Hack It Out Golf

SMS - 100 Yards in FW, Double or Worse, Scratch, 10, and 20

18 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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, ho...

Can Golf Learn from the World Cup?

18 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We're in a major week—there's only one more in 2026, and it seems like the season just started? Are the majors too compressed in the schedule? In th...

The 2027 PGA Tour Schedule

15 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The first editions of next year's PGA Tour schedule are releasing, and changes are afoot. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg break down the latest a...

SMS - Breaking Par on Easy vs Hard Courses

13 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Not every par 72 is the same. In this episode, Lou sends out the good golfers—scratch and 5 index—to "hard" and "easy" courses (distinguished by t...

Roll It Back, Jack!

11 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

During the week of the Memorial, Jack Nicklaus made a new set of comments at a press conference in support of a rolled back golf ball. In this episode...

Do You Make More Putts on Comebackers?

08 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A listener question sends Lou on a deep, deep dive into the Arccos database. We know that "never up, never in" is poor advice, especially on longer pu...

SMS: 5 Strokes or More Worse Than Scoring Average

06 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Among the most prominent themes of this podcast is the need to manage expectations. That's not just a "each shot" idea; it's a "whole round" idea. How...

Rai, Rahm, and a Bit of US Open

04 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The 2026 PGA Championship was won by an incredible performance by Aaron Rai. So shouldn't that—and maybe not how he chooses to cover his hands and h...

Should I Shorten My Driver Shaft

01 Jun 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A great, broadly applicable listener question today. In the past couple of decades, drivers have not only experienced increases in head size, but also...

SMS - Tour Pros, Short Chips from Rough, Different Greens

30 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

By this point, we know that we want to avoid short-siding ourselves. But should we think about uphill vs downhill chips? In this episode, Lou offers M...

Is Pro Golf Just Driver/Wedge Now?

28 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's just bomb and gouge, right? In this episode, Mark and Lou look at the numbers to see if reality matches the common perception that Tour players a...

Steven Alker on Playing Well for Years

25 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Hack It Out Golf, Mark, Greg, and Lou welcome Champions Tour star Steven Alker. They explore his journey from New Zealand amateur g...

SMS - 100 Yards in FW on Par 4, Double or Worse, Scratch, 10, and 20

23 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Is it a trick question? In this episode, Lou asks about the green light scenario: 100 yards in the fairway on a par 4. How often will a scratch, a 10,...

The One Stupid Hole

21 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you have a course you play regularly, you almost certainly have one hole that gives you fits. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg give advice for ...

Internal vs External Swing Thoughts

18 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you're listening to this podcast, there's a good chance you have a swing thought—and there's a pretty high chance that you're thinking about how ...

SMS - Scratch Golfer Skills

16 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Scratch is a aspiration for most amateur golfers, and it's a very good standard of play. How good? In this episode, Lou brings three different stats a...

How to Fix a Swing Path

14 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's hard to play effective golf with an extreme swing path. The problem: most golfers are very consistent with swing path—even when they don't want...

Ryder Cup Ticket Prices

11 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What's it worth? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the recently-released price for next year's Ryder Cup at Adare Manor. Is the signific...

SMS - 175 Yard Par 3, Average Score, Scratch, 10, and 20

09 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From a reasonably long par 3, what scores are typical for golfers of different levels? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg about scoring averages ...

LIV, the Fitzpatricks, and Koepka

07 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

One episode, a few professional golf topics. In this edition, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the unfolding confirmation of the end of PIF funding for ...

What Even Is Shallowing?

04 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When the best player in the world is "struggling," everyone has a solution. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the language of the golf s...

SMS - 120 from Fairway, Scoring Average, Tour Pro, 10, and 20

02 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Once again, we have a green light: 120 from the hole in the fairway. How different are amateurs and pros? In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg how ...

2026 Senior PGA Championship Recap

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's Champions Tour major season, which means it's time for Greg—and the Gregulators—to mount up! In this episode, Greg joins Mark and Lou to reca...

Would You Rather a Pro Hit Your Drives or Your Approach Shots?

27 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you could sub in a professional golfer for one shot each hole, what would it be? In this episode, Mark talks Lou and Greg through a recent video of...

SMS - 8 Foot Putts, Make Rate, Tour Pros Top 10

25 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you listen to this podcast, you probably know that Tour pros average about 50% on their putts from 8 feet. But how does that number change for play...

How to Play a Narrow Hole

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Trouble down both sides—what's your best option? In this episode, Mark, Greg, and Lou give advice for approaching a hole when neither side offers a ...

Chipping With a Hybrid

20 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Do you play golf to shoot your lowest scores—or to bubble wrap your ego? In this episode, Mark and Lou take up a listener question on chipping. Most...

SMS - PW from Fairway, Scratch and 15, Greens Hit

18 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

From the same yardage, better golfers are, well, better. Duh. But better golfers most often are hitting less club from the same distance. If a scratch...

2026 Masters Recap

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Rory retains his Green Jacket! In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the recently completed 2026 edition of the Masters. Tempers flared, ...

Match Play Strategy

13 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What's different in your approach to match play? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg take up a listener question about match play. In addition to any...

SMS - 50 Yards Fairway, SG of 0, Scratch, 10, and 20

11 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For many of our listeners, it's the beginning of the golf season, and those partial wedge shots are often some of the trickiest to re-find on the cour...

Why Not Just Hit It Straight?

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Do you need to have a preferred shape on the course? Why can't straight be a shape? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg take on a listener question a...

2026 Masters Preview

06 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It's Masters Week! In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the otherworldly magic that exist at Augusta National, where the normal rules of...

SMS - Short Par 5, Scratch and 10, Birdie or Better

04 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ah, the short par 5: might as well call them gimme birdies, right? Ahem. In this episode, Lou asks Mark and Greg how often solid amateur golfers of tw...

What's Next for Tiger?

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Again. Sadly, again. In this episode of the podcast, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about the arrest of Tiger Woods for driving under the influence. They di...

The Anchoring Ban

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There are just a handful of notable professional golfers still using the long putters, and whenever they have success, they are often publicly suspect...

SMS - Tiger's Make Rate From 7-8 Feet, Back Nine, Final Rounds

28 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With Greg missing, Lou brings a Tiger question to today's Saturday Stat. We all have the memories of Tiger's clutch moments, many of which were must-m...

Improving Strike at Full Speed

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The whole golf world knows: one way to lower your scores is to increase your swing speed. But all the swing speed in the world won't help your scores ...

Q&A: Match Play and Captain Luke

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Mark and Lou take on a grab bag of questions. Should the Tour Championship be a match play event? Is match play a decent way to fi...

SMS - 5 Index, 40/100/180 Yards, Break Even SG Proximity

21 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A 5-index golfer is a good player. How close does he need to hit his approach from 40, 100, and 180 yards in the fairway to gain strokes? This is toda...

Tiger on the Champions Tour?

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Right now, the question is whether Tiger will play the Masters. But if he wants tournament reps, should he also play the Champions Tour? In this episo...

Getting Ahead of Yourself on the Golf Course

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Mark and Greg talk forecasting—projecting future outcomes during a round. Drawing from personal experience and Tour insights, they ...

SMS - 10 Index, Scoring Average, Course Rating 66/70/74

14 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Par is just a number. But so is course rating. How much better will a 10 index golfer play at an "easy" course? And what impact will a "hard" course h...

Making Sense of Shallowing

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Social media swing tips and training aid adverts are full of help to get you to shallow your swing. Should you? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg t...

Driver Angle of Attack and Path

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A useful, technical listener question: what is the relationship between swing path and angle of attack? Mark takes the lead on answering a listener qu...

SMS - Top 10 Tour Pro vs Sub-150 Tour Pros, Greens Hit from 175

07 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Tour pros are good—we all know that. But how much better are the very best Tour pros compared to their peers further down the leaderboards? In this ...

Filtering Online Golf Instruction

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

There has never been more information available to a golfer who wants to improve as there is now. But how can you separate the good information from t...

Q&A: Clubfitting, How to Have Fun, Starting Juniors

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A bit of a grab bag of listener questions in today's episode. Greg and Mark take on three good ones. The first: what should I expect from a clubfittin...

SMS - 10 Index, 10 Yards in Rough vs in Bunker

28 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A 10-index golfer misses the green, but he's close to the green. Would he be better to be in the rough or the bunker? And by how much? In this episode...

Speed and Shot Options

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What can you do with speed on the course? In this episode, a Lou-less Mark and Greg answer a listener question about speed gains. Surely, more speed m...

The Future of Golf Speed

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode begins with a list: the driver speeds of some of the younger, up-and-coming Tour pros. Mark, Lou, and Greg (at least until his interne...

SMS - 10 Index, Birdies Per Round Shooting 70s vs 90s

21 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Longtime listeners of the pod will know that for typical golfers, the key to lower scores isn't making more birdies. Today's episode drives that point...

Changing Grip to Change Shot Shapes?

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today, a listener question: is changing grip a good way to change a shot shape on a particular shot? Mark brings this topic to Lou and Greg, and they ...

Changing Grip to Change Shot Shapes?

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today, a listener question: is changing grip a good way to change a shot shape on a particular shot? Mark brings this topic to Lou and Greg, and they ...

Hitting More Greens in Regulation, Part Two

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Picking up with more on hitting greens. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg dig deeper into the stats of GIR, in a way that emphasizes just how much ...

Hitting More Greens in Regulation, Part Two

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Picking up with more on hitting greens. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg dig deeper into the stats of GIR, in a way that emphasizes just how much ...

SMS - 3 Putt Percentage from 35 Feet, Tour Pro, Scratch, and 20 Index

14 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The dreaded 3 putt. You know the odds of it increases the further you get from the hole. How often, from 35 feet, will a Tour pro, a scratch golfer, a...

SMS - 3 Putt Percentage from 35 Feet, Tour Pro, Scratch, and 20 Index

14 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The dreaded 3 putt. You know the odds of it increases the further you get from the hole. How often, from 35 feet, will a Tour pro, a scratch golfer, a...

Hitting More Greens in Regulation, Part One

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

GIR remains, by far, the best of the traditional golf stats. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg start with their definitions of a GIR (should there ...

Hitting More Greens in Regulation, Part One

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

GIR remains, by far, the best of the traditional golf stats. In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg start with their definitions of a GIR (should there ...

Making Your 3 Wood Work for You

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Our recent episode about prepping your bag for the upcoming season encouraged you to ditch the club you never use. For many amateur golfers, that club...

Making Your 3 Wood Work for You

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Our recent episode about prepping your bag for the upcoming season encouraged you to ditch the club you never use. For many amateur golfers, that club...

SMS - 10 Index, Bogey Percentage, Par 3, 4, and 5

07 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You're a solid handicap golfer. On the tee, how often should you expect to make a bogey? And how does that change when the hole is a par 3, a par 4, a...

SMS - 10 Index, Bogey Percentage, Par 3, 4, and 5

07 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You're a solid handicap golfer. On the tee, how often should you expect to make a bogey? And how does that change when the hole is a par 3, a par 4, a...

What Is the Future of LIV?

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Not all the traffic with LIV Golf has been back to the PGA Tour. Recently, one of the top amateur golfers in the United States joined the team league....

What Is the Future of LIV?

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Not all the traffic with LIV Golf has been back to the PGA Tour. Recently, one of the top amateur golfers in the United States joined the team league....

Indoor Practice vs Outdoor Play in Winter

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For many of our listeners, we're in the hard part of winter. You're still interested in golf improvement. When the course is cold and wet, will you ge...

Indoor Practice vs Outdoor Play in Winter

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For many of our listeners, we're in the hard part of winter. You're still interested in golf improvement. When the course is cold and wet, will you ge...

SMS - 90 Yards, Scratch, 10, and 20, to 30 Feet or Less

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A simple stock wedge from 90 yards: how often will a scratch golfer, a 10 index, and a 20 index player finish within 30 feet of the hole? The catch: t...

SMS - 90 Yards, Scratch, 10, and 20, to 30 Feet or Less

31 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A simple stock wedge from 90 yards: how often will a scratch golfer, a 10 index, and a 20 index player finish within 30 feet of the hole? The catch: t...

Tips for Strike Awareness and Shot Shaping

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to play better golf, 1) hit the center of the face 2) while controlling the face. But how? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about...

Tips for Strike Awareness and Shot Shaping

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you want to play better golf, 1) hit the center of the face 2) while controlling the face. But how? In this episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg talk about...

Listener Questions: TGL, New Drivers, and the Right Tees

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is a grab bag of listener questions. First up: Greg, Mark, and Lou stop in with early reflections on the second season of TGL. Are the...

Listener Questions: TGL, New Drivers, and the Right Tees

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is a grab bag of listener questions. First up: Greg, Mark, and Lou stop in with early reflections on the second season of TGL. Are the...

SMS - Tour Player, Bogey vs Birdie, 120 and 180 in FW

24 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is unbelievably exciting. Please read that in your very best Lou monotone. (But it is really good!) In today's Saturday Stat, Lou highlig...

SMS - Tour Player, Bogey vs Birdie, 120 and 180 in FW

24 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is unbelievably exciting. Please read that in your very best Lou monotone. (But it is really good!) In today's Saturday Stat, Lou highlig...

Singh Back on Tour at 62?!

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Brooks isn't the only one coming back to the PGA Tour: this past week, Vijay Singh played on the PGA Tour for the first time in years. In today's epis...

Singh Back on Tour at 62?!

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Brooks isn't the only one coming back to the PGA Tour: this past week, Vijay Singh played on the PGA Tour for the first time in years. In today's epis...

Brooks Comes Back from LIV

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Brooks returns! In today's episode, Mark and Greg discuss the big news in professional golf: Brooks Koepka leaving LIV and being reinstated to the PGA...

Brooks Comes Back from LIV

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Brooks returns! In today's episode, Mark and Greg discuss the big news in professional golf: Brooks Koepka leaving LIV and being reinstated to the PGA...

SMS - Mark, Lou, and Greg, Shoulder Turn

17 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A Saturday Stat without the Master of Stats?! In this Lou-less episode, Mark and Greg take a dive, not into the Arccos database, but into swing number...

SMS - Mark, Lou, and Greg, Shoulder Turn

17 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A Saturday Stat without the Master of Stats?! In this Lou-less episode, Mark and Greg take a dive, not into the Arccos database, but into swing number...

The Great Golf Bag Purge

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Northern hemisphere are in the depths of winter. What is a golfer to do? Maybe it's a good time to go through your golf bag and discard the unneeded i...

The Great Golf Bag Purge

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Northern hemisphere are in the depths of winter. What is a golfer to do? Maybe it's a good time to go through your golf bag and discard the unneeded i...

Rule Changes on the PGA Tour

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With the start of a new PGA Tour season, it's a good time to catch up with rule changes for this year's play. In this episode, Lou and Mark talk about...

Rule Changes on the PGA Tour

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With the start of a new PGA Tour season, it's a good time to catch up with rule changes for this year's play. In this episode, Lou and Mark talk about...

SMS - Tour Pro, 15 Yards in Rough, More Than 10 Feet

10 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With Greg out sunning himself again, Mark and Lou run the two-man Saturday Stat: Mark vs Lou's newsletter audience. In this episode: a Tour Pro is in ...

SMS - Tour Pro, 15 Yards in Rough, More Than 10 Feet

10 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With Greg out sunning himself again, Mark and Lou run the two-man Saturday Stat: Mark vs Lou's newsletter audience. In this episode: a Tour Pro is in ...

Making Practice Better

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you're listening to this, you probably want to be better at golf. But you're unlikely to play better on the course continuing exactly the same prac...

Making Practice Better

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If you're listening to this, you probably want to be better at golf. But you're unlikely to play better on the course continuing exactly the same prac...

What Does It Mean to Swing Fast?

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With modern launch monitors, it's pretty easy to tell who swings fastest—you just measure it. But what about relative speed? In this episode, Mark, ...

What Does It Mean to Swing Fast?

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With modern launch monitors, it's pretty easy to tell who swings fastest—you just measure it. But what about relative speed? In this episode, Mark, ...

SMS - Scratch, 125 in Fairway, Shots to Finish Hitting vs Missing Green

03 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You already know it: hitting more greens in regulation is the key to better scores. But how much difference does it make? In this episode, Lou asks Gr...

SMS - Scratch, 125 in Fairway, Shots to Finish Hitting vs Missing Green

03 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

You already know it: hitting more greens in regulation is the key to better scores. But how much difference does it make? In this episode, Lou asks Gr...

Pathways to the PGA Tour

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The limited routes to be able to play on LIV have been much-discussed, but is the PGA Tour headed in a similar direction? In this episode, Greg, Mark,...

Pathways to the PGA Tour

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The limited routes to be able to play on LIV have been much-discussed, but is the PGA Tour headed in a similar direction? In this episode, Greg, Mark,...

2025 Golf Year in Review

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The year of Scottie? Or of Rory? Or of the Greggie? In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg look back at the big golf stories of 2025, from Rory's his...

2025 Golf Year in Review

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The year of Scottie? Or of Rory? Or of the Greggie? In today's episode, Mark, Lou, and Greg look back at the big golf stories of 2025, from Rory's his...

SMS - Length of Holes for 10 Index to Average Par

27 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode belongs in the Expectations Hall of Fame. How long would a par 3, a par 4, and a par 5 need to be for a 10-index player to average par...

SMS - Length of Holes for 10 Index to Average Par

27 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode belongs in the Expectations Hall of Fame. How long would a par 3, a par 4, and a par 5 need to be for a 10-index player to average par...