Hack It Out Golf

A Saturday Stat without the Master of Stats?! In this Lou-less episode, Mark and Greg take a dive, not into the Arccos database, but into swing numbers. All three have had their swings measured on gears, and Mark brings the numbers (and Greg guesses) shoulder turns and tilts. Seeing how and why golfers of differing abilities move like they do can help all of us make a more effective swing at the b...

Northern hemisphere are in the depths of winter. What is a golfer to do? Maybe it's a good time to go through your golf bag and discard the unneeded items. In this episode, Mark and Lou give a tour of items in your golf bag that need to go or be replaced. From clubs you never use to barely intact gloves, the changing out grips and on-course snacks, we can make the most of the off-season. Where to...

With the start of a new PGA Tour season, it's a good time to catch up with rule changes for this year's play. In this episode, Lou and Mark talk about changes to preferred lies and embedded ball rules, unintentional ball movement, obstructions and internal OB, and distance measuring devices. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossf...

With Greg out sunning himself again, Mark and Lou run the two-man Saturday Stat: Mark vs Lou's newsletter audience. In this episode: a Tour Pro is in the rough, a mere 15 yards from the hole. How often will his chip finish more than 10 feet from the hole? The announcer would suggest it should never happen, but it does—and probably more often than you'd expect. Each of these will be a mini-episode...

If you're listening to this, you probably want to be better at golf. But you're unlikely to play better on the course continuing exactly the same practice routine you've had off the course. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg are talking practice: both the how and why for better practice that will improve your scores for the next season. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: http...

With modern launch monitors, it's pretty easy to tell who swings fastest—you just measure it. But what about relative speed? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk speed potential and efficiency. Which of the three of them swings the fastest relative to their potential? Which swings fastest on the course relative to their current top end? And what do these differences mean for typical golfers t...

You already know it: hitting more greens in regulation is the key to better scores. But how much difference does it make? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark to compare the scores a scratch golfer will make when he hits vs misses the green from 125 in the fairway. And this one is a performance for the history books for one of the two competitors. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 min...

The limited routes to be able to play on LIV have been much-discussed, but is the PGA Tour headed in a similar direction? In this episode, Greg, Mark, and Lou discuss changes to the PGA Tour qualifying. How should qualification through the Korn Ferry Tour, the DP World Tour, and Q-School be weighted? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Ma...

The year of Scottie? Or of Rory? Or of the Greggie? In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg look back at the big golf stories of 2025, from Rory's history-clinching win at Augusta to Scottie's sustained dominance. They also look ahead: will Tiger be willing to face Greg on the Champions Tour, battling to decide who is golf's true Needle? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https...

Today's episode belongs in the Expectations Hall of Fame. How long would a par 3, a par 4, and a par 5 need to be for a 10-index player to average par on each? Lou puts this question to Mark and Greg. The answer gives these golfers a good reference point for expected scoring, and a mental game that is set up to score best on these "short" holes. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes...

In today's episode, Greg's stat internship has ended and he is now in the quizmaster's seat! Rather than a deep dive into the Arccos database, Greg pulls from a recent charity golf event to ask Lou and Mark about how often these charitable golfers came up short on a par 3 hole with some wind. Can Lou win at his own game? And how can we get better by just being more aware of what the hole is asking...

You're playing with Greg and make the turn playing far better than normal. What's your mindset? In this episode, Greg tells a recent story just like this, and Mark and Lou talk about how recreational golfers handle the pressure of playing well—especially given the statistical odds that it might all come crashing down. Here are tips to strengthen your mental game to keep your next good round rollin...

Where is the good variability in scoring? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about the ridiculously good rounds—where you go out and shoot 5 strokes (or better) than your season scoring average. How likely are you to do that if you're a low versus and high handicap player? Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can le...

X is abuzz with suggestions of players going to—and possibly leaving—LIV Golf. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg offer their opinions on these rumors, but more significantly, discuss the state of LIV and whether its current method of positioning itself has a future in professional golf. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfie...

Greg remains an absolute world-class golfer. In today's episode, he joins Mark and Lou to recap his T14 finish at the Australian Open. At an event he's won twice before, Greg showed up in force. He takes us through the week of golf, the course, the crowds. And maybe Mark is better than Rory? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossf...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. This week, the crew welcomes Greg back after his impressive Australian Open performance, and Lou comes with a grab bag of Tour Pro questions for Greg and Mark. Will Greg recover from his unusually poor performance last week, when Mark answered for him? Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an i...

You're regularly shooting in the 80s: that's no small accomplishment in this game. Your next goal: a handicap index solidly in the single figures. In this episode, Lou and Mark give you the best tips and advice for where to focus your practice and play to get to the next level of golf performance. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark...

Recorded before Greg's strong showing at the Australian Open, in this episode Greg chats with Mark and Greg about his recently-completed second season on the Champions Tour. They cover the highlights and challenges of season, what changes Greg anticipates for his next season, and his goals for the year ahead. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/sub...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. This week, Greg's off training to regain Australia's Open championship. So Lou pits Mark against his newsletter audience. What will a 5 index golfer average on a short, 275-yard par 4? Why has Mark always loved holes like this? And what's the secret to an Australian accent? Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 mi...

These are tough days for what was once the European Tour. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the conclusion of the DP World Tour season, and especially the fact that the top ten players on that tour are issued playing privileges on the PGA Tour. Is this sustainable? Does the DP World Tour have any better options than to be a development tour for the American tour? Where to find us: Ma...

Are you more knowledgeable about the game of golf because of the broadcasts of the professional tours? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg compare some of the ways that advanced analytics are presented in other major sports to golf, and consider ways in which the popular knowledge of the game could be improved with better information presented well for the fans of the game. Where to find us: Mark...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. What will a 5-index golfer score on a "standard" hole? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg the scoring average for a good golfer on a 150 yard par 3, a 375 yard par 4, and a 500 yard par 5. Social media golfers might consider these "gettable." Are they? Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about...

It's a classic discussion: who is the greatest golfer of all time? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg take their cracks at this topic, and not only the greatest ever, but also the criteria to just the great golfers a bit further down the list. How can we compare eras? How much different is golf as a sport on this side of Tiger? And where would Greg rank himself? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield...

Mark's ball speed is rising on his launch monitor as he refines techniques and strengthens his body, but how does that translate to the course? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about some really practical obstacles to brining the speed gains you're making in your practice to the course, from warming the body to some often overlooked equipment that might be holding you back. Where to find...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. We know it's a bad to be short-sided. But there's one pin location that makes us blind to the danger. In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg how often low single-figure indexes miss the green from 120–130 yards when the pin is in the back of the green versus the front of the green. The difference is not trivial, and sh...