Episodes

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

Today's episode of the podcast looks at another element of a top level swing: the speed the grip is moving. For Rory, when hitting driver, how fast are his hands moving? Is he faster in his downswing than his backswing? If so, by how much? And maybe even more importantly: when are his hands moving the fastest in his swing? Mark leads Greg and Lou through these questions and their answers, and then they discuss why this matters—and how putting the speed into your swing at the right time can help ...

SMS - 7 iron from FW, Greens hit, Scratch and 15 index

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. 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 scores and lower your handicap. Listen on your drive to the golf course or over your Saturday morning coffee! Data is sourced from Arccos Golf. They have over 750 MILLION shots in their database. Check them out at...

Are We Getting Custom Fitting All Wrong?

You're looking to buy new clubs, and you know you should get fitted for them. But what does that mean? How many clubs in your bag should be customized for you? Is there a difference between your 8 iron fitting and your 6 iron? In this episode, Mark leads a discussion with Greg and Lou about what we should be expecting from custom fitting. They cover a ton of ground: the benefits of fitting, why individual club fitting isn't done (though it has real benefits), who should be fitted, and what you s...

Learning From Tour Player Swings, Part 10 (Distance Between Elbows)

Mark, Lou, and Greg continue to take measured data from Tour swings and see what it tells us for making real improvement in our games. In this episode, Mark quizzes Greg and Lou about the elbows: particularly, how far apart Lydia Ko's elbows are at address versus at the top of the swing. Do they get closer together, further apart, or maintain the same distance? And what about one of Mark's own measured swings? You've seen training holds that either hold the elbows together (with a sleeve or a st...

SMS - 5 Index, 75 FW, Up and Down vs 4 or More

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode is a "manage your expectations" special. We have a very good player, a 5-index, 75 yards from the hole in the fairway. How often is he getting up and down from there? How often is it taking him 4 or more shots to finish that hole? This is certainly an episode that will confound the Twitter golfers! All three of our hosts then offer sound strategies for improving your scores—realistically—in these "gree...

Indoor Putting Practice