Joey D interviewed by GolfDashBlog.com

I received an interview request from Doug Farrick over at GolfDashBlog.com. Doug and the guys over there were interested in chatting Biomechanics, so we finally set up an interview a few days back. Check it out and make sure to visit GolfDashBlog.com as those guys run a pretty solid blog. - Joey D.


GolfDashBlog: A lot of us know the name Joey Diovisalvi and have see you associated with the PGA Tour over the years. For those of who don't know you, can you bring them up to speed?

I'm a biomechanics coach on the PGA Tour and have been for over a decade now. I'm currently working week in and week out with seven Tour pros -- Pat Perez, Ryuji Imada, Jason Dufner, Charlie Wi, Chez Reavie, Jason Gore and Tom Pernice Jr. Before that I spent seven years working with Vijay Singh, including his run where he was the top-ranked player in the world. I've been featured on the CBS special "The Science Of Golf" and the ABC special "Practice Like a PGA Tour Pro". I just broke ground on my D1 Athletics facility in Jupiter (FL) and I have a book that will be released early 2010 by St. Martin's Press, "Fix Your Body, Fix Your Swing".


GolfDashBlog: Can you define Golf Biomechanics for us?

Simply put, biomechanics is the study of the living body as the forces of gravity effect the muscular skeletal system. Regarding how it applies to golf, the body moves through ranges of motion and the muscular skeletal system is effected by how you swing the club. Gravity obviously plays its part in this, as well.

With the force that it takes to accelerate and decelerate the club and the hips... the way both the spine and hips move in rotation... the forces of gravity start to effect the muscular skeletal system... it's all about how those movements happen.


GolfDashBlog: Why are Biomechanics so important to golf?

If you have a mechanically sound body that rotates, goes through its ranges of motion and understands how to handle acceleration/deceleration - you then move the muscles, bones and the joints properly, having much more efficiency and effectiveness in the golf swing.


GolfDashBlog: How can the average player improve his/her game with biomechanics?

Great question. If you're an average player and you start to understand how the body works when it sets itself up and starts to move. When one part of your body is stable and another part begins to rotate or accelerate through rotation. The more you understand how to get the body to move in rotation - then starting and stopping, handling the effects of gravity, you then start to handle the effects of prehab or being able to strengthen something before it expects amazing amounts of demand and load.


GolfDashBlog: What types of exercises can increase our golf biomechanics?

I've posted some specific exercises on YouTube over the past few months. I suggest checking out the 90/90 drill, the lower back one-leg stretch and the squat & reach drill, for starters. These are all exercises you can do at home with some PowerBandz, a balance ball and a weighted club. Medicine ball rotation and band rotation are both instrumental in your workout.


GolfDashBlog: Are their any specific training aids that can help improve our biomechanics?

Without sounding like a pitchman, I'd have to say the GolfGym PowerSwing Trainer is a must. We use it on the PGA Tour with the guys in the trailer and I've had other guys like Zach Johnson and Luke Donald tell me that they needed some for the home gyms they were building in the off-season. If the PowerSwing Trainer is good enough for the guys on Tour, that should tell the everyday golfers outside the ropes how legitimate this piece of equipment is.


GolfDashBlog: Does each person have to be tested individually for their biomechanics level?

I did an interview with Stack Media today and was asked the same question. Absolutely. There's no way for anybody to ever understand the full use unless the get a biomechanical assessment on how their body rotates and how it moves through the golf swing in ranges of motion. Assessments determine where you are biomechanically.


GolfDashBlog: How can biomechanics help me hit the ball farther?

The key is understanding how the body moves in proper mechanical positions. How it rotates, loads/releases, accelerates/decelerates, etc. Once you do these things properly and allow the muscles and bones to move in a symbiotic relationship, they understand the process of the golf swing and how they're supposed to react with it.


GolfDashBlog: Where can I find more information and biomechanics and where I might take an assessment?

For starters, the D1 Athletics facility I recently opened in South Florida. Anyone interested in setting up and appointment, email me and we'll get you squared away.

Dr. Greg Rose has done a great job with TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) certified assessors. Check out the TPI website as that will give you a point in the right direction, as well.

Back in South Florida, final thoughts on Ontario...

The RBC Canadian Open is in the books, after five long tournament days. Congrats to Nathan Green. Taking down Retief Goosen in a playoff is never easy and kudos to both guys for doing what they did in those conditions. The weather in Ontario never let up and negotiating that course became a very difficult task as the week went on. It makes for some very inconsistent golf, which has some guys folding while others rise to the challenge.

All in all, my guys Jason Dufner and Pat Perez both put together solid weeks and reeled in very respectable finishes -- T3rd for Jason and T24th for Pat. Both guys were in contention, Pat leading early on and Jason hanging on to a lead over the weekend. Finding yourself a top the leaderboard at the end of the weekend; you have to be so mentally focused to actually close out and win the tournament.

I'm not downplaying the excitement that comes with a third place finish. I'm disappointed regarding the fact Jason couldn't close it out, yet I'm again thrilled that he had another huge week out there. This has turned into a banner year for him and as I've said in past blogs, watching him play for love of the game instead of being motivated by the fear of losing his card - it's a welcomed site. His game is mature, he's in touch with his body and Jason is doing things this year that were unimaginable at this time last season.

Jason will eventually get that first win. It comes with time and this is no time to get frustrated. How many times did we see Mr. Perez coming close over the years, but not closing it out? It took Double P over seven years out here to secure that first victory and it took an incredible week, as well as the collapse of top man on the FedExCup leaderboard (Steve Stricker) to makes the dream a reality.

The rest of the team missed the cut and unfortunately, that's part of the game. Everyone is giving it their all, but there have been some bumps in the road for everyone. We're three-quarters through the 2009 season and there's a lot of golf left to be played. A good week could come for any of the boys at any given time. Stay tuned for The Playoffs and another mini west coast swing. I have some guys inside the top 125 who are safe and a few others who need to crank it up a notch if they're going to earn a spot.

I'm back in South Florida this week - not on the road, but not 'off' either as there's tons to do at D1 Athletics. I spent some time this morning working with a nephew who's a pro surfer and we're running through a slew of core-related exercises that are going to help him in his quest to be the next Kelly Slater. As I've mentioned in the past, D1 is ready for every type of athlete out there. This isn't just a golf facility. We have the tools and know-how to help different athletes. The mission statement remains - using all GolfGym's equipment and tools, combined with my coaching, teaching and methodology - D1 is here for anyone who wants to get on board. From professional to amateurs, we'll get you dialed in.

This is going to be a really busy and exciting off-season and it's already started as each off-week between now and season's end will be spent working with different types of athletes.

More to come this week from South Florida and then off to Reno next week.


Joey D.

Joey D checking back from Ontario...

Friday afternoon at the 2009 Canadian Open and rain delays have been the name of the game, so let's blog while there's some down time. Once again we’re battling weather conditions out here on the PGA Tour. Momentum is lost, guys are frustrated and we’re headed for another Monday finish.

Think about other professional sports and the delays they deal with at that level. NFL. Major League Baseball. It doesn’t even compare. We’ve had guys sitting around up to a full day, killing time while trying to remain limber and focused. Tomorrow is Sunday and these guys haven’t even started the third round yet.

Another day lost, no idea what tomorrow will bring and quite possibly another Monday finish on tap. Sixteen guys were cut, which wouldn’t have been the case if the weather cooperated, but again that’s the name of the game out here under these conditions.

Regarding my guys, we’re doing all we can to keep them focused and physically ready to play. The rest is on them. Jason Dufner is having another incredible week out here and is making a run, as is my horse Pat Perez.

Jason had a shot at breaking the course record with his second round, but fell short. Eight birdies and an eagle had him ten-under with two to play, but a bogey on #17 cost him the course record. That being said, how can you ever question a solid second round 63? You can't. Especially when you're sitting on the two-day lead.

I've told our readers for months now to keep an eye out for Jason Dufner and here we go again, the kid is on top. I couldn't be more proud of the run he's had this year. He's a student of the game and his swing is so Sam Snead-esque right now, it's scary. The ability has always been there. He's now married that with a quiet confidence as well as a full on commitment to getting his body right. The fact that he's no longer chasing his Tour card, I believe we'll still see some amazing things out of him down the stretch this season.

Pat Perez is another guy who made the cut this week and he too is in contention with back-to-back rounds of 67. He's finally 100% recovered from his ankle injury and he's back to playing like a man on a mission. He remains committed to biomechanics and I can't say enough how hard this kid works on every aspect of his game. Besides the yeoman's effort we see daily in the trailer, he puts in the same work on the course and range with his swing coach Mike Abbott. Mike and Pat are still working on his new swing and the difference is showing yet again this week.

My other five guys missed the cut - Jason Gore, Tom Pernice Jr., Ryuji Imada, Charlie Wi and our defending champ Chez Reavie. All five guys gave it their all, but it just wasn't in the cards. The inconsistency didn't help their cause, but everyone was in the same boat this week, so you can't flat out blame it on the weather. They'll go back to the drawing board, work out the kinks and they'll be ready to give it a run next time they tee it up. It's the name of the game out here.

All in all, in the midst of another frustrating week out here... but that too is the name of the game. You deal with what comes your way. It's been double duty working with a full field and having guys coming in twice as much, but we're pressing on and we'll get it done. Patience is a much-needed virtue out on the PGA Tour. Especially with weather delays and a lot of down time. You have to keep both body and mind sound and that's what we're working on with all the guys.

We'll dial this thing back in on Tuesday when I'm back home for a week getting D1 Athletics dialed in.


Joey D.

Joey D checks in from the Canadian Open...

A rough start to Coach Joey D's week on Tuesday as I spent two hours on the runway in Newark. Inclement weather in the Tri-State area and a bit of foreshadowing regarding what we're in for this week, I'm afraid.

I arrived in Ontario later than expected and it had been raining here, as well. The course was playable, but conditions were changing - as we've seen countless time this season. That aside, the course is in good shape and Glen Abbey is a great track.

We're expecting rain tomorrow and my gut feeling is that we lose another day and see a John Deere-like finish here in Ontario, either cut to 54 holes or a 36-hole final day.

It's always an interesting week after a major. Guys are on such a high the week before an event of that nature and quickly come back down to earth a week later. A lot of guys have withdrawn this week, opening the door for alternates to work their way into the field - so while the field might not be as strong, the fan support will definitely be there as this truly is Canada's open. Our friends north of the border are definitely excited for this week, so hopefully our guys put on a great show for them.

Ironically enough, I have a full field this week - Pat Perez, Jason Dufner, Charlie Wi, Jason Gore, Ryuji Imada, Tom Pernice Jr. and my new guy Chez Reavie, the defending champ of the Canadian Open.

Chez really has been a great addition to the team. His work ethic is incredible and here's another guy absolutely committed to biomechanics and taking his game to that next level. One by one we're winning over the masses. Guys are finally getting it, realizing that if you want to compete at this level, you need to get your body right once and for all.

Chez knows he's lacking in certain areas and he knows that the only way he'll get more Ws is to make a commitment of this magnitude. We're doing a lot of rotational stuff this week.. a lot of swing stuff... range of motion... engaging his core... it's all coming together.

We'll go deeper into engaging your core through your swing plane in an upcoming blog. Tune back in.

'Hollywood' Perez is in the field this week, on board at this week's Canadian Open and staying with his long-time bud and Arizona neighbor Brian Savage. Savy spends his summers in his homeland and the former NHLer helped put together "Pat Perez Day" at a local junior golf event earlier this week. Check out the story on Pat's blog when you have the time.

Brian picked Pat up on his tour bus and the two superstars spent a few days with superstar Kid Rock en route to Ontario. This weekend, The Perez Show heads to Toronto so PP can catch up with his bud Pat Burrell as the Rays are in town to take on the Blue Jays, so Coach Joey D will venture out and take in the ball game with the boys this weekend. Look out for some iPhone pics in the coming days.

Charlie Wi is here and is ready to go. Jason Dufner missed the cut last week, but he's back on his game and expects good things this week. I haven't run into Ryuji yet, but should catch up with him later today. He didn't have the best showing at the British, but he made the cut, he's working out some things with his swing and is ready to get back out there.

Also, a hearty congrats to Jason Gore and Tom Pernice Jr. on their finish at the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee. JG reeled in a T7th finish and Tom finsihed T15th. A much-needed shot in the arm for those guys and hopefully they keep the momentum going this weekend.

Tune back in later this week for more from Ontario. - Joey D.

More from Joey's iPhone Cam...

Wanted to bring everyone up to speed with D1 Athletics. A very productive week down here in South Florida. We'll be burning the midnight oil here until Monday. Come Tuesday, I'll head to the RBC Canadian Open. Next week is as full of a week as I'll see all year.

My standard six are in the field - Pat Perez, Jason Dufner, Charlie Wi, Ryuji Imada, Jason Gore and Tom Pernice Jr. - as well as my new guy, Chez Reavie, defending champ of the RBC.

Tune in next week for the latest from Ontario.

Joey D talks British Open and D1 Athletics...

Coach Joey D coming to you this week from Palm Beach. It's been a hectic week here in South Florida, getting D1 Athletics up and running. Back on the road next week for the Canadian Open, so I only have a few more days to go pedal to the metal at D1, ensuring we open on time.

Before I jump into what's going on with D1 and GolfGym, let's spend a few minutes talking about the opening round of the British Open - a links course at Turnberry and a very different style track than we're used to seeing. The story yesterday, your leader (for most of the day) 65-year old Tom Watson, who fired an opening round 65. Tom found himself four-over after five today, yet battled back with four birdies and was even after 18. After two rounds, Tom is five-under on the event and enters the weekend tied for the lead.

Most will chalk this up to another feel-good story, similar to the run Greg Norman made last year - but this is no accident. I've had my fair share of conversations with Tom over the years and this is a veteran who is very with the times regarding biomechanics as well as strength and conditioning. Tom is a highly motivated individual and knows how to apply biomechanics to his overall game.

As I've explained several times here, we have four trailers out on a weekly basis -- two physiotherapy trailers and two biomechanics labs (re: strength & conditioning) trailers. The PGA Tour has the same set up as the Champions Tour, so Tom is in there getting after it on a weekly basis. My good friend Kent Bickerstaff, a former MLB guy, has told me first hand that Tom is an absolute superstar when it comes to that application on Tour.

All the best to Tom this weekend. He has his work cut out for him these new two days, but regardless of the result I hope people get the message loud and clear; if you focus on biomechanics and getting your body right, age remains nothing but a number.

Getting back to D1, besides the actual facility I want to share a little with you regarding our modus operandi. We're putting a lot of focus on junior golf, as well as other sports besides golf. Any sport which uses biomechanical applications -- tennis, baseball, lacrosse, etc. Between this blog, and the soon-to-be-built CoachJoeyD.com website, we're going to start doing a better job in the recruitment process of local and national athletes, allowing them to train at D1 and get their bodies right.

GolfGym has done a great job helping me get this thing to the next level. Ken Pierce has been a very innovative individual over the years and we're going to feature all our GolfGym products at D1. Ken shipped me a tennis swing trainer yesterday and the way we've set this up, it's now made it possible for us to mimic every aspect of tennis swing just as the PowerSwing Trainer emulates the golf swing. This new tool allows us to understand and teach the rotational biomechanics of tennis.

A special thanks to both Ken and Vicki Pierce this week for not only supplying all the necessary tools, but continuing to expand into other sports. While the immediate focus is golf-related products, you're going to see this product line grow with more sport-specific training aids over the years. Stay tuned.

Though we'll be going a new direction, the main focus of D1 is to be that be all/end all facility for all the professional golfers I've worked with for over a decade on the PGA Tour, as well as the MLB friends I've made over the years - Nick Punto of the Minnesota Twins, Pat Burrell of the Tampa Bay Rays. The goal is to get all these guys in here during the off-season, focused on the principles of biomechanics.

Back to the grind on this end. I'll try to snap some iPhone pics this weekend before I head out to the Canadian Open on Tuesday. My new guy Chez Reavie is out to defend his title next week, my horse Pat Perez will be back in action and Jason Dufner will be back in action, continuing on with his impressive season.

Much more exciting stuff to come here in the blog. Keep tuning in for all the latest.


Joey D.

Joey D breaks down the John Deere Classic...

Joey D checking in from Florida today. Back home for a week to get things dialed in at the soon-to-be-open D1 Athletics. Ryuji Imada is my only guy playing in this week's British Open, so I'm not making the trek across the pond and will be back on the road next week for the RBC Canadian Open.

Last time I wrote, inclement weather was the name of the game in Silvis. Massive amounts of rain washed out Friday's round, guys were back in action Saturday and it was another 36-hole effort on Sunday before Steve Stricker brought it home with his final round 64.

My horse Pat Perez led our pack this week, reeling in a T30th finish and keeping all four rounds in the high 60s. Jason Dufner reeled in a T39th finish. Charlie Wi had a second round 69, but an opening round 73 did him in. Similar story for Jason Gore, who had a stellar second round 66, but after an opening round 75 it was too much to overcome. Chez Reavie went 74-69 and missed the cut as well.

All my guys kept their attitudes in check this week and did their best to handle the delay and weather woes. Unfortunately when the rest of the field goes low, one bad round paired with a great round isn't going to get the job done. Especially when the field was cut to sixty due to the inclement weather and the fact so many guys needed to catch the charter overseas for this week's British Open.

Filling in for me in Milwaukee this week is my friend and associate Jeff Wagner. Coach Wagner and I have worked together these past six years and he's well educated in the science of biomechanics, strength & conditioning and is a vault of information. My guys are in good hands with Coach Wagner this week. Dufner, Gore and Tom Pernice Jr. are my only guys in the field this week. Perez is off this week, in need of a little active rest as he works through his ankle rehab. Charlie and Chez are off as well.

D1 Athletics will open its doors in a matter of days or weeks, depending on how quickly we can tie up some of these loose ends. Words can't express my excitement for this new chapter I'm embarking upon. "Fix Your Body, Fix Your Swing" will be in stores early 2010 and now we have the facility ready to work in tandem with all we're teaching in the book. Biomechanics is growing and golfers worldwide have come to realize how important fitness is in regards to their overall game. As a coach, that in itself is a dream come true.

The facility will feature all of our GolfGym products and other tools we use in the trailers daily on the PGA Tour.

Besides our efforts to get D1's doors open, I'm actually looking forward to playing the role of 'spectator' this week and watching from outside the ropes. There are some things I'm not able to see on a daily or weekly basis and it'll be nice to appreciate this week from a different vantage point.

As we enter mid-July, we're getting pretty close to this season wrapping up... making this a good time for you readers to do your homework regarding the FedExCup, the standings and trying to gain a solid understanding for our semi-new Playoffs system on the PGA Tour.

We have four events in August, highlighted by the PGA Championship in a few weeks and then the fall finish -- The Barclays, the Deutsche Bank Championship, the BWM Championship and The TOUR Championship. Not all players are automatically qualified for every event and that can shake continuity before the fall stretch. Some guys appreciate the break, while other feel the extra time off can break momentum.

This is a very interesting time of the season as guys on the bubble need to step up their game to secure a spot in the Playoffs, while others simply need to make some moves to they can hang on to their cards. Some exciting golf yet to be played and a great stretch of events for the fans. Hopefully all of you are fired up to see how everything shakes out.

More to come from South Florida this week as I'll be knee-deep in getting D1 Athletics ready for its grand opening. Tune back in later this week and I'll post some photos of the progress.


Joey D.

Joey D checking in from the John Deere Classic

Joey D checking in. It's been a hectic couple of weeks - the US Open, Travelers Championship and AT&T National - as well as treks back to South Florida to check on the progress of my soon-to-open D1 Athletics facility. The blog got pushed to the back burner, but we're back full force this week in Silvis, IL for the John Deere Classic.

Got some unexpected down time today as the second round is yet to start, thanks to some inclement weather. You never know what you're going to get in the Midwest come summertime and today, we're seeing some rain and lightning.

On the surface, it doesn't seem like much - but when a round gets postponed out here tensions rise, guys get frustrated and nobody knows what's going on. It's a tough thing to be up against as guys are wondering if they'll play at all today, if they're in for 36 holes tomorrow or if this will be a weather-shortened event, only going 54 holes. With the British Open taking place next week, guys aren't going to be able to stick around for a Monday finish.

We've blogged about weather issues in the past and the fact that guys get warmed up in the morning, sit around and wait for their tee time, while making an effort to stay warmed up by coming back in for another session with the weights, stretching, cardio, etc.

Right now they officials are calling for a 3pm ET start, but we'll see.

TPC Deere Run started out in great shape earlier this week, but the rain will obviously change those conditions going into the weekend. The course will soften up, the numbers will go super-high and we'll definitely have a different track than the one the players saw on Thursday.

While we have some down time in Silvis, let's talk about next week's British Open. The John Deere folk have helped set up a custom 767, which I believe is owned by the Dallas Mavericks, and that chartered flight will take a bunch of guys across the pond next week. Until then, players are doing their best to sharpen their skills and tighten up their game.

There are two trains of thought in regard to a major event; play and get ready or enjoy some active rest and let the body get healthy. Either is a good option, depending on the player. Some guys need to be out here and feed off that competitive atmosphere that you can't simulate anywhere but a Tour event. This week you're seeing some guys out at the John Deere that might not have played if there weren't a major next week.

For the guys who aren't out here this week and are headed overseas next week, you can bet they're training at home both on and off the course, getting ready for one of the year's biggest events. I'm looking forward to next week as Turnberry is arguably one of the most beautiful ocean links courses I've ever seen.

Back to the John Deere, I have a few guys out here this week. Pat Perez is back in action, playing his third straight event since missing six weeks with torn ligaments in his ankle. PP is working his tail off in the trailer and he's doing everything we need him to do to regain his strength. It's a slow process and there's still some soreness in the ankle, but he's one step closer every day and he fired a solid opening round 69 yesterday. The range of motion is coming back and I'm expecting some good things out of him as he mounts his comeback.

Jason Gore is back this week, though he's fighting a toe injury. Charlie Wi is out here, attitude as positive as ever, playing some confident golf. Jason Dufner is in the mix, in the midst of a very solid year and we also have a new pro in Joey D's stable, Chez Reavie.

Chez has made the commitment to biomechanics and getting his body ready to compete at golf's highest level. I've worked with Chez a few weeks now and he's a welcomed addition to the family. His work ethic is top-notch and his ability to communicate from a player to a coach.

That's all I have for right now. Headed back to the trailer to get my guys ready to go and hoping the get this second round underway, already. More to come. Stay tuned.


Joey D.

More from Joey's iPhone Cam...

Joey D checking in. Here are some shots I took while walking around TPC Deere Run today.

I'll post a blog tomorrow and will bring everyone up to speed on things here in Silvis, as well as the past few weeks. It's been a hectic couple of weeks getting D1 Athletics dialed in and working the last few events. I'll be around the next few weeks and we'll get this blog dialed back in.


Joey D.