Golf and Snooker Join Forces

Leading Experts in Golf and Snooker are Joining Forces to Share Knowledge

The Professional Golfers' Association (PGA), representing over 7,000 professionals and recognised as the leading educational body for the industry across the world, has teamed up with the International Billiards & Snooker Federation (IBSF) who are themselves affiliated with the IOC and represent 83 National Governing Bodies.
 
The collaboration will see a sharing of coaching ideas and practices and has been welcomed by PGA director of education and career development Kyle Phillpots and Nic Barrow, IBSF head coach.
 
Given the similarities in both sports and high percentage of professionals that play both, the decision to work in partnership together was straightforward.
 
Phillpots said: “Nic and I initially had an informal conversation about coaching which stemmed from the similarities of coaching snooker and golf players.
 
“Golf and snooker both use specific equipment to impact a stationary ball for putting or potting. Parallels in golf and snooker also pair up delicate pitching & cue ball control, driving & long potting, and bunker shots & snooker escapes.”
 
“Golf skills rely on biomechanics, and benefit from movement analysis. The smallest detail in swing or cueing action, and precise manner of ball impact can have huge effects on the shot result.
 
“We use state of the art computer technology and high speed photography to examine cause and effect and this kind of technology can be harnessed in snooker coaching too.
 
“I am sure the lessons learned in snooker coaching will also provide us with further methods of analysis and instruction that the PGA can use.
 
“We are always looking at ways to improve our world renowned education programme – the three year foundation degree in professional golf. This relationship with the IBSF Coaching Academy fits that goal perfectly.”
 
The IBSF Coaching Academy employ techniques such as hypnosis, biofeedback and awareness based learning techniques for their player improvement programmes. IBSF Coaches benefit from a wide array of teaching techniques, root cause analysis methodology and business building skills that can lead to their eventual appointment as an IBSF Coach Examiner.
 
Pascal Guillaume, president of the IBSF said: “Since founding the IBSF Coaching Academy in 2005, we have always looked at other sports to open our minds for coaching and playing principles that work in snooker. With the PGA, we hope to have a long and lasting relationship that can benefit the coaches and players of both sports for many years to come.
 
To contact the PGA National training Academy, visit www.pga.info
To contact the IBSF Coaching Academy, visit www.ibsf.info or www.thesnookergym.com
 
The PGA (Professional Golfer's Association) was formed in 1901 by JH Taylor, James Braid and Harry Vardon.
The PGA are the sole governing body for golf professionals in the UK.
They are based at the PGA National Training Academy at The Belfry.
The PGA Foundation degree in professional golf takes three years of study, and is completed by 300 professionals a year.
The IBSF (International Billiards & Snooker Federation) is the sole world governing body for amateur snooker, and is affiliated to the International Olympic Committee
The IBSF has 83 recognised National Governing Bodies affiliated to it.
Their showcase annual events are the IBSF World Men's, Under 21, Team, Masters, Ladies, 6 Red Snooker, and English Billiards Championships.