What we'll cover this week

• Putt Better – Build a repeatable stroke you can trust

• Progress – …but in reverse?

• Equipment Mistakes – Improve without spending money? Blasphemy!

Estimated read time: 7 minutes

This Week I Learned

Hit the bottom half.

During my last putting session, I had two mini-breakthroughs. The first was reducing tension (mentioned last week). The second was stopping to aim for the middle of the ball.

Turns out, striking the lower half helps the ball roll smoother right off the face. I used to aim dead center—looked fine to the naked eye, but in slow-mo, the ball was hopping like it hit a speed bump. No wonder my pace was all over the place.

Now I aim just below the equator. Less bounce, more roll, and hey—hope makes a great putting partner.

Useless golf videos we’ve watched this week, so you don’t have to:

18 = 190 minutes saved

Putt Better

Let’s keep the putting theme rolling.

If your stroke feels more like guesswork than golf, this video from The Art of Simple Golf is worth your time. No fluff. Just a dead-simple approach to building a repeatable putting motion—without needing a coach or a science degree.

Video length: 14:32

TL:DW

Note: Not every tip will apply, especially if you’re mostly practicing on real greens. But I tried a few at the muni yesterday—shifting my weight forward and using the “hammer” grip—and there were definite flashes of progress.

• Repeatable Setup - Use tape inside or tees outside to mark your foot position and ball distance. Always set up with the same posture, stance width, and ball position. This is the way to consistency.

• Posture Check - Don’t over-hinge at the waist

  • Let your arms hang naturally

  • Slight lean forward with ~60% weight on your lead foot

  • Shoulders, chest, and legs square

• Ball Position - Drop a ball from your left eye—it should land just inside the ball. Too far forward = inconsistent strike. Too far back = bad arc. Tape helps.

• Grip Pressure - Forget the “hold it like a bird” cliché. Think hammer: firm, not tense. You’re controlling the putter with your chest and shoulders, not your hands.

  Controlled Follow-Through - Your follow-through should stop just past your lead foot—not way out in front, not cut short. Tape this checkpoint too.

• Cadence = Consistency - Don’t lengthen your stroke for longer putts. Maintain the same tempo and just adjust your backswing length. Tempo > Force.

• Shoes Matter - Even when practicing at home—wear your golf shoes. Different shoes = different balance and feel, which will mess with your muscle memory.

Build this simple practice station at home if your putting feels streaky or unsure. A few minutes a day will make your stroke more automatic. Watch the video for some visual guidelines.

Reverse Progress

I can relate to those last few shots.

Deals for the Feels

Another quiet week, but a few smart finds are surfacing—especially if you're shopping with a bit of intention.

Mother’s Day Promos

• Several retailers are running Mother's Day campaigns with solid markdowns on women’s apparel, gear, and accessories. Expect seasonal colorways (yes, plenty of pink), and check TGW, Golfdiscount, or RockBottomGolf for the best selections.

Taylormade RORS Special Edition

• A limited edition release tied to celebrate Rory’s Grand Slam and mirroring his current iron setup (according to your specs). If you’re in the market for a new set and want something collectible (or just love Rory), this is a nice one to consider. I was surprised that the price was actually reasonable.

Patriotic PUMA Drop

• PUMA’s patriotic release features gear worn by Gary Woodland and leans more “clean performance” than “flag costume.” One of the better red, white, and blue collections we’ve seen—if you’re prepping early for Memorial Day or the Fourth, this is worth a look.

* Please note: none of these are affiliate links. These are genuinely great finds that we recommend without compensation.

Equipment Mistakes

I clicked on this video, hoping it would justify some gear upgrades—finally, a reason to spend more money (my best golf skill). Sadly, no. Matty delivers a pile of actual game-changing advice… and most of it won’t cost you a cent.

Video length: 7:46

TL:DW

• Ditch the 60° wedge - Unless you're ultra confident, you're better off benching the lob wedge for a bit. Grab a gap or sand wedge instead and check your results. I use a 54° and it’s my most reliable club.

• More loft on your driver - Still playing a 9° driver and wondering why everything slices into oblivion? Try 12°. Seriously. More loft = more launch, more control, and often more distance. Been meaning to change mine for months. This week, I’m doing it.

• Shafts too stiff - Playing stiff just for the ego? Drop to regular flex unless your swing speed actually needs stiff. You can always peel the sticker off.

• Old grips = bad golf - Worn grips = inconsistency. Regrip your set and suddenly every club feels brand new. Best value upgrade in golf. Every two seasons is a good rule of thumb if you play regularly.

• Game improvement irons are not cheating - Unless you’re trying out for the Tour, blades aren’t helping you. More forgiveness = more fun = lower scores. Simple.

• Too few hybrids - Replace anything above a 5-iron with hybrids. Easier to launch, better from the rough, and way more forgiving. My hybrid has become my safety blanket—and now I want more of them.

• Wrong bounce on your wedges - Soft turf? Go high bounce (12°-14°). Firm turf or tight lies? Lower bounce (6°-10°). If you play all types, stick to mid-bounce. I didn’t even know that was a thing.

• Putter doesn’t match your stroke

  • Straight-back-straight-through? Try a face-balanced mallet.

  • Arc stroke? Go with a blade.
    Choose based on how you putt, not what looks cool.

• Playing premium balls, you’re afraid to lose - Lose a $4 urethane ball and your soul dies a little. Use soft-feel two-piece balls until you stop flinching over hazards or go for DTC brands like Vice (I swear by it).

• Wrong fairway wood - That 3-wood might be hurting more than helping. Try a 4-wood (17°), 5-wood (19°), or even 7-wood. Easier launch, less punishment.

• Too much loft - An upslope adds loft already, so don’t grab your 60° and launch it into the moon. Use a 54° or even a PW and let the slope do its thing.

Most of these gear mistakes are easy to fix—and not fixing them is just stubborn. Try one or two of the suggestions this week and see how it impacts your round.

Quick Bites for the Road

Quiz

If you liked this newsletter, refer it to a friend. If you hated it, send it to the ONE person you desperately want to beat (on the course).

Quiz answer

John Daly.

If you guessed it was me, that’s also partially correct. I regularly land my drives on other holes’ greens. Not because of my driving length, but because I have the best slice in the world. They call it the banana.

Sincerely, your Magic Rabbit.

Leader through the rabbit hole. Tore a muscle hitting too many full-speed driver swings. Is restricted to improving putting. Damn.