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Paul
Wilson, Author Swing Machine
Golf
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What was your inspiration for the book?
The true simplicity of the Iron Byron's swing
is my inspiration. When I was taught the swing,
it was made to be such a complicated thing by
my teachers. But when I studied the machine
I realized that the engineers had managed to
perfectly replicate a human swing with only
3 key elements. Only two of those elements actually
move ... so how tough can the golf swing really
be? Here was a simple and "perfect"
working model of the human swing, yet nobody
was using it to teach people. So I just had
to tell people about it.
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Paul, I noticed that when I was reading
about your background that you are originally
from Canada, but now you reside and work in
the United States. How did the move to the United
States come about?
I grew up outside of Toronto in town called
Waterloo. For a number of years I was Director
of Instruction at Angus Glen Golf Course, host
to the 2002 Bell Canadian Open on the PGA Tour.
While I was teaching there, a gentleman from
the Kansas City area, who had seen me on the
Golf Channel's Academy Live program visited
me for lessons. He set up some corporate clinics
for me to give in the Kansas City area with
a financial company, and at each event they
converted approximately 75% of their clients
to use their services ‹it used to be only
3% during other events that they would host.
I was flying back and forth so much that I decided
to move here.
Paul, one of the things that impressed
me about you, as I was researching the book
was your sincerity about helping others improve
their games. In particular, as I was learning
more about your book, I saw that you were actually
answering questions on a Golf Channel Discussion
Board? How did you even know that people were
discussing your book on the Discussion Board?
I use the Golf Channel discussion boards a
great deal myself, and the discussions that
I have read, I don't recall seeing another instructor
participate. I thought that was great, and what
I recall your responses were very well received.
How do you respond to critics who say,
"Hey, there really isn't a lot new in this
book?"
Not a lot of stuff new because I'm teaching
the "classic" golf swing, but it¹s
a different approach ... a much faster and easier
way of helping people understand how the golf
swing works and how to learn it themselves.
That's why I start with follow-through first.
It will make you better faster than anything
else. In corporate clinics, I only teach follow-through
position. I am about 95% successful in helping
golfer's improve during these types of sessions.
I didn¹t really understand the golf swing
myself until I studied Iron Bryon. Then I started
focusing my body like Iron Byron ... it was
like a miracle. The book covers all the questions
that I had myself. I wanted to know why. If
you can¹t tell me "why" something,
then I won¹t be able to do it myself.
So in the book we've structured each lesson
to not only include the "why" component,
but also "what" to do, "how"
to know you are doing it right, "how"
to stop human nature from sabotaging your
swing, and "how" to practice until
things become automatic. I don't know of any
other book that does that.
Have you found the price to be an objection
to many buyers?
Actually no. The reason that the cost is higher
than the typical golf instruction book is that
the initial cost of the book was so expensive.
And people seem to recognize that because the
book also includes online coaching from me,
even though it is expensive, it represents an
incredible value. (Editor's Note: As I mentioned
in my book review, this book is exquisitely
done. The way that Paul and co-author Ken Steven
illustrate their points to make sure that the
reader comprehends their suggestions, in my
opinion as a former marketing professional,
makes the cost a necessary evil. In my opinion,
for the quality of instruction and the book,
the cost can be justified for those who are
seriously trying to improve their game.)
Do you have plans for any future projects
or books?
We aren't going to be doing any more books.
Originally we were thinking of doing one on
the short game, but because of the high production
costs we are going to go straight to DVD with
this product. We hope to have that ready for
the 2005 golf season.
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