Golf Channel : Playing Lessons With The Pros

We shot the footage back in February and wondered if it'd ever see the light of day... and thankfully that day has finally come.

Tune in to Golf Channel on Monday night at 10pm ET for "Playing Lessons With The Pros" featuring my horse Pat Perez and world champion surfer Kelly Slater. The segment was shot during a practice round at the 2009 Pebble Beach ProAm and features Pat and Kelly tearing up the back nine as well as footage of Coach Joey D working over PP in the PGA Tour fitness trailers before the round.

Joey D checking in from The Barclays...

Here is glorious New Jersey at The Barclays for the opening tournament of this year's FedExCup Playoffs.

For the opening event you're not really seeing a lot of nerves out here. Everyone is relatively calm and ready to go. These guys have worked all year to get where they're at and now it's "go" time. That's the general overtone; guys are prepared and they realize what's on the line starting Thursday. The beauty of the FedExCup is that nobody is really out of it. A big week here or there will change your season.

A very interesting course this week. As you'll see on TV, it's all out there - right in front of you. Libertine National Golf Course was literally a marsh and wetlands before Donald Trump got on board and started building away. Shipping terminals and wasteland were the landscape here for the longest time.

I have a few of my guys in the field this week -- Charlie Wi, Pat Perez, Jason Dufner and Ryuji Imada -- all looking to make a run. Tune in to see how they perform. My horse PP is paired with our good friend Ian Poulter in the first two rounds this week, which is always interesting. PP and Ian are good buds and are two fiery guys. Definitely expecting some entertainment out of that comedy duo.

J-Dufner is again struggling with his bicep tendon, which isn't the way he wanted to roll into the opening round of the Playoffs. He's headed back to Birmingham to see Dr. James Andrews on Monday and we'll have more to report next week. Will Jason be able to compensate for the injury this week? It's definitely a subplot worth paying attention to.

It'll be a challenge to work around that. Golf is one of the best compensators of biomechanical movement, but that doesn't mean you can cheat it completely when a nagging injury has reared its ugly head.

Weather-wise things are again looking solid this week. There might be some effects of a hurricane out in the Atlantic, but most likely it'll be another smooth week.

On another note, something I wanted to bring up here as I delve deeper into this world of blogging and social networking. Censorship again proved to be an issue this week on the PGA Tour. A few weeks back we saw Tiger Woods called out for his comments on the officiating at Bridgestone. This week the Tour is cracking down on Twitter-happy Stewart Cink.

For those who missed it, Stewart called out AT&T - a big time PGA Tour sponsor - for their sub-par coverage in Manhattan, one of the largest cities in the world. Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem put in a call to Stewart, asking him to remove the 'tweet' - essentially censoring him because of the hold that AT&T has over the Tour. With sponsors dropping left and right and with AT&T on board with a handful of events (title sponsor in Pebble Beach and Washington D.C.), Finchem doesn't want the boat rocked.

Stewart removed the post, but I'm curious what the readers and Tour fans think. Did the commish go overboard? Should Stewart have removed his 'opinion'? Does he have the right to vent about his cell phone service, or lack thereof? There are definitely two different ways to go with this argument. Curious what everyone thinks. How much pull should the sponsors have regarding the opinions of Tour players?

Regarding D1 Athletics, things remain on a roll when I'm in Jupiter and have time to work with my stable of athletes in South Florida. Jensen Callaway has spent his fair share of time in the facility and reported back to me from a surf competition a few days back. Jensen let me know he's really started to feel the effects of the blindfold training and balancing training we've been working on at the facility. Jensen said let me know that he's been pulling off some things on a surfboard that he hadn't been able to do in the past.

Look for some video of Jensen's sessions on the D1 Athletics Blog in the near future. We plan on shooting some segments during my Mondays off between Playoff events these coming weeks. Stay tuned!


Joey D.

PGA Championship upset and band training...

The final major of the year is in the history books and again history was made. We saw Tiger Woods play another phenomenal tournament, leading for three days and on track for his first major win of 2009... until Y.E. Yang swooped in out of nowhere and took home the major. A first for Yang and a first for Woods, stumbling down the stretch and not taking over a Sunday as we've grown accustomed to over the years.

This was another one of those PGA moments where fans see that even the best player in the world (and arguably the best of all time when it's said and done) can literally humanize himself. If you look at how many putts Tiger missed you see where this one slipped away from him - and that's the name of the game out here. That's golf; it happens to the best of them. People said the same thing about Tom Watson supposedly 'giving it away' to Stewart Cink. Again, not the case.

There are 72 holes out there and cliche as it may seem, it's not over until it's over. Yang held his composure, smiled at every turn and pulled out big shot after big shot with the tournament on the line. He never backed down to Tiger and conversely, Tiger never jumped all over him the way he has in past events, leaning on guys very early and setting the tone.

Three straight pars out the gate, a bogey on four and plus-two at the turn. Y.E. birdied three, was even at the turn and tossed up a tournament-changing eagle on fourteen. It was the type of shot we've come to expect from Tiger. This time around is was the underdog, again proving that on any given week any of these guys can get it done. They're all immensely talented.

Y.E. showed grace under pressure and as we've talked about again and again here, this is a mental game. Y.E. never flinched or let Tiger get into his head, like so many others have. Chalk that up to Tiger's less-than-dominant round or attribute it to his military background and ability to not flinch in the face of real pressure. Whatever the case, it all came to fruition this past Sunday.

Jim Nantz took a few opportunities to discuss Yang's dedication to fitness, which is obviously something I love to hear as a biomechanics coach. My good friend Dr. Craig Davies asked me for a set of my PowerBandz a few months back as he was working with Y.E. I use the PowerBandz with all my pros, as well having turned several other pros on to them.

It feels good to know that Y.E.'s dedication to fitness played a part in a thrilling Sunday at the 91st PGA Championship. I see him in the trailers every week when he's out here. I see he and Dr. Davies working on his strength, speed and balance. I see his dedication to band training - which is something I've discussed in this blog ad nauseam over the past few months. The PowerBandz allow him to mimic his swing mechanics, which in turn has allowed him to make that leap to 'next level' professional this past weekend.

Here's hoping Y.E.'s recent win serves as a reminder to others on the fence, not quite ready to make that commitment to biomechanics. It's proving itself, people. Get on board. Remember that when you're working on something on the course, take it back to your house... your gym... clubhouse... realize that there are tools out there which allow you to mimic exactly what you're doing on the course. Start this tomorrow and watch where you're game is at a few months from now.

Regarding my team, not a stellar week in Hazeltine, unfortunately. The guys were ready and nobody hit it poorly. I feel they had a hard time managing the speed of the greens and simply didn't get it done this week.

The fall finish and FedExCup are on deck, meaning there's a lot more golf to play - and some important golf, at that. Charlie Wi, Pat Perez, Ryuji Imada and Jason Dufner are my four guys in the hunt once the Playoffs are underway. As you know, players need to be in the top 125 entering this time of year for the Barclays... top 100 for the Deutsche Bank Championship a week later... top 70 for the BWM Championship a week later and top 30 for the Tour Championship.

My horse Mr. Perez is in all three except the Tour Championship, so he'll be one to watch these next few weeks as he looks to make a run and climb that ladder. Obviously his win in Palm Desert earlier in the year set the stage for where he's at right now. It's up to him to take it to that next level down the stretch.

Jason Gore, Chez Reavie and Tom Pernice Jr. are giving it a run in Greensboro this week and are trying to slide into that top 125. I wish them all the best this week as it'll most likely take a win or second place finish to get them where they need to be.

With the FedExCup behind us, it's a return to the west coast - Las Vegas and Scottsdale - which is a welcomed change of scenery mid-October. After that, a few more events and then we turn our focus to the off-season programs our guys will implement as they gear up for 2010.

Last but not least, some great things going here at D1 Athletics. Worked with pro surfer Jensen Callaway a few days back and proud to report that he's making huge strides with his blindfold training. I can't wait to really get into that with you readers when we have some more free time to dedicate.

For those of you curious about these techniques, start with this exercise. Stand on one leg, raise the other off the ground, hold it for thirty second and release. Now try it again eyes closed or blindfolded and attempt the same feat. You'll quickly what happens neurologically and how balance effects strength and movement.

I'll be out of town and offline this week, but I'll be ready to check back in from The Barclays. Stay tuned. -- Joey D.

Biomechanics and my friend Coach Chris Noss...

I had a chance to talk to my friend and brother in biomechanics, Chris Noss earlier this week. I was going to blog about it a few days back, but realized it needed its own separate entry. Coach Noss is having an amazing year with his guys and I wanted to let the golfing community know a little bit more about this amazing guy.

Coach Noss has implemented a program this year for his team - Zach Johnson, Sean O'Hair, Brian Gay, Stephen Ames and Stewart Cink, show above with Coach Noss and the coveted Clarett Jug - and that program is proving to be amazing. If you look at his guys, all are on top of their game and are experiencing fantastic growth right now. I watch those guys week in and week out and I can tell you that the time and effort Team Noss has put in - coach and players - it's more than paying off. Zach was the first multiple winner this year. Stewart spoiled the Tom Watson show, winning the British Open. Brian has won twice this year. Their success is no accident and it's absolutely a team effort.

Many folks think golf is an individual sport, but as you're seeing in this day and age with biomechanics and swing coaches, this game is more of a team sport than ever. Nobody on top is doing it entirely on their own.

I asked Coach Noss on a few occasions what he though was happening with his guys. Why now? What's changed? His answer to me -- the guys finally started to believe. A belief not only in what they're doing with their golf game as a whole, but their mental game went to their next level - as did the physical side. Guys started training 'in the zone', be it on the range, in the trailer or simply between their ears.

Coach Noss forced guys to raise their game. He implemented an intense cardiovascular workout and he's using every square inch of the recently retrofitted trailers we have on tour every week. He's tenacious about his own personal quest for knowledge and passing it on to his guys. They have a relationship both in and out of the trailer and none of those guys are afraid to do what it takes to get it done.

For those of you outside the ropes, continue to pay attention to the growth in this game. This is a very interesting time for professional golf as we're seeing such a commitment to both the physical and mental aspect of the game like never before. We're seeing guys go well beyond their abilities thanks to a positive attitude and a commitment to biomechanics. Both are necessary to become that 'next level' golfer and you're seeing it on a weekly basis.

Stay tuned to the D1 Athletics blog as we're going to hear more from Coach Noss down the road.

More from Joey's iPhone Cam...

My guy Ryuji Imada on the range at Hazeltine on Thursday...

Joey D checks in from the PGA Championship...

So here we are in Chaska, Minnesota this week, checking in from the 91st PGA Championship. It's the final major of the year and thankfully weather isn't going to be the issue this week. The course is in great shape, the guys are ready and this should be an exciting week.

You'd think the media would be focused on what's going to shake down this week at Hazeltine, but every time I flip the channel or log on, all the talk seems to revolve around Tiger Woods and a looming fine regarding him calling out the rules officials after his win at Bridgestone last weekend.

Every player has had to deal with being on the clock and speeding up their pace of play. It's part of the game. That said, was it really necessary to put Woods and Padraig Harrington on the clock at the par-5 16th? Obviously Tiger didn't think so. This was the final pairing and both guys were battling. Time wasn't really of the essence and though the rule is black and white, could European Tour chief referee John Paramor gone a bit overboard and impacted the outcome of the tournament? We'll never know.

The guys were definitely running a little bit behind, but at that point did it really matter? You had two great players in their mindset and looking to win a tournament. Did they really need the push or distraction with no other groups behind them?

You never want to get to a point in the sport where you see a specific rule for a specific player... but when you have a Woods v. Harrington showdown with three holes remaining in the tournament, it seems like it'd make the most sense to just let the guys play through, stay in their mindset and see where things go. The rules official was technically in the right, but it's also very easy to see where Woods is coming from. The fact that he spoke out after the event was proof that it really rattled his cage. Even after winning the event, he felt passionate enough to voice his frustration. Curious to see how things play out from here.

Back to Hazeltine, the general buzz when I walked up and down the range yesterday is that guys are pretty confident right now. The guys who are playing well are ready for this final major and the guys on the bubble know what they need to do to get ready for The Playoffs. Check out PGATour.com and see how close the race is for a handful of guys. This is a huge week and everyone knows it. A lot is on the line - from FedExCup points to a slot in the President's Cup. Beyond wanting to win a major, there is a lot of pride on the line. I expect a hell of a tournament this week.

I had a chance to speak with Phil Mickelson for a few minutes today and he said Amy is doing better, which was great news to hear. I know how that's been weighing on him and as a cancer survivor, I personally know what Amy is going through and I wish the Mickelson family all the best.

Regarding my guys, I have Pat Perez, Jason Dufner, Charlie Wi and Ryuji Imada all ready to go this week. PP is playing some solid golf with a nice finish in Akron last week, Jason is coming off a T3rd place finish in Canada a few weeks back, Charlie has had a very solid year and while Ryuji is struggling a little bit, his short game is incredible and all he needs is a hot putter to be in the thick of it every week. All four guys will be good to go come tomorrow and I'm expecting a lot out of all four of them. My expectations are high as a coach and being the last major of the year, they all better bring it.

More to come from Hazeltine this week. I'll keep everyone up to speed and next blog I want to focus on my brother in this biomechanics game, Coach Chris Noss. He and I talked at length yesterday and his guys are having an incredible year. I want to share with you some of Coach Noss' wisdom as well as some stories regarding his stable of players. Tune back in tomorrow for more.


Joey D.

More from Joey's iPhone Cam...

Wandering around Hazeltine today, I snapped a few pics. One of the grounds and a PGA Championship flag and the other a picture of a picture - my guy Ryuji Imada when he was a Georgia Bulldog. Check it out. - Joey D.

Joey D works with pro surfer Jensen Callaway...

Yesterday's blog was running a bit long as I was trying to talk both Bridgestone and Reno, so I wanted to save this D1-related tidbit for today.

During the off-week last week I had the opportunity to work with my "nephew" Jensen Callaway, an up-and-coming surfer. I used quotations because he's not really my nephew, but he's like family to me and I was changing his diapers when he was fresh out of his mother's womb. His folks Rob and Rhonda are dear friends of mine and I've watched Jensen grow up from day one. Now I'm seeing him blossom into a world-class athlete right before my very eyes.

I've spent a fair share of time letting the readers know about my recently-opened D1 Athletics facility and I've talked about the caliber of athlete we'll be training on site. Besides my PGA Tour pros and other elite professionals, D1 is home to up and coming talent like Jensen and all other biomechanical applications.

Jensen has traveled the world, highly ranked as junior pro surfer. As he's ready to take things to that next level and is preparing to join the ASP World Tour, Jensen and I have reconnected and we're getting him biomechanically ready for the challenge of a lifetime.

I look forward to posting some video in the coming weeks regarding our sessions. This stuff is going to blow your mind. For me as a coach, it's been invigorating to implement so many new techniques. We're opening this world of biomechanics and balance, pushing the outer limits of surfing, proving how these exercises play into the sport.

Strength, upper body/lower body coordination, feet planted, hips pivoting and moving... when you're in the moment, all body parts functioning together and a wave jolts you - you have to understand how far you can go outside the limits of balance.

Balance is effected many different ways. Through a few sessions last week, we started to realize that when you close your eyes and you stand on one foot or try to find your balance, it's night and day from your eyes being open. We're exploring things with Jensen that we're going to report here in the blog in the coming months.

We're pushing some serious limits here and Jensen is beyond fired up with these initial results. We're bringing balance, explosion and strength into the world of surfing at a level that's never been done before. Stay tuned... and for more on my boy Jensen, check out the video below. - Joey D.

Joey D checks in from Reno...

Back on the west coast, this week for the Reno-Tahoe Open. Much different conditions weather-wise this week as compared to when the Tour was out west earlier this year. Warm and sunny during the day is a far cry from what we saw in Pebble Beach or San Diego as this season got underway.

I have four guys in the field this week - Jason Gore, Chez Reavie, Tom Pernice Jr. and Charlie Wi. Pat Perez is in Akron for the WGC-Bridgestone event, while Ryuji Imada and Jason Dufner are both taking the week off.

JG is coming off a few decent weeks - T28th at the Buick and T7th in Milwaukee mid-July. TP went T52 last week and T15th in Milwaukee, so he too is looking to capitalize on some pretty good play as of late. My new guy Chez Reavie missed his last three cuts and is looking to reverse that trend this week, as it Charlie Wi, who had a few finishes in the fifties and missed a few cuts. All four are in the thick of it entering Friday, so stay tuned to see how things play out entering the weekend.

My horse Double P is my lone guy in this week's World Golf Classic event, shooting even and looking to make a run this week. With no cut at a WGC event, he has four days to get out there and make things happen. Pay attention this week as he could get hot any of the next three rounds. There's a sense of calm when you don't have a cut hanging over your head. PP has four days to get out there solely focused on playing golf. It's a completely different mindset.

It's always an interesting week when you have two events - one larger one with the majority of the Tour's big name players and a smaller one, where guys are looking to make up some ground and put themselves in a better position with the FedExCup kicking off in a few weeks.

The talk at Bridgestone this week is Tiger Woods... as it should be since he's a six-time champion. Every time he tees it up, this guy is expected to win. With his track record in Akron, how can you bet against him this week? That said, he inexplicably missed the cut at the British Open this year, while a 59-year old almost won. Yet another thing which makes this game of golf so incredible at this level.

When Tiger misses a cut, it reminds you again that he's human. Everybody out here could win any given week and all of these guys have earned the right to be here. The media loves to make it Tiger vs. Phil Mickelson every chance the get - which is great for headlines - but it's only part of the overall story. Tune in this week to see if somebody else can make a run.

Back to Reno, this has the makings of a great event this week. You get a great crowd out here on the west coast and there's a definite summertime vibe you don't get back east. There's a real sense of ease and a calm this week in Nevada. An 'under the radar' type event. The air is different, the ball flies a little further and the mountains provide a great backdrop and landscape. It's a different overall sense of golf. No rain, higher altitude and a welcomed breather after weather has wreaked such havoc these past few weeks.

Weather aside, we have to remember that this season started in January and this has been a very long season. Seven straight months out here with that pressure building week in and week out. Keeping that mental focus when the body starts shutting down -- it's no easy feat.

Two different focuses this week with the Bridgestone guys tightening up their game for the final major of the year; next week's PGA Championship - as well as the Reno guys giving it their all, trying to earn a spot at Hazeltine. Watch it all unfold these next three days.

More from Reno this weekend.


Joey D.