Hi, my name is Marvin and I’m a hacker. For all of you who may not be familiar with addiction recovery programs, the proper response is, “Hi Marvin.” Golf is an addiction, is it not? We go out anticipating that this is going to be the day that we’re going to break through. We’ve got the latest club, ball, glove, technique, look, whatever, and we’re fearfully confident (oxymoron?) that it’s all going to come together this time. Sometimes that confidence fades with the first fade. (Fade is simply a morally acceptable term for a slice.) Other times we get off to a great start for three or four holes, but eventually our real game shows up and we have to settle for scenery and friendship as rewards for the day.

I’ve taken my share of lessons from very qualified pros and they have helped me, but I find that I too quickly revert to old, ingrained, muscle memorized habits. I try to remember what I was taught and shown, but it doesn’t come back the same way. What I need is the pro in my back pocket. BINGO! IGOLPING!

The first time I visited a driving range with the IGOLPING system I was hooked. (Not the ball, me!) Armed with my full set of clubs and a bucket of balls I inserted my credit card (a very small fee equal to about two buckets of balls) for an hour’s worth of analysis and/or realistic game playing consisting of hitting the ball down the range, not into a screen.) I received instant feedback by viewing my swing from multiple angles and being able to compare it to a professional swing. Watching yourself swing a club can be a very humbling and painful experience, but immensely helpful. I can choose to save as many swings as I wish and they are forwarded to my home computer and/or to a golf pro for future work and analysis. By being able to see improper head and body movements and compare to a good swing I can make corrections and see the real results. When I finally get an improved swing that produces positive results I have that stored for reference at home or at a lesson as well.

After a half hour’s work I switch to the game mode and step on to the first tee at Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, or any of a large selection of courses. I am given an overview of the hole and then swing away. The ball tracking system takes the actual flight of my ball and transfers it to the playing field with painful accuracy. I can choose the practice mode, which allows me as many mulligans as I like. (Oh, I like this game) Or I can be joined by my friends and we can play by all the rules and have a very realistic competition.

The IGOLPING system allows me to join clubs, participate in leagues and/or tournaments with players from all over the world either by posting scores during a specified time or by playing simultaneously. Everything I do, whether for instruction or play can be sent to my home computer for viewing later.

What are the results? My swing has absolutely improved. My pro has an abundance of information to work on and I can save his demonstrated swings as well and play them side by side with mine. I can play a full round of golf at any number of courses around the world in well under an hour. I can review my results and my swing at any time and reinforce mental notes.

IGOLPING will never take the place of my fun and frustration on the golf course, but it is an amazingly helpful and fun way to practice and get instant, accurate feedback. Thanks, Doug, for a wonderful tool that goes where I go and fits in my wallet as well.