The Smart Stick is a result of the tireless dedication by one of golf’s premier teachers, Mr. Martin Hall, recently ranked #12 of all teachers by Golf Digest. The device works by teaching the three P’s of the golf swing: Plane, Power and Precision.

Gain the tools you need to meet your potential and fully enjoy the game of golf.

Features Include: One Smart Stick Swing Training Device with instructional guide, Wrist Bar, 4 AAA Batteries, 2 4000 hour green laser diodes.

Power

The Power portion of the Smart Stick comes through the use of the wrist bar. The wrist bar shows proper positioning of the wrist – both at the top of the swing and at impact.

Precision

Precision comes through the ongoing use of the Smart Stick in your practice sessions. With the Smart Stick you will be practicing perfect with the visual feedback of the lasers moving on the proper path. You won’t have to guess if you’ve got the club in the correct position.

Available at our Precision Golf Pro-Shop

Currently, the Shaft Skinz comes in 7 styles, each having several color options – Champaign Bubbles, Camouflage, Confetti, Fire Flames, Puzzle Pieces, Skull & Cross Bones and Snake Skin.

Applying the Shaft Skinz is relatively simple, slide the sleeve over the club and use a high powered hair dryer to shrink wrap the material around the shaft. Cut away the excess and your club has a whole new look. Since no adhesive is used, removing the skinz can be done with a razor blade. Amazingly no stickiness or residue is left behind.

Professional players have started donning the colorful skinz. Most notable is Rory Sabbatini who plays with a black skull and cross bones on his putter.

Admittedly I was a tad skeptic that this sleeve would change the weight of the club or stiffness of the shaft. Martin Greeves the founder and president of Shaft Skinz, reassured me that the Shaft Skinz were independently tested with a shaft analysis machine (used by over 75% of the tour pros). The findings showed that there was negligible difference between the stiffness of the shaft before and after sleeving. (less than 0.005%). That difference is not perceptible to the human hand. Greeves also shared that the Shaft Skinz conformed to the USGA and R&A Rules of Golf.

Shaft Skinz’s motto is “Play With Color.” My putter and wedge now display the blue flame shaft skinz and my short game now has some serious attitude.

More information on the Shaft Skinz visit http://www.shaftskinz.com.
We now have a full line up in stock at our Precision Golf Pro-Shop.
Pricing: HK$160 for a pack of 4 (fitted)

The new year presents a perfect opportunity for you to evaluate where your game is heading, think about what the game really means to you and set some new objectives for the coming season.

Goal setting does not have to be as serious as sitting down and making yourself a contract, it can be as simple as setting yourself some measurable short term and mid term objectives that will help you focus on your longer term goals. Think of it as a business plan. You wouldn’t run your business to it’s potential unless you set a detailed plan and strategy of how you will run your business.

One of the great things about my profession is that each day when I go to work it is different. Not a different working environment, not a different schedule but different in the sense that I am helping golfers towards achieving there own personal goals. For some it is as simple as beating their best friend or spouse, for some it is getting their skills competent enough play with their boss or potential client and for others it is winning the Club Championship or getting through their PGA training.

I’d like to tell you a little story if you would be so kind to listen. I refer to a student of mine that started with me some 9 years ago shortly after I arrived to Hong Kong. As I routinely do with each golfing student we sat down and talked about why she had decided to take on professional golf instruction and what she was looking to achieve. Well at this time all that she was interested in doing was to join her husband to China so as not to become a golf widow on the weekends. It so happened that she picked up the game with ease and with a commitment to regular instruction she started playing on the course and was scoring very impressively. I suggested to her that she might try her hand at competition and she reluctantly started entering into club competitions. Soon followed success with numerous victories at club level including the Club Championship in First Division. Soon followed selection into the Hong Kong Team to compete Internationally, followed by the decision to turn Professional by entering into the Hong Kong PGA training Program with resounding success including successful completion of the program and winning this Year’s Order of Merit (Ladies Division).

Not bad for someone who started out taking lessons so she could be competent enough to join her husband on the weekends to China for some family golfing. What a perfect example though of what can happen when you make a commitment to the game, a commitment to your coach are not afraid of reaching your next goal.

Wishing you a year of great golfing and life success.

Coach Smith.

Giving lessons a Digital Life
Instantly receive YOUR V1 lessons to your computers, Smartphones (iPhones, Blackberry and others) and Facebook™ pages where you can easily share your videos.
A click on a link in your SMS gives you access to your V1 Mobile Lesson where you can view and hear the complete video lesson right on your phone. You can then forward the sms to friends and family and share in your lesson progress should you wish.

Personal Online Lockers & Automated Emails
The first-time a lesson is sent to you a personalized online locker is instantly created. Every time a lesson is transmitted; a customized automated email is delivered notifying you when your V1 lesson  is available for your viewing. A link back to Mark Smith Golf  will be provided, along with your username and password so you can easily access and view your lesson anytime you want.

SST Pure is a system that defines the most stable shaft orientation through computer analysis of each prior to assembly. Simply no shaft is perfectly round or symmetrical and SST PURE dramatically reduces the out of planar oscillation of the shaft resulting from such imperfections. A proper aligned shaft improves the centeredness of contact thus improving control of distance and direction of golf shots.

The other new addition to the Nakashima Golf line up is the Kanji Wedges. Offered in 8 different loft angles and in two finishes, black and Satin, the wedges add a new dimension to the line up. Previously wedges were offered in 52, 56 and 60 and would be custom bent to whatever configuration of loft and lie required by the club builder. “Some golfers don’t particularly like playing a 52 degree with a 50 loft printed on it so we went out to cater for this need” explained John Nakashima. 

John and Gary were treated to their first game of golf in Hong Kong at the Kau Sai Chau Golf Course in Sai Kung. Although they weren’t on their game falling victims to the locals of yours truly and Victor Cheung, John had a moment when he sailed his drive using the prototype 280 460cc driver onto the green on the par 4 17^th hole and went on to hole the putt for eagle. We shall return to play the East course next week.

 Most people believe that club fitting is for those low handicap players and professionals and hope that one day that they will be good enough for club fitting. Let me tell you once and for all that club fitting is for everybody regardless of age, gender or ability. Everyone can benefit from customizing their equipment. Whether it is as simple as customizing your grip size or setting the loft angle and shaft profile of your driver club to maximize your driving distance, club fitting has distinct advantages over buying clubs off the rack. Think of buying golf clubs off the rack as walking into a shoe shop and buying a pair of men’s or lady’s shoes. Let’s take an average and expect everybody to wear this size of shoe. For some it will fit and for most it will not. Let’s say the average is size 8 but your shoe size is a 5 then you can be assured that you will not enjoy walking let alone running in that shoe and expect blisters sore feet with muscle aches and pains. As much I hate to think about – this is how most people play golf when they play off the shelf equipment.

 Your golf swing will inevitably change over time. Typically as your swing improves you should expect greater clubhead speed which will affect the deflection of the club shaft and the way the golf club lands on the ground at ball impact (lie angle). It is important that you see your club fitter periodically to check the way that your clubs are performing and make necessary changes. Typical changes include: increase or decrease in shaft flex and weight, swing weight and total weight, club lie and loft angle.

Data
The following data is compiled by the launch monitor after each shot.
-         Clubhead speed
-         Ball speed
-         Dynamic loft (loft of the clubhead at ball contact)
-         Launch angle (the angle the ball is launched when leaving the clubface)
-         Club head path
-         Clubface angle
-         Angle of attack of the clubhead
-         Rate of ball back spin and side spin
-         Displacement of the ball during and after flight
-         Carry and total distance
-         Efficiency or smash factor

How date is used to enhance the fitting process
The data from the launch monitor is particularly useful in fitting the driver club. Launch monitor is also useful in plotting incremental difference in shot distance between each club thus making it easier to work out the set make-up.
Traditionally it was believed that a ball that launched low and climbed higher during flight maximized shot distance when playing the driver. This method relied heavily on the ball roll after landing. Driver heads where designed with grooves consistent with iron club heads and were offered in lofts as low as 6 degrees. The problem here is that the main function of grooves is to encourage backspin. With the emergence of the launch monitor manufacturers and club fitters realized that a ball that spins too much creates too much drag against air resistance and hence the modern trend of offering drivers with higher loft and little or even no grooves began. Drivers with as much as 19 degrees are now available in the market.
The key to maximizing driver distance is to maximize carry distance. This is achieved by matching the ball launch angle and the backspin rate to the clubhead speed at impact. Simply the higher the clubhead speed the lower the launch and spin requirement. The lower the clubhead speed the higher the launch and backspin requirement. For example:
Clubhead speed of 100 mph requires a launch of 15 degrees and a backspin rate of 2400 rpm
Clubhead speed of 70 mph requires a launch of 21 degrees and a backspin rate of 3000 rpm

The optimum launch is achieved by matching clubhead characteristics such as loft weight and head design with shaft characteristics such as flex, deflection point and weight together with club length, total weight and swing weight (balance between the head and handle end of the golf club), together with your swing.
The angle of attack (or approach) of the clubhead to the ball is also a critical factor in maximizing distance off the tee. The angle of attack greatly influences the amount of backspin that is imparted on the ball at impact. It has been stated that the average attack angle on the USPGA tour is around 5 degrees and on the LPGA is around 8 degrees.

Testing shafts with varying shaft profiles during the fitting process aids the process of optimizing ball spin. Shaft manufacturers offer shafts with either low mid or high launch properties as well as high mid or low spin influences in many shaft weights. Typically slower swingers will be most suited to lighter, softer shafts with a high launch influence (low kick point) and faster swingers will be suited towards heavier, stiffer shafts with low launch influence (high kick point) however there are always exceptions.

History
The first launch monitor is believed to have been developed by Acushnet the parent company of Titleist Golf some back in the 1970’s. It featured a large mainframe computer with a camera that captured the ball and club at impact, and the ball about 12 to 18 inches into flight.
“Way ahead of its time,” Acushnet CEO Wally Uihlein said.
As with other advances in equipment, launch monitors are now portable, smaller and more efficient.

Types of launch monitors
There are currently two types of launch monitors in the market. One technology is using radar technology to track the ball its entire journey and the other uses high speed digital imagery of the ball and calculates the shot characteristics based on images immediately following impact. Both have their advantages however the radar systems do require more space in setting up. Perhaps the greatest thing about the expensive radar technology is that it confirms that the cheaper image based systems are in fact very accurate at calculating and simulating the actual ball flight and are a fraction of the price.
 
The Launch Monitor on Tour
 “There’s a lot of reasons the ball is going farther, and one of them is the launch monitor,” Jeff Sluman (PGA Tour professional) said. “You can really dial in the exact ball flight and get the right shaft and the right club, and that combination will maximize your potential off the tee.”
Brenden Pappas used a launch monitor for the first time two years ago while on the Nationwide Tour. He found the equipment for optimal launch angle and spin, and now tests himself every four or five months just to make sure his driver is reacting the way it should.  Pappas is tied with Tiger Woods at 10th in driving distance on the PGA Tour. “I’ve changed drivers to get extra spin on the ball,” he said. “If you don’t embrace technology, you fall behind. I use everything at my disposal. You’d be crazy not to.”

The launch monitor is not singularly responsible for players hitting the ball farther. It’s simply the catalyst for players being matched up with the best equipment — clubs, shafts, balls — for their game. “It shows players what it will take to play power golf,” said Bill Morgan, executive vice president of research and development at Titleist. “The information shows players how to make changes that give them increments of distance. For some, it was big. For others, it was not so big.”

Phil Mickelson showed at the start of his season in Phoenix how much he was putting that information to use. “The spin rate has been knocked down. The launch angle has been sent up. The ball is just taking on a whole different orbit,” he said in Phoenix. “From last year, I’ve got a 2-degree higher launch angle, 8 mph faster ball speed and about a 15- to 20-yard overall distance difference.”

Charles Howell III was still in junior high when he first went to the Callaway Golf’s test center and worked with a launch monitor. He came away with a lesson in engineering. “I learned that it was a lot of numbers involved in driving,” he said. “I had tried a bunch of different drivers. At that age, you’re just trying to hit the ball far, and you don’t understand why one driver goes farther than another. Now, you have numbers to put to it. I was lucky enough to have that when I was 13 years old.”

Dick Rugge, senior technical adviser for the U.S. Golf Association, believes the launch monitor simply speeds up the process of finding the right equipment. “It’s a catalyst,” he said. “It doesn’t create more distance, but it makes getting there quicker. Through trial and error, somebody could keep trying different clubs, balls and swings, and sooner or later they would get there. But the launch monitor makes it happen much quicker.”

Parents often buy clubs thinking that their son or daughter will grow into them just like buying clothes however, with golf, growing into your clubs is a very painful and unrewarding experience. Trust me – I’ve been through it.

It bothers me that many parents spend great time and money on their kid’s golf development like paying for instruction and taking out the course and often overlook the importance of their equipment.

What also bothers me is that many instructors do not understand the function of the golf club in playing the ball and the importance that the equipment plays in their student’s development.

Here are the factors you must consider for your child’s equipment.
- Are all clubs including the putter the correct length?
- Do the iron, utility and fairway metal clubs land flat on the ground at ball impact (= correct lie angle)?
- Does the shaft flex (amount of bend) match the strength and swing speed of your child?
- Are the clubs of optimum total weight and swing weight (balance between the head end and handle end of the shaft)?
- Do the grips of the clubs fit your child’s hand size and strength?
- Is there appropriate loft angle on each club to maximize control of shot distance?

Benefits:- Establishing the correct length and lie angle promoted good posture and balance in the swing resulting in increased athleticism and power.
- Having the clubs landing flat on the ground at impact ensure centre face or sweet spot contact resulting in increasing the distance that the ball can travel.
- Correct lie angle also increases control of shot direction. Simply think about what happens when you play the ball from a side hill lie. The ball flies of the right if the ball is below your feet and to the left if the ball is above your feet. Or think of what happens when an airplane turns on its side – the plane goes in a circle. This is exactly what happens to the ball if it is struck with a clubhead that is not landing with its sole flat on the ground at ball impact.

Remember that as your child grows his or her equipment must be adjusted for lie, length, grip size and shafts flex. This does not always mean new clubs. Clubheads made of stainless steel are adjustable for lie angle by 2 degree toe up or toe down and clubhead made of forged mild steel or soft cast stainless steel can be adjusted 6 degrees in either direction. Shafts can be extended by up to 2 inches without affecting the playability of the clubs too much although the head weight often becomes too heavy if lengthened too much as well as the shaft flex becoming softer.

In summary – if you are serious about your child’s development in golf strongly consider the importance of customized equipment. Constantly monitor their equipment with quarterly visits to your preferred club technician. A fifteen minute evaluation can make the world of difference to the development and confidence of your child.

Should you have any question please post below or contact me personally by phone or email.

Thank you for your attention and good golfing.

Mark Smith
Australian PGA
Hong Kong PGA
Nakashima Certified Master Club Fitter

Tel. 97750347
Email: mark@marksmithgolf.com

Firstly you must know that Hong Kong is not the exactly the easiest place in the world to take up the game, however if you don’t mind to travel about a bit then you’ll be fine.

Hong Kong has from my calculations 198 golf holes which is equivalent to 11 x 18 hole golf courses which is spread over 4 Golf Clubs and two public courses. There are I believe nine driving ranges and a handful of indoor facilities.

As a coach of now 10 years in Hong Kong I see a common trend amongst new golfers. Most pick up the game as an interest from family and friends and go headfirst into the deep end without considering the complexities that the game presents. Below I have outlined each consideration for you to see if golf weighs up to be the game for you.

Time – First consider how much time you have to devote to learning and self practice time.

Like in any learning process, at the beginning you will be required to put in more time so as to cement the new found skills and of course a big part of this is constant repetition of your swing motion and short games. Realistically you’ll need a minimum of 1 hour of instruction each week and at least 1-2 hours of self practice. I do however recommend that if you can afford it is better to practice with your instructor in the first few weeks.
Expect a minimum of 6 hours of instruction before being ready to tackle the golf course maybe more if the instruction is in group form or if you are not athletically gifted.

Budget – How much money are you willing to invest in your golfing future?

Let’s face it golf can be an expensive experience, particularly if you pick up and drop off.
It is worth investing your money wisely. The obvious safest surest way to get started is to take some group instruction or get a friend to teach you. Take this step if you’re prepared for blisters, aching muscles and frustration. That is unless you get your kicks out of looking kind of weird at the driving range.

Understand that new golfers paying smaller amounts of instruction fees usually get the lesser experience instructors. In my opinion this often presents the reason that many pick up the game and leave it ‘cause it seems too difficult. A good or great instructor is worth his or her weight in gold when it comes to learning a skill. Yes you’ll pay more and in most cases you will get more.

Learning in a group can be less intimidating and can also be fun so don’t rule out this option if it fits your bill.

Remember also that you will be required to purchase some of your own equipment at some stage which will happen before you head for the golf course. Your instructor should provide equipment for training and if he understands the importance of equipment should recommend you to customize a small number of clubs for you start out with that can be added to when you take the game more seriously

Do your homework – Finding the right instructor for you is a very key step in determining your golfing fate. Hong Kong houses an abundance of instructors. In fact it seems every man and his dog is taking a career change in teaching golf. There are also a multitude of Golf Instructor organizations and associations such as PGA, GTF, PGTA USGTF. I think you can get a certificate for most of these on the back of the Corn Flakes packet or even in PDF form from the internet. In general the instructors with a PGA after their name are the most qualified individuals apart from a few countries in the Asian Pacific whom I think also place their certificates in the cereal box. (Just kidding) don’t mean to offend anyone.
Some of the GTF types of organizations do offer a fairly detailed training program for their members in the field of instruction however do not necessarily require their members to possess a high playing standard. In saying that, some of the best and most renowned instructors in the world are not the good at playing the game. Well I’m not exactly on my game these days I might add.

Ask around friends or friends of friends whom play golf to a descent standard and whom know the industry to find out who the reputable instructors are. Or otherwise just hire me – I’ll sort you out!

Logistics – In general most golfers prefer to practice and take instruction somewhere within the vicinity of their work or residence. From a time factor this works best. If you do have the luxury of having time on your hands some of the less metropolitan golfing facilities house more comprehensive golf practice, training and playing facilities. I good instructor will surely take advantage of such facilities and advise you as to when you should visit such establishments and in what frequency of visit

Set realistic achievable measurable objectives for yourself – Playing golf requires quite a level of skill, certainly a level of patience and much persistence.

I wish you well in your quest and should you have any questions please post them below or contact me personally by phone or email.

Mark Smith
Australian PGA
Hong Kong PGA
Nakashima Golf Certified Master Club Fitter

Tel: 97750347 Email: mark@marksmithgolf.com

For the good of course. Junior Golf in Hong Kong is growing stronger and stronger and given the recent results from our juniors playing internationally, Hong Kong may well one day produce its own Tiger.

Perhaps the next Tiger, a China Tiger can come from the Kowloon Tong Primary School.
Kowloon Tong Primary School has joined an elusive list of schools offering golf to its students.

I am proud to be involved in the launch of the new junior golf program for the school. I have the added interest of my two eldest sons studying at KTS however do not qualify yet as the program is offered to Primary 4 to Primary 6 students.

Classes are held at the Chueng Sha Wan Golf Driving Range in Kowloon on Friday afternoon. The program lasts 14 weeks and will provide the 10 KTS students with the skills, knowledge and etiquette necessary to go out and play competently on course.

Our goal is to create a golf community within the school and encourage participation in family golf days and friendly in-school competitions.

Our inaugural class was held last Friday with great success.