PODCAST

The Spin Axis Podcast

Erik J. Barzeski, Tyson Deskins, Jayson Nickol

sports golf

All Episodes

00:19:00

034: Understanding Force Plates and Ground Reaction...

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/10/28

How much do you really know about the forces under your feet during the golf swing? In this episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson explore how force plates reveal what golfers can’t see: the timing, direction, and magnitude of ground reaction forces that drive efficient movement. They discuss how using live feedback helps players feel and rehearse proper pressure shifts, why static weight and dynamic force aren’t the same, and how changing a player’s forces can reshape their entire

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00:17:45

033: Tour Players as “Models” for the Golf Swing

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/10/21

Should you really be trying to swing like Rory McIlroy or Dustin Johnson? In this episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson dig into the pros and cons of comparing your golf swing to those of PGA (and LPGA) Tour players. They share how instructors can use elite players’ moves (like Rory’s rotation or DJ’s trail hip action) as teaching tools without asking students to copy them outright. The hosts also discuss why 2D video can be misleading, how body type and mobility matter, and why even Tour pros often have

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00:19:54

032: The Four Rotations in the Golf Swing

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/10/14

What really rotates in a great golf swing, and how much should it? In this episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson break down the way four key things rotate that every golfer should understand: the pelvis, chest, forearms, and the shaft itself. From how the pelvis often feels more linear than rotational, to the chest’s spiral-like motion, to how forearm rotation influences shaft lean and clubface control, the crew dives into the mechanics and feel behind rotational movement. They also tackle common

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00:19:45

031: The Importance of Feedback in Practice

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/10/07

In golf, it’s not enough to just practice: you have to practice with the right kind of feedback. In this episode, we dive into why feedback is essential for improvement, how it can sometimes mislead you, and what it means to “complete the feedback loop” in your training. We explore how drills, technology, and even a coach’s silence can shape learning, and why finding the simplest, most effective source of feedback is often the key to lasting progress.Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson

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00:19:44

030: The Toughest Things to Learn in the Golf Swing

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/09/30

In this episode, we dig into three of the most challenging (yet critical) aspects of the golf swing. First, we explore the timing of the shifts: when to move pressure and mass back, and how to begin shifting forward even before the backswing is fully complete. Next, we tackle the start of the swing, including how the wrists, arms, and body coordinate to get the motion underway. Finally, we dive into the transition, that razor-thin moment when the club changes direction, momentum must be managed, and

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00:19:24

029: The Importance of GAPs (Grip, Alignment,...

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/09/23

This week we dive into three fundamentals every golfer should revisit regularly: Grip, Alignment, and Posture/Setup (GAPs). Even small mistakes in these basics can cascade into bigger swing issues. We share how the grip should sit more across the fingers than up the palm, why many golfers have a “fake strong” grip with poor thumb or heel pad placement, and how to connect the hands without leaving gaps. On alignment, we debate whether it really matters, why so many right-handed players

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00:25:12

028: The Last 20 Years and the Next 20 Years of Golf...

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/09/16

Continuing our interview with Brian Manzella, we continue to talk about the past and future of golf instruction. We question whether PGA Tour players will simply (and quickly) adjust and regain lost yardage after ball rollback. We discuss the growing availability of practical instruction data and how AI may soon enable golfers to get great swing information from a box. Brian observes how younger instructors bypass tradition in favor of outcomes and talks about individual preferences versus

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00:19:53

027: The Last 20 Years and the Next 20 Years of Golf...

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/09/09

We’re joined by Brian Manzella, a perennial Golf Digest Top 50 and Golf Magazine Top 100 instructor, with over 40 years of teaching experience and a reputation for blending science with swing artistry. In part one of our two-part conversation, we take a look back at how golf instruction has evolved. We discuss how swings shrank in the early 2000s before stretching out again when distance became a more obvious advantage, the shifting strength of grips, the Johnny Miller reverse-C finish, and

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00:21:23

026: Stats Deep Dive with Lou Stagner

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/09/02

This week we were joined by Lou Stagner, the golf data evangelist and Data Insights Lead for Arccos Golf and one of the game’s best-known voices on golf analytics. Lou has built a huge following for his ability to make data both accessible and practical for everyday golfers (even though many STILL won’t believe the stats), both through his Twitter/X account or his weekly newsletter.We dug into two of his most popular topics from the newsletter. First, from Issue 109, Lou walked us

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00:19:29

025: Mastering Distance Control in Putting (Hint: Do...

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/08/26

We dive into why distance control is the single most important skill in putting, why so many golfers struggle with it, and how to do it. All too often we see golfers take the putter back too slowly, run out of time, and then “hit” at the ball to make up for it, wrecking both speed and face control. We discuss why the old advice to “accelerate through the ball” can do more harm than good, how tempo tools like a simple metronome reveal the truth about stroke rhythm, and

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00:19:48

024: The Driver Swing vs. The Iron Swing

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/08/19

We break down what truly changes (and what doesn’t) when you switch from irons to the driver or vice versa. We agree that the differences are smaller than most think: setup leads the way (including a bit more axis tilt, often under six degrees, with the driver), while contact goals shift (no ground contact needed on a tee ball). We explore how gear effect influences misses with the larger head, why tighter spin loft matters, and how lower spin can send shots farther offline. You’ll also hear

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00:21:45

023: Behind the Scenes with a Top Club Fitter

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/08/12

We’re joined by Nick, a long-time plus-handicap golfer, former instructor, and veteran fitter for one of the biggest names in golf, to pull back the curtain on the club fitting world. Nick shares his background, the types of golfers he sees most often, and the common flaws in both swings and equipment that show up during fittings. We discuss whether players should get fit while taking lessons or wait until their swing is “ready,” the most common equipment issues like lie angles and shaft weight, and

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00:19:55

022: Listener Mailbag #1 – Shallowing, Compression,...

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/08/05

In this listener mailbag episode, we tackle five great questions from our audience. We dive into whether players should use their arms or body rotation to shallow the club, how to compress the ball with an in-to-out swing, and whether short game and putting should be recorded like full swings. We also share our favorite clubface control drills and break down the pros and cons of attending a three-day golf school. It’s a rapid-fire episode packed with insights, practice tips, and coaching

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00:20:28

021: Online Lessons vs. In-Person — Pros and Cons

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/07/29

In this episode, we compare online and in-person golf lessons. Each format has unique advantages and challenges. Erik, Jayson, and Tyson discuss the value of hands-on instruction, real-time adjustments, and subtle feedback like facial reactions to good or bad shots. They also highlights how online lessons can be more affordable, accessible, and flexible, but also more dependent on great communication and student initiative. Whether you’re choosing between lesson formats or just curious about

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00:19:47

020: How to Be a Great Golf Student

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/07/22

In this episode, we unpack what makes a great student in golf lessons. Erik leads a discussion based on his viral Twitter thread detailing 14 traits of successful students, from being open to change and having a growth mindset to showing up on time and asking thoughtful questions. Jayson and Tyson weigh in on each point, sharing their coaching experiences and emphasizing the importance of realistic expectations, exaggeration in practice, and embracing ups and downs. Whether you’re brand new to

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00:21:50

019: Grip Pressure – How Tightly Should You Hold the...

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/07/15

In this episode, we dig into the nuances of grip pressure — how hard should you actually hold the club during a swing? We challenge the old “baby bird” analogy, explore how amateurs and professionals differ in both strength and pressure patterns, and debate when in the swing grip pressure matters most. With supporting insights from leading biomechanists Dr. Sasho MacKenzie and Dr. Tyler Standifird, we unpack whether grip pressure is a limiting factor in clubhead speed, how it affects

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00:34:04

018: Chasing Scratch with Mike Shade (Instruction,...

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/07/08

In this episode, we’re joined by Mike Shade from the wildly popular podcast Chasing Scratch, where he and co-host Eli chronicle their journey to (some day) becoming scratch golfers. We talk to Mike about the emotional and practical challenges of long-term improvement, the biggest misconceptions he’s faced, and what he might do differently if he could start from scratch (pun intended). We also discuss the surprising complexity of golf, his favorite moments from eight seasons of podcasting, and

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00:18:37

017: Wrist Angles and Feedback with HackMotion

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/07/01

In this episode, we dive into the HackMotion training aid — a device that provides real-time data on wrist mechanics in the golf swing. We discuss how we primarily use it to monitor flexion and extension, radial and ulnar movement, and the timing of both throughout the swing and putting stroke. HackMotion helps students understand and refine their wrist positions from setup to impact. We also explore how HackMotion’s audio and vibrational feedback makes it ideal for home practice and online lessons,

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00:19:04

016: Practicing to Improve Our Golf Swings

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/06/24

In this episode, Tyson takes the lead and interviews Jayson and Erik about their own golf swings, how they practice, and how those personal efforts shape the way they coach others. We dive into our specific swing tendencies — like crossing the line, poor trail side loading, left wrist position, and rate of closure — and how we tackle them with limited time. The conversation covers everything from exaggerated practice feels to practical applications for our students who share the same

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00:18:48

015: In Season vs. Out of Season Changes

The Spin Axis Podcast ·

2025/06/17

In this episode, we break down how the approach to practice and swing changes shifts depending on the time of year. Should you chase big technical changes mid-season? Or save them for the off-season grind? We talk about when to focus on skill versus mechanics, how to layer in pressure and speed, and the importance of developing feels that last. We also discuss balancing “play mode” with “practice mode” and why your priorities as a golfer might look very different in January

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