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Episodes

July 4, 2025

SMS - 120 in Fairway, Scratch and 10, Strokes to Hole Out

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, the question is straightforward, but the format is not. Greg is absent, so Mark is taking on a few of the podcast listeners. The question: from 125 in the fairway, how many strokes would it take a scratch and a 10-index golfer on average to finish the hole? Can Mark guess better than our (very educated) audience? Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf s...
July 4, 2025

SMS - 120 in Fairway, Scratch and 10, Strokes to Hole Out

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, the question is straightforward, but the format is not. Greg is absent, so Mark is taking on a few of the podcast listeners. The question: from 125 in the fairway, how many strokes would it take a scratch and a 10-index golfer on average to finish the hole? Can Mark guess better than our (very educated) audience? Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf s...
July 2, 2025

The Value of Practice Swings

Do you take a practice swing? Or ten? Why? Out of habit, or are you accomplishing something on purpose? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg analyze the value of the practice swing. Is it technical—or too technical? Does it help with producing the upcoming shot—or is it itself a distraction and an excuse? What about practice swings for chipping and putting? Whatever your current practice on practice, there's something here to sharpen your preparation for the next swing. Where to find us: Mark ...
July 2, 2025

The Value of Practice Swings

Do you take a practice swing? Or ten? Why? Out of habit, or are you accomplishing something on purpose? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg analyze the value of the practice swing. Is it technical—or too technical? Does it help with producing the upcoming shot—or is it itself a distraction and an excuse? What about practice swings for chipping and putting? Whatever your current practice on practice, there's something here to sharpen your preparation for the next swing. Where to find us: Mark ...
June 29, 2025

Controlling Your Misses

We all want to have better control of our face and path on the course, to rein in the big miss. But knowing that not all shots will go exactly as we intend, are there other things within our control that can limit the damage of a shot that goes offline? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg give very practical advice for keeping control of your game, even without perfect control of your ball. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark C...
June 29, 2025

Controlling Your Misses

We all want to have better control of our face and path on the course, to rein in the big miss. But knowing that not all shots will go exactly as we intend, are there other things within our control that can limit the damage of a shot that goes offline? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg give very practical advice for keeping control of your game, even without perfect control of your ball. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark C...
June 27, 2025

SMS - 10 Index, Effect of Short-Siding

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. You're going to miss greens. But can you miss them better? In this episode, Lou quizzes Greg and Mark about the effect of short-side misses on the score of an average golfer. This is information that you can put to practical use when you choose your targets in your next round. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn, and most importa...
June 27, 2025

SMS - 10 Index, Effect of Short-Siding

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. You're going to miss greens. But can you miss them better? In this episode, Lou quizzes Greg and Mark about the effect of short-side misses on the score of an average golfer. This is information that you can put to practical use when you choose your targets in your next round. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn, and most importa...
June 25, 2025

Responsible Golf Tournament Setup

Golf's major championships are often held at some of the sport's most iconic courses, and it has Mark, Greg, and Lou discussing whether the extravagant setups and course conditions for these tournaments are having a bad effect on golf more generally. Whether its green and fairway sizes or rough depth, there are elements that have cost in money, environment, and pace of play. Should these tournaments think about the example they set for other courses? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly ...
June 25, 2025

Responsible Golf Tournament Setup

Golf's major championships are often held at some of the sport's most iconic courses, and it has Mark, Greg, and Lou discussing whether the extravagant setups and course conditions for these tournaments are having a bad effect on golf more generally. Whether its green and fairway sizes or rough depth, there are elements that have cost in money, environment, and pace of play. Should these tournaments think about the example they set for other courses? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly ...
June 22, 2025

Lower Body Movement in the Golf Swing

Lou's been back to focusing on fitness and mobility, and he's wondering: how will gaining range of motion in his hips and legs affect his swing? Mark offers some answers, and he and Lou and Greg talk about how physical limitations change swings, how they work on those limitations, and Lou's recent form of play. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline Mark Crossfield on YouTube:...
June 22, 2025

Lower Body Movement in the Golf Swing

Lou's been back to focusing on fitness and mobility, and he's wondering: how will gaining range of motion in his hips and legs affect his swing? Mark offers some answers, and he and Lou and Greg talk about how physical limitations change swings, how they work on those limitations, and Lou's recent form of play. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline Mark Crossfield on YouTube:...
June 20, 2025

SMS - Rough Equivalent of 200 Yards in FW, Scratch, 10, and 20

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Being in the fairway is better than being in the rough—but by how much? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark how close in the rough golfers of differing skills levels would need to be to average the same number of shots to hole out as they do from 200 in the fairway. The answers might surprise you; they certainly surprised Greg and Mark. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interestin...
June 20, 2025

SMS - Rough Equivalent of 200 Yards in FW, Scratch, 10, and 20

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Being in the fairway is better than being in the rough—but by how much? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark how close in the rough golfers of differing skills levels would need to be to average the same number of shots to hole out as they do from 200 in the fairway. The answers might surprise you; they certainly surprised Greg and Mark. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interestin...
June 18, 2025

How Many Mistakes Is Too Many?

Mistake-free golf is an always illusive grail. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about mistakes in golf. First, they talk about kinds of mistakes, from mistakes in planning to execution. Then they talk about the inevitability of mistakes—and how handling mistakes well, rather than hoping to eliminate them altogether, might be the recipe for your best golf performance. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twi...
June 18, 2025

How Many Mistakes Is Too Many?

Mistake-free golf is an always illusive grail. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about mistakes in golf. First, they talk about kinds of mistakes, from mistakes in planning to execution. Then they talk about the inevitability of mistakes—and how handling mistakes well, rather than hoping to eliminate them altogether, might be the recipe for your best golf performance. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twi...
June 15, 2025

Your Best Swing Tip Ever

From the range to magazines to social media sites, swing tips have been—and will likely always be—a key element of golf culture. In this episode, Lou, Mark, and Greg each share the best swing tip they've encountered. From three very different perspectives (an avid amateur, a coach, and a touring pro), you're likely to find something here that will help improve your golf. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter:...
June 15, 2025

Your Best Swing Tip Ever

From the range to magazines to social media sites, swing tips have been—and will likely always be—a key element of golf culture. In this episode, Lou, Mark, and Greg each share the best swing tip they've encountered. From three very different perspectives (an avid amateur, a coach, and a touring pro), you're likely to find something here that will help improve your golf. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter:...
June 14, 2025

SMS - A Mega Stat Episode

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode has it all: a grab-bag of stats, Mark misunderstanding the question, an epic rules controversy, and solid knowledge about golf that will help you improve. Is it the last Saturday Stat episode ever? Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn, and most importantly, how you can apply this on the golf course to lower your sc...
June 14, 2025

SMS - A Mega Stat Episode

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode has it all: a grab-bag of stats, Mark misunderstanding the question, an epic rules controversy, and solid knowledge about golf that will help you improve. Is it the last Saturday Stat episode ever? Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn, and most importantly, how you can apply this on the golf course to lower your sc...
June 11, 2025

What's in Lou's Bag?

What's in Lou's bag? In this episode, Mark and Lou answer that question. From Lou's love of high-lofted fairway woods to his left-handed putter (when all of his other clubs are right-handed), they discuss not only what Lou plays, but what kinds of choices you can make for your own club setup to play your best golf. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline Mark Crossfield on YouT...
June 11, 2025

What's in Lou's Bag?

What's in Lou's bag? In this episode, Mark and Lou answer that question. From Lou's love of high-lofted fairway woods to his left-handed putter (when all of his other clubs are right-handed), they discuss not only what Lou plays, but what kinds of choices you can make for your own club setup to play your best golf. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline Mark Crossfield on YouT...
June 8, 2025

Play vs Practice for Improvement

You want to get better at golf. Where is improvement to be found: on the course or the range? In this episode, Mark and Lou give answers to this question—and there isn't one simple answer. Play on course has advantages: ultimately, scoring better in the goal. But it can be hard to use the course for practice, and there are questions about posting scores. Range practice might be better for certain changes, but introducing pressure to perform at the right time is a skill. There's a lot of good inf...
June 8, 2025

Play vs Practice for Improvement

You want to get better at golf. Where is improvement to be found: on the course or the range? In this episode, Mark and Lou give answers to this question—and there isn't one simple answer. Play on course has advantages: ultimately, scoring better in the goal. But it can be hard to use the course for practice, and there are questions about posting scores. Range practice might be better for certain changes, but introducing pressure to perform at the right time is a skill. There's a lot of good inf...