Hack It Out Golf

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?

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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 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...

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.

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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<...

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.

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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 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...

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?

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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.

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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 an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn, and most importantly, how you can apply this on the golf course to...

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?

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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.

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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 should be something you keep in mind next time you head to the course.

Each of these will be a mi...

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?

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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?

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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-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn, and most importantly, how...

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.

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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 surrounding rough. Can—or should—anything be done about that?

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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 next handicap improvement.

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...

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 offseason begins.

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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.

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Lou Stagner's weekly...

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 continues to be the theme of effective scoring.

Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an...

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 Board to practice chipping at the end of this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcFmNCZimM4

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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.

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...

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-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 th...

"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 that can accelerate your progress.

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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 this episode are in this newsletter from Lou: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/p/where-your-double-come-from Follow Michael Hutch: https://x.com/hutch_golf Where...

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-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn, and most importantly, how you can...

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 us:

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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.

The event is being broadcast on the Golf Channel and Sky Sports, so tune in to see if Lou makes...

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 distances.

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...

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.

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Lou...

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.

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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 (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn, and most importantly, how you can ap...

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 under these restrictions?

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Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline<...

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.

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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 mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn, and most importantly, how you can appl...

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 X.

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It's Ryder Cup week! In previous years, the Ryder Cup represented not just a clash of continents, but a clash of Tours: the PGA Tour and (what is now) the DP World Tour. But this year, almost no one on Team Europe plays regularly in Europe. Does this matter? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg address this question. Is it just nostalgia to want a strong European Tour? Would Greg have left Australia if he could have played there for the same purses? Is the rivalry weaker with a Tour element?

To get...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. It's a real problem: handicap golfers hit their approach shots short—a lot. But how often? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg how often, from 175 yards, golfers of different abilities will manage to hit their shots at least 90% of the target distance. After sorting through their (very different) answers, Mark and Greg give their best advice for getting the ball to the target more regularly.

Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting go...

If you listen to this podcast, you probably know a number of benchmark stats. One well-known one: Tour pros make half their putts from 8 feet. But what if you're better than that? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg try to bring some perspective to the use of statistics and expectation management—one in which you have lofty goals and reasonable expectations.

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It's hard to get better if you don't know what's wrong. In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg expand on a recent tweet/post from Lou, in which he implores golfers to stop counting putts. They'll talk about the usefulness of total putts, the ways in can mislead, and a better way to measure if you're getting better on the greens.

To get the best discount off your NordVPN plan - go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠nordvpn.com/hackitout⁠⁠⁠⁠. Our link will also give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan. There's no risk with Nord’s 30-day money-back gu...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Among the sweetest words in the English language: short par 4. But does that phrase set expectations too high? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Lou what golfers of different skills average on a 325 yard par 4. From there, the guys talk about the best way to make the most of these holes—and compare their own games.

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 mo...

You've been playing rounds with your friends just for fun, but you've improved, and now you want to try your hand at a serious round of golf. What do you need to know? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg offer their advice to a golfer planning to start playing in more serious competitions. From rules advice (both official and unwritten) to music(?) to mindset, this will help any golfer post better results.

To get the best discount off your NordVPN plan - go to ⁠⁠⁠nordvpn.com/hackitout⁠⁠⁠. Our link will also give you 4 extra months...

When the going gets tough, golfers sometimes look for a less tough option. In most episodes, Mark, Lou, and Greg try to get us to focus on things that really work to improve our golf. But in today's episode, they point out some of the things that golfers try that don't help. From unrelated superstitions to bad advice to gimmicky gadgets and clubs, here are some things to be on guard against if you want to shoot your best scores.

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Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. One of the simplest—but most insightful—traditional stats is Greens In Regulation. In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg how many greens golfers of differing skills typically hit per round. After settling the scores, the guys give tips that will help you hit more greens and play better golf.

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...

Pro golfers are really good. But what happens when a player turns professional, can't make a career of golf, and takes another path in life? Once professional, always professional? Or should there be a path back to amateur status? In this episode, Mark, Greg, and Lou discuss—and solid points are raised by both sides.

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The picks for Team USA are in, and on release day for this episode, Europe will announce its team roster for the 2025 Ryder Cup. Mark, Lou, and Greg debate whether Keegan should have chosen himself (or been chosen as captain at all), how to assemble and roster and make pairings, the importance of data vs feels, and the potential for the course—and the local fans—to make this an intense Ryder Cup.

To get the best discount off your NordVPN plan - go to nordvpn.com/hackitout. Our link will also give you 4 extr...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. This one is a doozy. Lou puts a pretty straightforward question to Greg and Mark: how often will golfers of different skill levels miss the green from a greenside bunker? The answer is likely to surprise you. But after a few tips for improving your bunker play, things go a little off the rails. Golfers are competitive. Always.

Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can learn...

Once you get beyond "I just don't want to hit a giant slice," you might reach a point at which you want to settle on hitting one particular shape. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about changing your shot shape: factors that might influence your decision and practical steps to engrain a new pattern—and take it to the course.

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Bad training aids can be worse that useless. But a good training aid can really accelerate golf improvement. In this episode, Mark and Lou talk about some of their favorite tools to use and to recommend from a coaching perspective. There are tools to help deliver the club better, lots of solid home launch monitor options, and a really great tool to monitor your ground strike—even indoors.

ProSENDR: http://prosendrgolf.com/crossfieldmark 

HackMotion: http://www.hackmotion.com/markcrossfield 

Stack radar: https://www.thestacksystem.com/coll...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's question is one of the most basic for lowering scores: three-putt avoidance. How often do various handicap levels three-putt? Lou puts that question to Mark and Greg, and after sorting out the answers, the guys give their best advice for not wasting shots on the green.

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...

As the end of the PGA Tour season draws near, there have been no shortage of interesting issues to discuss. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the upcoming Ryder Cup rosters, Tommy Fleetwood's failure to close out the BMW (and whether it tells us something about his ability to handle pressure), and the fact that Rickie qualified for the Top 50 largely on the strength of sponsor's invitations into high-point signature events.

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Mark Crossfield on...

We all know that hitting drives further is an important way to lower our scores. And while speed training and better strength make a difference, there are gains to be had at your current swing speed. In this episode, Mark and Lou talk through some of the basic adjustments you can make to your equipment, setup, and swing that gain two clubs off the tee without swinging faster.

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Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Tour pros are good, for sure, but how good? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about the chances that a Tour pro will hit the green from various fairway distances. These are great numbers to manage expectations for those of us who are not close to that level.

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...

The Gregulators got a shock while scoreboard watching this past Sunday: Greg was DQ'd?! What happened? In this episode, Greg joins Mark and Lou to explain what happened. This provokes a discussion of the rules of golf and their enforcement: should there be a larger roll for making judgment calls when there's no advantage gained?

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Nostalgia in golf often takes the form of pining for the good old days, when the ball actually curved and skilled golfers made it bend around trees, both ways, probably on the same shot. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg consider recent comments by Charley Hull, asking how much golf has changed and what effect that has on the spectator experience.

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Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, our hypothetical golfer is in a lovely position: in the fairway, hitting his second into a par 4 from 75 yards. How often will the unthinkable—double bogey or worse—happen for scratch, 10, and 20 index golfers? Greg and Mark register their guesses, Lou gives the answer, and helpful advice for minimizing those big numbers from a variety of distances follows.

Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you...

Greg Chalmers grabbed another top-10 in a Champions Tour major, and in this episode, he re-joins Mark and Lou to recap the event. They talk about the course, his play, and focus on one on-course decision that Greg would like to do over. This discussion offers a guide for all of us to make better choices during our rounds.

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Golf is a crazy game—but some of the stuff that happens with golf is next-level crazy! In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg recount some of their favorite stories of outlandish golf behavior: hit objects, animals, and people; golf being played in decidedly non-golf locations; shenanigans on the course, and even some attempts at bending the rules. Sometimes, we just need to laugh at the absurdity of the game we love.

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Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Greg is back! In today's episode, the question is how much rough matters. At 20, 90, and 250 yards in the rough: at what yardages in the fairway will a 10-index shoot equivalent scores? Lou asks, Mark and Greg answer, and the guys talk about the difficulty of layups and the reward for big misses off the tee.

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...

A veteran LIV golfer finished in the top 50 at the Open Championship—and rose over 3,000 places in the OWGR. Maybe something is amiss with the OWGR? In this episode, Mark and Lou discuss the current state of golf rankings: the OWGR and some of its competitors, including the Data Golf rankings. What do we want from a professional golf ranking system?

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Major season is ended for another year, and so Mark and Lou take a bit to chat about the recently completed Open Championship. They offer opinions on the course and links golf, Scottie's dominance, and Shane Lowry's penalty. Shifting gears, they offer some limited enthusiasm for the new Happy Gilmore movie.

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Lou...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's topic: long putting for average golfers. How often will a 10-index player three-putt from 40 feet? Once again, Mark puts his guess up against our audience, and Lou shares some of his favorite games to make lag-putting practice enjoyable—to shave wasted strokes from your 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...

Today's episode is wide-ranging: we begin with a recap of one of Mark's old tournaments and conclude with Mark and Lou's thoughts going into Scottie's final round of this past weekend's Open Championship. But in between, the heart of the discussion has to do with commentary on golf—including a shockingly inaccurate explanation from last week's major. How important is good information in golf commentary?

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Mark Crossfield on...

In this episode, Mark and Lou take a listener question: what are some ways in which we might approach match play strategy differently than we would stroke play? For American listeners, who play less match play than in other countries, this might be helpful on a subject you haven't thought much about. For others, you will find pointers for a style of golf you play more often and want to succeed at.

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Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Greg is back, and today's question is one heard on ranges and tee boxes around the world: how far do you hit your 8-iron? Lou asks Greg and Mark about scratch and 15-index players, and then both of them talk about how far they hit their 8-irons, and how that can vary tremendously based on the situation.

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...

Gregulators: Mount up! In this episode, Mark and Lou come to you live on course, following Greg and offering running commentary on his second round of the Dick's Open. Follow along as Greg puts together a really great round of golf, getting himself near the top of the leaderboard. Also in this episode: snack breaks and an informative series of hand gestures from Dougie to Lou.

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Mark...

Lou talks a lot about expectations on the course. But golf has a built-in system of expectations: when you get to a new hole, the first two bits of information you normally want are yardage and par. That par number sets some expectation of how the hole should be played. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about whether the concept of par helps or hurts your approach to playing a hole. They discuss strategies for focusing on what you can control right now, so that you are in the best position to shoot your best score, and...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Greg's day job has him occupied again, so Mark and Lou turn to the audience for some competition. Today's question in straightforward: a scratch golfer is in the fairway, 7 iron in hand. What percent of the time will he hit the green? This is a great benchmark number to keep in mind as we aim to have informed expectations.

Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can...

Without question, modern golf is established on a foundation of traditions. But what if it weren't? What if golf were new, and we were building a course today? How would elements of course design and play be imagined if it began today? In this episode, Mark and Lou consider ways that golf could be different—if it is willing to be.

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Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline

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How technical should golf instruction be? In this episode, Mark and Lou discuss whether learning the specific facts of the golf swing will help or hurt golfers. You need to find what works for you—and that might not be what you expect.

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Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline

Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline

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Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, the question is straightforward, but the format is not. Greg is absent, so Mark is taking on a few of the podcast listeners. The question: from 125 in the fairway, how many strokes would it take a scratch and a 10-index golfer on average to finish the hole? Can Mark guess better than our (very educated) audience?

Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss what you can...

Do you take a practice swing? Or ten? Why? Out of habit, or are you accomplishing something on purpose? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg analyze the value of the practice swing. Is it technical—or too technical? Does it help with producing the upcoming shot—or is it itself a distraction and an excuse? What about practice swings for chipping and putting? Whatever your current practice on practice, there's something here to sharpen your preparation for the next swing.

Where to find us:

Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com...

We all want to have better control of our face and path on the course, to rein in the big miss. But knowing that not all shots will go exactly as we intend, are there other things within our control that can limit the damage of a shot that goes offline? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg give very practical advice for keeping control of your game, even without perfect control of your ball.

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Mark Crossfield...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. You're going to miss greens. But can you miss them better? In this episode, Lou quizzes Greg and Mark about the effect of short-side misses on the score of an average golfer. This is information that you can put to practical use when you choose your targets in your next round.

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...

Golf's major championships are often held at some of the sport's most iconic courses, and it has Mark, Greg, and Lou discussing whether the extravagant setups and course conditions for these tournaments are having a bad effect on golf more generally. Whether its green and fairway sizes or rough depth, there are elements that have cost in money, environment, and pace of play. Should these tournaments think about the example they set for other courses?

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Mark Crossfield...

Lou's been back to focusing on fitness and mobility, and he's wondering: how will gaining range of motion in his hips and legs affect his swing? Mark offers some answers, and he and Lou and Greg talk about how physical limitations change swings, how they work on those limitations, and Lou's recent form of play.

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Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline

Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline

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Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Being in the fairway is better than being in the rough—but by how much? In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark how close in the rough golfers of differing skills levels would need to be to average the same number of shots to hole out as they do from 200 in the fairway. The answers might surprise you; they certainly surprised Greg and Mark.

Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We...

Mistake-free golf is an always illusive grail. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about mistakes in golf. First, they talk about kinds of mistakes, from mistakes in planning to execution. Then they talk about the inevitability of mistakes—and how handling mistakes well, rather than hoping to eliminate them altogether, might be the recipe for your best golf performance.

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Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline

Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.yo...

From the range to magazines to social media sites, swing tips have been—and will likely always be—a key element of golf culture. In this episode, Lou, Mark, and Greg each share the best swing tip they've encountered. From three very different perspectives (an avid amateur, a coach, and a touring pro), you're likely to find something here that will help improve your golf.

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Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline

Mark Crossfield on Y...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Today's episode has it all: a grab-bag of stats, Mark misunderstanding the question, an epic rules controversy, and solid knowledge about golf that will help you improve. Is it the last Saturday Stat episode ever?

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.

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What's in Lou's bag? In this episode, Mark and Lou answer that question. From Lou's love of high-lofted fairway woods to his left-handed putter (when all of his other clubs are right-handed), they discuss not only what Lou plays, but what kinds of choices you can make for your own club setup to play your best golf.

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Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline

Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline<...

You want to get better at golf. Where is improvement to be found: on the course or the range? In this episode, Mark and Lou give answers to this question—and there isn't one simple answer. Play on course has advantages: ultimately, scoring better in the goal. But it can be hard to use the course for practice, and there are questions about posting scores. Range practice might be better for certain changes, but introducing pressure to perform at the right time is a skill. There's a lot of good information here for golf improvement.

Where to fi...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. From 150 in the fairway, most golfers are hoping for a pretty decent outcome. But what about the bad outcomes? How often with a scratch player and a 15-index end up with a shot 30 or more yards from the hole? The answer might surprise you (like it did Mark and Greg), and the discussion might help you play some smarter and better golf.

Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes long) about an interesting golf stat. We will discuss...

Greg joins Mark and Lou to talk about his recent performance at the Principal Charity Classic. Greg began with two underwhelming rounds, but caught fire in the third. In this episode, he talks about what worked, how to weather the ups and downs of golf, and then the guys talk about some of the players still competitive for decades on end, and what leads to their success.

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Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline

...

Even as we're right in the middle of major season, the Ryder Cup looms. Not only will it be the biggest event of the fall, but performance now still has a massive effect on who qualifies to play for Teams Europe and USA. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg discuss the intriguing prospect of Keegan as a playing captain, the role of chemistry in team golf, and the lack of inspiration in American sports chants.

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Mark...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. In today's episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg what percent of the time a 10-index is going to make bogey or worse on each kind of hole on the course. After settling the answers, the guys have a good discussion on avoiding big numbers—which can be a problem for professionals and not just mid-handicap golfers.

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 im...

In response to some recent (inaccurate) comments about professional ball speeds, Lou assembled a list of the ball speeds of the top-ranked players on the PGA Tour. In this episode, he shares that list with Mark and Greg, and they discuss the biggest surprises, the effect of speed at the highest levels of golf, and the need for accurate data when making decisions about the future of the game, and the

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In a recent episode, Lou proposed that Mark should try to qualify for one of the main senior tours. In this episode, Greg re-joins the podcast to give a truly professional opinion on Mark's chances of success. They talk about the amount of commitment required, Mark's psychological approach to the task, and whether Lou is ready to stop trying to take Greg's bag from Doug so that he can caddie for Mark.

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Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. What difference does hitting the fairway make? In this episode, Lou compares golfers of different skill in their ability to hit the green from 125 yards in the fairway versus the rough. Mark and Greg give their guesses, and what follows is a discussion about the skill of controlling a ball with good iron play from the fairway.

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...

Today's the day: an important league match, a club contest, or maybe a chase for a better index. How should you get ready for your round? In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about how to prepare your body, your swing, and your mind so that you're ready to post the best score possible.

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Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline

Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline

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When—and how—should you change your swing? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about when you should consider making a change, the reasons for making a change, and the work that is required to make that change stick. Golf improvement rarely comes by doing exactly what you've always done.

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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...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. You've missed the green in the rough, but you're still hoping to get up and down and save a score. How far are you likely to end up from the hole when you're 35 yards away and in the rough? In this episode, Lou quizzes Mark and Greg on median distance by handicap. Afterwards, they reiterate why you need to be aware of what a good shot really is—and how expectation management can increase your performance on the course.

Each of...

Greg's well into his 2025 Champions Tour season, and in this episode, he joins Mark and Lou to recap the season so far. They discuss where he currently stands in the race for the Schwab Cup, how he works on his game during the season, and what keeps him playing golf at this stage of his career.

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Mark Crossfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/4golfonline

Mark Crossfield on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/4golfonline

Mark's recent match with Greg got Lou thinking: should Mark try to qualify for the Champions Tour or Legends Tour? In this episode, Lou is in the uncomfortable position of having to say nice things about Mark. He observes Mark's skill (despite unstructured practice) and the way Mark has added distance while avoiding the gym. Mark ponders the possibility, and they both solicit feedback from the audience about whether they think Mark should give this a run.

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...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. How far away is five shots from the hole? Obviously, this varies by skill level. In this episode, Lou asks Greg and Mark how far from the hole a scratch, 10, and 20-index golfer would need to be to average five shots to hole out. The gaps might be bigger than you think and provide the basis for an interesting discussion about the need for new tees at most courses: shorter tees.

Each of these will be a mini-episode (10-15 minutes...

Is better scoring found in a cup of coffee? In this episode, Mark and Lou talk about a study Lou recently read about the effects of caffeine on golf performance. Mark and Lou talk about the findings of the study, their own coffee preferences, the meaning of cream, their new plan for on-course concessions—and how you might save a stroke or two your next round with a cup of coffee.

Link to Lou's newsletter: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com/p/will-coffee-help-your-golf-game

Where to find us:

Mark Crossfield's we...

As part of Mark's recent visit with Greg, he followed along for Greg's workouts and fitness planning. In this episode of the podcast, they discuss some of what Greg is working on, and then Mark and Lou talk about the ways in which taking care of the body is great for golf and for life in general.

Video of the Greg's gym work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBgCJN2cmS0

Where to find us:

Mark Crossfield's weekly newsletter: https://www.crossfieldgolf.com/subscribe<...

Welcome to the "Saturday Morning Golf Stat" from the Hack it Out Golf Podcast. Your ball is in the fairway, 150 yards from the hole. Now, put the ball in the rough, but at a yardage at which, on average, you'd hole out in the same number of strokes that you would have from 150 in the fairway. Where are you dropping? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg this question for golfers of various skill levels. As with the best SMS episodes: the answer surprises them, which means we're all going to learn something.

...

Recently, Mark jumped the Atlantic to spend a few days documenting Greg's 2025 Champions Tour work. In addition to his training session, Greg played a match against Mark. In this episode, they recap the match, which has its share of twists and turns—and will undoubtedly become part of the enduring lore of this podcast.

Video of the match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBgCJN2cmS0

Where to find us:

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Mark Crossfield on Tw...

If you're listening to this episode, you probably have a driver with adjustable loft. How do you know where it should be set? How would you know whether you need a different head with much higher or lower loft? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the lofts they play, why those are the best for their games, and how you should determine the best loft to optimize your tee shots.

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Mark...