Golfing News & Blog Articles

South Africa's Thriston Lawrence and Spain's Alejandro Canizares share the lead following the opening round of the European Masters in Switzerland.

Major season is over but we still have news! And I withheld more analysis because doctors say you’ll live longer restricting your PGA Tour/LIV/First World schedule issue news.

Meanwhile, the PGA's Frisco HQ opens as the courses continue to grow in. Plus, Quotables, the return of the Old Course advance tee time ballot, and some Reads.

Subscribe here if you have not already signed up!

If you followed our 2022 Best Rangefinder test, it was likely no surprise that the Bushnell Pro XE took the top spot. It’s kind of what we expect from Bushnell these days. But how did it compare to the lowest-performing rangefinder in the test?

We will show you.

Verdict

The Bushnell Pro XE is the best rangefinder. Period. It earned a total overall score of 94.5/100, the top spot in accuracy and second place in speed and optics. It’s tournament legal, takes weather into account when it calculates slope and has a reading that you can trust.

The last-place finisher for golf rangefinders in 2022 was the Zoom Focus X with an overall score of 78.5/100. Its rating for things like features, accuracy and speed were some of the lowest across the entire test. Of course, there is a price difference between the Bushnell Pro XE and the Zoom Focus X that is worth mentioning. However, when it comes to functionality and a yardage you can trust, the extra money is often worth it.

How We Test

The best versus worst rangefinder test consisted of 24 products all tested by the same golfer. Keeping the same golfer in charge of all the testing allowed for an accurate comparison and the ability to do more head-to-head testing. A total of 24 hours were spent testing. Core testing factors included accuracy, speed, optics, display and features. Usability was also considered as well as the ability of the rangefinder to work in any conditions.

BEST PERSONAL LAUNCH MONITORS 2022

Have personal golf launch monitors gotten more accurate over the years? Yes … but at a price.

For example, take industry leaders like Foresight, Bushnell and Full Swing. The Foresight GC3 retails for $7,499 and the Bushnell Launch Pro and Full Swing Kit retail for $3,999 each. But don’t despair if you’re on a budget!

In this buyer’s guide, we will be breaking down how various personal launch monitors perform as well as their ease of use, accuracy and, of course, recommending which performs best at different price points..

Best Golf Launch Monitor: Bushnell Launch Pro

Even though the Bushnell Launch Pro carries a hefty $3,999 price tag, it has outstanding performance across all metrics. The Launch Pro is on par compared to the GC3 and will save you $3,500. The Launch Pro can be used inside and out thanks to its built-in barometric pressure sensor. This means that whereever you’re playing, the unit will read how far you’re hitting it, taking into account altitude and weather. The only downside to the Launch Pro is that it is subscription-based model.

Whether you’re working on your short game or chasing higher ball speeds, the Bushnell Launch Pro is the best in the business.

I recently read an article about equipment changing trends on the pro tour. Obviously, what the pros do will most likely not impact your game. They use all the latest technology and financial support to make any changes that will give their swing an edge over other pros. I just wanted to share the tidbits that I found in a GOLF.com blog and by observing success changes which can apply to recreational golfers without spending a fortune.

Shorter Driver Shaft Length
This year the PGA set a new limit on driver shaft length at 46 inches. The interesting fact that I found is that Cameron Smith is known for his putting expertise, but his recent focus has been on hitting more fairways so that he can hit more greens in regulation. At the US Open, he was using a 44.5 inch shaft to add more direction control for his drives. A drive that is 20 yards shorter in the fairway adds a lot more value to your game than one that is longer but sitting in the rough or behind a tree.

The Bryson DeChambeau Syndrome
Adding muscle, bulk and a full set of single length irons were supposed to be a great new trend to improve accuracy and length control. Not only did Bryson end up injuring himself with his over speed training but his game whet sideways. With his increasing scores he found that the only way to increase his income was by joining the LIV Tour. I don’t think we should be following Bryson as a trend setter.

Putting Solutions
Every putter can sink every putt. You ONLY have to choose the right line and swing with the right speed. Easier said than done. Tony Finau just added a more distinctive Center Line on his putter head to help with the line up and impact for ever putt. He won a recent tournament putting with his trailing hand on top of his leading hand. That just reminds us how important it is to make sure that our line up is good but even more important is that you impact your swing EXACTLY ON THE CENTER LINE of your putter face.

I also notice a change to a new putter style where the shaft connects to the putter exactly at the center of the face of the putter. In addition to putting with her leading hand lower on her grip, Brooke Henderson and other LPGA pros have started to use this type of putter. Brooke turned her game around with a few recent tournament wins by changing to this type of mallet putter. She must be on to something. You don’t need a $500 Scotty Cameron Putter to sink more putts.

In its battle with LIV Golf, the PGA Tour is promising big events and bigger money. After Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's rallying cry, will top PGA players embrace the changes? That's the big task ahead for the Tour.

Newly crowned British Open champion Cameron Smith will make an emotional return home to Brisbane in November to contest the Australian PGA Championship.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are launching a tech-infused golf league in partnership with the PGA Tour that will have players competing on six three-man teams in 15 regular-season matches and a playoff starting in January 2024.

Top PGA Tour players have committed to play at least 20 events next season, with Rory McIlroy saying they want a "more compelling" product. Four events have been added to elevated status, meaning 12 tournaments will have purses of at least $15 million.

When comparing the best versus worst stand bag of 2022, we compared 43 products. 43?! Could 43 golf bags really be all that different?

You would be surprised.

The Vessel Player III DXR is the best overall stand bag in 2022. So which took the dubious title of the year’s worst? Read on!

Verdict

The Vessel Player III DXR is the best stand bag in 2022 with a rating of 93/100. This bag has all of the best pocket sizes and locations, it can work for walking or cart riding, has the best setup as far as dividers are concerned and even has a premium look and feel to complement all those features. The Vessel golf bags are more expensive than others on the market but, in this case, you certainly get what you pay for.

The worst stand bag in 2022 is the Jones Classic Stand Bag. At first glance, it’s obvious this bag does have the same detail or finish as the Vessel Player III DXR. When comparing the best versus worst stand bag, the only area in which the Jones Classic Stand Bag beat the Vessel was with the total weight. Every other aspect did not measure up, earning the Jones Classic a score of just 75/100.

MyGolfSpy Ball Lab is where we quantify the quality and consistency of the golf balls on the market to help you find the best ball for your money. Today, we’re taking a look at the 2022 Callaway Chrome Soft X LS. To learn more about our test process, how we define “bad” balls, check out our About MyGolfSpy Ball Lab page.

About the Callaway Chrome Soft X LS

The Chrome Soft X LS is the newest member of the Callaway Chrome Soft family. The original launched in early 2021 and then was updated alongside the standard Chrome Soft and Chrome Soft X LS earlier this year.

It’s billed a low-spin offering and, while there’s often some wiggle in those descriptions, golfers should expect it to spin less than the standard Chrome Soft X.

Callaway Chrome Soft X LS Construction

The Chrome Soft X LS is a four-piece offering. Like the CSX, it’s a dual-mantle (as opposed to dual-core) design. Like other Chrome Soft offerings, it features a 332-hex dimple cover. While the count is the same, Callaway says it alters the geometry of the dimple on each cover to provide an optimized trajectory for each model.

Details on that meeting with Tiger Woods, player remarks on the playoff format and more from East Lake Golf Club.

The season-ending Tour Championship takes place at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. Here's how you can watch all of the action.

Attorneys representing the PGA Tour submitted a motion Tuesday asking a federal judge to unseal certain details of contracts that were signed by the tour's former players who defected to the rival LIV Golf circuit earlier this year.

The change in who qualifies for Kapalua means a trip to paradise to start the year for Cameron Young, Sahith Theegala, Scott Stallings, Collin Morikawa, Corey Conners, Brian Harman, Adam Scott and Aaron Wise.

The post Donald Ross’ NorCal Connection appeared first on Northern California Golf Association.

Will Zalatoris had to withdraw from the season-ending Tour Championship because of two herniated disks in his back. He also will miss next month's Presidents Cup.

Whistling Straits

One of the most iconic courses in the United States is located near Sheboygan, Wisc. It’s called Whistling Straits. The 7,790-yard  monster was designed by the late Pete Dye in 1998 over 560 acres on the shore of Lake Michigan.

The Straits course includes more than 1,000 bunkers (that’s not a typo). As you read on, you will see the word “bunker” pop up repeatedly as these sand pits are in the most random places. For instance, I was playing the back tee on 15 where golfers seldom go and, on my right, yup, there was a bunker.

I was surprised there haven’t been more professional events played on the Straits course. Maybe it’s because even the best players feel like they’re hanging on by their fingernails on every hole. As Dye said, “this course is like popcorn—but sometimes you choke on popcorn.”

Professional Events

Here are the professional events Whistling Straits has hosted:

At the 2010 PGA Championship, Dustin Johnson needed a par on the 72nd hole but found himself in the sand. Thinking he was in a waste area, not a bunker, he grounded his club. Unfortunately, it was a bunker. The resulting two-stroke penalty left him tied for fifth, two strokes out of the playoff between Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson.

Advantage Scottie Scheffler? With Patrick Cantlay heating up and others back in the mix this week, here's who has a real shot at the Tour Championship this week.