As a left-handed golfer, I was pleasantly surprised and full of anticipation at the chance to at last review a golf instructional DVD that claimed to devote equal billing and time to us 'lefties'.
It begins with an introduction by a young-looking Des Lynam, certainly not the image he is currently cultivating with the audience he's attracting as the new host of 'Countdown'. He claimed, at the time of filming that he was under 'strict instructions' not to use the word 'science' in explaining the facts of golf. I looked forward with baited breath to learning something new.
Sadly a superfluous 90 seconds worth of what camera technology can achieve immediately flew over my head. And to further contradict Lynam's promise, the film went on to analyse the mechanics of the golf swing using a 1980s hinged model and footage of a teaching pro using a persimmon-headed driver little bigger my rescue club!
I felt further duped when I spotted that the footage of a past Murphy's Irish Open, identified advertising hoardings and tee boxes as mirror images. The film had so obviously been 'flipped' to show the likes of Gary Player, Bernard Gallacher and Neil Coles playing 'left-handed'!
As the film dug even deeper into ball-flight technology, aerodynamics and spin, my attention was waning and when a section on alignment and putting 'left-handed' failed to enlighten me further, I was pleased this was not a product I'd had to pay for.
I hoped a final section on escaping from bunkers (my nemesis) might rescue something from the DVD's dying embers. But over the weekend, I tried its suggestion - to ignore all I'd ever been taught about opening the clubface and aiming right of the target (I'm left-handed, remember!) - and instead use normal alignment as if chipping from the fairway. All I can say is…Ughh!
Finally, I thought that my cynicism had perhaps got the better of me, so offered the chance for a neighbour and his wife - both right-handers and both having recently taken up the game - to give a second opinion.
She lost interest before it had reached halfway, while he soldiered on but emerged with a similar view to my own.
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Rating: |
4/10 |
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Summary: | An interesting concept, to offer left and right-handed options for an instructional DVD but find modern left and right-handed teachers (it's not rocket science to put a call into the PGA at The Belfry). And don't insult our intelligence by merely flipping old footage. Sorry Sam (the film director/editor) it won't be on my Christmas list or my neighbour's.
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