What we'll cover this week

• Mental Game - 9 Techniques to make you better

• Splash Poundin - At least his friend recorded him.

• Wedges - When to use 52, 56 and 60°

Estimated read time: 7 minutes

This Week I Learned

January is the best time to get a deal.

I went into a fitting on Monday, fully prepared to drop some off-season cash on a TSR2 fairway wood I tried last season. But guess what? The GT2 fairways had already replaced them. As soon as I heard, I was mentally prepared to swallow that “new season price.”

Then the fitter pulled out a demo TSR2 hybrid with barely a scratch on it. I hit it way better than the GT2 fairway. And because it was a demo, and the new hybrids launched two days later, I snagged it for half the price of what it cost just a month ago.

Moral of the story? Head to your local shop and score yourself a steal while inventory turns over.

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

18 = 260 minutes saved

9 Mental Techniques

Jon Sherman - PGA Tour coach and author - dropped his top 9 mental techniques, and these are the reminders we all need to hear. Constantly. Let’s dive in, and maybe this time they’ll stick.

Video length: 7:25

TL:DW

• Commitment To Fun - Remember why you started golfing? To have fun, hang with friends, and maybe enjoy nature a bit. But nope—golf has this sneaky way of turning us into hyper-competitive lunatics. (I've been there, and I will be there again.) Pro-tip for 2025: take the game less seriously, and you’ll probably play better.

• Nobody Cares - That first tee anxiety? Yeah, it’s all in your head. You’re convinced everyone’s judging your every move, but the reality is: they’re all too busy stressing about their own game. Nobody remembers your slice from the first hole - not even you by the 5th. Only went it comes back to haunt you in the night.

• There Is No Control - Golf is chaos. The wind? Random. Your form? Changes daily. The greens? A mystery. What can you control? Preparation, your routine, and how you react to shots. Let go of the illusion of control, embrace the unpredictability, and roll with it. It’s way less stressful.

• Be Present - It’s the ultimate cliché, but it works. Being in the moment is ridiculously hard, but when you pull it off, it’s magic. Meditation can help- I like Headspace because it skips the spirituality stuff. And when you’re present, you’ll bounce back faster from bad shots and make better decisions.

• Longterm Goals - A round can go well or poorly, and it takes grit to get through a bad round. However, if you have long-term goals, it’s easier to see the progress instead of the results. My goal is to “eventually” win a club tournament. I KNOW that I will achieve my goal eventually, but it will take perseverance and accepting bad rounds to get there. What’s your long-term goal?

• Do or Don’t Care - Caring too much = tension. Caring too little = sloppy. The secret is balance. Play like you care, but not too much. It’s the sweet spot where your best golf lives.

• Swing Thoughts - Leave the mechanics on the range. On the course, think externally (like aiming at a target) or neutrally (hum a tune). The less you’re in your own head, the better you’ll play. Overthinking is the silent killer of good rounds.

• Pre-Shot Routine - Have one. Stick to it. That’s the ‘secret'. But honestly, I always forget to practice it on the range. This year, I’m committing to actually rehearsing my routine. LG!

• Post-Shot Routine - Take a quick moment to either internalize a great shot or quickly analyze why a bad shot happened. Then accept that the shot is over, forget you’re playing golf until you’re close to your ball again, and restart your pre-shot routine.

Swing, Miss, Splash

Don’t trust your friend who’s recording when he says “Come on, you got this buddy.”

Deals for the Feels

Honestly, your local golf store is where the real deals are hiding right now. Online? Meh at best. But here are a few highlights worth a look:

LIV Polos 15% Discount

• Controversial? Sure. Cool style? Absolutely. LIV Golf isn’t known for slashing prices, but this week, you can grab their polos (including most team designs) for 15% off. Bryson’s team gear didn’t make the cut - because reasons - but the rest are fair game.

New ProV1s dropped

• Fresh off the press and ready to squeeze a few extra inches out of your best drives. Same heartbreak when they land in the water, though. My advice: Check your local store for last year’s models, clear their shelves, and negotiate a discount. Trust me, they’ll thank you.

New Air Jordan Golf Shoes

• Classic Red, White, and Black Jordans—now with spikes. These are a statement piece if I’ve ever seen one. I haven’t tried them yet, but they’re on my list next time I hit the store.

TaylorMade Tiki Collection

• Aloha vibes with TP5s, TP5xs, and a Tiki-themed putter cover that’s got me tempted. Would it be sacrilegious to put it on my Evnroll? Probably. But man, it’s cool. If only they left off the TaylorMade branding, my $80 would already be gone.

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

When To Use 52, 56 or 60° Wedges

“Am I using the right club?” That one question that worms its way into your brain mid-swing and wrecks everything.

When I’m around the green, I know the yardage, I know the club, and still—the doubt creeps in. Cue the inevitable shank. This season, I’m banking on tips from Golf Sidekick to silence the wedge demons for good.

Video length: 6:42

TL:DW

• Wedges Are Finesse Tools: Avoid full-power shots from inside 100 yards. Wedges aren’t about max distance but about reliable, consistent results.

• Around the Green (60°): Use for long carry and short rollout, especially when the flag is close to the fringe. Avoid adding loft—your 60° has plenty.

• Closer Around the Green (52° or 60°): Closer to the fringe? Less loft is better. A 52° works near the fringe, while a 60° handles slightly more distance or clearing lips.

• Bunkers (56° or 60°): The 56° is your go-to for most bunker shots, offering height and medium rollout. A 60° is perfect for steep lips and minimal rollout. Use the 52° for longer bunker shots with low height requirements.

• Swing Consistency: Stick with your normal swing across all wedges. Adjusting loft and club choice, not swing mechanics, will give you the right distances.

Quick Bites for the Road

Quiz

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

Quiz answer

Arnold Palmer. The Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole is often associated with him and other legends of the game. Let’s all toast his greatness with an Arnold Palmer in our hands.

Sincerely, your Magic Rabbit.

Leader through the rabbit hole. Was seen cuddling his new Hybrid in bed. Mrs. Rabbit didn’t approve.