Towards the end of 2019, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kevin Diss, a professional golf course and events photographer. Since then, I have interviewed several leading practitioners of other professions within the golf industry such as Sam Vickers (performance coach), Michel Whitehead (author) and Ian Waterhouse (broadcaster).
Continuing with this themed mini-series, I recently met up with Daniel Thompson at the very welcoming Doncaster Golf Club (roughly halfway between our respective homes … according to Google Maps!). Daniel provides an array of services to help amateur golfers of all abilities, and professionals, improve their game by understanding the science of golf.
First Tee
(Golfing Herald): I ‘teed off’ by asking Daniel how he got into sports in general and specifically into golf.
(Daniel): I guess I have been very fortunate in being naturally talented in sports from a young age. My dad represented England and Great Britain in basketball, for which he won about 70 caps and 40 caps respectively. My uncle was a professional boxer and was ranked #3 in England and #5 in Europe … and my grandad was a professional rugby player who played for Great Britain and was the first-ever winner of the Harry Sunderland Trophy … so sport was in my family from an early age.
(Golfing Herald): A bit of a contrast between basketball, boxing and rugby!
(Daniel): Yeah … so I have played basketball for most of my life and played for South East England. But I got to the point where I realised that I was more of an individual sports player than a team player. As for golf, I started playing as a teenager, playing with my friends, mum and stepdad at Redbourn Golf Club and then I was regularly playing golf with my friends throughout my time at university. Since finishing university, I have continued playing and have enjoyed playing in some category one competitions in the Midlands over the years.
Sports Science
(Golfing Herald): How and when did you become interested in Sports Science?
(Daniel): I guess when I was at school … I was interested in P.E. (Physical Education), the studying of the body, that sort of thing. That led me to start thinking about what subject I would like to study at university … such as sports science. I was also directed by my basketball background as basketball was a key area for me. At the time one of the England basketball captains was coaching at Worcester so I just thought “brilliant, I will go to the University of Worcester to study Sports and Exercise Science and also play some basketball”. I then moved to Loughborough University for my Master’s degree as I was not ready to stop learning about sports science and education. And where better to go than Loughborough? Loughborough is an amazing University. The access to playing sports was incredible and I learnt so much from studying whilst at Loughborough. Interestingly, not long after my cohort had finished, they stopped the MSc in Sports and Exercise Science and moved into more specialised sports Master’s degrees. My course was quite broad in that it covered various disciplines such as physiology and biomechanics. My two research projects for undergrad and postgrad were skiing related because I used to be a skiing instructor! Both projects aligned with biomechanics and that is how I really got more focused and interested in biomechanics.
Skiing Instructor
(Golfing Herald): In preparation for our chat today I noted that after completing your tertiary education you became a lecturer. Looking back, was that a natural next step or were you considering other career paths and opportunities?
(Daniel): Yeah … from a young age my job to earn money, aside from doing my studies, was always coaching … rather than doing a typical job to earn money whilst a student such as working in a bar, one of my first jobs was to teach tennis to young kids. I also worked in a kid’s summer camp in charge of organising sports for them. I went out to Canada to obtain my skiing qualification and when I came back (to the UK) I taught skiing on a treadmill!
(Golfing Herald): No surprise really as we don’t have too much snow in this country!
(Daniel): Absolutely … it was really weird as it was a much larger treadmill that had AstroTurf on it. I then started working at the Hemel Hempstead Snow Centre and then the Tamworth SnowDome to teach skiing. When I was at Worcester, I travelled over to Tamworth most weekends to teach skiing. So, a lot of coaching background for me. But then when I finished my degree at Worcester and moved to Loughborough, I started teaching sports science to children from (local) schools.
Lecturing
(Golfing Herald): So, they would come over to Loughborough University for lessons in sports science?
(Daniel): Yeah … I would explain to them what sports science is all about. I effectively ‘morphed’ from coaching various sports to educating about sports science. So, after graduating with my Master’s, I decided I wanted to get into lecturing and I secured a lecturing role at Loughborough College where I was teaching degree students.
(Golfing Herald): How long did you lecture at Loughborough College?
(Daniel): I taught there for five years. Whilst there I was split across two departments, one of which was the elite sports department where we delivered AASE (Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence). I worked with England Hockey which selected the best players from across the country at the A-Level age group to study for an NVQ (National Vocational Qualification). Initially, I supported the students and then I managed that Programme for a year and then moved away from that to the lecturing side. Started off as an academic tutor in sports science and then progressed into Sports Biomechanics lecturing where I was in charge of most of the biomechanics teaching through the three-year degree course.
Embryonic Idea
(Golfing Herald): When did the germ of an embryonic idea for Science Caddie start to take root?
(Daniel): I guess it started when I stopped playing basketball and focused on trying to get better at golf. At that point, I was playing off a handicap of 6. And within my lecturing over the years, I found that I was giving examples of biomechanics that were golf-related … such as projectile motion, speed, velocity and acceleration. Though I realised I should really be varying my teaching a bit more to include other sports!
(Golfing Herald): But you could obviously feel the overwhelming gravitational pull of specialising in golf and biomechanics … you just couldn’t resist!
(Daniel): Exactly … so I did some research to understand how prevalent Golf Science Education was in the golfing industry. I feel it is really important for people to have a good understanding of the golf swing and the biomechanics and science behind the swing … I think that when people understand things better, they are more likely to engage with let’s say “making changes to their swing”. Throughout my education, I have always questioned “why”… and I feel if people understand the why they will understand what they are doing more effectively. So that got me thinking “do golfers understand the science?” and “do professionals understand the science?”. So, I did my research and found that no one was really educating people about the science of golf.
(Golfing Herald): Why do you think there is such a dearth of education in this discipline?
(Daniel): A couple of reasons … one is that sports science is relatively new, though the application of sports science to sports is definitely growing and is much more prevalent in a lot of sports now. But golf can sometimes be slow in the uptake of things. The other reason is that historically biomechanics has been viewed as very complicated and maybe has not been delivered in a way that is easily understood … hidden in numbers and complex to understand. I thought about how and what could I do to make the science and biomechanics simpler to understand and make them more available to golfers.
Leap of Faith
(Golfing Herald): Following on from your research, it must have then been a leap of faith to move from the relative security of lecturing to starting up a new business venture?
(Daniel): Most definitely!
(Golfing Herald): When did you actually launch Science Caddie?
(Daniel): Firstly, there was a transition … I actually set up Science Caddie about 3 to 4 years ago but I was trying to do my lecturing at the same time. I was lecturing 3 days a week which meant I had 2 days a week to focus on my business. But anyone who has worked in education will know it always takes longer to do your job … so inevitably I didn’t get those 2 days to work on my business! I ended up effectively ‘trickling along’ trying to establish this business, but there wasn’t enough time. Initially, I set up the business to focus on social events for golf clubs … I would go to a golf club and deliver a 2 & 1/2 hour session to teach people how power is generated in the golf swing. I managed to get the ball rolling with that. Think I delivered (this session) to 3 golf clubs and it was really well received and the people who attended really enjoyed them … I then had further similar sessions booked but then COVID happened and completely threw my business out of the window! Delivery, in-person, indoors, to large groups, could not be done.
Pause to Play
(Golfing Herald): COVID must have also impacted your lecturing as students would have been unable to attend lectures in auditoriums.
(Daniel): Exactly … the impact meant that we had to go from teaching 100% in-person to teaching 100% online which meant a lot more work! COVID meant that I wasn’t able to go to golf clubs anymore and the amount of work I had to do at college ramped up. So yes, as I said, Science Caddie did start 3 or 4 years ago but then it was a real pause button for quite a while.
(Golfing Herald): When did the button change from pause to play and Science Caddie become full time?
(Daniel): I quit my job as a lecturer in September 2021 when I made the decision to go all in.
What’s in a Name
(Golfing Herald): How did you come up with the name Science Caddie?
(Daniel): My partner Charlotte has to listen to some of the nonsense I come out with on car journeys! About different business ideas, random thoughts, etc. But I remember one journey where I was just talking about a name I was going to choose for this company and thinking about what I am going to provide golfers and professionals. Well, I am going to teach them about science and I am supporting them with their golf but not from a traditional caddie’s perspective … so effectively I am a caddie but for people’s golf science. So that was how the name Science Caddie was born.
(Golfing Herald): What springs to mind looking back over the first six months or so working full time, on your own, developing your business Science Caddie?
(Daniel): It has been quite an interesting journey and an interesting learning curve is probably the best way to describe it … and Science Caddie feels like a business, now that I am not splitting my time between Science Caddie and lecturing. Also, because of COVID, I have had to develop the business model by introducing online delivery and thus providing additional services.
Free Membership
(Golfing Herald): Talking of additional services, I have a few questions about the various services that Science Caddie currently offer, as gleaned from the website, starting with membership.
(Daniel): There is only one type of membership and it is totally free. People can just sign up as a member via the website and what that gives them is (free) access to golf science articles … and also unlocks the ability to purchase access to something from the website.
(Since interviewing Daniel, I have signed up for free membership and really enjoyed reading his article about the science of golfing in the wind!)
Webinars
(Golfing Herald): Moving onto webinars …. if I understand correctly, you are in the process of creating a suite of golf science webinars, that can be delivered either online or in person.
(Daniel): I guess I have started with the things that I feel people are most interested in from a golfing perspective and one of those is the ability to hit the ball a long way. Regardless of who you are, you would probably enjoy being able to hit the ball further … and there is a correlation between hitting the ball further and returning lower scores. So that is where I started and created the first webinar about generating power in the golf swing. This webinar focuses on teaching golfers from a scientific perspective … this is not me saying this is what you should do to hit the ball further … this is me from my academic background teaching people about the science and key biomechanics of hitting the ball a long way. I am not a golf coach. I am not qualified to tell somebody how to change their swing. My expertise is academic and teaching complicated subjects so that everybody can understand and enjoy them. People who like golf usually love golf and they want to know more about golf and I am trying to feed that desire.
(Golfing Herald): Are the online webinars intended for 1-2-1 sessions or group sessions?
(Daniel): They are group webinars … if you are in a massive group, it is not as engaging and not as personal, so having a maximum of 30 people at a webinar provides a more intimate session. I don’t want the sessions to be restrictive and people saying they don’t quite understand this or that … I want an environment where someone can feel comfortable enough putting their hand up to ask a question.
(Golfing Herald): What is the current status of the ‘Generating Power in the Golf Swing’ webinar?
(Daniel): This webinar is split into three. Part 1 is recorded and is available online so that can be watched at any point before the Part 2 and 3 live webinars. Because of my knowledge of teaching, I didn’t want to have the full 2 & 1/2 hour session in one, so I have broken it down into smaller chunks of 45 minutes each, but inevitably they will run to an hour to allow time for questions.
Golfing Injuries
(Golfing Herald): What other topics are you considering for your initial tranche of webinars?
(Daniel): The second webinar in this educational series will be focused on injuries, as biomechanics lends itself to two areas … performance improvement and injury reduction fit nicely in terms of what biomechanics is about. So, from a golfing perspective what are golfers interested in … hitting the ball further. But if you look at golfers, in particular those aged 50+, they might suffer from back pain, elbow pain, knee pain or shoulder pain. These are the common injuries that occur in golf. If I was going to say out of those two topics, power and injury, which one do golfers know more about, I would say power. When we talk from an injury perspective, I really feel that is an area that is pretty dark for most people, having little knowledge about it. There are a number of reasons why these injuries occur but one of them is down to technique … and technique falls under the biomechanics realm! So, my injury webinar is going to be about explaining ‘why’ these injuries occur … what are the key mechanisms from a biomechanical standpoint that you receive an elbow injury or a lower back injury and thus inform people a bit more about potentially why this happens and can they do something about it.
Fusion
(Golfing Herald): Any other webinar topics in the current pipeline?
(Daniel): Yes … probably going to be a Power II webinar. Following on from generating more power there are other periphery variables such as the ‘O Factor’ and the ‘S Factor’ which very few people will know about apart from the academics in those areas. Quickly returning to your question about how the webinars are delivered, I am delivering them online for a number of reasons, in particular from a COVID perspective. I think in some ways it has opened people’s eyes to what they can do in their own houses … and I can offer a webinar to somebody sitting at home for an hour in the evening after work as opposed to them having to drive to the golf club to attend. So, there are benefits to online delivery. But I am more than happy to come to a golf club to present and deliver webinars. I have already done a couple of events at golf clubs that the Professional has also attended, which I really encourage as I think it helps build the relationship between the Pro and the members.
(Golfing Herald): So effectively generating a win-win fusion between the practical (Club Professional) and the academia (Science Caddie).
(Daniel): Definitely … and I think it also helps the Professionals as the session may result in more engagement by the members as they start to understand the biomechanics … and in the coaching lessons, they can develop these things.
Certification
(Golfing Herald): Talking of Club Professionals … a service provided by Science Caddie for Professionals is the Golf Science Certification. Is this certificate recognised within the wider golfing industry?
(Daniel): No … this is a certificate that I have created. I guess the difficult thing is who would you get to certify? The only answer I can think of is the PGA. The only other certification I am aware of is TPI (Titleist Performance Institute). If you are a Club Professional and you want to invest and do a certification with TPI then you will be spending around £700 and then spending money every single year to keep that certification live. It is a large investment for CPD (Continuous Personal Development) … but I think that is a problem as a Professional probably doesn’t just want to do this single certification but rather undertake regular CPD to improve their understanding and knowledge. Through Science Caddie I offer a much more affordable and science-focused CPD … and over time I can keep creating content aligned to CPD.
(Golfing Herald): A couple of moments ago you mentioned that the PGA might be the only organisation that could certify this CPD offering from Science Caddie. Have you been able to have a conversation or any engagement with the PGA?
(Daniel): Yes, I have … I am talking to Gareth Shaw who is in charge of CPD within the PGA. They now have a link to my webinar on PGA Learn so when a Professional goes onto that platform for CPD, they can click on the link which will take them directly to the Science Caddie website. I am actually in the process of organising a CPD event with the PGA for later this year. So, if the Pros reading this keep an eye out, they may see a Science Caddie CPD event at the Belfry later this year. Also, I have recently been in contact with the PGA of America, and American PGA professionals can now earn 3 PGA required credits for attending my ‘Generating Power in the Golf Swing’ webinar series.
Guest Speaker
(Golfing Herald): I hope that you achieve a good uptake from PGA Professionals for your CPD Certification and that in time it is certified by the PGA. Moving on, another service that you provide via Science Caddie is that of guest speaker.
(Daniel): That’s right … and I can tailor this (service) to whatever a particular Golf Club, Golfing Society, Corporate Golf Day or Golf College is after. As we discussed earlier, the first educational series webinar is 2 & 1/2 hours long, so that demands quite an interested audience to sit for that long and listen. But a club may only want me to speak for an hour … so that is the beauty of Parts 1, 2 and 3. So, I can break this session down into a shorter session and only talk about Parts 1 and 2 or Parts 1 and 3, which will last around 1 & 1/2 hours … or when it is ready, I could present the injury webinar, split by parts if required. And as you might have seen I also present topics via the Science Caddie YouTube channel and I could deliver those in person.
Contrast
(Golfing Herald): Yes, I have so far watched a couple of the Science Caddie videos. What I like about them is that they are ‘bite size’ in duration which is a real plus, and also that the viewer gets to see Daniel Thompson, the person behind Science Caddie.
(Daniel): Thank you … I really appreciate that feedback. On the drive up to here (Doncaster Golf Club) I was listening to a programme with Jordan Peterson, a Canadian psychologist and the comedian Jimmy Carr! They were discussing the difference between creating something that is delivered online and something that is delivered in person. The content could be exactly the same … but they were discussing whether you would remember more going out to say a live show vs. watching the video online … they thought the former was more memorable. I view the (Science Caddie) YouTube videos as a platform to give something free to people and to give them a taste of golf science … and it is a good way to advertise what I do.
Tutoring
(Golfing Herald): Absolutely … if I may I would like to return to the world of academia and initially focus on the private tutoring that you can provide … what does this tutoring entail?
(Daniel): The tutoring is effectively split into three distinct elements. One is non-golfing and is geared toward students who are studying for a sports science degree, and provides support for their academic skills. For example, they might need help understanding a complex biomechanical theory! Another element is private tutoring aimed at supporting students who are studying for the PGA Degree and who might need support during the programme. In fact, I recently obtained a role as a PGA tutor and will hopefully be going to the Belfry later this year/early next year, to deliver Sports Science topics to students studying a golf-related degree. And the final element of tutoring, which I am currently conceptualizing, is the possibility of helping Professionals directly on a 1-2-1 basis if they wish to learn more about the science behind golf.
Biomechanics Course
(Golfing Herald): You also (appear to) offer a biomechanics course.
(Daniel): That’s right … basically, it is what typically is taught on a sports science degree on a biomechanics module in Year 1. So, it is teaching people about the key fundaments and building blocks of the biomechanics of sport such as forces and Newton’s Laws … speed, velocity and acceleration … projectile motion … and so on. I think this course, which is all recorded, will be valuable to people who wish to learn more about biomechanics. I think it will also be valuable from a golf coach’s perspective if they have never been introduced to biomechanics or if they have never studied sports science.
Golf Swing Analysis
(Golfing Herald): Before we talk about your personal golfing goals, could you please outline the final service that Science Caddie offers access to, namely Golf Swing Analysis?
(Daniel): Well, I am working with Dr Tom Outram, the biomechanics lecturer at the University of Derby, who has created a golf analysis package. We have been working together to redesign the package to make it focused on the generation of power in the golf swing. How the analysis works is a person would come to the University of Derby, we will put markers on various locations on the participant’s body, which will enable us to perform a biomechanical analysis of their golf swing (using gold standard equipment for measuring sporting movements). Then what we do is create a report from all of the captured data and this will be posted (privately) online, with videos of their swing and graphs to show the variables.
(Golfing Herald): How much time would be required if a player booked a session (at the University of Derby) for their swing to be analysed?
(Daniel): Probably an hour to an hour and a half. They would come in and after completing a bit of paperwork we put on about 30 reflective markers across the headband, shoulders, arms, knees … full body kitted out! What the markers do is allow us to work out where that marker is in a 3D space from which we make a skeleton. From there we can then measure the variables that are linked to hitting the ball a long way, such as (golfing) X-Factor. It is a really good environment in that we use a big room with about 15 cameras set up. We then get them to do some practise swings, hitting balls into a large net. Then after warming up, we capture 10 good swings from them hitting balls into this net.
(Golfing Herald): Using different clubs?
(Daniel): No, just the driver at the moment as we are currently focused on distance and generating more power. But the plan is to eventually also have an injury analysis package aligned to the injury webinars which will highlight the movements they are performing that are potentially increasing their risk of injury.
(Golfing Herald): Sounds really good … I might have to book a session for myself when the Golf Swing Analysis is up and running! So, when do you hope to launch?
(Daniel): Very soon … we are just working on the online report. Once the package is live, we will advertise this on the University of Derby and Science Caddie websites. It is designed to give people a more informed understanding of their swing, and what will work really well is if they come to the webinar series and understand the key variables that generate power then go and get their swing analysed and receive the report, they will understand what everything means. This is not about us replacing the golf coach but rather us trying to help the coach by providing them with more data about the golf swing of their client … ideally, we would give the report to the player and the coach so that the coach can work with the player on the areas that have been identified … so in this example to hit the ball further.
Ramsdale Park
(Golfing Herald): Based on our chat this morning it sounds like Science Caddie is going to leave you with very little time for your own golf! You mentioned earlier that a few years ago you were playing off a handicap of 6 … so where is your golf game at today?
(Daniel): Last year we moved to the north of Derby so I became a member at Ramsdale Park around November 2021. It is a really friendly golf club and a lovely course, with an up-to-date driving range.
(Golfing Herald): And what is your current handicap?
(Daniel): My current handicap is 5.2 and hopefully I will be able to play a few rounds at Ramsdale Park over the next few weeks or so.
Love of Golf
(Golfing Herald): What targets and goals have you set yourself for the golfing year(s) ahead?
(Daniel): I would really love to get down to scratch. The reason I love golf is that I have played a lot of sports, probably more than the average person, but golf is the sport that I think is the hardest sport in the world by far. I think it is the most frustrating sport, the most enjoyable sport and the most rewarding sport. Compared to a lot of sports I have played; golf is a sport I can’t master. Unlike other sports such as tennis and squash, in golf, you are playing against yourself and that makes it the most intriguing sport for me. It can be just one hole or just one shot which can cause so much frustration or anger! It is a sport which is a mystery on how to get your handicap lower … and I really appreciate how good you have to be to become a Professional. I am at 5.2, which is a good handicap, but to reach scratch I know the journey to that is a long, long way.
Fantasy Fourball
(Golfing Herald): Whether it is achievable or not, what is #1 on your golfing bucket list, apart from getting to scratch?
(Daniel): My favourite golfer, as most would also say, is Tiger. I would love to play a round of golf with Tiger.
(Golfing Herald): I like to ask all of my guests to choose who would they choose to join them in a Fantasy Fourball. Thus, for a change, let’s combine the bucket list with this hypothetical fourball, with Tiger Woods as your first pick. So why Tiger?
(Daniel): Where do you start! I think there are just certain athletes in the world who are just magical. People who fall into that category for me are Roger Federer, for the way he plays tennis and Tiger. You are in awe of some of the things he can do on a golf course and you can’t think of anybody else who could hit that shot at that moment in time.
(Golfing Herald): You won’t be surprised to hear that several of my guests have selected Tiger as the first pick for their Fantasy Fourball. Who is your next pick? And they don’t necessarily have to be a golfer or indeed have actually played golf … another sportsman, an entertainer … anyone at all really!
(Daniel): Anyone … that is a very interesting question. Robin Williams, who has sadly passed away now, would have been great company over the four hours or so playing a round of golf. But you have really opened up the kettle of fish by saying, anyone. If it was just golfers then my final pick would be Bryson DeChambeau and we could discuss the science of golf. But for a fourball comprised of random people then Tiger Woods, Robin Williams and probably the guy I spoke about earlier, Jordan Peterson. He is a very intelligent, articulate, deep individual. I think he is an amazing speaker and I would love to just have a conversation with him.
(Golfing Herald): That would be an interesting fourball, to say the least, with an array of incredible talent across a diversity of disciplines.
(Daniel): Certainly would …. a brilliant academic, a multi-talented actor/comedian and a golfer who is possibly the best ever.
The Nineteenth
(Golfing Herald): Sadly, we have reached the Nineteenth so one final question from me about Science Caddie…what else have you got in the pipeline over and above what we have chatted about today?
(Daniel): I am not looking at Science Caddie being purely UK based. I have already reached out to the PGA in America, as we discussed earlier. The world has opened up because of online and there is no reason why what I deliver is restricted to the UK. I think there will be a lot of Professionals in America who will be interested in what I can offer.
(Golfing Herald): As you say, the field of biomechanics is universal and not sort of language or country dependant.
(Daniel): Just like maths is across all languages. Biomechanics takes that maths and applies it to golf. So, I am trying to get my name in front of people, wherever they are located so that they can see that this (Science Caddie) exists and those people who are interested will funnel through.
(Golfing Herald): Daniel, a great way to finish. Thanks so much for sharing an insight into Science Caddie and your overall career to date. All the best for the future, on and off the golf links.
If you wish to find out more about Daniel Thompson and Science Caddie, then please visit the Science Caddie Website.
To watch the various Science Caddie videos then please visit Science Caddie on YouTube.
Acknowledgements
And finally, a massive thanks to …
- Daniel Thompson, not only for his time but for also allowing me to use his profile photograph and the image of the Science Caddie logo and associated strapline.
- Tom Wilson, PGA Professional at Ramsdale Park Golf Centre, for permitting me to extract a photograph from their website.
For all the other photographs, attributions are as follows …
- Loughborough University Buildings ~ Victuallers, CC BY-SA 3.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Tiger Woods ~ Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Robin Williams ~ Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Jordan Peterson ~ Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
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