You’ve taken lessons, watched hours of YouTube, and invested in the latest launch monitor - so why is your handicap barely moving? The golf industry has convinced you that the answer is always MORE: more technology, more stats, more swing thoughts. But according to JR Charles and Aron Schüler of ParOne, more is actually the problem. In this episode of The ModGolf Podcast, guest host Rich Katz uncovers how AVA Golf is flipping the script by turning your existing data (from Garmin, Arccos, and beyond) into a personalized prescription of video drills from Top 100 instructors. No more guesswork. No more generic fixes. Just a clear, sequential path to mastery. Tune in to discover why focusing on everything means fixing nothing, and how the right direction can finally unlock the golfer you know you can be.

Key takeaways in this episode with JR and Aron that you will discover:
The "Supply Constraint" in Golf Lessons:
With 30,000 instructors serving 5 million golfers taking lessons (and a post-COVID boom), demand far exceeds supply. AVA Golf bridges this gap by scaling instructor-led advice via AI-driven video playlists, not replacing the pro, but making their expertise accessible 24/7.

Your Game Becomes a Personalized Video Playlist:
AVA Golf ingests data from your existing devices (like Arccos and Garmin launch monitors) and analyzes root causes. Instead of generic YouTube fixes, it serves a unique, sequential playlist of videos addressing your specific faults (e.g., fixing alignment vs. swing path for a slice).

It Actually Works (Proof from the Engineer):
Aron Schuler, the developer, is also the guinea pig. He dropped his handicap from a 28 to an 18 simply by using the platform he was building. This validates that removing the guesswork leads to tangible, measurable improvement.

Three Quotable Moments from this episode:
JR Charles on the problem with modern data:
"I work in the golf industry and I work in game improvement. I don't know what half of these stats are. I have to Google them!"

Aron Schuler on the mission of AVA Golf:
"Most tools give you more data, but at AVA Golf, we're trying to give you direction. Ultimately, your game needs direction."

JR Charles on focusing your practice:
"Focus on the right things and not everything. If you focus on every single thing, you're just going to have a hodgepodge of a swing where you can barely hit the ball sometimes."

Are you more of a watcher than a listener? Then check out the AVA Golf demo with JR on The ModGolf YouTube channel. Click on this link or the image below to watch.

Episode Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Colin Weston hands the mic to guest host Rich Katz.
01:42 – Meet the Guests: Introducing JR Charles (CTO/CRO of ParOne) and Aron Schuler.
03:28 – The ParOne Thesis: Owning the video distribution path in golf (clients include LIV Golf & Golf.com).
05:40 – Why Aron Joined: From building "R10 Progress" to the vision of "Golf Intelligence."
07:49 – The Big Problem: Why more data leads to frustration, YouTube rabbit holes, and constrained PGA instruction supply.
09:57 – How AVA.Golf Works: Connecting your Arccos & Garmin accounts to get a personalized video playlist.
10:36 – The User Walkthrough: "Sign up, connect your providers, start receiving prescriptions."
11:29 – The Meaning of "AVA": Named after JR’s niece (and the acronym: AI Video Advisor).
13:18 – Real Results: Aron’s journey from a 28 to an 18 handicap using his own software.
14:23 – The Global Team: Engineers in Dallas, design in London, Top 100 instructors in Florida/Arizona.
15:38 – Case Studies: How ParOne helped LIV Golf with media distribution and Golf.com with scale.
18:44 – The Future of Golf: Why "playing golf" now means simulators, Topgolf, and the course.
23:17 – Making Golf Simple: Moving from "more data" to a "Purposeful, Intuitive, Practical (PIP)" system.
26:34 – Final Advice: Aron (Get Direction) & JR (Focus on the right things, not everything).
30:09 – Wrap Up: Colin Weston thanks Rich Katz and tells listeners how to join the ModGolf community.

🔗 Resources and Links:

JR's bio page >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/guests/jr-charles
Aron's bio page >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/guests/aron-schuler
Rich Katz's bio page >> https://modgolf.fireside.fm/guests/rich-katz
The ModGolf YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@modgolfpodcast
Join their sneak peak waitlist on the AVA Golf website: https://avagolf.com/

🎧 Subscribe and please give us a review on Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-modgolf-podcast/id1230363725

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As the creator and host of The ModGolf Podcast and YouTube channel I've been telling golf entrepreneurship and innovation stories since May 2017 and I love the community of ModGolfers that we are building.

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I look forward to seeing you during an upcoming live show!... Colin

We want to thank Golf Genius Software who have supported The ModGolf Podcast since 2019!
Are you a golf course owner, manager or operator looking to increase both your profit margins and on-course experience?

Golf Genius powers tournament management at over 10,000 private clubs, public courses, resorts, golf associations, and tours in over 60 countries. So if you’re a golf professional or course operator who wants to save time, deliver exceptional golfer experiences, and generate more revenue, check them out online at golfgenius.com.

Special Guests: Aron Schüler - Director of Engineering with ParOne Inc / AVA Golf and JR Charles - CEO at ParOne / AVA Golf.

jr charles