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The Movie: Although the temperature is in the single digits in some parts of the country, it's never too early to try and prepare to hit the links not too long after the snow melts. This 3-DVD set from Golf Magazine offers tips and tricks for pros and amateurs, and certainly would be a prime choice as a holiday gift for anyone with a golfer on their gift list. The series includes: Craig Shankland - Power Sources, Shawn Humphries - Pre-shot Keys, Scott Sackett - A Powerful Set-up, Sandy LaBauve - Managing Tension, Todd Anderson - The Backswing, Fred Griffin - A Smooth Transition, Mike Bender - Power Sequence, Brian Mogg - The Path to Power, Mike LaBauve - The Slice, Martin Hall - Ball Flight Laws, Dave Phillips - Choosing a Driver, John Elliott, Jr. - Balance, Mike Malaska - Weight Transfer, Laird Small - Overswinging, Gale Peterson - Sand: The Basics, Todd Sones - Putting: Pendulum and Path, Paul Trittler - Putting: Green Reading, Tim Mahoney - Putting: Avoid Three-putts and more. There are over 50 lessons in all. Each of the tip segments strikes a fine balance between being detailed enough for pros, and yet explained in a clear enough way for amateurs (like myself) to be able to pick up. We see the tip put into play, and the segments end with a summary - sometimes with bullet points that break it down - that highlights each aspect of the lesson. Each lesson takes place out on nice-looking courses, as well. Each disc in the 3-DVD set focuses around lessons regarding a specific aspect of the game: More Power (Disc 1), More Consistency (Disc 2) and More Up & Downs (Disc Three). Overall, I thought this was a wonderful set that covers a wide variety of topics that will help golfers both experienced and new try to improve their game. The DVD VIDEO: All lessons are presented in 1.33:1 full-frame by Shout Factory. I was pleasantly surprised with the image quality for the release, as it remained rock solid for most of the running time. Sharpness and detail were terrific, as the picture appeared bright and well-defined throughout. Slight shimmering showed up at times, but remained very minor. No edge enhancement was spotted, nor were any instances of pixelation. Colors looked vivid and nicely saturated, with no smearing or other faults. SOUND: The stereo soundtrack is understandably basic, and offers crisp/clear dialogue. EXTRAS: A warm-up session with teacher Mike Malaska, behind-the-scenes footage, "About the top 100" featurette, details on each instructor. Final Thoughts: Golfers who want to keep their game sharp should certainly look into this 3-DVD set, which offers a library of various tips and tricks from the pros. Recommended. |