Golfing News & Blog Articles

Ask several better players to share some thoughts on hybrid clubs and you’ll likely get a litany of responses. But, if there’s a commonality, it’s that most models have more draw-bias than this segment of golfers would like. Tour Edge believes the EXS Pro hybrid cracks the code.

The “straight from the tour van” EXS Pro hybrid is billed as an “anti-left” hybrid with a deep face and classic styling. Moreover, it targets the higher swing speed golfer who loves the concept of hybrids but needs something with more neutral weighting.

Dating back to the launch of the original CB fairway metal, Tour Edge cultivated a loyal following based largely on high-performance fairway woods and hybrids. With the EXS Pro line, it’s looking to regain some of that momentum. So, is Tour Edge on the right track?

TESTERS WANTED

We’re looking for FOUR dedicated right-handed golfers who are motivated, detail-oriented, and reside in the US.

Think you’re a good fit?

Plenty of good stuff in this Lance Barrow profile by David Barron in the Houston Chronicle. The longtime CBS golf producer is working his final Colonial tournament since joining the network in 1977.

There was this on his predecessor Frank Chirkinian:

Along with CBS veterans like Steve Milton and Jim Rikhoff, Barrow is one of the few network employees who worked with Chirkinian, who relished his nickname as “The Ayatollah.”

“My personality is different, but Frank taught all of us,” he said. “We used to call CBS the ‘Chirkinian Broadcast School.’

“If somebody compared our telecast with Frank’s, which is hard to do because of technology and all the things we have now, I would view that as the ultimate compliment. I’ve always tried to ensure that nothing gets in the way of covering the golf tournament and the competition, and that’s what Frank wanted to do, too.”

AP’s Stephen Hawkins covered the television angle to the “Return To Golf” and Rickie Fowler’s “mic’d up” approach got the most attention. Deservedly so. As I Tweeted at one point, had Fowler not done so I’m pretty sure the telecast would have been considered a real drag. But just getting inside the ropes with him a few times and overhearing other comments from his group, took us to some places we rarely get in a PGA Tour event.

And there was a bit of a rocky start when a normal microphone picked up an obscenity-infused compliment. Here is the offending moment, should be inclined.

From Hawkins’ story:

“Well, we were hoping for better audio with no fans, surrounding the course,” commentator Jim Nantz then said on the broadcast. “Apologize if anybody was offended with what they may have heard there.”

That threesome of the world’s top three players — No. 1 Rory McIlroy, No. 2 Rahm and No. 3 Brooks Koepka — was being followed by TV support people, a coach, a trainer and a small group of media during the first PGA Tour event in three months.

The expletive was audible even though none of the players in that group were wearing a microphone, like Rickie Fowler did throughout the first round of Charles Schwab Challenge.

As for Fowler, Brian Wacker at GolfDigest.com covers the highlights of what we learned and notes what just hearing these exchanges did to help in a fan-free environment.

In the process of shooting a three-over 73 that included four bogeys in the last five holes, he offered a PG-version of commentary that was mostly a terrific listen to a world so few have access to. It wasn’t explosive, but did provide added value, especially as the day wore on.

After the first two holes of silence—sans for the sounds of Fowler’s shirt moving as he walked—viewers were welcomed into the conversation as Fowler and his caddie, Joe Skovron, shared their thoughts on a 154-yard approach with a 8-iron that sailed about 10 yards too far.

Cobra isn’t going to set the golf equipment world ablaze with its new KING utility iron.

That’s not a knock on Cobra or its new club.

Instead, it’s an acknowledgment of the reality for any piece of niche golf equipment. It’s reasonable to assume most everyone is at least a little intrigued by the driving-iron class but most of us would be better served by hybrids which is exactly why most of us play hybrids.

That said, utility irons exist for a reason.

It’s almost crazy to think there was a time in MyGolfSpy’s history when Cobra didn’t sell wedges. The 2012 Trusty Rusty reboot changed all that.

Eight years later, you could argue that, with Cobra KING MIM and now Cobra KING MIM Black, the company is at the forefront of innovation in irons and wedges.

Sure, the lineup is not nearly as robust as some others. Cobra’s comparably small size mandates that it picks its spots.

While it has no aspirations of being the market leader or offering more options than anyone else, Cobra has continually positioned itself on the leading edge of innovation – often exploring next-generation technologies.

Such is the case with its MIM wedges.

In our weekly Golf Swing Tips I typically minimize humorous comments as some may be offended. I just wanted to provide some interesting thoughts. I suspect that COVID19 may mess up our lives as well as our golf for the next year or 2 as I hear that the vaccine may not be developed for up to 3 years.

I know that President Trump continues to pump the positive comments to keep our spirits as well as the stock market up. Unfortunately the common cold is a Virus similar to the Coronavirus and how successful have we been in eradicating the COLD?   Scary isn’t it?

Please golf responsibly so that governments don’t reverse their thinking and decide to close it down. I’m hoping that these rules will help you keep your spirits up.

The New Normal Rules of Golf:
• Hazmat suits are permitted. As an alternative, one can wear a college mascot costume or big bunny pajamas.
• Masks are not permitted, because we would look more like stagecoach robbers than a foursome. (Social distancing is critical.)
• Leave the flag in. And to avoid retrieving balls from the hole, any putt shorter than Lebron James is good.
• Ride in separate golf carts and don’t come closer to another player than a fully extended ball retriever.
• Don’t touch another player’s balls. This is always good advice.
• No high fives. Fortunately, we seldom have a reason.
• No petting the geese or the cart girl.
• Don’t use the Porta-Potty. More disease in there than Wuhan China.
• No excuses. Slicing or hooking are not side effects of COVID-19.
• Make an online bank transfer to pay your bets. No cash allowed.
• Straddle the sprinkler on the 18th hole before getting into your car. (Chilly but refreshing.)

Should golf instructors be ranked?

When I posed this question on #mytubspy, to the surprise of absolutely no one, answers ranged from “Absolutely, 100% Yes!” to “Not no, but hell no.”

But upon further analysis, there are some meaty nuggets of information worthy of discussion.

Here’s a compilation of what viewers had to say. As always, let us know what you think.

Click “listen in browser” to listen to the audio

What you say to yourself drives your performance on and off the course more than you would think. Positive self-talk is a force that we must harness to keep getting better.

Do you remember the interview with Brooks Koepka before the PGA Championship last year (which he won) where he told the world that he was a “big tournament player” and that he found them easier to win than regular tournaments because most of the field couldn’t handle the pressure?

Some might have thought that it was an arrogant and overconfident thing to say. Saying things like that can often blow up in your face and make you look silly. But from a sports psychologist’s perspective, it’s clear that he’s been making these statements to himself over and over again, which has made it his belief and identity as a player and helped him win an incredible 4 majors in 2 years.

Self talk can not only influence how you think, feel and behave in a particular moment, but it can change your beliefs and behaviors in the long-run. The best performers in any field are able to use the voice in their head to become more successful everyday.

Why does self-talk work?

On a basic level, it’s fairly obvious. It is always going to be better to talk to yourself in a positive way than a negative way. Telling yourself how bad you are at something or how likely it is that you will fail is always going to work against you. I’m sure that when anyone tells you how well you are doing at something it feels good and gives you a lift, so it’s only logical to do the same with your self-talk.

June 9, 2020

Golf’s Back in Northern California – With Some Changes

After a few months of deprivation and then preparation, many of us in recent weeks have returned to the course for a few rounds. In coming back, we’ve experienced a few twists. Some things feel a bit strange, but other changes seem like potential keepers. In any case, new protocols will be in place for a while.

Here’s our ranking of the Top 3 changes as we see it:

The Flagsticks – we were just getting used to the new Rules on optionally leaving the flagstick in for putting. Everyone had different strategies and preferences; now it’s one less thing to think about – just leave it in and don’t touch it. As for the cup itself, there are some creative solutions for letting you retrieve your holed ball without touching the cup. Foam noodles, whiffle balls, PVC pipe, lifters and more.The Bunkers – no rakes means one less thing to touch. There are a few different approaches, depending by course or club or event. There are options for preferred lie, relief inside and even outside the bunker. If you are playing in a competition, make sure you ask about this! And, if you can, use your foot or club to smooth the sand, we are not giving up on being helpful and being courteous to our fellow players. The Camaraderie – it’s still there, just contactless. Practice your ‘air high-five’ moves during and after the round, acknowledge your fellow players with words and elbow bumps. It is amazing how the absence of the handshake impacts the whole experience. We hope that comes back when it can but for now we keep finding ways to improvise.

Remember, we’re all in this together and out there to enjoy golf, the outdoors and our buddies in the face of challenging times.

If you haven’t ventured out yet, see our backgrounder for what to expect in getting to the course – “5 Tips for Getting Back on the Course”.

COVID-19 may have stalled this spring’s retail business, but OEM R&D teams are still hard at work. A new Wilson driver hit the USGA Conforming List this week, with the code name WLabs. All signs indicate this driver could fill a glaring hole in Wilson’s lineup.

“We’ve been working to get drivers in play with our Tour players,” Wilson Golf Club Innovation Manager Jon Pergande tells MyGolfSpy. “We’re doing some testing with our guys with that club, and getting it on the USGA website means if they wanted to put it into play, they could.”

WLABS

The WLabs driver is listed only in a 7.5-degree loft, but it is adjustable. Pergande confirms WLabs is a prototype for an unspecified tour player or players.

“Working with our Tour players to develop product is an ongoing project,” he says. “We value their opinions and their judgment, and ultimate judgment is to get something into play.”

None of Wilson’s top Tour players carry a Wilson driver. Gary Woodland and Padraig Harrington both game TaylorMade SIMs, while Kevin Streelman games a PING G410 LST. As of last season, Brendan Steele bagged a PING G400 MAX.

2020 SPIKED SHOE BUYER’S GUIDE

MyGolfSpy’s top-rated spiked shoes for 2020?

adidas and Under Armour.

There you go. There’s your Buyer’s Guide.

(Just kidding. We’ll share some science if for no other reason than to justify our existence.)

If you think golf shoes are an accessory rather than an essential piece of equipment, consider this: Studies from FootJoy have shown that wearing the correct shoe can increase your swing speed by three miles per hour. Stability, traction and comfort combine to create the anchor that grounds you during a shot.

What is MyGolfSpy Deals? You’ll likely recognize some past winners from Most Wanted tests, MGS Labs and 59 Awards. We’ll also toss in some staff favorites or products we’re actively looking to purchase ourselves. Beyond that, it’s a potpourri of items we think you might like or timely deals on seasonal gear. Only the best hand-picked deals will be posted. Only the most trusted merchants will be listed.

With the internet being what it is prices are always changing, which means something is always on sale. Our team sifts through these deals researching the price history and selects only the best deals for the frontpage. Allowing you to know you are getting the best deal possible and feel more confident in you decide to purchase.

We find the best deals and pass the savings along to you.

The 17 Best Golf Deals This Week

1. Bushnell Hybrid

Can’t decide between a new laser rangefinder or GPS? Why not get both?

June 3, 2020

U.S. Women’s Open to Celebrate 75th Anniversary with Months-Long Celebration Ahead of Rescheduled Championship

If a crazy quirk works for you, Just do it!  COVID19 forced me to take a break from golf. In my first round back on the course I learned a few things about my game as a result of my physical limitation. My inspiration started when I watched Rory McIlroy partner with Dustin Johnson in a skins game against Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff at Seminole Golf Club, Florida, Why was Wolff using that crazy quirk in his pre-swing motion?

By now every passionate recreational golfer has either seen Wolff in that first live broadcast since the start of Covid19 or winning his first tournament in 2019. He looks like a freak of nature when he incorporates his pre-swing motion into his swing. As he explains it, he is just duplicating the turn of his body that he wants to feel at the point of impact. He just includes that “motion and feeling” instead of a waggle at the start of his swing. It works for him so why not learn from his quirk.

He also includes a major leading heel lift and a huge Furyk type of loop at the top and shallowing of his downswing.   All of this extra motion must have some effect on his consistency which must cause good and bad rounds of golf.

As it turns out, every professional golfer has their own quirk, even though it may be hidden to the viewers:
-Dustin Johnson: His takeaway has an early wrist break and his transition has a bowed wrist.
-Jim Furyk: He loops his golf club at the top of his swing.
-Bubba Watson: He loves to hit a huge draw or fade on every swing of his club
-Matt Kuchar: His light practice swing is from the outside and across his ball to avoid his duck hook. He also hovers his club behind his ball before he swings.
-Phil Michelson and many golfer love to press their shaft forward to initiate a swing or putt.