The Spin Axis - Golf Podcast

In this mailbag episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson tackle a wide range of listener questions, starting with how AI tools are beginning to influence golf instruction and where they help or fall short. They discuss how instructors decide how much information to give students to provide clarity without overload. The crew also shares thoughts on the growing interest in zero-torque putters and breaks down the eye-catching lead foot action seen in some elite players, explaining whether it’s a cause of speed or simply a byproduct. The episode wraps with an honest discussion about the landscape of golf instruction today and how players can find coaching that actually helps them improve. Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins Sponsor: Carl’s Place (https://www.carlofet.com) – Listen to the Episode for a coupon code to save 5%! — If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

If you want to score, you have to own your wedge distances. In this episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson break down how to build a reliable system for partial wedge shots. Whether that’s through specific swing speeds, a clock system, or calibrated feels, they discuss the importance of consistent strike, why small adjustments like grip, ball position, and swing length matter, and how different trajectories can produce overlapping yardages with different outcomes. The conversation also emphasizes feedback and repetition, along with developing a few “go-to” distances you can trust under pressure. The goal: turn wedge play into a strength by combining structure, feel, and adaptability. Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins — If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

What actually causes an overswing, and why do so many golfers struggle to control it? Erik, Jayson, and Tyson break down the most common contributors, including excessive trail elbow bend, over-rotating the pelvis, rolling the club inside, delaying wrist hinge, and swaying while tilting. They also discuss how factors like poor awareness, weak trail arm structure, or combinations of things can compound the issue. The conversation emphasizes that an overswing isn’t just “too long,” but often the result of sequencing and loading problems earlier in the motion. Understanding the root cause is key to shortening the swing without sacrificing speed or power. Original Twitter thread here. Cause #1: Trail Elbow Bend (Over-Bend!) Cause #2: Overturning the Pelvis Cause #3: Rolling the Club Inside and Lifting Late Cause #4: Wide Takeaway (Late Wrist Hinge) Cause #5: Sway and Tilt Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins — If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

While every golfer may be a “feel” player, instructors often debate whether they should prescribe feels or teach the technique of the golf swing. In this episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson dig into the age-old discussion. They explore the idea that mechanics define the movement, while feels are the player’s way of accessing and repeating it. They talk about how those feels can drift, change, and even mislead over time. The conversation also touches on internal vs. external cues and whether “no swing thoughts” is even realistic. The result is a nuanced look at how players can balance structure and sensation to improve without getting lost in either. Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins — If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

This episode features Nick Arther of Callaway Golf, joining Erik and Jayson to discuss what really matters in a modern putter fitting. The conversation explores how head shape, alignment lines, weight distribution, and grip design can all influence aim, feel, and distance control on the greens. Nick talks about the differential between face and path and how “sticky” that often is for a given player, as well as the major knob(s) you look to dial in for any putter fitting. Nick also explains why golfers are often surprised by what a proper fitting reveals, and how fitting tools and processes help uncover tendencies players didn’t realize they had. Whether you’re buying off the rack or going through a full fitting, the group breaks down the key factors that can help golfers roll the ball more consistently. Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol — If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

This episode features Dr. Sasho MacKenzie, noted golf biomechanist, consultant to PING, and creator of The Stack System, joining Erik, Jayson, and Tyson for a deep dive into putting speed control. The conversation explores research showing which stroke variables matter less than golfers think, and why speed in particular drives putting success. Sasho explains how golfers develop better speed awareness, why heads-up putting can be an effective training tool (or method!), and what actually changes when players try it. Hey, maybe you’re in the 80% of golfers who saw over a quarter stroke gained per round putting heads up? Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins — If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

Erik, Jayson, and Tyson explore the different types of golfers they see in lessons. These are not “good” or “bad” students, but players with different levels of play and practice, or players with different approaches to or ideas about improvement. From the golfer who arrives convinced they know the fix, to the player looking for a quick tune-up before a big trip, to the well-meaning but time-limited golfer (the most common!), each type brings unique strengths and blind spots to the improvement process. The conversation centers on how practice habits, expectations, and mindset shape progress far more than talent alone. Whether you see yourself as the prepared planner, the recreational lesson-taker, or somewhere in between, this episode helps you understand how to get more out of your time and effort. Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins --- If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

With winter golf trips on the calendar for many northern players, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson tackle how to approach these getaways without letting expectations ruin the experience. They discuss why most golfers aren’t “peaking” during winter trips, how to prepare your body, swing, and mindset ahead of time, and why simplifying to one swing thought can go a long way. The crew also explores how these trips can be used as a testing ground for winter work, what to prioritize when practice time is limited, and why short game and walking fitness often get overlooked. Most importantly, they remind listeners how to enjoy golf again: playing for the experience, not just the score. Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins ---- If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Erik and Tyson are joined by Monte Scheinblum, longtime golf instructor, long-drive world champion, and one of the most outspoken voices in modern instruction. Monte shares his unfiltered thoughts on the state of golf instruction on social media, why popularity often outpaces real teaching experience, and how conflicting messages have confused golfers for decades. The discussion centers on the growing importance of objective data, which parameters actually matter when helping players improve, and why feel-based teaching still needs a reality check. The episode wraps with a look at Monte’s well-known 30 Days to 300 speed program and how average golfers can pursue distance gains without wrecking their swings. Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Tyson Deskins ---- If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

In this reflective episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson each share a teaching concept they’ve moved away from, as well as why their thinking changed. Erik explains how extending the trail knee, once a common cue, doesn’t actually show up in great swings and how 2D video can be misleading. Jayson discusses why teaching golfers to “sweep” chip shots often leads to worse contact by introducing too much debris between the ball and face. Tyson breaks down why drills like the Punisher Drill don’t reflect real swing mechanics, and why modern tools and root-cause analysis have reshaped how he coaches. Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins ---- If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

This episode features Shaun Webb, co-founder of Athletic Motion Golf (AMG), known for their data-driven instruction and extensive 3D research on how the best golfers move. Shaun joins Erik, Jayson, and Tyson to discuss the Swing Coach App, a training tool built from AMG’s motion-capture database that gives golfers real-time, objective feedback on key swing positions. They cover how the app works, what golfers should focus on when practicing with it, and why narrowing your attention to one or two priorities leads to faster improvement. Shaun also shares insights on the upcoming face-on release, how the app helps players understand components like hand depth and shallowing, and how close golfers should try to get to the “ideal” numbers. Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins Sponsor: Swing Coach App (https://inf.getswingcoach.com/AMG300) – Click this link to get two weeks FREE! --- If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

How important is aim in putting… really? In this episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson dig into the myths and realities of putter alignment, starting with a surprising truth: great putters like Tiger Woods and Loren Roberts don’t always aim perfectly straight (and they don’t need to). The crew explains why many golfers unknowingly build compensations into their strokes to correct poor aim, how grip and eye dominance influence perception, and why learning to see straight is often harder than learning to putt straight. They discuss calibration tools like chalk lines and strings, the debate between learning to aim versus fitting to aim, and why “fixing aim” doesn’t automatically mean more made putts. Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins Sponsor: Swing Coach App (https://inf.getswingcoach.com/AMG300) – Click this link to get two weeks FREE! ---- If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.

This week, the crew welcomes world-renowned putting coach David Orr, founder of Flatstick Academy and putting instructor at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club in Pinehurst, NC. With decades of experience coaching Tour players and everyday golfers alike, David joins Erik, Jayson, and Tyson to unpack the biggest misconceptions amateurs have about putting. We talk about everything from distance control to stroke mechanics to poor practice habits. They dive into the difference between putting indoors and building mechanics versus putting outdoors to build skill. They talk about mallets versus blades (briefly!), and why what you see Tour players doing on the practice green isn’t always a great representation of what you should be doing. David also shares his insights on productive winter practice routines and offers perspective on why short putts make even skilled players sweat. Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol, Tyson Deskins Sponsor: Fit for Golf (https://fitforgolf.app/) – Use the code “SPINAXIS” to save 20%! ---- If you enjoyed this episode, please share that with us and your friends on Instagram @thespinaxis or Twitter/X @thespinaxis. You can also share or visit our site at https://thespinaxis.com/.