More from Joey's iPhone Cam...

Getting the guys ready in the Quail Hollow fitness center here in Charlotte, NC this week. Here's a Thursday morning shot from my iPhone with Ian Poulter and Coach Noss.

Joey D checks in from Charlotte, NC

Here we are in Charlotte, North Carolina this week; one of my favorite tour stops. Great city, wonderful people and full of some pretty hardcore golf fanatics and real sports fans. The attendance at this event is always huge. It used to be the Wachovia, but has since been renamed the Quail Hollow Championship.

Tiger Woods is in the field this week, which is always a big deal as it forces the rest of the field to raise their game. Competition drives everything out here. These guys want to win every week and they're all capable of it. Having Tiger back forces everyone to kick things up a notch.

We had a few great celebrity ProAms this week. Tiger was paired up with Peyton Manning, which drew a solid crowd. I saw some of the ESPN guys out there, as well.

The weather again looks unbelievable this week. I can't remember a time where we've seen it this good this many weeks in a row. The conditions look great for the guys right now and it should continue through the weekend.

A little hitch on the biomechanics front for us coaches as we don't have the trailers out here this week. For some reason we never have trailers at this event and we end up using the clubhouse to train the guys. They have a great facility here and we appreciate the ability to use what the have on property. The only drawback is the break in routine, forcing us all to make adjustments.

There's something about the trailers that's familiar to both the coaches and the players. We have a pretty tight set up and one of the best traveling shows in all professional sports. Weeks like this remind the Tour guys how good they have it on a week to week basis, especially since we revamped the trailers this off-season.

For those of you unfamiliar with the set up out here, we have four trailers -- two on the PGA Tour and two on the Champions Tour. For each tour one is used for physical therapy and has a chiropractor, while the other has the strength & conditioning and biomechanics coaches all doing our thing.

Looking forward to a great week out here. Last few days were strong. I have a full field out here, minus one so I'm going non stop with five guys that are in here up to twice a day.

Pat Perez is back after two weeks off and he's ready to go. I know he was back in Scottsdale training for one week and I believe he made the trek down to Cabo for a member/guest, where he relaxed and got himself prepared for two big weeks in a row. He loves the Charlotte event as well as the PLAYERS. Like PP, Ryuji Imada is back after some active rest and will be getting after it these next two weeks. Both guys have been on hiatus since the Masters.

Jason Dufner is ready to get after it again this week, after a great run in the past few events. Jason is playing some incredible golf right now and there's a good chance he's played himself right into the PLAYERS Championship. I think he's right on the bubble, but a good showing this week could be the difference-maker. I've mentioned it time and time again in the blog here. Watch out for Mr. Dufner. He'll sneak up on you and right now he's playing the best golf of his career.

Jason Gore is back in the field this week, after missing the cut in New Orleans. As soon as J knew he wasn't going to see the weekend, he rented a car and drove straight to North Carolina so he could start working and prepping for this week. He's had a rough run as of late, but people need to realize how much goes into making a swing change.

He's working non-stop with his swing coach Mike Abbott and he's getting there, but we have to remember that swing changes take a while to sink in to the long-term memory. The muscles have to understand the function and the neuroreceptors drive the muscles and range of motion. JG is a big, strong, powerful guy and when you're trying to do what he's doing right now, you have to be patient as it takes time. It'll all work out. Jason just has to keep trusting his swing and working hard.

Tom Pernice Jr. is back this week, as well. Attitude is positive and he's feeling good about all he's been doing lately. The putter is back a little bit stronger and he's feeling pretty confident. Tom remains consistent and we're hoping for a breakout week.

As for Charlie Wi, one last congrats on last week's run. I'm so proud of what Charlie has been able to accomplish lately. He gave it a hell of a run on Sunday and you really can't ask for anything more out of him right now. He's giving it his all and has more than earned this week of active rest before next week's event in Jacksonville.

Tournament action kicks off tomorrow. Keep your eye on Joey D's stable of guys. Hoping for some good things this week.

Check back later in the week for updates on the Quail Hollow event as well as my fitness tip of the week.


Joey D.

Team Joey D : Charlie Wi T2nd, Jason Dufner T9th

A great week at the Zurich Classic. Again a few of my guys made me proud as they gave it a hell of a run this week. A heartfelt congrats to Charlie Wi and Jason Dufner. Both gave their all in the fitness trailer this week and took care of business on the course, which is obviously the most important thing.

Charlie was your day one leader with an opening round 66. He followed up with rounds of 70-71 on Friday/Saturday and entered Sunday four strokes off the lead. He knew what he needed to do, fired a four-under round of 68 and finished tied for second, behind eventual winner Jerry Kelly. We almost had a four-way playoff, but Jerry pulled it out and again, congrats to him as this win was a long time coming. Stiil, it was another week full of positive energy and hard work out of Charlie.

As a coach or teacher, a guy like Charlie is your ideal player or student and it's always great when you see it all come together for a guy like that. As I've said time and time again here, he's knocking on the door and his time will come. Three top ten finishes in his last five events -- you are looking at one of the hottest players on tour right now.

I've also talked a lot about Jason D being one of the 'sneakiest' guys out here, ready to come out of nowhere each and every week as one of those under the radar type guys. Again, he proved what type of player he is with another T9th finish this week, matching his finish at the Honda in early March. Jason missed a lot of good looks for birdie on Sunday and had a few fallen, he'd have been right in the thick of things.

Dufner has now played in eleven events this year and has made nine cuts. He's working hard and he's been extremely consistent. He managed his physical and mental game very well this week. The maturity I'm seeing out of this kid is very impressive. He's growing leaps and bounds every event he plays and like Mr. Wi, it's only a matter of time for these guys.

A word I will continue to drive home with our readers is 'consistency'. It's everything out here. You have to be consistently patient out here. You have to be consistent with your commitment to biomechanics. A commitment to the changes being made with the swing coaches. You can't get inside your head. Don't over-think and anticipate. As cliche as it may sound, you simply have to play your game - which is exactly what Charlie and Jason did.

Two of my guys didn't make the cut this week - Jason Gore and Tom Pernice Jr. Again, one of those weeks where both felt ready and did their work in the trailer. They just didn't score where they wanted to. Both will be in Charlotte this week and it'll be back to Square One for those guys. A brand new week, with New Orleans in the rearview. Everyone starts at the beginning come Monday and these guys will again give me their all and we'll see what's in store come Thursday. Perseverance and consistency are what I expect out of all these guys and I know they're ready to give it their all.

Pat Perez is back in the field with me this week, which is always a good thing. Off since the Masters, PP has been back home in Scottsdale working on his game an getting ready for these next two weeks. He's a fan of the Charlotte event and has played well in the past at Sawgrass, reeling in a T3rd finish at the PLAYERS in 2006. I'm looking forward to the energy he'll bring into the trailer this week after some 'active rest'.

Ruiji Imada will be back in the field this week and the only guy not going is Charlie, who will rest up for a week before Jacksonville. Joey D definitely has a full house with five of my six in the field.

Expecting a good week in Charlotte. Tiger Woods will be in the mix, tightening up his game before Sawgrass and his presence always has other players on top of their game. It's a big field this week and again, my hope is that some of my guys shine and have the week I know they're capable of.

Back online in a few days and we'll do another Q&A as some questions have been rolling in via Twitter and Facebook. Keep 'em coming and again, congrats to Charlie and Jason. Great run in New Orleans, fellas.

Joey D.

Another Fitness Tip From Joey D...

We want to introduce a new Q&A feature here on the Joey D GolfGym Blog. A lot of you have found Joey D online and have been sending in your golf fitness related questions. Once a week we'll randomly choose a question or two and Joey will answer here on the blog. Add Joey on Facebook and fire in your questions, or hit him up on his Twitter page.

Mark C. of Charlotte, NC: "Joey, great blog. A friend recently turned me on to in and I'm officially hooked. My question for you... A chilly winter here in North Carolina and I literally haven't played a full round since football season. After a good 4-5 golf-free months, I went out and played last weekend and I'm beyond sore. What are some exercises I can do to get the juices flowing and get my somewhat out of shape, 42-year old body back in playing shape?"


Mark, thanks for the question.

Your problem is pretty common as that 'weekend warrior' mentality is the norm for a lot of guys your age. You get up, you go to work, you live your life and you squeeze in some golf and/or fitness where you can. It's night and day from the schedule Tour player keep, averaging 5-6 rounds per week, 4-5 trips to the fitness trailer and constant work with swing coaches, biomechanics coaches or their strength & conditioning guys. Not to mention that the season lasts virtually the whole year as the Tour always goes where it's warm -- Florida in spring, the Midwest in summer and California, Vegas, Arizona and Florida in the winter months. 

The same way you're cleaning up your clubs and getting the dust off after they've been on the shelf all winter, you need to do the same with your body. Implement a flexibility program and be consistent with it. It doesn't have to be long, but you need to stick with it and do it several times per week if you want it to work. Pick about 6 to 8 stretches that work for you. I've featured some here on the site and again, I suggest bands and balls. The 90/90 exercise demonstrated a few weeks back. The ball work I suggested to Kevin from Alabama last week. Those are a solid starting point.

Shake off the dust. Reach down and touch your toes. Swing a club. Do the hamstrings feel tight? Is the back sore? Do you feel like you have limited range of motion and restriction? Do an assessment, address where you think there's an issue and stretch accordingly.

Build an extra 20-30 minutes into your day for a stretch. 10-15 in the morning and another 10-15 before you go to bed. Do this consistently and you'll feel it paying off over time. Start off every other day and make sure to let the muscles heal when you're sore. The same way I preach 'active rest' to my guys out here, I suggest the same for you at home. Giving your muscles recovery time is as important as the actual stretching.

I know I take some ribbing for always pushing the PowerBandz, but people need to understand that I created that product for a reason. Exercises that allow you to mimic the golf swing are going to create muscle memory over time. Again, there's a reason we use PowerBandz in the trailer and there's a reason guys like Luke Donald and Zach Johnson use them religiously and ordered some for their home gyms. They work, which is why so many Tour pros now swear by them.

Stretching. Band work. Ball work. Movement, strength and flexibility. Learn it. Live it. Love it.

One last exercise for those of you who don't yet have balls or bands to train with, grab a 7 or 8 iron and try the following: Hold the club horizontally, with your left or right hand on the grip and your other hand by the club head. Take that club and run it down from the middle of your thigh to the front of your shin. Hold this hamstring stretch for a good 8 to 10 seconds. Don't bounce when you stretch. Slowly go into your end range of motion. When you reach the edge (re: your end range of motion), stop, count it out and go from there.

From there, raise the club chest level (holding it the same way) and slowly rotate left to right, while keeping your eyes fixed on a point straight ahead. Eyes fixed, arms extended, move the club all the way to your back swing (for most of you, your right), take it back to center and then move all the way to the left, eyes still fixed forward and arms extended. This exercise helps with rotational flexibility and building rotational strength/awareness in the Neuroreceptors. As the muscles fire they send signals to all the spinal rotators.

This should give you a solid starting point. Do this for the next few months and get back to me as I'd like to hear where you're game and body are at by summer. Remember what I always say -- fix your body, fix your swing.

Charlie Wi in first, Jason Dufner T8th...

I know we're only one day into this week's event at the Zurich Classic, but I want to point out two great rounds by my guys today - Charlie Wi and Jason Dufner. Charlie wrapped up the day in first place at six under and Jason rolled his way to four under for T8th. 

It's no accident what we do out here. The consistency. The constant preparation. The ongoing awareness for where these guys are in their golf swing, where they are with their body and how that has to be in tandem with a sound mind and strong mental game. You need the drive and then you need to take that drive out to the golf course every day and let it equal confidence.

You're not going to win out here every week. A lot of guys aren't going to win for years at a time. That's how stiff the competition is. That being the case, small milestones are important and serve as validation for all the hard work. Making a cut is another achievement. Entering Friday in first or eighth place, it's also a confidence booster and step in the right direction, regardless of how the rest of the weekend plays out.

Work on your mechanics. Work on your flexibility. Professional golf is a much more complete game today than it was twenty years ago. I think people finally understand that and see all the components that go into being successful out here. Mental coaches. Swing coaches. Strength & Conditioning coaches. Biomechanics. For years people have said that golf isn't a "team" sport, but when you look at the infrastructure each player has built around them you really see that the best in the game aren't doing it on their own.

As important a role as us "support staff" guys play, you still have to credit the players that make this commitment and choose to get after it at this capacity. Some still choose to do it on their own, play their game, refuse to focus on biomechanics and safe to say those aren't the guys on top.

Charlie and Jason are two guys I talk about often here. Both guys work their tails off in the trailer and both have been in contention on a few occasions almost four months into this season. Again, it's no accident. Their success is well earned and here's hoping they keep it up over the next 54 holes.

Those of you at home, remember this -- no matter where you are in your game, be consistent with your training. Fix your body and in turn, you'll fix your swing.


Joey D.

Buzzin Golf UK : Weighted Club Review

A special thanks to Terry Lane over at Buzzin' Golf, a top notch golf-related site and blog across the pond.

The Buzzin' Golf folk requested some GolfGym products a few weeks back and they'll be reviewing it on their site over the next month.

First up was the GolfGym Weighted Club. Check out Terry's review: 

"Over the past year three PGA Professionals have analysed my golf swing and given me the same critique. The backswing is, apparently, pretty good. But like many amateur golfers I have a tendency not to follow right through the ball in a straight swing; and as a result if I’m not careful, my driver shots can be affected by a fade.

Attempting to train myself to swing true, I was told to place two clubs together and swing them several times. It sounds simple but works. The weight of the clubs helps to keep my forward swing inline and complete.

The problem with placing two clubs together is you cannot hold the clubs with a proper grip. I thanked the Pro who recommended this to me last year and was surprised that, as far as he was aware, a manufacturer hadn’t produced a heavy club, as he said this was a tried and tested technique.

Well now GolfGym, a golf fitness company based in California, have produced a weighted club, and it works a treat!

The GolfGym Weighted Training Club comes in two weights: Club 38 weighs 38oz. (2.4 lbs) and Club 28 weighs 28oz. (1.75 lbs).

The GolfGym Weighted Training Club design distributes the weight to perfectly match a standard golf club, with half the total weight in the bottom third of the club. The added weight increases flexibility and balance; and the weight of the club forces you to keep on the correct swing plane.

In much the same way as the excellent Explainar golf training aid forces you to follow the correct swing plane through a heavy weight system, the GolfGym Weighted Training Club works perfectly for me. The only difference is the weighted club is portable and fits in my golf bag. The Explainar is big, expensive and even though I could buy a portable version to fit in the boot of my car, it’s hardly practical to use as part of my warm up on the first tee!

The GolfGym Weighted Training Club comes with a left or right hand grip that forces your grip, which I’m not overly keen on to be honest. But that aside, I really can’t praise this golf training aid enough.

It includes a training DVD showing exercises well respected biomechanics golf coach Joey D employs with the six PGA Tour Pros he is currently working with.

The Weighted Training Club is part of a complete range of golf training aids from GolfGym and PGA Tour Coach, Joey D. GolfGym has just announced that the Joey D Signature Series is now being shipped globally."

Joey D: Checking in from New Orleans...

Joey D here. Feeling rather accomplished this morning. Learned how to email pics with my iPhone and finally got checked into my hotel. 81 and balmy out. Life is good here in New Orleans and as you can see from the pic above, preparations are underway for this week's event.

The course is in great shape, the field looks good and there's a buzz in the air with the "fifth major" coming up two weeks from now in Jacksonville. This is a nice run - Augusta, Hilton Head, New Orleans, Charlotte and then Jacksonville. I'm out for all five and the PLAYERS will be a great way to wrap up five solid weeks.

I saw Ian Poulter this morning and he was in good spirits on the range. Talked to Charlie Wi for a few. Attitude is still great and he was working with the Vokey folks, tweaking his wedges. Yet to catch up with Jason Dufner, Tom Pernice Jr. or last minute entry, Jason Gore. We'll report back on those guys in the coming days.

Pat Perez is off this week, but will be back for next week's event in North Carolina and Ryuji Imada pulled out of this week's event due to a wrist injury sustained at the Masters. He wants another week of active rest before Quail Hollow and then Sawgrass, the largest purse in all of golf. Smart play by Ryuji, being mentally aware that he shouldn't push it this week as it really is all about the PLAYERS this time of year.

This afternoon we'll start our standard biomechanics preparations for the week. Everyone will get by the trailer either for some stretching or a full session, depending on how they're feeling. From there, the week will be underway.

The Zurich is a great event. You have a great field and a great city. Jazz Fest is going on this week. PGA Tour players doing what they do. Great food. Culturally diverse. You definitely feel the flavor of the city with this event. In most cases, Tour events don't end up in such an energetic place. They're usually much more off the beaten path. The Zurich gets everybody together, mixing it up.

"Commitment" is a word I want to focus on today. I'm looking at my guys in this week's event, the decisions they're making, the overall effort and a commitment to success. Dufner is back this week after a nice T26th finish last week. He's working through some pain, but he's committed to working hard, making cuts and trying to win golf tournaments.

Pernice is back this week after a missed cut and some weekend sessions in the trailer, even though he wasn't playing. Again, the commitment to get biomechanically right where it needs to be and good thing are around the corner.

Tee times will be announced in a bit and I'll check back in later this week from New Orleans. We'll have a new Q&A tomorrow and I'll let you know how my guys are looking for Thursday.


Joey D.

Joey D: Verizon in the books; New Orleans on deck

Joey D checking in this morning from West Palm Beach. Saw my guys off Sunday morning in the trailer and hit the road in the afternoon. Drove from Hilton Head to Jacksonville for a pit stop and then continued out towards South Florida. Will rest up today and then back at it Tuesday morning when I head to New Orleans for this week's event. In the middle of a five-week run here with Charlotte next week and then Jacksonville for the PLAYERS.

Coming off a good week in South Carolina. Charlie Wi arrived in the trailer around 7:30am and put in some good work before Sunday's round. He had a rough ending to what started out a solid round (-2 after seven; final round 76), which is just how it goes sometimes. His attitude was right and his body was where he wanted it to be. Posture was good. Balance was good. Swing was right where we wanted it. It was a great Sunday morning session and we had high expectations. Things just didn't come together on the course during that final round.

Jason Dufner hung in there again this week. Back to back rounds of 69 over the weekend after a rough Friday round of 73. Dufner finished T26th which was his third best finish of 2009. Nice to see him close out the way he did. Hovering around the cut line for most of Friday and then solid play on the weekend. Jason shot -3 on the final ten holes Sunday, which helped him climb the leaderboard and will boost his confidence after a T77th finish a few weeks back in Houston. He did a great job managing his game this week. Very patient. Stayed within each shot. Very nice to see and was definitely a difference-maker this week.

We spent a lot of time this past week addressing Jason's hip tightness and shoulder issues, which played a big part in his ability to make a run this weekend. A lot of retraction work was done in the trailer this past week. Working with the PowerBandz and what not.

For those of you trying to replicate these exercises at home with the PowerBandz, remember the following. When you set up in your golf posture, your body and shoulders go forward beyond the neutral line and they protract. Doing retraction work with the bands, doing shoulder shrugs - exercises of this nature - will help combat your body's instinct. Get your shoulders neutral so your spine angle is correct and you're able to rotate to the top of your back swing. Focus on those muscles in between the shoulder blades as well as opening up the chest.

My third guy this past week was Tom Pernice Jr., who had a rough go of it with an opening round 78. He responded nicely with a second round 69 but still missed the cut by three strokes.

What really stands out for me this week with Tom is his dedication. After missing the cut on Friday, he was still in the trailer with me Saturday morning getting after it again. We had a 90 minute session and he remains dedicated to biomechanics and improving his game. Not too many Tour players would be in the trailer the morning after missing a cut. Tom was and that consistency and attitude are exactly what guys out here need to stay on top. This week was in the books, so his focus immediately turned to working towards next week and a solid run in New Orleans.

I want to congratulate Brian Gay on his runaway win this week. I've worked with Brian and his coach Chris Noss on several occasions and again we're talking about another top player and Tour winner who is committed to biomechanics. Coach Noss has his guys on a new program -- Stewart Cink, Sean O'Hair, Zach Johnson, Steven Ames -- we're seeing some great things out of all those guys both on the biomechanics front as well as on the course.

All in all it was another great week out here on the road. The Verizon was another top notch event. Great weather, great fan support and a great overall tournament. The wind got a little swirly out there and that had an impact as these are some of the smallest greens on Tour. 

Off to take care of some business with the little time I have at home during this stretch. I'll check back in from New Orleans later in the week. Keep those questions coming via Facebook or Twitter and we'll get your biomechanics questions answered a.s.a.p.


Joey D

More from Joey's iPhone Cam...

Got a little taste of the good life this week in Hilton Head when Robert Allenby invited a few of us out on his boat. Snapped this pic with my iPhone as we had Luke Donald, Tim Clark, Fredrik Jacobson and coach Chris Noss in the mix, discussing biomechanics, golf and how we all need a boat like Robert's...

Coach Joey D in Amino Vital clip...

Coach Joey D made an appearance in a clip for his friends at Amino Vital. Check it out below and keep an eye open around the 2:41 mark.

Joey D: Verizon Heritage Almost Underway

Coach Joey D reporting from the Verizon Heritage Classic in Hilton Head, SC. Day one went very well with my field this week - Jason Dufner, Tom Pernice Jr. and Charlie Wi.

All three had a week off as there's no smaller event opposite the Masters, so it was a week of active rest, which I often talk about in the blog and you know I believe in. A lot of the guys out here tend to 'overplay' and stack too many tournaments in a row, which wears you out. Sometimes it's good to enter a week on a roll, coming off a solid week - but in most occasions, nothing beats active rest.

Dufner is in the midst of a really good year. As mentioned before, he struggled last year and earned his card back in Q-School. He's rededicated himself in body and he's playing with a very calm mind, which is necessary out here. I think Jason is starting to mature as a player and he's putting together some nice rounds, closing the deal. A quality T9th finish at the Honda last month. Made seven of nine cuts this season. He's coming off a rough showing at the Shell Houston open (T77th), but again let's see how he plays at Hilton Head after a few weeks of active rest.

There have been some shoulder issues that have hindered Jason this season, but we're working through them and those aside, he's really finding his way this year. I'm very proud of what he's accomplished thus far this season - especially regarding functional biomechanics. He's rededicated himself and it's paying off. This week we'll continue trying to open up his hips, which are a little tight. If the hips don't rotate, the upper body won't do what you need it do. Jason knows his hips are impacting his backswing, so he's doing what it takes to right the ship.

This is something for the at-home golfers to think about. When teeing it up this spring, after a winter layover, your swing might be fine. It might be your body that's not reacting as you want it to after the layoff. Check into your body as that's where you're going to address almost all of your issues.

My guy Tom Pernice Jr. is in the field this week, which is always a good thing. Turning fifty pretty soon and no talk of the Senior Tour. TPJ is still getting after it harder than a lot of the younger guys. He had a $1.3M finish in '08 and finished T9th at the Bob Hope a few months back. Tom is relentless about fitness and staying in shape. He's on a mission to stay on this tour as long as he can and as long as he remains as consistent as he has, he will.

Tom recognizes that he lacks a little bit of distance, but he's an extremely polished player and a tireless worker both in the gym and in regards to his swing mechanics. He knows that age isn't a limitation when it comes to golf. Back in '06 he had a $2.3M season and seven top ten finishes and he's really blossomed as a player in his late forties. I'd like some of our readers in that same age group to take notice. With biomechanics and golf fitness on your side, age is nothing but a number.

Charlie Wi is in the field as well and this is another guy who's been in contention this season and is having a phenomenal year. Aside from being constantly focused, Charlie has one of best attitudes of anybody you'll find out here. Always smiling and very aware of the benefits that a strong mental game bring, he's also not afraid of a little hard work in the trailer before a round of golf. Work ethic plus positive mental attitude are absolutely paying off for Charlie this season.

I'm expecting good things from all three of my guys this week. The weather looks like it will cooperate, everyone is rested and ready to get back to work and the fact that the Masters is in the rearview is a good thing. The pressure of the first major is no longer hanging around and the overall feel is much more relaxed this week. Being that Hilton Head is so close to Augusta, you have a strong field this week. Soon after arriving in town I already caught up with Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink, Tim Clark - a lot of great players made the short trek, which is always exciting for the fans. 

I think we're going to see some good scores out here this week, thanks to the overall relaxed atmosphere and I'm looking forward to getting things started tomorrow. Follow the action on the Golf Channel on Thursday/Friday and CBS this weekend.

I'll check back in Friday to report back on my threesome in this week's field.


Joey D.

A Fitness Tip From Joey D...

We want to introduce a new Q&A feature here on the Joey D GolfGym Blog. A lot of you have found Joey D online and have been sending in your golf fitness related questions. Once a week we'll randomly choose a question or two and Joey will answer here on the blog. Add Joey on Facebook and fire in your questions, or hit him up on his Twitter page.

Kevin T. of Mountain Brook, AL: "Joey, I enjoy reading your blogs and updates and am looking forward to watching some great golf this weekend. I wanted to see if you had any tips or words of wisdom for the taller golfers out there. I am an ex-college ball player and am still in decent shape. I am 6'6" and about 240lbs. Still rather flexible and strong. What types of stretching/exercises would you recommend to keep everything running like it should."


Kevin, thanks for the question.

One stretch I'd definitely recommend is the 90/90 exercise we discussed in my last blog. Check out the YouTube clip of that, for starters.

Next I'd suggest getting your hands on a 65 centimeter physio ball. From there, follow the two exercises in the videos below.

Your height isn't really a difference-maker. It just means your muscles are a little bit longer from origin and insertion and you'll need to hold the stretches a few seconds longer.

Flexibility happens when you create greater ranges of motion and larger patterns of movement. Take a band and do a 90/90 exercise. That's much better for you than a static stretch and creates greater length.

Most people try to touch their toes and stretch their hamstrings for ten minutes or bring their knees into their chest. These aren't bad exercises, but from a biomechanics standpoint there are much better ones you can do. 

Movement patters with bands are going to elongate muscles. These movements create a neurological signal regarding the Multifidus spine and all the muscles surrounding that area. That will really help you out and I think that's where you should to focus.

Try the suggested ball/band work and let me know how that works for you. - Joey D.

Joey D: Masters recap; headed to Hilton Head

Joey D checking in from West Palm Beach today. Just got back from Augusta last night and off to Hilton Head tomorrow for another week. I have Charlie Wi, Jason Dufner and Tom Pernice Jr. in the field, which is different from the Pat Perez, Ryuji Imada and Jason Gore run I had the past few weeks. Looking forward to it.

Before we jump into Hilton Head and a weekly fitness tip, let's talk a little bit about the Masters and Ryuji's finish. After barely making the cut and the firing a 72 on Saturday, Ryuji had a strong showing on Sunday with a final round 69 and two birdies on the back nine. Sunday's finish moved him from the mid-thirties to a T20th finish, proving that Ryuji eventually found his game in Augusta. Again, another testimonial to patience being a virtue at the Masters.

Augusta National is a different course everyday and we had a great finish on Sunday. Seeing two of the best in the world in Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson battling it out down the stretch was exciting. Both gave it a run but had a few bogeys that cost them, proving what a beast this course is. Still, they were in the hunt which is what you want on a Sunday.

I also liked the forced playoff with Chad Campbell, Kenny Perry and Angel Cabrera. When you get the best of the best playing a few extra holes and it comes down to one final putt, it usually provides a pretty clear cut ending. Yesterday was no different. 

Overall it was a great Masters. The weather wound up cooperating, the course was in amazing shape, my guys gave it their all and the ending was memorable. Everyone put their games to the test this weekend and I'm sure all these guys will take something from the experience. 

My Dufner/Wi/Pernice Jr. crew will head to South Carolina after a week off. Some active rest should have all three guys in good shape entering this week's event. All three have been close this year, each pulling in a top ten finish and Charlie actually in contention here in Florida a few weeks ago.

The guys will face a challenging course in Hilton Head. Always interesting to see who rises to the occasion a week after the Masters. More to come once I get to town, work with the guys and have more to report.

For now, I want to shift my focus today and offer up a fitness tip as we're getting solid feedback from some loyal readers. This week I want to explain an exercise called the 90/90, which I have my guys working on the trailer and which you can see in the YouTube video below.

This 90/90 requires either the yellow (medium resistance) or red (heavy resistance) Joey D PowerBandz. This exercise is designed to work on rotational mechanics.

With spring here and summer officially around the corner, rotational mechanics are an important way to get your game ready after slowing down for the winter.

Depending on how often or little you play, you're asking a lot out of the the muscles that surround the spine. This isn't something you want to jump into without being properly warmed up. Especially those of you who suffer from any form of lower back pain.

The 90/90 will help you mimic the golf swing and will start to send a signal to muscles, getting them to fire or contract, which in turn creates awareness. This exercise is how you will eventually learn to swing the club better.

Allow your body to create some separation. A little load at the backswing and some relief as you go through the center of gravity. This will also help you with your overall balance. (Note: Also make sure to click on HQ after you start the video so you can view in High Quality.)


Let me know your thoughts on the 90/90 exercise either in the comments section below or through my semi-new Facebook or Twitter accounts. Any other particular tips you'd like to see on the blog here, let me know.

More later this week from Hilton Head.


Joey D.

Joey D: Friday Recap From Augusta...

Let's cut right to the chase. This is Augusta, Georgia. This is not your average tournament. You're not going to get away with making mistakes. I had high hopes and high expectations for both of my boys, Pat Perez and Ryuji Imada. Both guys struggled this week, with Pat missing the cut and Ryuji hanging on by one stroke.

You can be absolutely prepared for the Masters and still get your business handed to you. The course plays very different depending on the weather conditions and it the wind was howling today. Still, no excuses. Some guys are out there getting it done and others aren't.

Golf isn't even a game of inches; it's a game of millimeters. That's how a Phil Mickelson can go out and win a World Golf event at Doral, yet miss the cut in Houston. That's how Perez can roll into Augusta a week after a T4th finish at Bay Hill and shoot a 79 today.

Same way Zach Johnson won a green jacket in 2007 and still fired a second round 80 today, missing the cut after an opening round 70. This game - and especially this course - will bring the best to their knees. This is a major and a major is going to play much differently than your regular tour event.

I think PP got a little bit tentative this week and wasn't hitting it as well as he'd like to have hit it. Augusta can do that to you. Perez hasn't been here in six years and even fully prepared, things might still not go your way. Pat did everything he needed to in the fitness trailer this week and his swing coach Mike Abbott was happy with his preparation, as well. Still, as you get tentative and weather conditions change, old habits can find their way back into your golf swing.

Thirty-six holes rough holes at Augusta National aren't going to take away from the year Pat's having. This is his best career start in eight seasons out here. This week simply proves why the mental part of golf is so important.

Ryuji fired a 72 yesterday. Even for the opening round after hitting 16 of 18 fairways and one miss by less than a foot. The short game was a little bit off yesterday, which is hard to swallow as he's a player known for his short game. You have to putt well in Augusta and you can't be intimidated by this course.

Patience is a huge, huge benefit. The guys a top the leaderboard are playing smart, patient golf. They're also playing confident golf, which happens when you make your breaks and you get some breaks. Chad Campbell is playing amazing golf right now and when you birdie five of your first five holes, that gets your momentum going and you don't mentally start beating yourself up or overthinking things.

Guys who have played this tournament again and again have an advantage over guys who don't know the lay of the land. They know how mentally strong you have to be. They know you need to remain patient and let it come to you. You're playing against the best of the best and have to consciously remember not to get too aggressive and you can't let each and every shot get to you. It can do that every single stroke out here. You think you're going to make a good putt and all of a sudden, the way these greens slope, the ball rolls eight feet by. For those who watched the tournament these past few days, you saw that time and time again.

I'm not disappointed in the least regarding how my guys played. This was just one of those weeks. It doesn't diminish their accomplishments up to this point and it has no impact on how they'll play next time they tee it up. Look at some of the guys who are headed home. Adam Scott. K.J. Choi. Ernie Els. Fred Couples. Retief Goosen. Stewart Cink. Some great players had a bad week. It happens out here.

Pat struggled today. He knows that. We talked after the round and while he's disappointed, he knows he's close and he knows he has to keep pressing on. He'll work harder on the course with Mr. A and he'll give me more in the fitness trailer the next event he plays. I can guarantee that.

No matter what level you play at, if you're making changes in your golf swing, the old adage applies -- old habits die hard. After a week like this, it's back to basics and more consistency with biomechanics. When Pat I work together in the coming weeks, there will be more focus on mimicking the swing and more work with the Joey D PowerBandz. These exercises will cement the neurological ability for the brain to send a signal to the end result.

This only starts to work after hours upon hours of repeating this motion and getting the body to the point where it's strong enough, flexible enough and balanced enough in your golf swing. You eventually get to a point where these changes are cemented in your brain and you're no longer thinking -- instead it's a reaction of actions.

People have to remember, it's much easier to be a 'fan' of this game and be critical of what you're seeing here this week in Augusta. Unless you've been out here, under these conditions, you truly have no idea the level of talent it takes to complete in this event. It's no joke. Remember that as you watch the the final 36 holes this weekend.

Joey D signing out. More next week from Hilton Head.

Joey D: Midweek Masters Recap

Joey D checking in. It's Wednesday in Augusta, the weather has been inconsistent, the course still looks amazing and we're doing some fine-tuning regarding getting Pat Perez and Ryuji Imada both tourney-ready.

Pat wanted to work on some things, so I spent some time with he and his swing coach Mike Abbott the past few days. The verdict was that he needed to be a little wider in his stance. He was also coming up out of his spine angle, which is something we feel has been worked out entering Thursday's opening round.

I also worked with Ryuji and his coach Rich Abel, trying to help him through what I feel is a weather-related issue. He's still experiencing some soreness in a rib head on his upper left side. We worked that out in the trailer earlier this week and he's been hitting it nicely ever since.

The weather has been as consistent as we'd hoped. The wind has been howling the past few days, which has guys concerned and preparing accordingly. The key is for them to not over-think things. It's been a few days up here.

Guys know the greens and they know the wind is going to die down a bit later in the week. Keep the focus on their short game and don't worry about the weather. Greens are running pure and fast, which is important. Adjust according to the conditions - be it wind or cold - and just get after it.

It's about 65 degrees right now and things are expected to warm up over the next few days. We could see mid to high 70s by week's end. The weather is most likely going to cooperate and again, this course is in immaculate condition. You cannot make mistakes out here or you're going to pay.

Check back tomorrow as I'm going to post some pictures we snapped from inside the ropes yesterday, Pat's caddy Michael Hartford is going to download them for me on his computer. We got some great shots of #12 and #13 where TV cameras and spectators aren't allowed. After that, I'll chime back in Friday after we have round one in the books and can discuss where the guys are at.


Joey D.

Joey D checking from Augusta...

I ended up arriving in Augusta on Sunday, courtesy of "Air Allenby", which was much appreciated. Ninety minutes after leaving sunny Palm Beach we pulled into Augusta and the Masters week was officially underway. 

On the flight, I had a great chat with Robert Allenby and his coaches regarding what a team effort the PGA Tour experience is these days, in comparison to the past. You need to be firing in all facets of your game - mental and physical - if you want to be on top and playing this week, in the most coveted event of our profession. 

Upon arrival I quickly caught up with my two guys in the field this week - Pat Perez and Ryuji Imada. Both guys already had one practice round under their belt and are ready to go. The Masters aside, this week means a lot to Ryuji as he played college golf in nearby Athens as a Georgia Bulldog.

The off week in Scottsdale did Pat well and he arrived in Augusta well-rested, excited and and ready to take in this Masters experience for the first time since 2003. When five years passes in between trips to Augusta, you can guarantee that he's going to make the most of his second visit to this sacred place. 

Pat's coach Mike Abbott is here this week and I spoke with both he an caddy Mike Hartford last night, who said PP is hitting it as good as ever. Yesterday's practice round would've scored about three-under in the had they been keeping score. A good start as the course is obviously tournament-ready. 

PP has a good crew out here with him this week. A lot of friends and family from out west made the trek to Augusta, including his wife Athena.

I know his brother Mike Perez, a great golfer in his own right, will be on the bag for Pat in the par-three tourney this week, which should be fun for all involved.

Another one of Pat's good friends Brian Savage, the former NHL left winger, is in tow with some of his family and friends. 
They rented a house near Pat and that 'family' environment and support mean a lot to PP, as everyone saw a few months back when he won the Bob Hope Classic and had a large crew out there cheering him on.

Regarding the course, the greens are as good as I've ever seen them here and every player I've spoken with is in agreement that these could be the best conditions we've seen in Augusta in a long time. The weather is mild and we're expecting some rain here Tuesday, but by tournament time things should clear up, in the mid to high 70s. When the wind blows here, it can be a very tricky golf course because the greens are so pure. This should be an incredible all around week. 

The course is longer than it's ever been, so accuracy will be key for whoever scores low this week. Yardage and clubbing are going to be a big, big deal. 

I got some good news this morning from the folks at St. Martin's Press regarding my book "Fix Your Body, Fix Your Swing". We're officially expecting a winter release (early 2010), which has us all excited. Stay tuned to the blog as we're going to feature some chapters excerpts and exercises as soon as possible.

I spoke about the premise "fix your body, fix your swing" today with Mr. Abbott and he agrees that Pat needs to continue working on his flexibility, keeping himself loose and getting his body to perform in the way his swing coach needs it to. You can't force your body to do what it can't do. Biomechanically you need to get it where it needs to be so that it cooperates with you when working on every aspect of your swing. 

The same concept was discussed at length with the Allenby team on the flight yesterday and they too are all in agreement, as is the Imada team, coach Rich Abel and the rest of those guys. I say all this in an effort to again drive home my belief in biomechanics and it's importance in your overall golf game.

Both Pat and Ryuji have their swings dialed in coming into Augusta and their attitudes are both where they need to be. Confidence-wise both guys are ready and now it's just a matter of doing it. There's an energy in the air here at the Masters that is far superior to any other tournament these guys play. You can feel it. The only thing that comes close to this would obviously be the British Open.

I came down Magnolia Lane this morning en route to the trailers and again, the energy here is just breathtaking. They've made some changes here at Augusta -- a new parking lot, a new building for the caddies. The care and preparation that's gone into getting this place tournament-ready is very obvious. Kudos to all the people who bring this tournament together. It's amazing.

I think everyone in this event is physically ready for the first major of 2009 and I think we're going to see some great scores this week. I wish all these guys the best as I know what this week means to everyone here.

Off to get my own workout in. I'll check back later this week with more from Augusta.


Joey D.

Joey D talks Augusta and Double P's T4th finish

I wrapped up my last blog by letting everyone know there's a huge difference between 'competitive fire' and being dubbed a 'hot head'. I want to delve into that here with a new blog. I didn't want to take away from the blog where we focused on big finishes by my guys Jason Gore and Ryuji Imada. 

I've heard some chatter about my horse Pat Perez and his choice to flip his ball into the water after the 72nd hole on Sunday and we need to clear a few things up. 

After playing a brilliant final round, where he was +2 after four, PP battled back with four birdies over his next eight holes. Two strokes off the lead, he had a legitimate shot with six to play and he remained two back going into the final hole. 

Pat's second shot on the par-four 18th came up a few feet short, barely clearing the rocks. He chipped out, sent his third shot towards the back of the green and just missed a thirteen footer that would've given him third place outright.

The miss cost him six figures and some FedExCup points, which could come back and get you down the road. Look at Davis Love III, who PP knocked out of the Masters with that final bogey. Pat's one week 58th to 48th jump in the World Golf Rankings dropped Love out of the top fifty and out of Augusta, barring a win at the Shell Houston Open this week.

One stroke would've helped DL III at the Honda a few weeks back. It would've been the difference between T13th and T9th and it wound up costing him (roughly) eighteen FedExCup points, about $55K and arguably a guaranteed spot in the Masters entering this week.

Some folks mistake competitive fire for temper, which couldn't be further from the truth. Pat isn't the kid he used to be. He's far from it. He's a professional. He's a PGA Tour winner that knows he belongs out here. He plays golf week in and week out at an exceptional level and has absolutely zero fear of competition.

I'm not sure what the television audience saw, but everyone at Bay Hill caught Tiger Woods throwing his club down in frustration on a few occasions. Again, not out of anger but out of the sheer desire to win -- as you saw when he dropped that final birdie on the 72nd hole.

This is the PGA Tour. This is golf at its highest competitive level. Guys get caught in the moment. They'll throw a club. A ball or putter will wind up getting wet. In a game of millimeters, it's passion, people.

These guys really are the most amazing athletes as they're required to be the gentlemen of sport. Even if they keep that up 99.9% of the time, they're still going to have those moments where their passion and desire to win overcomes them. Anyone who doesn't understand that simply doesn't "get" what these guys go through on a tournament to tournament, day to day and hole to hole basis, competing against guy equally as talented who want it equally as bad.

PP really earned that T4th finish this past week. I got the call Monday after he got to Orlando, "JD, let's get it on. Let's get going. I want to tear it up." First thing Tuesday morning, we're in the trailer, it's on and I'm getting 110% after his week of active rest.

Again it was about explosive strength. For those who missed it when I said it in the past, Pat Perez is pound for pound one of the strongest, toughest guys on Tour and he's a tremendous athlete.

Working with the PowerBandz, kettle bell, dumbbell work, heavy medicine ball -- all movements to keep his body explosive. Both in the morning and evening, separate workouts where we focus on his flexibility and once again, it paid off. From 23rd early on and right up the leaderboard - again - thanks to consistency in the fitness trailer and on the course. As a coach, this kid continues to amaze me.

Johnny Miller talked about it throughout the broadcast, stating over and over that statistically PP can get the ball in the middle of the club face more times than anybody he's seen in a long time. A few years back Arnold Palmer called Pat one of the best ball strikers the game has seen. Perez is the truth.

I'm headed to Augusta this weekend, meeting both Pat and Ryuji on Saturday to get next week started a few days early. This is Augusta and it deserves a few extra days of preparation. That's what it takes if you want to be where these guys are at.

More from the Masters next week. - Joey D.