HACK IT OUT GOLF

We all know that hitting drives further is an important way to lower our scores. And while speed training and better strength make a difference, there are gains to be had at your current swing speed. In this episode, Mark and Lou talk through some of the basic adjustments you can make to your equipment, setup, and swing that gain two clubs off the tee without swinging faster. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Tour pros are good, for sure, but how good? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about the chances that a Tour pro will hit the green from various fairway distances. These are great numbers to manage expectations for those of us who are not close to that level. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Gregulators got a shock while scoreboard watching this past Sunday: Greg was DQ'd?! What happened? In this episode, Greg joins Mark and Lou to explain what happened. This provokes a discussion of the rules of golf and their enforcement: should there be a larger roll for making judgment calls when there's no advantage gained? 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nostalgia in golf often takes the form of pining for the good old days, when the ball actually curved and skilled golfers made it bend around trees, both ways, probably on the same shot. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg consider recent comments by Charley Hull, asking how much golf has changed and what effect that has on the spectator experience. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, our hypothetical golfer is in a lovely position: in the fairway, hitting his second into a par 4 from 75 yards. How often will the unthinkable—double bogey or worse—happen for scratch, 10, and 20 index golfers? Greg and Mark register their guesses, Lou gives the answer, and helpful advice for minimizing those big numbers from a variety of distances follows. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Chalmers grabbed another top-10 in a Champions Tour major, and in this episode, he re-joins Mark and Lou to recap the event. They talk about the course, his play, and focus on one on-course decision that Greg would like to do over. This discussion offers a guide for all of us to make better choices during our rounds. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golf is a crazy game—but some of the stuff that happens with golf is next-level crazy! In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg recount some of their favorite stories of outlandish golf behavior: hit objects, animals, and people; golf being played in decidedly non-golf locations; shenanigans on the course, and even some attempts at bending the rules. Sometimes, we just need to laugh at the absurdity of the game we love. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Greg is back! In today's episode, the question is how much rough matters. At 20, 90, and 250 yards in the rough: at what yardages in the fairway will a 10-index shoot equivalent scores? Lou asks, Mark and Greg answer, and the guys talk about the difficulty of layups and the reward for big misses off the tee. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A veteran LIV golfer finished in the top 50 at the Open Championship—and rose over 3,000 places in the OWGR. Maybe something is amiss with the OWGR? In this episode, Mark and Lou discuss the current state of golf rankings: the OWGR and some of its competitors, including the Data Golf rankings. What do we want from a professional golf ranking system? 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Major season is ended for another year, and so Mark and Lou take a bit to chat about the recently completed Open Championship. They offer opinions on the course and links golf, Scottie's dominance, and Shane Lowry's penalty. Shifting gears, they offer some limited enthusiasm for the new Happy Gilmore movie. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's topic: long putting for average golfers. How often will a 10-index player three-putt from 40 feet? Once again, Mark puts his guess up against our audience, and Lou shares some of his favorite games to make lag-putting practice enjoyable—to shave wasted strokes from your scores. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 position to shoot your best score, and maybe even make a few more pars. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline Lou Stagner's weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lou's been back to focusing on fitness and mobility, and he's wondering: how will gaining range of motion in his hips and legs affect his swing? Mark offers some answers, and he and Lou and Greg talk about how physical limitations change swings, how they work on those limitations, and Lou's recent form of play. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Being in the fairway is better than being in the rough—but by how much? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark how close in the rough golfers of differing skills levels would need to be to average the same number of shots to hole out as they do from 200 in the fairway. The answers might surprise you; they certainly surprised Greg and Mark. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mistake-free golf is an always illusive grail. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about mistakes in golf. First, they talk about kinds of mistakes, from mistakes in planning to execution. Then they talk about the inevitability of mistakes—and how handling mistakes well, rather than hoping to eliminate them altogether, might be the recipe for your best golf performance. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the range to magazines to social media sites, swing tips have been—and will likely always be—a key element of golf culture. In this episode, Lou, Mark, and Greg each share the best swing tip they've encountered. From three very different perspectives (an avid amateur, a coach, and a touring pro), you're likely to find something here that will help improve your golf. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode has it all: a grab-bag of stats, Mark misunderstanding the question, an epic rules controversy, and solid knowledge about golf that will help you improve. Is it the last Saturday Stat episode ever? 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's in Lou's bag? In this episode, Mark and Lou answer that question. From Lou's love of high-lofted fairway woods to his left-handed putter (when all of his other clubs are right-handed), they discuss not only what Lou plays, but what kinds of choices you can make for your own club setup to play your best golf. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You want to get better at golf. Where is improvement to be found: on the course or the range? In this episode, Mark and Lou give answers to this question—and there isn't one simple answer. Play on course has advantages: ultimately, scoring better in the goal. But it can be hard to use the course for practice, and there are questions about posting scores. Range practice might be better for certain changes, but introducing pressure to perform at the right time is a skill. There's a lot of good information here for golf improvement. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. From 150 in the fairway, most golfers are hoping for a pretty decent outcome. But what about the bad outcomes? How often with a scratch player and a 15-index end up with a shot 30 or more yards from the hole? The answer might surprise you (like it did Mark and Greg), and the discussion might help you play some smarter and better golf. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg joins Mark and Lou to talk about his recent performance at the Principal Charity Classic. Greg began with two underwhelming rounds, but caught fire in the third. In this episode, he talks about what worked, how to weather the ups and downs of golf, and then the guys talk about some of the players still competitive for decades on end, and what leads to their success. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even as we're right in the middle of major season, the Ryder Cup looms. Not only will it be the biggest event of the fall, but performance now still has a massive effect on who qualifies to play for Teams Europe and USA. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg discuss the intriguing prospect of Keegan as a playing captain, the role of chemistry in team golf, and the lack of inspiration in American sports chants. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg what percent of the time a 10-index is going to make bogey or worse on each kind of hole on the course. After settling the answers, the guys have a good discussion on avoiding big numbers—which can be a problem for professionals and not just mid-handicap golfers. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In response to some recent (inaccurate) comments about professional ball speeds, Lou assembled a list of the ball speeds of the top-ranked players on the PGA Tour. In this episode, he shares that list with Mark and Greg, and they discuss the biggest surprises, the effect of speed at the highest levels of golf, and the need for accurate data when making decisions about the future of the game, and the 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a recent episode, Lou proposed that Mark should try to qualify for one of the main senior tours. In this episode, Greg re-joins the podcast to give a truly professional opinion on Mark's chances of success. They talk about the amount of commitment required, Mark's psychological approach to the task, and whether Lou is ready to stop trying to take Greg's bag from Doug so that he can caddie for Mark. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. What difference does hitting the fairway make? In this episode, Lou compares golfers of different skill in their ability to hit the green from 125 yards in the fairway versus the rough. Mark and Greg give their guesses, and what follows is a discussion about the skill of controlling a ball with good iron play from the fairway. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's the day: an important league match, a club contest, or maybe a chase for a better index. How should you get ready for your round? In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about how to prepare your body, your swing, and your mind so that you're ready to post the best score possible. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When—and how—should you change your swing? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about when you should consider making a change, the reasons for making a change, and the work that is required to make that change stick. Golf improvement rarely comes by doing exactly what you've always done. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. You've missed the green in the rough, but you're still hoping to get up and down and save a score. How far are you likely to end up from the hole when you're 35 yards away and in the rough? In this episode, Lou quizzes Mark and Greg on median distance by handicap. Afterwards, they reiterate why you need to be aware of what a good shot really is—and how expectation management can increase your performance on the course. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg's well into his 2025 Champions Tour season, and in this episode, he joins Mark and Lou to recap the season so far. They discuss where he currently stands in the race for the Schwab Cup, how he works on his game during the season, and what keeps him playing golf at this stage of his career. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark's recent match with Greg got Lou thinking: should Mark try to qualify for the Champions Tour or Legends Tour? In this episode, Lou is in the uncomfortable position of having to say nice things about Mark. He observes Mark's skill (despite unstructured practice) and the way Mark has added distance while avoiding the gym. Mark ponders the possibility, and they both solicit feedback from the audience about whether they think Mark should give this a run. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. How far away is five shots from the hole? Obviously, this varies by skill level. In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark how far from the hole a scratch, 10, and 20-index golfer would need to be to average five shots to hole out. The gaps might be bigger than you think and provide the basis for an interesting discussion about the need for new tees at most courses: shorter tees. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is better scoring found in a cup of coffee? In this episode, Mark and Lou talk about a study Lou recently read about the effects of caffeine on golf performance. Mark and Lou talk about the findings of the study, their own coffee preferences, the meaning of cream, their new plan for on-course concessions—and how you might save a stroke or two your next round with a cup of coffee. Link to Lou's newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/p/will-coffee-help-your-golf-game 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As part of Mark's recent visit with Greg, he followed along for Greg's workouts and fitness planning. In this episode of the podcast, they discuss some of what Greg is working on, and then Mark and Lou talk about the ways in which taking care of the body is great for golf and for life in general. Video of the Greg's gym work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBgCJN2cmS0 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Your ball is in the fairway, 150 yards from the hole. Now, put the ball in the rough, but at a yardage at which, on average, you'd hole out in the same number of strokes that you would have from 150 in the fairway. Where are you dropping? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg this question for golfers of various skill levels. As with the best SMS episodes: the answer surprises them, which means we're all going to learn something. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recently, Mark jumped the Atlantic to spend a few days documenting Greg's 2025 Champions Tour work. In addition to his training session, Greg played a match against Mark. In this episode, they recap the match, which has its share of twists and turns—and will undoubtedly become part of the enduring lore of this podcast. Video of the match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBgCJN2cmS0 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're listening to this episode, you probably have a driver with adjustable loft. How do you know where it should be set? How would you know whether you need a different head with much higher or lower loft? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the lofts they play, why those are the best for their games, and how you should determine the best loft to optimize your tee shots. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, someone is way off. Lou asks Greg and Mark how often scratch, 10-index, and 20-index golfers hit shots from 125-yards to within 20 feet. After the scores are tallied, Lou offers an additional stat that really highlights the skill you need to work on to drop your scores. 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 1 BILLION shots in their database.  Check them out at: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Tyson's famous aphorism is true for golf as well: everyone has a plan until he's punched in the face. And a round of golf will punch you in the face. When you find trouble during your round, how do you avoid those round-destroying blow-up scores? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg bring three tips for minimizing the damage. They talk about strategy, the skill of hitting recovery shots, keeping your eyes open for smart routes to the hole, and getting the driver under control. You know it: posting better scores is more a matter of reducing bag numbers than it is bagging more birdies. This episode will help you do exactly that. 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: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/subscribe Lou Stagner on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouStagner Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices