In Episode 226 of THE Golf Improvement Podcast, Tony Wright interviews David Orr - Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and creator of the Flatstick Academy in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

David talks about what motivated him to want to share his thoughts on how to best fit junior golfers for putters - and some of the mistakes that junior golfers can make with the putters they start with.

We discuss some of the most important starting elements for good putter fittings - Length, Lie, and Putter Weight.

We also discuss how putter weight can vary for different types of putters - blades and mallets - and about how the industry trend to creating heavier and heavier putters may not be helping all golfers.

David talks about how he is excited about the putter designs that he is creating with David Frisch at Goodwood Golf.

Finally - more than once in the interview - David talks about how getting junior golfers into well-fit putters can help them learn Coordination in their Putting Strokes.

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This Podcast Episode is sponsored by David Orr and The Flatstick Academy.

"Putting Instruction Without All Of The Bull!"       Thanks David!

     https://flatstickacademy.com/

In Episode 225 of THE Golf Improvement Podcast, Tony Wright interviews Dr. David Creswell, the William S. Dietrich II Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA.  At his Health and Performance Laboratory, he studies what makes people resilient under stress, the science of mindfulness meditation, and wellness.  He is also the Chief of Science at Equa Health - a mindfulness coaching app.

David discusses the role that mindfulness meditation can play in helping athletes and all of us develop resilience and equanimity in our lives.  He also discusses the development of the Equa Health meditation app.

A recent addition to Equa Health is the addition of a biosignal respiration model. 

The Equa Health team has created an opportunity for listeners of this podcast to use the beta version of the biosignal respiration model for 3 months!  You can sign into the Equa Health on your smart phone, and use this code - GLF4LF (golf for life!)- to have access to this version.

NOTE - you will have to complete Elite User Terms - so that the Equa Health team can anonomously use your respiration data to improve the breathing models in the app.   

Equa Health Link - https://equahealth.io/

Health and Human Performance Lab Link - https://www.healthandhumanperformancelab.com/

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This podcast episode is sponsored by David Orr and The Flatstick Academy.

"Putting Instruction Without All Of The Bull!"    THANKS DAVID!

     https://flatstickacademy.com/

Tony Wright shares some personal memories related to playing the Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh, PA - and memories about some of the past U.S. Opens played at Oakmont.  MY FAVORITE GOLF COURSE!

Here are four links to some interesting articles and a book worth reading about Oakmont...

WPGA Article - "Oakmont's Power To  Challenge The Game's Best."

https://wpga.org/nws/2025/250523-oakmonts-power-to-challenge-the-games-best.html

The book "Chasing Greatness ..." - written about Johnny Miller's final round 63 in the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Greatness-Johnny-Miracle-Oakmont/dp/045123264X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=6B796OO36172&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dFSKto8LR1tFEzw7VnvmkA.RRvjLbKXmvWKhREvgYThXOqiZ6QTF905LKiP04qRTxA&dib_tag=se&keywords=chasing+greatness+johnny+miller&qid=1748360922&sprefix=chasing+greatness+johnny+miller%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1

A great article - "Fact, Fancy, and Johnny Miller's Final Round 63 in the 1973 US Open at Oakmont." 

https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/7/a/6/d/7a6dacf1fac6f2fbd959afa2a1bf1c87/LazarusSchlossman_JMiller_63_052725.pdf

Golf Digest Article about Oakmont Restoration - "The Undercover War That Swept The Game."

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-undercover-war-that-swept-the-game

THANKS TO DAVID ORR AND THE FLATSTICK ACADEMY FOR SPONSORING MY PODCASTS AND WEB SITE IN 2025!

"Putting Instruction Without All Of The BULL!"

     https://flatstickacademy.com/

In Episode 223 of THE Golf Improvement Podcast, Tony Wright welcomes back (for the 9th time!) David Orr - Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and creator of the Flatstick Academy in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

David starts the episode by noting that there are many different ways to create a Zero Torque Putter.  He discusses some of the most obvious types of putting strokes that can benefit from Zero Torque Putters.

David shares the fascinating mods he made to a L.A.B Link.1 putter to make that putter feel and perform close to his present go-to putter.  The most important were modifying the balance point of the Link.1 putter (lighter grip), and using a Link.1 putter that has a stainless steel face.  He was able to accomplish this!

Some of the most important conclusions that David talked about in this episode were: a) Zero Torque Putters will definitely be for some golfers, b) being fit correctly for length, loft, lie, and putter head weight and balance is critical to making these putters perform well for golfers, c) Zero Torque Putters - and any putters! - will not fix poor stroke mechanics, d) because golfers create forces in their putting strokes, then also create torques in their putting strokes, e) the face onset on many Zero Torque Putters may be having a big influence on how they perform for golfers, and f) Zero Torque Putters are here to stay, and will continue to improve and provide an option for golfers who want to improve their putting performance.

To learn more about David Orr and The Flatstick Academy, click the link below...

     https://flatstickacademy.com/

THE Golf Improvement Podcast Episode 222 with Peter Sanders - who started development of the Strokes Gained Analysis process in 1989.  Peter is now the Chief Data Officer for the SwingU golf improvement app.

Peter shared some of the insights included in his "SwingU Clubhouse" blog post site that is on the SwingU web page.  An AMAZING Free Source of Golf Improvement Content for golfers of all handicap levels!

Peter shares how he started the development of the Strokes Gained Analysis process in 1989 - initially to help him improve his personal golf game.

He discusses his efforts to include his Strokes Gained Analysis methodology in the ARRCOS golf sensor system, and also to include his methodology in the SwingU app.

To find Peter's SwingU Clubhouse blog posts, click the link below...

   https://clubhouse.swingu.com/author/psanders/

To learn more about the SwingU golf improvement app, click the link below...

   https://clubhouse.swingu.com/

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 220 with Dr. Gordon Morrison!  Gordon is an Irish PGA Professional who is the head coach at Vestford Golf Club in Norway.  He recently completed a PhD in Sport Psychology and Motor Control, with a focus on Investigating The Yips In Chipping!

In this episode, Gordon shares why he chose to investigate the chipping yips.  He shares some of the interesting results he collected from conducting a literature survey and doing interviews with golfers related to the chipping yips.

He also discusses some FASCINATING 3D measurement results related to the movement patterns often have who experience the chipping yips.  Finally, he discusses some of the very effective "interventions" that he used to help some golfers who had the chipping yips to be able to vastly improve their chipping performance.

Gordon welcomes anyone who wants to learn more about his research to get in touch with him!  His email address is [email protected], and his Twitter / X handle is @golfgordon.

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 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!!

Congrats to Roane State Community College Men's Golf Team alumni Seth Robinette, Caleb Tipton, Kieran McCarthy, and Louie Stott!  

All four played in the first ever Roane State teams to play in the NJCAA DII Nationals the past 2 years, and the team placed 6th in the 2023 Nationals and 5th in the 2024 Nationals!

Seth, Caleb, and Kieran will now go on to play NCAA DI Golf at Radford University in Radford University in Radford, VA - and Caleb will go on to play NCAA DII Golf at Lee University in Cleveland, TN.

Congrats for Four Amazing Young Men!