Illustrated golf instruction is probably the best way for golf instruction to be provided over the media, apart, perhaps, from video instruction. It is far easier to show how a shot should be played graphically than through a written instruction, and in some cases many people prefer photographs and drawings even to video.
Phil Franké is a Popular Golf Instruction Illustrator
There are several publications that provide this type of golf instruction, the best known probably being Sports Illustrated and Golf Digest, and Phil Franké is recognized by many as being the best golf instruction illustrator in the business. His ‘Master Strokes’ syndicated feature on golf instruction, that is currently taken up by several publications, is one of the most popular in the USA.
Illustrated instruction can be used to display the ideal golf swing all the way through from the beginning of the back swing to the end of the follow through. To make greatest use of the technique, the illustrations should be anatomically correct, and in this respect photographs can be better than drawings. The way these are produced is to shoot a video of the complete swing of a golfer and then take prints of specific frames, or parts of the DVD, displaying the part of the swing or shot that you want to include.
These are of greatest value when the swings of well known golfers are used, although in practice any good swing will be sufficient. Each part of the shot can then be shown individually. Frequently it will be useful to also include the same treatment of a faulty swing, so that the differences between the two can be graphically illustrated although it is not always easy to find a video of a faulty swing showing the exact problem you want to analyze.
Drawings can be Better than Photographs
In some cases drawings will be better than photographs or video shots in demonstrating particular aspects of the swing. In these cases good artists can actually do a better job at illustrating such swing problems as a faulty grip, or poor positioning of the thumbs on the grip. These can not always be caught on camera.
The same is true of the progressive placement of each foot throughout the swing. It is often easier to draw the sequence than to try to get the correct slow motion stills that demonstrate the same things. Most people can find photographs that display a good swing, but it is not always easy to catch a faulty one, displaying the exact fault you want to portray.
It is easier for an artist to draw these faults graphically, than it is for a golfer to deliberately employ poor swing mechanics when playing a shot. It is against most golfers’ nature to deliberately play a poor shot in this way, and much easier to draw.
Video Faults are not Always Easy to See in Detail
However, irrespective of the way the illustrations are made, this type of golf instruction is very useful. It is not always easy to spot a specific fault in a swing that has been videoed, even if it is shown in slow motion with a commentary. Most people can understand diagrams much easier since they generally have more time to study them and see exactly what positions of the hands, feet or body can cause the specific faults being referred to. This is why the illustrated instructional courses of people like Phil Franké are so popular.
This popularity is not only because people like seeing illustrations in the publications they read, but also because such illustrated golf instruction courses are so easy to follow, and also generally a lot less expensive than a video tutorial course. They are also easier to take in and understand when provided in small doses rather than in a complete video series.
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