Based out of Southern California, I see many of my in-person clients at the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) studios in Oceanside, California, but much of my engagement is online. In addition, I’ll travel to many of my Tour professionals, high-level amateurs and college players, having recently spent three weeks in Florida to work with a handful of them.
Diversifying the time you spend with clients (some in-person/some remote) helps provide the best coverage to the athletes, extending your expertise so they can have more real-time access to solutions.
Many athletes believe the first step in our relationship must be done in person, with an extensive assessment to gauge their current mobility, flexibility, strength and more. I have proven otherwise over the years, as I can evaluate their body remotely and attain the data needed to create a specific program that addresses their goals.
Contrary to the days when I’d have to analyze a somewhat rudimentary video of a golf swing and text back a response with my professional diagnosis - a time-consuming process - I can now engage with clients live on Zoom or FaceTime and provide instant feedback on golf swings as they are happening.
I can break down their physical movement screens to isolate any deficiencies using drawing and voiceover tools that result in the same program we’d end up with had that individual been right in front of me. It comes down to the client setting up the cameras correctly and getting their angles right. If I can get a good look at what the golfer is doing, I can assess his or her movement patterns and create that starting point that will serve as our foundation for progress. However, for those clients who prefer that in-person attention, I will provide that option so he or she feels their needs are being met. Once we reach this point, the online option becomes the predominant method of engagement.
With few scenarios in golf fitness being quick fixes or band-aids, the majority of my relationships with clients are long-term. After all, what we are doing goes beyond adding ten yards off the tee. I want to help people live longer, feel better and enjoy their life better. Movement is at the foundation of everything we do, and playing better golf is a secondary benefit to our work.
With the client coming to me with better golf in mind, I often shroud the movement science with golf language but am fostering life-long relationships. Although we can’t stop the aging process and degradation of movement, we can counteract them with proper identification of deficiencies and programming that addresses these often increasing limitations.
Everything we do revolves around the client’s goals. Everything I say to them will be phrased with their goals in mind. What moves alleviate their back pain? Which ones increase distance off the tee? Which exercises increase mobility or flexibility or strength or stamina? It depends upon the client’s goals. These programs are as personalized as possible. We call it white glove service. We’ve never written the same program twice. Everyone’s body is different. Everyone’s goals are different as well.
Lance Gill, a 3-time Golf Fitness Association of America (GFAA) On-Course Award Winner and 2024 GFAA Industry Leaders Award Winner, is the Founder of Lance Gill Performance.