Trackman: The new way to learn

A new language is being created within the game of golf giving players and instructors the opportunity, if they choose, to accurately interpret what is happening during impact and expel some of the misconceptions regarding ball flight, which were previously considered to be factually accurate. Contracted by the PGA Tour to provide all radar statistics, Trackman is the technology that the best players on Tour and their instructors turn to.  

Golf instruction as a whole is sending mixed messages. In my opinion, multiple generations of instructors currently flood the marketplace with a collection of conflicting theories regarding game improvement. Being a technological convert myself from an older generation who learned without technology, taught by feel and worked hard developing eyes and ears to diagnose ball flight, I can see how many would be reluctant to change. The advent of Trackman has given every generation in golf a scientifically sound reason to become a little more open minded to change.  

The toughest things I listen to are the naysayers and critics of Trackman. These people do not have the knowledge necessary to constructively or intelligently be a critic. They might have an understanding stemming from a successful television, playing or teaching career giving them credibility and a forum in which to voice their opinions, but they do not possess the education of 3 Dimension to clearly see the benefits Trackman provides. Having used Trackman in each of my 2800 lessons in the past 16 months, I have (with much credit and thanks to the Trackman employees and educators) come to accept the truths surrounding ball flight which Trackman has discovered, even though some of it is direct contradiction to what myself and the majority of instructors thought to be true.  

Trackman Truths:
#1 – Clubface is responsible for 75% of starting direction with an iron and 85% with a driver. With few exceptions, most related to an off center hit or largely skewed club path in relation to face angle, a clubface which is open at impact produces a ball which starts right of target and a clubface which is closed at impact produces a shot which starts left of target (opposite for left handed player)

#2 – Path (the movement of the club head just prior to and immediately following impact) NOT clubface is the driving force responsible for the curvature of the golf ball. 

#3 – A ball does not have sidespin as previously thought. It spins on one single axis and that axis can be tilted left or right. Just like an airplane banking to make a turn; the more tilt to the spin axis, the more the ball will curve towards that tilt.

#4 – Maximizing Distance with driver/90 mph club head speed hitting down on the ball with a -5 degree angle of attack vs. hitting up at the ball with a +5 degree angle attack will cost you 23 yards

“The Trackman Radar system is at the top of the golf technology world. I have been using it for 2 years, and it has helped me train and improve my game to reach my goal of playing at the highest level of competition. It gives you instant feedback with face angle, club path and attack angle, just to name a few...”

– Matthew Liringis, Desert Vista High School, AZ Central Arizona High School Player of the Year

I’ve spent the last 28 years instructing players of all ability levels, and can truly say Trackman has been the most beneficial piece of equipment providing the clarity necessary for game improvement. Trackman in large does for a coach and player what before took hundreds of balls to accomplish. It has streamlined my expertise for which I diagnose a golf swing and ball flight.  With the aforementioned truths, it becomes much easier for both the player and myself to identify exactly what is responsible for producing their current ball flight pattern…no more guessing. There will always be a need for great coaching in golf.  However, just as the assembly line revolutionized the efficiency of building cars, Trackman is the efficiency golf has been waiting for.  

If you are serious about getting better it is paramount for one to clearly understand what is happening during the impact interval. Until you have those answers, I believe it will be a much longer road to game improvement. I would be more than happy to put you on Trackman and in Trackman terms, help give an understanding to the current state of your game. Finally, we will generate a game plan for what changes are necessary to become a better, more consistent ball striker. This understanding of impact and the commitment to our game plan will without a doubt lead to better ball striking and lower scores. 

“I love working with Trackman during my lessons with Scott. It gives me instant feedback and allows me to make the change I need in my swing to get the ball flight we are working on. I can equate the correct ball flight to something I am feeling in my swing, it’s a numbers game!”  – LizWaynick, 2012 AWGA Women’s Player of the Year

Scott Sackett, GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher for the past 14 years, and just voted as one of Golf Digest’s Best Teacher in the State for the 10th year in a row, is Director of Instruction at Park Meadows Country Club in Park City, Utah. He teaches at McCormick Ranch Golf Club while he’s in Scottsdale. Scott can be reached by email at Scott@scottsackett.com.