John Tillery, PGA Tour Coach works with Scott Brown, Roberto Castro, Brice Garnett, Kevin Kisner, Rick Lamb, Will McGirt, and Brandt Snedeker as well as mini-tour professionals and up-and-coming collegiate athletes. He’s previously been selected as one of Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers in America, Golf Digest’s #6 Best Teacher in the state of Georgia and the Georgia PGA Teacher of the Year. Tony and John discuss the many factors of coaching Tour Players, where he starts when working with someone new, how he communicates for effective results, some key factors when dealing with the challenges of the Tour Schedule, and the best way for a competitive player to work. You’ll hear great advice on how to adapt your strategy for the specific player you’re coaching.

John Tillery: Managing the Challenges of Coaching on Tour

Tony Ruggiero and Brady Riggs talk about how their coaching perspectives have changed in the past two years, and their greatest means to keep learning along with the best advice they received throughout their careers. They talk about the benefit of challenging your own coaching and being wrong, as well as getting fired for being right. This episode is full of great stories, and practical insights.  

Brady Riggs has more than 30 years of experience in golf instruction, Riggs has been named as one of GOLF Magazine’s prestigious Top 100 Teachers in America, and GOLF.com regularly features him in their training and instruction videos online. He has also published more than 200 articles for Golf Tips Magazine and has appeared on the cover more than 12 times. In 2017, Riggs was inducted into the Southern California PGA Teaching Hall of Fame. Currently he’s the Director of Instruction at Four Seasons Hualalai Resort.

Brady Riggs: Owning your swing and teaching in our 50s

Tony Ruggeiro has Adam Schriber on the podcast, he shares his secrets on developing young players, the key to understanding their patterns developed in  a specific age windows, learning movement patterns. They also talk about their ways of solving players' problems, how they keep their players on the track of getting better. This episode is filled with tons of great stories and advice.

Adam Schriber: what you need to do to be good at playing and coaching

Justin Parsons joins Tony Ruggiero, to talk about how to understand the individuality of your players and their tendencies. They share unique challenges with players, as well as coaching from a point of view that is holistic, including aspects outside of golf and their performance. 

Justin shares how he coaches on Tour, uncovers his players’ success and how he believes that by adding changes can also mean taking away from areas that are working. This episode is great for teachers and players who want to look outside the box to improve your game.

Justin Parsons: Coaching Human Beings

Effective Practice - Doral Round Table

Tony sits down with Kolby and Greg to discuss the US Open, the level of commitment it takes for players to compete at the highest level, the value of consistency over time, and how any player is vulnerable to settling into comfort zones after stretches of success. Their conversation is full of insight for all coaches and players.

Commitment To The Plan

Peter Sanders joins Tony on the podcast to share how he created Shot by Shot, now called Strokes Gained analysis. Peter's expertise in analyzing data and stats through the years, he shares the commonalities he’s found amongst players at each level, the stats of average players on Tour, the similarities of winner’s data and the direct correlations of data and the outcome. Jam-packed with stats, you’ll learn great information for improving you or your players’ game.

Peter Sanders: Understanding your every shot

Tony is joined by Chris Mayson to talk about all things coaching, from juniors to tour players. Chris shares how he started coaching, and what’s changed since he first started. He shares the challenges and solutions that he uses with teaching players at different levels, as well as the essential tools a coach should have. This episode is full of excellent advice for coaches who teach players at all levels!

Chris Mayson: How coaches learn from great players

Tony sits down with Armando, from Lee Trevino's #1 fan page, to talk about how he decided to research Trevino and how it's improved his game. He shares his journey becoming a better recreational golfer, the less traditional information he's discovered. They get into the nitty gritty of training. This episode is full of interesting tips on weekend warrior transforming his game.

Lee Trevino's #1 fan talks how he's improved through research

Tony is joined by Luke Kerr Dineen, Jackson Koert, Justin Parsons and Wayne Flint to discuss how coaches can develop their influence with social media and improving player’s performance. Luke shares his experience as a player and Golf Magazine/GOLF.com Editor, to give tips on what’s impactful to their audience and the average golfer, that can build traction for teachers. You’ll also hear from each of the coaches on keeping your coaching SIMPLE because being complicated is NOT a compliment. Every part of this episode is rich with tips to further develop your coaching and media presence.

How to use social media as a teacher and a golfer to improve

Tony Ruggiero is joined by Callaghan Elzey, Jackson Koert and Mark Hackett. Callahan is a teaching pro, who joined the group for a weekend to observe and work on his own game. He shares how Tony’s approach to coaching inspired him to reach out to learn directly from the source. Each coach passes on their best advice to Callaghan. 

Tony and Emilio talk training for Q School, and the importance of having a hyper focused practice plan in place is key to training.

Coaching Roundtable: Best Advice, Training Drills and Paying it Forward

Tony is joined by Dr. Scott Lynn, Mark Hackett, Dan Terlescki and members of Palm Golf Club to talk about what exercises and areas to focus on for injuries, or adjusting training to accommodate changes in physical ability. They share a variety a ways to improve balance, strength training and how to use your hands and arms to alleviate pressure. They also discuss technology, focusing on movement, setup, screening and so much more as they take questions from members of the club.

Old Palm round table

Hal Sutton joins Tony to talk about what he learned from his success of playing on Tour and how he transitioned into instruction. Hal shares how instruction has taking away his feel for the game, and what he would tell his younger self about goals, who to work with and how to navigate success. He gives his best advice to college players wanting to pro, how to gain experience, the necessity of being honest, disciplined and playing with freedom. This is episode is full of great insight, stories and what it takes to become a great player.

Hal Sutton: Gray Areas

Ralph Bauer and Tony talk all things putting. He explains where he starts when work with tour players, it’s changing their perspective to understanding how they missed is due to misreading instead of pushing or pulling. He talks about his new app, and how it solves the missing part to putting better is reading the greens better. The technology accelerates what would take years into weeks. They also discuss which grip is best for your putting, and the data he found from testing twelve tour players on left to righters and right to lefters. This episode is full of ways to improve your putting, and stories from Ralph and Tony on how they’ve helped players improve over the years.

Ralph Bauer: What you Need to Know About Putting

Zack Sucher, Eric Brunner and Tony talk about getting Zack ready for Q School - mentally, physically and technically. They dive into the biggest factors that have improved his short game, full swing and how to get back to the habits that work best. For Zack, refocusing his priorities was crucial. For some time he was chasing speed, but he had to go back to focusing on hitting the ball solid all the time first, before working on distance and speed. They also discuss the lessons learned during the season and much more.

Preparing for Q School and Lessons Learned During a Season

After Tony Ruggiero and Smylie Kaufman reflect on their years working together – Smylie was one of the best students Tony ever had. Smylie shares the secret to his success was his understanding of his swing and kept it very simple, by having three to four things he’d monitor. They dive into specific techniques and approaches, as well as the best advice he’s ever received, what the best players can do and how his greatest strengths as a player have helped him in broadcasting.

Smylie Kaufman: the Success in Keeping it Simple

Tony Ruggiero is joined by Paul Schempp, Steve Moore, Robert Campbell and Jackson Koert to discuss the differences between good and great coaches and define what novice coaches do compared to confident coaches. This episode is full of great advice on how to get your players to owning the information you teach them. Each of them share significant coaching moments that will help every player and coach.

Good vs. Great Coaches

They kick off with Josh’s journey from playing in college and on Tour to coaching some of the best players today. The most important factor for him is having a personal connection and relationship. He shares past mistakes and how he’s developed his simple and effective approach. You’ll hear how he helps his players get out of learned tendencies, bringing technical feels onto the course, and how he focuses 99% of short game training on and why. This episode is full of advice on how to get your players to find their own identity and with a plan to playing better.

Josh Gregory: Nothing better than being called coach

Tony Ruggiero, Jackson Koert & Morgan Hale hold a Q&A with their players before heading into a training program. You’ll hear their team philosophy and plan for the training program. Each of them weigh in on how to coach recreational players, advanced players returning to the game, their advice for players transitioning from high school to college. They explain the foundations of golf, how not to overcomplicate practice and why they often find themselves coaching players on how to unlearn behaviors.

Town hall with golfers of all skill levels at the territory club

Sean Foley joins Tony Ruggiero and Jackson Koert to answer questions and share his coach development journey. You’ll hear what and who he credits from when he started playing at 10 years old to creating his own Elite Journey Program. Over the course of his life he’s always been curious and willing to out work everyone. 
He also shared how social media has alleviated some difficulty for coaches which helped his success. He recommends his favorite resources for coach development and advice regarding limitations, the benefit of frustration, the most successful coaches understand their market and are competent at their skill and what he does to stay competent and successful. Tons of insight in this episode, make sure to listen!

Sean Foley: His journey to teaching some of the best players in the world

Tony hosts a round table with Mark Hackett, Dan Terlescki, Lynn Valentine, 
Richard Terga, and Tim Jankowsski  to discuss the many ways to help cut handicaps by 20%. Everyone weighs in on what to focus on to make that happen. From understanding how far you carry the ball, your numbers, using technology, important fundamentals, short game, and course management. They discuss how to navigate the challenges and help players from recreational to advanced improve their game.

Round Table: Helping Golfers Cut Handicaps by 20%

Justin Parsons is Tony’s guest this week. They discuss the cyclical patterns that come with coaching and managing those ups and downs. Justin's advice is to be realistic about your players within the plan you would like for them and where they are in their lives and physical ability. He also emphasizes the value to committing to the process and appreciating even little gains. 

Justin shares the blueprint of his players' success and how he’s helped one  from being a mediocre iron player to one of the best in the world. 

They also discuss the value of helping their players understand the bigger picture - one week off their game is a small sample in their overall career. If they commit with their heart, the outcome will take care of itself. 

He talks about the upcoming short off season, focusing on 3D, using blueprints and diagnostics for his players, He also uses it as a time to ask the important questions about direction, planning for the season ahead and discussing what  needs to change in a casual environment.

Justin Parsons: Coaching elite players and handling the short off season

Tony is hanging out with Donald Cooper and Vaughn Taylor at RSM, for the last tour event of the year. They talk about what the best players do with practicing and practice rounds. Coop shares how practice rounds are to adapt to the conditions, not to work on your swing or your game. Cooper and Taylor share what they focus on the days before the tournament, what he needs to get out of practice at home vs. a tournament. Cooper shares the best practices he's ever seen, and why he studies divets.

Donald Cooper & Vaughn Taylor talk practice, what you can learn.

Tony Ruggiero and Jackson Koert talk with Peter Knade and Emilio Gonzalez about this year's Q School, and getting their korn ferry cards, after missing it last year. They discuss the differences and process that lead to their growth and success.

Peter Knade & Emilio Gonzalez: Our plan and process to succeed

Ben Carr and Tony talk about his past year; the mistakes and lessons that led to finishing as runner-up at the U.S. Amateur Championship. They share what they did to get him back on track, such as blocking out external pressures, getting back to fundamentals, understanding his swing, and what are the next steps in leveling up his game.

Ben Carr: lessons learned for US Am finals to the future

Round table discussion with Dr Greg Cartin, Mark Hackett, Dan Terlescki, Lynn Valentine, Morgan Hale, Josh Bialowans!  The instruction staff discusses how to practice, how to improve and how to coach players of all skill levels as well as helping and mentoring teachers and coaches !

Old Palm Round Table with Dr. Greg Cartin: Observations on Instruction & Instructors!

Taken from the Golf Coach Development Forum this week, Tony, Justin Parsons, and a host of others discuss the need and use of technology in instruction from a teacher and player perspective.

Technology Instruction

Korn Ferry player Emilio Gonzalez, college player Will McFadden, and Jackson Koert sit and talk about the stages of growth, and development in preparation for a new season.

Golf Camp:  Preparing for a new season and learning from seasons past

Michael Neff - founder of GEARS - takes us through his journey into the 3D technology that is so prevalent in teaching today.  Michael shares some of the secrets and findings from his work and journey!

Michael Neff:  A Deep Dive Into Your Golf Swing with 3D

Tony sits down with Drew Steckel - one of the top teachers and coaches on the PGA and LIV Tours!  They talk all things teaching on tour, and how you can get better as well.

Conversation with Drew Steckel:  What it's really like coaching at the highest level

Go behind the scenes of golf instruction on tour with top 100 instructor Tony Ruggiero.

TOUR COACH with Tony Ruggiero

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