Opinion & Analysis

The TEAM approach to maximizing your golf potential

Published

13 years ago

Feb 11, 2013

Most professional golfers have a team of supporters/teachers/helpers who are prepared to help them improve their approach to the game, maximize their potential and avoid slumps and injuries. Their teams usually include some or all of the following:

Coach/teacher/pro
Caddy
Business manager/agent
Sports psychologist
Fitness trainer
Physical therapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, etc.

Fortunately, one doesn’t have to be a professional golfer to realize the benefits of the team approach. As a physical therapist/manual therapist and athletic trainer who enjoys working with golfers of all levels, I’ve noticed that my clients/patients get great results from having the advice/instruction/treatment from professionals, all of whom are interested in helping their clients enjoy golf to the fullest without pain or injury.

In 2006, I attended a course in Orlando that was the first of its kind: The World Golf Fitness Summit. This was the brainchild of the founders of the Titleist Performance Institute: Greg Rose and Dave Phillips. Rose and Phillips combined simplicity with genius by teaming golf pros, medical professionals, and fitness experts, in the hopes that these three entities could work together. Their objective hinged on these groups exchanging ideas and meeting the common goals of each golfer — usually playing well and avoiding getting hurt.

How does the average golfer put his/her team together? Most golfers have one of the three members of the team already, usually a pro/instructor. The best way to find the other two is to visit the TPI website (www.mytpi.com) and “Find an Expert” who has a Level 3 (or at least Level 2) certification as a golf fitness instructor in your desired specialty.

Here’s a key to the experts’ abbreviations:

MP = Medical Professional
FP = Fitness Professional
JC = Junior Coach
GC = Golf Coach
PC = Power Coach
GM = Golf Mechanic
GI = Golf Instructor
GB = Golf Biomechanist

Interview your experts and look forward to seeing your golf game improve.

Coming soon: Most common golf injuries and their causes. Spoiler alert — often, injuries don’t occur from the golf swing.

Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

6 days ago

Jun 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.

I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.

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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.

With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.

Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!

Club Junkie

Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast

Published

1 week ago

Jun 4, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.

Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.

If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.

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Club Junkie

Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie

Published

2 weeks ago

May 28, 2026

Brian Knudson

On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.

I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.