The Golf Channel: Feherty and The Haney Project

As the PGA Tour now rotates this week into it's Florida Swing, starting at the Honda Classic hosted at the fantastic PGA National Golf Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, I am finding myself even more glued to the sofa watching the Golf Channel. As part of my training for the new season through the power of TV, I am very much hoping that the skills of these top players will diffuse into me as I sit and watch them making their way around the famous Bear Trap, holes 15-17, on the PGA National Championship Course! :-)

Of late, the Golf Channel's coverage of these great events has gone from strength to strength, and I am really enjoying their current programming lineup. Last Monday saw the new season of “The Haney Project” with Michael Phelps as his new student. The first episode delightfully set the scene as we saw this great Olympian beginning to realize how much devotion and effort is going to be required to improve his game. It made me smile to see this incredible athlete openly confessing that he was feeling tired and will be sore in the morning, after going through Hanks infamous first stage in his training method. Our passionate leader here at ESG had an unique opportunity to interview them both a few weeks ago which he summarized in the fantastic article The Haney Project - Michael Phelps

Feherty is another great program and this season’s kick-off interview was with arguably the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus. David with his distinctive unique sense of humor and candid openness makes him a great interviewer and entertainer. As a viewer, you really feel the close bond he creates with all that he meets, and how he can bring out the honesty and sincerity from even the most reticent golf personalities. After every interview, one really feels closer and gain more of an understanding of the golf celebrity interviewed.

Couple these two great programs, with the PGA, LPGA, Champions, and Web.com Tour coverage, the recently revamped Morning Drive, and the plethora of other top programs on the schedule, then you will find and understand why the Golf Channel is TV's fastest-growing network. 

So be sure to reserve your Monday nights, set-up the DVR, kick back and enjoy watching Michael Phelp's progress on the Golf Channel at 9.00PM (ET) followed immediately by Feherty at 10.00PM (ET)

SwingTIP - Your Mobile Swing Analyzer

Although frustrating, I do find forced into an off-season due to weather during the winter months incredibly beneficial. It allows me, without excuse, the time and focus to return back to basics, and tweak my swing without the pressure of working on it between rounds in the summer months. However, just hitting endless balls week after week at the range, without any real measure to show if the effort is having a positive effect, can be meaningless. But I have found that the SwingTIP device by Mobiplex has proven to be a great solution to help bring objective and focus to range time. This is because SwingTIP provides real time analysis of every swing, allowing you to quickly identify faults and provide feedback if your self-prescribed (But it is highly recommended they should be from an instructor) fixes are working.

SwingTIP is a lightweight Bluetooth device that attaches to any golf club. Pair up the device to the free download application on your Smartphone and within seconds of taking a swing, you are presented with a digital reproduction of your swing that can be viewed at 3 different angles. The application also captures valuable information such as clubhead speed, swing path, club face angle, impact zone and tempo. One can then use this data in real time to begin identifying faults or improvement opportunities that  you can then begin to work on. This really makes your time at the range as effective as possible as you focus on adjusting, correcting and learning how to repeat what it feels like to make that great swing over and over. Once your session has completed, you can then sync the data to your personal account at Myswingtip.com and admire your improved stats and how you have begun to develop some consistency in your swing.



One of the features I really enjoy about this product is the ability to compare your swing with a PGA Pro, and by a single click how you are directed to instruction tips specific to your swing to help modify your technique.


From a personal perspective, I have really enjoyed using SwingTIP. My main focus for this off season is to develop a repeatable tempo, and generate some additional clubhead speed for those extra valuable yards for the new season. Already after only a few sessions with this device at the range, I have been able to recognize that I am in fact ‘toeing’ my drives with an outside-to-in downswing. With a few minor adjustments to my set-up, a slightly looser grip, and slowing down my backswing fractionally, I have been able to increase clubhead speed and find that sweetspot on my driver more often than not.






A few modifications
thanks to SwingTIP
and increased clubhead speed
and finding the Sweetspot!

To summarize then, I highly recommend this product. It’s great value for money and the analysis and feedback you receive really allows you to hone in on your technique at the range. The device is quick and easy to clip onto any of your clubs, and it is incredibly lightweight so you do not feel it on your club as you swing. I do also recommend purchasing a couple of additional brackets that are on offer to help you move from one club to another quickly. I am also impressed with the upload time of the data after you swing, which really is a matter of seconds.

Finally, I would also like to say that the customer support is second to none. I had to contact them on numerous occasions due to delivery issues at my apartment building, etc. The response and their service really was outstanding, which backs up the superior quality of this product and the company that developed it.

For more information, please visit SwingTIP’s official website at http://www.swingtip.com