Jordan Spieth took a different preparation approach before the British Open. After winning the Masters and U.S. Open, Spieth used a golf simulator to help prepare for St. Andrews, a course he had only played once before.
This technology has found its way into the game of golf as a way for players such as Spieth to prepare. Although golfers have always had old-fashioned ways to improve their game, programs that show where problem areas lie can help golfers correct their form faster. Now, a company with an Austin presence is helping to further that technology.
GolfTEC, a company with two locations in Austin, uses patented technology that incorporates both video and data to give feedback instantaneously.
“We measure how your body tilts, turns and bends in three dimensions,” GolfTEC coach Robert Graves said. “And we have two-way video so you can see exactly what you’re doing right and what we need to work on.”
Graves, a graduate of UT and a certified PGA professional, has worked at GolfTEC for the last two years.
“The ability for people to come in here and practice with technology is huge,” Graves said. “The National Golf Association shows that people who learn from watching themselves learn three times as fast.”
Most clients start out with an evaluation to monitor their swing. A device goes around the shoulders and waist, collecting data on how the body moves as the club is swung. The many cameras in the room capture every movement and display the video in comparison to videos of PGA players.
“Instead of hitting a ball out on the range and being like, ‘What’d I do right, coach?’, you can play back your video and know exactly what went right or wrong,” Graves said.
Although GolfTEC offers technology as the main selling point, Graves said the privacy is equally appealing.
“You can hit your worst shot in here, and it’s just me and you.” Graves said. “You don’t have to worry about your neighbor or fellow club member saying, ‘Did you see so-and-so shake one?’”
Paul Thar, a franchise owner of GolfTEC, said the business sees people from all sorts of backgrounds and experiences. For players of varying abilities and levels of expereince, Thar believes that services such as GolfTEC are integral to the future of the game.
“Technology is here to stay in the golf business, just like anything else in life,” Graves said. “If you’re not using it, then you’re going to be falling behind.”
