“The better players seem to be coming to us, a host of Touring Professionals to Amateur Internationals or the low handicapper who are generally working on their game in order to reach their potential,” said Smyth.
“I am in touch with Gareth daily trying to pick his brains. It’s great. Putting is a game within a game. It’s great to have someone like Gareth to lean on and soundboard ideas off. I have learned a huge amount to date and to see what he’s doing with some of the best players in the world has helped my coaching approach greatly.
“Knowledge is key of course, both for me as a coach and for the pupil. Even after 20+ years as a PGA Professional. By continually learning I will only improve and that’s what progress is for me, trying to get better every day.”
“The better players seem to be coming to us, a host of Touring Professionals to Amateur Internationals or the low handicapper who are generally working on their game in order to reach their potential,” said Smyth.
“I am in touch with Gareth daily trying to pick his brains. It’s great. Putting is a game within a game. It’s great to have someone like Gareth to lean on and soundboard ideas off. I have learned a huge amount to date and to see what he’s doing with some of the best players in the world has helped my coaching approach greatly.
“Knowledge is key of course, both for me as a coach and for the pupil. Even after 20+ years as a PGA Professional. By continually learning I will only improve and that’s what progress is for me, trying to get better every day.”
“The better players seem to be coming to us, a host of Touring Professionals to Amateur Internationals or the low handicapper who are generally working on their game in order to reach their potential,” said Smyth.
“I am in touch with Gareth daily trying to pick his brains. It’s great. Putting is a game within a game. It’s great to have someone like Gareth to lean on and soundboard ideas off. I have learned a huge amount to date and to see what he’s doing with some of the best players in the world has helped my coaching approach greatly.
“Knowledge is key of course, both for me as a coach and for the pupil. Even after 20+ years as a PGA Professional. By continually learning I will only improve and that’s what progress is for me, trying to get better every day.”
The European base of Raflewski Performance Academy walls are brimming with technology, from the Foresight Sports’ GC Quad which will help players dial-in their game like never before, to cutting edge systems like the Sam Putt Lab, Capto 3D Putting, Swing Catalyst and a bespoke ‘Well Putt’ indoor green.
From the state-of-the-art studio, players can take their newfound information to the multiple practice areas on-site, honing their skills with drills and repetitions before putting the practice into play on the golf course.
“Our coaching philosophy is simple, it’s not a ‘this is how you have to do it’ kind of system. It is fact-based and we use technology to back it up.
To work with the world’s best players and see how Gareth worked on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the lead-up to a big tournament is also invaluable for Smyth. “It helps me significantly with my players, it wasn’t always technical work which was interesting but a mix of performance & skill based work. Getting the player under pressure doing certain tasks that ultimately leads into the tournament.
‘’The short game is definitely a neglected area of the game by most and any improvement in it can lead to significantly lower scores for people. No matter what level, if you want to shave shots off your rounds cleaning up your short game is the easiest way to do it’’
