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What if the words you use as a coach are more powerful than the technical knowledge you possess? Dr. Nick Winkleman, Head of Athletic Performance and Science for Irish Rugby and author of "The Language of Coaching," revolutionizes our understanding of how communication shapes athletic performance.

After nine transformative years in Dublin following a decade at EXOS working with NFL athletes, Winkleman has crystallized what most coaches intuitively sense but struggle to implement: the power of language to unlock movement potential. "I recognized the importance of communication," he explains. "What we say to individuals had a massive impact on the quality of the relationship, but also the quality of the movement."

Through compelling research and real-world experience, Winkleman reveals why external cues ("push the ground away") consistently outperform internal cues ("extend your knees") across virtually all sports and skill levels. He describes coaching as being a "marriage counselor between the individual and their body," bridging the gap between knowing what to do and knowing how to do it. The discussion navigates the delicate balance between constraints (tools that guide movement) and verbal cues, suggesting they work best when strategically combined.

Perhaps most eye-opening is his distinction between "assembly line coaching" (where athletes depend on constant technical reminders) and true learning (where skills become automated). Quoting John Wooden, he reminds us that "I have not taught until they have learned," emphasizing that real learning only happens when athletes can perform without prompts or feedback.

For coaches, athletes, and movement enthusiasts alike, this conversation provides concrete strategies to enhance communication effectiveness, build stronger coach-athlete relationships, and create lasting skill development. Whether you're coaching golf, tennis, or any movement-based activity, understanding the language of coaching could be your most powerful tool for unlocking human potential.

Ready to transform your coaching approach? Listen now and discover how the right words at the right time can make all the difference in athletic performance.

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Manny Garcia, UGP's Director of Recovery, shares his extraordinary journey from owning a successful physical therapy business to building UGP's recovery department, exploring how saying yes to something bigger transformed his life and perspective.

• Leaving behind a thriving business to join UGP in 2018, taking a leap of faith to pursue greater personal growth
• Learning that self-accountability has limits, and how teams expose weaknesses while providing the foundation for unprecedented growth
• Discovering that self-deprecation can be productive but also self-defeating without awareness and moderation
• Building a recovery department by planting seeds in unexpected places and following processes rather than rigid goals
• Finding that behavioral change trumps technology in creating lasting physical transformation
• Recognizing that orthopedic health is the greatest predictor of quality of life in later years, yet most people won't invest five minutes daily in it
• Embracing difficulty, failure and challenging conversations as essential components of growth
• Understanding that true impact comes from unlimited caring and service to others

If you're ready to discover what's possible when you say yes to challenges bigger than yourself, come visit us at UGP or check out our website for more information about our services.

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In this episode of the Urban Golf Podcast, Dr. Will Wu discusses the importance of practice science in golf, highlighting common mistakes made by both amateurs and professionals. He emphasizes the significance of understanding practice personalities, the myth of learning styles, and the power of observational learning in skill acquisition. The conversation also delves into the efficiency of communication in coaching and the ongoing debate between internal and external focus in golf instruction. In this conversation, Leo Rooney and Dr. Will Wu delve into the importance of external focus in enhancing movement efficiency, particularly in sports like golf. We discuss how external cues can lead to smoother and more athletic movements, contrasting this with the inefficiencies of internal focus. The duo emphasizes the significance of managing expectations in golf performance, especially among junior players, and the inherent inconsistencies in skill-based sports. They also explore the balance between block and random practice, advocating for a tailored approach based on individual needs and goals. In this conversation, Will Wu and Leo Rooney delve into the intricacies of golf practice, discussing the effectiveness of different practice methods, the importance of frequency, and how to manage both physical and psychological fatigue during training. They emphasize the need for individualized practice plans that evolve and introduce the innovative Practice Coach app, which utilizes AI to tailor practice sessions based on player assessments and performance data.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Practice Science in Golf
03:02 Common Mistakes in Golf Practice
05:57 Understanding Practice Personalities
08:51 Abandoning Techniques: When and How
12:07 The Myth of Learning Styles
15:01 The Power of Observational Learning
17:53 Communication Efficiency in Coaching
20:51 Internal vs External Focus in Golf Coaching
29:40 The Power of External Focus in Movement
33:20 Optimizing Practice Through External Cues
39:19 Managing Expectations in Golf Performance
42:53 Understanding Skill-Based Inconsistency
49:34 The Balance of Block and Random Practice
56:50 Understanding Practice: Block vs. Random
58:59 The Importance of Frequency in Practice
01:01:40 Managing Physical and Psychological Fatigue
01:04:36 Optimizing Practice Sessions for Better Learning
01:08:06 The Individualized Approach to Practice Plans
01:19:08 Introducing Practice Coach: AI in Golf Training

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Dr Harry Sese Instagram
Golfletica

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Dana Dahlquist Instagram
Dana Dahlquist Website

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Follow us on Instagram: @urbangolfperformance
Follow Mac: @mactoddlife
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Website: urbangolfperformance.com

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In this episode, Mac and Leo talk about how UGP was taken from 1 team member to over 50 in the last 10 years. We discuss the tools required to grow a culture and a team beyond one person in the golf performance industry. 

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Dr. Scott Lynn, PhD is a professor in Kinesiology at Cal State Fullerton and is the Research Director for Swing Catalyst. Dr. Lynn has done a lot of his research on golf and is the leading expert on ground reaction forces in the golf swing. Swing Catalyst is a Norwegian company making force plates that measures the forces created in the golf swing in all three dimensions. 

Dr. Lynn has a unique perspective on the biomechanics of the golf swing because he's seen more swings on a force plate than any other person in the world. He's also worked with numerous top 100 players in the world to analyze how the best players create force in the golf swing. 

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Roger Steele (@roger_steele) joins us on this episode.

Roger Steele is the founder of HIPE Media and former UGP Team Member back in 2016. His vision to impact the golf industry began at a young age but didn’t come to fruition until he started his journey at UGP, which was his foot in the door to the golf industry. In this podcast, he sheds some light on the lessons and values he’s learned and since instilled in his personal life and throughout his career. As a content creator with an entrepreneurial drive, he seeks to #MakeGolfCool and now partners with big names such as Callaway, Nike, Trap Golf, Five Iron Golf, and more to promote, stylize, and advance the game.

Follow us on Instagram: @urbangolfperformance
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Website: urbangolfperformance.com

Follow us on Instagram: @urbangolfperformance
Follow Mac: @mactoddlife
Follow Leo: @leo_ugp
Website: urbangolfperformance.com

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Beau Hossler (@the_beau_show_) joins us on this episode.

Beau Hossler is an American professional golfer from Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Hossler was only 17 years old when he qualified for his second consecutive U.S. Open, finishing tied for 29th in the 2012 U.S. Open.  He then had a decorated college career at the University of Texas on one of the strongest college teams of all time. He started his professional career in 2016 and has been a prominent tour player ever since. Next season will be his 6th season on the PGA Tour and he has been making some exciting changes to his game in the last 12 months that we discuss in this episode. 


Follow us on Instagram: @urbangolfperformance
Follow Mac: @mactoddlife
Follow Leo: @leo_ugp
Website: urbangolfperformance.com

Follow us on Instagram: @urbangolfperformance
Follow Mac: @mactoddlife
Follow Leo: @leo_ugp
Website: urbangolfperformance.com