Episodes

Recorded before last week's Senior PGA Championship, this episode features discussion with Greg, Mark, and Lou and Greg prepares for his first Champions Tour major. We know, with the benefit of hindsight, that Greg played really well, finishing third. Here, we'll listen to how Greg got ready for the tournament, tweaking some of his equipment (especially his putter), honing his practice, and getting some competitive reps before the Major Championship. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly ...

Home Launch Monitors

What used to be the exclusive property of fitting studios, high-end coaches, and touring professionals is now accessible for the amateur golfer. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk home launch monitors. What kinds of options should you consider? What benefit could such a device be to your game? And what might the future hold for this golf improvement technology? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: ht...

SMS - Upper Percentile Driving Distances

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. How long is 267 yards? Not in distance, of course: but where would a male golfer whose median drive is 267 rank among his peers? Today, Lou poses that question (and also 284 yards) to Mark and Greg, and the answer will probably surprise you. Expectation management, for the win yet again. 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 m...

Practice Swings

Practice swings: useful? Necessary? Time-waster? What are your practice swings for? What about practice swings when you're practicing? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about practice. Should you take a practice swing? If so, for what reason? What should you be trying to accomplish? Here is practical advice to maximize your practice time and get you in the best position to hit your best shots on the course. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgo...

Team Golf

Today's topic: team golf. This discussion is wide-ranging. Mark, Lou, and Greg discuss their own experiences playing team golf, and how it differs for them from playing individually. But then the discussion shifts to team golf at the collegiate and professional levels, and whether the team component helps—or hinders—the enjoyment of being a golf fan and spectator. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https:...

SMS - Special PGA Championship Edition

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. On this major weekend, we have a special episode: this week, Mark asks the questions! Mark has some trivia—even Greggie-related trivia—from the history of the PGA Championship, and this week pits Lou vs. Greg in answering the questions. 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 ...

Repairing Pitch Marks

It's one of the basics of golf etiquette: repair your pitch marks. And yet, almost universally, golfers complain that the other guys don't do it. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg tackle the topic of pitch marks. They float some theories as to why there are so many unrepaired craters in the greens and why the normal campaigns to get more people fixing their ball marks don't seem to be working. There might be more to this than you expected. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newslett...

Pre-round Warm-up

How do you get ready for a round? Is your warm-up the sprint from the car to the first tee? Or do you have a scripted-to-the-minute routine, complete with a full physio, range session, short game practice, and a putting schedule? (Looking at you, Lou.) In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg give pointers from their own experience on Tour, coaching, and playing as to the best ways to get the most out of your pre-round warm-ups, so that you put yourself in the very best position to play your best go...

SMS - 100-109 yards, Up and Down, Scratch vs 15

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, the shot under consideration is the obvious green light: the chance to get up and down from about 100 yards away. How often does a scratch player actually accomplish that? What about a 15-handicap? In this episode, Lou brings the numbers for Mark and Greg, and then the guys talk about the proper expectations for this shot—including something too far from many amateurs' minds: avoiding the big numbe...

Professional Tour TV Ratings

How much golf have you been watching? In this episode, Greg brings the numbers (Lou is impressed) on this season's steep decline in TV viewership of the Tour. Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the factors that might be contributing to this downturn, including the play, the product, and the switch to streaming instead of TV. They also discuss the link—if there is any—between golf viewership on TV and golf participation at your local course. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: ht...

Walking vs. Cart/Buggy vs. Trolley/Pushcart

How do you get around the golf course? Do you walk and carry your bag? Or do you push a pushcart/trolley? Or do you typically ride a cart/buggy? [Also, could we please get an the English speakers around the world to adopt one language?] In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about how they prefer their golf commute. Lou talks about the effect of walking vs carting on scoring, and Greg talks about removing regulators, but not Gregulators. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter...

Saturday Morning Golf Stat - 20 Yards, 15 Index, PW vs LW

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In this week's stat, an ordinary golfer is 20 yards from the hole with a reasonable amount of green to work with. Should he use his LW or PW? Lou quizzes Mark and Greg on this question, and the three of them have a great discussion that might well help you make choices on the course that will save you fractional strokes—fractional strokes that become full strokes off your score by the end of the round. Each of these ...

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