Opinion & Analysis
8 Golf Podcasts You Should Be Listening To Right Now
Golf podcasts have been around for a while, but in recent years a number of shows with great hosts have launched, giving golfers access to new content they should definitely be checking out. These podcasts are different from the vanilla conversations you’re used to hearing on TV. They offer a behind-the-scenes look at the people driving the golf industry forward, and offer tips to lower your scores and raise your golf IQ.
Here are eight golf podcasts that stand out, which I’ve broken into two different categories: Getting Better at the Game, and Talking About the Game.
Getting Better at the Game
The Mindside
The mental game is a big part of playing great golf, and the Mindside brings information and interviews from host Dr. Bhrett McCabe, a sports psychologist who works with PGA and LPGA tour players. It covers a lot of different topics, many outside golf, while discussing what it takes for people to perform at the highest level. Dr. Bhrett always brings a great perspective, no matter who the guest is, and offers advice that can be easily applied.
Length: 20-40 minutes
Subscribe: iTunes
Website: themindside.com
Coach Glass Podcast
Jason Glass is a coach for players on every tour and head of the Titleist Performance Institute’s Fitness Advisory Board.
His podcast offers an unfiltered look at fitness, which take place in solo rants that are not to be missed. There are also fantastic interviews with guests such as Dr. Greg Rose, Kelly Starrett, Lance Gil, and more.
Length: 30-40 minutes
Subscribe: iTunes
Website: jasonglassperformancelab.com
18 Strong
Physical therapist Jeff Pelizzaro talks about far more than just strength and fitness in the 18 Strong podcast. The focus of the podcast and the corresponding website is to help golfers train harder, practice smarter and improve their games.
Pelizzaro has had incredible guests, including Pia Nilsson, Lynn Marriott, Tim Mickelson, Lance Gil, Damon Goddard and many more who talk about playing better golf in a casual setting.
Length: 40-50 minutes
Subscribe: iTunes
Website: 18strong.com
Golf Science Lab
I happen to host this show, so I’m a little partial. Think NPR, mashed up with some incredible golf education you probably haven’t heard before. The Golf Science Lab is highly produced, and features discussions with researchers and golf coaches to help golfers play better and understand the realities of actually improving their games.
Don’t get intimidated by the name. This is research you should know about, made simple on every show.
Length: 15-25 minutes
Subscribe: iTunes
Website: golfsciencelab.com
Talking About the Game
Shack House
A relatively new show with Joe House and Geoff Shackelford offers a great perspective on the PGA Tour. Production quality, guests and topics are all top notch, and make this one a must-hear.
One of the podcast’s recent shows with guest Patrick Reed is definitely worth a listen.
Length: 50-70 minutes
Subscribe: iTunes
Golf Digest Podcast
Golf Digest’s podcast inlcudes some of the best guests in the industry. Everyone from Jordan Spieth to Gary Player has joined Alex Meyers on the show over the past few months.
If you think you’d enjoy non-traditional golf conversations with some of the most notable people in the golf world, then this is the podcast for you.
Length: 20-40 minutes
Subscribe: iTunes
No Laying Up
If you like the No Laying Up Twitter feed (click here to read GolfWRX’s Q&A with No Laying Up) and website, make sure to tune into the podcast.
Its guests probably aren’t going to be on other podcasts, as it takes a irreverent and fresh look at golf and the PGA Tour.
Length: 35 – 70 minutes
Subscribe: iTunes
Website: nolayingup.com
Golf.com Podcast
Hosted by Golf.com editors Alan Bastable and Sean Zak, this podcast talks to PGA Tour players, commentators and other people of interest in the golf world.
Length: 20-40 minutes
Subscribe: iTunes
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Opinion & Analysis
The Wedge Guy: What really makes a wedge work? Part 1
Of all the clubs in our bags, wedges are almost always the simplest in construction and, therefore, the easiest to analyze what might make one work differently from another if you know what to look for.
Wedges are a lot less mysterious than drivers, of course, as the major brands are working with a lot of “pixie dust” inside these modern marvels. That’s carrying over more to irons now, with so many new models featuring internal multi-material technologies, and almost all of them having a “badge” or insert in the back to allow more complex graphics while hiding the actual distribution of mass.
But when it comes to wedges, most on the market today are still single pieces of molded steel, either cast or forged into that shape. So, if you look closely at where the mass is distributed, it’s pretty clear how that wedge is going to perform.
To start, because of their wider soles, the majority of the mass of almost any wedge is along the bottom third of the clubhead. So, the best wedge shots are always those hit between the 2nd and 5th grooves so that more mass is directly behind that impact. Elite tour professionals practice incessantly to learn to do that consistently, wearing out a spot about the size of a penny right there. If impact moves higher than that, the face is dramatically thinner, so smash factor is compromised significantly, which reduces the overall distance the ball will fly.
Every one of us, tour players included, knows that maddening shot that we feel a bit high on the face and it doesn’t go anywhere, it’s not your fault.
If your wedges show a wear pattern the size of a silver dollar, and centered above the 3rd or 4th groove, you are not getting anywhere near the same performance from shot to shot. Robot testing proves impact even two to three grooves higher in the face can cause distance loss of up to 35 to 55 feet with modern ‘tour design’ wedges.
In addition, as impact moves above the center of mass, the golf club principle of gear effect causes the ball to fly higher with less spin. Think of modern drivers for a minute. The “holy grail” of driving is high launch and low spin, and the driver engineers are pulling out all stops to get the mass as low in the clubhead as possible to optimize this combination.
Where is all the mass in your wedges? Low. So, disregarding the higher lofts, wedges “want” to launch the ball high with low spin – exactly the opposite of what good wedge play requires penetrating ball flight with high spin.
While almost all major brand wedges have begun putting a tiny bit more thickness in the top portion of the clubhead, conventional and modern ‘tour design’ wedges perform pretty much like they always have. Elite players learn to hit those crisp, spinny penetrating wedge shots by spending lots of practice time learning to consistently make contact low in the face.
So, what about grooves and face texture?
Grooves on any club can only do so much, and no one has any material advantage here. The USGA tightly defines what we manufacturers can do with grooves and face texture, and modern manufacturing techniques allow all of us to push those limits ever closer. And we all do. End of story.
Then there’s the topic of bounce and grinds, the most complex and confusing part of the wedge formula. Many top brands offer a complex array of sole configurations, all of them admittedly specialized to a particular kind of lie or turf conditions, and/or a particular divot pattern.
But if you don’t play the same turf all the time, and make the same size divot on every swing, how would you ever figure this out?
The only way is to take any wedge you are considering and play it a few rounds, hitting all the shots you face and observing the results. There’s simply no other way.
So, hopefully this will inspire a lively conversation in our comments section, and I’ll chime in to answer any questions you might have.
And next week, I’ll dive into the rest of the wedge formula. Yes, shafts, grips and specifications are essential, too.
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Golf's Perfect Imperfections
Golf’s Perfect Imperfections: Amazing Session with Performance Coach Savannah Meyer-Clement
In this week’s episode, we spent some time with performance coach Savannah Meyer-Clement who provides many useful insights that you’ll be able to implement on the golf course.
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s 2024 RBC Heritage betting preview: Patrick Cantlay ready to get back inside winner’s circle
Just a two-hour drive from Augusta National, the PGA TOUR heads to Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Hilton Head Island is a golfer’s paradise and Harbour Town is one of the most beautiful and scenic courses on the PGA TOUR.
Harbour Town Golf Links is a par-71 that measures 7,121 yards and features Bermuda grass greens. A Pete Dye design, the course is heavily tree lined and features small greens and many dog legs, protecting it from “bomb-and-gauge” type golfers.
The field is loaded this week with 69 golfers with no cut. Last year was quite possibly the best field in RBC Heritage history and the event this week is yet another designated event, meaning there is a $20 million prize pool.
Most of the big names on the PGA Tour will be in attendance this week with the exceptions of Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland. Additionally, Webb Simpson, Shane Lowry, Gary Woodland and Kevin Kisner have been granted sponsors exemptions.
Past Winners at Harbour Town
- 2023: Matt Fitzpatrick (-17)
- 2022: Jordan Spieth (-13)
- 2021: Stewart Cink (-19)
- 2020: Webb Simpson (-22)
- 2019: CT Pan (-12)
- 2018: Sotoshi Kodaira (-12)
- 2017: Wesley Bryan (-13)
- 2016: Branden Grace (-9)
- 2015: Jim Furyk (-18)
In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).
Key Stats For Harbour Town
Let’s take a look at key metrics for Harbour Town Golf Links to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.
Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes Gained: Approach is exceedingly important this week. The greens at Harbour Town are about half the size of PGA TOUR average and feature the second-smallest greens on the tour. Typical of a Pete Dye design, golfers will pay the price for missed greens.
Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds
- Scottie Scheffler (+1.27)
- Tom Hoge (+1.27)
- Corey Conners (+1.16)
- Austin Eckroat (+0.95)
- Cameron Young (+0.93)
Good Drive %
The fairways at Harbour Town are tree lined and feature many dog legs. Bombers tend to struggle at the course because it forces layups and doesn’t allow long drivers to overpower it. Accuracy is far more important than power.
Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds
- Brice Garnett (88.8%)
- Shane Lowry (+87.2%)
- Akshay Bhatia (+86.0%)
- Si Woo Kim (+85.8%)
- Sepp Straka (+85.1%)
Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye Designs
Pete Dye specialists tend to play very well at Harbour Town. Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson are all Pete Dye specialists who have had great success here. It is likely we see some more specialists near the top of the leaderboard this week.
SG: TOT Pete Dye per round over past 36 rounds:
- Xander Schauffele (+2.27)
- Scottie Scheffler (+2.24)
- Ludvig Aberg (+2.11)
- Brian Harman (+1.89)
- Sungjae Im (+1.58)
4. Strokes Gained: Short Game (Bermuda)
Strokes Gained: Short Game factors in both around the green and putting. With many green-side bunkers and tricky green complexes, both statistics will be important. Past winners — such as Jim Furyk, Wes Bryan and Webb Simpson — highlight how crucial the short game skill set is around Harbour Town.
SG: SG Over Past 24 Rounds
- Jordan Spieth (+1.11)
- Taylor Moore (+1.02)
- Wyndham Clark (+0.98)
- Mackenzie Hughes (+0.86)
- Andrew Putnam (+0.83)
5. Greens in Regulation %
The recipe for success at Harbour Town Golf Links is hitting fairways and greens. Missing either will prove to be consequential — golfers must be in total control of the ball to win.
Greens in Regulation % over past 24 rounds:
- Brice Garnett (+75.0%)
- Scottie Scheffler (+69.9%)
- Corey Conners (+69.0%)
- Shane Lowry (+68.3%)
- Patrick Rodgers (+67.6%)
6. Course History
Harbour Town is a course where players who have strong past results at the course always tend to pop up.
Course History over past 24 rounds:
- Patrick Cantlay (+2.34)
- Cam Davis (+2.05)
- J.T. Poston (+1.69)
- Justin Rose (+1.68)
- Tommy Fleetwood (+1.59)
The RBC Heritage Model Rankings
Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (24%), Good Drives (20%), SG: SG (14%), SG: Pete Dye (14%), GIR (14%), and Course History (14%)
- Shane Lowry
- Russell Henley
- Scottie Scheffler
- Xander Schauffele
- Corey Conners
- Wyndham Clark
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Cameron Young
- Ludvig Aberg
2024 RBC Heritage Picks
Patrick Cantlay +2000 (FanDuel)
With the exception of Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour has yet to have any of their star players show peak form during the 2024 season. Last week, Patrick Cantlay, who I believe is a top-5 players on the PGA Tour, took one step closer to regaining the form that’s helped him win eight events on Tour since 2017.
Cantlay limped into the Masters in poor form, but figured it out at Augusta National, finishing in a tie for 20th and ranking 17th for the week in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. The former FedEx Cup champion will now head to one of his favorite golf courses in Harbour Town, where he’s had immaculate results over the years. In his six trips to the course, he’s only finished worse than 7th one time. The other finishes include three third places (2017, 2019, 2023) and one runner-up finish (2022). In his past 36 rounds at Harbour Town, Cantlay ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total per round at the course by a wide margin (+2.36).
Cantlay is winless since the 2022 BMW Championship, which is far too long for a player of his caliber. With signs pointing to the 32-year-old returning to form, a “signature event” at Harbour Town is just what he needs to get back on the winning track.
Tommy Fleetwood +3000 (FanDuel)
I truly believe Tommy Fleetwood will figure out a way to win on American soil in 2024. It’s certainly been a bugaboo for him throughout his career, but he is simply too talented to go another season without winning a PGA Tour event.
At last week’s Masters Tournament, Fleetwood made a Sunday charge and ended up finishing T3 in the event, which was his best ever finish at The Masters. For the week, the Englishman ranked 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 10th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking and 16th in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Harbour Town is a perfect layout for Fleetwood, and he’s had relative success at this Pete Dye design in the past. In his four trips to the course, he’s finished inside of the top 25 three times, with his best finish, T10, coming in 2022. The course is pretty short and can’t be overpowered, which gives an advantage to more accurate players such as Fleetwood. Tommy ranks 8th in the field in Good Drive % and should be able to plot his way along this golf course.
The win is coming for Tommy lad. I believe there’s a chance this treasure of a golf course may be the perfect one for him to finally break through on Tour.
Cameron Young +3300 (FanDuel)
Cameron Young had a solid Masters Tournament last week, which is exactly what I’m looking for in players who I anticipate playing well this week at the RBC Heritage. He finished in a tie for 9th, but never felt the pressure of contending in the event. For the week, Young ranked 6th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.
Despite being one of the longest players off the tee on the PGA Tour, Young has actually played some really good golf on shorter tracks. He finished T3 at Harbour Town in 2023 and ranks 20th in the field in Good Drive% and 16th in Greens in Regulation in his past 24 rounds. He also has strong finishes at other shorter courses that can take driver out of a players hand such as Copperhead and PGA National.
Young is simply one of the best players on the PGA Tour in 2024, and I strongly believe has what it takes to win a PGA Tour event in the very near future.
Corey Conners +5500 (FanDuel)
Corey Conners has had a disappointing year thus far on the PGA Tour, but absolutely loves Harbour Town.
At last week’s Masters Tournament, the Canadian finished T30 but ranked 20th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. In his past 24 rounds, Conners ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Greens in Regulation % and 24th in Good Drive %.
In Conners’ last four trips to Harbour Town, his worst finish was T31, last season. He finished T4 in 2021, T12 in 2022 and ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course over his past 36 rounds.
Conners hasn’t been contending, but his recent finishes have been encouraging as he has finished in the top-25 in each of his past three starts prior to The Masters, including an impressive T13 at The PLAYERS. His recent improvement in ball striking as well as his suitability for Harbour Town makes Conners a high upside bet this week.
Shane Lowry (+7500) (FanDuel)
When these odds were posted after Lowry was announced in the field, I have to admit I was pretty stunned. Despite not offering much win equity on the PGA Tour over the last handful of years, Shane Lowry is still a top caliber player who has the ability to rise to the top of a signature event.
Lowry struggled to score at The Masters last week, but he actually hit the ball really well. The Irishman ranked 1st for Strokes Gained: Approach on the week and 7th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. As usual, it was the putter that let him down, as he ranked 60th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Harbour Town is most definitely one of Lowry’s favorite courses on the PGA Tour. In his six starts there, he’s finished in the top 10 three times, including third twice. Lowry is sensational at Pete Dye designs and ranks 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in his past 36 rounds on Dye tracks.
Lowry is perfect for Harbour Town. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 5th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 2nd in Good Drive% and 5th in Green in Regulation %. If he figures it out on the greens, Shane could have his first win in America since 2015.
Lucas Glover +12000 (FanDuel)
This is one of my weekly “bet the number” plays as I strongly believe the odds are just too long for a player of Glover’s caliber. The odds have been too long on Glover for a few weeks now, but this is the first event that I can get behind the veteran being able to actually contend at.
Glover is quietly playing good golf and returning to the form he had after the understandable regression after his two massive victories at the end of 2023. He finished T20 at The Masters, which was his best ever finish at Augusta National. For the week, Lucas ranked 18th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 20th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.
Over his past 24 rounds, Glover ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th in Good Drive %. Harbour Town is a short course that the 44-year-old will be able to keep up with the top players on Tour off the tee. He’s played the course more than 20 times, with mixed results. His best finishes at Harbour Town include a T7 in 2008, but recently has a finish of T21 in 2020.
Glover has proven he can contend with the stars of the Tour on any given week, and this number is flat out disrespectful.
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Tiger Woods
Jan 24, 2018 at 6:05 pm
I did give them a listen and while the Golf stuff is great they give you a bit of everything, Movies , Music , Food , Travel , These guys need there own radio show. Top notch Poscast that should be heard by everyone
Greg Norman
Jan 24, 2018 at 6:02 pm
Golf need to be more fun and these Chilli Dipper guys bring the fun. New modern and most importantly entertaining, Give them a listen…
Rick Steadfast
Jan 11, 2018 at 5:28 am
Yeah i agree with Garry Handleman, I listened to The Chilli Dippers and they are a barrel of fun. They dont sound like expert golfers, but every episode is a good laugh. Great concept too, playing the top 100 public golf courses in Australia, I wish i had thought of doing that myself, little too old now.
Have a listen to The Chilli Dippers, they are short and super easy to listen to.
Garry Handleman
Jan 11, 2018 at 1:38 am
The Chilli Dippers golf pod is a ripper and should be on this list easy. Two relaxed easy going blokes playing the top 100 courses in Australia and reviewing the courses and having heaps of fun on the way
Matt
May 24, 2016 at 12:11 pm
Happen to like Golf Smarter by Fred Greene. Will say, listened to a few episodes of Golf Science Lab and really like it. Well done!!!
Bradley Lawrence
May 23, 2016 at 2:09 pm
I would throw your Golf In The Life of Podcast up there to Cordie! I can’t argue with the Mindside or the Coach Glass Podcast I listen to both of them weekly and love every second of it!
BAL
May 23, 2016 at 10:43 am
The Clubhouse with Shane Bacon is one that I would recommend.
Golf Digest podcast host can be annoying. The guests are great but the host often cuts them off to ask the next question. Seems like he is not listening to their answers and is on a mission to get through all of his notes in 15 minutes.
Ray
May 23, 2016 at 12:03 am
Hard to take anything Geoff Shackelford posts on his blog and/or podcasts seriously these days as he has become more and more corporate over the last few years. Great irony in how he is always complaining about distances the ball goes in golf and yet accepts money/sponsorship from Callaway for his podcast. Callaway has always been at the forefront of distance with their clubs and balls (I have no issue with that) yet GS looks the other way to collect a check from them. He always rags on the TM product cycles in his posts while ignoring that who he accepts money from does the exact same thing. Regardless of how he spins it his blog has become much different in content since he started taking money from Golf Digest, Callaway, NBC/Comcast and Nationwide when he “reports” on The Memorial event on video. Used to be a must read site. Shame it no longer is. I understand that he has every right to monetize his site but in doing so he has become what he rails against. Whether he realizes it or not.
Adrian
May 22, 2016 at 8:56 pm
One great podcast for the golf nerds is “State Of The Game” By Mike Clayton, Geoff Shackleford and Rod Morri. They have guests like Geoff Ogilvy, Jaime Diaz, Grant Waite, Jay Blasi etc. Each episode goes for around an hour and Clayts has no hesistation in talking about Seve and accusing Frank Nobilo of cheating…… to his face…….. on air.
Double Mocha Man
May 22, 2016 at 8:21 pm
All available through iTunes. Sorry, I’m an Android guy… don’t need no stinkin’ golf podcasts. Android folks are the better golfers… usually shooting in the 70’s with single digit handicaps.
QC
May 31, 2016 at 1:27 pm
I’m on android and they were all there.
Matt
May 22, 2016 at 12:55 pm
You guys missed the best golf podcast out there. Golf Weekly…
Golf Weekly by Newstalk 106-108 fm
https://itun.es/us/MEVAD.c