GolfWell Podcast

It’s Open Championship week — and we’re talking all things prep, practice, and the gear moves players make when it matters most.Nico Darras is back for a wide-ranging conversation on how pros get ready for majors, the difference between sticking with your stock shot or adapting to links golf, why some players tinker with gear (and why most of us shouldn’t), and the weird things wind does to your short game in Scotland.We also dive into amateur golf trip prep — how to actually practice before your buddies' trip, why “golf shape” is real, and the unspoken rules around bags, headcovers, merch, and yes… staff bags.If you’re into golf, gear, tour talk, or just love a good rant about golf trip etiquette — this one’s for you.🎧 Follow for more conversations on golf practice, tour insights, and playing your best. Podcast & newsletter powered by GolfWell.

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Alex Ehlert, a sports scientist at PGA Frisco, delves into the world of golf speed training. He uncovers how to boost your swing speed and break through performance plateaus using biomechanics and physical conditioning. Listeners will learn why vertical jump is a key performance predictor and how to effectively structure a training session. Ehlert also discusses the importance of grip strength and the benefits of speed sticks. This is the perfect listen for golfers eager to enhance their swing and overall performance!

Dr. Nico Darras, a specialist from Golf Blueprint, dives into the world of distance wedge play, unraveling why tour pros seldom hit 60-yard shots. He challenges common myths and emphasizes strategic decision-making and shot shaping that set elite players apart. Nico shares insights on how wind and course conditions affect play, as well as the critical role of video analysis in refining technique. Packed with practical tips and engaging stories from the tour, this discussion will reshape how you approach your golf practice.

What if the 3-wood is the most overrated club in your bag?In this episode of the Golf Well podcast, I sit down with Marty Jertson, VP of Fitting & Performance at Ping, to talk about the rise of the Thriver—a shorter, higher-lofted second driver that's replacing fairway woods for tour players like Neil Shipley and Preston Summerhays.We break down:– Why the 3-wood is becoming obsolete for high-speed players– How a Thriver setup can drastically improve accuracy off the tee– Fitting insights using Ping’s in-house strokes gained calculator– Why your course strategy might need a total re-think– How to build one yourself (or get it built the right way)This might be the most under-the-radar gear trend in golf right now—and after hearing this, you might want to build one yourself.

Join Dr. Sasho MacKenzie, a leading biomechanist and co-founder of STAC, as he dives into the science of shot shaping and iron size. Discover why smaller irons aren't always superior for shot control. Learn how club kinetics and ground interaction can transform your wedge play. MacKenzie shares mind-bending analogies, like car doors affecting swing speed, and offers tips to optimize your stance for maximum speed. He also teases his groundbreaking research on ground reaction forces, pushing the boundaries of golf performance.

In this episode, Dr. Paul Wood, Vice President of Engineering at Ping and President of the Golf Science Organization, discuss insights from the recent World Scientific Congress of Golf. They delve into various research topics, including the physics of putting on sloping surfaces, technological advancements in measuring putting dynamics and the latest buzz in the research community.

After Tony Ruggiero and Smylie Kaufman reflect on their years working together – Smylie was one of the best students Tony ever had. Smylie shares the secret to his success it was his understanding of his swing and keeping his focus simple, by having three to four things he’d monitor. They dive into specific techniques and approaches, as well as the best advice he’s ever received, what the best players can do and how his greatest strengths as a player have helped him in broadcasting.

Ralph Bauer and Tony talk all things putting. He explains where he starts when work with tour players, it’s changing their perspective to understanding how they missed is due to misreading instead of pushing or pulling. He talks about his new app, and how it solves the missing part to putting better is reading the greens better. The technology accelerates what would take years into weeks. They also discuss which grip is best for your putting, and the data he found from testing twelve tour players on left to righters and right to lefters. This episode is full of ways to improve your putting, and stories from Ralph and Tony on how they’ve helped players improve over the years.

Tony has Tour Player, Akshay Bhatia, on the show this week. Tony shares what really stood out to him about Akshay. They talk about his journey and choices with turning Pro at 17 years old. The uncharted challenges he struggled with and how he’s worked through them the past two years. He talks about the amazing coaches that have helped on the journey, and what he’s learned from playing with some of the greatest in the game: Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Bill Haas, Bryson DeChambeau and many more.

Michael Jacobs - 50 Best Teacher in America by Golf Digest, and top 100 Teacher in America by Golf Magazine; shares his journey, with Tony Ruggiero to creating his own research software and what the Jacobs 3D team is working on now. Teaching for 22 years, Michael explains how his focus changed and the 2 steps to becoming a great coach if you’re just starting out. Tony and Michael also discuss the culture of golf instruction and the great modern debate of pushing vs. pulling on the back of the shaft and so much more.