The 18STRONG Podcast

Today I am very excited to announce our guest; Trillium Rose. Trillium Rose is a certified teaching professional and Head Director of Instruction at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. An innovator and life-long learner, her knowledge of teacher effectiveness, mechanics and practice training have proven highly successful. She has improved the games of over 1,000 individuals who rely on her cutting-edge expertise, and honest, straight- forward approach. Her area of expertise is in helping golfers develop their skills as quickly as possible and help them practice efficiently.  She is highly skilled at designing and implementing curriculum’s that develop golf athletes with targeted practice plans. She is an active member of the community and contributes her time to the First Tee and the Wounded Warriors to help provide access to golf to those who would otherwise not have the opportunity. Trillium Rose’s Background She was recently honored as the 2017 Middle Atlantic PGA “Teacher of the Year,” and awarded a “Best Teacher in State” distinction Trillium has been elected as one of “America’s Best Young Teachers” by Golf Digest Trillium’s background includes five seasons working for and training under Jim McLean at the Jim McLean Golf School at Doral, focusing on swing mechanics She is a graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University with a master’s degree in Motor Learning and Control She also has a formal education in the science behind how people acquire and adapt skills Trillium has lectured on motor learning and control, been on numerous radio shows, appeared on television and has published been in top golf periodicals Highlights from this Episode This episode is about fast tracking your improvement as a golfer, which is the premise of Trillium Rose’s new book. We talk about some of the key concepts that will be included in the book, that every golfer should be focusing on. The problem with splitting your attention between 4-5 techniques or teachers. In Trillium’s opinion, you should practice one training philosophy at a time, so that you can focus and hone in on that. How to make sure that the path you do choose, is actually the right path. Focusing and honing in on the wrong path can be detrimental to a golfer’s game, so we get into how to mitigate that risk. What Trillium would suggest to golfer’s who are short on time, or don’t have many opportunities to actually get on the course or the range as much as they’d like to. Some drills and warm ups that anyone can do prior to playing, to help maximize their performance during a round. Some apps and technologies that Trillium recommends to her students. There’s no need to get too technical, but some handy, easy to use apps can give you a ton of insight into how you’re actually swinging and playing. What would be your “walk-up song” to the tee? Ram Jam – Black Betty What has you most excited moving forward? My BodiTrak Golf System, which is a portable mat to record balance and weight distribution information and Center of Pressure (“COP”) during the golf swing. Where to find Trillium Rose: Website: http://trilliumrose.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrillGolf Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrilliumRose/ To continue the conversation and ask any questions you may have, head over the 18STRONG Facebook page. Episode Sponsors PGATour Mobile App: http://www.pgatour.com/mobile.html SuperSpeed Golf: Superspeedgolf.com Connect with 18STRONG Facebook Page       Twitter Profile       Instagram Profile Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!!  

Today I am very excited to announce our guest; Matt Unthank. Matt is Director of Training and Education at Crossover Symmetry – a medically designed rotator cuff and scapular strengthening system engineered to enhance shoulder health and performance. The programs were developed using the most current research and EMG data to identify the best exercises and techniques to train the scapular stabilizers and rotator cuff. Crossover Symmetry provides gear to athletes, coaches, and therapists around the world. They are currently used by professional athletes in the MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and over 75% of major NCAA Division I Universities. Crossover Symmetry is also used a principal training tool among the best CrossFit athletes and gyms in the world. Matt Unthank’s Background Matt grew up playing soccer and cycling – not traditionally areas related to the shoulder which is where most of his work is focused now He received his Undergraduate degree at Texas A&M in exercise physiology, and then later his Master’s degree at TXU Fortworth Matt was a personal trainer for some time before realizing how he wanted to apply his education to the world of fitness He had a number of issues with his shoulder during his fitness career, and came across Crossover Symmetry. After following their program, he was able to remedy his shoulder issues, and eventually came onboard in their training and education department Highlights from this Episode How Matt got into Crossover Symmetry, and how it relates to shoulder mobility. Shoulders can be one of the most problematic parts of the body for a lot of athletes, and Crossover focuses in on fixing this. Where most shoulder issues stem from. Most people’s shoulders go inactive for 90% of their week, and are then put under extreme load and movement when going out to play golf or pitch in baseball. This is a problem, and we talk about a few ways folks can think differently about how they use their shoulders on the course and off. Some of the common misconceptions that athletes have about shoulder rehab, and how Crossover takes a slightly different approach. Shoulder mobility doesn’t stop at the rotator cuff, which we get into. The main components of the Crossover Symmetry program, being: activation, recovery, strength, and mobility. Each component is important in its own right, and needs to be thought about individually. How golfers should think about shoulder recovery after a round of golf or a day at the driving range. Where to start if you experience a ‘nagging’ shoulder. Many injuries can be prevented by just respecting the body part when you start to feel something coming on, and resting the muscle and joint. Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore? Happy Gilmore What would be your “walk-up song” to the tee? Top Gun Theme Song Who would you like to spend a day on the course with, and where? Jordan Spieth at Augusta  What has you most excited moving forward? Building out the training platform into more sport-specific training. Where to find Matt Unthank and Crossover Symmetry: Website: crossoversymmetry.com Instagram: @crossoversymmetry Twitter: @CrossoverSymtry Facebook: Crossover Symmetry To continue the conversation and ask any questions you may have, head over the 18STRONG Facebook page. Episode Sponsors PGATour Mobile App: (PGATour.com/mobile) Get live scoring and stay up to date with all of your favorite players every weekend! Find the app on iOS, Android, Blackberry, etc Get live scoring and stay up to date with all of your favorite players every weekend! Find the app on iOS, Android, Blackberry, etc RADroller: (RADroller.com) The greatest self soft-tissue and myofascial release products in the world!! Connect with 18STRONG Facebook Page       Twitter Profile       Instagram Profile Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

Today I am very excited to announce our guest; Michael Manavian. Commonly known as the Bodybuilding Golf Pro. Michael has dedicated his life to improving performance in many arenas.  Through his aspirations of becoming a professional golfer, Michael has spent over a decade researching and implementing how to best develop champion athletes. His passion quickly branched out from golf to include coaching champions in bodybuilding, physique competitions, CrossFit, cycling, running, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, and hockey.  By combining his vast knowledge of weight training protocols with individualized nutrition regimens, he is able to elicit the desired biochemical response to produce champions. In this episode, Michael shares some of his strategies for fueling the golfer to maximize performance on the course. Michael serves as a partner of the Greenwich DX Sports Labs and is our Director of Golf and Performance Nutrition. Michael Manavian’s Background Michael earned his B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Professional Golf Management from Methodist University. He turned professional in 1997 and has been a professional golf instructor and coach since. His bodybuilding titles include three class wins, two best poser awards, and a runner up in the IFBB North America Championship. He assisted in the development and marketing of a nootropics supplement to be used by PGA Tour professionals and various other professional athletes, looking to legally improve their focus and cognitive skills under the new WADA rules. His clients have won: PGA Tour events, Low Club Professional honors at the PGA Championship, PGA Section events, National Championships, achieved IFBB professional status and won many regional and local bodybuilding and figure competitions. Highlights from this Episode Some of the things that people have to think about when it comes to nutrition. We talk about the details of what your eating plan should look like, as you come up to an event. During the week, and on the day. Spoiler: you should not be hungry. Michael’s general recommendations when it comes to amounts of macro nutrients you should be eating. We talk about the differences for amateurs, athletes, body builders, elderly etc. across carbs, fats, and proteins. A few ‘healthier’ substitutions if you don’t want to fill up your calorie count with burgers, fries, and shakes. How to handle hydration. Carbohydrates actually hold a lot of water themselves, and water shouldn’t be ‘guzzled’ down in one go. Have steady portions of water throughout the day in order to stay well hydrated. We also talk about how you can add creatine to hydrate your cells internally. How branch chain amino acids can help you on the golf course. 70% of all muscle requires BCAAs, so it’s quite important to have the right amount if you’re trying to build or maintain muscle. The importance of sodium, in the right amounts. Even on cold days, you can sweat more than you think you might, which ‘leaks’ out a lot of your sodium. Electrolyte drinks can be a good way to maintain your sodium levels. Where to find Michael Manavian: Website: http://greenwichdxsportslabs.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/manavian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manavian/ Michael has been on the show previously, on episode 18.   To continue the conversation and ask any questions you may have, head over the 18STRONG Facebook page. Sponsors: Skratch TV: SKRATCHTV.com SuperSpeed Golf: SuperSpeedGolf.com Connect with 18STRONG Facebook Page       Twitter Profile       Instagram Profile Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!!

Today I am excited to hang out with Tony Gentilcore, strength coach, and fitness writer extraordinaire!  Tony is an expert when it comes to the deadlift and basically anything regarding picking up heavy things (oh and Star Wars). So naturally, I wanted to discuss with him why some people aren’t on board with the deadlift and what we should consider when thinking about using it in our programs, and also why he lifting “heavy” things might be one of the most important things you can do for your game and your long term health. Tony loves coaching and loves that he gets to work with such a wide variety of clientele on a daily basis. “I love getting people stronger and helping them buy into the mentality of setting performance-based goals.” He lives in Boston with his wife Lisa, and son Julian. Tony Gentilcore’s Background Tony grew up an active kid, playing baseball, basketball, soccer, wrestling, swimming, kickball, and a ton of bike riding. He graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland, Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Health Education and a concentration in Health/Wellness Promotion. He played two years at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY where he was named Most Valuable Pitcher in both his Freshman and Sophomore years, and also made All-Conference and All-Region his sophomore year. Tony was one of the founders of Cressey Sports Performance with another very well known strength coach, Eric Cressey, where he worked with professional athletes on a regular basis. Tony currently trains in his own facility in Boston, MA, CORE and spends a good majority of his time writing for his blog TonyGentilcore.com and other major fitness publications. Highlights from this Episode Tony’s thoughts on the deadlift. There is a lot of conflicting information about whether deadlifts are good or bad for you, which we get into. Some dos and don’ts of deadlifts that everyone should be taking into account. There are a number of ways to approach it, and every person is going to be different depending on their skill, age, available equipment etc. Why back pain is most often not related to your back. It is more likely to be a problem with another part of the body not ‘doing its job’, and the back has to pick up the slack. The importance of lifting heavy. Getting stronger is going to help with a lot of problems to do with injuries and overall fitness. Lifting big weights may cause injury if done incorrectly, but being weak can be more problematic. This absolutely applies to golf, as 18 holes can cause a fair amount of strain on the body. Some of the crossovers between baseball players and golfers, from a training perspective. There are some surprising similarities which we get into. Some tips for people with poor posture and how to fix them. The really important parts to train for posture, are your backside muscles. Glutes, erectors, hamstrings etc. These are the muscles that are most affected from sitting down all day. How much time people should be spending in the gym each week. Tip: at least 3 days/week of strength training. Consistency is key. Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore Happy Gilmore What would be your “walk-up song” to the 1st tee? Mariah Carey – Dream Lover (to mess with people) Who would you like to spend a day on the course with, and where?  My grandfather at the hometown golf course. What has you most excited moving forward? Keeping the momentum going. Parting words of advice?  You have two ears, two eyes and one mouth – use them in that order. Where to find Tony Gentilcore: Website: http://tonygentilcore.com/ Tony’s writing on other platforms: http://tonygentilcore.com/articles/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonygentilcore1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonygentilcore The Complete Shoulder and Hip Blueprint: http://completeshoulderandhipblueprint.com/?hop=tonyg18 Episode Sponsors PGATour Mobile App: (PGATour.com/mobile) Get live scoring and stay up to date with all of your favorite players every weekend! Find the app on iOS, Android, Blackberry, etc Get live scoring and stay up to date with all of your favorite players every weekend! Find the app on iOS, Android, Blackberry, etc RADroller: (RADroller.com) The greatest self soft-tissue and myofascial release products in the world!! Connect with 18STRONG Facebook Page       Twitter Profile       Instagram Profile Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

Today I am very excited to announce our guest, Andrew Rice. I was first introduced to Andrew through his content on Revolution Golf, and have really enjoyed his style of teaching and his emphasis on not getting overcomplicated with your golf swing. As an instructor for over 25 years and an avid user of current teaching technology, Andrew is definitely on the cutting edge of instruction, but I feel he really excels in being able to take all of the data and fancy tools and relate them in an understandable way to the golfer. In this episode, I had the chance to ask Andrew some basic questions about the game and the golf swing like ball flight, hitting fades and draws, and many others that I hope will answer some questions for you and help us all play better golf. In December 2009, Andrew released his self-written, self-published book “It’s All About Impact”. It has sold over 10,000 copies.  The book received testimonials from Ian Poulter, Nick Price, Ian Woosnam, Ian Baker-Finch, and Conrad Ray (NCAA Coach of the Year). In 2014 and 2015 Andrew was named one of the Top Five Golf Instructors in the State of South Carolina by Golf Digest. Andrew Rice’s Background Andrew is originally from South Africa and came to the US to play golf in college. Andrew is the Director of Instruction at The Club at Savannah Harbor, located at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa. Andrew is a Revolution Golf Staff Instructor, a TrackMan Master and one of nine TrackMan University Partners in the world, He is also a Swing Catalyst Ambassador Highlights from this Episode We talk about some of the pros and cons of going to a golf school’/workshop over a couple of days vs going to see your local golf on a regular basis. Both approaches can be beneficial. What Andrew is working on research-wise, and some of the interesting results he has found. Andrew is a consultant to the engineering department at Ping, and so he has great insight into the world of sports equipment. We talk about some average benchmarks for male golfers that Andrew works with. Things like age, handicap, swing speed etc. Measurement of particular aspects is extremely important so that golfers can know where they need to improve and what to work on. Some of the simple changes people can implement to create a quick improvement in their game. We also talk about some of the main mistakes a lot of golfers are making, and how to correct them. How golfers can benefit from having a slight draw or fade in their drive. Andrew’s thoughts on using single or multiple clubs around the green. Andrew’s views on this subject have changed over the last few years, which we get into. Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore Caddy Shack What would be Andrew Rice’s “walk-up song” to the tee? Rolling Stones – Start Me Up Who would you like to spend a day on the course with, and where? Bobby Jones at St Andrews What has you most excited moving forward?  Not getting comfortable with what I’m doing, and ramping up our Coach Camp program. Parting words of advice?  Nobody becomes an expert overnight. The only way to improve is to get out there and start working on the aspects of your game that matter, time over time. Where to find Andrew Rice: Website: http://www.andrewricegolf.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/andrewricegolf Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewRiceGolf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewricegolf Revolution Golf: https://www.revolutiongolf.com   Sponsors: Skratch TV: SKRATCHTV.com SuperSpeed Golf: SuperSpeedGolf.com 18STRONG Resources Get a copy of the Best-Selling Book: “The Golfer’s Guide to a Bogey Proof Workout” Get your very own 18STRONG t-shirt Check out the 18STRONG Complete At Home Warm-Up Video and Cheat Sheet Check out the 18STRONG Flexibility Guide Check out the 18STRONG e-Book and Video Series: 5 Yards in Less Than 5 Minutes Connect with 18STRONG Facebook Page       Twitter Profile       Instagram Profile Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!!

Golf is hard.  And there are a lot of components that contribute to making it difficult.  Typically, in order to improve, we resort to working on our technique, getting in better shape, fighting off nagging injuries, or other methods that often take a long time and a lot of work.  But there is a secret weapon that can have an immediate impact on your game and prevent you from breaking down at the end of your round. This week on the podcast I am talking all about hydration for golf and why it might be one of the most important, but overlooked components that could change your game. My recent trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama allowed me to play a couple of rounds of golf in the hot, humid Gulf weather.  This got me thinking about staying hydrated on the course and wondering about some of the physiology of what is actually going on when we sweat and how it affects our performance. So in this episode, I break down the basics of hydration/dehydration by looking at: What is actually happening in the body The main substances and chemicals that contribute What dehydration can mean for your golf game Share some of the performance products that I use/recommend Give you 7 tips for fighting dehydration to keep you from giving up sloppy strokes Below is the outline of notes for the show, including links to any resources mentioned during the show and other online articles/studies that were used to gather information. The Golfer’s Guide to Hydration (Outline) The body needs water for survival. (If water is the gas, electrolytes are the motor oil). It delivers good stuff like oxygen, nutrients, and hormones while removing wastes and other junk. Regulates body and cellular temps Definitions: Hydration: the condition of having adequate fluid in the tissues of the body Dehydration: an abnormal depletion of body fluids (the body needs more fluids than are present or being input to function normally) What’s normal hydration? Body’s water % (can only really measure with a body fat scale using bioelectric impedence analysis, which sends electrical signals through the body) Men 50-65% Women 45-60% Urine: light yellow emptying bladder 5-8 times per day What is dehydration? 2 kinds Loss of Water (Hypernatremic or hypertonic) Electrolytes (Hyponatremic or hypotonic) Both (isonatremic or isotonic) Levels Mild >2% (of total bodily fluids) Moderate >5% Severe >10% * emergency * Signs of Dehydration stomach cramps muscle cramps spasms, dizziness fatigue nausea weakness confusion headaches dry mouth Electrolytes: minerals/substances in the body that become ions in a solution and are able to conduct electricity that help the body perform their normal functions. They work both independently and with each other doing things like moving glucose and other nutrients into your cells, and helping to remove waste products and extra water from your cells. Sodium: 136-145 mEq/L Potassium: 5-5.3 mEq/L Magnesium: 1.5-2.5 mEq/L Chloride: 97-107 mEq/L Calcium: 5-5.5 mEq/L Why is this important? Some parts of the body rely more on the “electrical functions” Brain Nervous System Muscles The brain is 85% water. Not drinking enough water means not enough blood flow. If the brain doesn’t get circulation, your ability to focus and process on the course decreases. The discs in your back are mainly water. Staying hydrated means more support for the spine. When the discs compress (lose water) it can put more pressure on the small intervertebral joints and even close down the space where the nerves exit. BACK PAIN Hydration for Golf and its Effects on Performance Study (by Smith, Newall, and Baker 2012) looked at 7 low handicap golfers and took them through several skills and cognitive tests Hit 30 balls to given targets measuring accuracy and distance control Also shown 30 different golf location images and asked to judge distance 7 days later with 12 hours of restricted beverages (determined to be mildly dehydrated: up to 3%) Decreased motor control and cognitive ability This was the first study to show that mild dehydration can impair distance, accuracy, and distance judgment during golf performance. The end all be all is pure clean water. The best type of water is natural Spring water.  For a much deeper dive into the topic of water, listen to episode 73 of The Model Health Show with Shawn Stevenson. Plastics (not so much heat, but light allows chemicals to leech into drink) Traces of pharmaceuticals in tap water Different types of quality sports drinks on the market (mention a couple of brands) The Right Stuff– high sodium Amino Vital– added amino acids for focus Designs For Health*- solid blend of electrolytes *Designs for health has been our preferred provider for pharmaceutical grade supplements for years (ie. multi vitamins, fish oil, etc).  You can find the entire line of products in our nutrition shop. Celtic Sea Salt: an organic, unrefined sea salt that has over 80 trace minerals that will help replenish electrolytes. Typical Sports Drinks: Gatorade/Powerade (not the same formulation as for the Florida Gators) most people (especially kids) drink these as if they are a health drink Be aware of serving sizes. Many times the serving size is 8oz. but it is a 20oz. bottle Amount of sugar ranges from 14-36g which is the equivalent of 3-9 teaspoons of sugar! Alcohol/Caffeine: (diuretic) alcohol blocks the release of a hormone needed for water reabsorption (ADH: anti-diuretic hormone) Kidneys don’t reabsorb the water, they excrete it in urine. Plus simply affects cognitive function, decision making, and “Sober up” by drinking coffee?! Sparkling water: Does hydrate as well as water, but less likely to drink as much.  Also, refer back to the quality argument. There are possible risks of damage to teeth enamel, especially w/ citrus flavored ones. 7 Tips for Better Hydration for Golf Drink first thing in the morning Higher quality water Drink ½ your bodyweight (lbs.) in ounces (drink more if you are working out or golfing) Eat more fruits and veggies (on a regular basis) these are packed with electrolytes Top hydrating foods Coconut Water Celery Watermelon Cucumber Kimi Bell peppers Citrus fruits (oranges at soccer games) Carrots Cultured Dairy (kefir/yogurt) Pineapple Broccoli/cauliflower spinach Limit alcohol/coffee (or at least up the water intake) Use some sort of high-quality electrolyte and possibly amino supplement during physical activity Refuel after exercise (drink extra water/recovery drink after exercise or golf) Articles/Resources Mentioned in this Episode*: Robert Yang Article on Hydration The Model Health Show with Shawn Stevenson (episode 73) Robert Yang interview on 18STRONG (Episode 42) The Right Stuff USA Amino Vital Designs for Health Electrolytes *Other Reference Articles on hydration for golf are located at the bottom of the page.   Episode Sponsors: PGATour.com NEW Players’ Pages: Check out the new streamlined layout and new info on the players’ pages at PGATour.com RAD Roller: RADroller.com Connect with 18STRONG Facebook Page       Twitter Profile       Instagram Profile Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected! Reference Articles: http://golfhabits.com/2013/05/20/why-you-need-to-seriously-consider-drinking-while-playing-golf/ http://www.agedefyinggolf.com/hydration-improves-golf-performance-in-golfers-over-50/amp/ http://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Abstract/2012/11000/Effect_of_Acute_Mild_Dehydration_on.23.aspx http://www.mytpi.com/articles/health/hydration_basics http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/10/16/are-sports-drinks-junk-food.aspx http://www.hammernutrition.com/knowledge/electrolyte-replenishment-why-its-important-and-how-to-do-it-right/ https://draxe.com/electrolyte-imbalance/ https://draxe.com/protecting-yourself-from-dehydration-in-the-hot-summer-months/ https://draxe.com/how-to-stay-hydrated/ http://www.amino-vital.com/p-30-focus-zone.aspx http://www.livestrong.com/article/309477-the-effects-of-alcohol-caffeine-on-dehydration/ http://theshawnstevensonmodel.com/best-water-filter-best-bottled-water/ https://greatist.com/eat/essential-amino-acids-only-facts-you-need-to-know http://www.mytpi.com/articles/health/nutrition_a_golfer’s_competitive_edge

I’m super excited to bring Adam Young back on the show this week.  Adam has taught golf all over the world, has a best-selling book The Practice Manual: The Ultimate Guide for Golfers, and now has created an online training course to help golfers all over the world become better ball strikers in The Strike Plan. In this interview, Adam helps us understand some of the basic, yet often misunderstood, priorities when it comes to hitting the ball better and more consistently.  He also shares some of the strategies that they have been implementing with students to practice much more effectively. About Adam Young Adam is a teaching professional that has worked with golfers of all levels Leadbetter trained teaching professional Originally from the UK, currently teaching golf in Santa Barbara, CA at Don Parsons Golf Academy Adam’s website www.AdamYoungGolf.com is one of the most read golf instruction blogs on the web. Adam is the author of the best-selling book The Practice Manual: The Ultimate Guide for Golfers Adam has created a new online course called The Strike Plan, which is a structured guide with online videos to make you a better ball striker Highlights from this Episode with Adam Young: Adam shares a new model of coaching that they have been using very successfully revolving around group practice sessions. The group dynamic allows for more focus on strategy and structured practice vs the typical technique-based individual sessions Adam explains the “2 glasses” analogy to convey the lessons of increasing your amount of potential and reaching your current potential We discuss some of the concepts  in his new program The Strike Plan including: Face Strike Low point The gear effect We also dig deeper into the 2 factors that Adam says are the most important when it comes to ball striking: where you strike the face of the club where and how deep you strike the ground We talk about the driver and how you can possibly add 20-40 yards simply by hitting the ball in a different spot on the face of the club And finally, we discuss why the pros hit the ball so differently than most of us and why what we are doing to mimic them is completely wrong!! Where to Find Adam: Website: AdamYoungGolf.com The Strike Plan: The Strike Plan Episode Sponsors: PGA Tour Mobile App: PGATour Mobile App watch live action and keep up on the latest happenings in golf on your laptop, iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Blackberry! SuperSpeed Golf: Superspeedgolf.com Connect with 18STRONG Facebook Page       Twitter Profile       Instagram Profile Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

Today I am very excited to announce our guest, Adam Stevenson. Adam is a PGA Professional and TPI Certified Fitness and Medical Coach. He has a focus on assessing what a golfer’s body is capable of doing so that together with the golfer’s interest, he can help them find the safest and most effective way possible to achieve their goals of improving their game and their lives. He’s passionate about learning and has an ever growing library. He’s constantly attending educational seminars, workshops and pretty much anything that he feels can help cure his curiosity. Adam’s second passion is coaching and sharing his knowledge with others. Adam was also on the podcast a while back to talk about off-season preparation in episode 19. Adam Stevenson’s Background Adam is the premier golf instructor in Denmark (evn though he’s Canadian ;-). Adam enjoys working with golfers of all ages and levels of expertise, and his approach is to look at every golfer as an individual to try to help them achieve their goals as effectively and efficiently as possible. Adam is the Author of the “Golfers Handbook: Save your golf game and your life”, and his new book “My Mind Body Golf” Adam is also a public speaker, doing workshops and lectures introducing concepts of athletic movement for golfers of all ages and levels of expertise. Highlights from this Episode Some of the biggest things that hold people back, from a mental perspective. Adam believes that a lot of it has to do with ‘self-image’, and how golfers view themselves in relation to their expectations. The importance of breathing when it comes to golf. Having a proper breathing practice can help golfers become more mindful, concentrate better, and remove distractions. We talk about a few tips that anyone can incorporate to help their breathing practice. How to deal with emotions when playing golf. A lot of it all comes down to mindfulness, and not letting the ups and downs of the game get to you. How Adam identifies limitations and flaws in a golfer’s game, and how he approaches fixing them. It often depends on the specific limitation, but Adam explains how seemingly tiny changes can have a huge effect. We discuss the concept of a pecking order when it comes to training: Fixing physical limitations Strength Speed The importance of sleep and a few hacks people can implement to ensure they’re getting a good night’s sleep. Hint: having a pitch black room can significantly improve your sleep. Why good nutrition shouldn’t be complex. The key is to eat whole foods and fresh produce. The more you prepare your own food, the better. What would be your “walk up song” to the tee? Survivor – Eye of the Tiger  Who would you like to spend a day on the course with, and where? Friends and colleagues. Parting words of advice? The golf swing is built from the ground up, but the game of golf is played from the head down. Where to find Adam Stevenson: Adam’s book: http://mymindbodygolf.weebly.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyMindBodyGolf/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf Twitter: https://twitter.com/adamstevenson3 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamstevensongolf/   Episode Sponsors: PGA Tour LIVE: PGATourLIVE.com watch live action from the early morning rounds on Thursday and Friday on your laptop, iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Blackberry! RAD Roller: RADroller.com Connect with 18STRONG Facebook Page       Twitter Profile       Instagram Profile Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!

Today I am very excited to announce our guest, Kelly Starrett. Kelly is someone I’ve been wanting to have on the show since day one. He is a coach, physical therapist, author, speaker, and founder of Mobility WOD, which has revolutionized how athletes think about human movement and athletic performance. Kelly’s clients have included Olympic gold-medalists, Tour de France cyclists, world record-holding Olympic Lifting and Power athletes, Crossfit Games medalists, ballet dancers, military personnel, and competitive age-division athletes. He truly is one of the masters in his field. He has been featured on the Today Show, The Tim Ferriss Show, Men’s Health, Greatist, Breaking Muscle, and much more. Kelly Starrett’s Background Kelly’s background as an athlete and coach includes paddling whitewater slalom canoe on the US Canoe and Kayak Teams, and leading the Men’s Whitewater Rafting Team to two national titles and competition in two World Championships. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2007 from Samuel Merritt College in Oakland, California. Before starting his own physical therapy practice at San Francisco CrossFit, one of the first 30 CrossFit affiliates, he practiced performance-based physical therapy at the world-renowned Stone Clinic. In his current practice, Kelly continues to focus on performance-based Orthopedic Sports Medicine with an emphasis on returning athletes to elite level sport and performance. He has been a guest lecturer at the American Physical Therapy Association annual convention, Google, the Perform Better Summit, the Special Operations Medical Association annual conference, police departments, and elite military groups nationwide. Kelly has one of the most viewed YouTube channels in the world of fitness and human performance, Mobility|WOD, which all began when he committed to shooting a video a day for 100 days back in 2010. Highlights from this Episode Kelly’s background, how he got into the world of fitness and mobility, and how he started his world class fitness blog which has been featured in just about every fitness publication there is. Some of the biggest issues Kelly sees where people are missing the boat on improving performance as they get older. We talk about how people can improve performance and prevent injury by implementing a proper warm up routine. The importance of mobility training for golfers. Given the nature of the speed and power of the golf swing, it is so important that your tissue, joints, muscles etc. are able to handle the load that is constantly running through them. The importance of a good night’s sleep. Athletes (and people in general) should be getting at least 7 hours of decent sleep every night to ensure proper performance. A great way to ensure you get a good night’s sleep is to be active throughout the day – walking 10 kilometers per day is a great place to start. How people should think about working on their performance (whether in golf or otherwise). It all starts with range of motion. After that, it’s important to think of strength and fitness training as a skill. If you are doing deadlifts, you should be thinking about how you can improve that movement every time you do it (just like you would a golf swing). Kelly’s position on using ice for both training and injury treatment. Spoiler: Ice should not be used to treat injuries (see more in episode 114 with Gary Reinl). Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore? Caddy Shack What has you most excited moving forward into 2017? We’re changing the format of the MobilityWOD program so I’m looking forward to making that the best it can be. Where to find Kelly Starrett: Website: https://www.mobilitywod.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mobilitywod Twitter: https://twitter.com/mobilitywod YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sanfranciscocrossfit Kelly’s Organization – Stand Up Kids: http://standupkids.org/ Sponsors: Skratch TV: SKRATCHTV.com SuperSpeed Golf: SuperSpeedGolf.com 18STRONG Resources Get a copy of the Best-Selling Book: “The Golfer’s Guide to a Bogey Proof Workout” Get your very own 18STRONG t-shirt Check out the 18STRONG Complete At Home Warm-Up Video and Cheat Sheet Check out the 18STRONG Flexibility Guide Check out the 18STRONG e-Book and Video Series: 5 Yards in Less Than 5 Minutes Connect with 18STRONG Facebook Page       Twitter Profile       Instagram Profile Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!!

Today I am very excited to announce our guest, Dean Somerset.Dean is an exercise physiologist and personal trainer in Edmonton, Canada. He works with a wide range of clients, from Paralympic champions to surgical recovery patients, and everyone in between. He has lectured around the world to other trainers, physical therapists, and chiropractors on topics devoted to improving mobility, strength, and function. Dean takes the approach that training is easiest once you know where to start.  He is the creator of Ruthless Mobility and Co-creator of The Complete Shoulder and Hip Blueprint with well-known strength coach Tony Gentilcore. I’m excited to bring Dean on this week to talk about getting real results.  Sometimes we tend to get in the mode of more variety is better, as opposed to simply sticking to the basics and getting ruthlessly good at them.  Dean explains why there are certain rules we should abide by and where we should be putting in most of our time and effort in order to play better golf and simply function as better humans. Dean Somerset’s Background Dean has written for major publications like Men’s Health, Women’s Health, T-Nation.com, Bodybuilding.com, and a slew of other websites and print media. Dean holds a BSc. in Kinesiology from the University of Alberta He is a Certified Exercise Physiologist, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist, and a Medical Exercise Specialist Highlights from this Episode The importance of consistency in training. Dean is of the opinion that you should be practicing the fundamental movements and exercises you need for your sport, over and over again until you have absolutely nailed it. That is the only way to make progress with those movements. We get into some of the key components to performance that every athlete should be working on. Mobility, strength, and ability to recover. The anatomical differences in certain individuals, and what it means in the gym. It can often mean there is no ‘perfect’ movement for a particular lift or movement. For example, a perfect deadlift for one person might look different for another depending on their anatomy. Back pain, and how people should be thinking of pain management from a training point of view. It’s important to first identify what the trigger is for that pain and then address that issue. The world’s leading expert on back pain says that just about every professional golfer has back pain, purely because of the way they move with the golf swing. Dean’s take on over training. At a certain level of any sport, injuries are going to happen. If you push the limits of human performance, something is eventually going to break. It is important to not view this as an obstacle to training more, but thinking more about how to train. Caddy Shack or Happy Gilmore?  Happy Gilmore What would be your walk-up” song to the tee? War – Why Can’t We Be Friends Who would you like to spend a day on the course with, and where? Mark Twain at Augusta, Pebble Beach, or the Old Course at St Andrew’s What has you most excited moving forward into 2017? We just released Complete Shoulder and Hip Blueprints, and I want to spread the message as much as possible. Where to find Dean Somerset Website: http://deansomerset.com/ Complete Should and Hip Blueprint: http://deansomerset.com/products/complete-shoulder-hip-blueprint/ Ruthless Mobility: http://ruthlessmobility.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deansomersetpublic/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dsomerset1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/deansomerset Episode Sponsors: PGA Tour Mobile App: Find the version you need HERE! (iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Blackberry) RAD Roller: RADroller.com 18STRONG Resources Get a copy of Jeff’s Best-Selling Book: “The Golfer’s Guide to a Bogey Proof Workout” Get your very own 18STRONG t-shirt Check out the 18STRONG Complete At Home Warm-Up Video and Cheat Sheet Check out the 18STRONG Flexibility Guide Check out the 18STRONG e-Book and Video Series: 5 Yards in Less Than 5 Minutes Connect with 18STRONG Facebook Page       Twitter Profile       Instagram Profile Join The 18STRONG Movement! If you listened to the very end of this episode, then you know that there is a movement happening in golf and fitness.  To join, simply follow this link to the private Facebook group and ask to join!  Once you’re accepted, you are officially part of The 18STRONG Movement!  Introduce yourself to the group and let’s get connected!