He is none other than , who is, according to his website (functionalsportsmedicine.com), a “Sports physician with a diverse and comprehensive background in allopathic medicine, functional medicine, nutrition, biomechanics, strength and conditioning, genetics, acupuncture and sports science.”

It all began when Dr. Ara was disappointed to have to tell a tennis-player patient that he did not definitively know when that athlete could return to his sport. That incident fueled his interest in sports medicine through a functional perspective. Now, as Founder of Functional Sports Medicine, he is able to not merely take a patient’s history, do some physical exams, order imaging and bloodwork, but also ask and interpret three important questions that he has devised: why this athlete (what is unique about him/her), why this injury (e.g. ankle but not hip or knee) and why now (what predisposed or provoked the injury)?

The basic tests can quickly reveal the specifics, but when it comes to return-to-play, Dr. Ara likes to better understand why the injury happened in the first place. There is a lot of technology to help with that answer.  Today he is able to use Dari markerless motion capture to see where a dysfunctional joint is with relation to all the other joints, and variable data about sleep and sleep duration, recovery, resting heart rate and heart-rate variability to better assess the overall situation. An injury might recover quickly but the entire body may not be fully recovered, or the original cause of an injury (say glutes for a knee injury) may not have recovered. The cause of the injury must be addressed before a return-to-play can be determined.

So what exactly is functional medicine and how did a British-trained allopathic doctor become a functional medicine expert in the first place? Functional medicine looks at the root cause of a disease or ailment. 

“My training was based on understanding disease and how to treat it with pharmaceuticals,” Suppiah said. “I never studied, or was taught, health. I never looked into why a person got an illness. It is more important to look at what person has an illness than what illness a person has. Athletes have issues that allopathic medicine cannot explain, because the absence of disease does not equal health or performance (an athlete might get out of breath climbing stairs) and the presence of disease need not indicate a lack of health or performance (many great Olympians suffer from asthma or diabetes).”

Does this mean he only uses functional medicine methodologies on his golf athletes? No, he practices allopathic medicine when needed. “I do not paint with only one color – I use multiple colors to paint in, and multiple shades of each color including black and white,” he said. 

For instance, if an athlete has full-blown flu or bronchitis, there will be a need for medication plus nutrition, supplements and other treatments – a multi-pronged approach. 

“I still work as an ER physician five days a month in a hospital; I’m not a true functional med practitioner,” he said. “I use a combination of treatments that include Chinese medicine, acupuncture, even neuro linguistic programming (NLP).” 

An additional area of focus that Dr. Ara has developed is that he requires bloodwork to be within a specific narrower range, as general laboratory results are not good enough for performance. “Your blood tells a story of where you came from, where you are now (regarding training phase, menstrual cycle, nutrition etc.), and where you are heading.” 

Things like blood sugar, or thyroid for males and females. Of the approximately 200 biomarkers collected, from a performance and recovery perspective, this doctor would most closely monitor white blood cell count, anti-oxidant capacity, inflammatory markers and hormone profile for recovery. And vitamin D. This amazing vitamin controls 5000 human genes, and it should not get too high or too low but be within an ideal, tightly controlled range of between 45-55 ng/mL (typical is 30-100 ng/mL).

What would be some instances when a Tour player used Dr. Ara’s functional approach to perform well in a tournament? One male golfer had been playing and traveling a lot and barely made the cut on Friday. He went to Dr. Ara complaining of extreme exhaustion, and knowing his genetics, the doctor said he needed more carbohydrates to avoid getting tired. “Eat ⅓ of a tub of good-quality ice cream every night” the athlete was told. “Ice cream has carbohydrates, fats, proteins, tastes yummy, and eaten at night will put you to sleep.” The athlete went from just making the cut to finishing third on Sunday. 

Another time a golfer playing in Saudi Arabia was very fatigued. How could he be dehydrated despite drinking sufficient water with electrolytes? As the golfer had a wearable sensor on, Dr. Ara could tell that from the time of starting his warmup to the time he finished golf for the day, his heart rate had been 25 beats per minute higher than normal for an entire six hours. The issue, Dr. Ara explained, was not the fluid intake but the calories. The golfer did not feel like eating, but was told he must increase caloric intake by 1000 calories per day, between breakfast, on-course snacks and dinner. Within two days, the golfer went from being sick and nearly withdrawing, to finishing in the top 20.

So why did this doctor, able to offer multiple performance and injury solutions to some of the best golfers in the world, go from PGA TOUR to LIV Golf? He was an independent practitioner acting as support staff for specific golfers on the PGA TOUR, but being the head of the medical team at LIV Golf has given him tremendous satisfaction and massive personal growth from the unique opportunities it has offered. He was able to set up a great medical service from the ground up. Not only did he develop anti-doping policies from scratch, he also hired expert physios, required cold plunges at all events, and even ensured the provision of pasta stations and smoothie bars at all venues, given the international nature of both players and venues. 

“I love all my patients and will do anything for them,” he stated. 

No wonder then, that Dr. Ara Suppiah, with his personable manner and extensive repertoire of medical solutions (that you can check out on his social media platform @draraoncall), is in ever-increasing demand and now works with more golfers than he ever has before. Perhaps this Orlando, Florida-based doctor can help you, too.

The post Golf Science – Functional Medicine With Dr. Ara Suppiah appeared first on AvidGolfer Magazine.

Conventional Grip

The conventional grip is the most widely used putting grip in golf. This style mirrors the standard full-swing grip, where the dominant hand (right hand for right-handed golfers) is placed lower on the shaft.

Key Features

Familiarity for players transitioning from full swings.

Encourages a natural, pendulum-like stroke.

Who Should Use It: Golfers who prefer simplicity and rely on their dominant hand for control.

Cross-Handed (Left-Hand Low) Grip

In this grip, the lead hand (left hand for right-handed golfers) is placed lower on the grip than the trailing hand. This method is increasingly popular among players of all skill levels.

Key Features

Promotes a square clubface at impact.

Reduces wrist movement for greater stability.

Who Should Use It: Golfers who struggle with consistency in their stroke or tend to push or pull putts.

Choosing the Right Grip

Selecting a putting grip is a highly personal decision. Factors such as hand size, putting style and stroke mechanics all play a role in determining the ideal grip. It’s essential to experiment with different options and practice to find one that feels natural and improves your performance on the greens.

The putting grip is not just a technical choice; it’s a matter of personal comfort and confidence. Whether you’re a weekend golfer or a Tour professional, refining your grip can lead to more consistent putts and lower scores. Remember, the best putting grip is the one that allows you to trust your stroke under pressure.

The Tiger Woods Putting Gate Drill

The putting gate drill is a simple, yet highly effective, practice technique used by Tiger Woods to develop precise control over his putting stroke and improve his accuracy. 

Setting Up the Drill

Equipment Needed: A putter and a golf ball. Two tees 

Create the Gate: Place two tees on the green, just wide enough for your putter head to swing through. 

Choose a specific hole or an alignment line on the green as your target.

The Goal of the Drill

The objective is to putt the ball through the gate without your clubhead touching the tees, ensuring the ball stays on your intended line.

This trains your ability to start the ball straight, which is essential for making putts.

It also highlights any flaws in your stroke, such as pushing or pulling the ball.

Practicing with the Drill

Take your stance and align your putter face squarely to your target line.

If your clubhead touches one of the tees, it’s a sign that your stroke path or face alignment needs adjustment.

Benefits of the Tiger Woods Putting Gate Drill

Improves Alignment: Ensures your putter face is square at impact.

Refines Stroke Mechanics: Identifies and corrects issues like a pushed or pulled stroke.

Versatility: Can be used on the practice green or with an indoor putting mat.

Whether you’re a beginner looking to establish sound fundamentals or an advanced player fine-tuning your precision, this drill will help you roll more putts on line and sink more putts under pressure. 

The post Instruction – Putting 101 appeared first on AvidGolfer Magazine.

Native Oak trees, mesquites, cedars and elms line fairways and bunkering throughout the layout, framing holes nicely. There isn’t an abundance of water, but the Low Branch Creek can make an appearance here and there as you weave your way across the 225-acre property. In recent years, native areas have been allowed to fill in, making some of the holes a bit tougher and tighter than in years past. 

National offers a driving range and putting green to work on your game, if you want some practice or need to loosen up before your round. The clubhouse is nice and offers plenty of good food and drinks. I think they offer some of the best breakfast sandwiches in the area if you happen to be teeing it up in the morning, and their burgers are solid, too, if you happen to be around for lunch post-round. Staff is friendly and welcoming, and those working the snack counter are always eager to top off your cooler with the beverage of your choice and plenty of ice. 

The opening hole at Mansfield National is one of the toughest you will face on the opening stretch. It almost always plays into the predominant south wind and features a large fairway bunker on the right. There is some bailout on the right, but miss left and native grasses can swallow errant tee shots, potentially leading to a big number. Find the fairway and avoid a couple of greenside bunkers, and an opening par is possible. 

The next several holes of this layout are where you need to attack and score before the course gets tougher. No. 2 is a straightaway par 4 with a bunker that sits on the left side of the landing zone. The best play is just right of the bunker, and that will leave just a short iron or wedge into the slightly elevated green. A precise shot with a scoring club could lead to a good chance at a birdie.

No. 3 is the first par 5 of the day, and for longer hitters, really plays like a par 4. At just 488 yards from the tips, the longer hitters can bully this hole with a drive up the left center and have less than 200 remaining. There is a large bunker on the right and some native area the bombers can reach. So if you want to be a little more conservative and hit a three-metal, you certainly can, but a good drive here can set up a chance for an easy birdie. 

No. 4 is another fairly simple hole. Usually playing straight downwind, a good driver should carry the fairway bunker on the left, finding a speed slot and sending balls screaming down the fairway just a wedge from the green. This green has some undulations, so be aware of pin position and try to judge your approach properly to avoid a difficult two-putt. This hole is another reasonable chance at birdie on this opening stretch. 

The first par 3 of the day is one of the toughest holes presented on this par-72 layout. This hole can play well over 200 yards, plays slightly uphill and must carry a large native grass-filled gorge. It is basically all carry on the line of the green, although there is a decent-sized bailout zone short and right of the green. Club selection can be tough, as the slight elevation change can add a club, but the wind often swirls off the trees surrounding the green and can jettison balls long or short, depending on when you step on the tee. It’s a tough customer, and par is always a great score. 

After the second par 5 of the opening nine comes the par-4 seventh hole, followed by the shortest par 3 on the course. This 160-yarder usually plays directly into the wind, adding a club or two depending on conditions. This green is also multi-tiered, so be sure to keep your shot on the proper side of the green for the best chance to score. 

The short par-4 ninth is another opportunity to attack or play conservatively, depending on how aggressive you are feeling. At just 369 yards, a good drive that covers the fairway bunker on the left can leave a short second shot, but a more conservative play off the tee might be the smarter play with trouble on the right. There is also a horseshoe-shaped bunker that guards the front of the green, so be sure to choose enough club to carry it. 

After the par-3 10th, come a trio of holes that are a delight for those who play a fade. No. 11 is a par 4 that doglegs hard right off the tee and is perfect for a controlled cut off the tee. Balls will trundle down a fairway that slopes from left to right, leaving a scoring club in hand for their second. Upon approach, be sure to avoid missing the green left, as balls will kick right toward out-of-bounds, and even should they stay in play, leaves a difficult up-and-down. 

The second of back-to-back par 4s is another tee shot that favors those who hit the cut. Although the green is hidden by the tree-lined dogleg, there is a high-tension tower you can see from the tee box that makes for a great line for the longer hitters. The green sits just right of it, and with a big tee ball, players can get fairly close to the putting surface. This is another wild green with multiple tiers, so be aware of that when you try to dial in your second shot. You can play this hole with a more conservative line, but it’s perfect for those who like to rip a power-cut. 

No. 13 is a golden opportunity at a birdie as you prepare for the closing stretch. This 500-yard par 5 plays with the prevailing south wind most days, and during the dry summer months can really yield some massive bombs off the tee. If you strike a good one, you need to just navigate the grassy, gnarly ditch short of the green to have a real chance at a birdie or better. The green is narrow front to back. So should you be too far away, it can be tough to hold with a mid- or long iron, making a layup out to the left a smarter play, as you will be playing along the length of the green from that angle.

After a short par 3, come, in my opinion, the toughest back-to-back holes of this Colligan design. On No. 15, you switch direction, playing back to the south and those prevailing winds that help on No. 4, 10, 11, 12 and 13. This par 4 plays less than 400 yards, but into the breeze, it can play significantly longer. The approach shot to this slight dogleg right also plays a little uphill to a deep green, so the approach can be tricky.  

One of the most unique designs at Manny Nat is the par-5 16th. This 554-yard hole is the longest on the course but can play much longer than the card reads for a couple of reasons. One, it’s another hole that usually plays into the wind, and two, hitting a driver on this hole can lead to problems. From the tee, it is about 250 yards to a pond that juts out on the left, so any balls pulled can end up in the drink. Secondly, should you hit driver and avoid the water, there is a depression in the Earth (by design) about 280 yards from the tee. There is a slight chance longer hitters can either cover the ditch or chase a ball through it, making for a flat lie. However, should your ball end up in the grass-filled crevasse, you will be forced to take a higher lofted club to escape, making for a much longer third shot. Best way to play No. 16, in my opinion, is to play short of this feature and play this as a true three-shot par 5. 

After a short par 4, comes the final hole of the day. After a day where many holes favor those who play a cut, this one is a perfect finisher for those who like to sling it from right-to-left. The dogleg plays uphill, so well-struck tee shots don’t achieve a lot of additional chase. There is also a fairway bunker straight off the tee that can be reached should your intended draw not roll over left. There is a large bunker short and left of the green, which can make for a tough sand save. It’s a solid finisher, but one that can be gettable with a couple of good efforts.

Mansfield National has long been considered by our staff as one of the easier layouts in the Metroplex. There are a handful of holes that can jump up and bite you, but on a day where your ball-striking is on point, it can be a scorable course. It very much adheres to designer John Colligan’s mantra that “golf should be enjoyed, not endured.” 

That’s not to say you are going to fire a career round every time you head to Mansfield, but this absolutely is a course that can yield some birdies for even the mid-to-high handicapper. 

The post Course Review – Mansfield National appeared first on AvidGolfer Magazine.

Let’s break down a few components of the golf swing and how to test if your body has the mobility to get there. 

1. Wrist extension at the top of the backswing 

How to test: In hands and knees position with fingers facing forward, slowly shift your body weight forward. 

Good mobility: Shoulders in front of wrists

Fair mobility: Shoulders over wrists

Lacking mobility: Shoulders behind wrists 

2. Mid-back flexion and rotation at impact

How to test: Starting in child’s pose with elbows bent and on the ground, take right arm and thread behind left arm, allowing back to rotate (repeat on opposite side)

Good mobility: Elbow behind elbow, down shoulder contacting ground

Fair mobility: Elbow contacting ground, down shoulder not contacting ground

Lacking mobility: Elbow not able to pass knees, inability to thread moving arm

3. Hip rotation at follow-through

How to test: Sitting on ground with one leg in front and one behind, trying to create a right angle at each knee (complete on both sides)

Good mobility: Both legs able to contact ground without arm assist

Fair mobility: Able to get into position with knees off ground without arm assist

Lacking mobility: Knees off the ground with arm assist

The post Fitness – Testing Your Mobility appeared first on AvidGolfer Magazine.

What is the clubface angle? The angle your clubface is pointed right or left of the target line at impact. What does this mean: This will affect where your ball flight will start directionally. Approximately 95 percent of where your golf ball goes in direction is due to where your clubface is pointing at impact. 

What is club path? It is the direction the clubhead is moving right or left at impact and is measured relative to the target line. The majority of golfers relate to the club path number to hitting the ball in-to-out or out-to-in. 

What is face-to-path ratio? It is the difference between the face angle and the club path. This is a key factor in determining the expected curvature of a golf shot (spin axis). Assuming a person hits the center of the clubface, the ball should curve toward the face angle and away from the club path (as long as the face-to-path does not equal zero). For a right-handed golfer, a negative face-to-path represents a face angle that is closed to the path, and a positive face-to-path represents a face angle that is open to the path. A zero face-to-path represents a face angle and club path that have the same value. Face-to-path is relative to the face angle and club path, not the target line. 

There is a drill that will fix your slice and teach you how to hit a draw in less than 10 minutes. Start by facing your back, hips and chest to the target; from here, hit shots keeping your back, chest and hips toward your target as long as you can. Your first couple of shots will be blocks out to the right, but once you allow the club to do the work, you will hit some beautiful draws. 

For another drill, grab two alignment sticks and place them just to the right of your target. Practice hitting shots with the ball starting between the alignment sticks and drawing back towards your target. This drill helps with visualizing the draw. Pay attention to how my right forearm is crossed over my left forearm in the picture. This is important in helping hit a draw. 

Practice hitting shots allowing your right forearm to cross over your left forearm (for right-handed golfers) to hit a draw. Another note to take from this picture is the toe of the club should be turned toward the ground; if the toe is facing the sky, you will most likely hit a fade or slice. 

If you tend to hook or draw the ball and want to hit fades, this is the perfect drill for you. Place an alignment stick through your belt loops and practice hitting half-swing shots, not allowing your arms to hit the stick between your belt loops. 

In January, we will talk about the data points to help hit the ball further and gain yardage in the new year. If you are looking to improve your game, reach out to me about my coach-in-your-pocket program. This program is $99 a month and includes unlimited video analysis, tips, drills and your own personal portal with 24/7 access to me. 

The post Instruction – Data Points of a Launch Monitor: Part 2 appeared first on AvidGolfer Magazine.

One other similar organization is the PGA of Canada, which is the second-oldest and third-largest (with 4,000 members) in the world. Its male and female members help to run the business of golf in Canada. It is interesting to learn more about this organization in a neighboring country to see how it might be similar to, and different from, the USA’s two behemoth organizations, as it, too, helps to grow the game of golf.

The PGA of America has two main pathways to membership, and each one takes several years to complete and ensures that every member has a great deal of experience. The LPGA, too, has extensive requirements for a golfer to become a Class A Professional. The PGA of Canada, five years older than its large neighbor, has a PGA training academy and also offers workshops, seminars and training programs to enhance learning for its members.

Who better to acquire more information about the PGAC from than its current President, Scott Kolb. He has served in the organization for many years, first on the regional zone board, then on the National Board for eight years, moving through the ranks until he says he was “Honored to be introduced as President this past April.  I never dreamed of this position growing up as a kid, but can tell you I proudly wear my PGA of Canada logo whenever I can.” Kolb has even founded the Fresh Golf Solutions company to help golf professionals acquire suitable jobs in the industry.

When asked about the educational opportunities offered by the PGA of Canada, Kolb said, “As one of our foundations of membership, we offer extensive training programs and work with the national coaching certification program.” Their website indicates that a golfer can choose a specific pathway within golf and then acquire specialized training in that field. 

What kind of coaching or instructing does a person wish to pursue (introduce fundamentals, competitive, or help people wanting quality instruction) and what kind of athletes do they wish to work with, are the two main questions a potential member must be able to answer, before taking courses for that specific role.

Does the PGAC ever compare its offerings to that of other organizations? Kolb responds, “Instead of thinking of other associations as competition, we work hard to learn from each other.  One main difference of our education is that we moved to a mostly online training program for many of our education courses.  While the majority of our golf instruction programs are hands on, learning about how to run a business, tournaments and other important educational options are through our Titleist Training Academy.  Our nine zones across the country also offer excellent seminars and additional educational opportunities, but that is something that PGA of America sections also do well.”

He adds, “Not only does the PGA of Canada have strong education programming and some great instructors teaching those programs, our zones also hire the best instructors for regional seminars.  To me, the best teachers are the ones that are open to learning. If a pro thinks they know it all, then they will eventually be a disservice to their students.  How we were taught, how we trained, and how we practiced 20 years ago is nothing like it is today.  There were no simulators giving you instant data feedback, you were lucky if you used video and, hopefully, you had the right camera angles to be helpful.  

“Today, the use of technology is a great help.  It still requires a way to communicate this information and also address how to set realistic goals for a student.  That human element will be hard to replicate as AI becomes a bit of a threat to our profession.”

So, it is quite apparent that every PGA around the world works very hard to deliver the best possible education to its members. Could the education of golf teachers and even golf fitness coaches be improved, as it so directly affects how many people are retained by the golf industry and how many elite golfers are produced? Yes. It can best be achieved through evidence-based education. Not education that has been developed by golf-technology manufacturers or private companies or established coaches. While the current “fashion” is for golf instructors to acquire certifications from a variety of sources, including their national PGA, there is a great shortfall in knowledge that a golf instructor must have in order to truly help a human attempting to play or improve their golf.

What does that mean? There needs to be an in-depth education in the design of the human body (anatomy), how the brain controls movement (motor control) and how forces are used to create movement (biomechanics). This should not be merely theoretical learning but should include a component of practical experience in those fields, so that golf instructors not only understand the main movement sciences but can actively apply them to improve the games of their students. Golf instructor education will always be incomplete as long as instructors struggle to use a bit of science, but then fill in the gaps in knowledge with traditional folklore-type information. 

So, PGAs of the world, you need to advance your educational offerings to higher levels so that YouTube videos by amateurs and the fast-advancing Artificial Intelligence do not erode an honorable profession.

The post Golf Science – Our PGA Friends to the North appeared first on AvidGolfer Magazine.

What does angle of attack mean?

Angle of attack is the vertical path your clubhead travels before impacting the golf ball. Angle of attack influences trajectory as well as spin of a shot, which affects distance and accuracy. A steeper angle of attack increases spin and creates a higher trajectory, while a shallower angle of attack decreases spin and creates a lower trajectory. For a shallower angle of attack, move the ball up in your stance (like you would when teeing up your drive). This allows the swing to flatten out, producing the low-spin trajectory that you want. Conversely, to achieve a steeper angle of attack, position the ball closer to your trail foot, which allows for a descending blow into the ball. For a shallow angle of attack, keep your weight evenly distributed throughout the swing. For a steeper angle of attack, have more weight shifted to your lead side all the way through impact.

When your clubhead has a shallower angle as it approaches the ball, this promotes a sweeping motion and is good for driver, fairway woods, hybrids, uphill lies and when the ball is sitting up in the rough. A steeper angle of attack is more important with short irons, punch shots, balls sitting down in the rough and hard pan lies. 

What is launch angle? 

Launch Angle is the angle measured in degrees at which the ball leaves the clubface, relative to the ground. It is measured in the first few inches of flight, before gravity has had a chance to modify the path of the ball.  

Here is a drill if you struggle having too shallow of an angle of attack. Place a towel, or anything behind your golf ball on your target line that is a half inch to one inch in thickness. Here, I used a lie board, but anything that is a half inch or one inch in thickness will work. Place your aid down six inches behind the golf ball and practice hitting shots without hitting the aid you placed behind your golf ball. I like students to practice hitting shots with no more than hip high to hip high-length swings, so they are not changing their club path on the start of their downswing.

Here is a drill if your angle of attack is too steep. Place a tee in the ground with the ball teed up in height to hit a driver. From here, hover your clubhead next to the ball teed up high and hit some shots, sweeping the ball off the tee with an iron without hitting the tee. If you hit the tee, that means your angle of attack is steep. If you don’t hit the tee, your angle of attack is shallow. 

Drills that influence launch angle: this one is to promote a lower launch angle. For this shot, place a ball in line with the heel of your trail foot (right foot, for right-handed golfers). From here, have your hands slightly higher at address where the grip points above where it normally does at setup and have the grip pointing slightly toward your lead hip as well. From here, hit some shots with a swing in length, hip high to hip high, and practice finishing with the back of your lead hand flat and clubhead finishing lower to the ground after impact. One thing to pay attention to in the picture above is my hands finish in front of where they started, and my hands and grip are slightly in front of the clubhead at impact. 

This drill promotes a higher launch angle and ball flight. Start with the ball position in front of where it normally is for that club (ex: ball position is normally in the middle of my stance with my six iron, for the shot I am placing the ball more toward my left foot at setup). From here, have the grip pointed slightly lower than normal at address and the grip pointing to the center of your sternum instead of toward  your lead hip. From here, feel like the clubhead passes your hands through impact; this will create a higher ball flight. 

Where your grip points at setup will help determine the direction the ball goes, as well as trajectory. Typically, if the grip is higher than normal at setup, the ball will launch lower in trajectory and the ball will go more right in direction. Typically, if the grip is lower than usual at setup, the ball will launch higher in trajectory and go more left in direction. 

Being a PGA golf professional, I’m constantly looking for new training aids and technology to try. 

Full disclosure: Full Swing launch monitors are not given to me and I am not paid to market for them. This year I went to a seminar for Full Swing golf launch monitors and tested the launch monitors against TrackMan. I was utterly shocked to find out the data they both pick up is equivalent to one another, yet the Full Swing Kit is less than half the price of TrackMan. I ended up purchasing a Full Swing Kit launch monitor myself and have loved it. I love sharing training aids and technology I love with others. If you or someone you know is looking to get a launch monitor, I would highly recommend the Full Swing Kit after spending a year with it. If you or someone you know would like to purchase one, reach out to me directly as I can get $550 off the retail price for you. 

For more instruction tips, lesson programs, training aid discounts, or launch monitor discounts, reach out to me at 972-399-9040 by calling, texting or e-mailing kpikegolf@gmail.com.

The post Instruction – Data Points of A Launch Monitor: Part 1 appeared first on AvidGolfer Magazine.

To better understand golfers and lo-back pain and the options they might have to reduce or eliminate their pain, it was therefore very useful to get Dr. Qureshi’s perspective on how  a leading surgeon deals with patients, especially golfers, who have back issues (be it in the cervical, thoracic or lumbar regions).

Dr. Qureshi is a 48-year-old with almost two decades of spinal surgery experience. A New Jersey native, both his parents worked in a hospital setting and had a great deal of respect for healthcare, making it a no-brainer for the young Sheeraz to get into medicine. Why surgery? To him it appeared to combine the cerebral part of medicine with a certain athlete-like ability – that of hand-eye-coordination. Moreover, it is an art as well as a science. The creativity comes from formulating the specific treatment plan for a patient, based on their health situation, as well as their expectations and what they enjoy doing.

Is he a surgeon specializing in golf athletes and did that happen by design? He, personally, played baseball growing up, along with some basketball, and only came into golf in his fourth and fifth decades. “I play it very badly,” he said modestly, while claiming to be a mere weekend warrior. As to who his patients are? He would guess that 80 percent of them play golf at some level, and that is probably for two reasons. Firstly, patients mainly come to him through word-of-mouth referrals, probably a result of his taking good care of them and doing the job well. Secondly because he specializes in minimally invasive and robotic surgeries with the expectation of faster recovery times, and most of his patients are those who are athletic and in sports, not merely those who try to “stay active.”

So, as a much-in-demand spinal surgeon, what is Dr Qureshi’s modus operandi? He has kept very detailed records of all his patients over the years – there are currently 5,000 in his database – beyond what most people might. He has recorded not merely their histories, but also their radiographic results, his interventions, and follow-up data for as long as possible, even up to four years post-surgery. He hopes one day to be able to use AI to input patient information and get suggestions for the best intervention to perform.

In the meantime, Dr. Qureshi says, surgery is only warranted if one of three conditions exists: there is neurological impingement, there is instability in the spine (as a result of conditions like arthritis or a fracture), or there is a problem with spinal alignment. He would certainly avoid a fusion unless the above conditions existed, even though he has research that shows that as long as the procedure is minimally invasive, a fusion and a decompression have similar outcomes. When asked whether fused spines (which Tiger has been reported to have had in the past) can cause back spasms, he said no. However, he added that top athletes are so in tune with their bodies and use their muscles in such specific ways that they might feel aggravated in certain areas.

Does fusion reduce range of motion? Not typically if it’s a smaller one or two-level fusion. In fact, as a fusion is undertaken only when some misalignment or deterioration of tissue exists, typically some reconstruction is also involved, thus resulting in a promising outcome. If the fusion is at seven to eight levels, as with a scoliosis condition, it might reduce range of motion. While bending is typically not an issue, twisting or torsion is, such as that seen in golf. 

What might be the recovery period after a spinal procedure, even a minimally invasive one? While it depends, to a great extent, on the patient’s condition and the team helping with recovery, very broadly he would say eight weeks, which, under some circumstances could become as little as three – it all depends. 

What movements should golfers avoid to reduce the risk for future injuries? Twisting has a significant impact on stress at the L4-L5 and the L5-S1 lumbar levels, says Dr. Qureshi. If they have damage to lower lumbar discs and pain from that region, they might increase flexibility which they probably have lost, especially with respect to rotation. They could also do core stabilization, thoracic rotation, and perhaps change something around that. And, naturally, warm-up before playing.

That is some wonderful information and advice from someone who should know. To complete the picture for a golfer with low back pain, from the perspective of a biomechanist and golf swing coach – you might also consider a switch to a swing which reduces forward bend, side bend and rotation ranges of motion at the lumbar/pelvic level, as all of them have been shown, in the golf swing literature, to cause low-back pain. Why risk recurrence of lumbar disc herniation that can take place in about six percent of patients, especially in those who do “heavy work,” such as make lots of golf swings? (Wang et al. 2022).

And as for Tiger? May it stop at six – your fans await!

The post Golf Science – Tiger’s Travails appeared first on AvidGolfer Magazine.

Jared Doerfler’s story began when his dad taught him the game of golf at age five in Northern Iowa. On summer nights, father and son would go out for a round, and soon Jared began playing a lot of golf with his grandfather, Harry Doerfler, as well. Harry was a typical product of his times. He grew up dirt poor in the Texas panhandle, was dropped into World War II, and subsequently “worked his tail off,” in Jared’s words, to give his kids a better life.

With all those years of golf, Jared walked onto a small Division I school’s golf team when he attended the University of Northern Iowa. His time there, he said, had a profound effect on his life. While in college, one of the stand-out experiences was when the coaches took team members to their putting lab to evaluate their strokes. He was told that the putter he was using – a blade – was not the ideal one for him and that he needed a putter with a mallet-shaped head. Doerfler’s coach then handed him an old prototype of a mallet putter he had once found in an equipment truck at some PGA TOUR event. 

Upon graduating from Northern Iowa, Doerfler returned the putter to the coach, then spent the next 10 years searching everywhere for that type of putter, including on Craig’s List, eBay and everywhere else. Eventually he gave up, sketched the putter from memory, then had the putter milled at a machine shop. “I didn’t do a very good job; the putter was too heavy and looked terrible,” Doerfler said. “But I enjoyed that process. I enjoyed it so much I wanted to do it full time a year and a half later. And I quit my job to do it.”

How could someone who had been in medical and manufacturing sales all his life consider such a big change, especially with a young family to support? He had only dipped his feet into golf in a small way when, during an entrepreneurship course for his MBA, he was encouraged to write online. That’s when he started a weekly newsletter – Perfect Putt – which, with its weekly insights into the business side of golf, is now three years old and has 10,000 subscribers.

But a weekly newsletter is nowhere near as scary a proposition as emptying out the family’s bank accounts and setting up in the business of making putters! It was not as if Doerfler was a golf-industry veteran with some skill in manufacturing – even on a small scale – a golf-related product.

“I didn’t know if I could make a putter. I saw other people doing it on YouTube, and thought if they can do it, I can,” Doerfler said. “So, I quit my job and bought a CNC mill before even having a putter head designed in CAD (computer-aided design) or having milled a putter. I was confident I could figure it out, and I did. Although it was much tougher than I anticipated – it was a very humbling process. I taught myself CAD and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing); YouTube is a great resource. CAD isn’t so difficult as CAM. I am still learning new things about CAM every day.” 

The business began in Jared’s garage in Mason City, Iowa, and has subsequently – in February – moved to a 1,500 square foot shop. The process started with personal preference, and then he leaned on former teammates and coaches after trying out prototypes. Several tweaks subsequently were made. “A lot of the design process is based on trial and error until we get the right feel and sound,” he said. “I wasn’t so concerned about hitting an exact weight when designing. My main requirement was to be a little heavier than we see with traditional putters, and we have achieved that.” 

The putters had their soft launch in May 2024, and already 200 have been sold. They currently come in three models and are one-piece milled out of 303 stainless steel. There are no weights, bolts or inserts. “I am very happy with the designs of the putters; they test well in terms of MOI in comparison to competitive putters in the market,” Doerfler said. “I design the putters and mill them myself. No outsourcing of that. To make this business work, I had to teach myself rather than rely on someone else.”

What does Jared Doerfler hope to achieve, eventually? In his words, “This isn’t a get rich quick thing. It isn’t a sell for tens of millions of dollars thing. This is chasing a dream and a passion and to create a small business. I believe there is room in the market to carve out a small niche to build a small business. And that is what America is founded on – it is built on the backbone of small businesses.”

Remember that this story promised a sweet ending? What could give one more of a warm, fuzzy feeling than a company named for the owner’s daughter, with putter models named for places grandfather Harry had lived in? This, then, has been the story of Hanna Golf and its El Reno, Amarillo and Denver putters. 

The post Golf Science – Chasing a Dream appeared first on AvidGolfer Magazine.

Full Swing Club Fittings 

(Done with the customer’s needs put first)

If you are in the market for the best equipment fitted properly, using the highest-tech equipment to do it, then you owe it to yourself to come into The Golf Lab and meet Aarik Greenley. Aarik is an industry veteran and has a well-earned reputation as a Master Fitter. Don’t let his calm and quiet personality fool you; he listens, watches and makes what he does look easy with the efficiency required to make the right decision for his customers. Over the past decade, he has fitted and built clubs for everyone from the best players on the PGA, LPGA and Korn Ferry Tours, to name just a few. He won’t tell you who they are unless you ask, but he worked in the Tour department at Adams Golf and built clubs for Hall-of-Fame players daily. Satisfied thousands more have worked with him just to get more enjoyment from the game, by getting equipment that matches their individual needs.

 “A fitting starts from paying attention and listening to the customer,” Greenley commented. “Good fitters know the numbers, but great fitters also ask the right questions and then actually listen.” 

That process takes patience and experience, and Greenley has both. Fitters must know what the latest shaft technologies do and how they work with each new head that comes out. They must know which head is a match for you, and there is only one way to get that information … through hard work, countless repletion and testing. 

There are many other companies that say they do golf club fittings, and there are some very competent businesses in the DFW area, but when you come to The Golf Lab, you will be getting access to the newest and best club/shaft combinations, all fitted with special attention from industry veterans who understand how to treat any customer. 

Putter Fittings

Which putter suits you? Where do you even start to get that information? You can go to YouTube, but that is a collection of rabbit holes that will end up confusing you more than helping. Why not book a one-hour fitting and know for sure that your putter is right for you? 

The Golf Lab has another Master Fitter under its roof, and his career has been dedicated to understanding putters and putting. Blair Philip brings a background that is unique. He played professionally in Japan, Asia and Canada, then began working for PING Golf Japan as GM of their Japan office. After that, he moved to Denver and designed putters for YES! Golf for seven years. After that, Adams Golf bought YES! and he moved to Dallas to oversee putter development in their R&D department. Philip built putters for some of the biggest names in golf and spent the last nine years working at a shaft company he co-founded, called Breakthrough Golf Technology in Richardson, where he fitted putters and taught putting. In other words, he is a professional at putter fitting and teaching. 

“Most of the public, around 85 percent, are using a putter that does not fit them,” Philip stated. “About 50 percent of professionals are also not in the right putter, either. It is sad if you think about it, all those unnecessary bogeys.”

Philip uses a combination of experience and high-tech tools like the high-speed camera Quintic Ball Roll system to diagnose and remedy your putter mismatch. On rare occasions, he will verify that you need no adjustments at all, but that is rare. If you need a different putter, then you will know which one will work for you and why. You also have the resources of the Clubfinder’s Golf business right next door to choose from a huge selection of putters that will work better for you. Putters are adjusted right there in-house, and you will leave your fitting with a putter that has the right look, length, lie angle, loft angle and correct grip. You can even have sight lines and dots milled onto your putter when needed. 

Putting Lessons

If the answer to the question “How is your putting?” is one of the following, then you might consider a putter fitting or a lesson.

Bad

Average

Inconsistent 

Why do I even TRY?

You will get the same Quintic Ball Roll system analysis, which includes a comprehensive report showing the set of individual issues you need to focus on to become a good putter and remain a good putter. 

You will leave The Golf Lab with the equipment and knowledge you need to play your best, with the best equipment you can buy. It is not rocket science, but it IS science and explained in a way that you will understand and be able to apply. 

The post Golf Tech – Club Fitting With The Golf Lab appeared first on AvidGolfer Magazine.