S06E192 Movement Mastery: S06E192 How Diverse Coaching Experience Creates Better Athletes with Special Guest Kristy Link

The HERD FIT

Veteran coach Kristy Link returns to share her fascinating journey from CrossFit gym owner to golf fitness specialist, revealing how diverse coaching experiences create better, more adaptable coaches.
Kristy begins by reflecting on her transition after selling Brazen CrossFit, one of New Jersey's original CrossFit gyms known for its distinctive go-for-broke style and fiercely competitive athletes. She discusses how her coaching philosophy has evolved through teaching different populations – from complete beginners to high-level CrossFit competitors, and now collegiate swimmers and golfers.
The conversation explores the progression of becoming a better coach through diverse experiences. From teaching herself Olympic lifting movements when resources were scarce to eventually training other coaches, Kristy emphasizes how learning from mistakes creates intuitive coaching wisdom. She shares how her background in yoga has enhanced her understanding of mobility and movement patterns critical for athletic performance across disciplines.
We dive deep into golf-specific training, with Kristy explaining why mobility often edges out pure strength for golf performance. The rotational strength required for the golf swing highlights a gap in many fitness programs – including CrossFit – that neglect this critical plane of movement. Through her TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) screening process, Kristy assesses golf clients' limitations and designs programs addressing their specific needs beyond merely "hitting the ball farther."
The discussion touches on the mental aspects of golf performance, the challenge of maintaining focus during a four-hour round, and how physical preparation creates mental confidence. We examine why golf requires a different mental approach than CrossFit, where you can simply "try harder" – in golf, sometimes you need to try less.
Ready to improve your movement quality for golf or any other athletic pursuit? Follow Kristy at KristyLink.com or @Kristy_link on Instagram to connect with a coach whose diverse experience might be exactly what you need to break through your current limitations.
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Chapters

1. Introduction to Christy Link (00:00:00)

2. Early CrossFit Coaching Experiences (00:05:20)

3. Core Values as a Coach (00:14:35)

4. Training College Athletes (00:19:31)

5. Golf Fitness Training Foundations (00:26:58)

6. Rotational Strength for Golf Performance (00:34:11)

7. Working with Different Types of Golfers (00:41:32)

8. The Mental Side of Golf (00:51:20)

9. Coaching Wisdom and Final Thoughts (00:55:02)