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...

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:...

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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:...

In recent days, Lexi Thompson announced her retirement from professional golf. In this episode, Greg, Lou, and Mark talk about the reasons behind her decision. What is it like to travel on a tour for 15 years? How is a person supposed to handle being accessible online, where every anonymous person can make the cruelest comments about you? Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter:...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Sometimes the stats confirm long-held suspicions. Sometimes they overturn them. In today's episode, Lou asks us to consider two 5-index golfers. One of them is in his 20s; the other in his 60s. Which of them, on average, has the better short game? And by how much? Greg and Mark register their guesses, and then the three of them talk about how differing golfers of all ages can make improvements to their games to...

Greg Chalmers played his first Champions Tour major—and was this close to winning the whole thing! In this episode, Greg joins Mark and Lou to talk through the event, including the tense final stretch, in which Greg had the lead before he was overtaken on the final few holes. 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:...

Today's episode, Mark again pulls up motion capture data from elite players—this time, Rory and Bryson. Here, he focuses in on a comparison the angle of the trail elbow. After quizzing Lou and Greg about how these Tour players differ, Mark gives instruction on what is an overlooked element of a golf swing, so that we can apply these motion capture insights to our own golf improvement. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Here's a great expectations podcast: in this episode, Lou has Mark and Greg guessing how often a scratch, 10-, and 20-index player will hit the green from 180–185 yards. Listen in and you'll get a good idea of what a realistic number is—and how you need to improve! 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...

Tony Finau and Rory McIlroy: both elite players, and both capable of absolutely smashing drivers. But how? In this episode, Mark grabs Lou's Stat host microphone and quizzes Lou and Greg about some of the measured movements in Finau's and McIlroy's swings. What do they do alike—and in what ways are their swings profoundly different? And most importantly, what can "normal" golfers learn from these outlier players? How can this data help us improve in ways that are tailored to us a unique...

Greg Chalmers continues his roll! In today's episode, Greg recaps his qualifying round for the 2024 US Senior Open. He, Lou, and Mark talk about the qualifying site he chose, his work going into the day, his choice to play without his caddie (a detail that got Lou very interested), and his hopes for the tournament itself. Where to find us: Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline Mark Crossfield...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today is an all-time reality check in expectations management. If you're a 10-index golfer, how far do you need to hit a tee shot into the fairway to break even in strokes gained? What about in the rough? Lou puts this question to Greg and Mark, and the answer will probably surprise you as much as it does them—and it might give you different ideas of your goal when you're standing on the next tee. Each of these...