The Golf Improvement Podcast (Tony Wright)

The Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 184 - Welcome back for the 8th time! - 40 plus year German PGA Professional Mike McFadden (he is also a professional clubfitter!).

We discuss the definition of Skills, and some of the basics for how to create them.

Mike then shared some of the ways he personally helps golfers to develop a variety of important golf skills.

One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE INTERVIEWS!!

To contact Mike by email - mikemcfadden@hotmail.de

This podcast is the second Golf Improvement Podcast episode that includes highlights from podcasts done in 2022!!  

It includes valuable information from THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episodes 194 through 200.

    TONY

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 194 - Welcome back, for the 7th time!, David Orr - Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and creator of the Flatstick Academy in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

David shares his concept that it is easier to learn something new rather than unlearning something old.  He talks about some of the poor mantras that golfers have about putting - including "straight back straight through," "swing the putter like a pendulum," and more.

He strongly suggests golfers need to focus MORE on where they are related to the important putting skills - like Read, Speed, and Line.

His Final Words in this interview - "Pay more attention to your process, and to what you feel rather than the putting results you get - and Take Inventory of your putting skills to guide you on the things you need to improve."

To learn more about the amazing Flatstick Academy, click the link below....

   https://flatstickacademy.com/

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Interview with golf coach and motor learning expert Peter Arnott, who - with co-author Dr. Ian Renshaw - wrote the recently released eBook "Swing Like Tiger."

Peter talks about why he and Ian wrote "Swing Like Tiger," and the process they used for collecting the information in it.

To read great podcast posts from Peter's "Practice Thinkers" Podcast, click this link...

   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/practice-thinkers-podcast/id1650828697

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 192 with Class A PGA Teaching Professionl John Hobbins - Director of Instruction at the Greenside Golf Academy in New York City, New York.

He shares some of the most important things golfers Do Not Understand about the value of creating great Distance and Speed Control in their putting.

He notes that One True Way to "Take The Break Out Of A Putt" is to Use A Bulldozer And Shovel (ha!).

John's final question for Any Golfer who wants to putt better - If You Are Not A Very Good Putter, Why Is That?

To learn more about John and the Greenside Golf Academy, click the link below...

   https://www.greensidegolfacademy.com/

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Interview with Carnegie-Mellon University Head Men's and Women's Coach Dan Rodgers.

The CMU Men's Team won the NCAA DIII National Championship in 2023.  And the CMU Women's Team won the NCAA DIII National Championship in 2024.

These were the first ever national championships won by a CMU athletic team in the history of the CMU athletic program!

To learn more about CMU Men's Golf - CLICK HERE!!

To learn more about CMU Women's Golf - CLICK HERE!!

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 221 interview with Dr. John Paul Guidry with Guidry Golf and Sports in Mandiville, Louisiana.  John Paul is a Dr. in Physical Therapy and is a Titleist Performance Institute certified fitness professional.  He has helped hundreds of golfers, and has published an excellent book "Becoming A Lifelong Golfer."

He shares the concepts he has used, over the past 17 years, to help golfers improve their games and fitness.  He also discusses why he has emphasized that golfer do Strength Training 2 to 3 times a week to make these improvements.

He also discuss the roles of training for power and mobility, and eating enough protein to improve fitness and golf performance.  Finally he shares a little about the different programs he offers to help golfers of ALL ages.

Learn More about Dr. Guidry and Guidry Golf and Sports by clicking the link below...

   https://www.guidrygolfandsport.com/

Purchase "Becoming A Lifelong Golfer" by clicking the link below...

   https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Lifelong-Golfer-Hitting-Playing/dp/B0CWNF1983/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3CGK41N225TN5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.34FZ5r-2wVgTMsNm5VxIJS1oCpNFXoW5YOTZlXqpKLblszT1MaGedX2I4UPr0Z3Pi3Bbgfu-4CoqFEQ73X-ct_3m8zwPNoLgGy78lmFIMtvdmip5ALzlbbw4_Q8Ukpops88JZfU40qHT2B8QTslsfw.KAx6V1cXZsWIVMBSEami9H50UgwFvCFL0iXYYqMqrW0&dib_tag=se&keywords=becoming+a+lifelong+golfer&qid=1741701208&sprefix=becoming+a+lifelong+golfer%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-2

This podcast is sponsored by David Orr and The Flatstick Academy. "Putting Instruction Without All Of The BULL!"  Learn more about The Flatstick Academy by clicking the link below...

   https://flatstickacademy.com/

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 178 with - welcome back! - Paul Smith, from Perth, West Australia.  Paul has coached many sports, including golf - has been a club fitter and golf instructor - and was a close friend of Carey Mumford, one of the pioneers of Sports Psychology.

Paul shares a little history of some of his early discussions with Carey about Clear Keys.  Paul discusses what Clear Keys are, and some of the major benefits that golfers can achieve from using them correctly.

He also shares some of the most common mistakes golfer can make in creating creating and using Clear Keys.

If you want to have a direct conversion with Paul, you can talk with him by email at smipau@iinet.net.au.

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 183 with Dr. Rob Gray - a professor at Arizona State University who does research related to perceptual-motor skills, and who recently published "How We Learn To Move."

Rob shares why he decided to write this book.

He discusses why we seem to have learned poor concepts related to learning to move and creating new skills.

He also talks about some of the most important concepts he shares in the book. 

My favorite chapter in the book was Chapter 10 - Rob's perspective on what it means to be Creative - and how Constraits are important in the creative process.

To learn about Rob's Perception and Action Podcast....

   https://perceptionaction.com/

And to buy "How We Learn To Move" ...

   https://www.amazon.com/How-We-Learn-Move-Revolution/dp/B09KDSQD9Q/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1639439688&sr=8-2

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episode with Jason Kuhn - a former Navy Seal and D1 baseball player - and someone who has had amazing success helping athletes overcome the yips!

It was an honor to do this amazing interview with Jason!

Jason shares his life story, how he personally overcame the yips in baseball, what he believes are the major causes of the yips, and elements of the approaches he uses to help athletes overcome them.

Here is the link to Jason's Yips Free web site...

   https://www.yipsfree.com/

Here is the link to Jason's Stonewall Solutions web site...

   https://www.stonewall-solutions.com/

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Interview with Dr. Rob Gray, a professor at Arizona State University.   Rob does fascinating research on perceptual-motor skills and he recently published his second book "Learning To Optimize Movement."

The focus of his second book is "Creating A Relationship With Your Environment." 

Here is a link to where you can purchase "Learning To Optimize Movement" ...

   https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Optimize-Movement-Athlete-Environment-Relationship/dp/B0BPQYCRCS/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1675890294&sr=8-1

This Golf Improvement Podcast episode is the first of two podcasts that includes highlights from episodes done in 2022.

Listen to highlights from THE Golf Improvement Podcasts 197 to 193!

    TONY

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 200 with Four Great Professional Clubfitters!

     Bert Reich - Gooder Custom Golf Clubs

     Keith Chatham - PrecisionFit Golf (web site no longer active)

     Tom Wishon - Wishon Golf

     Roy Nix - McNix Golf

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Interview with Roane State Men's Golf team head coach Chris Griffin and assistant coach Bo Harris.

The men's golf team won the District Tournament, and qualified for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament for the first time ever in 2023.  Hard Work Pays Off!

To learn more about the Roane State Men's Golf program, click the link below...

   https://rsccathletics.com/sports/mgolf/index

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Interview with Neurologist Erik van Wensen, creator of the Sports Dystonia Center and Foundation in Holland.

Eric shares his general views of what the yips are and how they are created.  He also talks about what he believes aer some potential characteristics of cures for the yip.

To read The Dutch Yips Study paper that he authored, click this link...

   https://tremorjournal.org/articles/10.5334/tohm.636

The Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 182 - Welcome back putter fitting guru Bruce Rearick from Burnt Edges Consulting in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Bruce shares the importance of understanding the role of Vision In Putting - how it is important to see the line for a putt - and how we might not be doing this as well as we think!

He describes that I and others call the "Bruce Rearick Stick Test."  How to set it up, what it tells you, and how to use it.

Line On The Ball - when can it help you, when can it hurt?  And what you need to do to use a Line On The Ball correctly.

Subscribe to receive Bruce's Substack posts using the link below...

   https://substack.com/@brucerearick

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 191 with Peter Sanders - creator of Strokes Gained Analysis in 1989 - and NOW Chief Data Officer for the SwingU golf stat app.

Peter shares the technical background that lead him to start to develop Strokes Gained Analysis in 1989 - and helped him to improve his personal golf game!

He defines what Strokes Gained Analysis is, and why traditional statistics - like number of putts per round and fairways hit - do ot really help goflers learn how to improve their golf games.

Learn more about the SwingU Golf App in the link below...

   https://swingu.com/

Tony Wright shares an update on his successful hip surgery / golf / life since the last podcast episode he posted in July 2024.

He also share is list of FAVORITE BOOKS READ in 2024, and his FAVORITE GOLF IMPROVEMENT PODCAST Episode of 2024.

AND...

THE Golf Improvement Podcast is sponsored in 2025 by...

 David Orr and The Flatstick Academy!

"Putting Instruction Without All Of The BULL!"

For More Information on The Flatstick Academy CLICK THIS LINK!

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 176 with Paul Smith from Perth, West Australia.  Paul has coached many sports, including golf - has been a club fitter and golf instructor - and also was a close friend of Carey Mumford - one of the pioneers of Sports Psychology.   Paul authored a book in 2020 titled "4D Pyramid Coaching for Sports and Business."

Paul and I talk about the wonderful relationships we had with Carey Mumford.  We also discuss the importance of understanding Your Personal Style - and how different styles influence how you can play your best golf.

Finally, Paul talks about how he came to write his new book "4D Pyramid Coaching."

If you want to have a personal conversation with Paul about Clear Keys - contact him by email at smipau@iinet.net.au.

To purchase "4D Pyramid Coaching," click the link below...

https://www.amazon.com/4D-Pyramid-Coaching-Sports-Business/dp/1504323548/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31QTSFXHV5GTB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._JnCtV_KfxQQA2eKceo33kFVGETmSwr5zm0OZTYNAcfPHl1W7kITnCdX2brAyWqpHUA5MaYmDGOpUR5PWnpdwjuNz9KmS4eLZfzWJmZ-hrNyaecVwiLgw0NAxOR4x4B8.YdvX4GtqOTb0QTavxAFbnr8wmvpLXXlOxjiVv8EB3x4&dib_tag=se&keywords=4D+pyramid+coaching&qid=1741031500&sprefix=4d+pyramid+coaching%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-1

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Interview with putter fitting and putting instruction guru Bruce Rearick - from Burnt Edges Consulting in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Bruce shares the most important things golfers need to know about Putter Shaft Flex - and how they relate to how you create YOUR putting stroke!

To subscribe to Bruce's Substack blog, click the link below...

   https://brucerearick.substack.com/

THE Golf Improvement Podcast welcomes back, for the 8th time!, David Orr - Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, and creator of the Flatstick Academy in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

David shares how he applies his 7 Putting Improvement Principles to his efforts to improve his skiiing performance.  He discusses the value of how he has immersed himself in Deep And Deliberate Practice to improve his skiiing.

To learn more about The Flatstick Academy, click this link...

   https://flatstickacademy.com/

THE Golf Improvement Podcast interview with Dr. Sasho MacKenzie - Sports Biomechanist - Professor, Dept. of Human Kinetics, at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia - and co-founder (with Marty Jertson from Ping) of the amazing STACK System.

Sasho talks about how the development of the STACK Putting App came about, and who it was included within the STACK Swing Speed Improvement App.

AND - STACK Putting is now available as a standalone App!

Learn more by clicking this link...

   https://www.thestacksystem.com/

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Interview with Scott Young, author of the new book "Get Better At ANYTHING: 12 Maxims for Mastery."

Enjoy reading some details of our podcast discussion in my web link to this interview.

Here is the link to Scott's web site...

https://www.scotthyoung.com/

Here is the link to purchase "Get Better At Anything" on Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Get-Better-Anything-Maxims-Mastery/dp/0063256673/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TMIVI2RHN2UT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jjypdH2-TM6rF2QQ2zY1oiGXTNaBkTOzX-AQCLy9jRHuUrhzrmS-N6XmhwtaLX90sEqCROQ7ACrqdx89v65B4g.azGcT378tZ3oL6i9nK6DS46FxflxmGvj256JdCj-ji0&dib_tag=se&keywords=get+better+at+anything+12+maxims+for+mastery&qid=1716577039&sprefix=get+better+at+anything%2Caps%2C115&sr=8-1

CHANGING GOLFER'S LIVES - ONE GOLFER AT A TIME!

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 199 interview with Kent Osborne from Ontario, Canada - author of the eBook The Golfer Who Developed A Scratch Attitude.

A major premise of Kent's book is that golfers cannot THINK positie when they feel NEGATIVE about their games and shots - he discusses the importance of this premise in this interview.

Click THIS LINK to connect with Kent!