Athlete Spotlight: Josh Cummins’ Journey to Excellence

Josh has been training with us for close to three years now. Over the course of those three years, he has moved from an individual with no experience in the weight room to one classified as an advanced lifter. Not only has his performance in the weight room improved, but his on-course performance has also seen incredible advancements. Remarkably, he has not experienced any injuries during his three years of training, which could have set him back. Josh’s story exemplifies what it takes to progress from never stepping foot in a weight room to excelling in both training and sports performance.

Josh’s Metrics:

Initial Metrics:

- Club Head Speed: 100 mph

- Ball Speed: 148 mph

- Driver Carry: 240 yards

Current Results:

- Club Head Speed: 124 mph (+24 mph)

- Ball Speed: 184 mph (+44 mph)

- Driver Carry: 324 yards (+84 yards)

While Josh’s improvement wasn't immediate, he has significantly enhanced his game of golf, with tangible improvements in his scores.

Year 1:

In Josh's first year of training, he was just starting high school with the goal of improving mobility and preventing injuries on the golf course. His training primarily focused on introductory movements to learn the fundamentals of the weight room. Despite focusing on introductory movements, beginners like Josh can make consistent gains in strength and power. This phase not only established a foundation of quality movement and mobility but also built a solid work capacity foundation. Work capacity, often overlooked in training, is crucial for preventing injuries in golf. By enhancing his capacity for work, Josh could train harder and spend more time honing his skills compared to his peers. This foundational phase of training has continued to benefit Josh throughout subsequent years.

Year 2:

With the foundation laid in year one, Josh's second year of training focused on further developing work capacity and strength. During this year, he progressed to incorporate barbell lifts safely and effectively, which contributed to impressive strength gains. By loading introductory movements with heavier weights and increasing overall volume, Josh achieved significant milestones such as front squatting over 200 pounds and deadlifting over 350 pounds, all while still a sophomore in high school. These achievements are a testament to the groundwork laid in the previous year and the dedication Josh demonstrated.

Year 3:

Having built a strong foundation and achieved significant strength gains, Josh's third year of training shifted focus towards speed and power development. This phase saw remarkable improvements in his performance metrics. More emphasis was placed on exercises such as medicine ball drills, plyometrics, and sport-specific speed work. While movement and strength qualities were still addressed, Josh, being an advanced lifter, required minimal maintenance in these areas. Starting with speed and power exercises wouldn’t have been as beneficial for Josh initially, as he needed to learn proper movement patterns and build strength to support his increased speeds safely.

Here's what Josh had to say about his three-year journey:

"Training with Ashton has significantly improved my golf game. Before starting with him, it would take months to fix issues in my swing. Now, I can address those problems in a matter of weeks because the weaker muscles causing them are much stronger. Training has also boosted my swing speed by at least 20 mph. Initially, my swing speed was around 100 mph, and I could only hit the ball 240-250 yards. But now, I consistently swing at 120 mph and hit over 300 yards, drastically lowering my tournament scores. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. This is something my dad always says when facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and it's a mantra I've adopted in my golf game and life overall."

Josh’s dad, Alan, also shared his thoughts on the training:

"Josh thoroughly enjoys his workouts and has made tremendous gains in core and overall body strength. He has better control over his club speed and ball flight, and his sense of accountability on and off the course has grown. His golf friends have noticed his improvement and have started working out with Ashton as well. We are incredibly proud of Josh and his commitment to his training."