After studying for two years with one of the country's top biochemists, local Scottish Academy coach Frank Scott has brought the science and motion (SAM) balance lab to the Borders.

The only one in Scotland, the lab measures weight distribution through a force pad during the player's swing and has helped pros such as Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood achieve up to 23 extra yards.

Helping launch the lab at Frank's Ashkirk base this week were former Solheim Cup winner Alison Nicholas and Falkirk golf pro Stuart Gibson, along with five of the region's most promising young golfers.

Speaking to TheSouthern at the launch, Frank said: "This is the result of two years' hard work and I'm absolutely thrilled to be able to bring that back to the Borders.

"We have a wealth of young talent here already and the lab can only improve on that."

The Hawick coach was made aware of the lab when attending a seminar given by Dr Paul Hurrion two years ago.

Since then he has been working closely with Dr Hurrion and Stuart Gibson with a mind to bringing the lab to Scotland.

Because he has spent the last two years studying the SAM, Frank is now a step ahead of his fellow coaches and is hoping he can use his knowledge to put both Borders and national golfers ahead of the game too. He has already been invited to accompany Dr Hurrion, who is contracted to UK Athletics, International Cricket Council (ICC), English Cricket Board, and British Diving, to the Belfry later this month to meet Harrington, Westwood and Paul McGinley, and hopes to continue the learning curve.

He continued: "The squad of players I am working with at the moment are committed to the game and have every chance of making it to the highest level."

Alison, who represented Europe in the Solheim Cup six times, retired in 2004 but has continued her interest in the sport through her own golf academy.

She told us: "I'm very impressed with what I have seen here today. The golfers themselves have excellent swings and good ball striking, and the lab will certainly help with problems that are difficult to see normally. I will certainly be following their careers."

Hawick golfer Ailsa Mitchell was one of the first to try out the new equipment and was very impressed with it.

She said: "I have spent about 20 minutes on the mat so far and already feel I have benefited from it."