Some golf apps really have proven to improve the games of those who use them.

 

Tiger Woods, for all of his personal faults, is indisputably one of the greatest golfers to ever pick up a 9 iron. In his case, it didn’t happen by accident. Because of his unrivaled celebrity, at least in the game of golf, his background has been oft reported. Woods was considered a prodigy by the age of two. This was thanks to extensive training from his father Earl, who was himself an accomplished athlete (He was one of the first black baseball player in the NCAA).

If Woods seems impervious to pressure, it’s because he’s been golfing on national television since he was very young. When he was three, he putted against Bob Hope. At the age of eleven, son was already able to best father, and according to Earl, this has remained constant. As it stands, Woods has won 72 tournaments over the course of his career, and Sports Illustrated named him the best athlete of the aughts.

Woods frequently attributes his success to his late father. He didn’t have the advantage of a smartphone.  Thanks to modern technology, novice golfers have an assortment of different apps available to them that are marketed to improve their golf game. An app may not offer the same kind of loving support as a dedicated father, but the following golf apps really have proven to improve the games of those who use them.

Golf Shot – Golf GPS

There are a lot of golf GPS apps out on the market, but this one, developed by the makers of the popular app Golfplan, is probably the best available. This app won’t necessarily do anything to improve your swing, but it will provide remarkably accurate measurements from where you are to where the hole is. It will provide these same precise measurements for hazards as well, and it covers more courses than a large majority of golf apps. If you are in a perpetual struggle to pick clubs, this app will prove to be a lifesaver.

Golf Genie Practice Drills

This golf app actually will help you make significant steps in improving your swing.  Even though studies suggest most avid golfers do have disposable income, not all can afford a personal golf instructor.  This app allows you to have such an instructor that fits in your pocket, and at a much lower price.  Designed by a multitude of PGA professionals, this app allows you to customize your own training program, one that suits your needs.  Do you have a problem with hooking the ball?  Use the drills on this app and your problem will soon alleviated.

Golf Digest Tips Plus

Golf Digest is one of the premiere golf magazines on the market, so it surprises me that they would offer up their best tips on a smartphone app, but that is what they have done, and for free no less!  This app provides the best golf tips and exercises that are regularly published in the magazine, and features commentary from legendary golf coaches Jim Flick, Hank Haney and David Leadbetter.

V1 Golf

For those who learn best through mimicry, this app is a must have. With this app, you can watch and carefully analyze the shot of over 50 PGA and LPGA athletes.  Using slow motion, you can carefully observe what differentiates the best swings from others.  You can even film your own swing, download it to the app, and ultimately compare and contrast your drives to that of the pros.

Golf My Way

As I previously stated, Tiger Woods is undeniably one of the great professional golfers in the game’s long history.  Very few rival his talent, but one of those few is Jack Nicklaus, and his famous instructional book and DVD series “Golf My Way” is now a smartphone app.  It features 26 golf instructional videos that teach you everything from the proper stance to how to get your putt to curve the way you want it to.  I’m sure the instructor at the course you regularly golf at is skilled, but is there any better teacher to have than Golden Bear himself?

Tiger Woods was lucky enough to have a father that was persistent and tenacious in his golf upbringing.  Not everyone has that, so these apps may not be a perfect substitute, but they aren’t anything but helpful.

 

About the Author

David Bryce is an online publisher for Thousand Hills Golf Resort in Branson, MO. He blogs on the topics of golf, travel, and vacations.