Open Championship 2013 blog: Nikon Timeslice Bunker

Golf Monthly Staff Writer Nick Bonfield gives his latest Open Championship blog installment from Muirfield

Nikon timeslice bunker
(Image credit: Picasa)
Dan Grieve
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Open Championship 2013 Blog: Nikon Timeslice bunker

A few decades ago, players were still using hickory-shafted golf clubs and cameras were used sparingly to capture the action. How things have changed.  

As I strolled around Muirfield in the lead up the the Open, I saw first-hand just how much investment - in terms of volume of equipment, technology and manpower - goes into covering the golf nowadays.

It's staggering to see the resources television broadcasters and media outlets from around the world invest to provide exceptional coverage of golf. It isn't just these journalistic organisations that show impressive dedication to golf, though.

Nikon - a long-standing patron of the Open Championship and a staunch supporter of golf - has installed a 'TimeSlice Bunker' for this week's championship, and I went to investigate.

As I walked into Nikon's booth in the tented village, I was confronted by a staggering array of cameras in a 180-degree formation. In fact, there were 60 Nikon cameras in use, each worth £1750.

The idea was to use Timeslice technology to take hundreds of instantaneous photos of a bunker shot, allowing every facet, encompassing angle of attack, swing plane posture and more, to be analysed.  

Nowadays, technological innovation is contributing to an incremental rise in the overall standard of the professional game.

Of course, it's only one component, and increased fitness and a wide range of other factors also come into play, but the Nikon Timeslice Bunker really helped drive home how the latest technology can be hugely beneficial in identifying areas of weakness and facilitating improvement.

As John Walshe, General Manager at Nikon UK, said: "This experience gives you an insight into the capabilities of our products. Never before have visitors had the chance to be part of a special effects photography shoot."

"We're honoured to continue our support of such a great event," he added.

Nikon binoculars are available to hire from the retail unit, where a range of Nikon products can also be purchased.

 

 

Dan Grieve
Dan Grieve
Top 50 Coach

Location: Woburn GC  

Dan is one of the leading coaches in the UK, a Fellow of the PGA and a short-game virtuoso. He has had considerable success with a collection of tour pros, helping them to Order of Merit titles and major victories, and his Short Game School is the most attended in the UK. His students, past and present, include Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Inci Mehmet and Iona Stephen.

Most common problem:

Swing – over the top , help by getting the basics correct at address and making them aware how to get the club online coming down.

Short game – creating spin and feel around the greens, help by educating on what the short game actually is (weak on purpose) and understand bounce and how they can apply it to different lies/situations.

Greatest success story:

Helping Georgia Hall from World No. 450 to No. 6 and winning a Major, two Order of Merits and Solheim Cup appearances.

Greatest teacher:

Alex Hay was a great influence during my first few years at Woburn. In sport more generally Sir Clive Woodward has taught me how to deliver at the highest level.

Most common fault:

Flipped right hand (hands behind the ball). Understand a correct coil/load going back and how to sequence better coming down so the chest opens up and gives the arms space to deliver a stronger impact. Lots of body action drills to enhance the feel, with and without the ball.

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