Hack It Out Golf

The most recent Saturday Stat addressed how often different levels of golfers manage to avoid three-putting. The truth: everyone does. The further truth: there are good ways to do so less often. In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk through practice tips and approaches to putting that will reduce wasted shots on the green, so that you can shoot better scores through better putting. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Greg is on a roll! In today's episode, Lou is asking about 3-putts—in particular, how often scratch, 10 index, and 20 index golfers go the entire round without three putting. After the answers are revealed and the winner crowned, the guys talk about not just avoiding 3-putts, but getting the cause right when the 3-putt occurs. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 April 2025

The 7-iron, in the middle of most player's bags, is often a benchmark club for distance. How far should you hit it? In this episode, Mark tackles this question with Lou and Greg. There are a number of ways to think about answering this question, from knowing what's typical at different indexes to knowing how to judge between your typical shot and your outliers. Do you want to be pin high more often? This discussion will help. Mark's video on this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSFTp6c4B-8 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2025

Most golfers know how a handicap works, even if they don't maintain an official one. The anti-cap is its opposite: your worst 8 scores in your past 20 rounds. In this episode, Lou leads a discussion with Mark and Greg as to why an anti-cap matters, why tracking it can be an asset when your handicap improvement has stalled, and what a low anti-cap means for your golf game, 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. It's been common advice for so long: if you can't reach a green, lay up to a particular full swing yardage, so that you don't have to judge those tricky in-between distances. In this episode, Lou brings the data to Greg and Mark to see how many golfers really do score better if they follow that advice. The answer: not many at all. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 April 2025

It's Masters week! In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about what they hope to see in this week's tournament. A friendly wager is made for Mark's bucket hat, and then the guys make their picks from different buckets: LIV golfers, dark horses, and their overall pick to win. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2025

Here's a trip down memory lane: Mark, Lou, and Greg go back through their lives in golf to pick their favorite ever drivers. Of course, Lou goes a bit off the beaten path with his, there's a Sasquatch sighting, and Mark has comments on all of it. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Lots of golfers, both pro and amateur, are trying to hit the ball further. But does it really matter when it comes to scoring? If you gain 10 yards off the tee, how likely are you to lower your index? In this episode, Lou puts that question to Mark and Greg. The answer will likely shock you. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 April 2025

The tee shot is the only part of a golf hole in which you can perfectly control your own lie. And yet many golfers don't take advantage of this privilege. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about tee height. You might guess that if you tee the ball higher, you're likely to hit up on it more. But what happens to face and path with higher and lower tees? Knowing these factors—both in general and specifically for your own game—can help you hit your best tee shots. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 3 April 2025

Your gear can't play the game for you, but it can make the game easier or harder. In this episode, Mark brings his suggestions for clubs and other equipment that would help most players shoot better scores. Lou and Greg also weigh in with suggestions—and critiques of Mark's list. A different kind of ball for holes when you want to keep the spin down? 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 31 March 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Three-putting never feels great. Three-putting from 10 feet is a kick in the gut. In today's episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark how often this tragedy happens for golfers at different levels. Afterward, we get a couple of pointers on these putts and some epic putting stories from Greg. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 29 March 2025

Perhaps you were watching an episode of Full Swing and thought, "This would be better if it were entirely about Greg Chalmers." If that's you, have I got an episode for you! In today's episode, Mark floats the idea of a video series on the 2025 Champions Tour season of Greg. Mark, Greg, and Lou talk about what they'd like to capture, offer some AI-suggested series names, and make plans to episodes (a whole stats mini-series?). 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 March 2025

What does Collin Morikawa owe you? In recent weeks, Morikawa ducked the typical post-round press conference following a tough defeat. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg bring their differing perspectives to this incident. Should Morikawa have taken questions? Do we really learn anything from these interviews? What role does he have as an example to others? 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. How close do you need to be to the hole so that more of your shots finish outside 30 feet than inside? That's the question Lou puts to Mark and Greg in today's episode. It turns out, amateurs are often harder on themselves than they should be—and that we don't have enough awe at how good professionals are at this game. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 March 2025

The TGL regular season has ended, and so Mark, Lou, and Greg offer their thoughts on the first year. In this episode, they talk about the viewing numbers, the format of the game (and the rule changes), and the ways that the league could be tweaked to make it even more engaging going forward. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 March 2025

Greg came thisclose to winning the 2025 Cologuard Classic. In this episode, Mark and Lou don their media hats to do the post-round interview, Hack It Out-style. We get Greg's thoughts on some of the crucial shots down the stretch, the pressure of sleeping (twice) on the lead, the challenge of bringing some new swing movement into tournament pressure (and having the old pattern show up at the wrong time), and why Greg loved Sunday. Gregulators: this is a must-listen. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode is a curveball: Lou wraps up in his Tiger Woods throw blanket and puts some trivia questions to Greg and Mark about the magnitude of Tiger's dominance. In addition to highlighting just how great Tiger was, we learn how much Mark dislikes trivia questions and what it was like to play with Tiger from Greg. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 March 2025

From Lou's swing laboratory: Lou is working on a way to practice hitting shots from slopes, not only to work on those shots, but to work on the various pressure shifts in the golf swing. In this episode, he talks with Mark about his plans. The discussion includes the various effects of slopes on shots (which are different with different clubs) and the different ways in which golfers apply ground forces in the swing. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 March 2025

Almost a year ago, Mark had a lesson with highly-regarded golf coach Sean Foley. Sean recommended a number of changes—big changes—to Mark's swing. In this episode, Mark and Lou talk about Mark's process of making those changes. Mark talks about what Sean wanted him to do (and why), and then the process he's pursued to work those changes into his swing. A key idea: not all swing training needs to take place on the course or the range, or even when you have access to a golf club. Video of Mark's lesson with Sean Foley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPOeKpY0Xng ProSENDR review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApySNL6znvE Buy a ProSENDR: http://prosendrgolf.com/crossfieldmark 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode: how far away is 3.19 strokes? Take a Tour Pro and a 15-index and drop them both in the fairway at the point that they will, on average, take 3.19 more strokes to get in the hole. What distances are they at? Lou puts this question to Mark and Greg, they guess, and much astonishment follows. Turns out: Tour Pros are really, really good—and most of us have a lot of room to get better, and would be helped with a more realistic assessment of our abilities. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 8 March 2025

Greg's second season on the Champions Tour is underway. This season, Greg is aiming to do more data-collection, so that he can know and not just guess what's working and what's not in his game. In today's episode, he and Mark talk through his first round using Arccos. They discuss alternatives to the tags on the grips, getting comfortable with the app, and getting started with the multitude of stats that Arccos tracks for you. Whether you're a tech guy or not, there are things to learn here to improve your game. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 March 2025

Amateur golfers obsess over swing path and face angle, and with good reason. But golf is a game of distance and direction, and much of the test of distance is distance control: having a very clear idea, within a few yards, of how far your typical shot will go. In this episode, Greg and Mark (Lou is out with a bout of flu) talk through a whole series of pointers that will help you play better by hitting shots as far as they need to go. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 3 March 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode remains one of the most important concepts to grasp if you want to improve your scores. All golfers have a fairly wide range of scores. For a 10 index, breaking 80 is a good round while shooting over 90 leaves him frustrated. The question: how many birdies does he makes in those good rounds vs in the bad rounds? 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 1 March 2025

In this episode, Lou and Mark begin with some competitive banter about a hole they recently played together—especially their quite differing approaches to reading putts. Both speak of what they look for on the greens, and then they turn the stage over to Greg: statistically, one of the best putters ever to play the game. You need to putt on almost every hole you play. Reading greens is a skill that you can sharpen, and it will lower your scores if you work on it. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2025

You've waited for this: this is the episode in which Lou, Mark, and Greg recap Lou's lesson when they were together at the PGA Show. If you are a regular listener to this podcast, there some chance that the technical changes that Lou's swing needs apply to you. But there's an even better chance that we together need to learn how to learn: how to make changes to our game that make a difference—and that transfer into our game on the course. There's much to learn here that will make our golf, not just Lou's, better. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. We've been on a roll lately with episodes that are surprising. Today, Lou's question is about really good shots: how often does a Tour pro finish within 10 feet from 85 and 120 and 170 yards? Mark and Greg guess, and the longer you've been listening to good information, the more surprised you might be by the answers. Turns out: Tour pros are really, really good. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 February 2025

Mark, Greg, and Lou take a listener questioner: for this player, his 7 iron swing speed is right around Tour average, but his driver swing caps out at 105mph. Why might that be? Each of the guys offer possible reasons for this discrepancy but also encourage him—and all golfers struggling with a specific issue—to seek out specific advice. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 February 2025

Today, the Gears shift: instead of Lou's measurements, Greg's swing gets analyzed and tweaked. When the Hack It Out team was together, Greg had his swing measured, in today's episode, Mark, Greg, and Lou discuss what they learned. Greg talks through some of the technical changes he's been making, but the broader discussion of how to implement intentional changes in your golf swing is relevant to improving golfers at all levels. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode brings us to new territory, as the TOUR's allows for more granular stats: how does green firmness affect how close a Tour pro can get to the pin? In this episode, Mark and Greg guess the median proximity for soft, medium, and hard greens. Lou brings the answer—and it will likely surprise you. How much difference do you think it makes? The guys then give a short discussion about how to make changes to your game to adjust to conditions so that you can shoot your best scores. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 February 2025

Project Lou continues, with Lou getting on the Gears system and getting measured. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about what Lou learned. An important takeaway for all golfers: even if you think you're a "feel" player, getting measurements about your swing can help you better match your feels to your intentions. In this discussion, you'll see how that happened for Lou, what Greg is anticipating with his own measurements, and how Mark wants to use this information as a coach to help Lou play his best golf. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 February 2025

The PGA Tour recently announced several changes that are designed to speed up play, including allowing rangefinders during tournament rounds. In this episode, Lou, Mark, and Greg discuss these changes. Among the topics: will this actually speed up play? What other technology should be permitted for tournament rounds? And is determining distance for your shot one of the skills of golf? 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode highlights a decent 10-index golfer, 90 yards from the hole in the fairway: expectations are high. Lou's question: how often will he get up and down from there? On the flip side: how often is it going to take him 4 (or more) shots to finish this hole? Mark and Greg offer their guesses, a winner is crowned, and we all get a lesson in what to expect on these "attack the flag" situations. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 8 February 2025

Gregulators: another seasons dawns, and it's time to mount up! Today's episode releases as Greg begins his second season on the Champions Tour, and so he joins Lou and Mark to talk about the final off-season preparations, his opening tournament in Morocco, and his expectations for the season ahead. Lou continues his campaign to take the bag from Dougie. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2025

Mark, Lou, and Greg took the opportunity again this year to meet up in person at the 2025 PGA Show in Orlando. In today's episode, the recount the show itself, a battle with food poisoning, new revelations about Lou's proportions, others in the golf industry they were able to reconnect with, some of the more interesting displays, and the beginnings of some in-person measuring and coaching of Lou. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, we have three golfers hitting their approach into the green on a par 4 from 150 yards: one scratch, one a 10 index, and the last a 20 index. What are the odds that each make double-bogey or worse? Lou brings the Arccos data, Mark and Greg offer their guesses, and all three give advice that will help you score better during your rounds. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 1 February 2025

The legendary golf instructor Harvey Penick said, "Golf tips are like aspirin. One may do you good, but if you swallow the whole bottle you will be lucky to survive." There's wisdom there—but maybe not in your practice, when you're trying to change your swing. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg make the case for dramatically overdoing your swing change. Why would you intentionally practice "wrong?" Because pushing to extremes just might unlock the target you're after in golf. Newsletter video link: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/p/practicing-extreme-movements 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2025

Would you rather shoot better scores or play with flair and style? I think most of us know, if we're trying to lower the handicap, we should want to get the ball in the hole in the fewest shots, regardless if our style impresses our playing partners. In this episode, Lou brings a recent golf study to Mark and Lou: most golfers get their chip shots much closer to the hole when they hit those shots with a hybrid rather than a wedge. They talk through the study, the pros and cons, and ask you to consider whether you're making golf harder for yourself than it needs to be. Newsletter video link: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/p/chipping-wedge-vs-hybrid-which-is-better 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 January 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. As always, the best Saturday Stats the ones when Mark and Greg's guesses are furthest from the number. Today, Lou's topic are the green-light shots: a wedge from the fairway for Tour pros. How often are they hitting the green, what's their average proximity, and what's the scoring average? Once again, this is a masterclass in expectations management! 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 January 2025

Today's episode takes us to one of the "fundamentals" of golf, but perhaps not in a way you'd expect. Mark, Lou, and Greg talk ball position, and one idea that Mark leads with is that while your ball position needs to be intentional, it might not always need to be the same. You probably know that ball position can change ball flight, especially height. Have you thought about the way it influences club delivery and body movements? Here's an episode that shows that small changes can produce significant improvement in your golf. Newsletter video link: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/p/move-your-ball-position-to-become-a-better-and-more-creative-golfer 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 January 2025

Professional men's golf continues to remain in flux. There was a time when the European Tour was a near peer if not a full peer of the PGA Tour. That is no longer the case; indeed, the current arrangement has the DP World Tour sending its best players each year to the PGA Tour. Has the DP World made poor decisions? In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the past, present, and future of the DP World Tour. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 January 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. There probably isn't an "expectations management" issue that is more obvious than driving distance. In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark about an amateur male golfer with a median driving distance around 270: where does he rank compared to his peers? Turns out, he's way better than most—which means most of us aren't hitting it as far as we claim, and need a more realistic understanding of what a good drive is for us. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 January 2025

Project Lou returns! In this episode, Lou is the student and Mark is the coach, and Greg might be the crisis negotiator brought in to defuse the situation. The guys update us on what Lou has been working on, providing important information on the relationship of plane to path. But the conversation becomes bigger: how quickly should swing changes take root? When is it not worth it to make a change? Most crucially: why is it so hard for many of us amateurs to make a swing change? You'll learn something here that will improve your own work at improving. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2025

Have you ever taken a swing with a towel or headcover held in your armpit? If so, have we got an episode for you! The truth of the matter is that you need some arm lift in your backswing. In today's episode, Mark helps Lou understand how arm lift works in the backswing, while Greg offers his thoughts as well. This is useful all the time, but especially if you're working on changes to your swing in the off-season. Better arm lift will help generate easier power and also give room for a shallower downswing. Watch this content in Mark's newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/p/how-to-hit-the-perfect-position-at-the-top-of-your-backswing 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 January 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. There's a certain approach to golf strategy that insists that there is a *best* angle into the green, and to get that angle, you should try to favor one side of the fairway over the other. In this episode, Lou looks at the data for 10-index golfers, on relatively wide fairways, with the hole cut definitively to one side of the green. On those holes, what do the golfers average from the good angle vs the poor angle? Mark and Greg offer their guesses, and when the truth is revealed, the guys talk about the best way to approach these strategic decisions on the course. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 January 2025

The top of your bag, just below your driver, is probably the part of your bag where you have the greatest number of options for how your set is built. How do you know what set makeup is best for you? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the strengths and weaknesses of long irons and hybrids. What's the longest iron you play? What advantages might you gain replacing that iron with a hybrid? This episode will help your clubs help, not hinder, your best scoring on the course. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 January 2025

This week is the debut of the new tech-heavy indoor team golf league headlined by Tiger and Rory, the TGL. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg break down the news reports of the anticipated format. What aspects of it seem promising, and which might flop? Will the TGL have any impact on the wider popularity of golf? And should the three of them attend a TGL event soon? 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2025

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. A couple of episodes ago, Lou asked Mark and Greg about bunker play; today's episode is the much-anticipated follow-up. How often do golfers (scratch and 15-index) leave a greenside bunker shot in the bunker? It's an incredibly frustrating moment on the course, and the guys give advice to minimize the chance of it happening to you, to improve your game. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 January 2025

Today's episode is a listener question. If you listen to this podcast, you know that you ought to track your stats on the course—if you're serious about improvement. In this episode, the question is: what stats and measurements should you track in the off-season if you want to improve? Mark, Lou, and Greg offer their answers and a variety of advice for making the most productive use of the winter months. 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 January 2025

Today's episode is one that will likely help you hit the ball with more power but less effort: Mark talks about stretch in the swing, mostly the backswing, with Lou and Greg. What is stretch in the swing? How can someone like Rahm, with relatively little stretch the backswing, hit the ball as far as someone like Bubba Watson, who had a ton of stretch? And how can everyday golfers incorporate this idea to improve their own games? 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 Greg Chalmers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GregChalmersPGA The Hack It Out Golf Podcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HackItOutGolf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 December 2024

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, Lou joins our 10-index player at 50, 100, and 150 yards from the hole in fairway. How many strokes, on average, will it take him to hole out from each distance? Mark and Greg offer their guesses, and what unfolds is a great discussion (with data!) about what you really cost yourself when you lay up to 100 yards instead of pushing the ball up as close to the green as possible, even if you're left with an "awkward" partial wedge shot. 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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 December 2024