The Spin Axis - Golf Podcast

How useful are Tour-player ranges and “windows” when teaching amateur golfers? Why do outliers create so much confusion? Erik, Jayson, and Tyson revisit the idea that elite players can look dramatically different while still operating within effective ranges for dozens of important movements and impact conditions. They discuss how just a handful of variables (wrist hinge, trail elbow bend, arm lift, and lead-arm adduction) can combine to produce an enormous variety of swing appearances, especially when timing is added to the equation. The key distinction is that great players may occasionally have an outlying movement paired with an effective compensation, while struggling golfers often have multiple variables outside useful ranges at the same time. Rather than trying to copy a single Tour-player outlier, the discussion focuses on using real data and broad windows to help golfers build simpler, more repeatable swings.

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

Why do so many golfers feel fine for the first 12 holes and then suddenly start struggling? The guys discuss the difference between being genuinely fatigued and simply losing focus, along with the importance of building up your ability to walk and play 18 holes rather than expecting your body to be ready without preparation. Sleep, hydration, nutrition, footwear, walking fitness, and even playing longer practice rounds all get attention, as does recognizing how your swing and decision-making change when you’re tired. Recent research supports the idea that walking substantially increases the physical and physiological demands of a round, while proper fueling and hydration can help limit fatigue and maintain performance.

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

Sponsor: Carl’s Place (https://carlofet.com) – Listen to the Episode for a coupon code!

Cooper Dossey joins the Spin Axis for a wide-ranging conversation about his path from junior and college golf to professional golf and the Korn Ferry Tour. A Baylor standout and two-time All-American, Dossey won the 2019 North & South Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2 and turned professional in 2021; he has since competed on PGA TOUR Canada and the Korn Ferry Tour. He talks about his instructional journey, what he learned along the way, how practice changes as you progress through the professional ranks, and what it takes to make the jump from simply being a very good player to believing you can compete at the highest level. With Dossey sitting 12th on the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour points list at the time of the episode, there’s also plenty of discussion about the realities of trying to earn a PGA TOUR card. Cooper’s bio on the PGA Tour site is here.

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

What does the kinematic sequence really tell us about how golfers create speed? Dr. Sasho MacKenzie returns to discuss the relationship between pelvis, chest, arms, and clubhead velocity, as well as why the classic “pelvis, torso, arms, club” sequence may not describe every elite golfer, with Erik and Tyson seeing a substantial number of players whose arms peak before the chest. The conversation also digs into “braking” forces and why slowing one segment down is often less about actively applying the brakes and more about the next segment accelerating. Sasho also explains how kinematic sequencing can be used as a teaching tool, how the Stack can be used to train sequencing, and what golfers can do when their lead-arm velocity is lower than they’d like.

Topics:

• The Kinematic Sequence
• Lead Arm Velocity and Transition
• Kinematics as a Teaching Aid
• Pelvis Sequencing
• “You Can Never Release Too Early”
• Using the Stack to Train Sequencing
• Working on Casting

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

What actually creates club speed, and does the answer change when you’re hitting an iron versus a driver? Monte Scheinblum, former U.S. and World Long Drive Champion and former Nike Tour player, returns to break down the mechanics of creating speed, starting with irons and then moving into the driver. The discussion challenges simplistic advice about “hitting down” or “hitting up” and gets into how delivery, strike, launch, spin, and the golfer’s intent interact to produce distance. With Monte’s background in both elite competitive golf and long-drive competition, this is a practical look at how golfers can create more speed without simply swinging harder and hoping for the best.

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

Every golfer has physical limitations, but too many try to force their bodies into positions they simply can’t reach. In this episode, the guys discuss how mobility, strength, and anatomy influence the golf swing, and why the best swing for you may not look like the best swing for someone else. They cover ways to work around physical restrictions, when it’s worth improving your body’s capabilities through fitness or physical therapy, and how screenings can help identify what’s limiting your motion. Whether your goal is to gain mobility or simply play your best with the body you have today, this episode focuses on building a swing that fits you.

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

Mike Granato returns to join the guys for a candid discussion about some of their biggest pet peeves in golf instruction. They tackle common myths and bad ideas, including the idea of the “effortless” golf swing, instructors relying on their own feels instead of measurable reality, demonstrations that don’t actually help students, and the growing or ongoing misuse of ground reaction forces and 2D video analysis. Along the way, they explain why good coaching should be grounded in objective data, clear communication, and an understanding of how golfers truly move, NOT just how someone thinks they move. If you’ve ever wondered why so much conflicting advice exists online, this episode offers an inside look at what experienced instructors wish would disappear from the game.

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

Mike Granato from Athletic Motion Golf (AMG) joins the podcast to examine something that’s a hot topic amongst a certain small group of instructors on social media: Stack & Tilt and its claims about what the best players actually do in their golf swings. Using 3D motion capture data from GEARS and force plate data, the discussion looks at where some commonly cited S&T measurements fail to match the actual movement patterns of elite golfers. The group breaks down four major areas: 1) lateral pelvis movement, 2) trail elbow bend, hand path, and abduction/adduction, 3) lead shoulder motion, and 4) and trail knee behavior. The guys compare the “ideal” positions often taught with the ranges and windows seen in the world’s best players. Rather than just criticizing an outdated model of the golf swing, this episode explores why understanding real data and player variability matters when building better instruction.

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

Links:

• Topic: Stack & Tilt vs. Measured Data
• Shifting Off the Ball (Away from the Target)
• Elbow Bend, Hand Path, Abduction/Adduction
• Left Shoulder Down and Left Side Bend
• Trail Knee Extending in the Backswing

In this rapid-fire equipment episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson each bring a different gear topic to the table and dive into the details behind what’s on their minds these days. They discuss the rise of mini drivers and why some players may not need a traditional 3-wood anymore, and how equipment choices should reflect modern strategy and player ability. The conversation also covers wedge fitting, including lie angle and bounce considerations, before wrapping up with the ongoing debate around putters, from zero-torque designs to finding the right length, weight, and style for your stroke.

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

Sponsor: Carl’s Place (https://carlofet.com) – Listen to the Episode for a coupon code!

Why do so many golfers plateau despite taking lessons and practicing regularly? In this fun, snake-draft-style episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson each select what they believe are the biggest reasons players fail to improve. The picks include a lack of commitment, focusing on outcomes instead of the process, making changes that are too small to create real movement, practicing without objective feedback, chasing symptoms instead of root causes, and trying to fix too many things at once. Along the way, the discussion highlights practical ways golfers can practice with more purpose and finally break through to the next level.

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