The Spin Axis Podcast

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...

How much should you really care about “average” Tour numbers? In this episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson explain why averages only tell part of the story, and why great golf lives inside windows and ranges, not exact positions. They discuss common benchmarks like pelvis rotation and angle of attack, then show how wide the playable ranges actually are, especially when club speed, ball fli...

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 b...

Before worrying about small(er) technical details, golfers need to understand the big pieces that make the swing work. In this episode, Erik introduces what he calls the “three main moves” of the golf swing: 1) lateral motion, 2) rotation, and 3) vertical arm movement. The guys discuss why mastering these movements is essential before chasing finer mechanics. The crew breaks down how p...

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 w...

In this episode, Jayson leads a discussion on why the short game and long game often demand opposite movement patterns and why trying to use one swing for both can hold golfers back. The crew breaks down how power swings benefit from shallower, speed-producing patterns, while finesse shots thrive on steeper angles, slower ball speeds, and more precise control. They explore how setup adjustments ch...

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 poo...

In this episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson sit down with Dr. Raymond Prior, a highly respected performance psychologist and author whose work helps elite athletes (and weekend golfers) understand their mental game. Dr. Prior runs BTS Mindset and works with top-tier performers across sports and the arts. He’s also the author of Golf Beneath the Surface , a book that debunks common pop-psycholog...

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...

In this lively mailbag episode, the crew tackles eight listener questions covering everything from the “P System” to why some golfers might hit draws on the launch monitor but fades on the course. Erik, Jayson, and Tyson break down counterintuitive swing concepts, discuss how alignment and perception change ball flight, and share strategies for playing better on unfamiliar courses. The...

What should you really be doing in the off-season to get better? In this episode, Erik, Jayson, and Tyson lay out a blueprint for building an effective off-season plan: one that’s structured, measurable, and sustainable. They discuss how to evaluate your game honestly, focus on weaknesses without neglecting strengths, and build a roadmap that doesn’t fall apart when one step goes wrong...

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 dyna...

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 disc...

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...

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...

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 in...

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 with...

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 i...

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 bec...

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...

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 h...

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 he...

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 w...

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-...

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 communicat...