This week’s blog topic is about, “Navigating Golf YouTube”
Golf on YouTube is a treasure chest of information; offering entertainment, tips, drills, and insights from professionals around the world. However, it can also be overwhelming and confusing for students trying to improve their game. As a golf instructor, I’ve seen firsthand how students can benefit massively from online resources when used correctly, and unfortunately the opposite. Here’s how to navigate Golf YouTube effectively to enhance your learning experience.
Seek Quality Information
Once you have the correct personalised diagnosis for an issue you are trying to fix and clarity over what you are trying to achieve. The next step is understanding why the golf ball behaves the way it does. Which gives you a significant advantage when trying to fix any issue like a slice from the tee.
Spend some time on the Trackman or Foresight Sports channels to learn about the different impact factors and their effects on the golf ball. Trackman offers excellent free university training with quizzes on various factors. I see too many golfers focusing solely on club path when trying to fix a big slice. However, a better understanding of what causes these issues will make your search for solutions more effective and the information you find more useful.
Do Your Homework
Don’t get caught up in the highest views! Some world-class coaches out there are giving away some great information but are not YouTube celebrities. The algorithms are designed to send you to the most popular channels and they can send you down a rabbit hole very quickly! You don`t need to use the first video you come across, find a channel that compliments your journey and your style of learning.
Use Videos to Supplement, Not Replace
Coaching YouTube videos should complement your lessons, not replace them. While online tutorials offer great tips, they can’t provide the personalized feedback you receive from a good golf coach. Use YouTube to reinforce what you’ve learned during coaching sessions. Just like in the example above, the student is working on trail arm movement in the downswing and found videos that gave him further clarity to what is going to benefit his game going forward.
Collaborate With Your Coach
As such a brilliant source for further information we all find ourselves taking a look on YouTube, but don’t be shy to share them with your coach and get their feedback on what they feel is the best one for you, and which will be relatable to what you are working on. Sometimes the same information being explained slightly differently is all you need for the lightbulb to go on.
Entertainment and Introduction
This is where YouTube comes into its own. It’s brilliant for entertainment, watching other people navigate their way around the Golf Course and all the delights and frustrations it brings. In many ways it becomes relatable and sometimes a lonely journey becomes shared. YouTube allows you to see up close and personal, interviews and masterclasses from some of the Worlds best coaches and players. For people new to the game, it offers support and context around rules and etiquette, allows you to find your fan favorites and which equipment to buy and the golf courses to add to your bucket list.
In summary, I think You Tube Golf content can really help us get better and enjoy the game so much more!! But like anything, proceed with caution, beware the quick fix information and the click bait titles. Do your homework first, and don’t forget to involve your coach….we watch it too!!
– Coach Tim