Episodes

Today's episode is wide-ranging: we begin with a recap of one of Mark's old tournaments and conclude with Mark and Lou's thoughts going into Scottie's final round of this past weekend's Open Championship. But in between, the heart of the discussion has to do with commentary on golf—including a shockingly inaccurate explanation from last week's major. How important is good information in golf commentary? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subsc...

In this episode, Mark and Lou take a listener question: what are some ways in which we might approach match play strategy differently than we would stroke play? For American listeners, who play less match play than in other countries, this might be helpful on a subject you haven't thought much about. For others, you will find pointers for a style of golf you play more often and want to succeed at. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe ...

In this episode, Mark and Lou take a listener question: what are some ways in which we might approach match play strategy differently than we would stroke play? For American listeners, who play less match play than in other countries, this might be helpful on a subject you haven't thought much about. For others, you will find pointers for a style of golf you play more often and want to succeed at. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe ...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Greg is back, and today's question is one heard on ranges and tee boxes around the world: how far do you hit your 8-iron? Lou asks Greg and Mark about scratch and 15-index players, and then both of them talk about how far they hit their 8-irons, and how that can vary tremendously based on the situation. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you ...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Greg is back, and today's question is one heard on ranges and tee boxes around the world: how far do you hit your 8-iron? Lou asks Greg and Mark about scratch and 15-index players, and then both of them talk about how far they hit their 8-irons, and how that can vary tremendously based on the situation. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you ...

Gregulators: Mount up! In this episode, Mark and Lou come to you live on course, following Greg and offering running commentary on his second round of the Dick's Open. Follow along as Greg puts together a really great round of golf, getting himself near the top of the leaderboard. Also in this episode: snack breaks and an informative series of hand gestures from Dougie to Lou. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Tw...

Gregulators: Mount up! In this episode, Mark and Lou come to you live on course, following Greg and offering running commentary on his second round of the Dick's Open. Follow along as Greg puts together a really great round of golf, getting himself near the top of the leaderboard. Also in this episode: snack breaks and an informative series of hand gestures from Dougie to Lou. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Tw...

Lou talks a lot about expectations on the course. But golf has a built-in system of expectations: when you get to a new hole, the first two bits of information you normally want are yardage and par. That par number sets some expectation of how the hole should be played. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about whether the concept of par helps or hurts your approach to playing a hole. They discuss strategies for focusing on what you can control right now, so that you are in the best positi...

Lou talks a lot about expectations on the course. But golf has a built-in system of expectations: when you get to a new hole, the first two bits of information you normally want are yardage and par. That par number sets some expectation of how the hole should be played. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about whether the concept of par helps or hurts your approach to playing a hole. They discuss strategies for focusing on what you can control right now, so that you are in the best positi...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Greg's day job has him occupied again, so Mark and Lou turn to the audience for some competition. Today's question in straightforward: a scratch golfer is in the fairway, 7 iron in hand. What percent of the time will he hit the green? This is a great benchmark number to keep in mind as we aim to have informed expectations. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We wi...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Greg's day job has him occupied again, so Mark and Lou turn to the audience for some competition. Today's question in straightforward: a scratch golfer is in the fairway, 7 iron in hand. What percent of the time will he hit the green? This is a great benchmark number to keep in mind as we aim to have informed expectations. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We wi...

Without question, modern golf is established on a foundation of traditions. But what if it weren't? What if golf were new, and we were building a course today? How would elements of course design and play be imagined if it began today? In this episode, Mark and Lou consider ways that golf could be different—if it is willing to be. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline Mark Cr...

Without question, modern golf is established on a foundation of traditions. But what if it weren't? What if golf were new, and we were building a course today? How would elements of course design and play be imagined if it began today? In this episode, Mark and Lou consider ways that golf could be different—if it is willing to be. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline Mark Cr...

How technical should golf instruction be? In this episode, Mark and Lou discuss whether learning the specific facts of the golf swing will help or hurt golfers. You need to find what works for you—and that might not be what you expect. 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: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: h...

How technical should golf instruction be? In this episode, Mark and Lou discuss whether learning the specific facts of the golf swing will help or hurt golfers. You need to find what works for you—and that might not be what you expect. 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: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: h...

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...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...