Episodes

Welcome back to another episode of the world's hottest PGA Tour Champions podcast! In this episode, recorded before the playoffs started, Greg takes Mark and Lou through the schedule of the final three events of the season: the Schwab Cup Playoffs. Greg enters the playoff in the low-20s, hoping to make a run up the standings for the final event. Join in to hear his plans, as this week is the Schwab Cup Final! Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com...

SMS - 110-119 to the Hole, Birdie vs Bogey, Tour Pro

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, the subject is Greg's peers: the guys on Tour. From 110-119 yards in the fairway, with a wedge in their hand, expectations are high: their expectations, the audience's, and certainly the announcers. What percent of the time do they actually make birdie? What about bogey? In this episode, Lou brings the data to Mark and Greg, and from there, a great conversation unfolds about dealing with setbacks o...

Angle of Attack

It's been a hot topic in the short game in the past couple of years: what is the ideal angle of attack? But this measurement has application throughout your bag, not just in your short game. In this episode, Mark guides Lou and Greg through the meaning of angle of attack, how changing it tends to influence other elements of club delivery, what AoA numbers are ideal for driver and irons, and how to go about changing your attack angle. A mountain of good information for golf improvement here. Whe...

Learning From Tour Pro Swings: Shaft Lean (Driver)

Is the driver swing different from the iron swing? If so, how? In this episode, which is the sequel to last week's episode on iron shaft lean, Mark quizzes Lou and Greg about the driver shaft lean at address and impact. The numbers are...not the same as the iron swing. Stick around in this one: the guesses that Lou and Greg provide lead to a further discussion of driver setup that might really surprise you—and might help you set up for your drives more like a tour pro. Where to find us: Mark C...

SMS - Number of Putts from 50 Feet, Scratch and 20

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, you've hit the green, but you're a long way from home. How many putts does it take, on average, for a scratch golfer to hole out from 50' away? What about the (notorious) 20-handicapper? Mark and Greg offer their best guesses to Lou's question, but then offer some really helpful advice on how to approach these very long putts. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an inte...

How Would You Start Golf Differently?

Today's episode is a thoughtful one. Mark, Lou, and Greg have all been playing golf for years. In those decades, we've learned a lot about the game and the game has changed a lot. If they had to start over, knowing what they know now and how golf would evolve, what would they do differently? This is an important question, for at least two reasons: 1) it's useful for helping other who might just be starting to play, and 2) most of these things are items that, while you might have wanted to start ...

Learning From Tour Pro Swings: Shaft Lean (Irons)

Like lag, shaft lean can be one of those golf buzz/fad terms that can make golfers chase the wrong things. To start, it's good to know what a reasonable standard might. In this episode, Mark has Lou and Greg guessing the average shaft lean for a Tour pro at address and then at impact. From this, they offer useful advice about how ordinary golfers can improve their club delivery to play better golf. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe ...

SMS - 15 Index, Shots to Hole Out from 200 Yards, FW and Rough

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, Lou puts Greg and Mark to the test on their knowledge of long approach shots from an average golfer. What's the difference between a 15-handicap golfer from 200 yards in the rough versus being in the fairway? The answer here is important, because it can alter your entire strategy for a hole, all the way back to the tee. Listen in to improve your game! Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 mi...

Improving Your Putting

The SG revolution has taught us that driving the ball a long way and hitting irons close are the key to consistent scoring. But the fact remains: you have to get the ball in the hole, and most of the time, that means you have to putt. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and (one of the greatest putters in the history of ever) Greg give their thoughts on improving your putting. They talk grip (and playing with new grips), alignment and setup, and the best ways to go about your practice to shave strokes o...

Learning From Tour Pro Swings: Pelvis Lift

Mark continues to use measured Tour pro data to help us all play better golf. In this episode, he has Lou and Greg guessing how the pelvis moves vertically through the golf swing? Is it going up or down on the backswing? By how much? And how does it move returning to impact? Here is a useful episode, because your guesses here (like those of Lou and Greg) may well be entirely wrong, and so learning what really is happening (or is supposed to happen) could help your game enormously. Where to find...

SMS - 7 iron from FW, Median Proximity, Scratch and 15 index

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, Lou addresses the long-standing argument that while scratch players are better than handicap golfers at a specific distance, it's chiefly because they're generally hitting a higher-lofted club from the same distance. So here, the question to Lou and Greg is how far away from the hole, on average, will a scratch golfer be with his 7 iron in the fairway versus a 15-index with his 7 iron? Each of the...

Can Golfers Celebrate?

It's a debate that arises from time to time, especially in conjunction with team events like the Ryder and Presidents Cups: what is an "appropriate" celebration in golf? In today's episode, Lou, Greg, and Mark talk about the unwritten rules about the decorum of celebrating. Where are the lines? Is anything over the top? Or should we all just lighten up and enjoy the entertainment product that is professional golf? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgol...

Learning From Tour Pro Swings: Grip Speed