Golfing News & Blog Articles

Stay up-to-date on golfing news, products, and trends from around the world.

Would You Game a $99 Putter?

It’s an age-old question that we can argue about for days.

Is it the person holding the putter? Or the putter itself that matters?

I’ve found it borderline humorous that, of the people who will swear putting is all about the person holding the putter, more than a few game something that costs north of $200. A few more game a putter north of $300. And many more will sport a Scotty, a Betty or a PING PLD that sells for over $400.

If you firmly believe a person who putts well can putt well with anything, why are you putting with what you’re putting?

Like I said, we can argue about this for days.

Ram FX putters
The original Zebra putter
Ram FX putters

Ram FX-03 putter

Ram FX-01 putter
Ram FX-01 putter

Ram FX putters
Continue reading

Fairways & Getaways: Part II – Fire and Ice

Just below the Arctic Circle, nestled among the fjords of Iceland is the fishing city, Akureyri. Pronounced “aa·kr·ay·ree”, this city, known as the “capital” of northern Iceland, holds a gem of a golf experience that many casual golfers may not have heard of before. 

Who can blame them? When it comes to golf many of us avoid any chance of inclement weather when we tee it up. As for golf destinations, golfers don’t often seek out locations with the word “ice” in its name for a golf trip. 

Akureyri is home to the aptly named Akureyri Golf Club, host of the “Arctic Open” an event that takes place every June during (you guessed it) the summer solstice. Created in 1986, this unique event is one of – if not the only – golf event in the world that allows golfers to tee off at 11pm at night and play during the VERY early hours of the morning. Encroaching darkness may be a concern for those at lower latitudes but in Iceland, the “midnight sun”, allows golfers to traverse the course without delay or visibility issues creating 24-hours of golf during the summer months. 

Spread out over two days, the Arctic Open pits players against one another in a Stableford format across two rounds with winners crowned among various flights and age-groups. The event draws a large amount of interest each year. Participant totals are normally capped around 120 golfers of varying skill levels. The result? An intimate event that allows golf diehards to experience a challenging golf landscape in a country that is only home to fifteen, 18-hole courses and 50, 9-hole courses across a land mass roughly the size of Virginia. 

Talk about the land of fire and ice.




Continue reading

The Ryder Cup Shouldn’t Be About Money

Forgive my cynicism—it’s been a very long past three years in professional golf—but I don’t like how money is dominating the Ryder Cup conversation.

The gold standard for dramatic, big-time events in professional golf, the Ryder Cup is undoubtedly one of the great spectacles in all of sports. Nobody could argue that.

It’s about love of country and continent. In a game known for diplomacy, the intense competition regularly boils over traditional boundaries. It’s a team sport in an individual game, a match that makes millionaires cry tears of joy and sorrow. The American and European fans play prominent roles in the proceedings, cheering and jeering with a certain ruthlessness that transfers back to the players.

In any sport, we just want the athletes to care. We want to see them nervous and passionate. The Ryder Cup has regularly delivered on that, creating riveting drama in a sport that often struggles to do so.

One would assume the Ryder Cup stays that way forever. What could slow it down?

Continue reading

Rory: Ryder Cup pay would 'change the dynamic'

Rory McIlroy and other Europeans this week scoffed at the idea of compensation for participation in the Ryder Cup, saying they remain delighted to participate in the event merely for what European captain Luke Donald called "passion" for golf and country.

Hull, Jeon lead after first round of The Annika

Charley Hull and Jiwon Jeon each opened with a 6-under 64 on Thursday at The Annika, while Nelly Korda was two shots back in her first competition in nearly two months.

Springer earns share of Bermuda lead after 65

Hayden Springer, who came to Bermuda at No. 125 in the FedEx Cup, shot a 6-under 65 for a share of the lead at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Mastering the Short Game

The short game is often where golf scores are won or lost. It involves shots played from around the green, including chipping, pitching, putting, and bunker play. Improving your short game can drastically lower your score and make you a more consistent player. Here are some essential tips to help you master the short game:

1. Perfect Your Chipping

  • Use the Right Club: Different lies and distances require different clubs for chipping. A pitching wedge or 9-iron is typically used for chips with a short distance to the green, while a sand wedge can be better for higher, softer chips.
  • Focus on Solid Contact: Chipping is all about crisp, controlled contact with the ball. Try to make sure you hit the ball first, then the ground, using a downward motion.
  • Practice Different Lies: Practice chipping from various grass conditions (thick, thin, or bare) to understand how your club interacts with the grass. You should also practice chipping from both short and long grass to improve your versatility.
  • Keep the Clubface Square: Ensure that the clubface remains square to the target line throughout your chip shot. An open or closed face can lead to inconsistent results.
  • Use a Pendulum Motion: For more consistent chipping, use a simple pendulum motion with your shoulders and arms. Try to avoid wrist manipulation during the shot as this can cause errors.

2. Master Pitching for Higher Shots

  • Learn to Loft the Ball: Pitching requires more loft and spin, so you’ll need to use a sand wedge or lob wedge. Focus on making a clean strike, ensuring the ball lifts with enough height to clear obstacles like the lip of the bunker or a fringe.
  • Ball Positioning: Position the ball slightly forward in your stance (toward your front foot) for better loft and higher trajectory. For a more controlled shot, you can adjust the ball to be closer to the center.
  • Focus on Swing Length: A good pitch shot requires you to control the length of your swing. For longer pitch shots, allow your backswing to go farther, and for shorter ones, keep your swing more compact.
  • Feel the Shot: Try to develop a feel for the shot rather than relying on mechanical swing thoughts. Practice different distances to get a sense of how much backswing and follow-through are required.

3. Improve Putting Skills

  • Focus on Distance Control: Mastering distance control is one of the most important aspects of putting. Spend time on both long and short putts, learning how to read the greens and adjust your stroke for different distances.
  • Develop a Consistent Stroke: Work on a smooth, consistent putting stroke with minimal wrist movement. Keep your eyes on the ball, and focus on making solid, square contact.
  • Read the Greens: Take time to study the contours of the green. Look at the slope and grain, and consider how they might influence the ball’s path. Trust your read and adjust your aim and pace accordingly.
  • Practice Short Putts: Develop confidence in your putting by practicing short putts (3 to 6 feet). These are crucial for saving par and eliminating three-putts. You should aim to make 90-95% of these putts in practice.
  • Use a Routine: Develop a pre-putt routine that helps you stay focused and relaxed. This can include things like reading the putt from multiple angles, setting your alignment, and taking a deep breath before every stroke.

4. Bunker Play

  • Use the Right Club: Typically, a sand wedge is the best choice for bunker shots, as it allows for the necessary loft and spin to get the ball out of the sand quickly.
  • Focus on Clean Contact: The key to bunker play is to focus on hitting the sand first, a few inches behind the ball, rather than trying to scoop the ball itself. This ensures that the sand helps lift the ball out of the bunker.
  • Keep Your Lower Body Stable: Resist the temptation to swing too much with your lower body during a bunker shot. Keep your lower body relatively still and focus on using your arms and shoulders to execute the swing.
  • Open the Clubface: To help get the ball out of the bunker with enough loft, open the clubface slightly at address. This allows the club’s sole to glide through the sand, helping you get under the ball.
  • Practice Different Lies: Practice bunker shots from different lies—both with the ball above your feet and below your feet. Learn how to adjust your stance and swing for these situations.

5. Course Management and Decision Making

  • Know When to Play Conservatively: On the course, don’t always go for the risky shot. Assess the situation and determine if it’s smarter to lay up, use a controlled chip or pitch, or go for a more aggressive shot. Course management can help you avoid double or triple bogeys.
  • Play to Your Strengths: If you are a strong chipper but weak at bunker shots, avoid situations where you would need to play out of the sand. Understanding your strengths can help you plan your shots accordingly.
  • Use the Correct Club for the Situation: Sometimes, it’s not about hitting the longest shot, but about choosing the right club for the job. Whether it’s a wedge, a 7-iron, or even a putter for a bump-and-run, the club you choose will dictate the quality of your short game.

6. Practice with Purpose

  • Short Game Focused Drills: Incorporate short game drills into your practice routine. For chipping, set up targets or circles at different distances, aiming to land the ball within a specific area. For putting, use drills that improve accuracy and consistency, such as the "clock drill" (putting from different angles around the hole).
  • Consistency Over Power: Focus on building a consistent, repeatable short game, rather than trying to power through shots. Work on control and precision, and develop a smooth tempo that can help you make better decisions during a round.

By consistently practicing your chipping, pitching, putting, and bunker play, you’ll improve your short game and lower your scores on the course. Don’t neglect this aspect of your game—while the long game gets more attention, it’s the short game that often makes the biggest difference in your overall performance.

 
4o mini

McIlroy tied for lead, strengthens Dubai title bid

Rory McIlroy shot 5-under 67 and was tied for the lead with Tyrrell Hatton after the first round of the season-ending World Tour Championship.

7 Mistakes I See Golfers Make While Warming Up Before Their Round

I know you’ve been here before.

You look forward to your tee time. You have the best of intentions to play well. Maybe your warm-up session even goes well.

But after a couple of early mistakes, the round quickly goes sideways. Pretty soon, you’re not counting score and just playing for fun.

Even though there’s nothing wrong with that, most golfers are obsessed with getting better. It’s disappointing when a round goes south.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could prepare better so that our rounds don’t go off the rails?

Continue reading

I’ve Tried Them All. This $15 Product is the Best Way To Clean Golf Shoes.

Let’s face it. Golf shoes are pricey. Whether your shopping for a new pair of FootJoy Premieres, G/FORE or adidas, you can easily find yourself spending upwards of $200.

If you’re going to spend your hard earned cash on golf shoes, you should spend a little cash on keeping them clean and pristine.

Just as you regularly clean your clubs to maintain consistent performance and clean aesthetics, you should follow the same advice for golf shoes. Clean golf shoes look better, feel better and depending on how dirty they are, may even perform better after a quick clean.

For my money, there’s no better (or easier) way to keep your golf shoes clean than RESHOEVN8R’s sneaker wipes. I’ve been using this product for years on my everyday kicks, and they work wonders in a pinch.

These portable wet wipes pack a powerful punch thanks to the unique texture and soap compound. The flat side is great for wiping, while the textured side is great for scrubbing and tougher jobs.


Continue reading

Five Takeaways from the Callaway and Acushnet Q3 Financials

When Callaway and Acushnet release their quarterly financial reports, we usually discuss sales, profits and which segments are under- or over-performing.

However, since news broke that Topgolf and Callaway will split into separate companies next year, the numbers and trends get a little more interesting. Both Acushnet and Topgolf Callaway released their Q3 financial reports over the past week and the contrast is fascinating. What we’re finding is one company riding a roller coaster of plusses and minuses and profits and losses while the other continues to chug along, getting neither too high nor too low.

With that, here are five things you need to know about the Acushnet and Topgolf Callaway Q3 financial reports.

#1: Acushnet is a very steady company

Acushnet is reporting $620.5 million in sales for Q3. That’s up nearly five percent compared to last year. Year-to-date (YTD) sales for the first nine months total just over $2 billion, up nearly three percent over last year.

What’s more, Titleist’s parent company almost always shows a quarterly net profit and this go-round is no different. Q3 profits are just over $56 million while YTD profits are $215 million. Both are down slightly from last year, but in a year projected to be mostly flat, any profit is good profit.

Titleist Snood
Titleist GT4 Driver

Acushnet Q3 financials
Topgolf Callaway
Topgolf Callaway Q3 financials


Topgolf Callaway 2024 Q3 financials

Calaway Apex Ai irons

Continue reading

Forum Member Review: Hackmotion 2.0

Key highlights

Data-driven insights: Testers were impressed with HackMotion 2.0‘s ability to provide real-time feedback and detailed swing data, allowing them to better understand and refine their wrist angles and overall swing mechanics.Ease of use and setup: The system’s intuitive setup and user-friendly interface were well received, making it accessible for both tech-savvy users and those new to data-driven golf training.Customization and personalization: Testers appreciated the ability to customize the training modes, allowing them to focus on specific aspects of their game such as wrist angles, swing path or rotation.Immediate impact on swing: Testers noticed quick improvements in their wrist control, leading to more consistent ball striking and improved shot accuracy.

First impressions and setup

From the moment they started using HackMotion 2.0, the testers were impressed by the simplicity of the setup and the sleek design. The wrist sensor’s modern look and comfortable fit made it easy to wear during practice sessions without feeling cumbersome.

vandyland was particularly pleased with how straightforward the setup process was. He appreciated that the instructions were clear and he was able to get the device operating quickly without any technical issues.

“The setup was super easy. I had it on and running in just a few minutes. The instructions are straightforward, and the app is really intuitive.”

NotScratchYet echoed this sentiment, noting that the HackMotion 2.0 system was surprisingly user-friendly given the amount of data it captures. He found that the system’s layout made it easy to navigate and begin gathering useful swing data almost immediately.

“I was a little concerned at first that the tech would be overwhelming, but the app is actually very user-friendly. I was able to start capturing useful data right away.”







Continue reading

Major(s) News & Notes, November 14th, 2024

Report says USA Ryder Cuppers to be paid. Plus, tickets "sold out" and Seatgeek gouging enrages fans. Plus, eye-catching auction items up for grabs, This, That, Quotable and Reads.

Pebble Beach worker injured after mower slides off cliff

A member of Pebble Beach's maintenance staff was injured earlier this week after an accident on the par-5 6th hole.

The post Pebble Beach worker injured after mower slides off cliff appeared first on Golf.

3 easy ways a launch monitor can keep your game sharp this offseason

Using a launch monitor can help keep your game sharp this winter. GOLF Top 100 Teacher Sarah Stone shares 3 easy ways how.

The post 3 easy ways a launch monitor can keep your game sharp this offseason appeared first on Golf.

Getting fit for a putter? Here's 1 thing you must do | Fully Equipped

After a recent experience at Ping's headquarters, Kris McCormack and Wadeh Maroun call out this best practice for a putter fitting.

The post Getting fit for a putter? Here’s 1 thing you must do | Fully Equipped appeared first on Golf.

An easy feel to improve sequencing and boost your power

In this edition of Play Smart, we explain an easy feel that will help you create the proper forces that create power.

The post An easy feel to improve sequencing and boost your power appeared first on Golf.

From the court to the golf course: Caitlin Clark's best moments from LPGA pro-am

The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year teed off at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida on Wednesday.

Caitlin Clark tees it up with Nelly Korda, proves she is human | Rogers Report

Caitlin Clark had a handful of relatable golf moments during her pro-am round with Nelly Korda and Annika Sorenstam.

The post Caitlin Clark tees it up with Nelly Korda, proves she is human | Rogers Report appeared first on Golf.

LIV Golf announces 6 events, with 2 brand-new stops

LIV Golf's 2025 schedule is taking shape. But next year's slate includes two places the league has never visited before.

The post LIV Golf announces 6 events, with 2 brand-new stops appeared first on Golf.


GolfLynk.com