Recommendations - $800 winter improvement plan
 

How would you spend $800 (budget) to improve over the winter (im in Michigan)? There is Golftec with its indoor practice with video and 10 lessons, there are a ton of training devices, there is the gym (to which I already belong and use), there are DVDs (I have Alignment golf already), there is the ability to hit at the range which is heated.

I like Golftec only because I can use the indoor facilities and hit balls whenever I want with video. The lessons I'm not too crazy about, but, I suspect I could improve with them. Its a $775 investment by the way...

Any recommendations?? Thanks.

Under Budget
 

Purchase the following:
A video camara (Casio) with a high speed shutter, about $500.
Dowels
Driveway reflectors
A Mop
A Laser (green light)
A Plane Board which you can make inexpensively
#3 Pressure Point Trainner by Jeff Evans
Warm Clothing and Range Balls

Indoor practice can be as beneficial, if not more so, than outdoor practice where the hypnotic effect of the ball is taken away.

I have all of the above except the green light laser and Casio camara. Any particular Casio with HSS? Thanks.

I have the Casio FC-100 and love it, paid 299 shipped with a 8gb memory card (must be class 6 card) from Amazon.

Here is a recent video if you want to see quality. Arizona is just starting up for real practice time (I go from 2 times a week to 5 times).:golfcart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7BITtvs7YQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x-IU0rtE24

Great list. I would love to hear your thoughts on how to make a plane board!

Thanks,
Kevin

Not sure if you can find one cheaper used or elsewhere on the web, but Casio's Exilim digital camera series has incredible high speed video capabilities. Several of the slow motion videos on our site were done with the F1 - http://www.casio.com/products/Camera..._EXILIM/EX-F1/

If you can keep your camera under $500, then you may have enough for a late January escape to Atlanta! ;-)

I'd stay away from the lessons, unless there's a TGM AI there. Getting lessons from somebody who isn't on the same wavelength instruction wise presents problems IMO. So I would just use the camera, and the net. If there is a TGM AI there, then I would work with the AI.

I would suggest:

- The Taly
- The Speed Chain
- Some type of attachable laser for your putterface to check putter face alignment.

If GolfTec has a launch monitor, then I would probably want to try out some different drivers and get the launch and spin conditions optimized.




3JACK

I made a half circle plane board. I bought a 4*4 board, cut a 30" radius out of the corner, put in a screw to act as a edge so I could prop a pvc pipe against so I could adjust the inclination. It works good.

Looks like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAdin...eature=related

Therein lies the problem for most....no AI in site (visual,.....there are plenty on this site:))

My 2 cents
 

I have not posted for a while and have my reasons. This post got my attention so allow me to give my opinion as a teacher.

1. NOT ALL AI'S ARE CREATED EQUAL!!!! There are many teachers I would go to who are not AI's and probably do not know what that means. Many teachers that are not "certified" can flat out teach. You may have to ask some questions about what they teach and ask for references but they are out there.

2. Golftec has some really good info. The ones I have been to set their cameras properly and can provide some great data.

3. Do an honest evaluation of your game and what needs work. When I lived in Buffalo and did not have the luxury of playing I spent more time in front of a mirror and less time hitting balls into a net. I also spent a great deal of time on my fitness. Short game is also very easy to work on during the winter.

If you have an $800 budget I would suggest getting on an airplane and coming south for a weekend so that Lynn, Ted, or myself could help you with an evaluation and put a plan together for your off-season. You would at least trust the source and probably have much more fun.

I paid way more for the Fc 20 or whatever last year. Dang. That new smaller cheaper casio takes a really nice slo mo video. Bet it doesnt go through batteries like mine does either. It'll fit in your pocket too. How many frames per second were those swings shot at? I never use anything faster than about 280 fps on mine, no need to for golf anyways. There is your affordable Casio gents.

Being from the great white north, I can attest to the value of indoor winter practice. It can take you to a new level, no doubt about it, but you need to know what to work on! And so I highly recommend a winter trip to Atlanta to see Yoda, Luke and Jeff. Its a lot of fun down there too! That reminds me, I'd better start a new pickle jar for my trip or trips down there this year. Get ready guys, Ill be leaving on that "midnight train to Georgia."

PS Houston's has a nice steak and great martini.

It was 210 frames. If I do 420 it better had be nice and sunny.

It also can take up to 30 FPS stills, though I take them at 15fps to get the whole swing in.

I like the quick video editing feature, makes it super easy.

Does the battery hold a charge for very long? I go through batteries like Bogey went through cigarettes with my Casio FC 20. Other than that Im very happy with it. Yours sounds like the perfect golf camera. Just four years ago I almost purchased a commercial slo mo camera for $4,000. Man, things are changing quickly.

I never have issues with the battery but this is my first camera so I dont have a idea to compare to......I usually can do a lot of high speed filming and editing before re-charging.

FWIW, I just saw on their website that Miles of Golf in Ypsilanti now has a TrackMan.

Up the ante a bit.
 

Throw a few more bucks into the kitty and take a hike to the Swamp.
It would be the gift to yourself that would keep on giving.

What city do you live in? I live just north of Detroit!! Do you have a teacher that teaches the golfing maching? If so what is his name?