McWethy’s Tavern at Mistwood Golf Club opens today for business in the new Mistwood Clubhouse see Mistwoodgc.com or call (815)-254-3333. Fujikura shafts, with the new “Speeder Shaft” No.1 on several professional tours. Pinehurst Resort the house that Donald Ross built. Play Pinehurst 2, see how you can at Pinehurst.com.        _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. At the GolfTec center in Des Plaines.

You might have heard the name GolfTec, but your not sure exactly what it means. It might even sound to technical, but is it.

Not really, but it is a way to break down your swing, what’s good about it, or what’s missing from a standpoint of using the latest up to date golf technology.

How does your swing stack up to tour players, at GolfTec you can see video of over 200 professional players from the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and other tours, and GolfTec can show you how your swing compares to them, in some cases maybe even your favorite players in the pro ranks.

The statistics on GolfTec are this. A leader in the golf industry in golf improvement, GolfTec teaches 20% of all lessons given in the United States, and claims to have a 95%  success rate.

GolfTec has a staff of what they call Certified Personal Coaches, that have given millions of lessons to clients and have put them on a “proven path”, GolfTec says their clients are enjoying the game more and are shooting better scores. The client list is now over 250,000 golfers, that start their path at over 145 locations in North America ( Nine Chicago area locations), and GolfTec has been in business for over 15 years.

 As part of my lesson from Justin Bentley, I was hooked up to video and other monitors that checked my swing for a variety of factors.

GolfTec will tell you that there is no quick fix for most swing issues. A friendly tip, glancing at an instruction page in a book or golf magazine is normally not the cure all that most golfers need.

Bentley adjusted my stance, and re-shifted my weight to proper positions while hitting a driver, since I had constantly been re-adjusting my approach with the driver, after buying a new Titleist 915 earlier this year. While my overall swing wasn’t bad, weight transfer was an issue, I was hitting drives too often off my back foot and not making a proper weight transfer.

My body had settled in a way where I was swinging in a position that was comfortable for it, but not giving me the best results off the tee. The new weight distribution and hip rotation on my takeaway, left me a bit stiff and sore by the night of my lesson and the next day, but it was because I was not using the muscles that professional golfers use to make a swing that will yield optimum results.

Justin Bentley is the Director of Instruction at GolfTec in Des Plaines, and the GolfTec Center Manager.

As a result I am now working on a swing change, that is not a full swing change. I’m not swinging the club any different, but my weight redistribution should allow for more swing speed, and bringing the club head through the impact zone on a path that leads to better contact. I’ll report back on the results at later date, that might take a while due to the winter months closing in on the Chicago area.

In many cases, seeing is believing. Until a golfer watches himself or herself on video, it’s difficult to believe that you are making certain mistakes with your swing. You can’t see behind your head or back, while swinging the club. It can be hard to watch your follow through with the club after impact.

This monitor was on the floor next to me, with Justin’s help I could watch my swing right after I hit a ball, without moving back to his desk in the back of the hitting bay.

In the Des Plaines Golf Tec facility I went to, the complex has a triple decker driving range, and outdoor private area for instruction, a full size with two greens for chipping and bunker work. There is a 9-hole par 3 course, and GolfTec clients have full use of these areas.

If you start your work inside, and move it outside, the video of your work gets posted online so when you get home, or to work, you can pop up the video of your lesson or practice session and review it. Your coach can make comments on the video, so to aid with the instruction package. My online video was on my computer by the time I got home from my session.

The Wall of Fame from GolfTec in Des Plaines, golf balls from students who shared special achievements with the facility.

GolfTec uses video to compare your swings to touring professionals. If your swing is in the Green Zone you are right where you should be.

Yellow Zone means your swing is close to where it should be, and it needs some minor adjusting. Red Zone means that part of your swing needs some immediate attention, and perhaps a major change or two.

GolfTec uses a technical fact based approach in improving your swing, there is no guess work from the swing coach, about you needing a little of this or little of that and all will be fine.

Click here to hear the interview with Justin Bentley Center Manager and Swing Coach at GolfTec in Des Plaines.

GolfTec does not just give lessons, they can also help fit you for a proper set of clubs if you plan to purchase new clubs. Over 250,000 clients have used GolfTec and most of them have found the success on the golf course they are looking for.

So if you are ready to try something new to improve your golf game, or upgrade what’s in your golf bag. Consider GolfTec before you make any final decisions. Nine Chicago area locations, and over 150 location across America. With some locations in warm weather climates for those golfers heading south for the winter months.

GolfTec can be reached at (877)0-4-GOLFTEC or visit online golftec.com.