Finding the Edge

Author: Garrett Boyum, Robert Frey, Garrett Baker, and formerly Brock Hammit

Finding the Edge: Exploring Skill Acquisition and Analytics for Player Development. We are a group of guys who are passionate about baseball and player development. Join us as we explore how motor learning, skill acquisition, and data analytic theories can be applied to improving game-day performance. Hosted by Garrett Boyum, Robert Frey, Garrett Baker, and formerly Brock Hammit.
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Language: en

Genres: Baseball, Sports

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Beyond Drills: A Multi-Discipline Foundation for Player Development with Tommy Johnson
Wednesday, 26 November, 2025

On this episode we talk with Tommy Johnson, the owner of Primal 1 Baseball facility in Gaithersburg, MD. Tommy is a seasoned baseball coach with a unique journey from professional baseball to earning a doctorate in kinesiology. Tommy shares his deep dive into various training methodologies, biomechanics, and the importance of skill acquisition frameworks for player development.00:00 Introduction and Guest Background01:25 Tommy's Baseball Journey02:17 Rebranding and Business Evolution06:08 The Importance of Teamwork in Player Development11:51 Gateway to Skill Acquisition22:44 Strength and Conditioning Insights48:24 Sub-Max Training and Injury Risks48:51 Training Tendons with Isometrics49:25 Integrating Different Training Modalities50:55 The Importance of Apprenticeship52:20 Breathing and Biomechanics53:56 PRI and FRC in Pain Management54:44 Challenges with PRI and FRC55:32 The Role of Posture and Movement58:04 FRC and Athletic Performance01:04:14 The Spiral Line and Fascial Slings01:24:12 Perception and Reaction in Training01:30:38 Innovative Eye-Tracking Device for Athletes01:31:46 Perception and Performance in Sports01:32:45 Exploring Functional Variability01:33:35 Virtual Reality in Sports Training01:34:51 Visualization and Automaticity01:35:57 Biomechanics and Performance Anxiety01:37:30 The Role of Biomechanics in Skill Acquisition01:39:44 Ecological Dynamics and Target Connection01:42:28 Exploring and Exploiting Constraints01:44:44 The Interplay of Biomechanics and Performance01:51:35 Cultural Biomechanics and Training Adaptations02:08:15 Contextualizing Stats in Baseball02:08:46 Determining the Right Angles for Players02:09:01 Stages of Learning and Repetition02:09:32 Evaluating VBA and Player Performance02:10:37 Advanced Bat Tracking and Analysis02:12:10 Importance of Variability in Training02:12:27 Role of Coaches as Guides02:13:20 Integrating FRC into Hitting02:16:28 Challenges in Applying Motor Preferences02:17:40 Complexity in Movement and Training02:23:10 Importance of Contextual Learning02:41:53 Balancing Strategy and Mechanics02:46:33 Final Thoughts and Future DiscussionsIntro music by: Muellzy⁠⁠ / muellzymusic ⁠⁠Support Us & learn more about Ecological Dynamics (links below)⁠Donate to Finding the Edge:⁠⁠⁠⁠ buymeacoffee.com/ftepod⁠⁠⁠⁠Ecological Dynamics ResourcesResources from Emergence a movement skill education company dedicated to helping coaches learn how to apply an ecological approach to understanding and developing movement skill.Get 7% off most courses by using code: Edge7Educational Products: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://emergentmvmt.com/shop-2/⁠⁠⁠⁠Social MediaTwitter: ⁠⁠@Emergentmvmt⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠@Emergentmvmt⁠⁠Patreon:⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠emergentmvmt⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us!Join our Discord: ⁠⁠bit.ly/3a07z1B⁠⁠Find us on Twitter: @FTEpod@gboyum01@RobertFrey40@kyledupic@CoachgbakerSubscribe on Youtube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@findingtheedge⁠