118: Lifting Heavy Won't Make You Stiff: 3 Strength Training Myths Busted

There are three myths about strength training that are keeping golfers from doing the single most impactful thing they can do for their game. In this episode, I'm busting all three and I'm not holding back.Myth one: lifting heavy will make you stiff and hurt your swing. Myth two: golfers need to train completely differently than other athletes. Myth three: you need to constantly change your program or your body stops responding. All three are wrong. And believing any one of them is costing you distance, durability, and decades of great golf.Here's what you'll learn:— Why resistance training through full range of motion actually IMPROVES flexibility, not hurts it — The real cost of NOT strength training: roughly 10% club head speed loss per decade — about 100 yards gone by age 70 — Why squats, deadlifts, presses, and pulls are just as important for golfers as they are for any other athlete — The Bosu ball rant: why standing on unstable surfaces training rotation looks cool on Instagram but doesn't transfer to performance — The six foundational movement patterns every golfer should train — Why "muscle confusion" is a myth and the greats get great by repeating what works over and over again — Progressive overload and reps in reserve: two simple tools to know if what you're doing is actually working — Why the desire for a "new program" is usually just boredom, not a plateauIf you've been avoiding the weight room because you think it'll hurt your golf game, this episode is going to change your mind.🔗 Free Home Assessment: https://fairwayperformancevipcoaching.com/self-assessment📲 Instagram: @shaun.diachkoff  🌐 Website: www.fairwayperformance.comHave questions, feedback or suggestions for future episode? Click here to send me a text!

In this episode, Shaun breaks down the three most common pre-round warm-up mistakes that are costing golfers performance and increasing injury risk and what to do instead.What you'll learn:Mistake #1: Relying on static stretching as your warm-up. Holding stretches before explosive activity tells your muscles to lengthen and relax the opposite of what you want before generating speed and force. Research shows decreases in power output, reaction time, and force production after static stretching in isolation.Mistake #2: Thinking that hitting balls IS your warm-up. Hitting balls on the range is your warm-up to play. Your body needs a separate physical warm-up first dynamic movement and tissue work to get blood flowing, joints mobile, and muscles activated. Without it, you're asking cold, stiff tissue to perform at a high level from swing one.Mistake #3: Doing the same warm-up every single day. Your body is different today than yesterday. If you flew, sat at a desk for 10 hours, did heavy squats, or slept weird your body has different needs today. Your warm-up should be customized based on how your body is moving RIGHT NOW, not some generic routine you've done for a decade.Why dynamic warm-ups (leg swings, hip circles, trunk rotations, arm circles) prime the nervous system for performanceHow tissue work with a lacrosse ball or foam roller on restricted areas can dramatically improve how you feel from the first swingWhy your warm-up should look different from the guy next to you on the range his restrictions aren't your restrictionsThe power of reassessing every two weeks so you always know what your body needs5-7 minutes of targeted warm-up work is all it takes to feel like a completely different golfer on that first teeKey takeaway: There are two warm-ups one for your body and one for your golf game. Most golfers skip the first one entirely. Do both, in that order, customized to YOUR body on THAT day, and your front nine will transform.Resources mentioned:Free Home AssessmentFairway Performance website: www.fairwayperformance.comEpisode 109 — Why 95% of Golfers Are Ticking Time Bombs Instagram: @shaun.diachkoffHave questions, feedback or suggestions for future episode? Click here to send me a text!

In this episode, Shaun takes on one of the most hyped and most misunderstood trends in golf fitness: overspeed training. This isn't an anti-speed-training episode. It's a pro-doing-things-in-the-right-order episode.What you'll learn:Why speed training tools CAN work but only for about 5% of golfers who are physically ready for themThe two baseline requirements for safe speed training: adequate rotational mobility in all four rotary centers, and power output metrics that meet or exceed thresholds relative to current club head speedWhat happens when a "ticking time bomb" golfer grabs a speed stick the compensation patterns and injury risksThe bald tires analogy: why flooring it without the physical foundation is a recipe for disasterReal injuries caused by premature speed training: back injuries keeping golfers off the course for months, elbows requiring medical intervention, lingering shoulder issuesWhy the marketing around speed devices is compelling but misleading and how to see through itThe difference between case studies and actual science (control groups, blinding, large sample sizes)The grip strength trend: why the data across a very large sample shows no meaningful direct relationship between grip strength and club head speedHow to approach everything on social media with curiosity ask "how do we know?" and "show me the data"When speed training IS appropriate: after passing mobility screens, after building adequate strength and power, as the final layerWhy tracking speed every swing during training sessions dramatically improves results (9 out of 10 who track vs 2 out of 10 who don't)Key takeaway: Speed training is the cherry on top, not the whole sundae. Mobility first. Strength second. Speed last. Do it in that order and you'll gain speed safely and permanently. Skip the first two and you're rolling the dice with your body.Resources mentioned:Free Home AssessmentFairway Performance websiteEpisode 111 — The 3 Ways Every Golfer Can Add 10 Yards in 10 WeeksHave questions, feedback or suggestions for future episode? Click here to send me a text!

In this episode, Shaun breaks down one of the most common and most misunderstood injuries in golf trail elbow pain and explains why treating the elbow is almost always a waste of time.What you'll learn:Why your elbow is the victim, not the criminal — 9 out of 10 times the pain source is somewhere elseThe anatomy of what's happening at impact: flexion, ulnar deviation, and why the inside of the trail forearm gets hammeredThe medial epicondyle what it is and why it gets overloadedThree areas to investigate instead of the elbow: the bicep/tricep (above), the forearm and FCU muscle (below), and the lead hip (opposite side)The biomechanical chain: how limited lead hip internal rotation forces the trail arm to compensate for power that should come from the lower bodyWhy icing, bracing, and massage-gunning the elbow only provides temporary reliefHow to use a lacrosse ball on the inside of the bicep and tricep to release tension pulling on the elbow from aboveThe FCU (flexor carpi ulnaris) the hidden forearm muscle that commonly refers pain to the elbow and wristReal-world results: golfers resolving months and years of elbow pain in 2-4 weeks by fixing the root causeThe detective mindset every golfer should adopt: check above, check below, check the opposite hipKey takeaway: Stop chasing the pain. Your elbow didn't fail something else in the chain stopped doing its job and your elbow picked up the slack. Find the root cause, fix it, and the elbow takes care of itself.Resources mentioned:Free Home Assessment Fairway Performance website: www.fairwayperformance.comEpisode 109 — The #1 Reason Your Back Hurts After Golf Have questions, feedback or suggestions for future episode? Click here to send me a text!

In this episode, Shaun sits down with Mark Williamson better known as The Golf Yogi a former professional golfer turned golf fitness and performance specialist based in Scottsdale, Arizona.Mark played professionally for nearly a decade, competing across the Gateway, Tight Lies, Hooters, Pepsi, Golden State, and U.S. Pro Golf Tours, racking up four wins and three course records. But it was a chance introduction to yoga dragged along by his wife in 2003 that changed the trajectory of his career. After five years of practice and 200 hours of teacher training completed in just 27 days, Mark became The Golf Yogi, and he hasn't looked back.Today, Mark blends yoga, strength, mobility, and golf instruction into a holistic coaching approach that helps golfers of all levels move better, stay out of pain, and play the game longer. He also works alongside renowned coach Martin Chuck at the Tour Striker Academy, where his yoga and mobility sessions are a core part of every two-day programme.In this conversation, Mark and Shaun go deep on the philosophy behind his work, what it really takes to get golfers moving better, and why awareness — not any single training method — is the secret weapon most golfers are missing.In This Episode You'll Learn:Why Tiger Woods' physical transformation in the early 2000s changed how an entire generation of pros approached fitnessHow Mark's wife accidentally launched his yoga career by dragging him to his first class in 2003The real difference between flexibility and mobility — and why confusing them could be hurting your gameWhy Mark's number one coaching principle is awareness, not any specific exercise or methodWhat a first session with Mark actually looks like — from his simple 20-foot warmup walk to TPI screeningThe 'sniper rifle vs. machine gun' approach to training and when each is actually appropriateHow to get comfortable being uncomfortable — and why that's where all the improvement happensWhy Mark renamed his men's yoga class 'Men's Stretch' and immediately went from zero attendees to a sold-out class of 25What has actually changed in how elite golfers think about their bodies and longevityThe fishing analogy that perfectly captures the mindset every golfer needs for long-term improvementThe one yoga app Mark recommends to every complete beginner — no mat requiredWhat's coming up for Mark this summer at the Tour Striker Academies in Bend, OregonConnect with Mark Williamson — The Golf Yogi:Instagram: @thegolfyogiTour Striker Academy: tourstrikeracademy.comHave questions, feedback or suggestions for future episode? Click here to send me a text!

In this episode of the Fairway Performance Podcast, I'm joined by Julien Raya head mental coach at Mental Golf Type (MGT) to talk about something most golfers completely overlook: why stress, not mechanics, is the real reason your game falls apart when it matters most.Julien works directly under MGT founder John Weir and has spent the last five years helping golfers at every level from 20-handicap amateurs to touring professionals — understand their mental game through the lens of personality type.Here's what we cover:What Mental Golf Type (MGT) actually is and how it works (think Myers-Briggs, but built for golf performance)Why up to 80% of practice time is being wasted — and what to do insteadThe biology of choking: what's literally happening in your brain and body under pressureThe 16 mental golf types across 4 personality facets: Energy Management, Perception, Evaluation & StructureWhy "aim small, miss small" is great advice... but only for 75% of golfersThe "Lemon & Lemonade" framework: the smartest way to measure a successful roundThe breathing technique you can use RIGHT NOW before your next round to lower stress and shoot lower scoresHow the biggest stressor in golf often hits before you even tee offA word for golf parents: why your reaction on the course may be wrecking your kid's gameWhy process beats outcome and how Julien tracks it with a mental scorecardWhether you're an amateur golfer trying to break 90 or a competitive player looking to hold it together on the back nine, this episode will give you a completely new way to think about what "playing your best" actually means.🔗 Links & Resources:Mental Golf Type Instagram: @mentalgolftypeTake your free Mental Fitting Quiz: mentalgolftype.comBook a free 30-min MGT Discovery Call with JulienHave questions, feedback or suggestions for future episode? Click here to send me a text!

If you've ever said "I'm just getting older" to explain why you're losing distance, this episode is your wake-up call. That belief is costing you decades of great golf and it's flat out wrong.The typical golfer loses about 10% of their club head speed per decade after 40. That's roughly 30 miles an hour over 30 years. About 100 yards of carry. That's the difference between playing golf and watching golf. But here's the thing that rate of decline is based on the average golfer who does absolutely nothing to combat it. And you don't have to be that golfer.In this episode I cover:— Why inactivity not age is the real enemy stealing your distance — The data on what actually happens to club head speed as you age (and why most of it is preventable) — How golfers in their 60s and 70s are GAINING speed, not just maintaining — The three things every golfer over 40 needs to be doing to stop the decline — Why rotational mobility is the first domino and what happens when you let it fall — Why strength training is the single most impactful thing the over-50 golfer can do for their game AND their health — The importance of tracking your numbers so you know whether you're winning or losing — Why "there's no status quo in golf" you're either getting better or getting worseThis isn't a pep talk. This is backed by data across thousands of golfers. Age is not a sentence. It's a choice. And the golfers who choose to do something about it are playing better at 65 than they did at 55.Take the free assessment (link below) and find out where you stand today. Five minutes. No excuses.🔗 Free Home Assessment: https://fairwayperformancevipcoaching.com/self-assessment📲 Instagram: @shaun.diachkoff 🌐 Website: https://www.fairwayperformance.comHave questions, feedback or suggestions for future episode? Click here to send me a text!

There are only three ways to increase your swing speed. That's it. Three. Everything else is just a variation. In this episode, I break down all three rotational mobility, strength and power, and speed-specific training and more importantly, I give you the exact order you need to tackle them in. Because most golfers do it backwards, and that's why they either get hurt or never see the results they should.Here's what you'll learn:— Why 9 out of 10 golfers have speed locked inside their body that they can't access (and how to release it) — The "governor on the engine" effect that's neurologically limiting how fast you can swing — How golfers have picked up 15, 20, even 30+ yards from mobility alone — no speed sticks, no gym work — Why strength is what makes mobility gains stick (the "trees growing back in the jungle" analogy) — The three things strength does for your golf game that nothing else can replicate — Why speed training is the LAST piece of the puzzle, not the first and who it's actually appropriate for — The step-by-step roadmap: assess → mobilize → strengthen → then speed train This applies to every golfer regardless of age, handicap, or current fitness level. At least one of these three things probably two is relevant to you right now.Take the free assessment (link in show notes) to find out exactly which one to start with.🔗 Free Home Assessment: https://fairwayperformancevipcoaching.com/self-assessment📲 Instagram: @shaun.diachkoff 🌐 Website: https://www.fairwayperformance.comHave questions, feedback or suggestions for future episode? Click here to send me a text!

Are you spending $150 a lesson and not improving? It's probably not your instructor's fault and it's not yours either. The problem is that your body can't physically do what your instructor is asking it to do. In this episode, I break down why the body has to come first before golf lessons, how fixing your physical limitations turns a 2% return on instruction into a 15-20% return, and the exact first step you need to take before booking your next lesson. If you've ever been frustrated that lessons aren't sticking, this one's for you.🔗 Free Home Assessment: https://fairwayperformancevipcoaching.com/self-assessment📲 Follow on Instagram: @shaun.diachkoff🌐 Website: www.fairwayperformance.comHave questions, feedback or suggestions for future episode? Click here to send me a text!

In this episode, Shaun breaks down why the vast majority of golfers are physically unprepared for what their swing demands and what to do about it.What you'll learn:The three profiles of golfers: unicorn, balanced, and ticking time bomb — and which one you probably areWhy that stiffness, soreness, and slow distance loss is NOT a normal part of agingThe four rotary centers that determine whether your body can safely handle your swing speedWhy "just getting older" is a false belief that's costing you years of great golfThe free 5-minute home assessment that gives you a clear picture of where your body standsHow golfers in their 60s and 70s are GAINING distance, not losing itThe realistic timeline for measurable improvement (hint: it's weeks, not years)Key takeaway: The body is the only club you use on every single shot. If it's broken, nothing else matters not your new driver, not your lessons, not your putting drill. Assess first. Fix the foundation. Then everything else gets better.Resources mentioned:Free Home Assessment: Fairway Performance websiteRemote coaching program application: Connect with [YOUR NAME]:Instagram: @shaun.diachkoffEmail: [email protected] questions, feedback or suggestions for future episode? Click here to send me a text!