The Science of ModelGolf
The effectiveness of ModelGolf as an instructional program is driven by science
and technology. We apply the science of biomechanics and statistical analysis to
generate a computer model of the perfect swing, called the ModelPro, and use video
capture, advanced software, and the Web to deliver a comprehensive, customized system
of golf instruction. Of course, ModelGolf instructors bring it all together and
facilitate each student's improvement program, but the technological tools they
use to do so are what set ModelGolf apart from any other instructional program.
The ModelPro
The ModelPro was developed using the "Model Principle" of biomechanics, which holds
that there is one ideal way for any particular person to swing a golf club. This
ideal—the ModelPro—was achieved through the scientific study of some
of the world's best golfers, including Jack Nicklaus, Davis Love III, Jesper Parnevik,
Mark O'Meara, Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Betsy King, Brandie Burton and
many others. We analyzed how they swing every club in their bag and correlated their
body characteristics and movements to performance results in order to identify the
"perfect" swing mechanics.
The process begins with high-speed video of top pros hitting every club in their
bag. Approximately 2,000 frames are needed to capture the two-second golf swing
from two angles. The swing motion is then digitized, tracking the coordinates of
each major joint in the body throughout the entire movement, yielding about 200,000
data points for each swing.
The ModelPro is much more than a simple average of these elite golfers. The ModelPro
is better than any of the pros because we used statistics to isolate the best of
their common characteristics and eliminate their individual weaknesses. The result
of this analysis is a scalable computer model we call the ModelPro, who exhibits
flawless biomechanical form and the perfect balance of strength, flexibility, and
coordination.
How the ModelPro will help your golf swing improve
But the ModelPro is not an abstract ideal attainable only by tour pros. Your ModelPro
is adapted to represent your body, gender, and handedness, so you can see how your
perfect swing should look and where your actual swing strays from the ideal. Spend
30 minutes with the ModelPro and you'll understand your swing better than you ever
have.
The ModelOverlay
The ModelOverlay is a "stick figure," if you will, that corresponds to a person's
main skeletal structure. It is the ModelPro without the three dimensional form.
The ModelOverlay makes it easy to see the flaws in your swing at any of the 10 teaching
positions, from setup to follow-through. Both the three-dimensional ModelPro and
the ModelOverlay can be viewed from two different vantage points, face on and down
the target line, to better illustrate exactly how and where the student may deviate
from the ideal.
The clear visual feedback provided by the ModelOverlay makes it easier for the teaching
professional to highlight errors and communicate recommendations for improvement,
accelerating the learning curve.
The origins of the ModelGolf
The ModelPro was created by Dr. Ralph Mann, a former Olympic hurdler and world record
holder with a Ph.D. in biomechanics. Dr. Mann became interested in biomechanics
40 years ago as a way to become more competitive in world-class athletics. Looking
for any edge to improve his performance in the 400-meter hurdles, he analyzed film
of the world's best hurdlers and found a way to incorporate what they were doing
into his performance. As a result, he won three NCAA championships, seven national
championships, the US Olympic trials, and set a world record. In the 1972 Olympics,
Mann was the slowest sprinter in the field but his hurdling technique enabled him
to win the silver medal.
By 1980, armed with a Ph.D. in Biomechanics and an advanced computerized teaching
system, Dr. Mann began turning out US Olympic track and field stars. Since 1980,
Dr. Mann's computer models have been used to train virtually all US Olympic hurdlers
and sprinters. Athletes trained using his technology currently hold more than half
of the world records in these events. Now his innovative system is being used in
Major League Baseball and NFL training camps. In 1983, Dr. Mann founded CompuSport
International, the forerunner of ModelGolf, and turned his attention—and his
technology—toward improving the game of golf.