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Golf shouldn’t come with a side of fear. When your first thought on the tee is “don’t let my back go,” your swing tightens and your brain starts guarding. We sat down with osteopath and author Gavin Rutledge to replace that fear with a clear plan: understand what your pain is (and isn’t), use the right movements at the right time, and train a back your brain can trust.

Gavin demystifies sciatica by showing it’s a description, not a diagnosis, and breaks down the difference between nerve compression and referred pain in plain language. We dig into why some stretches feel great but set you back hours later, how to spot signs of instability, and why most golfers need more mid‑back and hip mobility alongside lower‑back stability. You’ll hear practical warm‑up advice for busy players who sprint from work to the first tee, plus the simple rules that guide safe progress: use it but don’t abuse it, start low and build slow. We also explore proven prevention tools like the McGill Big Three and posterior‑chain training to wake up glutes and hamstrings dulled by sitting.

What makes this conversation different is the mind‑body clarity. Gavin shares his pain equation—how nociception, attention, pain memory, and mindset interact—and shows how safe, confident movement and better stories quiet the alarm. We connect this science to performance: when your back is strong and your plan is measured, the subconscious stops protecting and your swing can finally release. If you want to play multiple days, in any weather, without guarding, this is your blueprint for pain‑free and confident golf.

Grab Gavin’s free scorecard to see where you can improve: go.painfreeandconfident.com. If this helped you, follow the show, share it with a golf buddy who needs it, and leave a quick review so more players can swing without fear.

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To find Justin best, please find him on Instagram @elitegolfswing or email him, justin@elitegolfswing.com

To find Jesse best, also find him on Instagram @flaghuntersgolfpod or TEXT him, (831)275-8804.

Flag Hunters is supported by JumboMax Grips and Mizuno Golf

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We sit down with three-time Asian Tour winner Terry Pilkadaris to explore how fundamentals, course awareness, and structured practice drive real scoring gains. The talk maps his rise, mistakes made chasing trends, and the simple systems he now teaches to players at every level.

• growing up with access to a course and early coaching
• why range work must give way to on-course learning
• wind, lies, grain, and shot choice as scoring levers
• parents, YouTube, and the myth of perfect swings
• handicap-based short game options and risk control
• grip, aim, and ball position before technical changes
• flat cut DNA vs forcing draws under pressure
• wedge distance systems and course fit realities
• measurable putting drills and written practice goals
• practical frameworks to break 100, 90, and 80

Please remember to rate, review, and subscribe, folks

For more information of Terry and how you can reach him, go to www.terrypilkaderisgolf.com

Support the show

To find Justin best, please find him on Instagram @elitegolfswing or email him, justin@elitegolfswing.com

To find Jesse best, also find him on Instagram @flaghuntersgolfpod or TEXT him, (831)275-8804.

Flag Hunters is supported by JumboMax Grips and Mizuno Golf

Send us a text

Want to hit it farther without wrecking your back or your confidence? We sit down with long drive champion Eddie Fernandes to unpack a smarter path to speed—one that starts with better movement, safe rotation, and a nervous system that says yes instead of no. Eddie explains why fast arms and strong hands are the true engine of clubhead speed, how to load the trail side without shredding the lumbar spine, and why cadence beats “ripping from the top” when you want both power and control.

Eddie walks us through his Rotex Motion warm-up: five intentional drills that push rotational limits beyond swing demands so the body feels free, oily, and ready on swing one. He shares why air swings often backfire and how impact-based training triggers bracing that protects joints and converts effort into ball speed. We get into the design of his HITS driver—adjustable weights, real contact, and clear protocols—and how he turns after-session spikes into on-course speed within 8 to 16 weeks. No hype, just a repeatable process built on mobility, impact, and disciplined progression.

We also dig into mindset. Eddie’s 82 at Pebble followed by 68 at Spyglass shows how emotional skill and acceptance unlock performance under pressure. Expect practical insights on rotational mobility, arms-led speed, sequencing, and realistic goal setting, plus why training indoors helps you focus on the metric that matters. If you want sustainable distance, healthier movement, and a calmer head over the ball, this conversation gives you the blueprint.

If this episode helps your game, follow the show, share it with a golf friend who needs speed, and leave a quick review to tell us your biggest takeaway.

Support the show

To find Justin best, please find him on Instagram @elitegolfswing or email him, justin@elitegolfswing.com

To find Jesse best, also find him on Instagram @flaghuntersgolfpod or TEXT him, (831)275-8804.

Flag Hunters is supported by JumboMax Grips and Mizuno Golf