GBD Partnership with the Brazilian PGA

Golf Biodynamics Brazil (GBD) and the Brazilian PGA are now collaborating to further develop the game of golf in Brazil.

The recently established partnership between the PGA and Golf Biodynamics of Brazil demonstrates "total support for the golf coach. Golf professionals, with the support of sports science and health specialists can help the PGA to grow and develop the game in new ways” says Rui Raposo, GBD representative in Brazil. 

“3D Swing Analysis is a great adjunct to video” says Rui. "Teachers can now base their coaching decisions on quantitative data to improve their student’s game, whether the goal is to enhance performance through technical change or reduce the risk of injury”.

The role of Golf Biodynamics will be to provide expert advice, 3D services, and educational seminars to assist golf teachers both on a day-to-day basis with their instruction and expand their knowledge in the areas of golf biomechanics and sports science.

It is a great step forward for Brazil in terms of catching up to some of the most successful nations for developing elite young golfers in the past few years – nations such as England, Canada, Denmark, Germany and Sweden.

For more information about Golf Biodynamics in Brazil visit the website at http://www.golfbiodynamics.com.br or contact Rui Raposo on (11) 7501-0534 or email info@golfbiodynamics.com.br

A New GBD Asisstant in Miami…

Why I took an opportunity to work half-way around the world (for not a lot of money!) by: Gavin Sutherland

Last year I was looking for a seachange. I have enjoyed being a golf professional, but I was left wanting more.

I answered an advertisement on the PGA website for an Assistant Professional for a company not widely known in Australia but with strong international connections - Golf BioDynamics.

Following an on-course interview with Robert Neal and Karen Harrison (GBD partners) in Brisbane, I accepted the position of Golf BioDynamics assistant for 2011 - not entirely certain of what I was getting myself into!

Now, 6 months into my stay here in Miami (FL, USA), it is hard to believe that the time has passed by so quickly. There has been so much to absorb and take in, that it feels a little overwhelming when trying to go back and re-live what has happened.

After a 30 hour flight from Australia, I arrived into the sauna that is Florida in the summer. Coupled with jetlag, the first few days I admit were tough. Since then however, it has been nothing but highlights and new adventures.

The pressure was definitely on as soon as I arrived with only a very short period of time to familiarise myself with life in the US and a new job, about which I knew virtually nothing. Some intensive training marked the beginning and I quickly became familiar with the Golf Biodynamics 3D System and life at the Jim Mclean Golf School.

There is simply no way I would have had this learning experience back in Australia! A unique facility at Doral, there are 30 instructors in-season, all of the latest technologies and ideas, and a constant desire to learn and become the best. From working with Tour Players to interacting with some of the world’s best golf instructors, attending the World Golf Fitness Summit, the PGA Show, and assisting both the German and Danish National Teams, the last 6 months has been hectic to say the least. But I cannot wait to find out what the remainder of the year has in store for me!

The decision to leave Australia in order to grow as a Golf Teacher was a good one for me. I encourage others to take the risk and extend themselves as I did. A most valuable experience!

Thanks Golf BioDynamics!

Contact Gavin Sutherland at: G.Sutherland@golfbiodynamics.com

GBD works with Europe's finest National Teams

Winter training in the northern hemisphere often forces individuals and National Team players to migrate towards warmer locations for the benefit of practicing off grass and seeing ball flight.

Port St Lucie, just 2 hours north of Miami and home to the PGA Learning Center, has for the last few years attracted groups such as the German National Teams, Danish National Teams and the Danish Junior Golf Academy. We are proud to say that we have been involved, in some measure, in their successes over the years.

We wish them all the very best of luck for the upcoming season in Europe! 

“Thanks a lot for your help in Florida. It was great to see you in action – you give us the extra focus and sharpness we need to keep improving our skills and develop the future stars. We had a fantastic 2010 season and you are certainly also part of that success due to the work we started with you, Karen and Michael some years ago now”.

All the best – Claus (Danish Golf Union)

Spotlight on GBD Team Members...

The spotlight this quarter is on our colleague near Rotterdam, Holland.

Ian Goor is an innovative and forward thinking Teaching Professional who joined the GBD Team in early 2010.

With the primary goal of expanding his teaching horizons, Ian, accompanied by his father Rinus, a golf professional of more than 40 years, organized a trip to The Jim McLean Golf School at The Doral Golf Resort in 2009.

There, Ian took lessons with Jim McLean and Golf BioDynamics. His experience that week changed forever the way he would approach his teaching—3D was the way forward!

Location:

Rhoon Golf Center

Veerweg 2a

3161EX Rhoon

Netherlands 

Contact Ian on ++31 (645) 350 572 or ian@iangoor.nl or visit his website at www.iangoor.nl

The New Biofeedback Training System

A GBD Ultimate System (8 sensors) may not be a realistic option for the majority of golf professionals in the current market. It is true, there is a substantial commitment in terms of capital outlay, not to mention the time spent in up skilling and the investment in education. This level of dedication isn’t for everyone.

But shortly, a more viable 3D option, with the accuracy offered by the Ultimate System, will be available at less than one-third of the price.

We will shortly be introducing the new GBD 3D BioFeedback (BF) Training System. Designed with only 2 sensors (thus, the price of the hardware is dramatically reduced) it was created to be a training tool for the Teaching Professional. There are key differences between the GBD BF Training System and other similar devices on the market today. Firstly, the sensors are 6DOF (degrees of freedom) not 3DOF.

That is, they are true 3D; measuring body rotations as well as translations (linear motion). While the technology continues to improve, there are not yet any wireless systems designed for golf training or analysis that are completely 3D or 6DOF and accurate enough for our purposes. However we are keeping our eyes open for these developments. Polhemus is getting close!

As we mentioned, the BF System utilizes 2 sensors that can be placed in multiple locations (x5) - one has the option to place sensors on hips and shoulders, hips and head, shoulders and head, shoulders and arm or arm and hand. It all depends on the biomechanical parameter chosen by the operator.

Thus, the focus is firmly on BioFeedback Training to elicit motor patterns changes in our golf students. Those who have experienced biofeedback training know how valuable it can be, even for the higher handicapper. Maybe one of the most valuable aspects is that it can help to bring about that deliberate practice state we have been hearing so much about lately.

No complicated reports and an easier to navigate software, with the ability determine body speeds, examine positional data, timing sequences and so on. Add to that a live video feed and it becomes one of the most valuable tools a teaching professional can own, especially if he/she is ‘developing’ young players.

We’ll let you know as soon as it’s available.

Due for release in late 2011. 

Contact Dr. Robert Neal for more information.

R.Neal@golfbiodynamics.com

Golf BioDynamics Certification - Presidents Cup Week

There has been a trend in recent years for prominent golf instructors/organisations to provide certification courses in their respective teaching systems or methods (i.e. TPI, Hank Haney, Plummer and Bennett, Jim McLean). Of course this isn’t really anything new, The Golfing Machine has been churning out disciples for years now. 

GBD has fielded inquiries for some time about when we were going to begin providing 3D Golf Biomechanics certification courses. There is certainly more of a demand for education in this area of golf instruction, especially with the rise and rise of TPI, who have highlighted the need for 3D Analysis in their own program.  

For us, it has been a busy couple of years, with our focus firmly on developing the GBD software and in up skilling our licensees, but now the timing seems right.  This coming November GBD is planning to hold its first Level 1 Certification Seminar in Melbourne, Australia.  

The dates planned for the training are November 21st-24th.  It will be held on the tail end of the 2011 Presidents Cup. Consider bringing a group of clients out for a few fabulous days of golf on some of Australia’s premier courses, with tickets to the Presidents Club thrown in.

Then stay on for the education…

To register your interest in the certification courses contact Karen Harrison k.harrison@golfbiodynamics.com or locally, Wayne Bridgman + 61 (0) 401 417 865; waynebridgman@ymail.com for inquiries as to the President Cup Trips.

GBD Updates & Software Developments, Club & Body, Putting, Trackman

The GBD software, about 3 years into the creative process, was released in October 2009.   Designed by Dr. Robert Neal, it is the culmination of more than 25 years of research in golf biomechanics with the last 10 years working in the industry alongside top Teaching Professionals. 

As everyone is aware, software is, or at least should be, an evolutionary product. Those who stand still are eventually passed by...so our goal as a provider is to always stay ahead of the competition; continuing to look at ways of improving the GBD product line of which software is an integral part.

To this end, Rob works tirelessly to update and fine tune the GBD software and 3D products in response to feedback from users and Licensees. Over the last few months there have been a lot of updates to our Ultimate System software.

To summarize, the GBD 3D Ultimate System includes three basic modules or options: 1) Body Only (Standard); 2) Club and Body and 3) Putting.  That’s right; a 3D Putting Analysis that looks at what the putter is doing, as well as what the body is doing.  Use it outdoors or indoors and be confident of the results no matter the setting.

One of the most exciting developments, just completed, is the integration of our software with Trackman! This is a HUGE step since now we are the ONLY company that can simultaneously (and on one computer) capture 3D data on the body (motion capture) whilst simultaneously collecting the club delivery and ball information.

The next big development for 2011 is a GBD 3D BioFeedback Training System.   This particular 3D System has been designed specifically for the Teaching Professional with the focus squarely on BioFeedback Training in order to elicit changes in movement patterns. 

The hardware configuration includes the 2-sensor (6 degrees of freedom) Polhemus Patriot tracker (www.polhemus.com), unlike some of the competition whose sensors only exhibit 3 degrees of freedom.  Five models are included in our software, that is, multiple locations are available for the two sensors depending on the biofeedback parameter chosen.  Add to that a synchronous video feed for completeness and we have a true 3D teaching tool for less than one-third of the price of an Ultimate System. 

A small setback to progress on this new addition occurred when Rob discovered that the timing accuracy of events using the internal clock of the computer was in fact, not accurate enough.  We have now commissioned an electronics engineer to build a special device so that we can be ABSOLUTELY sure that data coming from the tracker (Patriot) and the video camera are synchronized. The development time will be about 2 months but the end result will be worth it - a more affordable 3D product with easy to navigate software; it is due for release later this year.

The GBD network is growing, now with 22 licensees in 19 countries around the world.  We continue to work towards building a global brand and a network of highly skilled of practitioners recognized for excellence in 3D services. 

For more information on the GBD systems contact: K.Harrison@golfbiodynamics.com