Power, Speed, and Finesse: The Three Games Within Golf

Send us a textWe welcome USA Walker Cup Captain Nathan Smith to discuss the upcoming matches at Cypress Point Club, the first time this iconic course has hosted the event since 1981 and will be televised for the public to see its splendor.• Nathan Smith brings his perspective as a four-time US Mid-Amateur champion who has played in four Masters• Cypress Point's Alister MacKenzie design philosophy offers "an easy birdie or a hard-fought bogey" on every hole• The course demands strategic precision with properly played angles rather than just power• Each section of the course presents different challenges—forest holes (1-6), dune holes (7-12), and the iconic ocean holes (13-18)• The 16th hole requires a 230-yard carry over the Pacific Ocean and is considered by many to be the greatest par 3 in golf• The dune sand at Cypress is particularly penal with a "90% chance you're not going to be able to advance it very far"• Match play format perfectly suits the course design with constant risk-reward decisions where "no lead is going to be safe"• The 13th green exemplifies MacKenzie's genius with a design that "plays like six small greens" despite its modest size• Morning fog potentially giving way to afternoon wind can completely transform how the course plays within hoursTune in to Golf Channel this weekend to witness this spectacular venue and see the world's best amateur golfers compete in the 50th Walker Cup.Support the show

Send us a textBernie Najar, PGA Director of Instruction at Caves Valley Golf Club and coach to World Long Drive Champion Kyle Berkshire, shares his individualized approach to golf instruction that respects each player's unique physical capabilities and natural swing tendencies.• Working with Kyle Berkshire since age 10, respecting his strong grip and upright swing rather than forcing conventional changes• Focusing on player assessment before making swing changes to ensure physical capability• Learning from mentors including Wayne DeFrancesco, Mac O'Grady, Jim Hardy, and Mike Adams• Understanding the body-swing connection through physical screening• Increasing personal clubhead speed from 96 mph to 120 mph in his 50s through targeted training• Viewing golf as three distinct games: power, speed, and finesse• Creating simple home practice drills that require minimal equipment• Developing distance control through measured "leapfrog" drills• The importance of helping students trust the learning processFind Bernie's new book "Speed, Power, and Finesse" on Amazon and connect with him at bernienajjar.com or @BernieNajarGolf on social media.Support the show

Send us a textRiley Andrews, owner of Elite Golf Schools, explains his approach to teaching golf as a highly individualized process rather than forcing students into a predetermined method.• Understanding that different PGA Tour players have vastly different swings but achieve similar results• Teaching based on three "global laws": Woo-Woo (rhythm/tensegrity), Spirals (myofascial lines), and Geometry (club relationships)• Using fascia and spiral lines to generate effortless power rather than muscle-based movements• Focusing on ribcage rotation rather than hip rotation as the primary engine of the golf swing• Recognizing that students need different amounts of information based on their learning style• Viewing coaching as service where the student's needs come before the coach's ego• Developing each player's unique "fingerprint" while improving functional movement• Creating a proximal-to-distal mapping where body rotation leads club movement• Understanding that all elite players shallow the club but through different methods• Differentiating between passive release (angular force) and active release (alpha force)Find Riley Andrews on Instagram and YouTube at @EliteGolfSchools or visit elitegolfofcolorado.com to learn about his golf schools, virtual lessons, and new X Factor Golf online academy. Thank you to Mizzuno Golf and JumboMax grips ! 

Send us a textSwedish golf coach Petter Tarbe shares his groundbreaking approach called "Forgotten Master Moves" which focuses on rediscovering the efficient swing techniques used by golf legends from the 1940s-1960s. His research reveals that focusing on club intentions rather than body mechanics creates more powerful, injury-free golf swings that feel natural and require less effort.• Moving from positional training to intention-based motion• Understanding the key difference between base level and master level golf• Using perceived power in the club to create a "whipping" downswing• Keeping a straighter spine angle to prevent injury and create more reaction• Learning how elite players throughout history have separated feel from reality• Discovering how proper intentions create forces that automatically produce the correct body movements• Creating simpler, more effective swings that can perform under pressureCheck out Petter's work at www.forgottenmastermoves.com or search "Forgotten Master Moves" on YouTube for more information.

Send us a textWe dive deep into the subconscious barriers keeping you from reaching your golf potential. Paul Salter, performance coach and hypnotherapist, reveals how childhood programming creates an "upper limit" to success and provides practical strategies to break through mental blocks.• Our subconscious controls 95% of daily actions including performance under pressure• First seven years of life program our belief systems while we're in a "theta" brainwave state• Self-imposed mental limits are rooted in fear of standing out or changing identity• Technical proficiency (swing mechanics) matters less as you approach scratch level• The key difference between elite players and the rest is emotional regulation• Pattern interrupts like Tiger's "10-foot rule" help reset after mistakes• Visualization should include both perfect shots AND recovering from mistakes• Scratch golfers demonstrate greater acceptance and detachment from outcomes• Hypnotherapy provides access to rewrite limiting subconscious beliefs• Top performers find safety in risk-taking and competitive edgesFor more from Paul, visit https://thegolfhypnotherapist.com/ and follow @thegolfhypnotherapist on Instagram. Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe to the Flag Hunters Golf Podcast.Support the show