With the recent launch of the iPhone 4S and the many other excellent mobile devices now available, golfers have a new secret weapon to help their game. Sophisticated and practical mobile apps for golf including the Golfshot GPS App (reviewed here) can provide key information and game improvements.
iSwing Golf App Review The iSwing is one of a number of golf swing training apps that are now available for iPhone and Android. I have tried a number of different swing apps and have found the iSwing app to be one of the best. iSwing is available for both the iPhone ($2.99) and Android ($3.40) devices. The application is a simple yet effective golf swing recorder allowing video analysis of your swing by yourself or with a mate, or even better, with the local golf professional. Each swing video is saved into a diary, and provides an option to review real time or frame by frame and aslo edit and email as a .mov file. The app also allows key swing points and angles to be noted with a sketch pad option.
The swing diary and video review screens
Road Test
The iSwing app is simple to use. The big “Record” button opens a video screen that include guides to help setup the shot. And importantly, if its just you on the driving range, a timer feature allows you to prop your phone up on the golf bag, hit record and then gives you enough time to get to the ball and setup before a “beep” indicates it has started recording. Recorded video is then saved into the diary for instant review and comparison with previous swings.
A short note can be added to each of the swings, and any of the video’s can be instantly emailed. A useful feature if you want to show your professional the swing, or give your friends a laugh!
For an extra couple of dollars, an upgrade is available that includes pro-swings to compare. I have the Android version that includes Adam Scott’s text book swing using a driver, 7 iron, wedge and sandiron. This also allows you to compare your swing to one of the best swings in the game.
iSwing – Compare tool
The Word
For a couple of dollars this is a very handy and recommended app for golfers of all levels. The iSwing provides a handy practice tool on the driving range to help with reviewing the golf swing and checking for problems, errors or lack of coordination!
Tiger Woods has now fallen outside the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings. OK, its only just, he is currently ranked #51 but its the first time he has been outside the top 50 since October 13 1996. And Woods is not in the form that would see him getting back into the Top 50 anytime soon. Woods hasnt played since missing the cut in the USPGA, but returns to competitive action this week.
From a marketing perspective, its no surprise that Tiger Woods was selected as a Captains Pick in the US Presidents Cup team, because its certainly not on current form. Players like Rickie Fowler, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker and Keegan Bradley are all ranked higher than Woods and have better form, yet were overlooked.
Woods will bring specatators to the course, and increase TV viewers, but do they want to see Woods knocked out of matches 6&5? Hopefully this isnt the case, and something sparks the Tiger back to life.
Golf Australia has launched an upgrade to the national handicapping system in Australia after a review of the revised system implemented a year ago. As of today, the best 8 rounds from the last 20 scores will count towards handicap, previously it was 10. There are also multipliers, bonus’s, caps and anchor’s, fellow golf blogger Aussie Golfer explains this in more detail on his blog. The changes mean that inconsistent golfers are going to play off a lower handicap.
I agree that consistent golf should be rewarded, as should lower handicaps, and it can be very frustrating to be beaten on Monthly Medal day to a nett 61 from a golfer who ‘played the round of their life’. But as an inconsistent golfer myself, its going to mean a lot of tough days on the course. Ive seen the various changes to the handicapping system over the last year or so knock 3 shots off my handicap without me lifting a club (16.3 to 12.9) . I havent improved in that time, if anything Ive got worse.
One reason for my inconsistency is the limited number of competitive rounds that I play, as I average 6 or so competition rounds a year, so my best 8 rounds include a round from 2008. Ive played to my current handicap twice in 3 years, and have never bettered my handicap. Im proud to say I now play off 13, but its not a true reflection of my ability. There is only one solution, play more golf!!!
Long the butt of all jokes in the locker room and the 19th hole, the Long Putter or Belly Putter is suddenly winning tournaments. Webb Simpson’s win this weekend makes it a three-peat of the PGA tour for the long putting stick following wins by Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley. This must explain my recent nightmares, sketches and sudden desire to go long!
Will the golf world start craving long putters? I think I will stick with my regular putter for now.
Adam Scott congratulates Steve Williams on his win…. no wait, Adam Scott wins
Adam Scott played a virtually faultless final round of 65 to win the Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone. Scott pocketed $1.3 million for the win and has jumped into the World Top 10 joining fellow Aussie Jason Day. Scott’s form couldnt come at a better time with this weekends PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club. Potential for some early mornings this weekend for Australians, hoping to watch Scott and Day competing for the final major of 2011.
Now this is the way to play your approach to the 72nd hole when leading the tournament.
Unfortunately a lot of the media attention was focused on caddy Steve Williams. Williams is still very bitter from his public break up with Tiger Woods, and in what is closer to Hollywood gossip than sport, Williams held his own press conference rating the win as his greatest career win as well as claiming he is a great frontrunner. The comments were squarely aimed at Woods, bitter and uncalled for. Now, professional caddies play a vital role in support, mentor, coach and strategist for golfers, and Williams is one of the best. But seriously, the best caddys are also seen and not heard.
Should Scott continue his current form and, fingers crossed, hold the PGA Championship trophy aloft this weekend, his caddy should receive earned respect and congratulations, but keep his mouth shut on the victory dias!
Golf.com has just released their biennial ranking of the Worlds Top 100 golf courses. The rankings are always hotly debated and also used by fanatical golfers as a travel planner to attempt to play the entire list, many such as John Sabino still face the toughest challenge, getting on to Augusta National.
There are no changes to the Top 10. The iconic Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey still sits at number one in the world. With Cypress Point, Augusta, St Andrews Old, Royal County Down, Shinnecock Hills, Pebble Beach, Oakmont, Muirfield and Merion (East) rounding out the Top 10.
South-east Australia shows that it is one of the World’s great golfing destinations with six courses in the Top 100. Royal Melbourne West sits just outside the Top 10 and will be in the international golfing spotlight in November as a key part of the composite course to host the Presidents Cup. Kingston Heath, New South Wales and Royal Adelaide remain internationally recognised as the best in the world, but its the remote North East coast of Tasmania that has become a new golfing mecca.
Joining the already iconic Barnbougle Dunes in the Top 100 is the superb Lost Farm course, now surely one of the Worlds great 36 hole layouts. Lost Farm is one of only four new courses worldwide to debut in the Top 100. The two Barnbougle courses would also be close to the best value and most accessible of the entire Top 100. Richard Sattlers vision and combination of stunning topography and worlds Best course architects have combined to produce golfing brilliance. Wonder if Richard is planning a third course?
Australian courses and rankings in the 2011 Top 100 Golf Courses
13. Royal Melbourne (West)
27. Kingston Heath
34. New South Wales
41. Barnbougle Dunes
82. Barnbougle Lost Farm
85. Royal Adelaide
Check out the full list at Golf.com, there is also an interactive map view of the Top 100 courses.
Golf is my favourite sport, Aussie Rules comes a close second but its only as a spectator. Golf is often compared to life itself and without getting all zen about it, some of my great memories have been on the golf course. The booming drive with a slight draw, the crisply struck iron shot into the green, the recovery from nowhere or the sound of a birdie putt hitting the bottom of the cup are all wonderful, if not too rare, memories.
However its the moments such as last weekends game with Sam, my 10 year old son, that top anything else. With an afternoon free, we headed to the local public course late in the afternoon to play 9 holes. Sam has a small set of clubs, and has walked a few games with me taking the occassional shot, Ambrose style. With the course virtually to ourselves, we decided that this would be Sam’s first stroke round.
Sam has no fear, none of the demons that invade my head and discuss the faults and flaws in my swing with much joy. We discussed visualising your shot, which he did, took a quick practice swing and hit it down the middle as my drive cracked into some gum trees. I carded a sad 7, Sam a proud 10. My game improved as I took on more of Sam’s carefree attitude. A big moment came on the par 4 6th hole, as Sam hit two superb shots and finished with an impressive 6. The another big drive on the par 3 8th and he tapped in for a 5. Sam finished his first 9 holes with a 76, and was suitably impressed. This was now his PB (Personal Best)!
As we walked the course we discussed golf techniques, strategy and how annoying sisters could be sometimes. Sometimes we take golf a little too seriously, Sam shows me the fun side, and the side without fear. This is what golf is all about.
After being knocked to the canvas by this summers scheduling of the Presidents Cup and Australian Open, the 2011 Australian Masters was close to disappearing altogether. However event promoter IMG have confirmed that the Masters will go ahead this year, to be held at the Victoria Golf Club on December 15th to 18th, the weekend before Christmas.
Being held at the same venue as last year has huge advantages in logistics and staging. Being held a week before Christmas will have its share of issues. It will be unlikely that any of the American players will be keen to return having been in the country the month before for Presidents Cup, however IMG can hopefully persuade a few of the Europeans to leave the chill of a Northern winter and spend Christmas with the family in sunny Melbourne. A field including the likes of a Luke Donald, a Rory McIlroy, a Lee Westwood or a Graeme McDowell would be a seriously good Christmas present.
Update: IMG and the Minister for Tourism have just announced that the Worlds Number One golfer will again be playing the Australian Masters. Luke Donald will play the Victoria Golf Club along with the enigmatic and ever-tweeting Ian Poulter and defending champion Stuart Appleby. A great way to lead into Christmas!
The US PGA Tour likes to control social media during events, including this weekends US Open. Ben Everill, (@AussieUSPGAMole) a US based Australian AP golf writer is at Congressional this week to cover the Open and follow the progress of the Australians in the field. As an accredited media, Ben can tweet within the confines of the media centre but is unable to take images/video or make social media comment whilst out on the course. With the limited coverage of the Australians on the TV, Ben will be making regular sprints between the course and the media centre to tweet the latest action. Be sure to follow Ben’s tweets.
Like most golf events around the world, mobile phones, and hence social media is essentially banned from the general public in the gallery. The PGA Tours want to control the message, but they are missing out on a key element of social media, the live social conversation. TV coverage is average, but the logistics of covering 18 holes of action at once is immense, however a twitter community made up of members of the gallery and media can cover the action and provide live updates. The PGA Tour could leverage this conversation rather than ban it. Tweeting during an Australian Rules football game is encouraged with specific #tags for every game, the conversation and comment range from strategy, encouragement, anger, humour and supporter rants, all adding to the atmosphere whether at the game or from afar.
Twitter has allowed the golfing public to find out more about the PGA players with many of the top players tweeting on a regular basis before and after rounds, and what they get up to in-between tournaments. Whilst its unlikely we will see the players tweeting during a round, allowing social media from behind the ropes would only add to the social media conversation and experience.
Regardless, hope to see a tweet late on Sunday that reads something like “And with that putt on 18, another Aussie wins the US Open”
The Presidents Cup will be played at Royal Melbourne on November 15 to 20. Momentum is starting to build as November draws ever closer. The possible teams are starting to take shape and the Australian Open has already benefited with some star signings including Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson joining the field as a warm up to the Presidents Cup.
Julia Gillard is the latest to join the Presidents Cup accepting an invitation to be the Honorary Chairman of the Presidents Cup. In a Statement, the Prime Minister stated “The Presidents Cup is a spectacular showcase of golf’s best players that also provides a great deal of funding for charitable causes around the world. I am confident that Melbourne will serve as a worthy backdrop for this world-class event, and I look forward to taking part in the festivities.”
Whilst the Prime Minister is known to be pretty handy with a Sherrin through her support of the Bulldogs and the impromptu football clinic with Barak Obama in the Oval Office, not sure of her golf game. No doubt she will be cheering on the International Team with some “moving forward” motivational speeches, though hopefully the Caddys wont incur a carbon tax.
Julia Gillard joins Presidents Cup Captain Greg Norman as Honorary Chairman
The swing diary and video review screens
iSwing – Compare tool
