{"id":211,"date":"2025-07-21T16:02:33","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T23:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/?p=211"},"modified":"2025-07-21T16:02:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T23:02:33","slug":"golf-performance-and-barbell-training-with-mckenna-murphy-stronger-is-better-podcast-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/golf-performance-and-barbell-training-with-mckenna-murphy-stronger-is-better-podcast-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Golf Performance and Barbell Training with McKenna Murphy | Stronger is Better Podcast #8"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"lyte-wrapper\" title=\"Golf Performance and Barbell Training with McKenna Murphy | Stronger is Better Podcast #8\" style=\"width:640px;max-width:100%;margin:5px;\"><div class=\"lyMe hidef\" id=\"WYL_fnkxqufYPug\" itemprop=\"video\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/VideoObject\"><div><meta itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FfnkxqufYPug%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"embedURL\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fnkxqufYPug\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT58M25S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2025-07-21T05:15:04Z\" \/><\/div><div id=\"lyte_fnkxqufYPug\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FfnkxqufYPug%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg\" class=\"pL\"><div class=\"tC\"><div class=\"tT\" itemprop=\"name\">Golf Performance and Barbell Training with McKenna Murphy | Stronger is Better Podcast #8<\/div><\/div><div class=\"play\"><\/div><div class=\"ctrl\"><div class=\"Lctrl\"><\/div><div class=\"Rctrl\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><noscript><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/fnkxqufYPug\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FfnkxqufYPug%2F0.jpg\" alt=\"Golf Performance and Barbell Training with McKenna Murphy | Stronger is Better Podcast #8\" width=\"640\" height=\"340\" \/><br \/>Watch this video on YouTube<\/a><\/noscript><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"In Episode 8 of the Stronger is Better Podcast, Nick Delgadillo sits down with elite junior golfer McKenna Murphy and her Starting Strength Coach, Pete Troupos, to discuss how barbell training played a critical role in elevating McKenna\u2019s golf performance. From winning the U.S. Kids Teen World Championship to earning a D1 scholarship at South Alabama, McKenna shares her journey and how lifting\u2014particularly squats and deadlifts\u2014directly improved her club head speed, consistency, and endurance on the course. Pete gives insight into programming for a high-level youth athlete and highlights the value of adapting barbell training to support a primary sport rather than compete with it. Whether you\u2019re a coach, parent, or athlete looking for that performance edge, this episode showcases how strength training can transform golf\u2014and why it might be the X-factor you\u2019ve overlooked. 00:00 \u2013 Intro: Meet McKenna Murphy and Coach Pete Troupos 01:16 \u2013 The link between barbell training and golf performance 02:51 \u2013 Pete\u2019s coaching background and Starting Strength journey 06:05 \u2013 McKenna\u2019s athletic background and how she started lifting 10:00 \u2013 Winning the U.S. Kids Teen World Championship 13:56 \u2013 How competitive junior golf really is 17:14 \u2013 Technical vs. mental breakthroughs in tournament play 18:58 \u2013 Club head speed, consistency, and fatigue resistance 21:17 \u2013 A 10 mph club head speed gain: how rare is that? 24:02 \u2013 Pete reflects on tracking performance gains through strength 27:45 \u2013 Observations from golf coaches and peers 32:08 \u2013 Why strength needs to come before \u201cgolf-specific\u201d training 34:00 \u2013 Golf as a sport: redefining athleticism 37:51 \u2013 McKenna\u2019s college schedule: balancing golf and strength 41:23 \u2013 Adjusting programming around tournaments and travel 44:34 \u2013 The coach\u2019s role: strength serves the athlete\u2019s goals 46:19 \u2013 Is golf hard on the body? 48:34 \u2013 Future plans: McKenna\u2019s goal of turning pro 50:51 \u2013 1,400+ swings a week: what elite training volume looks like 53:00 \u2013 Strength training as the untapped differentiator in golf 56:04 \u2013 Final thoughts: strength + consistency = performance 57:39 \u2013 Thanks and closing remarks \ud83d\udd17 Brought to you by Starting Strength Gyms \ud83c\udfa7 New episodes every other week on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify \ud83d\udce9 Send feedback or questions to: podcast@ssgyms.com *Connect With* #startingstrengthgyms https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/startingstrengthgyms https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/startingstrengthgyms https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/starting-strength-gyms \ud83d\udd17 *Book your free 30-min session:* https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/free-session.html?utm_source=youtube&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=ytreferral \ud83d\udd17 *Own a Gym:* https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/own-a-gym.html?utm_source=youtube&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=ytreferral \ud83d\udd17 *Train at a gym:* https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/locations.html?utm_source=youtube&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=ytreferral \ud83d\udd17 *Coach at a gym:* https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/become-a-coach.html?utm_source=youtube&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=ytreferral \ud83d\udd17 *Shop for apparel:* https:\/\/store.startingstrengthgyms.com?utm_source=youtube&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=ytreferral #startingstrengthgyms #startingstrength #strengthtraining #fitness\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"lL\" style=\"max-width:100%;width:640px;margin:5px;\"><\/div><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>In Episode 8 of the Stronger is Better Podcast, Nick Delgadillo sits down with elite junior golfer McKenna Murphy and her Starting Strength Coach, Pete Troupos, to discuss how barbell training played a critical role in elevating McKenna\u2019s golf performance. From winning the U.S. Kids Teen World Championship to earning a D1 scholarship at South Alabama, McKenna shares her journey and how lifting\u2014particularly squats and deadlifts\u2014directly improved her club head speed, consistency, and endurance on the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pete gives insight into programming for a high-level youth athlete and highlights the value of adapting barbell training to support a primary sport rather than compete with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re a coach, parent, or athlete looking for that performance edge, this episode showcases how strength training can transform golf\u2014and why it might be the X-factor you\u2019ve overlooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>00:00 \u2013 Intro: Meet McKenna Murphy and Coach Pete Troupos<br>01:16 \u2013 The link between barbell training and golf performance<br>02:51 \u2013 Pete\u2019s coaching background and Starting Strength journey<br>06:05 \u2013 McKenna\u2019s athletic background and how she started lifting<br>10:00 \u2013 Winning the U.S. Kids Teen World Championship<br>13:56 \u2013 How competitive junior golf really is<br>17:14 \u2013 Technical vs. mental breakthroughs in tournament play<br>18:58 \u2013 Club head speed, consistency, and fatigue resistance<br>21:17 \u2013 A 10 mph club head speed gain: how rare is that?<br>24:02 \u2013 Pete reflects on tracking performance gains through strength<br>27:45 \u2013 Observations from golf coaches and peers<br>32:08 \u2013 Why strength needs to come before \u201cgolf-specific\u201d training<br>34:00 \u2013 Golf as a sport: redefining athleticism<br>37:51 \u2013 McKenna\u2019s college schedule: balancing golf and strength<br>41:23 \u2013 Adjusting programming around tournaments and travel<br>44:34 \u2013 The coach\u2019s role: strength serves the athlete\u2019s goals<br>46:19 \u2013 Is golf hard on the body?<br>48:34 \u2013 Future plans: McKenna\u2019s goal of turning pro<br>50:51 \u2013 1,400+ swings a week: what elite training volume looks like<br>53:00 \u2013 Strength training as the untapped differentiator in golf<br>56:04 \u2013 Final thoughts: strength + consistency = performance<br>57:39 \u2013 Thanks and closing remarks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Episode 8 of the Stronger is Better Podcast, Nick Delgadillo sits down with elite junior golfer McKenna Murphy and her Starting Strength Coach, Pete Troupos, to discuss how barbell training played a critical role in elevating McKenna\u2019s golf performance. From winning the U.S. Kids Teen World Championship to earning a D1 scholarship at South [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[9,10],"class_list":["post-211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-podcast","tag-starting-strength-gyms","tag-stronger-is-better"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":127,"url":"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/simplifying-advanced-programming-stronger-is-better-podcast-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":211,"position":0},"title":"Simplifying Advanced Programming | Stronger is Better Podcast #1","author":"Bre Acosta","date":"April 16, 2025","format":"video","excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/BGOR6Ho8UXA Welcome to Episode 1 of the Stronger is Better Podcast, brought to you by Starting Strength Gyms and hosted by Nick Delgadillo. 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