Hack It Out Golf

Is this the most anticipated guest in the history of the podcast? In today's episode, we're joined by Doug, Greg's caddie. Lou has been openly candidating for Doug's job, so in this episode, the guys get Doug's story on how he got into caddying, some of the not-Greg players for whom he's caddied, and what it's been like working with Greg this past season. The episode is capped with a high stakes q...

In today's episode, Mark brings data about how Tour players turn in the backswing. In particular: how far do they turn their shoulders vs their rib cage turn? Confused as to the difference? You weren't alone. Greg and Lou register their guesses, and then Mark explains the difference—and the difference it can make to your swing. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.cro...

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 w...

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 so...

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 facto...

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 s...

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...

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 inte...

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 t...

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...

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 j...

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 understan...

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...

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 unde...

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...

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.crossfieldgol...

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 Schwa...

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 t...

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...

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 su...

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 appr...

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...

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...

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...

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...