Pitch perfect

Steven Orr spent years emailing world renowned biomechanics expert Dr Rob Neal for help – now the two men are set to collaborate on a major piece of golf swing research.

PGA Master Professional Orr will work hand-in-hand with Neal to scientifically crack the art of pitching.

He will combine his own investigations using a robot at the R&A’s test centre at St Andrews with Neal’s expertise in biodynamics to create the ultimate pitch improvement plan.

It’s a long way from how their relationship started – with Orr constantly firing off emails to the Florida-based Aussie in a desperate search for more knowledge about the technicalities of the golf swing.

Soon both sorcerer and apprentice could be lecturing together on how to master one of the toughest parts of the game.

Orr said: “We want to look further into what factors effect great pitching. It would be great to pass on the information to other coaches. There is more research being done into this area – but we hope to take understanding further.

“I have done a lot of work with the R&A’s robot and Rob has been working for years with elite professionals studying their movement. He is coming back over in March next year which is when we will combine our research.

“I have been working with the R&A’s robot on strike location on the club face. The robot enables you to isolate points on the face and ensure each strike is identical. I will be spending more time at St Andrews next year.”

Orr, who is rated as one of the UK’s top 100 coaches by Golf World and is the director of coaching and development at the Cranfield Golf Academies, first met Neal when he presented seminars on the golf athlete with another renowned Aussie golf expert, sports scientist Michael Dalgleish.

He said: “I have known Rob for about four years. I saw him present a seminar and for years after I would pester him with emails. I was desperate to learn more and I would send him questions.

“But I knew straight away what a great guy he was because he always found time to reply and help. Rob is very giving of his time. He wants people to improve.”

That led to Orr inviting Neal to coach the Sussex County squad he looks after. He followed that by organising a popular twice yearly masterclasses featuring Neal which hones in on key areas of the swing such as sequencing, generating power or ground reaction forces.

“Rob’s seminars are great,” Orr said. “We usually have around 20 pros sign up. I don’t have to advertise. Mention that Rob is coming back over and people want to be there.

“About two years ago we decided that each seminar should focus on one particular area and that seemed to work really well.

“Sometimes Rob’s seminars involve complicated concepts, but his genius is making them so simple to understand. In fact most coaches will feel so comfortable with Rob’s concepts, they will be using them immediately with clients.”

During Neal’s recent tour of UK and Ireland, he stopped by at the London Club near Brands Hatch for half a day of coaching on the biomechanics involved in pitching. He’ll be back in March ’17 – and next year the pair will begin work on their pitch perfect collaboration.

“Rob has such a vast knowledge working with the best pitchers of the ball from around the world and I will have the science from ball strike points.

“Hopefully we will be able to pin down the perfect pitch.”

The PGA tutor and England regional coach insists more pros should take the chance to see Neal in action, adding: “He is such an amazing teacher. It would be great to have more professionals taking part and learning. I can definitely expand the sessions.”

**If you would like to take part in a Rob Neal seminar, drop Orr a line on so@stevenorrcoaching.com