Hack It Out Golf

Rahm’s Asterisks and Blades Brown at 19

Jon 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 from 7 back to beat Ben James in a playoff. That makes him one of the youngest winners in PGA Tour history.

In this episode:

• (01:53) Greg’s idea: players who earn PGA Tour cards through the DP World Tour should have to go back and support it
• (05:12) Why Tom Byrum kept going back to an event he didn’t even like
• (13:24) Lou asks whether dual-status events inflate Rahm’s DP World Tour win total
• (17:01) The payout math, and Greg’s math gets an asterisk too
• (26:26) The big names who skipped Abu Dhabi over travel safety concerns
• (28:21) Greg on helicopters past guerrillas in Sri Lanka and a guy with a shotgun in Panama
• (34:42) Lou’s Ben James story from Maidstone in 2022: 71-71-69 in brutal weather, when the field averaged about 78. James won by 9.
• (41:22) Greg wonders if pro golf is heading toward a tennis-style career, on tour at 20 and done at 32
• (46:32) Mark asks if Masters winners have gotten any younger in the last 20 years
• (51:15) Tiger’s “I’m here to win” and the confidence young players bring now

Also, Lou tells 4 jokes. Mark rates them on pacing.

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
• Lou Stagner's new practice app, Window Golf: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/window-golf/id6778014214

• Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA

• The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 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.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

Lou Stagner's new practice app, Window Golf: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/window-golf/id6778014214

Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA

The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 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!

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.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe

Mark Crossfield on X: https://x.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 X: https://x.com/LouStagner

Greg Chalmers on X: https://x.com/GregChalmersPGA

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.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

Lou Stagner's new practice app, Window Golf: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/window-golf/id6778014214

Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA

The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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-up rule breaking? Do you enforce the rules of golf in your games, or leave everyone else alone? Again, does that change when something (even bragging rights) is on the line?

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.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

Lou Stagner's new practice app, Window Golf: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/window-golf/id6778014214

Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA

The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 lights?

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.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

Lou Stagner's new practice app, Window Golf: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/window-golf/id6778014214

Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA

The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 difference it is.

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!

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.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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 than greenside spin). And can your shoes change your swing? Could you be giving up speed because of your spikes?

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.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

Lou Stagner's new practice app, Window Golf: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/window-golf/id6778014214

Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA

The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 index signifies?

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.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

Lou Stagner's new practice app, Window Golf: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/window-golf/id6778014214

Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA

The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 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!

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.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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.