HACK IT OUT GOLF

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. From 155 in the fairway, most golfers would expect to be in a good position to shoot a reasonable score. In today's episode, a scratch golfer and a 20 index are in that position: what percent of the time would each golfer take 5 or more shots to finish the hole? Lou puts the question to Mark and Greg, and they discuss ways to save shots when you're in a position to score. 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

The highest levels of professional golf promise more money than ever before—but the drop-off from the top level to the next level down might also be steeper than ever before. In this episode, Lou, Mark, and Greg talk about the conclusion of the Fall Series on the PGA Tour, where the top 125 players secured their cards for the upcoming season. But a couple of those right on the bubble, including some who got their cards, had also received sponsor invites to no-cut events which guaranteed them points—points that if they hadn't gotten, someone else would have secured a Tour card. Lou argues for a greater meritocracy and the three discuss the various interests involved. 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 today's episode, Mark brings data about how Tour pros deliver the driver. Most golfers are familiar with the loft of their clubs, but dynamic loft is also extraordinarily important: not just the loft of the club, but the actual loft delivered at impact. Greg and Lou register their guesses, and then a thoughtful discussion arises about how to interpret data gathered from Tour pros—and what factors might not be the most relevant to your own improvement. For the best price on the HackMotion sensor, use code GOLFSALE at www.hackmotion.com. 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 often do you go out and shoot (for you) and really low round? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark how often really good golfers (low single figures) and really not as good as those golfers golfers (over 20 index) shoot a score 5 strokes or more less than their average score. The answers might surprise you, and should factor in to managing your expectations 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

In recent days, the Tour announced policy changes on a topic that is often the source of complaint: slow play. But the changes they announced were certainly not what many hoped: indeed, they seem to be more tolerant of slow play than before. What's the purpose of these changes? Why are Tour players so slow? And how might the changes affect the viewing experience for golf fans? Greg, Lou, and mark tackle these questions in today's episode. For the best price on the HackMotion sensor, use code GOLFSALE at www.hackmotion.com. 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

It's almost a Project Lou! In this episode, Lou makes a discovery about his golf swing and Mark has him pull out the HackMotion sensor to confirm and work on a feel. They talk in depth about forearm rotation in the golf swing: when it should happen, which direction, how much, and why. And they discuss how measuring motion in a swing can be a game changer for correlating feel with real. Greg interjects with his own understanding of a Tour-level swing. For the best price on the HackMotion sensor, use code GOLFSALE at www.hackmotion.com. 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, we have another from the "Manage Your Expectations" hall of fame. You're a 10-index on the tee of a 400-yard hole. How far do you need to hit your drive in the fairway to break even in strokes gained with the average 10-index? What about in the rough? Lou brings the data, and Greg and Mark bring the guesses—and the answered surprised them, and it will likely surprise you as well. Listen in and make smart decisions and bring good expectations to your own game. 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

For one last time before winter, it's time for the Gregulators to mount up! In this episode, Greg recaps his full first year on the Champions tour. Beginning with no status and only two guaranteed starts, Greg finished the season in the top 36 of the Schwab Cup rankings, securing full status for next season. He recounts for Lou and Mark the highlights of his season, the challenges of adjusting to a new roster of courses, and his planned work to be even better next year. And Lou continues his enduring question to become Greg's caddie. 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 today's episode of the podcast, we get to learn, not from Tour Pro average movements, but from the Legendary Needle himself: The Greggie! Mark pulls up Greg's motion capture data, and Greg has to beat Lou in guessing his own swing motion data. As always, the insights here help explain how different movements change the club delivery and why some numbers don't need to be bigger or smaller (but just need to match the swing). As not always, we get a history of the English language, or at least one version of it. 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 focus is on driving accuracy: for very good players and for high index players, what percentage of each category might be considered "wild" off the tee (missing the center of the fairway by more than 30 yards on at least a quarter of their drives)? The following discussion will help you understand dispersion, it's relationship to driver length, and how you can be a better player 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 LOUSTAGNER15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For those who want to know—and not just guess—what is happening in the golf swing, these are excited times. And there are more things to measure. One of the trickier ones has been grip pressure. In this episode, Lou, Mark, and Greg talk about a recent study presented at the World Scientific Congress of Golf by Liam Mucklow. The study measured how grip pressure changes throughout the swing in both professional and amateur golfers. There are things to learn here already, and interesting discussion about what else needs to be discovered as we all aim to get better at 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

There's always more to learn about the golf swing: even if you're a career Tour player playing in your first Champions Tour Playoff finals. In this episode, Mark pulls up the data for how the torso of the average Tour player moves throughout the swing and leaves Lou and Greg baffled and guessing. Because the results are unexpected, there is a good amount of explanation here that will help you understand how the big movements in the golf swing happen for successful golfers. 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 Greg and Mark the scoring difference a scratch golfer well see between hitting and missing a green from the fairway at 125 yards. After Mark concludes his complaint about the question, the guys offer a good reminder of the critical importance of getting the ball on the putting surface on the approach shot—that missing the green near the pin is likely to cost more shots than you might think. 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

This week, the PGA Tour announced a pretty substantial overhaul of who gets to play on their Tour and how qualification takes place. In this episode, Greg, Mark, and Lou discuss these changes: why they're being done, who they benefit, and whether they'll make the PGA Tour a better product for those of us who watch it. 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 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/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 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 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

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. 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

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 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, 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 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

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 them earlier, you can still start now. 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

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 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 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 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: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 on the green. 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 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 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 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 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: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.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

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 you make a more efficient, more effective 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

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: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 should expect from a fitting. Getting the right gear can help you play your best, and this episode will help you know how to seek out the best gear for you. 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, 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 strap) or ask you to pinch a ball between your elbows. Do they work? If so, what are they trying to accomplish? Once again, you'll have thing you learn that can make you a better golfer. 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 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 "green light" situations. 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: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're a golfer, your putter should come inside with you regularly. Indoor putting practice can be a huge benefit for your game, especially for those who live in climates where it can be the only significant practice for a portion of the year. In this episode, Mark and Lou talk about ways to make your indoor putting practice more beneficial. Some of these are simple drills that anyone can do. Others highlight tools that you can buy (for less than that driver you're eyeing)—tools that will likely drop more strokes from your game than that driver would, as you learn to have more control of both the distance and the direction of your putts. ExPutt: https://shop.exputt.com/products/exputt%C2%AE-real-time-putting-simulator Use code: GOLFSALE 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's handicap system is one of its most enduring features: the ability for golfer's of differing skill levels to have a match against each other remains a major draw. But that system is complicated, and most golfers have a very rudimentary understanding of how it works—if they don't misunderstand it altogether. In this episode, Lou and Mark (Greg is out chasing the Schwab Cup) talk about the handicap system: what goes into it, how it's misused, and how it's changed over the years. 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, we're with a solid golfer. He's hit a tee shot on a par 5, leaving him 200 yards to the hole. How often should he expect to birdie the hole from there? How often will he make bogey? After Mark and Greg register their answers to Lou's question, they talk about strategies and equipment choices that can maximize your chances of shooting your best scores from long range. There is advice here to help everyone's golf get better. 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: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code MARK15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark, Lou, and Greg continue to take measured data from Tour (and, in this case, also amateur) swings and see what it tells us for making real improvement in our games. In this episode, Mark quizzes Greg and Lou about hip movement at setup and through the swing. Lou asks a perceptive question: does the pelvis movement create the good swing, or is it an effect of other parts of an elite golf swing? From there, the discussions goes in a number of directions that can help all of us learn how to learn to play better 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

WIthin the past couple weeks, Scottie Scheffler capped an amazing season on the PGA Tour by winning the Tour Championship and with it, the Fedex Cup and its giant pool of bonus money. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg discuss how the Tour structures its season-ending playoff, with the pros and cons of determining a season-long champion using a playoff. Can significance for an event be created simply with money? Is there another format that might work better? And what are Greg's chances of the winning the Stanley Cup? 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 this edition of the Saturday Stat, Lou returns to Greg's wheelhouse: putting. Here, Greg and Mark take their best guesses at how often a scratch and a 20-index golfer 3-putt from 16–20'. Turns out, the answers surprise them—and likely you as well. Three-putt avoidance is a key to solid scoring (as Greg knows very well), and this episode will give you some keys to avoid wasting unnecessary strokes on the greens. 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: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is all about lining up your putts. Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about using the line on the ball vs drawing lines, whether to use a line at all, how the line on your ball might interact with any alignment lines on your putter, and then, in a discussion for the ages (and one to be continued): an epic new ball marker, invented by Lou, that might be so revolutionary that it's banned by the governing bodies. Lots of good content in this podcast that should help you hole more putts in your next round. 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

Today's episode is the second part of Mark's interview in Sean Foley. Here, Mark asks Sean what Sean regards as his greatest accomplishment in coaching. The discussion turns philosophical, as Sean reflects on what he really values most in coaching, what he's learned over the years, and what he appreciated most when (as a surprise gift) his wife compiled thank you videos from all his students over his coaching 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

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In this edition of the Saturday Stat, a golfer is sitting in the fairway, 175 yards from the hole. How likely is he to make double or worse if he's a scratch golfer? What if he's a 15-index? Mark and Greg register their guesses, and the actual number surprises them quite a bit. The takeaway: a lot of us have a lot to learn about making smart decisions 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 750 MILLION 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

Welcome to another episode of the top-ranked Champions Tour podcast in the world.* In this episode, Greg gets us (and Mark and Lou) up to date as his first season on the Champions Tour draws near the playoffs. We'll hear from Greg how he thinks the season has gone, what has worked well and what hasn't, what has led to a couple of rough closing holes in his good rounds, and what he's hoping for as the Schwab Cup playoffs get under way. * I assume. I haven't confirmed this. 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 special episode of the Hack It Out Golf Podcast, Mark has the opportunity to sit down for an extended conversation with famed golf coach Sean Foley. In this segment of their discussion, they talk about Sean's time coaching one of the greatest players in the history of the sport: Tiger Woods. Sean discusses the unique pressures of coaching Tiger, what he learned from the experience, what he might have done different, and what he thinks of Tiger as a student. 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. Golf's statistical revolution has made it clear: distance matters. And because distance matters, speed matters. But what happens when you bring the speed, but miss the center of the driver face? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark about the drop-off in distance for off-center driver strikes. You'll see why strike matters a ton, and that if you're going to miss center, there's a side of your driver face you really want to avoid if you want to hit your best shots. 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: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark, Lou, and Greg continue to take measured data from Tour (and, in this case, also amateur) swings and see what it tells us for making real improvement in our games. In this episode, Mark pulls up data on the distance between the golfer's center of mass and the edge of his hand, both at address and at the top of the backswing. Because these can both move (and they move quite differently between pros and amateurs), the distance answer might be surprising (it was to Lou and Greg!). From this, though, they suggest ideas that could make your swing—and your scoring—better. 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

Recently, Mark had a lesson with Sean Foley, famed for his work with a number of elite Tour pros. In this episode, he recaps that lesson with Greg and Lou, talking about Sean's approach to coaching, the way he integrates technology and a concern for the whole body, how Mark approaches making swing changes for his own game, and (maybe) what Mark might have learned to be a better coach 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

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode will make you think. Take a 10-index golfer: what will he score in rounds where he hits 13 fairways? What about in rounds in which he hits 9 greens in regulation? Lou puts this question to Lou and Greg, and after settling the winner, the discussion turns to how this knowledge can help you shoot your best 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 750 MILLION 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

In this episode, the guys continue to see what they can learn about the golf swing using motion tracking analysis. Here, Mark asks Greg and Lou how much the hip should turn in the swing (using Tour players as a benchmark) and compares that number to his own measurement. A key idea in this episode: because our bodies are connected and our swing is one big motion, changing one element of how your body moves will almost always change a number of other features of the way you deliver in the club. Experimenting with different intentions and feels—or better, being guided by a coach—can allow you to fix multiple issues with a single change. Interested in the Sportsbox AI technology? Find out more here: https://www.sportsbox.ai/ 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

New technology keeps making information that was once exclusive to expensive equipment available to the avid regular golfer. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg look at information about Lou's swing captured by Sportsbox AI, which takes video of a golf swing and translates it to measured data comparable to motion capture technology. The data: how high do Lou's hands get from their starting point at address? And more importantly: why does it matter and how can it help your 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

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Modern golf instruction emphasizes distance; the old "drive for show" slogan has been thoroughly debunked. But does that translate to recreational golfers, or is that just for Tour players? In this episode, Lou quizzes Mark and Greg about the effects that gaining 10 yards of driving distance has on Arccos golfers. How many of them improved? What percent of them improved by 3 shots/round or more? And what percentage of them saw a regression in their game after gaining distance? The answers are relevant for how you go about improving in your own game. 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: https://www.arccosgolf.com/  Use code DATALOU15 for 15% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Go Greggie, Go Greggie! In this episode, Greg joins Mark and Lou to recap the 2024 Senior Open Championship, in which Greg finished T17. They discuss Dougie's tenuous hold on Greg's bag (ahem), the joy of having friends and family at a tournament, and Greg's challenge at adapting to Carnoustie's green speeds. If you want to get better at dialing in your putting speed, take a look at ExPutt. For the best price on Exputt use code: GOLFSALE https://crossfieldgolf.info/ExPutt 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

Is it the shoes? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk golf shoes and the ways that our footwear can influence how we play. From a discussion of metal spikes, to hightops, to shoe fit, to "traditional" versus more modern sporty shoes, it's a wide-ranging discussion of a piece of equipment that probably doesn't get the attention it deserves. 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