JAACOB BOWDEN
Coach, Trainer & Pro Golfer
Winning a 4th Straight GFAA Award
Today I received an email from Rick Summers, the CEO of the Golf Fitness Association of America (GFAA), and Dr. Steven Lorick, the President of the GFAA, informing me that Swing Man Golf and I have been selected as award winners for the 2024 GFAA Recognition Award.
This marks our 4th consecutive win!
I’m honored to be recognized once again alongside so many talented individuals in the industry. Thank you to Rick, Dr. Lorick, and the GFAA team for this acknowledgment, as well as to the partners Fitness Lifestyles and PGA Magazine for their support of the GFAA Awards.
If you’re interested in improving your swing speed, hitting longer drives, and lowering your golf handicap potential, Swing Man Golf has been leading the way in swing speed training since 2007.
PGA professionals and fitness trainers can also take advantage of our certification program, which provides tools and expertise to teach swing speed training effectively. Plus, PGA of America members can earn 7 PDR continuing education points after successfully passing our assessment.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Swing Man Golf over the years and congratulations to all the other award winners as well - here’s to another year of advancing golf fitness together!
This marks our 4th consecutive win!
I’m honored to be recognized once again alongside so many talented individuals in the industry. Thank you to Rick, Dr. Lorick, and the GFAA team for this acknowledgment, as well as to the partners Fitness Lifestyles and PGA Magazine for their support of the GFAA Awards.
If you’re interested in improving your swing speed, hitting longer drives, and lowering your golf handicap potential, Swing Man Golf has been leading the way in swing speed training since 2007.
PGA professionals and fitness trainers can also take advantage of our certification program, which provides tools and expertise to teach swing speed training effectively. Plus, PGA of America members can earn 7 PDR continuing education points after successfully passing our assessment.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Swing Man Golf over the years and congratulations to all the other award winners as well - here’s to another year of advancing golf fitness together!
A Fun Surprise in My Inbox
November 14, 2024 23:34 Filed in: Golf Fitness
Today, I opened my email inbox to a fun surprise.
Back in June, my article "Defying Age: How to Maintain and Increase Distance as You Get Older" was featured in the June issue of Golf Fitness Monthly.
This afternoon, I received an email with the subject line, "Maintain and Increase Distance as You Get Older." Intrigued, and admittedly having forgotten the exact title of my earlier article, I clicked to check it out. To my surprise, it was my very own article edited and repurposed into a Best Practice feature for the Golf Fitness Association of America (GFAA).
How cool! I had no idea that they were even going to do that.
You can also read it as a Best Practice here on the GFAA website.
Back in June, my article "Defying Age: How to Maintain and Increase Distance as You Get Older" was featured in the June issue of Golf Fitness Monthly.
This afternoon, I received an email with the subject line, "Maintain and Increase Distance as You Get Older." Intrigued, and admittedly having forgotten the exact title of my earlier article, I clicked to check it out. To my surprise, it was my very own article edited and repurposed into a Best Practice feature for the Golf Fitness Association of America (GFAA).
How cool! I had no idea that they were even going to do that.
You can also read it as a Best Practice here on the GFAA website.
My 3rd Presidential Motorcade Drive: Differences Between the VP & First Lady
October 18, 2024 23:33 Filed in: Miscellaneous
Had the incredible opportunity and experience of driving with my wife Jen alongside other friends in a presidential motorcade for the Vice President today - politics aside, what a thrill!
It was interesting to compare this to my previous two drives for the First Lady. A VP motorcade has significantly more cars, but I actually found it easier to drive in thanks to the road closures. This drive was also more residential through Lansing, compared to the highway-heavy routes around Detroit. While staying calm and focused is key, it was fun to see the excitement on the streets - kids jumping, many people filming in awe, lots of supporters cheering, and a few protesting. It was such a memorable scene as we passed back and forth from Air Force Two at the airport to our destination!
It was interesting to compare this to my previous two drives for the First Lady. A VP motorcade has significantly more cars, but I actually found it easier to drive in thanks to the road closures. This drive was also more residential through Lansing, compared to the highway-heavy routes around Detroit. While staying calm and focused is key, it was fun to see the excitement on the streets - kids jumping, many people filming in awe, lots of supporters cheering, and a few protesting. It was such a memorable scene as we passed back and forth from Air Force Two at the airport to our destination!
Driving in a Presidential Motorcade: A Surreal and Memorable Experienc
October 15, 2024 14:05 Filed in: Miscellaneous
If you would’ve told me a few days ago that I’d be driving the press van in a presidential motorcade for the First Lady, and that my wife and I would get to shake hands and take a photo with her…I might’ve thought you were kidding.
Driving in a motorcade is definitely an experience. You’ve got traffic parting like the Red Sea, police cars zipping around at high speeds, people staring, and you’re running stop signs and red lights, which is fun, but it also takes incredible focus. You must tailgate the car in front of you to keep everything moving smoothly and the motorcade tight.
Interestingly, all the mental training from my years of playing professional golf came in handy to keep calm and grounded in the middle of all the buzz and chaos.
Super cool!
Driving in a motorcade is definitely an experience. You’ve got traffic parting like the Red Sea, police cars zipping around at high speeds, people staring, and you’re running stop signs and red lights, which is fun, but it also takes incredible focus. You must tailgate the car in front of you to keep everything moving smoothly and the motorcade tight.
Interestingly, all the mental training from my years of playing professional golf came in handy to keep calm and grounded in the middle of all the buzz and chaos.
Super cool!
Straight Shots & 10 Hole-In-Ones
When I first started playing golf, I was a typical slicer. As I improved and eventually turned pro at 27, even though cuts and slices are perfectly usable shots, I was so traumatized by slicing that I made my stock shot a slight draw. However, it was a tight enough draw that it looked straight to me, even though it was technically drawing.
Lately, I've been having fun experimenting with getting my stock shot to average out as a perfectly straight shot with zero feet of curve, utilizing a sweet spot strike and 0-degree angle of attack, swing path, face angle, a face-to-path.
Playing Sterling Irons single length irons makes that a bit easier because those are all designed to be played from a single ball position, which I place directly in the middle of my stance to help achieve a zero path. Since I sweep or pick the ball for more consistent overall contact and try to avoid taking divots, that center ball position also helps me maintain a zero angle of attack. From there, it was just a matter of getting the face angle and face-to-path to be zero, which I achieved by weakening my grip.
It's been a tricky transition because I was so accustomed to seeing that tight draw as straight. When I used launch monitors to confirm I was hitting truly straight shots, the ball flight looked like a slight fade to my eye. Plus, my history with slicing made me hesitant about anything that felt like swinging across the ball and fanning the face open—even when the result was a straight shot.
I’m starting to get more comfortable with it now. So far, my longest zero-curve shot, verified with technology, is 160.9 yards, which isn't too surprising because I practice a lot with my 8-iron.
Yesterday, I holed one out on the TopTracer range with a sand wedge. It was only a 40-yard shot, but seeing that proximity at zero feet was really cool.
Then today, while playing with a friend who operates Belle Isle Golf Detroit, I got my 10th hole-in-one, all spread across Pebble Beach's Peter Hay Golf Course and Belle Isle Golf Detroit.
Here’s the list:
Interestingly, Tuesday is by far my most popular day to get a hole-in-one. I guess I just need to play more on Monday and Thursday to see if I can get one every day of the week!.
Lately, I've been having fun experimenting with getting my stock shot to average out as a perfectly straight shot with zero feet of curve, utilizing a sweet spot strike and 0-degree angle of attack, swing path, face angle, a face-to-path.
Playing Sterling Irons single length irons makes that a bit easier because those are all designed to be played from a single ball position, which I place directly in the middle of my stance to help achieve a zero path. Since I sweep or pick the ball for more consistent overall contact and try to avoid taking divots, that center ball position also helps me maintain a zero angle of attack. From there, it was just a matter of getting the face angle and face-to-path to be zero, which I achieved by weakening my grip.
It's been a tricky transition because I was so accustomed to seeing that tight draw as straight. When I used launch monitors to confirm I was hitting truly straight shots, the ball flight looked like a slight fade to my eye. Plus, my history with slicing made me hesitant about anything that felt like swinging across the ball and fanning the face open—even when the result was a straight shot.
I’m starting to get more comfortable with it now. So far, my longest zero-curve shot, verified with technology, is 160.9 yards, which isn't too surprising because I practice a lot with my 8-iron.
Yesterday, I holed one out on the TopTracer range with a sand wedge. It was only a 40-yard shot, but seeing that proximity at zero feet was really cool.
Then today, while playing with a friend who operates Belle Isle Golf Detroit, I got my 10th hole-in-one, all spread across Pebble Beach's Peter Hay Golf Course and Belle Isle Golf Detroit.
Here’s the list:
- 1st - Saturday, November 6th, 2004, 9th hole at Pebble Beach’s Peter Hay Golf Course with a 9-iron from 74 yards
- 2nd - Sunday, October 9th, 2005, 8th hole at Pebble Beach’s Peter Hay Golf Course
- 3rd - Tuesday, October 10th, 2006, 3rd hole at Pebble Beach’s Peter Hay Golf Course
- 4th - Friday, September 22nd, 2023, 6th hole at Belle Isle Golf with a SW from 45 yards
- 5th - Tuesday, September 26th, 2023, 4th hole at Belle Isle Golf from 35 yards (on video)
- 6th - Wednesday, September 27th, 2023, 3rd hole at Belle Isle Golf from 35 yards (on video)
- 7th - Wednesday, September 27th, 2023, 3rd hole again at Belle Isle Golf from 35 yards (on video)
- 8th - Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023, 5th hole at Belle Isle Golf from 35 yards (have reaction camera video footage but green side camera failed)
- 9th - Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023, 5th hole again at Belle Isle Golf from 35 yards (have reaction camera video footage but green side camera failed)
- 10th - Tuesday, October 8th, 2024, 4th hole at Belle Isle Golf with a sand wedge, temperature 67 degrees, 11mph WNW wind
Interestingly, Tuesday is by far my most popular day to get a hole-in-one. I guess I just need to play more on Monday and Thursday to see if I can get one every day of the week!.
Eagle Finish & Victory at the Detroit Bulldogs Golf Outing
September 06, 2024 23:44 Filed in: Travel
Had a blast being part of the Detroit Bulldogs golf outing at St. Clair Shores Golf Club alongside Brandon and Chris from Belle Isle Golf.
Our team clinched a 4-shot victory with an impressive -15 total score. A highlight of the day was our final hole—Par 4, 302 yards to the center, with a back pin on the 17th. I stepped up, hit a great drive to the back of the green, and followed it up with an eagle putt to cap off the round!
Such an incredible day, full of fun and great golf.
If you'd like to support the club and contribute to the cause, feel free to donate here.
Our team clinched a 4-shot victory with an impressive -15 total score. A highlight of the day was our final hole—Par 4, 302 yards to the center, with a back pin on the 17th. I stepped up, hit a great drive to the back of the green, and followed it up with an eagle putt to cap off the round!
Such an incredible day, full of fun and great golf.
If you'd like to support the club and contribute to the cause, feel free to donate here.
Live Lesson with Be Better Golf at Ortega Puttlab
The 5th video in Be Better Golf's series with me is live!
In this episode, after filming at Costa Mesa Golf Club, Brendon and I headed over to John Ortega's Ortega Puttlab. John, who works with PGA TOUR player Jake Knapp, generously allowed us to use his gym equipment and hitting bay equipped with a Trackman launch monitor.
In the video, we dive into aspects of the swing like foot flare, stance width, and a few other elements that can make a big difference in your game. It was great to get hands-on with the Trackman to break down these details and share them with you.
Have a look at the clip below:
In this episode, after filming at Costa Mesa Golf Club, Brendon and I headed over to John Ortega's Ortega Puttlab. John, who works with PGA TOUR player Jake Knapp, generously allowed us to use his gym equipment and hitting bay equipped with a Trackman launch monitor.
In the video, we dive into aspects of the swing like foot flare, stance width, and a few other elements that can make a big difference in your game. It was great to get hands-on with the Trackman to break down these details and share them with you.
Have a look at the clip below:
Part 2 of Swing Man Golf’s Swing Speed Training on Be Better Golf
August 29, 2024 23:51 Filed in: Swing Man Golf | YouTube | Be Better Golf | Golf Fitness | Swing Speed Radar
Video 4 of my afternoon with Brendon of Be Better Golf is out. This clip is a follow-up to the 3rd video talking about swing speed training.
Have a look here!
And if you missed the other first two clips, here are those again:
Video 1: A bit about my rapid transformation from 14 index golfer to professional golfer
Video 2: The Mike Austin golf swing (golf's 515-yard man)
Have a look here!
And if you missed the other first two clips, here are those again:
Video 1: A bit about my rapid transformation from 14 index golfer to professional golfer
Video 2: The Mike Austin golf swing (golf's 515-yard man)
Won the Inaugural Five Iron Golf Club Championship
Thrilled to drink from a champions cup for winning the inaugural Five Iron Golf club championship last night in Detroit!
A big shoutout to Ryan Miller, Mike Snyder, Brendan Downs, Alex Moses, & everyone at Five Iron Golf for organizing such a fantastic event.
This year has been quite different for me. While I’ve done various outings & even set a venue record on the Toptracer at Belle Isle Golf with a 373-yard drive, it’s the first time in my 21-year professional career that I haven’t played in an outdoor tour type of event or a major qualifier like the U.S. Open Championship, The Open, or the PGA Championship.
At 48, I’m feeling healthy & fully intend to play tournaments again, though it may have to wait until I finish my memoir. I’m currently 180 pages in, with over 100,000 words written. I’m not sure where the book length will land, but I’m close to the end & excited to share it once it’s done. Reflecting on everything that’s happened over the years has been both nostalgic & cathartic, & it’s helping me envision what might be next.
Swing Man Golf's Swing Speed Training Protocols & Be Better Golf
August 26, 2024 23:58 Filed in: Swing Man Golf | Swing Speed Radar | YouTube | Mike Austin | Golf Fitness
Brendon from Be Better Golf released the 3rd video from our afternoon of filming together in Costa Mesa, California!
If you missed the first two videos, you can catch them here:
• Video 1 – My rapid transformation from a 14-index golfer to a professional golfer.
• Video 2 – An exploration of Mike Austin’s legendary 515-yard drive and his unique golf swing.
In this 3rd video, we dive into Swing Man Golf’s swing speed training protocols. Swing speed training has been gaining more awareness recently, especially after Bryson DeChambeau’s well-known increase in swing speed.
But did you know it’s been around for quite some time?
I launched Swing Man Golf back in 2007, and since then, it has been recognized as an industry-leading resource for swing speed training. We’ve even received the prestigious Golf Fitness Association of America (GFAA) award every year for our work in this field.
Check out the video below to learn more about our proven swing speed training methods:
I hope you enjoy it!
Remember to like, comment, and subscribe to both our channels for more great content.
If you missed the first two videos, you can catch them here:
• Video 1 – My rapid transformation from a 14-index golfer to a professional golfer.
• Video 2 – An exploration of Mike Austin’s legendary 515-yard drive and his unique golf swing.
In this 3rd video, we dive into Swing Man Golf’s swing speed training protocols. Swing speed training has been gaining more awareness recently, especially after Bryson DeChambeau’s well-known increase in swing speed.
But did you know it’s been around for quite some time?
I launched Swing Man Golf back in 2007, and since then, it has been recognized as an industry-leading resource for swing speed training. We’ve even received the prestigious Golf Fitness Association of America (GFAA) award every year for our work in this field.
Check out the video below to learn more about our proven swing speed training methods:
I hope you enjoy it!
Remember to like, comment, and subscribe to both our channels for more great content.
Talking Mike Austin with Be Better Golf
August 22, 2024 23:49 Filed in: Mike Austin | YouTube | Be Better Golf | Dan Shauger | My Swing | Full Swing Technique | Long Drive
Brendon of Be Better Golf has released a second clip of our afternoon together talking golf. In this one, we talk about the Mike Austin golf swing, which is where I got my start in golf in 2003. Austin, if you are familiar, is the man who hit a Guinness World Record 515-yard drive in the 1974 US National Senior Open with a 43.5" steel-shafted persimmon wood driver and balata ball. The swing is a big part of what led me to winning the Pinnacle Distance Challenge with a televised 381-yard drive.
Here's the clip with Brendon:
Here's the clip with Brendon:
Guest Appearance on Be Better Golf
I finally had the opportunity on Monday to meet up in person with Brendon of Be Better Golf to talk golf for a few hours. Here's the first clip of our conversation.
Defying Age: How to Maintain and Increase Distance as You Get Older
June 25, 2024 14:50 Filed in: Swing Man Golf | Golf Fitness
When you are in the business of writing articles, they don't always get published right away. Case in point: the article I submitted to the Golf Fitness Association of America (GFAA) on May 24th didn't publish until June 25th. Enough time passed that I actually forgot I submitted it, which made for a nice surprise today when I opened my inbox and found it had gone live.
Our human experience comes with the dimension of time, bringing aging and all the things many of us associate with it—hair loss, greying, new wrinkles, strange skin spots, and more. In golf, over time, statistically we lose power and distance.
But does it have to be like that?
I'm not sure it does.
I've heard tales of tribes that lived healthy lives for roughly 200 years until they were discovered by others and learned they weren't "supposed" to live that long. Within a generation or more, lifespans decreased to what we consider normal.
We also live in a multidimensional electromagnetic field. In the dimensional space of oneness, geometrically there is no A and B of time, only A—the now. This space is one of abundance and perfect health. We can access it, in part because we're already in and of it.
Without getting any further into the metaphysical, the point is, similar to what Morpheus said to Neo in "The Matrix," some rules can be bent, others broken. We can challenge conventional thinking to experience something different and even better.
That's partly what this article, "Defying Age: How to Maintain and Increase Distance As You Get Older", is about.
Read it here on the GFAA website in the June issue of Golf Fitness Monthly.
Our human experience comes with the dimension of time, bringing aging and all the things many of us associate with it—hair loss, greying, new wrinkles, strange skin spots, and more. In golf, over time, statistically we lose power and distance.
But does it have to be like that?
I'm not sure it does.
I've heard tales of tribes that lived healthy lives for roughly 200 years until they were discovered by others and learned they weren't "supposed" to live that long. Within a generation or more, lifespans decreased to what we consider normal.
We also live in a multidimensional electromagnetic field. In the dimensional space of oneness, geometrically there is no A and B of time, only A—the now. This space is one of abundance and perfect health. We can access it, in part because we're already in and of it.
Without getting any further into the metaphysical, the point is, similar to what Morpheus said to Neo in "The Matrix," some rules can be bent, others broken. We can challenge conventional thinking to experience something different and even better.
That's partly what this article, "Defying Age: How to Maintain and Increase Distance As You Get Older", is about.
Read it here on the GFAA website in the June issue of Golf Fitness Monthly.
Living in the Space of Innovation: A Special Guest at Black Tech Saturdays Golf Clinic
June 15, 2024 22:16 Filed in: Miscellaneous
My wife, Jennifer Giroux of Giroux Impact, and I live in the space of innovation, quite literally. We intentionally chose our neighborhood of Hubbard Richard to be in the Transportation Innovation Zone (TIZ) within walking distance of Michigan Central and New Lab, in part because innovation is at our cores.
As compassionate leaders of integrity and entrepreneurs who value diversity, equity, and inclusion, and with me having roots in tech dating back to the dot-com days, it was a no-brainer to say yes when Johnnie Turnage and Alexa Turnage invited me to be their special guest at the Black Tech Saturdays golf clinic at Belle Isle Golf, incidentally also one of my favorite places in Detroit. I had a fantastic time at the event, and we were blessed with near-perfect golf weather.
A heartfelt thank you to the participants, volunteers, Rocket Mortgage Classic, and everyone who made this event possible. I was grateful for the opportunity to lend my golf expertise and look forward to many more fun events together.
Enjoy some of the amazing photos captured by Tay Ford of Heart of the City Photography!
As compassionate leaders of integrity and entrepreneurs who value diversity, equity, and inclusion, and with me having roots in tech dating back to the dot-com days, it was a no-brainer to say yes when Johnnie Turnage and Alexa Turnage invited me to be their special guest at the Black Tech Saturdays golf clinic at Belle Isle Golf, incidentally also one of my favorite places in Detroit. I had a fantastic time at the event, and we were blessed with near-perfect golf weather.
A heartfelt thank you to the participants, volunteers, Rocket Mortgage Classic, and everyone who made this event possible. I was grateful for the opportunity to lend my golf expertise and look forward to many more fun events together.
Enjoy some of the amazing photos captured by Tay Ford of Heart of the City Photography!
Still Bringing the Heat at 48: My Record 372.60 Yard Drive
48 and can still bring the heat! My 372.60 yard drive is the greatest of all time at Belle Isle Golf Detroit! Love hitting balls here on the TopTracer Range and playing the Par3 6-hole course!
From Another GFAA Win to PGA.com: Unleashing Your Swing Speed Potential
After winning my 3rd straight Golf Fitness Association of America (GFAA) award, I got asked to collaborate on a golf fitness article for PGA.com. I decided to do something centered around swing speed training to help golfers add distance to their full shots, which is statistically a crucial key to lower scores.
Check out the full article here!
Check out the full article here!
The Swing Speed Radar is Back!
February 22, 2024 18:23 Filed in: Swing Speed Radar | Swing Man Golf
Over at SwingManGolf.com, we sold the Sports Sensors Swing Speed Radar for 11 years from 2009-2019. After approximately a 5 year hiatus, we've decided to reintroduce it to the product lineup.
It's a nice price, it's portable, and it's very easy to use with just a single button. Overall, it's a fantastic product to have as part of any swing speed training program.
Get one here!
It's a nice price, it's portable, and it's very easy to use with just a single button. Overall, it's a fantastic product to have as part of any swing speed training program.
Get one here!
Winning a 3rd Straight GFAA Award
January 05, 2024 20:05 Filed in: Golf Fitness | Swing Man Golf
Today I received an email from Rick Summers, the CEO of the Golf Fitness Association of America (GFAA), informing me that Swing Man Golf and I were selected as an award winner in the Off-Course category.
This was our 3rd straight win!
Congratulations to all the other winners and thank you to Rick and the staff of the GFAA for the recognition!
If you are at all interested in swing speed training for more distance and power from tee to green on the golf course to lower your handicap potential, check out what we have to offer at Swing Man Golf.
We've been the industry leaders in this category since 2007!
Pros and fitness trainers also have the option of going through our certification program…and PGA of America professionals can earn 7 PDR continuing education points once the assessment is passed.
This was our 3rd straight win!
Congratulations to all the other winners and thank you to Rick and the staff of the GFAA for the recognition!
If you are at all interested in swing speed training for more distance and power from tee to green on the golf course to lower your handicap potential, check out what we have to offer at Swing Man Golf.
We've been the industry leaders in this category since 2007!
Pros and fitness trainers also have the option of going through our certification program…and PGA of America professionals can earn 7 PDR continuing education points once the assessment is passed.
It's My 48th Birthday!
January 04, 2024 23:45 Filed in: Birthday
It's my 48th birthday!
Jen and I started out the day with a health maintenance visit to Dr. Salame at Health First Chiropractic Clinic, I had an astrology reading with Evan Nathaniel Grim, we had dinner at The Highlands on the 71st and 72nd floor of the GMRENCEN in downtown Detroit, grabbed an evening drink at Bar Pigalle with a couple friends, and then polished it off with a post bar hang at their house.
It was a fine way to start this next trip around the sun!
Jen and I started out the day with a health maintenance visit to Dr. Salame at Health First Chiropractic Clinic, I had an astrology reading with Evan Nathaniel Grim, we had dinner at The Highlands on the 71st and 72nd floor of the GMRENCEN in downtown Detroit, grabbed an evening drink at Bar Pigalle with a couple friends, and then polished it off with a post bar hang at their house.
It was a fine way to start this next trip around the sun!