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		<title>Callaway&#8217;s Chrome Tour Triple Diamond Gets An Update</title>
		<link>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/callaways-chrome-tour-triple-diamond-gets-an-update/</link>
					<comments>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/callaways-chrome-tour-triple-diamond-gets-an-update/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tony Covey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[First Look]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mygolfspy.com/?p=298906</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Callaway updates the Chrome Tour Triple Diamond just over a year after the original. Here&#8217;s what changed and what didn&#8217;t. Callaway is launching a new Chrome Tour Triple Diamond. That part isn&#8217;t surprising. What&#8217;s surprising is that it&#8217;s hitting the market just over a year after the last one. In a category that typically runs [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/callaways-chrome-tour-triple-diamond-gets-an-update/">Callaway&#8217;s Chrome Tour Triple Diamond Gets An Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><em>Callaway updates the Chrome Tour Triple Diamond just over a year after the original. Here&#8217;s what changed and what didn&#8217;t.</em></p>



<p>Callaway is launching a new <a href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100leitN/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.callawaygolf.com%2Fballs%2Fchrome-tour-td-balls%2Fballs-2026-chrome-tour-td.html">Chrome Tour Triple Diamond</a>. That part isn&#8217;t surprising. What&#8217;s surprising is that it&#8217;s hitting the market just over a year after the last one. In a category that typically runs on a two-year cycle, that&#8217;s a fast turn.</p>



<p>The story here isn&#8217;t groundbreaking technology. It&#8217;s cadence, aligning technologies and the latest version of a ball with an admittedly niche performance spec getting a little bit better.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-15.jpg" alt="A closeup fo the sidestamp on a 2026 Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond" class="wp-image-298936" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-15.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-15-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-15-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-15-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-15-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-actually-new">What&#8217;s actually new</h2>



<p>I’d say the biggest change is under the cover but that’s almost always true with golf balls. The point here—and the bit about aligning technologies—is that the <a href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100leitN/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.callawaygolf.com%2Fballs%2Fchrome-tour-td-balls%2Fballs-2026-chrome-tour-td.html">2026 Triple Diamond</a> gets the same Tour Fast Mantle material that showed up earlier this year in the other Chrome series golf balls. If you read <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/callaway-doubles-down-on-speed-and-precision-with-new-chrome-tour-chrome-tour-x-and-chrome-soft-golf-balls/" type="link" id="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/callaway-doubles-down-on-speed-and-precision-with-new-chrome-tour-chrome-tour-x-and-chrome-soft-golf-balls/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our Chrome Tour launch coverage</a>, you know the story. A new higher-modulus mantle material (Callaway says 16 percent higher than what it was using before) makes the ball a touch faster. That, in turn, lets Callaway soften the core slightly. The net effect is a little more speed without making the ball firmer than the previous version.</p>



<p>Worth noting: A firmer mantle should produce a bit more short-game spin. While Callaway isn’t saying much, the between-the-lines read is that Callaway believes it’s going to be as long or longer off the tee and you might get a little more greenside spin, too, (relative to others at the distance end of the tour ball category). That said, of the three legitimately tour spec offerings in the Callaway golf ball lineup, Triple Diamond should prove to be the lowest spinning off every club in your bag.</p>



<p>On the aerodynamic side of the performance equation, you&#8217;re getting Seamless Tour Aero and the updated Precision Paint process we covered in the main Chrome Tour story. Quick refresher on Seamless Tour Aero: Instead of buffing the seam after molding (the industry-standard approach), Callaway removes material from the entire ball which eliminates the small inconsistencies traditional buffing can introduce. On the paint side, the Chicopee, Mass., factory&#8217;s updated process applies to every Chrome model so Triple Diamond is along for that ride (but that was true before the new model launched).</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-12.jpg" alt="Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond including cutaways." class="wp-image-298934" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-12.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-12-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-12-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-12-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-12-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-quick-aside-on-cadence">A quick aside on cadence</h2>



<p>While we&#8217;re on the subject of launch cadence: I suppose it makes sense for Callaway to launch of all of its tour models (or, more accurately, urethane models) on the same cadence. It&#8217;s a cleaner story for retail, a cleaner story for media and probably a cleaner story for Callaway. That said, if you wanted to argue that Chrome Soft should probably launch alongside Warbird, Supersoft and ERC Soft, I&#8217;d have your back.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-speed-ceiling-and-the-usga">The speed ceiling and the USGA</h2>



<p>Most tour balls land in compression territory from the high 80s to the mid 90s. That leaves some room to work. If a manufacturer wants to bump speed by making a ball a bit firmer or because a new material allows for more speed at the same compression, there&#8217;s runway before bumping into the USGA&#8217;s Overall Distance Standard.</p>



<p>Triple Diamond isn&#8217;t that ball. It sits around 100 compression (probably a bit over). Titleist&#8217;s Pro V1 Left Dash lives in roughly the same neighborhood. At this end of the spectrum, the runway is short.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-298929" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-3.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-3-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-3-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-3-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-3-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>So where do gains come from? Two places, mostly. The first is manufacturing. Tighter tolerances give manufacturers the confidence to push their design targets a bit closer to where the rules top out. It&#8217;s not a story brands spend much time telling but it&#8217;s one of the quieter realities of modern R&amp;D. Whether you&#8217;re talking drivers or golf balls, improvements often have as much to do with manufacturing as they do with technology.</p>



<p>The second lever is tweaking flight and spin in a way that, to put it diplomatically, navigates the USGA&#8217;s distance test. That&#8217;s not Callaway-specific. It&#8217;s a category reality.</p>



<p>So should you expect the <a href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100leitN/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.callawaygolf.com%2Fballs%2Fchrome-tour-td-balls%2Fballs-2026-chrome-tour-td.html">2026 Triple Diamond</a> to be notably longer than the previous version? Probably not. But there&#8217;s nothing in the spec sheet to suggest Triple Diamond won’t continue to be among the absolute fastest and longest conforming golf balls on the market.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-7.jpg" alt="The core of a 2026 Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond" class="wp-image-298933" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-7.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-7-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-7-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-7-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-7-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-note-on-feel">A note on feel</h2>



<p><a href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100leitN/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.callawaygolf.com%2Fballs%2Fchrome-tour-td-balls%2Fballs-2026-chrome-tour-td.html">Triple Diamond</a> is not old-school Top-Flite firm but as you would expect, it’s going to be one of the firmer balls on the market and most golfers will notice. That’s not criticism. It’s a reality. It’s likely a good bit of the reason why most manufacturers continue to position golf balls in the higher-compression space as being for faster players. That’s more a feel story than anything else. Slower swing speed golfers are going to notice the firmer feel and most won’t love it. Nevertheless, even slower swingers are fast enough to compress the core so ultimately the fitting question isn’t about compression, it’s about whether Triple Diamond (or any other golf ball) delivers the flight and spin properties that will benefit your game without giving away enough speed to cost you meaningful distance.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1334" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-5.jpg" alt="Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond golf ball" class="wp-image-298931" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-5.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-5-600x400.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-5-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-my-2-cents">My 2 cents</h2>



<p>I&#8217;ve played <a href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100leitN/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.callawaygolf.com%2Fballs%2Fchrome-tour-td-balls%2Fballs-2026-chrome-tour-td.html">Triple Diamond</a> off and on. I tend to experiment with balls in this category because the margin between them is often where the most interesting comparisons live. I didn&#8217;t find much I didn&#8217;t like. For what it&#8217;s worth, Triple Diamond was a standout in <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/buyers-guides/golf-balls/2025-golf-ball-test/" type="link" id="https://mygolfspy.com/buyers-guides/golf-balls/2025-golf-ball-test/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our 2025 Ball Test</a> where its speed and distance off the tee were irrefutable.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bottom-line">The bottom line</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100leitN/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.callawaygolf.com%2Fballs%2Fchrome-tour-td-balls%2Fballs-2026-chrome-tour-td.html">2026 Triple Diamond</a> isn&#8217;t a &#8220;wait until you see this&#8221; launch. It&#8217;s a cadence move, a tech-alignment move and a modest performance improvement in one. It’s not groundbreaking but it makes sense for Callaway.</p>



<p>If Triple Diamond already worked for you, this one will, too. If you&#8217;ve been curious, this is arguably the fastest and longest ball in Callaway&#8217;s lineup with a feel that isn&#8217;t for everyone but is loved by those who love it.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-4.jpg" alt="Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond golf ball" class="wp-image-298930" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-4.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-4-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-4-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-4-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Callaway-Chrome-Tour-Triple-Diamond-4-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pricing-and-availability">Pricing and availability</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100leitN/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.callawaygolf.com%2Fballs%2Fchrome-tour-td-balls%2Fballs-2026-chrome-tour-td.html">2026 Chrome Tour Triple Diamond</a> is available now in white and white <a href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100leitN/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.callawaygolf.com%2Fballs%2Fchrome-tour-td-balls%2Fballs-2026-chrome-tour-td-triple-track.html">Triple Track</a>. Retail price is $57.99 per dozen, which is the same as the rest of the Chrome family.</p>



<p>If you’re expecting limited-edition versions, never say never but, also, don’t hold your breath. I&#8217;d love to see more (yellow, other alignment options) but Triple Diamond fits a narrow slice of the market. Limited SKUs for a limited audience. The math is what it is.</p>



<p>In preparation for the new Triple Diamond, Callaway <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fchrome-tour-td-triple-track-25%2F2000000049476.html">has discounted the original (2025) model</a> to $47.99 while inventory lasts. That’s your best chance to see what Triple Diamond is all about while saving just a bit of money.</p>



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<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button" href="https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100leitN/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.callawaygolf.com%2Fballs%2Fchrome-tour-td-balls%2Fballs-2026-chrome-tour-td.html">Buy 2026 Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Diamond Golf Balls Now</a></div>
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<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/callaways-chrome-tour-triple-diamond-gets-an-update/">Callaway&#8217;s Chrome Tour Triple Diamond Gets An Update</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
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		<title>We Tried To Qualify For Grass League. It Came Down To The Wire.</title>
		<link>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/we-tried-to-qualify-for-grass-league-it-came-down-to-the-wire/</link>
					<comments>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/we-tried-to-qualify-for-grass-league-it-came-down-to-the-wire/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Fairholm]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:04:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[pro golf]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mygolfspy.com/?p=298915</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>It was an epic experience.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/we-tried-to-qualify-for-grass-league-it-came-down-to-the-wire/">We Tried To Qualify For Grass League. It Came Down To The Wire.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Earlier this week, the MyGolfSpy team descended upon the Arizona desert to do battle at the Grass Clippings Open qualifier, the lead-in to the springtime jewel of <a href="https://grassleague.com">Grass League, the high-stakes par-3 concept featuring fields of pros and elite amateurs</a>.</p>



<p><strong>This was an incredible opportunity for us at MGS. To skip ahead to the ending, it was an epic experience.</strong></p>



<p>With the ability to field three two-man scramble teams in the qualifier, our staff held our own 18-hole shootout to see who would represent us. We got together in Williamsburg, Va., last month at The Shoe, Golden Horseshoe Golf Club&#8217;s par-3 course.</p>



<p>Andrew Zanzig (aka the Mayor of Carlsbad) took medalist honors while Chris Nickel, Adam Phillips, Rob Colella, Phil Bishop and myself rounded out the squad. We deliberated on teams and came to the conclusion that we would field these teams:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Andrew/Sean</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Chris/Phillip</li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Adam/Rob</li>
</ul>



<p>With UNRL uniforms in hand and an amazing support staff documenting our journey, we gathered in Tempe, Ariz., to see if we could hold our own against a remarkably deep field.</p>



<p>On Tuesday, we played a practice round and got acquainted with the friendly vibe of Grass Clippings Rolling Hills, highlighted by the otherworldly tacos at the Glenrosa Restaurant and the Church Music IPA at the outside bar as misting fans cooled us.</p>



<p>As for the course and the scale of the event, it got the energy flowing. For all of us single-digit handicaps, it had that feeling of the biggest event ever. Grandstands. A legitimate build-out. And the course immediately introduced itself as thorny—small greens, run-offs, wind, shots that required precision.</p>



<p><strong>This was my first exposure to seeing Grass League and, by the end of Tuesday, I had this feeling building.</strong></p>



<p>The event seemed to take the best parts of the traditional competitive golf experience and marry them with the new-age aspects of golf that we also love. Serious but not stuffy. A time to concentrate but a time for a few laughs, too. </p>



<p>Do you want to grind on the practice green doing drills? Go for it. </p>



<p>Do you want to drink a few beers while wearing gym shorts and a T-shirt? That works, too.</p>



<p><strong>You could make it what you wanted it to be. We wanted a taste of both.</strong></p>



<p>&#8220;It had that perfect mix—super fun, but with just enough pressure to get the competitive juices going,&#8221; Zanzig said. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-qualifier-day-finally-arrives">The qualifier day finally arrives</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="600" height="420" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.01.09-PM-600x420.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-299005" style="aspect-ratio:1.4287913779830639;width:782px;height:auto" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.01.09-PM-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.01.09-PM-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.01.09-PM-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.01.09-PM-1536x1075.jpg 1536w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.01.09-PM.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>All three of our teams were teeing off later in the afternoon on Wednesday. We spent the morning scoreboard watching—something none of us had ever really done at this level of golf—and figured that one of us would have to shoot around 6- or 7-under to make the cut.</p>



<p>The top 25 and ties among the 100 two-person teams were entered into a Thursday night draft where each of Grass League&#8217;s 11 franchises filled out their roster with two more teams each for the Grass Clippings Open, which takes place tonight and Saturday night with final-round coverage on Golf Channel (the tournament has a two-year deal with Golf Channel to broadcast the event).</p>



<p><strong>Make sure to tune in Saturday night at <strong> 9 p.m. ET </strong>because it&#8217;s going to be spectacular theater. </strong></p>



<p>This field is no joke. It&#8217;s littered with pros who have cut their teeth on the Korn Ferry Tour and elsewhere. The amateurs are mostly plus-handicaps. People come from all around the country just for the chance to qualify for the tournament.</p>



<p>To call this a David versus Goliath situation would be an understatement. We have some great players on our MGS staff but the level of golf the players in this field can reach is in a different stratosphere. And with the wind blowing strong in the afternoon, every weakness was going to get exposed that much more.</p>



<p><strong>It would take our absolute best golf.</strong></p>



<p>The Mayor and I are decent players but likely ranked dead-last or close to it in terms of handicap among all the teams. Andrew is around a 6 handicap and I&#8217;m about a 9. </p>



<p>Before I get into our round, <a href="https://grassleague.com/2026-grass-league-qualifier-field/">here is the final leaderboard</a>. These guys played some superb golf. Our playing partners, Micheal Visacki and Kaylor Steger, shot 10-under to tie for the lead. It was a true joy to watch them. At one point, they made eight consecutive birdies. Every putt they hit the entire day looked like it had a chance to drop (and most of them did).</p>



<p><strong>They joined four other teams at the top. None of those five co-leading teams made a single bogey.</strong></p>



<p>The cut, as expected, did fall at 6-under although it looked for a time like 5-under would have an outside chance of qualifying. There was no playoff this year—everyone who was T25 or better earned draft eligibility.</p>



<p>With our tee time at 2:06 p.m., Andrew and I headed off to the first tee knowing it was going to take an act of God for us to join the weekend party as players.</p>



<p>And, my goodness, the man upstairs was playing a little Church Music for us (but not the kind we could drink).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-playing-golf-in-the-competitive-spotlight">Playing golf in the competitive spotlight</h2>



<p>I don&#8217;t play much competitive golf. I played junior golf and fuss around with men&#8217;s league but nothing where I&#8217;m going up against guys who are knocking on the door of the Korn Ferry Tour.</p>



<p><strong>Tournament golf is a different beast. I wasn&#8217;t really prepared for that feeling.</strong></p>



<p>During the practice round, I was dialed. My swing felt great and I naively thought our team had a fighting chance to survive and advance (shoutout, Jimmy V). We had decided on an Andrew-Sean batting order based on our chemistry during that round. Andrew would hit the middle of the green and I would go pin seeking.</p>



<p><strong>During the actual qualifier, I was decidedly <em>not dialed</em>. My swing abandoned me and I, in turn, abandoned my very patient and encouraging partner on countless occasions. Writing this now, I still cringe thinking back to how many terrible shots I hit. It was the worst time to go cold. </strong></p>



<p>You would assume that Andrew and I would <em>both</em> have to play out of our minds to even be sniffing the cutline. </p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="399" height="600" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-5.59.58-PM-399x600.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-299007" style="width:374px;height:auto" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-5.59.58-PM-399x600.jpg 399w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-5.59.58-PM-199x300.jpg 199w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-5.59.58-PM-768x1156.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-5.59.58-PM.jpg 946w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>
</div>


<p>Strangely, my limited but well-timed contributions and The Mayor&#8217;s fantastic ball-striking day somehow lined up for a round of golf that I will never forget.</p>



<p>This really speaks to the format and why Grass League is so cool. I could never be even remotely competitive playing my own ball in an individual tournament against this field. And if this was a two-player scramble on a regulation course, that would also hold true unless Scottie Scheffler was my partner.</p>



<p><strong>But a two-person scramble on a par-3 course like Grass Clippings allows for some odd things to happen. It&#8217;s a great equalizer. </strong></p>



<p>On the first hole, Andrew hit a shot to about 40 feet, leaving us a delicate, side-winding putt. After seeing his birdie putt break dramatically at the hole, I hit what might be, no exaggeration, the single best putt of my life. You could have given me a bucket of balls and I might not have made one.</p>



<p>This putt I hit would have gone into a thimble.</p>



<p>You can&#8217;t do better than -1 after the first. Even our partners, the future co-leaders of Visacki and Streger, made a par. We had the tee box honors on Nos. 2 and 3. We wouldn&#8217;t get it back until No. 17.</p>



<p>On the second, the Mayor almost went Vince Carter Slam Dunk Contest on the tee shot. I thought our 10-foot birdie try wouldn&#8217;t break much and that read proved correct as Andrew poured one home.</p>



<p><strong>Now we&#8217;re starting to feel like UMBC versus Virginia. Hey, why not us?</strong></p>



<p>That answer came loud and clear in the ensuing four holes where we went 2-over. I might as well have gone to the bar for drinks as the Mayor was essentially playing the front nine alone.</p>



<p>We bogeyed No. 4, which we later learned was the single easiest hole for the qualifier. That we also bogeyed the long and into-the-wind fifth hole—the single most difficult hole of the day—was not as hard to stomach.</p>



<p>At this point, the 16-seed was starting to look like a 16-seed. You remember UMBC clobbering Virginia but you don&#8217;t remember Northwest Arkansas State being down 38 at halftime to Kansas.</p>



<p>But, sometimes, just when everything seems lost, there is a little-known white dude who goes absolutely nuclear from beyond the arc. The threes start falling and momentum turns.</p>



<p><strong>I was in a mental straitjacket but I had Andrew. And the Mayor was in his office. Unlike that little-known white dude making threes out of nowhere, the Mayor is <em>highly</em> known. He can&#8217;t walk 10 feet without saying hello to someone he knows. That&#8217;s why he&#8217;s the Mayor. </strong></p>



<p>On No. 7, he stuffed the piñata and made a solo birdie to pull us out of wreckage. On No. 8, a pretty tough hole back into a stiff wind, he rolled home a 30-footer right in the jaws for another solo birdie.</p>



<p>After a solid par on the difficult ninth, we were headed to the back nine at 2-under. The dream was alive.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trying-to-make-a-back-nine-charge">Trying to make a back-nine charge</h2>



<p>The two nines used for the Grass Clippings Open are wildly different but played to nearly the same stroke average during the qualifier. The front nine is much longer (1,346 yards/1,206 yards) but you would be making a mistake to think the back nine is significantly easier. The margins are small.</p>



<p><strong>The back nine is full of short wedge shots to diabolical greens that are tilted. Getting your distance right is hard. Surpsingly, the downwind tee shots can be even tougher than those into the wind. </strong></p>



<p>We fell into a lull early on the back nine with a few sleepy pars. We could see the cutline hovering around 5-under. The wind, which was gusting ferociously at points, gave us a glimmer of hope that the line would stay there.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" width="396" height="600" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.00.18-PM-1-396x600.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-299008" style="aspect-ratio:0.6600075589870957;width:357px;height:auto" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.00.18-PM-1-396x600.jpg 396w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.00.18-PM-1-198x300.jpg 198w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.00.18-PM-1-768x1163.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.00.18-PM-1.jpg 940w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>
</div>


<p>On No. 13, I finally awoke from my coma to hit a wedge shot tight. The Mayor asked if I wanted to go first to knock in my own solo birdie. What a gentleman. (However, I am terrified of putting.)</p>



<p>We missed a decent look on No. 14, which led us into the wicked 15th. This green is the size of my apartment bedroom. The hole was cut on a slope just begging for players to putt the ball off the green.</p>



<p><strong>This was the third-toughest hole of the day, playing to a 2.98 stroke average. We were shocked to learn there were 15 birdies to just 13 bogeys. These guys and girls are good. </strong></p>



<p>We missed the green short left, leaving an uphill sidewinder of a chip. The Mayor passed a bill stating that his pitch shot from this area would be certifiably nasty. The ball started some 15 feet right of the hole and kept dripping left along the slope for an eternity, settling a few inches from the cup.</p>



<p>We were 3-under but thought if we could get to 5-under, that would make the Church Music taste even better after the round. Maybe, just maybe. We could sit around watching the scoreboard—<em>hey, look at us watching scoreboards like we&#8217;re pros</em>.</p>



<p>The 16th is a tough hole. There is the mother of all false fronts but the hole being downwind means it&#8217;s hard to stop anything. We both hit good shots here and were left with a 20-footer down the hill, breaking hard to the right.</p>



<p>We had to have it. And we got it. One of my few contributions on the day was coaxing home that birdie putt that sent us to 4-under.</p>



<p><strong>I gave a fist pump and Andrew slapped my hand so hard that I am still smarting almost two days later. </strong></p>



<p>On the 17th tee, we decided we needed two more birdies. One wouldn&#8217;t be enough. Or how about an ace? That would be nice. The cut still sat at 5-under, T23 at the time, but we were eventually proved right in thinking that it would inevitably switch.</p>



<p>I wish I had a better ending to this story. On the 17th, our wedge shots got &#8220;Mutombo swatted&#8221; by the wind. Andrew almost drained a 70-footer that might have started in Glendale. I made a seven-foot comebacker just to keep us at 4-under heading to the last.</p>



<p><strong>The 18th was not the hole to make a birdie, let alone an ace. There were only 11 birdies the entire day, and we&#8217;re talking about a couple of hundred fantastic golfers coming through there. </strong></p>



<p>Andrew put us on the right side of the green while I was in someone&#8217;s tequila soda right of the grandstand. Before we hit the putt—which had to negotiate a huge hump—we agreed to leave the flag in and give it an honest run.</p>



<p>The Mayor gave a more reasonable approach to this and just didn&#8217;t quite play enough break. I took the strategy a little too literally and tried to laser beam my putt into the hole. In fairness, it did catch the lip and jump the hole. </p>



<p><strong>We stood silently for a moment looking at our officially meaningless par putt, which Andrew made. </strong></p>



<p>Maybe we could have pulled this thing off if we got a do-over on the fourth hole. <em>What were we thinking?</em> There was also a short-ish birdie miss on the sixth. <em>Damn!</em> And my wedge shot on the 12th looked perfect in the air until it took a soft bounce and stopped 20 feet short. <em>Come on, man</em>.</p>



<p>Never mind the several shots that <em>had gone our way</em> (a golfer never dwells too long on those).</p>



<p><strong>Unfortunately, none of our other MGS brethren made the cut, either. We were the closest challengers, finishing in a tie for 50th</strong>, <strong>exactly middle of the pack,</strong> <strong>two strokes shy of playing the weekend. </strong></p>



<p>Suddenly, our time as competitors was over. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-one-of-my-favorite-days-in-golf">One of my favorite days in golf</h2>



<p>To be completely honest, my eyes were welling up a bit on the 18th green as the reality had set in that this experience was over. </p>



<p>It legitimately stung for a few hours. The Mayor—did I tell you he&#8217;s a great guy?—embraced me with a big hug and, while listening to some Church Music at the bar, we talked at length about how much fun the past two days had been. </p>



<p>Life-affirming. The kind of days you dream of as a golfer. </p>



<p>We&#8217;ll have a hangover from this, and it&#8217;s not just from the IPAs. </p>



<p>But why? Why had it felt that way? It&#8217;s just a qualifier for a golf tournament, one that we shouldn&#8217;t even be playing in based on our limited talents. </p>



<p><strong>My feeling is that, for guys like us, this kind of golf has never really existed before. </strong></p>



<p>Sure, you can go play club championships or men&#8217;s league or whatever else. But this is a real tournament with great players and no strokes being given &#8230; but it also isn&#8217;t totally unrealistic to compete. You can squint your eyes and see it. We had a path. I already envision practicing for next year if I&#8217;m able to represent MGS again.</p>



<p>We are two hackers who were semi-competitive with mini tour pros over the course of 18 holes. They were clearly better than us by lightyears but it didn&#8217;t <em>feel </em>like we were out of place. Oddly, it felt like we belonged on that stage with them.</p>



<p>And getting the chance to do that alongside a friend?</p>



<p>Man, that&#8217;s the good stuff. </p>



<p><em>Top Photo Caption: Andrew and Sean wait on the fifth tee. (Ingram Smart)</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/we-tried-to-qualify-for-grass-league-it-came-down-to-the-wire/">We Tried To Qualify For Grass League. It Came Down To The Wire.</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
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		<media:group><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.00.49-PM-600x420.jpg" medium="image" isDefault="true" /><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.00.49-PM-150x150.jpg" medium="image" /></media:group><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.00.49-PM-600x420.jpg" /><media:thumbnail url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-6.00.49-PM-150x150.jpg" />	</item>
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		<title>Scratch By 50: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Driver</title>
		<link>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/scratch-by-50-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-driver/</link>
					<comments>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/scratch-by-50-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-driver/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Graham Averill]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:02:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mygolfspy.com/?p=298900</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Graham Averill will turn 50 this year and he’s freaking out. Instead of buying a motorcycle or getting a tattoo, he’s decided to try to get really, really good at golf. He’s a 13 handicap attempting to reach scratch in a year. Welcome to his midlife crisis.&#160; The big stick. The big dog. Thor’s Hammer. [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/scratch-by-50-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-driver/">Scratch By 50: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Driver</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><em>Graham Averill will turn 50 this year and he’s freaking out. Instead of buying a motorcycle or getting a tattoo, he’s decided to try to get really, really good at golf. He’s a 13 handicap attempting to reach scratch in a year. Welcome to his midlife crisis.&nbsp;</em></p>



<p>The big stick. The big dog. Thor’s Hammer. … The driver has many nicknames but I’ve always just called it “trouble.” When I played golf as a teenager, I didn’t even carry one in my bag because I didn’t want to be tempted to pull it out. It was an automatic penalty so I just poked a 3- iron down the fairway and got on with it. The owners of the houses that lined the fairways of my childhood courses all breathed a sigh of relief. </p>



<p>I’ve grown to understand a few key aspects of life as I’ve navigated adulthood. As I’ve aged, I’ve learned that roulette is for suckers and my wife is right even when she’s wrong. But the driver has remained an enigma. Sure, there will be brief windows of greatness with the big stick where I’ll mash a beautiful long draw that finds a fairway two or three holes in a single round! But mostly I overcook that draw into a hook that disappears deep into the poison ivy-laden woods. Fearful of that snap hook, my swing became cautious and tense which resulted in more snap hooks. It was a vicious cycle. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2400" height="1800" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/driver-profile.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-298916" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/driver-profile.jpeg 2400w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/driver-profile-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/driver-profile-600x450.jpeg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/driver-profile-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/driver-profile-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/driver-profile-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>I have this debate with other golfers all the time: Would you rather hit every fairway for the rest of your life or never three-putt again? </p>



<p>I know the scoring happens the closer you get to the hole but I’ll take clean fairways all day. It’s demoralizing to start every par-4 or par-5 with an automatic penalty. And balls are expensive. I’m tired of losing them. </p>



<p>So, my coach Sam Hahn and I have been working diligently to address the biggest liability in my bag. We’ve made some massive improvements in the last few weeks, mostly by trying to turn my draw into a fade. </p>



<p>“Nothing kills a score like a snap hook,” Hahn says. “Yes, draws tend to travel further than fades but the miss with a draw is really unforgiving. The fade that turns into a slice usually won’t get you into as much trouble. There’s a reason why most tour players play a fade off the tee box.”</p>



<p>I have a fragile ego, so I was reluctant to sacrifice any yardage off the tee box, but minimizing the damage from a miss was too enticing to overlook, so I got to work on developing a fade.</p>



<p>Most of the adjustments Sam has me incorporating have been focused on my setup. The hundreds and hundreds of hooks off the tee have conditioned me to that shot shape so I tend to stand very closed in relation to my target. Sam wants me to open my stance and pick a start line down the left side of the fairway while also moving the ball forward in my stance so that contact is made just after the low point of my swing. This move essentially creates an outside-to-in swing path at the point of contact. Combine the ball position with a club face that is more open at address and the set up <em>should</em> help promote a fade. But because I’m an over-achiever, I skipped the fade altogether and developed a wicked slice. </p>



<p>After tinkering with the various elements of the setup, I’ve been able to find the ideal ball position and club face position that produces a tee shot that does the craziest thing—flies straight. Obviously, it took more than just adjusting my setup. I hit buckets and buckets of balls with slow-motion swings, essentially chipping the ball into the range and playing with various parts of the motion and watching the response from the ball. It wasn&#8217;t sexy work but I learned a lot about my driver swing. The toughest aspect of all of this work has been trusting that the ball is going to fly straight on the course and choosing a start line based on that ball flight. I’ve been drawing and hooking the ball for so long that I feel really exposed when I’m aiming straight down the middle of the fairway with a stance that isn’t closed. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2400" height="1800" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/tee-box-1.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-298917" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/tee-box-1.jpeg 2400w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/tee-box-1-300x225.jpeg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/tee-box-1-600x450.jpeg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/tee-box-1-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/tee-box-1-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/tee-box-1-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>But I’m learning to trust myself and it’s paying off on the course. I’m hitting an unusually high rate of fairways for someone with my handicap and I have the data to prove it. I’ve been tracking every round with a variety of devices (more on that in a future article) and I’ve watched as my driver has transformed from a liability into an asset. Before I changed my setup, I was losing an average of 2.5 strokes per nine-hole round with my driver compared to a scratch golfer. That has dropped to 1.3 strokes per round in the last week and yesterday I played nine holes where I hit every fairway and lost 0.0 strokes to a scratch golfer off the tee. </p>



<p>I know the work isn’t done. Golf is fickle and success is fleeting. And while I’m hitting the ball straight, I’m not hitting it that far compared to my other clubs. According to the data I’m tracking, I’m averaging 272-278 yards with my driver. Based on how far I hit my irons, Sam thinks I have the potential for more distance so he wants me to make some further adjustments in my setup that could unlock some extra yardage. We’ll see. I’m happy to tinker and experiment. That’s what this project is about. But, for now, I’m going to bask in the new love I have for my driver and it has for me.</p>



<p><em>Dig deeper into one golfer’s struggle to get better at golf in middle age and read last week’s Scratch By 50 about Graham’s more focused <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/scratch-by-50-i-was-practicing-all-wrong/">approach to practicing</a>. </em></p>



<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/scratch-by-50-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-driver/">Scratch By 50: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Driver</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
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		<title>Golf Style Isn’t Guesswork: How To Pair Colors The Right Way</title>
		<link>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/golf-style-isnt-guesswork-how-to-pair-colors-the-right-way/</link>
					<comments>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/golf-style-isnt-guesswork-how-to-pair-colors-the-right-way/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Isaiah McGahee]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:01:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mygolfspy.com/?p=298940</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>One of the questions I get asked most often is simple: How do you actually pair your golf shirts and bottoms? The first time someone asked me that, I was a bit taken aback. I assumed it was something that came naturally. Over time, though, I’ve realized that it’s not nearly as straightforward as it [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/golf-style-isnt-guesswork-how-to-pair-colors-the-right-way/">Golf Style Isn’t Guesswork: How To Pair Colors The Right Way</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>One of the questions I get asked most often is simple: How do you actually pair your golf shirts and bottoms? The first time someone asked me that, I was a bit taken aback. I assumed it was something that came naturally. Over time, though, I’ve realized that it’s not nearly as straightforward as it seems.</p>



<p>Oscar Wilde once said, “One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.” Putting together a golf outfit isn’t nearly that serious but there is an element of truth to it. Done right, you&#8217;ll look like a million bucks. Done wrong, well, it shows.</p>



<p>So, here’s how to get it right.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-neutral-bottoms-are-almost-always-the-move-but">1. Neutral Bottoms Are Almost Always The Move But&#8230;</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T194937.294.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-298959" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T194937.294.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T194937.294-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T194937.294-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T194937.294-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T194937.294-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>If having a versatile wardrobe is your top priority, your best bet is to stick with khaki, off-white, grey and navy bottoms. Period. All of those options go with just about any polo and give you an almost unlimited number of combinations to keep things looking fresh.</p>



<p>That said, if you’re a little more style-forward or just like wearing color, it’s important to make sure everything actually works together. This is where most tend to go astray.</p>



<p>Take this pairing, for example. At first glance, light-blue shorts don’t feel like the natural option. But they work because the blue is already in <a href="https://www.pntrs.com/t/TUJGRU1GTkJHR0tHTEdCRkhMRkpN?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.johnnie-o.com%2Fproducts%2Fstetsons-jmpo101630-sp25">the shirt</a>. The shorts aren’t introducing a new color; they’re pulling one out and letting it stand on its own. That’s extremely important.</p>



<p>If you’re going to wear color on the bottom, you have two options: mute everything else or make sure your top complements it in a way that feels intentional. In this case, the shirt does the work for you. The pink adds personality, the blue keeps everything grounded, and the whole thing comes together naturally.</p>



<p>The goal isn’t to match, per se, but to look cohesive.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-pictured-above">Pictured Above</h3>



<div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button" href="https://www.pntrs.com/t/TUJGRU1GTkJHR0tHTEdCRkhMRkpN?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.johnnie-o.com%2Fproducts%2Fstetsons-jmpo101630-sp25">Johnnie-O Stetson Stripe Polo (Azalea)</a></div>



<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button">Johnnie-O Fusion Knit Shorts (Dawn)</a></div>
</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-classic-simple-polos-are-your-best-friend">2. Classic, Simple Polos Are Your Best Friend</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T201304.323.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-298960" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T201304.323.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T201304.323-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T201304.323-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T201304.323-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T201304.323-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>Somewhere along the way, the solid polo has become a bit neglected on the golf course. We all have them but, more often than not, we reach for stripes or prints instead. That’s a big mistake.</p>



<p>The solid polo has a quiet power to it and when it comes to getting dressed, it makes your life a lot easier. With a plain shirt, you’re simplifying the outfit. You’re not competing with patterns or trying to balance multiple elements; you’re just working with color.</p>



<p>That gives you far more flexibility on the bottom.</p>



<p>If color theory isn’t your thing, this is where you start. A solid polo lets you be a little more adventurous with your shorts or pants without the whole outfit falling apart. It creates a clean foundation and keeps everything balanced. Not everything needs to stand out. In most cases, it’s better if it doesn’t.</p>



<p>If you&#8217;re wondering what color pants or shorts I&#8217;d pair with the above-pictured <a href="https://harlestons.com/products/the-isle">Isle Aqua polo from Harlestons</a>, I&#8217;d go with <a href="https://goto.quince.com/c/35585/1835359/21926?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quince.com%2Fmen%2Fperformance-lounge-trouser%3Fcolor%3Ddeep-navy%26gender%3Dmen%26tracker%3Dcollection_page__%252Fmen%252Fpants__subcollections-Athletic%2BTapered__All%2BProducts__11">navy</a>. That said, it would look just as good with <a href="https://goto.quince.com/c/35585/1835359/21926?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quince.com%2Fmen%2Fperformance-lounge-trouser%3Fcolor%3Dkhaki%26gender%3Dmen%26tracker%3Dcollection_page__%252Fmen%252Fpants__subcollections-Athletic%2BTapered__All%2BProducts__11">khaki</a> or <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=247875X1731466&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fholdernessandbourne.com%2Fproducts%2Fthe-mcdaniel-5-pocket-pant-stone">off-white</a>. If the Isle polo has piqued your interest, MyGolfSpy readers get 15 percent off at <a href="https://harlestons.com/">Harlestons</a> with code <strong>MYHARLESTONS15</strong>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-when-layering-you-can-think-outside-the-box">3. When Layering, You Can Think Outside The Box</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T204421.680.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-298961" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T204421.680.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T204421.680-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T204421.680-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T204421.680-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T204421.680-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>Admittedly, this is where things can get a little tricky and success comes with practice.</p>



<p>Once you move into layering, you’re no longer just pairing two pieces, you’re balancing three. That’s where most people get a bit lost or play it too safe. Take this combination. On paper, <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=247875X1731466&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fholdernessandbourne.com%2Fproducts%2Fthe-buckley-sweater-heathered-lavender">lavender</a> and a <a href="https://www.pjtra.com/t/TUJGRU1GTkJHR0tHTEdCRkhMRkpN?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.johnnie-o.com%2Fproducts%2Fjmpo102050_stevie_25fa">green-leaning aqua</a> don’t sound like they belong together. But they work and they work really well.</p>



<p>The reason is simple: they live in the same tonal family. Both colors are soft, slightly muted and easy on the eyes. Nothing is overly saturated so nothing is fighting for attention. The <a href="https://collabs.shop/qmqhhu">Onward Reserve navy pants</a> anchor everything and the result is cohesive, elegant and classic.</p>



<p>This is where you have room for a lot of creativity. You don’t need to match colors, you just need them to feel like they belong in the same environment. I tend to think of it like a landscape. This combination feels like spring on the Scottish moors or along the English heathland—subtle, natural and just a little bit unexpected.</p>



<p>If you&#8217;re still feeling confused, here&#8217;s a <strong>step-by-step checklist</strong> to help get it right.</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Start with tone, not color.</li>



<li>Before you even worry about whether something is purple, green or blue, ask yourself: is it soft or loud? Muted or bright? If everything you’re wearing falls into the same general tone—soft and muted like this—you’re already most of the way there. From there, you can mix colors more freely than you think.</li>



<li>Look for overlap. Even if two pieces don’t match, there’s usually a subtle connection between them. In this case, the aqua polo has just enough blue in it to bridge the gap between the lavender and the navy. It’s not obvious but it’s there and that’s what makes it work.</li>



<li>You need something to anchor the outfit. That’s where the navy pants come in. When you’re experimenting up top, your bottoms should almost always be neutral. It keeps everything stable and prevents things from getting away from you.</li>
</ol>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-pictured-above-0">Pictured Above</h3>



<div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button" href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=247875X1731466&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fholdernessandbourne.com%2Fproducts%2Fthe-buckley-sweater-heathered-lavender">Holderness &amp; Bourne Buckley Crewneck Sweater (Lavender)</a></div>



<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button" href="https://www.pjtra.com/t/TUJGRU1GTkJHR0tHTEdCRkhMRkpN?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.johnnie-o.com%2Fproducts%2Fjmpo102050_stevie_25fa">Johnnie-O Stevie Performance Mesh Polo (Sardinia)</a></div>



<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button" href="https://collabs.shop/qmqhhu">Onward Reserve Harris Pant (Ombre Blue)</a></div>
</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-accessories-amp-shoes-should-be-mostly-muted">4. Accessories &amp; Shoes Should Be (Mostly) Muted</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T210812.105.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-298962" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T210812.105.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T210812.105-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T210812.105-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T210812.105-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T210812.105-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>Believe it or not, your accessories and shoes do impact how your tops and bottoms look. Part of what inspired me to write this was Matthew Fitzpatrick’s rather regrettable ensemble during Saturday’s round at the RBC Heritage. He wore a purple polo with dark grey trousers (mostly fine) but decided to pair it with white, yellow and green <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fblade-tour-slip-ins---nature-of-the-game--mens-spiked-golf-shoes%2F2000000060090.html">Skechers Blade Tours</a>. His shoe choice sank an otherwise acceptable outfit.</p>



<p>If you’ve learned anything from me by now, it’s that a good golfing wardrobe (mostly) thrives on simplicity. Belts are one of the easiest places to get this wrong. A simple brown or tan woven leather belt will work with just about any combination of shirts and pants. Once again, I really like the <a href="https://goto.quince.com/c/35585/1835359/21926?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quince.com%2Fmen%2Fjack-italian-leather-woven-belt">Jack Woven Belt from Quince</a>.</p>



<p>Apropos of Fitzpatrick’s footwear gaffe, don’t make the same mistake. That doesn’t mean you need to completely avoid color. In fact, it’s the opposite. Adding a pop of color can work if it’s controlled. As we discussed with layering, that color needs to be muted and soft. The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpremiere-series---field-spiked-mens-golf-shoes%2F2000000034659.html">FootJoy Field</a>, specifically in the <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpremiere-series---field-spiked-mens-golf-shoes%2F2000000034659.html">aqua colorway</a>, is one of my favorite shoes at the moment. The pastel aqua detailing is subtle but creates just enough contrast and will work with almost any outfit.</p>



<p>Lastly, your glove is where you can have a bit more fun, but it still needs to make sense. Choose something that works with the rest of your outfit. Long story short: don’t wear a kelly-green glove with a red-and-blue striped shirt. Right now, I’m gaming and loving the <a href="https://clinchgolf.sjv.io/c/35585/1688984/19612?u=https%3A%2F%2Fclinchgolf.com%2Fproducts%2Fseamus-x-clinch-golf-black-and-white-houndstooth-glove">Seamus x Clinch Golf Black and Off-White Houndstooth Glove</a>. Again, you’re working within muted tones and a classic pattern that goes with just about anything.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center" id="h-pictured-above-1">Pictured Above</h3>



<div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button" href="https://goto.quince.com/c/35585/1835359/21926?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quince.com%2Fmen%2Fjack-italian-leather-woven-belt">Quince Jack Woven Leather Belt</a></div>



<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button" href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpremiere-series---field-spiked-mens-golf-shoes%2F2000000034659.html">FootJoy Premiere Series &#8211; Field Spiked Men&#8217;s Golf Shoes</a></div>



<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button" href="https://clinchgolf.sjv.io/c/35585/1688984/19612?u=https%3A%2F%2Fclinchgolf.com%2Fproducts%2Fseamus-x-clinch-golf-black-and-white-houndstooth-glove">Seamus x Clinch Golf Black and Off-White Houndstooth Glove</a></div>
</div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-closing-thoughts">Closing Thoughts</h2>



<p>Pairing your tops and bottoms doesn’t need to feel daunting. In most cases, it’s actually pretty simple if you understand what you’re looking for. Start with neutral foundations. Keep things simple up top. When you decide to push it a bit, remember to keep your bottoms muted. If something feels off, it probably is. And if you’re ever unsure, go back to the basics: khaki, off-white and navy. You can build just about anything from there.</p>



<p>Also, I&#8217;m just an email away. If you ever want or need golf styling tips or advice, feel free to send me an email. I&#8217;m always happy to help out.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/golf-style-isnt-guesswork-how-to-pair-colors-the-right-way/">Golf Style Isn’t Guesswork: How To Pair Colors The Right Way</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
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					<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		
		
		<media:group><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T204421.680-600x420.jpg" medium="image" isDefault="true" /><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T204421.680-150x150.jpg" medium="image" /></media:group><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T204421.680-600x420.jpg" /><media:thumbnail url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-MyGolfSpy-Image-Size-2026-04-22T204421.680-150x150.jpg" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>What Cameron Young Does From The Worst Lies (That Most Golfers Get Wrong)</title>
		<link>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/instruction/what-cameron-young-does-from-the-worst-lies-that-most-golfers-get-wrong/</link>
					<comments>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/instruction/what-cameron-young-does-from-the-worst-lies-that-most-golfers-get-wrong/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Brittany Olizarowicz]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Instruction]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mygolfspy.com/?p=298852</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>I love asking golfers what they are thinking before they hit a shot. As a former professional golfer, I still find it interesting how fast the mindset can shift. A player gets a tough lie and instead of thinking, &#8220;Just get this on the green&#8221;, the thought turns into, &#8220;Maybe I can hole this or [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/instruction/what-cameron-young-does-from-the-worst-lies-that-most-golfers-get-wrong/">What Cameron Young Does From The Worst Lies (That Most Golfers Get Wrong)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>I love asking golfers what they are thinking before they hit a shot.</p>



<p>As a former professional golfer, I still find it interesting how fast the mindset can shift. A player gets a tough lie and instead of thinking, &#8220;Just get this on the green&#8221;, the thought turns into, &#8220;Maybe I can hole this or pull off something special.&#8221;</p>



<p>That is what stood out to me watching Cameron Young talk through difficult lies in a recent Titleist video. He is one of the best players in the world and even he is quick to accept when a lie has taken certain shots off the table. He is not trying to force something heroic. He is solving the problem in front of him.</p>



<p>That is the part most golfers get wrong.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe title="How Cameron Young Approaches Difficult Wedge Shots (w/ Me and My Golf)" width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AscfzInICGE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-he-accepts-the-lie-before-he-tries-to-fix-it">1. He accepts the lie before he tries to fix it</h2>



<p>Young does not walk into these shots acting like every bad lie still allows for a perfect result. He is quick to admit when he has made a mistake, when the shot is difficult and when the best realistic outcome is simply leaving himself a makeable putt. </p>



<p>That sounds simple but most golfers get this wrong. They see a short-sided lie or a brutal downslope and still think in terms of getting it close (or in). </p>



<p>Sometimes, the smartest thing you can do is admit the lie has already taken options away from you.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-his-first-priority-is-strike-not-the-perfect-looking-shot">2. His first priority is <em>strike</em>, not the perfect-looking shot</h2>



<p>A lot of amateurs get obsessed with what the shot should look like. Visualization is important but in situations where the lie is less than ideal, you need to prioritize contact.</p>



<p>From the downslope, from the divot and even from the nastier rough, Young&#8217;s focus is on producing the cleanest strike the lie will allow.</p>



<p>Bad lies are not the time to chase style points. They are the time to make sure the club gets to the ball the right way. If the contact is poor, none of the rest matters.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-he-plays-for-the-next-best-miss-not-the-flag">3. He plays for the next-best miss, not the flag</h2>



<p>Young is also thinking about what happens if he does not pull off the shot. On one bunker shot, he talks through why being a little long is fine because there is a backstop while leaving it short brings another bunker shot into play.</p>



<p>On the tricky downslope early in the video, the first goal is simply getting the ball over the bunker and onto the green.</p>



<p>Most golfers see just the hole. Young seems to see the trouble first. He wants to remove the miss that leads to a double bogey. If more amateur golfers thought that way, they would save a lot of shots without changing anything about their swing.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/03/VokeyWW60V.jpg" alt="Vokey WedgeWorks V Grind" class="wp-image-297307" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/03/VokeyWW60V.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/03/VokeyWW60V-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/03/VokeyWW60V-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/03/VokeyWW60V-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/03/VokeyWW60V-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-he-trusts-one-familiar-club-instead-of-trying-to-invent-every-shot">4. He trusts one familiar club instead of trying to invent every shot</h2>



<p>From the divot lie, Young mentions that he would still reach for the wedge he practices with the most because that is the club he trusts for strike quality. He even says amateur golfers do not need to know every short-game shot. If you can consistently strike one club and understand what it will do, you can make a lot of situations manageable.</p>



<p>That is a much more helpful message than the usual short-game advice that makes golfers feel like they need six different shots from 40 yards and in. Most players would score better if they got very good with one club and one stock motion instead of trying to become creative from every lie.</p>



<p>When you have one shot down, go ahead and expand your skill set.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-sometimes-the-right-shot-is-ugly-on-purpose">5. Sometimes the right shot is ugly on purpose</h2>



<p>This was my favorite takeaway from the video. </p>



<p>On one especially bad lie, Young more or less describes the shot as a controlled mess. He talks about trying to chunk it a little, using speed, opening the face and relying on the bounce to get the club through the ground. He even calls it a calculated poor shot and later refers to it as a purpose chunk.</p>



<p>That is such a useful reminder for everyday golfers. Better players are not always pulling off miracle shots from impossible lies. Sometimes, they are just better at choosing the least damaging option. The shot may not look pretty but if it gets the ball back in play and gives you a chance to save par or make a stress-free bogey, it did its job.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-final-thought">Final thought</h2>



<p>The mindset <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/the-unusual-putting-strategy-cameron-young-used-to-win-the-players/" type="post" id="296760">Cameron Young</a> uses is something we all can copy. You may never reach his skill level but if you can start to think more like him, it&#8217;s bound to have a positive effect on your short game.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/instruction/what-cameron-young-does-from-the-worst-lies-that-most-golfers-get-wrong/">What Cameron Young Does From The Worst Lies (That Most Golfers Get Wrong)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
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		<title>Left Dash: The Decade-Long Story Of Titleist’s Other Pro V1x</title>
		<link>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/left-dash-the-decade-long-story-of-titleists-other-pro-v1x/</link>
					<comments>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/left-dash-the-decade-long-story-of-titleists-other-pro-v1x/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tony Covey]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:06:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mygolfspy.com/?p=298626</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>How a niche tour-only prototype became the most interesting and, arguably, most influential golf ball of the last decade, the near-miss that almost derailed it, and where it goes from here. I was a Left Dash guy before almost anybody outside of Titleist’s ball team knew it existed. Somewhere around 2018, I found myself in [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/left-dash-the-decade-long-story-of-titleists-other-pro-v1x/">Left Dash: The Decade-Long Story Of Titleist’s Other Pro V1x</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><em>How a niche tour-only prototype became the most interesting and, arguably, most influential golf ball of the last decade, the near-miss that almost derailed it, and where it goes from here.</em></p>



<p>I was a <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a> guy before almost anybody outside of Titleist’s ball team knew it existed.</p>



<p>Somewhere around 2018, I found myself in a Titleist ball fitting, rolling through the usual menu of <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpro-v1-2025-standard-play-golf-balls%2F2000000050258.html">Pro V1</a>, <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpro-v1x-2025-standard-play-golf-balls%2F2000000050261.html">Pro V1x</a> and <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Favx-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058253.html">AVX</a>. I was struggling to find anything close to optimized when, after some whispering between the fitter and the VP of Marketing at the time, I was tossed a ball that wasn’t part of the original consideration set. It was what Titleist calls a CPO (Custom Performance Option) built for tour players with high speed and too much spin. Even if you happened to know it existed, you couldn’t buy it and I think it’s fair to assume it wasn’t designed with me in mind.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2022/10/LeftDashandDot-100.png" alt="Pro V1x Left Dash and Pro V1 Left Dot are two of Titleist's better-known CPO offerings." class="wp-image-229313" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2022/10/LeftDashandDot-100.png 1200w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2022/10/LeftDashandDot-100-300x200.png 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2022/10/LeftDashandDot-100-600x400.png 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2022/10/LeftDashandDot-100-768x512.png 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2022/10/LeftDashandDot-100-820x547.png 820w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Left Dash and Left Dot are perhaps Titleist&#8217;s best-known CPO offerings.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Not knowing anything about the ball, my first impression was that it was noticeably longer. I’ve always been a higher-spin player off the driver. That’s the result of a neutral to negative attack angle and often low-face contact. For me, the mystery ball performed better across the board. And given the love of distance common to most of the golfing population, for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why it wasn’t available.</p>



<p>Frankly, a distance-centric ball with tour-level construction struck me as the most obvious golf product ever.</p>



<p>That ball was <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Pro V1x Left Dash</a>. And from the time it finally went retail in 2019 to the updated version that launched this past January, the story behind it is one of the more interesting equipment stories nobody’s really told.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-it-started">Where it started</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-121746" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1.jpg 1200w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1-200x133.jpg 200w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1-36x24.jpg 36w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1-72x48.jpg 72w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1-320x213.jpg 320w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1-140x93.jpg 140w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2019/08/ProV1x_Left_Dash-1-100x67.jpg 100w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>The origins of Left Dash go back further than most people realize, to 2013 and 2014 when Fordie Pitts (Titleist’s Director of Tour Research and Validation) and his team started documenting an emerging trend: a wave of players, particularly on the Korn Ferry Tour and at the collegiate level, generating high speed but also high spin. These weren’t guys looking to maximize spin for control. They already had that. Instead, they wanted to reduce it or at least harness it and create more distance in the process.</p>



<p>The prototyping started there. By 2017, <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a> had found its way onto tour as a CPO, a ball designed for a narrow slice of players who wanted the absolute fastest, longest ball Titleist could build and were willing to accept trade-offs to get it. Firmer feel. Less spin around the greens. In terms of all-around performance, Left Dash is not for the masses. It’s not trying to be.</p>



<p>In any given week, two to four players might have it in play. More on the Korn Ferry Tour than the PGA Tour, largely because KFT venues tended to feature softer conditions where the spin reduction was more valuable. The PGA Tour, with its firmer, faster greens, still rewarded stopping power.</p>



<p>That KFT detail, by the way, is worth filing away. In a world where governing bodies seem increasingly interested in dictating how far a golf ball should fly, the players and conditions that gave birth to <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a> are the same ones most directly impacted by those conversations.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-tour-secret-to-retail-product">From tour secret to retail product</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2020/11/Titleist-ProV1x-Left-Dash-sitweide.jpg" alt="Titleist ProV1x Left Dash" class="wp-image-162221" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2020/11/Titleist-ProV1x-Left-Dash-sitweide.jpg 1200w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2020/11/Titleist-ProV1x-Left-Dash-sitweide-300x200.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2020/11/Titleist-ProV1x-Left-Dash-sitweide-600x400.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2020/11/Titleist-ProV1x-Left-Dash-sitweide-768x512.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2020/11/Titleist-ProV1x-Left-Dash-sitweide-820x547.jpg 820w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Left Dash remains one of the higest-rated balls in the MyGolfSpy Ball Lab.</figcaption></figure>



<p>The decision to bring <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a> to retail was, by Titleist standards, a bit unusual. CPOs are the R&amp;D sandbox: proving grounds for new construction dimensions, materials and aerodynamics that might eventually filter into <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpro-v1-2025-standard-play-golf-balls%2F2000000050258.html">Pro V1</a> or <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpro-v1x-2025-standard-play-golf-balls%2F2000000050261.html">Pro V1x</a>. The high-flex modulus casing layer, for example, debuted on Left Dash before becoming a staple of the retail lineup. That’s the normal CPO contribution: test small, scale what works. Standalone CPOs becoming permanent retail products is uncommon although not without precedent. Pro V1x its started life as a CPO before becoming a pillar of the lineup and, as it happens, the golf ball that rises to the top most often in Titleist’s consumer fittings.</p>



<p>And then came <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a>. As we covered in the January launch piece, consumer fittings kept pointing in the same direction: roughly 10 percent of golfers fitted by Titleist landed in Left Dash. Not huge numbers but consistent and persistent enough that Titleist determined that wider availability made sense.</p>



<p>The initial rollout was deliberately quiet. No splashy launch. Titleist introduced it through fittings and then gradually expanded access as demand built. For a company that moves at its own pace on everything—including, apparently, acknowledging that golfers like hitting the ball farther—it was about as aggressive as Titleist gets.</p>



<p>I’d argue Left Dash was the first truly distance-centric tour ball to hit the market since the NIKE RZN Black. And unlike that ball, this one stuck around. However, it’s probably true that the majority of golfers still don’t know it exists.</p>



<p>A quick aside: I was playing a round last year and struck up a conversation with a playing partner about <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a>. He’d never heard of it. Intrigued, sure, but happy with the ball he was playing. <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpro-v1x-2025-standard-play-golf-balls%2F2000000050261.html">Pro V1x</a>, he said. When I glanced at the balls snapped into the console of his push cart, every single one was a Left Dash. Turns out he hadn’t looked closely enough at the box. He had never heard of Left Dash but was playing it. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where Left Dash awareness sits for the average golfer.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-red-16-was-so-close">The Red 16 was so close</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-9.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-292750" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-9.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-9-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-9-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-9-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-9-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>After years of <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a> doing its thing largely unchanged, Titleist decided it was time for an update. New technologies had emerged in the 2021 <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpro-v1-2025-standard-play-golf-balls%2F2000000050258.html">Pro V1</a> and <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpro-v1x-2025-standard-play-golf-balls%2F2000000050261.html">Pro V1x</a> cycle. Aerodynamic improvements were available. And then there was the persistent feedback from tour players: the ball is too firm and we’d like more greenside spin.</p>



<p>So the team went to work. Dozens of iterations through machine learning. A handful of physical prototypes built for robot and player testing. New cover materials, new aero patterns, new core constructions. Eventually, the process converged on a prototype Titleist internally called “Red 16.”</p>



<p>Red 16 addressed both criticisms head-on. Softer feel. More greenside spin. On the robot, it accomplished every goal. By any reasonable measure, I’m told it was a really good golf ball.</p>



<p>It made it deep into the pipeline. Past the point where most companies would have just shipped it. From what I’ve gathered, those Red 16 balls came dangerously close to production-ready. Titleist thought they had a new Left Dash for the first time in six years. 2024. Energy was high.</p>



<p>Then Dash players on staff took a closer look and what they found effectively doomed Red 16.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_box.jpg" alt="2026 Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash golf ball (white box packaging)" class="wp-image-287415" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_box.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_box-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_box-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_box-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_box-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>The irons spun too much. It didn’t flight into the wind the way Dash is supposed to. It climbed and stalled in ways the original Dash didn’t. The things that had been “improved” were the exact things that made <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a> what it was. By fixing the weaknesses, Titleist had inadvertently erased its identity.</p>



<p>Tour players’ feedback was direct: it’s not Dash anymore. Given the choice, they’d play the old one.</p>



<p>There’s something almost philosophical about that. The very things people criticized about <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a>—the firmness, the lack of greenside spin—turned out to be inseparable from what made it valuable. You couldn’t soften one without diluting the other. The imperfections, if you want to call them that, were the product.</p>



<p>Titleist walked away from it. Scrapped a marketable, finished golf ball because the players it was built for said it wasn’t theirs anymore. Most companies would have shipped it and kept the original around for the tour staff. Titleist started over.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-dashier-dash">A dashier Dash</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-103.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-292742" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-103.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-103-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-103-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-103-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-103-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>The reset question was deceptively simple: Instead of trying to fix what people don’t love about Dash, what if we just doubled down on what they do?</p>



<p>“We are no longer trying to fix the weaknesses,” said Mike Madson, Senior Vice President, Golf Ball R&amp;D. “We are strengthening strengths.”</p>



<p>That became the design brief for the ball that launched this January. Faster. Longer. More of what made Dash, Dash.</p>



<p>The technical details are worth understanding, particularly because they speak to a broader reality about how golf balls gain distance within the rules. The USGA’s current Overall Distance Standard tests balls under a single set of conditions: 120-mph clubhead speed, 10-degree launch angle, 2520 rpm of spin. The limit is 317 yards (with a three-yard tolerance). But distance isn’t exclusively a product of speed. Flight and spin are critical components and when you optimize for conditions outside that narrowly defined test window, there’s room to find yards without bumping up against the limit.</p>



<p><a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a> lives in that space.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-101.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-292740" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-101.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-101-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-101-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-101-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_left_dash-101-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>The construction details aren’t entirely unfamiliar. Titleist reformulated the dual core for more ball speed. They thickened the casing layer which is all but invariably the firmest, fastest material in the construction. To offset the thicker casing layer, they thinned the urethane cover, the slowest material in the golf ball. Simplified, the tweaked design gives you more of what gives you speed. Less of what robs it. A new 348-tetrahedral dimple pattern nudges flight slightly lower while tightening dispersion.</p>



<p>A good bit of the speed story also comes down to manufacturing tolerances. As production consistency improves, you can set targets closer to conformance limits without risk of exceeding them. It’s a theme that repeats across the equipment industry and across categories: tighter tolerances create room for more performance, even when the rules haven’t changed.</p>



<p>I was fitted into the <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpro-v1-2025-standard-play-golf-balls%2F2000000050258.html">2025 Pro V1</a> when that ball launched and, while it performed well, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the little bit of extra distance I got from <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a> off the tee. When I had a chance to test the new Dash at Titleist’s Manchester Lane facility in Massachusetts, we found that Dash was the better option.</p>



<p>I’m back, baby!</p>



<p>Honestly, the numbers were close. A push by most measures. What tipped it for me was the flatter flight I saw on partial wedge shots. That’s the nuance of ball fitting: sometimes the deciding factor isn’t what shows up in the averages or at least not where most golfers look.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-dash-built">What Dash built</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-292744" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-2.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-2-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-2-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-2-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-2-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>When <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a> first hit the market, there was nothing else like it in the tour ball space. A premium urethane ball that explicitly prioritized distance over short-game spin was, at the time, a genuinely novel concept.</p>



<p>It isn’t anymore.</p>



<p>Callaway’s Chrome Tour Triple Diamond, Ben Griffin’s Maxfli Tour LS and others have moved into the territory Left Dash carved out. Competitors have pushed compression and speed specifically to compete in a segment that didn’t exist before Dash defined it. Whether you credit Titleist for creating the category or just for being first to acknowledge what many golfers are looking for, the landscape looks fundamentally different than it did in 2017.</p>



<p>As for what comes next, the honest answer is that nobody knows. <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Left Dash</a> doesn’t operate on a predictable two-year cycle. Titleist has said it will be updated when players demand more or new technology reveals the opportunity. With the USGA’s revised testing conditions set to take effect in 2030 (higher clubhead speed, lower spin in the test protocol), the regulatory environment for a ball that lives at the edge of the performance curve is, let’s say, fluid.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_iron.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-287414" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_iron.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_iron-300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_iron-600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_iron-768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/09/new_left_dash_iron-1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>For now, the <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">new Pro V1x Left Dash</a> does what it set out to do: give the small percentage of golfers who live at that edge more of what they already value without drifting toward the middle ground that <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpro-v1-2025-standard-play-golf-balls%2F2000000050258.html">Pro V1 </a>and <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fpro-v1x-2025-standard-play-golf-balls%2F2000000050261.html">Pro V1x</a> serve so well.</p>



<p>It took Titleist the better part of a decade to get here. They almost got it wrong along the way. And the ball they ultimately made is, in the most literal sense, more of the same which, as it turns out, is exactly what Dash needed to be.</p>



<div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button" href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fprov1x-left-dash-2026-golf-balls%2F2000000058163.html">Buy 2026 Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash Golf Balls Now</a></div>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/left-dash-the-decade-long-story-of-titleists-other-pro-v1x/">Left Dash: The Decade-Long Story Of Titleist’s Other Pro V1x</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>17</slash:comments>
		
		
		<media:group><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-1-600x420.jpg" medium="image" isDefault="true" /><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-1-150x150.jpg" medium="image" /></media:group><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-1-600x420.jpg" /><media:thumbnail url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2025/12/titleist_prov1x_leftdash_2026-1-150x150.jpg" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>RIP To The PGA Tour’s Hawaiian Swing</title>
		<link>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/rip-to-the-tours-hawaiian-swing/</link>
					<comments>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/rip-to-the-tours-hawaiian-swing/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sean Fairholm]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:05:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Tour]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pro golf]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mygolfspy.com/?p=298830</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>You will be missed. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/rip-to-the-tours-hawaiian-swing/">RIP To The PGA Tour’s Hawaiian Swing</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>The PGA Tour confirmed this week that the Sentry Tournament of Champions and Sony Open would not be a part of the schedule moving forward.</p>



<p>I have conflicting thoughts about the Tour officially eliminating its two Hawaiian Swing events that have traditionally kicked off the Tour&#8217;s calendar year.</p>



<p><strong>On one hand, the move is understandable and justified. </strong></p>



<p>The Tour&#8217;s schedule has been bloated for ages, and this is <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/6-things-we-learned-about-the-pga-tours-proposed-schedule-changes/">a move toward the scarcity that new CEO Brian Rolapp recently espoused in his state of the union press conference last month</a>. </p>



<p>PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has publicly campaigned for not only a more cohesive schedule but a more energized start to the season. Instead of seeing sleepy Hawaii in January, we&#8217;re probably going to see the Tour start the year at Torrey Pines, the WM Phoenix Open or another event that has more buzz.</p>



<p>It&#8217;s been a forgone conclusion that these events were not going to survive the Tour&#8217;s newly constructed, more limited schedule. The Tour wanted to start later and cutting two smaller early-January events in a remote location was probably one of their easier decisions.</p>



<p>I tend to agree with this assessment. There is way too much Tour golf that means almost nothing to casual fans and that&#8217;s ultimately not helpful for your overall product. You want to rally the golf world—and the sports world—around the events you do have. Ratings and in-person attendance for the Hawaiian events have always been limited.</p>



<p>Some tournaments have to be cut or reimagined. The Hawaii events got clipped (although the Sony Open might be reimagined as a PGA Tour Champions event, a small consolation).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-having-said-that-i-will-deeply-miss-these-tournaments">Having said that, I will deeply miss these tournaments</h2>



<p>Put all Tour scheduling preferences aside for a moment. </p>



<p><strong>I am very sad these Hawaiian events are going away. </strong></p>



<p>There was something therapeutic and grounding about watching the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua. While many of us were stuck in frigid winter temperatures, the allure of watching golfers in paradise was strong for those golf-obsessed sickos among us. </p>



<p>Was Kapalua hard for the pros? Not particularly. It&#8217;s a resort course where the winner shoots something silly like 30-under.</p>



<p><strong>Was Kapalua interesting for the pros? Absolutely. </strong></p>



<p>Beyond the gorgeous and calming images of humpback whales splashing off the Maui coast, Kapalua offered uneven lies, interesting shots and fun elements brought on by the ever-present winds. It had an identity which is more than you can say for some other Tour events that are still in existence.</p>



<p><strong>It was easily a top-10 golf watch on the year for me each season. </strong></p>



<p>As for the Sony Open, I will lament the loss of Waialae, a classic Seth Raynor design that frustrated and challenged players despite being fairly short without many obvious hazards.</p>



<p>The defense of the course is interesting angles and tricky green complexes, much better than thick rough. Waialae always felt old-school and timeless, like a tournament stuck in 1995. I mean that in the best way possible.</p>



<p>And for both of these tournaments, getting to watch late into the night on the east coast was phenomenal viewing. Dark and dreary winter nights were lit up by sunny views on our TV screens. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-this-is-a-massive-bummer-but-a-necessary-move">This is a massive bummer but a necessary move</h2>



<p>I really wish we could have kept these two events on the calendar. I feel terrible for Mark Rolfing and everyone in Hawaii who has poured so much heart into these tournaments for decades.</p>



<p>But if you were starting the Tour schedule over from scratch with no previous context of past schedules, you wouldn&#8217;t say, &#8220;Hey, we should get everyone&#8217;s juices flowing with two events in Hawaii.&#8221; You would go to a place with crowd support. A place that feels big. </p>



<p>The season starting should be an event for golf fans. It should feel elevated. </p>



<p><strong>Baseball rallies around opening day. Why can&#8217;t golf?</strong></p>



<p>The answer in the past is that there are way too many tournaments. Golf is always on and there is no off-season so it&#8217;s hard to get everyone excited about each event.</p>



<p>The future schedule is showing more restraint. It will be more selective. Fewer events and a more defined window of time where fans should care about pro golf.</p>



<p><a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/liv-is-still-alive-but-not-for-long/">And there is a good chance LIV won&#8217;t exist by 2027</a> so there could be even more oxygen available for golf fans to gather around for the PGA Tour.</p>



<p><strong>In summary, it stinks that the Hawaii events are gone. I will truly miss them. </strong></p>



<p>But, it&#8217;s probably time for the Tour schedule to look and feel much different.</p>



<p>What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments. </p>



<p><em>Top Photo Caption: The 18th hole at Kapalua. (GETTY IMAGES/Ben Jared)</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/rip-to-the-tours-hawaiian-swing/">RIP To The PGA Tour’s Hawaiian Swing</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
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					<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>19</slash:comments>
		
		
		<media:group><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-8.13.01-AM-600x420.jpg" medium="image" isDefault="true" /><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-8.13.01-AM-150x150.jpg" medium="image" /></media:group><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-8.13.01-AM-600x420.jpg" /><media:thumbnail url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-8.13.01-AM-150x150.jpg" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>ALD, FootJoy Team Up For Elegant Spin on Premiere Series Marquis Footwear</title>
		<link>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/ald-footjoy-team-up-for-elegant-spin-on-premiere-series-marquis-footwear/</link>
					<comments>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/ald-footjoy-team-up-for-elegant-spin-on-premiere-series-marquis-footwear/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Connor Lindeman]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:04:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mygolfspy.com/?p=298922</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Just when I thought FootJoy&#8217;s Premiere Series Marquis couldn&#8217;t get any better. Man, oh man. This is one of the shoes that you bring home to meet your mother. Aime Leon Dore (ALD) and FootJoy just rekindled their partnership from last year. And the fruits of their collaborative labors are pretty darn sweet. So sweet, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/ald-footjoy-team-up-for-elegant-spin-on-premiere-series-marquis-footwear/">ALD, FootJoy Team Up For Elegant Spin on Premiere Series Marquis Footwear</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Just when I thought FootJoy&#8217;s Premiere Series Marquis couldn&#8217;t get any better.</p>



<p>Man, oh man. This is one of the shoes that you bring home to meet your mother. </p>



<p>Aime Leon Dore (ALD) and FootJoy just rekindled their partnership from last year. And the fruits of their collaborative labors are pretty darn sweet. </p>



<p>So sweet, in fact, that I may just call it the &#8220;best looking golf shoe of the year&#8221; and end the article right here. </p>



<p>But, for those of you whose interest is piqued, let&#8217;s dive in a bit. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1920" height="2400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/SS26_GOLF_LB-19.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-298923" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/SS26_GOLF_LB-19.jpg 1920w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/SS26_GOLF_LB-19-240x300.jpg 240w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/SS26_GOLF_LB-19-480x600.jpg 480w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/SS26_GOLF_LB-19-768x960.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/SS26_GOLF_LB-19-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/SS26_GOLF_LB-19-1638x2048.jpg 1638w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re reading this, you probably don&#8217;t know much about ALD. I wouldn&#8217;t call (you) the MyGolfSpy audience old, but I also certainly wouldn&#8217;t call them &#8220;trendy&#8221;. ALD is a lifestyle brand based in NYC, and has been quietly putting out fantastic stuff (including great golf stuff) for a while. </p>



<p>As you surmised from the intro, they teamed up with FootJoy last year for an exclusive shoe. <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/first-look/footjoys-heater-continues-with-fj-by-aime-leon-dore/" type="post" id="282143">That pair was sick. </a></p>



<p>But the two pairs of FootJoy Premiere Series Marquis that they cooked up this year? They&#8217;re special. Premium leather. Gator detailing. Minimal branding. </p>



<p><em>Quiet luxury</em>, personified. </p>



<p>They&#8217;re going to go fast. Don&#8217;t sleep on this one. </p>



<div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button" href="https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-2901543-15734820?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.footjoy.com%2Faim%25C3%25A9-leon-dore-footjoy-premiere-series---marquis%2F001ALD.html%3Fdwvar_001ALD_color%3D54578">BUY NOW</a></div>
</div>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/ald-footjoy-team-up-for-elegant-spin-on-premiere-series-marquis-footwear/">ALD, FootJoy Team Up For Elegant Spin on Premiere Series Marquis Footwear</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss></wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		
		
		<media:group><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/FJ_54579_04-600x600.avif" medium="image" isDefault="true" /><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/FJ_54579_04-150x150.avif" medium="image" /></media:group><media:content url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/FJ_54579_04-600x600.avif" /><media:thumbnail url="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/FJ_54579_04-150x150.avif" />	</item>
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		<title>Which COBRA Drivers Work For Mid Swing Speeds—The Data Isn&#8217;t Kind To All Of Them</title>
		<link>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/which-cobra-drivers-work-for-mid-swing-speeds-the-data-isnt-kind-to-all-of-them/</link>
					<comments>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/which-cobra-drivers-work-for-mid-swing-speeds-the-data-isnt-kind-to-all-of-them/#comments</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Brittany Olizarowicz]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:03:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mygolfspy.com/?p=298821</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Most major manufacturers release three or four drivers when they launch a new line and COBRA is no different. But where other brands, such as Callaway, produced a tight cluster of performers with only small nuances between models, the OPTM line tells an entirely different story for mid swing speed players. There are drivers here [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/which-cobra-drivers-work-for-mid-swing-speeds-the-data-isnt-kind-to-all-of-them/">Which COBRA Drivers Work For Mid Swing Speeds—The Data Isn&#8217;t Kind To All Of Them</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Most major manufacturers release three or four drivers when they launch a new line and <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fbrandpage-cobra.html">COBRA</a> is no different. But where other brands, <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/buyers-guide/taylormade-versus-callaway-drivers-2026-whats-the-better-lineup/" type="post" id="297297">such as Callaway</a>, produced a tight cluster of performers with only small nuances between models, the OPTM line tells an entirely different story for mid swing speed players. There are drivers here that could be a strong addition to your bag but at least one you should absolutely avoid. Here&#8217;s what the data says.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="780" height="382" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_scorecard.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-298822" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_scorecard.jpg 780w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_scorecard-300x147.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_scorecard-600x294.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_scorecard-768x376.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-good">The Good</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-optm-ls-better-for-mid-speeds-than-you-might-think">The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-ls-driver%2F2000000058197.html">OPTM LS</a>: Better for mid speeds than you might think</h3>



<p>The &#8220;LS&#8221; designation (low spin) might not sound like the natural home for mid swing speed players. Conventional wisdom says you need more spin to keep the ball in the air, not less. But the data here tells a different story.</p>



<p>At 8.8 overall, the <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-ls-driver%2F2000000058197.html">LS</a> isn&#8217;t just the best COBRA in this test. It&#8217;s competitive with some of the better drivers in the entire mid swing speed field. It delivered the longest total distance of the four models at 253.99 yards, the straightest ball flight at 52.36-percent straight shot rate, and the tightest average miss at 15.63 yards offline.</p>



<p>The bottom line here is don&#8217;t let the low spin label put you off.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="900" height="500" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_ls_card-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-298824" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_ls_card-1.jpg 900w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_ls_card-1-300x167.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_ls_card-1-600x333.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_ls_card-1-768x427.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-button"><a target="_blank" class="wp-block-button__link btn btn-secondary btn btn-secondary wp-element-button" href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-ls-driver%2F2000000058197.html">Buy COBRA OPTM LS Driver Now</a></div>
</div>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-optm-x-fine-but-know-what-you-re-getting">The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-x-driver%2F2000000058199.html">OPTM X</a>: Fine, but know what you&#8217;re getting</h3>



<p>The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-x-driver%2F2000000058199.html">X</a> sits just below the LS at 8.6 overall and the raw numbers are close. It produces nearly the same distance but the smash factor and accuracy metrics tell you the LS has a slight edge in energy transfer and shot shape. The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-x-driver%2F2000000058199.html">X</a> is not a bad driver. But if you&#8217;re choosing between these two, the LS is the cleaner answer for most mid swing speeds.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bad">The Bad</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-optm-max-k-mediocre">The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-max-k-driver%2F2000000058200.html">OPTM Max-K</a>: Mediocre</h3>



<p>An 8.3 overall score might not sound alarming but context matters. At that score, the <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-max-k-driver%2F2000000058200.html">Max-K</a> sits below a long list of competitors that had stronger results. There&#8217;s nothing catastrophically wrong with the <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-max-k-driver%2F2000000058200.html">Max-K</a>. The straight shot percentage, playable percentage and offline numbers are all in a survivable range but there&#8217;s nothing to get excited about, either.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-max-k-driver%2F2000000058200.html">Max-K&#8217;s</a> 46.94-percent straight shot rate is a notable step down from the LS and X. You&#8217;re missing more and the driver isn&#8217;t compensating with meaningful distance gains.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-optm-max-d-the-data-doesn-t-lie">The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-max-d-driver%2F2000000058198.html">OPTM Max-D</a>: The data doesn&#8217;t lie</h3>



<p>The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-max-d-driver%2F2000000058198.html">Max-D</a> is the draw-biased option in the COBRA driver series, aimed squarely at golfers who slice or struggle with a fade.</p>



<p>A 33.85-percent straight shot rate is the lowest accuracy figure in the entire dataset—not just the COBRA lineup. The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-max-d-driver%2F2000000058198.html">Max-D</a> does carry a strong forgiveness score of 9.3 which tells you off-center mishits aren&#8217;t punished as badly as other options.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="1076" height="672" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/download-3.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-298827" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/download-3.jpg 1076w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/download-3-300x187.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/download-3-600x375.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/download-3-768x480.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<p>Strong forgiveness sounds good on paper but it means little when you&#8217;re already missing by 22 yards on average and nearly one in three shots isn&#8217;t even in play.</p>



<p>The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Foptm-max-d-driver%2F2000000058198.html">Max-D</a> is marketed toward the golfer who needs help keeping the ball in play. The irony is that in our testing with mid swing speed players, it produced the worst in-play rate of any driver in the full test.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="900" height="500" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_maxd_card-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-298826" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_maxd_card-2.jpg 900w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_maxd_card-2-300x167.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_maxd_card-2-600x333.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/cobra_maxd_card-2-768x427.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-final-thoughts">Final thoughts</h2>



<p>The <a href="https://pga-tour-superstore.pxf.io/c/35585/1414697/16839?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pgatoursuperstore.com%2Fbrandpage-cobra.html">COBRA OPTM lineup</a> isn&#8217;t a cluster of similarly performing drivers with small trade-offs between them. The LS is the driver to put in your hands. Here are the complete mid swing speed driver test results if you want to explore brands outside of COBRA: <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/buyers-guides/drivers/best-drivers-of-2026-for-mid-swing-speeds/" type="mgs_buyers_guide" id="297798">Best Drivers for Mid Swing Speeds 2026. </a></p>



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<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/which-cobra-drivers-work-for-mid-swing-speeds-the-data-isnt-kind-to-all-of-them/">Which COBRA Drivers Work For Mid Swing Speeds—The Data Isn&#8217;t Kind To All Of Them</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
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		<title>Bryson Says This Is The Biggest Rotation Mistake in Golf. Here’s His Fix</title>
		<link>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/bryson-says-this-is-the-biggest-rotation-mistake-in-golf-heres-his-fix/</link>
					<comments>https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/bryson-says-this-is-the-biggest-rotation-mistake-in-golf-heres-his-fix/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Brittany Olizarowicz]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:02:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://mygolfspy.com/?p=298765</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Love him or despise him, Bryson DeChambeau knows a thing or two about the golf swing. And when he says something that goes against what most golfers have been told for years, it’s usually worth paying attention to. I came across a great breakdown from Chris Ryan Golf that dives into one of DeChambeau&#8217;s key [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/bryson-says-this-is-the-biggest-rotation-mistake-in-golf-heres-his-fix/">Bryson Says This Is The Biggest Rotation Mistake in Golf. Here’s His Fix</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Love him or despise him, Bryson DeChambeau knows a thing or two about the golf swing.</p>



<p>And when he says something that goes against what most golfers have been told for years, it’s usually worth paying attention to.</p>



<p>I came across a great breakdown from Chris Ryan Golf that dives into one of DeChambeau&#8217;s key ideas around rotation through impact and it hits on something a lot of golfers struggle with but don’t always understand.</p>



<p>If you’ve ever felt like you can’t quite square the clubface consistently, this is one of those concepts that can change how you think about the swing.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe title="Bryson’s Move Most Golfers Get Wrong (Fix Your Club Face Fast)" width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V_BNZBXHeoM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-problem-isn-t-rotation-it-s-when-it-happens"><strong>The problem isn’t rotation. It’s when it happens</strong></h2>



<p>Most golfers have been fed the same advice for years. Keep rotating through the ball. Don’t stop your body. Turn hard through impact.</p>



<p>None of that sounds wrong. In fact, a lot of it is rooted in what good players do.</p>



<p>The issue is how that message gets interpreted by golfers who are not professionals. </p>



<p>What ends up happening is that amateurs try to rotate as hard as they can all the way through the strike. The body keeps moving, the hands keep going, and the club never quite catches up. When you look at the clubface during this process, it&#8217;s open. When the face stays open through impact, the shot will start right (for right-handed players) and feel weak.</p>



<p>It’s not a lack of rotation that causes the problem. It’s the timing of it. At some point, the clubface has to square; it can&#8217;t do it on its own.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-bryson-dechambeau-is-doing-instead"><strong>What Bryson DeChambeau is doing instead</strong></h2>



<p><a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/our-top-five-favorite-bryson-dechambeau-youtube-videos/" type="post" id="264514">DeChambeau</a> isn’t trying to spin his body through impact as fast as possible.</p>



<p>He’s applying force earlier in the downswing. There’s rotation, there’s pressure into the ground and speed building. But as the club approaches impact, things begin to slow down.</p>



<p>Not in a way that looks forced or disconnected. Just enough that the handle stops racing forward and starts working slightly up and in. When that happens, the clubhead has a chance to release, pass the hands and square the face.</p>



<p>That’s the piece most golfers miss.</p>



<p>If you just keep rotating the body at full speed without squaring the face, you&#8217;re not going to get that consistent strike the professionals do.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="2000" height="1400" src="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Square-clubface-.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-298769" srcset="https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Square-clubface-.jpg 2000w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Square-clubface--300x210.jpg 300w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Square-clubface--600x420.jpg 600w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Square-clubface--768x538.jpg 768w, https://uploads.mygolfspy.com/uploads/2026/04/Square-clubface--1536x1075.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 375px) 200px, (max-width: 782px) 400px, (max-width: 992px) 600px, 1200px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-most-golfers-struggle-with-this"><strong>Why most golfers struggle with this</strong></h2>



<p>The idea of forcing the squaring of the face can be difficult to comprehend. A lot of players immediately think they need to stop their body or stand up through the shot to let this happen.</p>



<p>That’s not what’s happening here.</p>



<p><a href="https://mygolfspy.com/alternate-golf/7-things-scratch-golfers-do-that-you-should-too/" type="post" id="273100">Good players are still rotating</a>, still using the ground, still moving with intent. The difference is they aren’t trying to force that rotation with their body all the way through impact.</p>



<p>They’ve created enough motion earlier that they can let the club take over late.</p>



<p>That’s why you’ll often see better players look almost effortless through the strike, even though there’s plenty of speed involved.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-better-way-to-start-working-on-it"><strong>A better way to start working on it</strong></h2>



<p>If you want to explore this, the worst thing you can do is jump straight into full swings and try to time it.</p>



<p>This is one of those moves that needs to be felt first.</p>



<p>A better way to approach it is to slow things down and build it piece by piece.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Start with a shorter swing, waist-high to waist-high.</li>



<li>Feel pressure move into your lead side early in the downswing.</li>



<li>Let your hands move down toward the ball without trying to manipulate the face.</li>



<li>As you approach impact, feel like the handle begins to work slightly up and in toward your body.</li>



<li>At the same time, feel like your body is no longer racing forward, just stabilizing enough to let the club pass.</li>
</ul>



<p>The clubhead will feel like it picks up speed on its own and moves past your hands without you trying to force it. It doesn&#8217;t feel or look like a &#8220;flip.&#8221; The strike will feel more solid and the face will start squaring up without a lot of extra effort. I recommend watching the video. It&#8217;s easy to follow and the concept should click when you can see it in action.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-final-thought"><strong>Final thought</strong></h2>



<p>Most golfers try to fix face control by rotating harder or throwing their hands at the ball late. Too much of that through impact can make it harder to square the face, not easier.</p>



<p>If you get the sequence right, the club starts to work with you instead of against you. Give it a try. </p>



<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/bryson-says-this-is-the-biggest-rotation-mistake-in-golf-heres-his-fix/">Bryson Says This Is The Biggest Rotation Mistake in Golf. Here’s His Fix</a> appeared first on <a href="https://mygolfspy.com">MyGolfSpy</a>.</p>
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