Hack It Out Golf
Golf Swing Productions by Mark Crossfield Greg Chalmers and Lou Stagner 666 episodes Nov 10, 2026
Hack It Out Golf is a podcast dedicated to helping golfers improve their swing and lower their scores. Hosted by renowned golf coach Mark Crossfield, stats expert Lou Stagner, and PGA Tour player Greg Chalmers, the show combines expert insights with entertaining banter. Each episode dives deep into golf techniques, statistics, and anecdotes to benefit players of all skill levels. The podcast aims to be both informative and enjoyable for golf enthusiasts.
Episodes
Blades Brown is youngest winner in 95 years and Rahm is back
Rahm’s Asterisks and Blades Brown at 19Jon Rahm is back winning. He shot 23 under at Yas Links in Abu Dhabi, ahead of Tyrrell Hatton (-21) and Rory McIlroy (-19). That’s his 6th Rolex Series title and his 11th DP World Tour win in just 92 starts.So of course Lou hands out a few asterisks. Mark keeps count.Then the guys get to Blades Brown. He won on the PGA Tour in Mexico at 19, coming fr
Principles of Practice
For many golfers, practice season has begun. In this episode, Mark and Greg offer tips on making the most of practice. You can mindlessly hit another bucket. But if you want your next season to be better than this one, there are proven ways of using your practice time that actually sharpen your play—and transfer to the course.If you have a question you want covered on the pod, please subm
SMS - How Far Away Is Five Shots?
How far away is 5 shots to the hole? Obviously, it depends on your skill level—and the difference is stark. In this episode, Lou quizzes Mark and Greg about the length of a "perfect" par 5 for a scratch, 10, and 20 index golfer. A key issue: quality of strike. But also: maybe think about playing a shorter set of tees?Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an inter
EMERGENCY POD! Bryson goes to DP World Tour? Did Rory Cheat?
EMERGENCY POD! Some breaking news today.Looks like LIV officially folds.Is Bryson going to the DP World Tour?Did Rory cheat?If you have a question you want covered on the pod, please submit here: https://www.hackitoutgolf.com/contact/Listeners can also leave us a voicemail! https://www.hackitoutgolf.com/voicemail/Where to find us:Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfiel
Do Tour Pros Cheat?
Brooks unfiltered makes for good discussion. In today's episode, Mark, Greg, and Lou use some recent comments from Brooks Koepka as a springboard for a wide-ranging discussion of both pro and amateur golf etiquette. How chatty are you on the course—and how chatty do you want your playing partners to be? Does that change for a competitive round? And how about rule bending—or just straight-
Is Tiger Back, Garcia Ryder Cup Hopes, and LIV Needs to Go Away Now
Today, Mark and Lou break down all the big stories in the world of professional golf. Every few years, after another layoff, we get a video of Tiger swinging and everyone starts wondering if the magic is still there. What might this next comeback be? Also, Sergio is returning to the DP World Tour; can he make another Ryder Cup team? And will the last golfer left at LIV please turn off the
SMS - Low index, 125 in FW, Greens Hit, Front vs Back Pin
There is data. And there is a Lou childhood story. And then Lou estimates a number, which might be a first in world history. In this episode of the Saturday Stat, Lou asks Mark and Greg how often a good player hits the green from 125 yards in the fairway when the pin is in the front vs in the back of the green. You might know there's a difference; you likely underestimate how big a differ
Equipment Questions Grab Bag
When club release season comes around, everyone wonders how much better their games could be with new clubs. But other golf equipment can make a big difference in your game. In this episode, Mark and Lou discuss some of the less trumpeted equipment choices that change how you play. How important is the ball you're using? What difference does it make when hitting wedges (hint: it's more th
So Much Progress—But Is Anyone Getting Better?
Instruction is better, tech is better, the clubs and balls are better—but are golfers getting any better? In this episode, Mark and Lou discuss golf improvement and the handicap system. Is the average handicap index of amateur golfers moving? What factors go into the relative static nature of the average index? How much have changes to the handicap rules over the years changed what a inde
SMS - Scratch, 10, and 15, Distance SG of 0, in FW on 500 Yard Par 5
You drive it in the fairway on a 500-yard par 5: how far down the fairway does your ball need to go for that tee shot to be break-even Strokes Gained for your skill level? In this episode, Lou puts that question to Mark and Greg, for scratch, 10, and 15 index golfers. After the dust settles (and someone's answers get really close), the guys talk par 5 tee strategy.Each of these will be a
LIV 2.0 and the Next Chapter of Pro Golf
With Lou away on caddying duties, Mark and Greg analyze the next moves in pro golf. The DP World Tour announces that players signing with "LIV 2.0" will be barred from playing DP World Tour events. Is this the beginning of the end for LIV's business model? Will Tiger possibly play the US Senior Open to complete? And how important is the width of Rory's trouser/pant legs?If you have a que
Should You Try Hybrid Chipping?
From a listener question, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about using the hybrid—and other non-wedges—around the green. The guys explain why these clubs can be an advantage, especially for amateur golfers, and then give tips for using these most effectively to get up and down more often.If you have a question you want covered on the pod, please submit here: https://www.hackitoutgolf.com/contact/
SMS - 5 Index, 24 Yards, Easy Chip in Rough vs Putt
You've missed the green, but you have a ton of surface to work with. Or you've hit the green, but you're a mile away. What's better? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark what they think a solid golfer would do facing these two shots. (Total delta!) After settling the scoring, the guys offer advice for making those major lag putts less stressful.Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-
Those Pesky Partial Wedges
Is there a time to lay up? In this episode, a longtime friend of pod sends a question about laying back to full wedge distance—advice given from a prominent tour coach. Lou, Mark, and Greg take a crack at answering the question, and attempt to show that while the numbers are crystal clear in the majority of circumstances, there might be fringe cases—especially at the elite level—when a di
When You Lose Your Game During a Round
If you've played golf for any length of time, you've probably experienced it: the feel disappears, the golf club feels completely foreign, and you have no clue which way the ball is about to go. What's next? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about one of the worst feelings in golf: when you lose your game during a round? Should you go technical and try to fix it? Walk off the cour
SMS -Scratch, 5, and 15, 7 Iron, Total Distance
Last week, we saw that low-index golfers are more accurate with the 7 irons, even though they are (presumably) hitting 7 iron from further away. But how far away? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark about the typical total distance that scratch, 5, and 15 index golfers will hit that middle iron. What is normal? And why is a "stock" number perhaps less helpful when you're on the course
Rolling Back the Rollback?
The parameters for the pending rollback seem to have changed again. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the newest edition of the Model Local Rule for golf ball distance. Does this latest revision make any more sense? And now they're talking about regulating shaft lengths again—does this promote or punish skill? And is it a legitimate barrier for golfers taller than Lou and Ma
More Fairways or More Distance?
At this point, most serious golfers know that distance matters. But can it be quantified? In this episode, Lou and Mark looks at the numbers to see where the trade-off is between distance and fairways. They also discuss ways to improve distance, especially by getting stronger. And how is Lou just like Paul McCartney?Looking to find out how to optimize your body for golf and life? Check ou
SMS - Scratch, 5, and 15, Median Prox, 7 Iron
We know that better golfers hit it closer from every distance. And they generally hit every club further and higher index golfers. What happens when golfers of all levels are hitting the same club? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about the average proximity to the hole that a scratch, 5-index, and 15-index golfer will have when hitting their 7 irons. Will they be similar with the
When Practice Just Won't Transfer to the Course
It's a common complaint: my range game doesn't transfer to the course. But what if it's not just a range session, but consistent practice in a simulator, feedback from a coach, etc., and it still isn't lowering your handicap? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg give some really honest feedback to a listener whose extensive work—and seeming progress—abandons him on the course. Are there h
Uphill, Downhill, Sidehill
A good and challenging listener question: what do we know—from the stats—about make rates for uphill, downhill, and sidehill putts? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg dig into the stats to see if leaving an uphill putt matters. If so, what does that mean for our strategy on the course?If you have a question you want covered on the pod, please submit here: https://www.hackitoutgolf.com/c
SMS - 120 in Fairway, 5 Index, Shots to Hole Out
A Greg-less Saturday Stat, but one you can take to the course. In today's episode, a good golfer has a great opportunity: 125 yards in the fairway as a 5-index. How many shots is he going to average to hole out? Lou and Mark try out their accents and Lou makes plans to heckle Dougie.Check out Lou's new practice app, Window Golf: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/window-golf/id6778014214Each o
What Is a Good Chip?
Most golfers know the 10% rule on the greens: for a lag putt, getting it within 10% of the starting distance is generally a good result. Is there a similar rule of thumb for chipping? In this episode, Lou and Mark tackle this helpful listener question, so that we all have a baseline for reasonable expectations around the greens—and solid assessments for productive practice.If you have a q
Will the USA Ever Win a Team Event Again?
It's been a streak—what does it mean? In this episode, Mark and Lou discuss the recent trend of the USA losing team golf events: men's and women's, professional and amateur. Is it a run of bad luck? Is there something in the team culture or the strategy? And how can we get more USA television eyes on some of these great events and players?If you have a question you want covered on the pod
SMS - PGA Tour Birdie Rate, 75 Yards and 205 Yards
Everybody gets a bunny! In today's episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about the world's best players: how often are they making birdie from 75 and from 205 yards? Turns out that the best players and really good, and that Mark and Greg are pretty good as well. After the dust settles, they discuss how to dial in those distance control wedges.Check out Lou's new practice app, Window Golf: https
Does Your Index Travel?
Unless you're one of those social media guys who plays all the courses—or a tour pro—you likely play a lot of your golf at one course. In this episode, a listener brings a question for Lou, Mark, and Greg about whether that home-course-heavy index will travel to other courses. Lou brings the numbers and Mark and Greg bring even more travel into the discussion, so that we can have both rea
Are Golf's Rules Sane?
Whenever the rules of golf are a point of discussion, you're almost guaranteed to find something absurd. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg highlight two rules events from the end of this season: one regarding the faintest contact with the bunker sand, and the other with the moving of a divot fragment. The latter rule is very obscure; it is likely news to you. Should the rules of golf b
SMS - Distance to Average 2.75 From Rough, Scratch, 10, and 20
You're not getting up and down most of the time, but you're also not multiplying strokes: how far away are you when this happens? In today's episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg how far golfers of different skill levels will be from the hole, in the rough, to average 2.75 shots. The distances themselves are interesting, but the differences between skill levels highlight where handicap golfers
What's the Right Stat Benchmark for Me?
A good listener question for today's episode. Many of us use Arccos or another platform to track performance on the course. What standard should we use for stat comparisons? In this episode, Mark and Lou tackle this question, and it's not as obvious as you might think. Stats don't always move in exactly the same way, so there can be value in comparing yourself to your next milestone, rath
The New Tour Championship Format
Next year's Tour Championship will be much different. In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg continue to discuss the roll out of the format changes for the upcoming Tour season. We've already seen the Championship vs Challenger series, but the new Tour Champion will need to win a significant, two-venue match play gauntlet. Is this an improvement? Will it make us care about the Championsh
SMS - Distance to Average 2 Putts, Scratch, 10, and 20
You can learn from other people's mistakes, especially Greg and Mark's. In this episode, Lou asks about one of the very best "manage your expectations" stats to have in your mind: at what distance will golfers of differing abilities average 2 putts? While the pros mangle the numbers, you can get the correct answers in mind—and know on the course where you're gaining (or losing) strokes on
A Greggie Top 3!
Greggie! Greg returns (almost) triumphantly to the podcast to recap his T3 finish at the 2026 Ally Challenge. Greg and Mark and Lou talk about Greg's visit to some golf stores to tweak his driver setup, the value of equipment changes, the ability to bounce back from a bad hole, and an obvious bad number.If you have a question you want covered on the pod, please submit here: https://www.ha
That Good Good Ad
You've seen it by now: a young woman reaches for a driver in a golf bag, only to be checked to the ground and told (in a menacing way) not to touch the driver. In this episode, Mark and Lou talk about Good Good/Callaway's abandoned driver ad. How does an ad this ill-conceived get made? Was this inevitable? Is there a future for Good Good? Before there was YouTube golf, Mark was doing golf
SMS - Scratch, 125 in FW, Four or More Shots
How often does disaster strike? In this episode, it's another (Gregless) Mark win in the Stat, but Lou's question is worth the attention. From 125 in the fairway, a scratch golfer is thinking birdie. How often will this (very talented) golfer take four or more shots to finish the hole? We get a window into Mark's thought processes, a quick rubric for expectation management, and help for s
Take Swing Lessons or Work on Skills?
In recent years, a number of golf coaches have made the case that golf improvement doesn't always mean an intent to change your swing. In this episode, Mark and Lou tackle a listener question about balance: when should I focus on a swing change vs taking my current swing and focusing on skill development? Here, the perspectives of a veteran coach and an avid amateur combine to give advice
Mark's and Greg's Favorite Courses
Over their careers, Greg and Mark have seen and played a lot of golf courses. In this episode, they recall some of their favorites. Which Open rota courses would Greg want to play for a tournament—and which for fun? And where have these guys not yet played that they still hope to get a round in?If you have a question you want covered on the pod, please submit here: https://www.hackitoutgo
SMS - 5 Index, Par 5, 2nd Shot 250 in FW, Bogey or Worse
The green is reachable. In this episode, missing Greg, Mark takes on Lou's newsletter audience. On a par 5, a solid 5-index golfer is sitting 250 yards out in the fairway. How often will he make bogey or worse from there. With no Greg, we get deep insight into the mind of Mark—and also insight as to why these prime scoring opportunities often go awry.Check out Lou's new practice app, Wind
Lou at the US Amateur
The US Amateur is one of the iconic events of golf calendar. In this episode, Lou and Mark talk through Lou's recent opportunity to caddie at the US Am. They discuss Merion, the setup (and whether a classic course like this can hold up to young bombers, the format of the tournament, and an unfortunate dress code email.If you have a question you want covered on the pod, please submit here:
Greg's 2026 Season So Far
The Champions Tour season is entering its final stretch, and Greg needs to make a push to make the final 36. In this episode, Greg and Mark talk through Greg's 2026 season to this point. With a handful of events to go, Greg talks about what's worked—and what hasn't—this year. He knows where he needs to improve (off the tee), and walks through of the equipment and swing tweaks that will ho
SMS - 15 Yard Chips Finishing > 18 Feet, Scratch, 10, and 20
In today's episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about greenside short game. How often will a chip from the rough finish outside 6 paces for scratch, 10, and 20 index golfers? After Greg incinerates the 20s again, the guys talk about how to get those chips into a more manageable range.Check out Lou's new practice app, Window Golf: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/window-golf/id6778014214Each of th
Is It Harder to Go from 3 to Scratch than from 15 to 5?
A couple of golf improvement listener questions for Mark, Lou, and Greg in today's podcast. The first: is it easier to get from a 15-index down to 5 than to get from 3 down to scratch? The guys bring their own experiences and Mark's coaching to consider the different ways that people improve. Then they turn to some ways to get in short game practice in shorter blocks of time.If you have a
Charley's Joke and Rory's Schedule
Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about some of the recent—ahem—"news" in the world of golf. Are we running out of actual golf stories when we focus on a joke between a player and her caddie? And is Rory getting special treatment—and if so, is that even a problem? Also, Lou makes a joke.If you have a question you want covered on the pod, please submit here: https://www.hackitoutgolf.com/contact/Li
SMS - 10 Index, Good Rounds vs Bad Rounds, FW Hit
What is a fairway worth? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg to compare the good and bad rounds of a 10-index golfer. We'd expect that when an amateur of this level scores well, he's probably hitting more fairways than he does in his bad rounds. But how many more? The answer the is revealed, and the guys offer strategies for maximizing your scoring potential off the tee.Each of these
Feel and Measured Data
For the avid amateur golfer, there is more measured data for swing movements, club delivery, and ball flight than ever before. Is it too much? In this episode, Mark and Lou break down how to use swing data. There are devices that can measure body part motions: how can these help—without changing everything to make an app happy? A disciplined use of these tools can be enormously beneficial
Will My Swing Changes Even Help?
Lou's been working on his swing for a while now. Is it actually better? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg consider the goals of a swing change. Is a swing better when it looks better? What if the "better" move produces worse results? This is one of the enduring questions of every serious golfer, and the guys give advice to how to make changes—with feedback—to play your best golf.If you
SMS - 10 Index, Scoring with No Penalties, But Recovery Shots
You didn't lose a ball—and that's a great feeling. But what about the sideways chip-outs? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg how a 10-index scores when he has no penalty shots, but does have recovery shots. What happens to scores in rounds when you're punching out from under a tree a few times? And since we're all going to end up there: how do we get better at making those shots usef
Handicap Skill Tiers by the Numbers
There's nothing like numbers to show the enormous differences between the elite golfers and, you know, most of us. In this episode, Mark and Lou open up the stats database to show just how good the best golfers are, and how much the average amateur is playing almost a different game altogether. The point is this: learning to play boring golf is, for most of us, a significant step forward
When Your Setup Is Perfect
You step into the shot and start to settle in. How do you know when you've nailed your setup and are ready to go? In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg reply to a listener question about setup. The quest for "perfect" is itself a challenge: you can make a bad swing out of a good setup and a good swing from a bad setup. But there are ways to learn your own tendencies, what works for you,
SMS - Scratch and 15, Holes Per Double or Worse
How many holes can you go without a double (or worse)? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg to compare to very different skills levels (scratch and 15-index) at double-bogey avoidance. After Greg gives what might be the least accurate answer in the history of the Saturday Stat, the guys get it back on the rails and discuss ways to avoid the card-wreckers.Each of these will be a mini-ep
2026 Open Championship Recap
Ryan Fox wins the Open! In this episode, Mark and Lou recap an eventful edition of the Open Championship. They discuss the (several) rules incidents, the brilliant play of Ryan Fox (and others), and Mark offers some comments on Fox's unusual, but obviously very effective, swing.If you have a question you want covered on the pod, please submit here: https://www.hackitoutgolf.com/contact/Li
Is the Open Rota Too Dependent on Weather?
The 2026 Open ended yesterday, but Mark has questions about its future. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg start with an obvious premise: the way that the Open Rota links courses play tends to be more determined by weather than is the case for the majors based in America. As weather patterns change, has the Open gotten too baked out? Should links golf subject its competitors to more col
SMS - 3 Putt Percentage from 25, Tour, 5, and 15
Three-putts ruin rounds—especially when you're not that far away from the hole. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg compare the 3-putt percentages from 25 feet of Tour players to 5-index and 15-index golfers. It turns out, Tour players and good and 15-index golfers are less good. But it might surprise you by how much—and light a fire to practice the things that will actually help you avo
Revisiting Amateur Status
Former professional Stuart Grehan earned a spot in this year's Open Championship by winning an Amateur Championship. In this episode, Mark and Lou revisit the controversy surrounding former tour pros returning to the amateur ranks to secure major championship exemptions. Has Lou changed his mind after the last conversation? Is there are fair line that can be drawn?If you have a question y
Spectator Code of Conduct
Can golf crowds be rolled back? In this episode, Mark and Lou take up the points of the new spectator Code of Conduct for the 2026 Open Championship. Will a stated code help with fan behavior? Is it unnecessary—or perhaps worse, hypocritical? The full text can be found here: https://www.theopen.com/tickets-and-hospitality/spectator-code-of-conductIf you have a question you want covered on
SMS: Best Of!
We've been doing Saturday Stats for 3 years now: it's time for a best of! In today's episode, we pull up two classics. The Saturday Stat episodes have become a standard because they might have the best banter and bits, but also because our regular listeners have built up a storehouse of reasonable expectations. Let's see if you can recall these answers from episodes on putting and driving
Games to Improve Your Chipping
Mark has been aiming to play at a serious level—and his chipping is holding him back. In this episode, Mark makes a plea for help: do Greg and Lou have any practice tips to improve his game within 30 yards? Mark isn't alone here: many amateur golfers cost themselves strokes in this range. Lou and Greg offer practice games and (even contrasting) ways to think about these delicate shots to
Code of Conduct Penalties?
Golf is a maddening game—sometimes even at the highest levels. In the recent US Open, penalties were issued to a player who melted down on a hole, and they were costly. In this episode, Greg and Mark talk about the new code of conduct penalties. Is it odd that there was no video of the incident? Are strokes or fines a better way to handle these situations? And what are Greg and Mark's wor
SMS - 400 Yard Hole, Drive Length for 0SG, Scratch and 10
How far is far enough? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about a standard drive on a typical hole. How far do you need to hit it—in the fairway—to break even on a strokes gained against your handicap peers? The answer might surprise you. But the takeaway for your own game might also surprise you.Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat
The Delay of the Rollback
Recently, the governing bodies scuttled the plan for the incremental rollout of the rollback. Why? And what's next? In the episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg continue discussing the ongoing saga. Key the whole debate: what actually is the problem?If you have a question you want covered on the pod, please submit here: https://www.hackitoutgolf.com/contact/Listeners can also leave us a voicemail!
Is the New PGA Tour Even New?
The PGA Tour has recently released its new Championship Series/Challenger Series two track tournament format, and Rory(!) seems unimpressed. In this episode, Mark, Greg, and Lou take Rory's comments as a jumping off point to discuss how the new format might play out—and how it could have been more creative. Is it just the same thing the Tour had before LIV showed up? Are the Challenger Se
SMS - 10 Index, Birdies, Bogeys, Doubles Per Round
We often talk about managing expectations for particular shots. What are reasonable expectations for a full round? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about a 10-index golfer: in a typical 18-hole round, how many birdies, bogeys, and doubles will he make? When the dust settles, the guys give advice for reducing the number of big numbers—the key for most golfers to make the biggest imp
2026 US Open Recap
With the third major of the year completed, Greg and Mark offer their takeaways from Wyndham Clark's impressive victory at Shinnecock Hills. They discuss the quality of his play, the reputation that has followed him since the last US Open, the crowd behavior as he closed in on his victory, and the way he handled the pressure and the crowd as he claimed his second US Open title.If you have
Can You Love a Fade?
Most beginning golfers slice, and the draw becomes an early aspiration. But should more amateurs just love their fade? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk shot shapes. Is there an advantage hitting one shape over the other—or shaping it both ways? Should most golfers try to change their shape, or instead play smart, strategic golf with the shape they have? And what do you do when ei
SMS - 100 Yards in FW, Double or Worse, Scratch, 10, and 20
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 data
Can Golf Learn from the World Cup?
We're in a major week—there's only one more in 2026, and it seems like the season just started? Are the majors too compressed in the schedule? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk golf from the fan's perspective. Should the majors be spaced out a little more during the season? And with the World Cup happening right now, the biggest spectacle in sports, what could professional golf le
The 2027 PGA Tour Schedule
The first editions of next year's PGA Tour schedule are releasing, and changes are afoot. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg break down the latest attempt to create tiers of events, a lower one for elite golfers and a higher one for elite-r golfers. Does this have any more promise than previous iterations? Will the Tour ever do better than Monday Q Info at promoting ascending golfers? A
SMS - Breaking Par on Easy vs Hard Courses
Not every par 72 is the same. In this episode, Lou sends out the good golfers—scratch and 5 index—to "hard" and "easy" courses (distinguished by their course rating). Are these difficulty ratings accurate? How often will these good players break part on courses of different difficulty? And has Mark turned in Lou's DM guy, who doubts the numbers because it isn't what he sees?Each of these
Roll It Back, Jack!
During the week of the Memorial, Jack Nicklaus made a new set of comments at a press conference in support of a rolled back golf ball. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg consider his opinion. Does winning 18 majors convey expertise on this topic? Are opponents of the rollback just parroting the talking points of their OEM sponsors?If you have a question you want covered on the pod, plea
Do You Make More Putts on Comebackers?
A listener question sends Lou on a deep, deep dive into the Arccos database. We know that "never up, never in" is poor advice, especially on longer putts. But if a putt rolls past the hole, how much more likely is a golfer to make the comebacker than a similar-length putt where he hasn't seen the break? Lou, Greg, and Mark talk about the way that gathering information from balls rolling o
SMS: 5 Strokes or More Worse Than Scoring Average
Among the most prominent themes of this podcast is the need to manage expectations. That's not just a "each shot" idea; it's a "whole round" idea. How often will golfers of differing handicaps have one of those rounds, scoring at least 5 shots higher than his typical scoring average? Lou puts this question to Mark and Greg, and after the scoring is settled, they give advice for keeping in
Rai, Rahm, and a Bit of US Open
The 2026 PGA Championship was won by an incredible performance by Aaron Rai. So shouldn't that—and maybe not how he chooses to cover his hands and his irons—be the lead story? In this episode, Tour Slayer, Lou, and Greg talk about the way Rai's victory was covered, and how it tended to overshadow just how spectacular his play was. They also discuss the future of LIV players and take a few
Should I Shorten My Driver Shaft
A great, broadly applicable listener question today. In the past couple of decades, drivers have not only experienced increases in head size, but also in shaft length. In today's episode, Mark and Lou ask whether many amateurs might not be better off the tee with a shorter driver shaft. What are the trade-offs in shaft lengths? Is it possible that a shorter shaft might produce tighter dis
SMS - Tour Pros, Short Chips from Rough, Different Greens
By this point, we know that we want to avoid short-siding ourselves. But should we think about uphill vs downhill chips? In this episode, Lou offers Mark and Greg a handful of scenarios with Tour players around the green. They have different amounts of green to work with, but some chips are uphill and others are downhill. What effect does that have on scoring? And stay turned for Lou's bo
Is Pro Golf Just Driver/Wedge Now?
It's just bomb and gouge, right? In this episode, Mark and Lou look at the numbers to see if reality matches the common perception that Tour players almost never have long approach shots anymore. Are there still any 3-shot holes on the PGA Tour? How often does a Tour pro have a short iron left on a par 5? If there is a discussion to be had about distance, it starts with knowing what is *a
Steven Alker on Playing Well for Years
In this episode of Hack It Out Golf, Mark, Greg, and Lou welcome Champions Tour star Steven Alker. They explore his journey from New Zealand amateur golf through the Canada, European, Korn Ferry, and PGA Tours, to his remarkable Champions Tour career: 11 wins, a perfect 104/104 cuts made, and 76 top-10s in just 104 events. Steven shares the key shifts in his game: smarter (not harder) pre
SMS - 100 Yards in FW on Par 4, Double or Worse, Scratch, 10, and 20
Is it a trick question? In this episode, Lou asks about the green light scenario: 100 yards in the fairway on a par 4. How often will a scratch, a 10, and a 20-index golfer make double bogey or worse in that scenario? You'd think it wouldn't be that often—but you might be overlooking something. And if you can fix that thing, your scoring might get better here too.Each of these will be a m
The One Stupid Hole
If you have a course you play regularly, you almost certainly have one hole that gives you fits. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg give advice for troublesome holes. If a hole makes you choose between tee shot lengths, do you know which one creates a better average score for you? Do you have a 'get it in play' shot that you can rely on when there's trouble everywhere? And how do you ge
Internal vs External Swing Thoughts
If you're listening to this podcast, there's a good chance you have a swing thought—and there's a pretty high chance that you're thinking about how some part of your body should be moving (or not) during the swing. In this episode, Mark and Greg talk about one of the most important ideas in golf improvement: you can think about something other than your body position during the swing. The
SMS - Scratch Golfer Skills
Scratch is a aspiration for most amateur golfers, and it's a very good standard of play. How good? In this episode, Lou brings three different stats about scratch golfers, and Mark and Greg attempt to guess how a scratch player would perform in each. The answers might be surprising—and will absolutely contribute to all of us managing our expectations.Each of these will be a mini-episode (
How to Fix a Swing Path
It's hard to play effective golf with an extreme swing path. The problem: most golfers are very consistent with swing path—even when they don't want to be. In this episode, Mark and Greg talk about strategies to dislodge a less-than-optimal path and move it to a place of greater functionality. They explain that path sometimes is the result instead of the cause of the problem and the impor
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