The post Undergoing swing change? Here’s 1 effective place to go, says top teacher  appeared first on Golf.

The post Undergoing swing change? Here’s 1 effective place to go, says top teacher  appeared first on Golf.

Three words. 

“Oh, that’s awful.”

And the adjustment may get re-adjusted, or flushed away altogether. Folks can be visual learners, and McDonagh is understanding of that. But the GOLF Top 100 Teacher to Watch also believes if items such as grip, stance and setup are correct, you’re close to success, and errors will come simply because changes take time or mistakes will occur, no matter the player. 

So what’s a player to do, then, should they be stuck on needing to see to believe? Where’s a player to go?

Maybe indoors, McDonagh said. 

Really? To those coping with winter temps and shorter sunlight this time of year, that’s a welcome thought. But the director of instruction at Metedeconk National Golf Club said there are benefits to hitting into a simulator or net, especially for those tweaking their game. 

“Generally what I can see from a day-to-day basis, when we hit a bad golf shot with the correct setup, we’ve already got 80 percent of the way to hitting a good golf shot,” McDonagh said. “So there’s something small that happened in the swing that caused the ball to do what it did. But the human brain and the human body believe that everything is wrong, so we’re going to change this and change that and try and fix it, when I think we need to give ourselves a little bit more patience and understanding. ‘OK, this is where my grip needs to be for the face to be square. This is what I want to feel in the backswing.’ 

“That’s where the benefit of indoor golf can make us excel, without even seeing the ball flight. Creating specific feels, relating that back to your golf coach. Understanding, OK, this is where I want to see the ball, this is where I want to see the club. The grip and the setup are really everything.”

Indoor golf, McDonagh said then, should be looked at positively. 

Instruction

“I think the main benefit of indoor golf, apart from it being pretty social — you can go with some friends and have a bit of fun playing a golf course you’ve never had a chance to ever play or you might never play,” he said. 

“But if you’re going on your own to practice, you can really just forget about where the golf ball is going and just free your body with just how fast can I actually swing. And record it and write it down. ‘OK, Tuesday, the seventh of December, 96 mph.’”

Interested in more thoughts on the topic? GOLF Top 100 Teacher Kevin Sprecher recently shared on social media a couple videos on indoor work, and you can find them here and here. 

And I also wrote two other stories after spending an afternoon with McDonagh, and you can find them here and here. 

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The post Inside the numbers from Happy Gilmore 2’s record-breaking Netflix release appeared first on Golf.

The post Inside the numbers from Happy Gilmore 2’s record-breaking Netflix release appeared first on Golf.

Sure, everyone in the sporting world is paying attention when Rory McIlroy falls to his knees at Augusta National, but it’s probably safe to assume that only a few of the people inside your golf group chat heard about the latest granular changes to the OWGR. If you treated the latter with the same deadly seriousness as the former, you’d be a hard guy to hang out with.

But the problem with levity, for those in the golf bubble, is that we don’t spend nearly enough time celebrating the breakthrough victories when they actually do occur. Victories like, yes, Happy Gilmore 2.

It feels like a while ago already that the buzz around Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore sequel infiltrated the golf world. The biggest stars in the sport had congregated in New Jersey to participate in golf’s biggest movie since … the first Happy Gilmore.

The only difference this time was that Happy Gilmore 2 was coming to your screens with cult-fame status, not achieving it after the movie had already released, as with the initial iteration. The opportunity for smash-hit status was, in hindsight, much bigger than any golf fan or insider recognized at the time.

Now, with the benefit of hindsight, we can see precisely how smash-hit status looked.

According to Netflix (and as first reported by SBJ’s Josh Carpenter), Happy Gilmore 2 finished as Netflix’s second-biggest movie release of 2025 — delivering some 6.2 billion minutes watched, and falling short of only the international blockbuster K-Pop Demon Hunters in Netflix’s annual rankings.

HG2‘s success ranked it second of 39 movies released worldwide by Netflix in 2025, and set a Netflix record in July when it delivered 47 million minutes watched in its opening weekend. The film also delivered two weeks atop Netflix’s Global Top 10 chart, five weeks in the Global Top 10, and accrued more than 90 million viewers in its opening two weeks.

Of course, these numbers are more vague than traditional box office statistics, and they don’t give us a sense of the ultimate financial success of the film (which reportedly welcomed a production budget of more than $150 million, a gargantuan number even by today’s standards). But these numbers do give us a sense of the broader cultural impact of HG2 — and it is easy to say the impact was significant.

For Happy Gilmore 2 to end the year as one of the most-watched films on the biggest streaming network in the world is an enormous victory for golf, and a success story that deserves our attention as golf fans.

Levity is nice, but there’s nothing wrong with a little self-appreciation, either.

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The post Master this golf-swing ‘X-factor’ to add serious power to your game appeared first on Golf.

The post Master this golf-swing ‘X-factor’ to add serious power to your game appeared first on Golf.

So you want to generate more clubhead speed? Me too. Unfortunately, there’s not a single video you can watch or article you can read to make that happen overnight. The good news is, there is hope yet — and it all starts with understanding how power is created.

When you watch a pro blast a drive, you’ll notice them coil during the backswing, and then uncoil during the downswing. Simple stuff.

However, if you want to hit it like they do you’ll have to uncoil in the same sequence that they do.

Watch the pros swing in slow motion and you’ll notice their lower body firing first and then their upper body following suit. By doing this, they are creating massive potential energy that is then unleashed during the downswing.

Back in a 2006 issue of GOLF Magazine, Peter Kostis — a GOLF Top 100 Teacher Lifetime Achievement member — broke down this sequence perfectly. Read below for more info on how to incorporate this “X-factor” into your own swing.

The power ‘X-factor’

The new X-factor is achieved when you rotate your hips toward the target as fast and as fully as possible, while keeping your shoulders tured back. I see this downswing move in every slow-motion swing we replay on CBS telecasts. Yet the move is so basic that anyone can gain distance with it, even those of you who aren’t as athletic and, let’s face it, as young as guys like Tiger and Ernie (in other words, just about all of us).

You will hit the ball longer by stretching your downswing “x.” If you’re currently slicing the ball or hitting weak pop-ups, changing the way you start your downswing will help you swing the clubhead to the ball from the inside for amore explosive hit. Longer drives will allow you to hit more greens and score better.

You will max out your clubhead speed and your power when your club impacts the ball like a spring that has just been released from its tension. Imagine snapping a towel or casting a fly in fishing: You want that burst of speed to start when the object changes direction. It’s the same concept in your golf swing.

3 elements of the ‘X’

1. Hips

The key to the new ‘X-factor’ is the first move down from the top — the change in direction — and you should start it by rotating your hips toward the target just as your shoulders are competing the backswing turn. Contrast this with the common fault of starting down with the upper body, which actually narrows the “X” between your shoulders and hips. Learn to separate your hips from your shoulders and you’ll hit longer driver right away.

2. Trail heel

You generate power in your downswing from the ground up, and you can’t stretch your “X” if you’re out of balance. So before you do anything else, work on your footwork. Your right foot should roll onto its instep as you swing down. Do this and your hips can rotate forward as they should. Avoid lifting your heel straight up off the ground, which thrusts your hips toward the ball and throws you off balance.

3. Trail knee

Your legs support you during the swing, and they must do their part to allow your hips to shift forward. Imagine a second ball teed up between your knees at address. You want your right knee to knock that ball off the tee just as your clubhead contacts the ball you’re hitting. Kick your right knee toward your left knee, and your hips will have the solid base they need to rotate forward properly.

2 drills to get the ‘X’

1. Feel your new hip turn

To feel how much more hip rotation you’ll need during your swing to stretch your “X,” drape a long towel across your upper back and grab both ends. Turn back and through, keeping the towel pulled tight /right]. This action turns your entire upper body and moves your hips with it. Take note of how much hip rotation you need to rotate your shoulders 90 degrees both ways. Keep the tension in the towel all the way through to know that your hips are rotating enough. If you fall behind and rotate your hips too little, the towel will slacken.

2. Use a cart to swing under

This drill will give you the sensation of what it feels like to stretch your “X.” Grab hold of a golf cart with your left hand, get into your golf posture and mimic a backswing with your right hand. Now fire your right arm through underneath your left arm, which is still holding the cart. See how my hips turned through while my shoulders held back? That’s stretching the “X.”

TheStack + Stack Radar Bundle

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The post 2 simple tests reveal why your distance control is off—and how to fix it appeared first on Golf.

The post 2 simple tests reveal why your distance control is off—and how to fix it appeared first on Golf.

How we perceive distance can shape almost every aspect of our on-course performance. Putting, short game and even full swing shots are all impacted by how accurately we “see” distance. Despite its influence, vision remains one of the most overlooked aspects of golf performance.

That’s why Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) includes vision screenings as part of their golf-specific fitness and performance evaluations, which you can check out here. And, according to Dr. Greg Rose, co-founder of TPI, you don’t need fancy equipment or a lab to understand how your eyes affect your game—you just need two simple tests.

Numerical Depth Test

The first test Dr. Rose recommends is the Numerical Depth Test. To try it, have someone place a ball between 15 and 30 feet from you, where you can clearly see the floor leading up to it. Estimate how far the ball is from you in feet and inches, like you would on a long putt. Then, measure the actual distance and note the difference between your estimate and reality.

Perceived Depth Test

The second assessment is the Perceived Depth Test, which takes it a step further. Leave the first ball in place, and hold a second ball in your dominant hand with your arm extended. The goal is to pace off the distance you believe the first ball is from you—without looking. 

Keep your eyes open while you get in position, then, when you’re ready, close them and pace off the distance. When you reach the spot where you think the first ball sits, drop the ball from your hand to see how closely your estimate matches reality—again noting the difference.

Understanding your tendencies

Dr. Rose explains that these assessments are designed to expose the subtle tendencies we have that impact our ability to perceive distance accurately—which can often explain why we constantly leave putts short or long.

We see a great example of this during Joel Dahmen’s visual assessment. In the video, which you can watch here, Dahmen’s test results reveal that he has esophoria—where objects appear closer than they really are. While it might sound alarming, Dr. Rose says it’s usually nothing to worry about.

“The problem is if it starts to bleed into your golf game,” he says.

Luckily, the fix is simple.

“Anytime you’ve got esophoria or exophoria, an easy way to counterbalance this is when you practice, you should practice with known yardages.” 

Dr. Rose explains that players with esophoria or exophoria—where objects appear farther than they really are—benefit from using launch monitors or distance-measuring devices during practice sessions because it eliminates guesswork. Practicing with known yardages, as Dr. Rose calls them, helps you dial in the speed needed for each distance. It also reinforces the connection between your feel and the actual distance—a skill that directly translates to your on-course performance.

Short Game Gains Trigon Toolkit

Our most innovative bundle yet- the Trigon Toolkit comes with 4 putting aids. First, the Steel Trigon Mirror is a double-sided reflective plate for checking eye line, practicing start line, face alignment, aim, and enforcing center contact. It also acts as a stencil, working alongside the Putting Chalk Pens to create an identical alignment setup on grass. Next up, the Trigon Toolkit includes a double sided, reflective steel shoulder alignment mirror. The flip side acts as a ruler to measure setup and calibrate your stroke length. On top of that, this bundle boasts 2 Putting Chalk Pens, filled with non-toxic, water based chalk for creating aim lines, alignment tracks, and start line graphics. These wipe away easily with a damp cloth and don’t damage or kill the grass. Lastly, this kit includes a retractable aim string. This can be used to align the Trigon to a desired aim point, whether it’s the hole or a secondary point. This helps with not only aim, but start line, and green reading. Check out our tutorial videos for tips, tricks and drills to improve your game!

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The post Why this golf shaft is generating so much PGA Tour buzz appeared first on Golf.

The post Why this golf shaft is generating so much PGA Tour buzz appeared first on Golf.

Question is, what makes the UST PowerCore so good?

Success on Tour

Not since Ventus can I remember a shaft that has created so much Tour buzz. You may not see it on the big screen yet, but there are many PowerCores in Tour players’ bags.

Ben Griffin has led the way as an official ambassador of the brand, and his LIN-Q PC White took him to the winner’s circle three times in 2025: at the Charles Schwab, the Zurich Classic and the WWT Championship. He was also a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team at Bethpage. I’ve talked to Griffin about the switch, and, in short, he just feels confident in the shaft. I’ve seen him work with UST’s Tour rep Scott “Scooter” Wilkerson, and the relationship they have built is a rare thing.

It’s easy to see the progress and success Ben has attributed to his driver switch, and a large part of that was the adoption of the first prototype of the LIN-Q PowerCore White — which, by the way, was a pole of a shaft. I know Ben’s a strong guy, but I, for one, am thankful that they’ve backed it off just a little bit for the final retail model. Oh, and he’s playing a 7TX in his driver, which is 10 grams heavier than average. Wild, man.

As you can see in the tweet above, our own Jack Hirsh noticed that Sahith Theegala switched into the LIN-Q PowerCore White recently with his new Ping G440K. He joins a long list of players who are currently gaming one of the LIN-Q PC profiles, and an even longer list of players who have been testing the shafts. I reached out to Sahith through Ping Tour Rep Kenton Oakes, and here’s what he had to say about the switch into LIN-Q PowerCore White:

“Shaft is so solid . . . feels consistent and kicks a little differently than what I was playing previously. Not as stiff in the middle of the shaft and lets me hit a release cut with a little less effort while still maintaining anti-left tendencies.”

Theegala joins Ben Griffin (D, 3W, 7W), Rickie Fowler (D, 3W, 5W), Corey Connors (3W, 7W), Cam Davis (D,3W), Kevin Yu (DR), Hayden Buckley (DR, MD, 7W, 9W), Zach Bauchou (3W, 5W), Jeremy Paul (5W), Kevin Kisner (DR) and Sean O’Hare (DR, 3W) as players choosing to rock at least one UST LIN-Q PowerCore profile in their bag. And I know of several other players who are testing.

The new PowerCore lineup features three different profiles, and all are available now. No waiting on your preferred profile. By the time you’re reading this, they should be available for custom fittings and testing at local authorized UST Mamiya dealers.

PowerCore Technology

With the introduction of the PowerCore lineup comes the introduction of PowerCore technology, which is actually a combination of a couple of different design cues. The first is UST Mamiya’s new Q-Ply material that they’ve laid on the shaft in 90º angles. This helps to strategically strengthen specific parts of the shaft, depending on the profile.

This is combined with the new Nano Resin Matrix, which allows UST Mamiya to utilize less resin in between sheets of graphite when making the shaft itself. Less resin, or glue, in between layers means more feel in the shaft, as well as the ability for engineers to be more specific about where material is laid, how thick the section is and how long the section is. While each profile has a discrete design profile, they all work off of a constant taper design, which again helps to promote more feel.

This design also helps to create a level of cohesion between shaft profiles, which is something the UST team was focused on achieving. Each shaft is meant for a different swing type, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily for different types of players. For example, you may swing your driver and your fairway wood differently, meaning that you may prefer one profile in your driver and another in your fairway wood. Without a consistent feel between profiles, you’d probably feel uncomfortable with the switch and in a fitting bay you may move to other options.

With the LIN-Q PowerCore lineup, you can test each of the profiles. You’ll see a difference in the performance of each one, but it’s easy to swap between shafts and potentially find a group that works for your entire top end. I actually ended up finishing the season with a White in my driver, a Blue in my 4-wood and a Red in my 5-wood.

LIN-Q PC White: The Powerhouse

The White is the beast of the family, but not at the sacrifice of feel. It’s essentially a traditional “whiteboard” profile on steroids — for the modern, more aggressive golfer. The structure of the shaft is tight, but comparatively the handle is a little softer, the middle is in that mid-stiff category and the tip is the tightest section. By keeping the mid-section a little bit softer than some other competition, they add in more feel to an otherwise stout golf shaft. This allows players to feel like their more aware of where the club is during the swing.

As Theegala note, UST is pushing players to think more in terms of release profile rather than launch and spin, so while this may be marked as a low launch/low spin shaft, what the profile is really built for is the stronger player with a later release. Stronger players looking for a more generally more penetrating ball flight will get along nicely with the White.

LIN-Q PC Blue: Counter-Balanced for Speed and Launch

The LIN-Q PC Blue is designed as a mid-launch/mid-spin profile great for players with a “mid-timed” release through impact. The Blue also has some counter-balanced properties, which make the shaft a bit faster than the rest of the lineup and a bit tighter in the handle section. It’s got a softer tip section than the White to help promote a little bit more dynamic loft through the swing, but the mid-section is beefed up a little bit to keep the shaft in control and still be able to work the ball up and down in flight windows.

Players who are more even-tempoed in their swings, or have a tendency to hold onto the transition a bit longer will like the feel that the Blue provides, and even more so the speed they’re going to see. I’ve loved having the Blue in my 4-wood and a mini driver as well. It seems to be the perfect shaft for my game as I get a little bit more neutral in attack angle, while still being more than workable when I want to flight the ball in a lower window either off the tee or the deck.

LIN-Q PC Red: Soft but stable

The LIN-Q PC Red is the most interesting in the bunch to me. It’s got a handle section that resembles the White, but a mid-section that’s closer to the Blue. The tip is a bit more stable than the Blue’s, so the higher launch potential comes from the mid-section.

To me, the Red is the option that most shines when talking about release profiles rather than launch profiles. Players who may get a little early with their hands or have a tendency to rush the head in front of the hands will love the lag increase in the Red. Slower or smoother golfers will appreciate how easy the shaft is to load, which helps to keep the head behind the hands and deliver a more neutral face.

Early-release stronger players who are late in transition will also find the Red easy to square up. The Red gets faster the longer you hold the transition. It’s also been great for me in my 5-wood, and I’ve noticed that the profile responds well to tipping. There’s noticeable differences in a tipped Red vs. a non-tipped Red so it allows players to mess with their dynamic loft profile if the shaft isn’t 100% doing the trick for them.

Is the UST LIN-Q PowerCore series right for you?

It certainly might be, and, as I wrote above, the hype for this shaft lineup is legit. The best way to find any new piece of equipment is to go get fit, but hopefully you now feel a bit more armed to go in and explain to a fitter where you would like to start. Or if you’re like me and you’re just a true degenerate, you’ll go out and buy the profile you think best suits you and just give it a go.

If you are looking to get a fitting, you can book an appointment at your local True Spec. And as a reminder, all THREE profiles are released together! So you can go find the right one for you today.

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The post The real root of most swing problems isn’t your swing appeared first on Golf.

The post The real root of most swing problems isn’t your swing appeared first on Golf.

A poor grip, bad posture, incorrect distance from the ball, faulty alignment, improper ball position — or any combination of these — will sabotage even the most talented player. You simply cannot build a repeatable, high-level golf swing on a shaky foundation.

Can you hit a good shot from a bad setup? Of course. But can you do it consistently? Absolutely not. Remember, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Poor setup conditions might allow you to stumble into a great shot here or there, but over time they will cap your ceiling and keep your ball-striking wildly inconsistent. If you’re constantly chasing fixes during the swing, chances are the real problem started long before the club ever moved.

That’s why I constantly remind my students that practice should be about quality, not quantity. One of the simplest ways to raise the quality of your practice is to place an alignment stick on the ground and go through your full pre-shot routine before every ball you hit. Not some of the time. Every single time. Treat the range like the golf course, not a ball-dispensing machine. If you wouldn’t hit a shot on the course without aiming and setting up properly, why would you do it on the range?

So who had the greatest pre-shot routine of all time? Arguably, Jack Nicklaus. Right behind him, I’d nominate Tiger Woods and perhaps Raymond Floyd. What made these players special wasn’t just talent — it was discipline. I often tell my students that one of the defining traits of elite tour players is that they’re “boring.” They do the exact same thing before every shot. Same routine. Same checkpoints. Same commitment.

Recreational golfers, on the other hand, tend to be far too “exciting.” One ball they aim carefully. The next ond they don’t. One swing, they stand tall. The next, they crouch. Over time, that inconsistency becomes impossible to overcome.

If you want to play better golf, become a setup expert — and yes, it’s worth repeating: become a setup expert. Develop a pre-shot routine that is 100 percent fundamentally sound. Build a grip that matches your swing, establish athletic posture, position the ball correctly for the club in your hands and aim with the precision of a world-class marksman.

When those fundamentals are in place, the swing becomes simpler, contact improves and consistency follows. The setup doesn’t just start the swing — it defines what’s possible once the club starts moving.

The Stance Towel – By Swing Plate

The Stance Golf Ball Position Training Aid Master your setup with the new Stance Towel. Built to simplify your practice, it ensures precise and proper feet alignment and ball positioning, so every swing feels effortless. Key Features: Quick and Easy Setup: Instantly visualize the correct stance and ball position for any club and shot. Consistent Practice: Develop a repeatable swing and putting stroke with clear guidance. Versatile Design: Doubles as a premium microfiber golf towel for added convenience. Durable and Weather-Resistant: Built to last, even in harsh weather conditions. Right and Left-Handed Options: Choose the version that suits your playing style. Watch the Stance Towel in Action:  What’s Included: 1 x Stance Towel Perfect Your Game Today!

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The post A women’s-only TGL? It’s coming soon for LPGA Tour appeared first on Golf.

The post A women’s-only TGL? It’s coming soon for LPGA Tour appeared first on Golf.

It will be called WTGL — for Women’s Tomorrow’s Golf League, according to trademark filings — and is expected to be very similar to the arena golf that fans have grown accustomed to with TGL. The original league launched in early 2025 as the first iteration of mixed-reality pro golf, based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida at the SoFi Center, an arena with one massive simulator and a rotating, machine-like putting green. All kinds of PGA Tour stars took part in the opening season, and plenty are back for more in Season 2. But to date we haven’t seen crossover between TGL and the women’s game. 

Golf fans now have something to look forward to on that front — a winter 2026-27 launch — though other details are slim. The league did not announce which names would be taking part, but did add thoughts from new commissioner Craig Kessler. 

“Partnering with TMRW Sports on WTGL reflects our belief that innovation can help the game reach new fans and create greater visibility for LPGA athletes,” Kessler said in a press release. “I’ve seen how new formats can engage audiences while showcasing both athlete personality and performance, and WTGL brings that spirit of innovation to the women’s game.”

What the league will look like — at least compared to the original TGL — remains to be seen. TGL is consists of six teams, though it has a seventh scheduled to join in Season 3. The league is predominantly broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2, occasionally on network TV at ABC, and most often on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

For first-timers to the TGL space, below are a few videos of what it’s like in the arena during competition and in the lead-up to Season 2.

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The post LIV reportedly adding PGA Tour winner, young pro as new season nears appeared first on Golf.

The post LIV reportedly adding PGA Tour winner, young pro as new season nears appeared first on Golf.

Tom Kershaw of The Times reported Tuesday that Thomas Detry and Elvis Smylie will join the breakaway league. 

Detry is the 57th-ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Rankings and won last year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open in a runaway. 

“It’s incredible,” Detry said after the win at TPC Scottsdale, his first on the PGA Tour. “It’s what dreams are made of. That last walk on the last hole was incredible. Everything goes so quickly that you don’t really have time to enjoy it — luckily, my caddie was there to tell me to enjoy the moment. It’s pretty special.”

Less than 12 months later, Detry reportedly will join LIV in the Saudi-backed league’s highest-ranked signing since it added Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton in 2024. Per Kershaw, Detry will join the 4Aces alongside Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Thomas Pieters, with Harold Varner III moving over to Smash GC. 

Smylie is a 23-year-old Australian whose biggest win to date came at the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship; he would be a natural fit to join the Australian team of Ripper GC, which parted ways with Matt Jones after last season. Jones is in the field at this week’s LIV Promotions Event. 

The reported signings of Detry and Smylie comes at the end of a rocky offseason for LIV, which saw the breakaway league lose Brooks Koepka, who left the league to spend “more time” with his family. 

Koepka’s exit and the uncertainty surrounding his potential return to the PGA Tour have created several unanswerable questions about the future of LIV and the fractured state of professional golf. 

Rory McIlroy said if it were up to him, he’d welcome Koepka back onto the PGA Tour should the five-time major champion wish. But McIlroy also acknowledged that the decision is more complex than that. 

“Does it make sense if Brooks wanted to play the PGA Tour again to get him back as soon as possible? Absolutely,” McIlroy told The Palm Beach Post on Friday after his Boston Common Golf team won their TGL match over Los Angeles Golf Club. “What Brooks has done in the game of golf, it would be good for everyone to have him back.

“It’s hard (because) you can’t treat one person differently than you treat others,” McIlroy said. “And as much as the Tour would like to treat Brooks differently, it sets a legal precedent, because of the lawsuits that have been going on and everything else behind the scenes. He’s still exempt on Tour because of his major wins. That’s not the hurdle. The hurdle is how they have treated others that have tried to come back, serve suspensions, or whatever it is. That’s the difficult thing.”

News

Koepka’s decision to leave LIV also put Bryson DeChambeau’s contract renewal under the microscope. 

The two-time U.S. Open champion has said that he wants to re-sign with LIV, but it’s clear that he understands he has more leverage now than he ever has after Koepka’s exit. 

“It’s a scenario that is very unique,” DeChambeau told Flushing It. “With Brooks leaving, it definitely throws in some unique things. And look, I mean, like I’ve said all along, I want to do this, I want to grow team golf across the globe. But it has to be right. And there’s a lot of things that have to be done in order for it to be right, you know? 

“Things have got to change. Things have got to improve. And I think [CEO Scott O’Neil] has done a fabulous job with the year that he’s had. And I think this year’s going to be even better, now he’s got the right people in place, and he can run the organization the way he wants to do this here. So it’s going to be interesting to see, especially with the new branding coming on. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens. I don’t run this thing at all. I don’t really have much say, to be honest with you. Which is funny, but it is what it is, right? And, you know, I sometimes wish I had more say, but that’s life and I don’t run the organization and I trust them to do that.”

This offseason has also seen LIV make the move to 72 holes and add another spot in the league in an effort to earn Official World Golf Rankings points. 

LIV still has several spots to fill in its 57-man league. Three spots will be up for grabs at this week’s Promotions event. The breakaway league added Laurie Canter this offseason. Canter, who played on LIV when it first burst onto the scene, earned his PGA Tour card via the DP World Tour this year but elected to return to the Saudi-backed league instead. Scott Vincent and Yosuke Asaji earned spots by finishing in the top two in the season-long standings of the Asian Tour-based International Series. Victor Perez also joined the Cleeks GC this offseason.

The next season begins in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 4-7.

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The post Callaway’s 2026 Chrome Tour golf balls debut industry-first speed material appeared first on Golf.

The post Callaway’s 2026 Chrome Tour golf balls debut industry-first speed material appeared first on Golf.

The company announced its new 2026 family of Chrome Tour, Chrome Tour X and Chrome Soft golf balls, all featuring a new Tour Fast Mantle, which they say is the fastest they’ve ever used in a golf ball before.

“Over the last four years, we’ve worked closely with a material supplier to generate something completely new to the industry,” Callaway Senior Director of Golf Ball R&D Eric Loper told GOLF. “It’s a new material used in the outer mantle layer, just underneath the soft urethane cover.

“Not only are we adding speed through the higher-modulus material, but we’re also slightly reducing driver and iron spin.”

The golf balls also feature the second generation of Callaway’s Seamless Tour Aero technology, creating a more uniform cover of the golf ball and leading to more consistent flight.

Keep reading below for more on the Callaway 2026 Chrome Tour golf balls, including my take on the release.

What’s actually new with 2026 Callaway Chrome Tour family — and why you should care

A new Tour Flex Mantle

The core of the new 2026 Chrome Tour design is really not the core at all; it’s in the mid-layer of the golf balls, known as the mantle.

The mantle is where Callaway is using a new 16 percent higher flex modulus material, which stiffens this layer of the golf ball.

“That doesn’t sound good for a golf ball, right?” Loper said. “But when you think about the golf ball being struck with a driver and you think about the golf ball being a spring, using a stiffer material really results in a stiffer spring. And so when you compress that golf ball, it’s going to come off the face with more velocity.”

The Tour Flex Mantle allowed both balls to gain speed off the tee, and in the case of the Chrome Tour X, drop a little bit of driver and iron spin, giving it better performance in the wind.

A consistent golf ball leads to consistent golf shots

To improve the aerodynamic consistency of the golf ball, Callaway got down to the nitty-gritty.

When the cover of the golf ball is manufactured, there is excess material, called flash, where the two sides of the cover are joined. The typical industry practice is to buff that flash out, but that can distort the dimples around that seam line.

Instead of buffing the excess out at just the seam, Loper said the company is now grinding the cover more globally, across the entire surface to ensure a uniform cover thickness.

“If you take that industry-wide problem and you hit a shot into the green in-seam, the ball is going to have a tendency to want to fly lower and longer, and cross-seam it’s going to fly higher and shorter, which leads to inconsistency,” he said. “Whereas our product, no matter the orientation, will be consistent into the green.”

Even if the difference is just 5-10 feet on an approach shots, Loeper said that can translate into a huge change in make percentage.

The 2026 Callaway Chrome Tour lineup

As in the previous generation, the Chrome Tour family has three different golf balls to choose from.

2026 Callaway Chrome Tour

What is it: The Chrome Tour is the softer of the two four-piece, Tour-level golf balls and is going to have lower spin throughout the bag. Additionally, the Chrome Tour is going to launch slightly higher than Chrome Tour X and will have a more parabolic flight.

Who it’s for: For someone who is looking to keep spin down and prefers a softer feel around the greens, the Chrome Tour is your answer.

2026 Callaway Chrome Tour X

What is it: Chrome Tour X is the fastest and firmest ball in the lineup and spins the most throughout the bag. The new Tour Flex Mantle reduces some of that driver and iron spin compared to the previous generation. This leads to better wind performance. Chrome Tour X also launches slightly lower, but has more of an upward shooting trajectory that can give the appearance of a higher flight.

Who it’s for: Those looking to get the most speed and have a firmer feel as well as players who need a lower launch and more spin with their irons.

2026 Callaway Chrome Soft

What is it: A three-piece construction, the Chrome Soft is a more amateur-friendly Tour-level option with a softer feel. The Chrome Soft will launch the highest and have the softest feel of the three golf balls.

Who it’s for: The Chrome Soft is for lower speed players who need a higher launch and lower spin for max distance.

My take: More speed with more consistency

The biggest takeaways from my testing with the new Chrome Tour golf balls were both the speed and consistency through the wind with the new golf ball.

As someone who doesn’t need any more spin, I fit into the Chrome Tour golf ball and was pleasantly surprised with how easily the ball got to my target, even when we were hitting hybrids from 230 yards away from the green.

Where I thought the golf ball really stood out, however, was in the wind. We were hitting shots into roughly 10 mph cross breeze from the left, yet I was still consistently able to draw my ball back into the wind to go for the left pin.

That’s usually something that can be challenging for me, but even balls I blocked slightly felt like they would still draw back for me. Now that isn’t because the ball is spinning less, but more so owing to the new aerodynamics package and updated Seamless Tour Aero, Loeper told me.

I got the long game performance I wanted while still checking all the boxes I liked to see around the green, including how I could make the ball skip, check and release. Not to mention a softer feel I prefer.

If I were going for pure speed, however, Chrome Tour X was about 1-2 mph faster with the driver for me, but a better spin and launch window for Chrome Tour actually went farther for me, proving the value of a good fitting.

Whatever you’re fit for, the new Chrome Tour family is going to be an improvement over the previous generation.

Price, Specs and Availability

The new Callaway Chrome Tour family of golf balls is available for pre-orders starting Jan. 6 and will arrive at retail locations on Jan. 30.

A dozen golf balls will cost $57.99.

Chrome Tour golf balls come in both white and yellow with the options of both the Triple Track and TruTrack alignment aids. Chrome Tour X has the same options, but only in white. Chrome Soft golf balls are available with all of the options of Chrome Tour, plus a 360 Triple Track option.

Want to find the best golf balls for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Mizuno celebrates Japanese heritage with M.Craft City Series putters appeared first on Golf.

The post Mizuno celebrates Japanese heritage with M.Craft City Series putters appeared first on Golf.

With its new M.Craft City Series putters, the company is leaning into that heritage with four new forged putter models, each representing a specific Japanese city.

“There are very few forged putters in the market, and even fewer forged in Japan,” Mizuno Director of Golf Chris Voshall told GOLF. “That’s something we’re really proud of, and we wanted the naming, the design, and the feel to reflect that.”

The four different models, two blades and two mallets, each come with two different neck configurations and two different finishes: grey ion or nickel.

Keep reading below for more on the Mizuno M.Craft City Series putters, including my take on the release.

What’s actually new with Mizuno M.Craft City Series — and why you should care

Baking Mizuno Pro feel into putters

The new M.Craft City Series line features many of the technologies known for making Mizuno’s irons so soft-feeling.

“There’s a ton of our Mizuno Pro and MP iron technology baked into these putters,” Voshall said. “From the forging process to the materials to the copper underlay, those are all feel levers we pull to make sure the putter feels as soft and as consistent as possible.”

The putters are forged from one piece of Pure Select 1025E Mild Carbon Steel, the same material used in the Mizuno Pro S-Series irons and recently announced M-Series short irons. They also feature the same copper underlay of Mizuno’s forged irons, refining vibration for a softer, more rewarding feedback.

A deep-milled putter face reduces contact points with the ball, further softening the feel.

Call-outs to Japanese cities

The heart of the City Series line is Mizuno’s nod to the company’s Japanese history. The model names are specifically chosen to match the city’s history with the characteristics of the putter head.

For instance, the Kyoto model, a classic cavity blade shape, is named for Japan’s ancient capital, which is also famous for the numerous Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, palaces and gardens.

On the flip side, the winged-mallet, Tokyo, represents the most modern shape in the lineup and its namesake reflects that as the current capital and technology hub of Japan.

Plenty of options to find a fit

With four different head shapes and two neck options for each model — plumbers and slant for the blades and slant and double bend for the mallets — there are no shortage of fitting options for the new line.

“For a one-piece forged putter, you still need options,” Voshall said. “Neck configurations and weight adjustments let us dial in performance without sacrificing feel.”

Additionally, all the putters feature adjustable weights on the sole, allowing players to fine-tune swingweight, CG placement and by extension even toe flow.

The Mizuno M.Craft City Series

Each of the four M.Craft City Series models is available in both grey ion or nickel finishes and with two neck options.

Kyoto P/S (Blade)

What is it: Taking the name of Japan’s historic capital city, the Kyoto is an answer-style blade available with either a plumber’s neck or slant.

Who is for: Those seeking the most traditional look at address and moderate to high toe flow, depending on the neck.

Osaka P/S (Wide-body blade)

What is it: Osaka is Japan’s cultural hub and is where Mizuno’s headquarters are. The wide-body blade embodies the city with the combination of both traditional looks and modern forgiveness. It has a slightly shorter heel-to-toe length than the Kyoto and is also available with both a plumber’s and a slant neck.

Who is for: Players searching for a traditional look at address with a bit of added forgiveness thanks to the higher MOI of a wide-body blade.

Nagoya S/B (Round mid-mallet)

What is it: The city of Nagoya is somewhat of an underrated tech city, Voshall said. The headquarters of automobile giant Toyota are nearby, and the namesake putter uses a round mid-mallet shape that blends classic looks and forgiveness. The mallet models have either a slant neck or double bend shaft.

Who is for: Players who want a mallet shape without all the bells and whistles.

Tokyo S/B (Winged mallet)

What is it: Tokyo is Japan’s modern capital and one of the most modern cities in the world and so the Tokyo model is the highest MOI shape of the line. Like the Nagoya, the Tokyo is available with either a mid-toe flow slant neck or a face-balance double bend.

Who is for: The player who wants maximum forgiveness and has no issues with a wing shape.

My take: A solid feel at a great price

Taking 1025 carbon steel and forging single-piece putters in Japan? As someone who loves soft-feeling putters, that’s the kind of sentence that makes me dance.

Mizuno nails the feel box here with these putters and, perhaps more importantly, keeps them at the price point where the only comparable feel putters are synthetic inserts.

As someone who has played Mizuno irons for most of their life, the putters have that same feel with a solid, but at the same time soft senation when you strike them. These putters roll beautifully and have the feel of a much more expensive putter.

The company also did a great job offering four different heads, but essentially 16 different putters when you consider the options of the two finishes and two necks for each model.

M.Craft City Series is a putter line with a great story behind it and will serve as a fantastic and affordable option for a player looking for a soft feel off their putter.

Price, Specs and Availability

Mizuno M.Craft City Series putters are available for pre-orders starting Jan. 26 and will arrive at retail locations on Feb. 12.

Each putter will cost $299.99.

All putters come stock at either 34″ or 35″ lengths, 3˚ of loft and 70˚ lie angles. Each model has the option of either a nickel or a grey ion finish and two neck configurations.

Want to find the best putter for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Mizuno celebrates Japanese heritage with M.Craft City Series putters appeared first on Golf.