Hack It Out Golf

Is Greggie going back to Augusta? In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg discuss some adjustments that The Masters has made to the qualifying criteria. Out are the winners of some alternative field events; in are winners of some international events. Can Greg punch his ticket by winning the Australian Open (again)? Should the field be expanded? Will Lou ever get Greg's bag? Where to find us: Mark...

Now entering its fourth year of play, LIV has announced that this season's events will be contested over 72 holes. In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg discuss this change. Why is living abandoning its signature identity? Does it matter? Does it add credibility to its events? And how do things look for the future of this rival to the PGA Tour? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newslett...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In a blatant attempt to rig the game for Greg, Lou asks Mark and Greg about Tour Pro putting stats from 30 feet. This episode is full of great data that will help you have the right mindset over these mid- to long-range putts, and for seeing whether attempting to rig the game works out. Each of these will be a mini-epis...

In today's episode, Lou, Mark, and Greg revisit and expand some of their recent discussion on professionals regaining their amateur status, pulling on a lot of threads of what is a challenging conversation with (pardon the pun) a lot of pros and cons. Then they discuss the announced changes being made to the Old Course at St Andrews. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://w...

Today's episode is inspired by another listener question: should bunkers present more of a hazard—especially for professional golfers? Mark, Lou, and Greg engage in a really insightful conversation that reaches to the foundations of what golf is "supposed" to be. Most amateurs struggle mightily from bunkers, but especially on the biggest tours, the sand often seems more predictable than the surrou...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. From 150–159 in the fairway, how often would you expect to close out the hole in 4 shots or less? In this episode, Lou brings that question to Mark and Greg for scratch, 10, and 20 index golfers. This is another good episodes for setting meaningful expectations for yourself on the course—and giving you goals for your ne...

The Schwab Cup Playoffs are underway! In this episode, recorded after the first playoff event (the Dominion Energy Charity Classic) and before the second (the Simmons Bank Championship), Greg joins Mark and Lou to recap the first event, talk about the marvel that is Bernhard Langer, explain what went slightly sideways in his closing round, and what he's aiming for as the Playoffs conclude and the...

Previously, Lou previewed with Mark and Lou his upcoming trip, with the Princeton Golf Teams, to St Andrews. In this episode, he takes us through the trip: the practice rounds at Jubilee, the tournament format, the food, the weather, and his thoughts on the Old Course. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https:...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode: good golfers, simple shot. How often will a 5-index player get up and down from 75 yards in the fairway? At the other extreme, how often will it take him 4 or more shots to hole out? Lou puts this question to Mark and Greg, and the answer may well shock you as well. Learning to avoid the big numbers con...

If you play golf at more than one place, you'll find that the playing surface for our game varies considerably. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg take a listener question about playing from different types of grasses. You'll learn some of the basic characteristics of turfs and techniques to deal with grabby grasses—along with some inside info on Greg's home course. Mark's tip on using the Divot...

You probably don't have the golf skill of a Tour pro, or else you'd likely be a Tour pro. But there are other facets of the professional's game that any golfer can learn from. In this episode, Mark, Greg, and Lou pull insight from Greg's 30 years on tour to give advice for preparation and strategy that can help you score, no matter your level. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter:...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. For many golfers, a scratch handicap is an aspiration, and scratch players are the best players they know. In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg questions only about scratch golfers—and some of the numbers might surprise you. A really good standard of golf still includes missed shots. Each of these will be a mini-epis...

"And there's that slice/hook/chunk again!" We've all been there: working at the range to make a swing change, and then we see the old pattern emerge. Why is it so hard to make a change stick? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg bring three very different perspectives (a coach, an avid am, and a professional) to this question. There may not be shortcuts, but there are ways to engage with a change...

We've all said it: "It would have been an amazing round except for those few holes!" Buy why does that keep happening? In this episode, Lou brings data from fellow Arccos data maestro Michael Hutch, and he and Mark talk about what causes double bogeys at each skill level. You'll learn where you're dropping shots, and where you can focus your practice to drop your handicap. The charts and data from...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Ah, the dread half-wedge. In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about the distance at which a scratch, 10, and 20 index golfer breaks even for Strokes Gained from 50 yards in the fairway. What is the baseline for a good shot for those skills? And how can we all improve those touch shots? Each of these will be a mini-e...

It's that time: Mark needs to work on his body. In this episode, Mark talks with Greg and Lou about his early steps in evaluating his strength and fitness and what he's working on to improve his strength and make better gains with an already-optimized swing. Want your own free golf performance assessment from Par 4 Success Golf? Click here: https://go.par4success.com/mark-crossfield Where to find...

Among the hats worn by our resident Stat Guy is Assistant Coach of the Princeton Tigers golf team. In today's episode, he and Mark discuss an event (beginning today!) that the Princeton golfers will be playing at St. Andrews. Lou and Mark talk about what Lou hopes to see and do in St. Andrews, Mark's thoughts on the Old Course, and how the weather might (or might not) be a factor in the tournament...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. How far do golfers really hit their drives? Yes, increasing distance might help, but knowing the typical driver distance for your target index is really helpful. In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg how far a 5, 15, and 25 handicap golfer hits their drivers, and then they discuss the value of realism in your distance...

Today's episode is a grab bag of topics. Mark first asks Lou and Greg about how the rest of the world perceives the USA/European Ryder Cup. Then they each offer their favorite highlight from the 2025 major season. They conclude by previewing what each of them are working toward this off-season. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Cro...

Now that the dust has settled a bit, Mark, Lou, and Greg gather to talk through their thoughts following the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. In this episode, they offer their takes on the course setup, the pairings, the crowd, the captains, the envelope rule, and the furious but unfinished comeback attempt in the singles matches on Sunday. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: h...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. You're a single-figure index—a good golfer. And you're 250 out, in the fairway, on a par 5. How often will you birdie this hole? And how often will you make bogey or worse? Lou, Mark, and Greg discuss this and give instruction to help you find your best scores on the long holes. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-...

A multiple major winner recently offered another suggestion to solve golf's "distance problem." In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg discuss what would happen if tees were banned and wedge loft was limited. Mark gets a little hot here, both about the responsibilities of golf media and about the actual proposal itself. Would Tour pros be able to figure out new ways to optimize their performance und...

A good listener question for today's episode: how do you handle the streaks of a golf round? It often feels like you get hit for several holes, and then suddenly, you are on a run of birdies. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk through mental game and on-course strategies to get off the bogey train while stringing together more of those solid holes. To get the best discount off your NordVPN...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Three putts are frustrating. But they do happen—how often? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about 35-foot putts, and how often Tour players, scratch golfers, and 20 indexes will three putt. The answers will likely surprise you—and show a major way to shave a few strokes from your scores. Each of these will be a m...

A simple two-question podcast today from Lou, Mark, and Greg. The first question: what golf swing tip do you wish you'd learned earlier? Hindsight being 20/20, this is an opportunity to focus now on real improvement. The second question: what makes golf fun ? Is the fun in keeping score and competing, or in something else? The guys offer their answers: you can reply with yours to @hackitoutgolf on...