THE consumer market has become increasingly saturated with golfing instruction videos - although ciotog players may, justly, feel they are being left out of this growing trend - and Ian Woosnam, currently topping the European Tour moneylist, has produced one of the better efforts.
Golf Made Simple - The Woosie Way (BMG Video, Pounds 12.99) hits the video shelves next week and his precise, clear instructions and hints will go down well with the vast majority of players.
Woosnam doesn't promise that everyone viewing his instructional tape will automatically develop his smooth swing . . . but be does explain how it is possible to concentrate on "a few basic things" which will aid your game. And he demonstrates a number of simple drills that should make a difference.
Indeed, Woosnam has chosen drills which he has used himself since he first started to play golf. The idea for the video came to the Welshman after viewing slow motion replays of his swing on a TV documentary called Peak Performance which he readily acknowledges as the catalyst for his return to top form.
That television programme was filmed at a time when Woosnam was, literally, going through the horrors. But Woosnam recalls: "As part of the show, ultra slow motion shots of my golf swing were recorded and this at a time when my game was off track and I, was tampering with my technique to get it back on line. The photography was as stunning as it was revealing. watching the tape I realised that in trying, as I thought, to improve my swing, I was in fact messing up.
"In short, the swing ) had grown up with was no more, and once I realised that I immediately switched back to my original swing thoughts, and thankfully my game has got back on course.
In this video, Woosnam uses such back-to-basics theory as the primary piece of advice towards developing a good swing. Filmed at his golfing academy in Celtic Manor, Woosnam's swing is analysed by the latest technology. The video also includes fly-on-the-wall footage of the Welsh player conducting one of his clinics.
Basically, Woosnam insists on keeping his instructions simple and easy to follow, a decided asset in any instructional video, and focuses on a number of aspects.
However well videos are produced, though, they only appeal to a certain sector of the golfing public and are not everyone's cup of tea. Then there is also a sameness about the approach taken by so-called "star names" and, indeed, in the advice proffered.
In fairness to Woosnam, however, he has succeeded in making his video more personal than impersonal and, as such, it will have a greater appeal than most. In fact, many players could be persuaded to put Woosnam's drills into practice.
