performance – the first equipped with the FlightScope X3C and the other with the FlightScope Mevo+. We also have 3D force plates and 3D motion capture through the Motion2Coach platform, a highly effective video analysis solution that is working wonders with our students. There are no sensors to affix to the student’s body, so he or she is less restricted through the golf swing, providing a better swing sample that leads to a more accurate swing analysis. As such, I get to understand the relationship between the force that the player imparts upon the ground and how that affects how the student moves his or her body as a result. With this data, I spend quite a bit of time speaking with my students about ground forces to get them to change their pivot patterns. Motion2Coach is the best technology that I’ve seen to put this combination of data together in one seamless presentation. It helps the student see the measurable changes in how they move based on how they use the ground, resulting in expedited improvement among my golfers. Although we were the first academy to implement this technology in an indoor studio, the mobile application is ideal for outdoor use and provides highly accurate predictive forces of the ground.
Tim Conaway on the business impact of implementing multiple technology platforms in your indoor studio:
Between the FlightScope X3C and the Motion2Coach technology, I can measure everything that can be measured with the golf ball, the golf club and the human body during the golf swing. All the student has to do is stand on the plate, wait for the command from the software and then swing the golf club. As mentioned, there are no sensors to get in the way and no calibration needed. Each swing’s data is attained within a minute, so we can analyze and adjust as needed. I use this technology with students of all skill levels, and it has made me a better golf instructor and coach to all of my clients. Most beginners don’t understand how their bodies move during the golf swing – this software shows them and makes it easier for us to change what needs changing and point out what they’re doing well, often giving them confidence going forward. One of the key factors I always pay attention to is the center of mass of the player as it relates to the clubface and shaft in the backswing. I find that amateurs struggle with an internal takeaway, and this will have a significant influence on their center of mass during the swing. Motion2Coach displays their center of mass in 3D. Having them be able to see their center of mass as it moves is a massive benefit for a beginner, as it leads to a discussion on how to fix it. We take a second capture afterward so they can see the before and after images. As a firm believer that everything that happens above the waist in the golf swing is a result of what’s happening below the waist, I use this technology with my single-digit handicap competitive golfers as well. With these more skilled players, we get a full readout of the three directional ground forces during the swing, and this data allows us to pinpoint the necessary changes to help them improve. These directional forces cannot be seen with the naked eye and can only be measured to identify them. This technology and the results derived for my students set me apart from any other indoor coaching academy.
If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email Tim@conawaygolf.com.
