"Picture Perfect Putting" with Rick Smith. Learn more at knowapronow.com
Bartlett, Illinois - We all read the magazines, watch it on TV, and practice in the backyard but now you can take it from the tee to the green. Rick Smith, ranked by PGA Tour players in a 2009 Golf Digest poll as the number two golf instructor in the world has gone wireless. In an on-going series of iPhone apps designed for players from beginner to pro this new series presents an approach to golf that Smith has shared with some of the most renowned golfers in the world including Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman, and Jack Nicklaus.
"Understanding the concept of what you're doing, what you're learning, and why you're doing it is the most critical step to improving you game." This according to Smith during the filming of one of the KnowAProNow.com iPhone Apps at the Oakland University Golf Teaching Center. "You can't just tell someone to keep their arm straight, put your weight on your left leg or visualize the shot. You have to tell them why that's important and why that will give them the desired result on a drive, a chip or a putt."
The first app now available for the iPhone, Picture Perfect Putting, provides in-depth lessons on the keys to putting along with drills for the practice green and quick tips for the course.
"Everyone loves it when they hit that long drive, survive that fairway bunker shot, and drop that perfect chip. But how many times does it all fall apart on the green when a potential birdie goes to bogey because the simple concept of the putting game temporarily eluded us?"
Smith's approach has assisted some of the most accomplished golfers in the world including Major Championship winners Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Lee Janzen, Greg Norman and John Daly as well as PGA Tour winners Rocco Mediate, Jerry Kelly, and Matt Kuchar, and Chris DiMarco.
"He's the pro's pro." According to Dick Daniels, CEO of KnowaProNow.com that partnered with Smith to develop the app. "He's charismatic, dynamic and not only genuinely loves the game but absolutely cares about everyone who shares his passion for golf. There's one occasion during the shoot I'll never forget. We were discussing drills for putting and his only comment was, 'I can think of a thousand drills, I'm just trying to think of the one best idea for how to approach this.' He did, we shot it and half the crew spent a good amount of time on the green practicing that way after the rap."
So do you have to buy the app to learn the big secret?
"Hey, I give it away all the time." Said Smith. "You can see it better in the app but here's the key: From your back stroke on a putt to the moment you make contact with the ball, count 'one-thousand-
"It's all levels when you're working with Rick Smith." According to Daniels. "He's always thinking about the individual golfers not just from beginners to experienced players, but men, women, all age-groups. I think that's why his ability to communicate the underlying concepts of the game has such tremendous value. You can apply what he teaches to your own golf game, the one that is uniquely yours rather than the usual one-size-fits-
Smith was a bit more humble about his approach. "I've done a lot of charity work, and have worked as a motivational speaker over the years. I just want people to succeed and realize their potential. To me golf is a fun and rewarding conduit to success in life if you look at it the right way and approach it properly. It doesn't have to be hard, it just needs to be understood. That's what's I'm after. Getting people to understand the game and the fundamental concepts behind it."
The iPhone app features a wide range of tools and tips with Smith, according to Daniels. "It's essentially Rick Smith standing next to you during every round, every practice session on the tee, or every practice putt on the green. The Quick Tips you can access while you play, the Expanded Lessons will increase your knowledge of the game and the Drills can give you the practice routines that will lead to permanent improvement.
We shot this app with Rick specifically for the iPhone with high-definition cameras, exposure settings and color-correction that will work best in the bright sun of a golf course, and isolated many of his key lessons in a video, short-clip format so you can view it while you play, practice, or just fill some time at the airport."
The Rick Smith "Picture Perfect Putting" app is one in a series of apps featuring Rick Smith. More information about Rick Smith apps can be found at http://www.knowapronow.com.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
