In this special episode of the Hack It Out Golf Podcast, Mark has the opportunity to sit down for an extended conversation with famed golf coach Sean Foley. In this segment of their discussion, they talk about Sean's time coaching one of the greatest players in the history of the sport: Tiger Woods. Sean discusses the unique pressures of coaching Tiger, what he learned from the experience, what he might have done different, and what he thinks of Tiger as a student. Where to find us: Mark Crossfi...
Aug 26, 2024•19 min
Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Golf's statistical revolution has made it clear: distance matters. And because distance matters, speed matters. But what happens when you bring the speed, but miss the center of the driver face? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark about the drop-off in distance for off-center driver strikes. You'll see why strike matters a ton, and that if you're going to miss center, there's a side of your driver face you really ...
Aug 24, 2024•12 min
Mark, Lou, and Greg continue to take measured data from Tour (and, in this case, also amateur) swings and see what it tells us for making real improvement in our games. In this episode, Mark pulls up data on the distance between the golfer's center of mass and the edge of his hand, both at address and at the top of the backswing. Because these can both move (and they move quite differently between pros and amateurs), the distance answer might be surprising (it was to Lou and Greg!). From this, t...
Aug 22, 2024•17 min
Recently, Mark had a lesson with Sean Foley, famed for his work with a number of elite Tour pros. In this episode, he recaps that lesson with Greg and Lou, talking about Sean's approach to coaching, the way he integrates technology and a concern for the whole body, how Mark approaches making swing changes for his own game, and (maybe) what Mark might have learned to be a better coach to Lou. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Cros...
Aug 19, 2024•22 min
Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode will make you think. Take a 10-index golfer: what will he score in rounds where he hits 13 fairways? What about in rounds in which he hits 9 greens in regulation? Lou puts this question to Lou and Greg, and after settling the winner, the discussion turns to how this knowledge can help you shoot your best scores. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. W...
Aug 17, 2024•10 min
In this episode, the guys continue to see what they can learn about the golf swing using motion tracking analysis. Here, Mark asks Greg and Lou how much the hip should turn in the swing (using Tour players as a benchmark) and compares that number to his own measurement. A key idea in this episode: because our bodies are connected and our swing is one big motion, changing one element of how your body moves will almost always change a number of other features of the way you deliver in the club. Ex...
Aug 15, 2024•15 min
New technology keeps making information that was once exclusive to expensive equipment available to the avid regular golfer. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg look at information about Lou's swing captured by Sportsbox AI, which takes video of a golf swing and translates it to measured data comparable to motion capture technology. The data: how high do Lou's hands get from their starting point at address? And more importantly: why does it matter and how can it help your swing? Where to find u...
Aug 12, 2024•16 min
Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Modern golf instruction emphasizes distance; the old "drive for show" slogan has been thoroughly debunked. But does that translate to recreational golfers, or is that just for Tour players? In this episode, Lou quizzes Mark and Greg about the effects that gaining 10 yards of driving distance has on Arccos golfers. How many of them improved? What percent of them improved by 3 shots/round or more? And what percentage of...
Aug 10, 2024•12 min
Go Greggie, Go Greggie! In this episode, Greg joins Mark and Lou to recap the 2024 Senior Open Championship, in which Greg finished T17. They discuss Dougie's tenuous hold on Greg's bag (ahem), the joy of having friends and family at a tournament, and Greg's challenge at adapting to Carnoustie's green speeds. If you want to get better at dialing in your putting speed, take a look at ExPutt. For the best price on Exputt use code: GOLFSALE https://crossfieldgolf.info/ExPutt Where to find us: Mark ...
Aug 08, 2024•21 min
Is it the shoes? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk golf shoes and the ways that our footwear can influence how we play. From a discussion of metal spikes, to hightops, to shoe fit, to "traditional" versus more modern sporty shoes, it's a wide-ranging discussion of a piece of equipment that probably doesn't get the attention it deserves. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonli...
Aug 05, 2024•21 min
Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. This week, a chastened and humbled Mark returns with Greg to guess how well scratch and 20-index players play the hole on the course that is officially the easiest. Lou 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 d...
Aug 03, 2024•11 min
In today's episode, Mark again is analyzing motion capture data from elite players—this episode features Rory McIlroy. In this episode, Mark asks Greg and Lou about Rory's left knee movement at address through impact. A little spoiler: his knee does turn quite a bit toward target at impact: but the way that he gets there might not be what you think. And as Mark says, it traces back to a simple setup issue that most amateurs get wrong. There may well be information here that can directly help you...
Aug 01, 2024•16 min
We all love new golf gear. But in the hierarchy of sparkly new golf clubs, drivers are likely at the top, followed by iron sets and putters. What about your wedges? Could a new set of wedges make a real difference in your scoring? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the performance changes of worn out wedges, and the ways in which—not just marketing, but tested results—a fresh set of grooves might help you shoot lower scores. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: htt...
Jul 29, 2024•22 min
Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Is this the best Saturday Stat ever? Probably. Today, Lou asks Mark and Greg about the putting make rate from 8 feet. Many golf statheads know that this is the break even point for Tour pros: they make 50% of these. But what about scratch players? And what about 20 index golfers? The answers will likely surprise you, as they did one of our hosts! But the numbers here are so helpful for having the right expectations on...
Jul 27, 2024•14 min
In today's episode, Mark again is analyzing motion capture data from elite players—this episode features Brooks Koepka. Today, Mark quizzes Lou and Greg (who, as always, loves making random guesses) about Koepka's hip turn in his swing. In the discussion that follows, the guys talk about the massive effects that hip turn can have on your swing—including things that Greg himself is working on in his pursuit of continued good results on the Champions Tour. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekl...
Jul 25, 2024•18 min
Greg Champions Tour major schedule takes him to the other side of the Atlantic, where he's headed to Carnoustie to play the Senior Open Championship. In this episode, he joins Lou and Mark to talk about the upcoming major, including his thoughts on the course and his history playing there, his preparation, and also his take on Rolexes and haggis. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfon...
Jul 22, 2024•23 min
Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. We know that the traditional putts per round stat is very dependent on approach play: in general, the better your approach play, the more putts you are likely to have. But what about Strokes Gained:Putting? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark what happens to a 10-index golfer's SG:Putting number on good approach rounds vs poor approach rounds, and then they have a lengthy conversation about what might cause the di...
Jul 20, 2024•18 min
In today's episode, Mark again is analyzing motion capture data from elite players—this time, Jon Rahm. Jon is famous for having a relatively "short" backswing, even with driver. The question today for Lou and Greg: how much does Rahm turn his upper body? And as always, the discussion turns from Rahm's swing to how we can learn how to improve our own golf through a better understanding of body movements—and the swing characteristics that they tend to produce. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's ...
Jul 18, 2024•22 min
In today's episode, Lou joins Mark and Greg to talk about his recent visit to a golf Mecca: the Titleist Performance Institute. There, Lou experienced a body screening that measured his mobility and strength, got fitted for some of Titleist's newest products, and saw some of their future plans. Listen in and learn how TPI (and there are TPI-certified instructors around the world) can help you maximize your golf game. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgo...
Jul 15, 2024•31 min
Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. The topic today: megaduffs. How often do you hit your approach shot and come up short 30% or more of your distance to the target? In today's episode, Lou, Mark, and Greg talk about that number for both scratch and 20-index golfers, and the answer might surprise you. The biggest takeaway: all of us need to get better at striking the ball. Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting go...
Jul 13, 2024•11 min
In today's episode, Mark compares motion capture data from two elite players—this time, Jon Rahm and Rickie Fowler. The point of comparison: how much do they move their center away from or toward the target at different points in the swing. Lou and Greg make their best guesses, but then the discussion turns to how "sway" in the swing affects other swing characteristics, and how that might be relevant to your game and helping you improve. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: htt...
Jul 11, 2024•20 min
You want to get better at golf, so you start tracking some stats in your game in addition to score alone. Are those stats going to give you useful information that you can use to shape your practice plan? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about traditional golf stats like putts per round or fairways per round, and the ways that those numbers might even mislead a golfer to practice things that she might already be very proficient at. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: ...
Jul 08, 2024•25 min
Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. The course rating system for handicap purposes is a mystery to many golfers, even some avid ones. What happens to the scoring of a scratch golfer when he plays a course that, by rating, is relatively versus a round on a course with a much higher rating? In this episode, Lou poses that question to Mark and Greg, and then they talk about handicaps, how courses are rated, and how the courses and tees you play might affec...
Jul 06, 2024•17 min
Greg Chalmers just completed his second major on the Champions Tour: the US Senior Open! In this episode, he, Mark, and Lou talk through his week at Newport Country Club. He talks about the course and club, the challenges of the late/early tee times that week, the one hole that gave him fits, and the impact his finish has on his season and his Champions Tour career. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https:/...
Jul 05, 2024•28 min
This past week, Miles Russell played in a PGA Tour event at age 15. Although he didn't make the cut, he did shoot even par for two rounds and beat dozens of established professionals. Earlier this season, Nick Dunlap won a PGA Tour event as a amateur, the first time that had happened in over two decades. In this episode of the podcast, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the rising tide of incredibly talented, incredibly young golfers. They discuss what's causing it, what its effects might be, and wh...
Jul 01, 2024•32 min
Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Greenside bunkers—higher handicappers often dread them, while better players sometimes favor them over being next to the green in the rough. What do the stats say? How much is of a penalty is a bunker over the rough for a scratch player? And for a 20-index? The answers might surprise you, as they certainly surprised Mark and Greg in this episode. Find out where the stats say your game can improve! Each of these will b...
Jun 29, 2024•11 min
The 2024 US Open at Pinehurst was electric! A memorable course and a memorable finish give Mark, Lou, and Greg and lot ot talk about. In this episode, they discuss the course (and the role of luck vs skill), the broadcast, Rory's putting woes down the stretch and his quick exit, and Bryson's triumph and celebration(s). 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 YouT...
Jun 27, 2024•45 min
Today's episode, Mark again pulls up motion capture data from elite players—this time, Sergio Garcia and Billy Horschel. Sergio is famous for his lag: that deep angle he gets between his lead forearm and the club shaft as he transitions into the downswing. In this episode, Mark asks Lou and Greg to compare that angle between Sergio and Horschel (for the relevant images, check the podcast X account below). Once again: measured data sometimes tells a very different story than single images. Where ...
Jun 24, 2024•20 min
Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Managing expectations isn't just about individual shots. What percentage of golfers reach a plus index? And how many golfers maintain a relatively high handicap? In this Saturday stat, we join Lou, Mark, and Greg to talk about the ends of the bell curve of the handicaps. 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, h...
Jun 22, 2024•10 min
Right now, we're about halfway through Greg Chalmer's first season on the PGA Champions Tour. In this episode, he and Lou and Mark recap the season thus far. In addition, they talk about Greg's road ahead: what he needs to do the remainder of the season to secure status on the Champions Tour next year, so that he won't have to keep qualifying into tournaments (though he's been doing that really well). Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe...
Jun 20, 2024•21 min
