The Spin Axis Podcast

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 swing. Whether you’re an instructor or an avid golfer, this conversation uncovers how understanding the invisible side of your motion can unlock better speed, balance, and consistency.

Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins

Sponsor: Smart2Move (https://smart2move.com) – Use the code “SPINAXIS” to save 20%!

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 simpler, more efficient motions than most amateurs imagine.

Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins

Sponsor: Smart2Move (https://smart2move.com) – Use the code “SPINAXIS” to save 20%!

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 misconceptions like over-rotating the hips or neglecting the chest, and explore how a golfer’s awareness of each component can make or break consistent ball striking.

Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins

Sponsor: ShotPattern (https://shotpattern.app/spinaxis/) – Use the code “SPINAXIS” to save 20%!

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 Nickol, Tyson Deskins

Sponsor: Smart2Move (https://smart2move.com/) – The world leader in portable 3D force plates!

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 forces need to be applied in the right places… all in the blink of an eye. These three pieces represent some of the hardest moves for golfers to master, and we share our thoughts on why, and how players can start to get them right.

Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins

Sponsor: A Listener who wished to remain anonymous, who asks that you share your favorite episode with your friends.

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 tend to aim right, and how inconsistent setups between feet, hips, chest, and shoulders create trouble. Finally, we break down posture — hips over ankles, weight balanced in the front half of the feet, and avoiding the all-too-common squatty knee bend. Mastering GAPs may not be flashy, but it’s one of the quickest ways to improve consistency and ball-striking.

Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins

Sponsor: Smart2Move (https://smart2move.com/) – The world leader in portable 3D force plates!

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 method-based teaching. And yes, we spend some time talking about what we call the “extreme right-side bend swings” that are somewhat popular among the game’s younger players (spoiler: we’re not big fans).

Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol

Sponsor: ShotPattern (https://shotpattern.app/spinaxis/) – Use the code “SPINAXIS” to save 20%!

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 the ramifications of the ball rollback. We explore why today’s players need to become world class at more than just one of golf’s skills to succeed in the modern game.

Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol

Sponsor: Smart2Move (https://smart2move.com/) – The world leader in portable 3D force plates!

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 through the massive impact of being short-sided versus long-sided around the green, showing how shot outcomes and scoring change dramatically depending on where you miss. Then, from Issue 21, we examined the myth that more distance makes golfers less accurate. Lou shared the numbers on penalty shot percentage, fairways hit, recovery rates, and offline dispersion—and why strokes gained almost always improves for players who add distance.

Whether you’re an analytics junkie or just want to shoot lower scores, Lou’s insights are a must-hear.

Find Lou’s Newsletter here: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com

Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol

Sponsor: Strike Wedge (https://strikewedge.com) – A multi-use training tool for crisp contact! Use the coupon code “SPINAXIS” to save 15%!

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 practical drills for training consistent speed and stroke length. For more background, see the long-running discussion on The Sand Trap.

Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins

Sponsor: Strike Wedge (https://strikewedge.com) – A multi-use training tool for crisp contact! Use the coupon code “SPINAXIS” to save 15%!