Episodes

You want to get better at golf, so you start tracking some stats in your game in addition to score alone. Are those stats going to give you useful information that you can use to shape your practice plan? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about traditional golf stats like putts per round or fairways per round, and the ways that those numbers might even mislead a golfer to practice things that she might already be very proficient at. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter...

SMS - Scratch Players, Scoring Average, Easy vs Hard Courses

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. The course rating system for handicap purposes is a mystery to many golfers, even some avid ones. What happens to the scoring of a scratch golfer when he plays a course that, by rating, is relatively versus a round on a course with a much higher rating? In this episode, Lou poses that question to Mark and Greg, and then they talk about handicaps, how courses are rated, and how the courses and tees you play might affec...

US Senior Open Recap

Greg Chalmers just completed his second major on the Champions Tour: the US Senior Open! In this episode, he, Mark, and Lou talk through his week at Newport Country Club. He talks about the course and club, the challenges of the late/early tee times that week, the one hole that gave him fits, and the impact his finish has on his season and his Champions Tour career. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: http...

Are Golfers Peaking Earlier?

This past week, Miles Russell played in a PGA Tour event at age 15. Although he didn't make the cut, he did shoot even par for two rounds and beat dozens of established professionals. Earlier this season, Nick Dunlap won a PGA Tour event as a amateur, the first time that had happened in over two decades. In this episode of the podcast, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the rising tide of incredibly talented, incredibly young golfers. They discuss what's causing it, what its effects might be, and wh...

SMS - Greenside Bunkers vs Rough, 10 yards, Scratch and 20 Index

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Greenside bunkers—higher handicappers often dread them, while better players sometimes favor them over being next to the green in the rough. What do the stats say? How much is of a penalty is a bunker over the rough for a scratch player? And for a 20-index? The answers might surprise you, as they certainly surprised Mark and Greg in this episode. Find out where the stats say your game can improve! Each of these will ...

US Open Recap

The 2024 US Open at Pinehurst was electric! A memorable course and a memorable finish give Mark, Lou, and Greg and lot ot talk about. In this episode, they discuss the course (and the role of luck vs skill), the broadcast, Rory's putting woes down the stretch and his quick exit, and Bryson's triumph and celebration(s). 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 ...

Learning from Tour Player Swings, Part 2 (Lag)

Today's episode, Mark again pulls up motion capture data from elite players—this time, Sergio Garcia and Billy Horschel. Sergio is famous for his lag: that deep angle he gets between his lead forearm and the club shaft as he transitions into the downswing. In this episode, Mark asks Lou and Greg to compare that angle between Sergio and Horschel (for the relevant images, check the podcast X account below). Once again: measured data sometimes tells a very different story than single images. Where...

SMS - Percent of US Male Golfers, Plus vs High Index

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Managing expectations isn't just about individual shots. What percentage of golfers reach a plus index? And how many golfers maintain a relatively high handicap? In this Saturday stat, we join Lou, Mark, and Greg to talk about the ends of the bell curve of the handicaps. 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, ...

Champions Tour Midseason Recap

Right now, we're about halfway through Greg Chalmer's first season on the PGA Champions Tour. In this episode, he and Lou and Mark recap the season thus far. In addition, they talk about Greg's road ahead: what he needs to do the remainder of the season to secure status on the Champions Tour next year, so that he won't have to keep qualifying into tournaments (though he's been doing that really well). Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscri...

Lexi Thompson and Golf Social Media

In recent days, Lexi Thompson announced her retirement from professional golf. In this episode, Greg, Lou, and Mark talk about the reasons behind her decision. What is it like to travel on a tour for 15 years? How is a person supposed to handle being accessible online, where every anonymous person can make the cruelest comments about you? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline ...

SMS - 5 Index Players, Age 20s vs 60s, SG Short Game

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Sometimes the stats confirm long-held suspicions. Sometimes they overturn them. In today's episode, Lou asks us to consider two 5-index golfers. One of them is in his 20s; the other in his 60s. Which of them, on average, has the better short game? And by how much? Greg and Mark register their guesses, and then the three of them talk about how differing golfers of all ages can make improvements to their games to give t...

2024 Senior PGA Championship Recap

Greg Chalmers played his first Champions Tour major—and was this close to winning the whole thing! In this episode, Greg joins Mark and Lou to talk through the event, including the tense final stretch, in which Greg had the lead before he was overtaken on the final few holes. 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/4golfo...

Learning from Tour Player Swings, Part 2 (Trail Elbow)