The Warwickshire Junior Elite squad at Quintic’s Putting studio…

October 31st, 2007 | Putting Biomechanics, Quintic Video Software

With a significant contribution from the English Golf Union, the Warwickshire Union have been able to put in place two new special coaching projects, and one of them is a day with Dr Paul Hurrion, the putting expert whose client roster includes, amongst others, a certain Padraig Harrington, the Open Champion.

Eight of our best Juniors, split into two groups of four, spent a day with Dr Hurrion having their putting strokes analysed then being shown how biometrics can and has been used to improve what is often an under practised and not perfected part of the game.

These sessions are specialist coaching which is now becoming a vital part of any golfer’s armoury, especially for the talented younger player who wants to find out the techniques of the best, to see if they can master them and ingrain the routines so that they achieve the consistency which will take them on to winning golf.

The aim of all the Union’s coaching programs is to give its Juniors the best possible chance of individual and team success, maybe even the as yet elusive Boys County title. It was a long wait for the most recent Major win by a European golfer and Padriag Harrington’s Open win was in part due to working with Dr Hurrion since 2002.

‘Golfers from past decades got away with much more than those you see now,’ said Dr Hurrion, ‘Greens are much faster now - and getting faster.’

His first test for our Juniors was keeping a putt running on a metre of flat (and narrow) thin steel, something those on the coaching could only do 3 or 4 times in 10 goes (at best). They then moved on to having their strokes videoed using high speed cameras - showing up every imperfection.

As lunchtime arrived, Dr Hurrion then showed each group the basics of how biometrics puts a golfer in the best position to make the most accurate putting stroke, some simple science and mechanics combined.

This showed up in some instant improvements in the putting on the steel test. Before moving out onto the artificial putting green at the Quintic studios, just on the outskirts of Berkswell

‘You can only lead them so far,’ said Dr Hurrion, ‘They need to do the drills everyday. The best putters can complete 9 out of 10 using this drill.’

Dr Hurrion works with Harrington all the time, and was just analysing some tape from the recent Grand Slam of Golf, ready for a flying visit to Valderamma three days before the Volvo Masters was due to start. Harrington, and players such as Phillip Archer, are some of the best strikers of a putter he has seen, something only achieved through incredible amounts of hard work.

Each of the players will be able to spend the winter working on techniques which could, next Summer, produce the golfer of their young lives. Many will do so with shorter putters as for a number, biometrics pointed them to positioning their set-ups as effectively as possible with much shorter clubs than commercially available.

What did the Juniors think?

‘It was excellent,’ said Harry Ibbertson, ‘I learnt an awful lot.’

Quintic would like to wish the Warwickshire Juniors all the best with their practice along with a successful 2008 season…

Congratulations Mark Laskey on his first professional victory

October 24th, 2007 | Putting Biomechanics

Mark Laskey has captured his first professional tour win. The Brocket Hall golfer won the final Jamega Tour event at Merrist Wood near Guildford. The 36-hole event was reduced to an 18-hole shootout due to torrential rain on day one making the course totally unplayable.

Laskey, who shot a four under 68 to win by one, started his round with two straight pars. He then picked up birdies at the 3rd and 4th holes with two approach shots to 10ft and 8ft respectively.

The former Herts county player continued to play solid, accurate golf without reward until a fine approach shot to the 12th gave him the chance to move to three under. Reaching the 17th, Laskey knew he was in contention and a fine up and down from 30 yards saw him joint leader standing on the 18th.

A good drive gave Laskey the opportunity to attack the par five, but his five-iron approach caught the front bunker. However, Laskey’s renowned short game found his sand shot finishing 10ft from the pin, but he confidently rolled the putt across the slope to post his four under winning score.

Former Welsh international Laskey, who is in his second season as a tournament professional, has continued to make steady progress, gaining invaluable experience in his quest to ultimately gain a full European Tour card.

Last year Laskey finished his first season on the EuroPro Tour in 27th position, gaining a Category One status. Building on the experience gained from last year, the former WGC junior has made sustained improvement this season with a second and three other top 10 finishes, which reflects his current position of 15th on the EuroPro 2007 Order of Merit.

This has assured Laskey an invite to the final £100,000 Tour Championship at St Andrews Bay at the end of October. The top six Order of Merit players after this event obtain their PGA Challenge Tour cards for 2008 and with Laskey only £3,000 short of that position he is confident that he has a chance of achieving his early season target.

Laskey said: “My overall improved technique and consistency of my long game has been a direct result of working over the past seven years with my coach Keith Wood at Brocket Hall.

“My putting stats need to improve, so over the winter I also intend to work with my new coach, Paul Hurrion, who has already helped many European and Challenge Tour players over recent years.”

Laskey has already gained invaluable experience of the Challenge Tour this year by being able to obtain six invitations. His best finish so far has been a tie for 15th at the Vodafone Challenge in Dusseldorf back in June.

Laskey is currently considering his options for 2008, which will be a lot clearer after the EuroPro Tour Championship and whether he obtains his Challenge Tour card.

Best wishes from Quintic for the upcoming EuroPro Tour championship…

Steve Webster wins the inaugural Portugal Masters

October 21st, 2007 | PGA European Tour Golfers, Putting Biomechanics

Quintic and Dr Paul Hurrion would like to congratulate Steve Webster who claimed his second European Tour title in emotional fashion when a superb final round 64. His final round putting display of 27 putts enable for a 25 under par total of 263 which saw the 32 year old Englishman win the Portugal Masters.

Webster’s last success was over two years ago in the 2005 Telecom Italia Open and when his second win came under glorious skies at Oceanico Victoria Golf Club, he achieved it in equally glorious style, before collapsing in tears in the arms of his caddie John Mulrooney.

When he embraced his father Terry at greenside, the emotions became even rawer and totally understandable as it had only been five months ago when his wife, Steve’s beloved mother Valerie, passed away.

“I was thinking about her all the way round,” said Webster. “Losing my mum really knocked me about. I didn’t even think I’d get my card because it was quite tough.

“It was so hard to keep my mind on my golf. I knew she was watching out for me and it’s an amazing feeling to play that well down the stretch.”

Congratulations Steve, briallant eagle on 12!





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