What we'll cover this week

• Short Game - The simple trick to become a chipping god/goddess

• Light Club - VFX Masterpiece

• Putting Beats - An underrated free practice aid

Estimated read time: 8 minutes

This Week I Learned

My coach hates slow play.

Few weeks back I confessed to hitting into oblivious slow groups who act like they're the only people on the course. Figured I was being a bit of a psycho.

Turns out I'm in excellent company - my coach dropped the same confession over beers. He's been doing it for years. Sure, his ball control is probably surgical compared to my "general vicinity" approach, but knowing a teaching pro does this too makes me feel way less unhinged.

The golden rule still applies: always yell FORE. We're trying to speed things up, not commit assault. Maybe.

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

19 = 193 minutes saved

Short Game Masterclass

My short game is close to single-digit level, according to Arccos. It's BY FAR the best part of my game. Not because I'm a genius, but because I found one of Danny Maude's chipping videos early in my playing days. I learned everything about chipping and pitching from him, and honestly, it's just one simple move.

My wife recently started playing and hated chipping after a few lessons with her coach. I taught her the "Danny move" and it transformed her short game overnight. She loves it now.

This few-week-old video from Danny lays the groundwork and adds some amazing tips. If you struggle around the greens: WATCH THIS.

Video length: 11:20

TL:DW

• ALWAYS Brush The Ground - This is the only concept you need to master. Let the bounce/sole of your wedges do the work. If you manage to just slightly brush the ground with your wedge, it's impossible to fat or thin shots. You have a relatively long margin where you can brush the ground and still hit the ball perfectly. You can drag the bounce over the ground for a few inches because it keeps the clubface stable. I try to hit the ground 1-2 inches ahead of the ball and let it glide through the grass. Danny mentions this as an off-hand remark, but the whole system relies on consistently using the bounce.

• Master Depth Control Next - The club follows an arc - up, down to low point, back up. Most golfers yo-yo between standing up (thin shots) and lowering the arc (fat shots). Set up with arms hanging naturally, triceps resting on chest, and let the club brush the ground. Feel like you're maintaining height while the club swings.

• The Lead Side "Box" Concept - Imagine a box from your lead foot up through your shoulder and knee. Keep everything in that box throughout the swing. This controls where the club lands every time and maintains consistent loft. No moving back (adds loft, ball flies high) or forward (removes loft, ball rockets out).

• Weight Forward, Pivot Around - Put 60-70% weight on lead side and stay there. Don't shift forward - just pivot around that lead side like it's an axis. Your knee works on an arc, not dropping down. Simple turn toward target while maintaining the box.

• 5-Second Routine - Place club in front, let it fall so triceps rest on chest (ensures level shoulders), drop club to grass surface, brush ground to feel depth control, then pivot through. Same routine works from any lie around the green. The only thought I have during chips: "Let the bounce glide." That's what I taught my wife, and it made gigantic changes from one session to the next.

• Rough Shots Need Longer Swings - When the ball's nestled down, use the same forward ball position but make a longer swing. You'll catch ground behind the ball, requiring more energy to get through. Takes practice but uses the same principles.

The depth control concept is brilliant - having that margin of error where you can hit 1-2 inches behind and still advance the ball removes so much anxiety. You can get fancy with chipping, and Danny gives additional tips in the video, but this is already 95% of the recipe for consistent chipping success.

Golf for Nerds

As a huge Star Wars fan, I wish we could have these in real life.

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Deals for the Feels

It’s a light week on actual discounts, so we’re mixing in some fresh gear drops worth eyeballing. Here’s what’s popping:

Callaway Chromes On Sale

• Grab two packs from the Chrome family for $95 (down from $110). It’s not earth-shattering, but if you’re already a Chrome fan, it’s a solid chance to restock.

Vice Tracer Balls

• Vice just launched their triple-line marked versions across the Pro, Pro Plus, and Pro Air lines. I’m grabbing a pack myself to test if those extra lines give me a better putting read. Worth a look if you’re into visual aids on the green.

TaylorMade Zero Torgue Spider Putters

• TaylorMade jumps on the zero-torque shaft trend with new Spider models. I’ve been eyeing the Spider putter anyway, so this is another excuse to hunt one down at the shop for a test roll.

National Golf Day Sale at TGW

• The only real sale this week. Don’t expect top-brand current season gear, but the TGW house brand and some last-season pieces are marked down. Worth a browse if you’re looking for functional basics or spare kit.

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

Simple Putting Hack

Yesterday I caught myself accelerating through putts again. My results are still way better than a year ago, but this bad habit was creeping back in and I could feel regression coming.

Then the golf gods dropped Skip Kendall in my feed like a putting savior.

I'd heard whispers about the metronome method but never committed to it. Time to see what the fuss is about - testing it tomorrow.

Video length: 7:16

TL:DW

• Same Time, Every Distance - Mind-bending concept: your 3-footer and 50-footer happen in identical time. Same rhythm, but the stroke gets longer and faster to maintain the beat. Skip thought his coach was insane when he first heard this in the mid-90s.

• 76 BPM Magic - Skip's coach used a digital metronome locked at 76 beats. Simple math: "one" equals backswing, "two" equals impact. Long putts? Stroke extends and speeds up. Short putts? Stroke contracts but timing stays bulletproof.

• Count Out Loud (Seriously) - Here's where most people screw up - they try to think the rhythm instead of saying it. Your brain can't maintain the beat silently. Counting out loud locks in tempo and kills the rushing/decelerating that murders putts.

• Pendulum Physics - Same beat going back and through, but the stroke adjusts speed for distance. This creates natural acceleration through impact that separates good putters from hackers.

This destroys everything we think we know about putting. Longer putts don't need longer, slower strokes - they need the same rhythm with more speed. Kendall figured out that rhythm beats technique every time.

The counting tip alone might save my putting season. Download any metronome app and set it to 76bpm - we're about to find out if this works as advertised.

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

A fox. During the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, a fox famously stole and carried off golf balls in front of the gallery.

Let’s see if that same fox has an agenda for this year’s Open at Oakmont…..

Sincerely, your Magic Rabbit.

Leader through the rabbit hole. Recently added up his golf expenses for last year. Let’s not talk about it.