Golfers get help in high-tech style

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

There’s hardly a golfer alive who doesn’t want to improve his or her game. Adding yards to their drive or getting their swing in shape are what golfers live for.

So take note, fans of the fairway: The Sports Club/LA, the premier chain of gyms, has just launched the Golf Academy by the Sports Club/LA (yes, that’s the official name). The 6,000-square-foot facility behind the gym’s West Los Angeles location boasts six swing training studios, a putting green, Titleist Performance Institute certified coaches, and more techno stuff than you can shake a club at. Need general conditioning or sports-specific fitness workouts? There are people who can help you with that, too.

The need for intensive training is twofold, says Bob Grissett, director of instruction: ‘One -- why do people quit golf? They quit because they’re in pain or some other physical issue. Or they don’t play well, and that’s a problem with their swing, which can start as a physical issue.’ Golfers, he adds, are wising up to the fact that being in better shape not only translates into a better game, but also into being able to play longer and later in life. You can thank Tiger Woods for bringing athleticism to the sport.

One of the lures of this facility will no doubt be the emphasis on technology that has become so much a part of golf training. Four cameras capture every twist and turn a golfer makes during a swing, allowing a detailed movement analysis. By having clients stand on force plates, instructors will be able to see how weight is being shifted. Motion sensors attached to the body will create a 3-D view of the swing.

Prices for various services and training vary. An equipment assessment and fitting is $150, a maximum swing performance screen (full swing) is $350, and a golf specific physical/functional evaluation is $150. So with all this, does Charles Barkley even have a shot at improving his game?

‘I don’t know if I’d go that far,’ Grissett says.

-- Jeannine Stein