What we'll cover this week

• Golfer Gifts - Seasonal inspiration for your wishlist

• Cast vs. Throw - What’s correct?

• 12-Months Scratch - What it takes to reach Scratch

Estimated read time: 8 minutes (if you’re really digging in, but let’s be honest, you won’t need all that time)

This Week I Learned

Grip matters

A few months ago, I switched my driver grip from a baseball grip to interlock, but kept the baseball grip for my irons.

The good news? My driver’s distance and accuracy got better.

The bad news? Since then, I’ve had massive pain in my left thumb after every range session, and my iron game has become pretty inconsistent.

Turns out, during the switch, I’d shifted my left thumb slightly to the right without realizing it. That tiny change was causing all the pain and messing with my iron consistency. Moral of the story: if you’re struggling, check if you’ve accidentally changed one of the basics.

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

10 = 124 minutes saved

(What? I had to browse shopping sites for this newsletter… you know… “research.”)

Gift Guide

The holiday season is coming fast, and if you’re like me, you struggle to answer, “What do you wish for?” because, well, I usually just buy the things I want myself. My go-to answer is always, “Umm… a new driver?” but let’s be real—our lovely, cheap in-laws will end up getting us some second-hand relic from the 1980s that falls apart the second we unwrap it. We need to be better prepared!

So, here’s our gift guide for “The Golfer Who Doesn’t Know What to Wish For.” We’ve split it into price segments so you can skip right to what works best.

Oh, and just FYI, we get zero compensation for these recommendations. This is just the stuff the team and I love, have bought, or plan to buy—making your Christmas/Hanukkah/Festivus that much better.

$10 - $50

• Training Aids: You can never have enough training aids, right? Three to wish for: alignment sticks, a ball pickup tube, and a grip trainer. Simple, affordable, and they make practice way more effective.

• Magnetic Ball Marker: A real value-for-money item! Clip it to your cap brim, and never lose track of your marker again (unless you lose your cap). Right now, you can grab one for around $12.

• Magnetic Push Cart Phone Holder: Everything magnetic is cooler—enough said (link).

• UV Flashlight: My wife thought gifting me one of these for Father’s Day was a joke—but I love it! Perfect for evening rounds; you can find hundreds of balls with a UV flashlight. Look who’s laughing now!

• Smell Well: These pockets of fragrance are lifesavers. They keep even the nastiest shoes fresh and absorb sweat within minutes. Honestly, the most underrated part of my gear—not in the bag, but definitely in the equipment storage room. Originally, I used them for baseball and football gear, but they work wonders on golf shoes & gloves, too.

$50 - $100

• Club Fitting: Probably the best gift you could get (Mom, if you’re reading, now you know!). A proper club fitting will transform your game faster than almost anything else.

• Coaching Lessons: Most clubs offer gift vouchers for lessons, and one session with a coach is more valuable than watching 10 hours of YouTube tutorials. So, actually, maybe this is the best gift (Mom, I’ve changed my mind again!).

• Massage Gun: Massaging your legs and back after a round is the best way to avoid soreness (that, and electrolytes!). You don’t need a Theragun—the Amazon bestsellers work just fine.

• Shoes: Great golf shoes are on sale right now, making it the perfect time for your loved ones to help you retire those smelly, decade-old “classics.”

• Apparel: You can never have too many golf pants or polos. I’ve become a huge Vice fan lately—the fabric is next level. Thinking about replacing a third of my polos with Vice’s. Look good, feel good, play good.

$100 - $250

• Sunglasses: If you’re not using polarized sunglasses, what are you even doing? Apart from improving your game (actually seeing where your ball lands, anyone?), they’re also essential for looking sharp. And no, your 30-year-old aviators or “sports” glasses don’t count.

Currently I like Oakley Holbrooks but I see 70s retro vibe glasses making a comeback as well when playing with others.

• Jordans Golf Shoes: If you want to level up your style, Jordans are a statement. Non-traditional but dripping with style. (MyGolfSpy favorites here)

• Golf Bag: It’s okay to replace your 15-year-old bag that falls over half the time, has a torn side, and still has an old sandwich in it. It’s time. Let it go.

• Arccos Yearly Membership: Sensors might come for free, but the subscription’s $155/year. A gift voucher would be perfect.

• Golf Smart Watch: Whether you want GPS accuracy for yardages or to keep track of your performance, a golf smart watch is a fantastic gift. The Garmin Approach series is one of the best choices—you get distance, hazard views, and even step tracking to show off how much exercise you got from walking the course!

$250 - $500

• Clubs: Go ahead, wish for clubs! A shiny new fairway wood, wedges, an Evnroll putter—anything goes. Just remember to ask for a fitting, too!

• Launch Monitor: If you want to dive deep into your swing data, a personal launch monitor is perfect. Whether it’s a Rapsodo or Garmin R10, having one of these is like having your own coach at the range.

• Travel Case: Heading somewhere sunny for a round or two? A sturdy travel case keeps your clubs safe on the journey, making it an ideal gift for golfers with wanderlust. The Club Glove Last Bag is highly recommended by tour players!

• Push Cart: I’ve got my eyes on the new Kaddey Switch+. Slim, compact, lots of features, and way sturdier than my current shaky cart.

$500+

Who are we kidding, you’re not waiting for someone else to buy you these—you’ll just get them yourself and tell everyone they were on sale or bill it to your company as “client relevant”.

• Electric Cart: Don’t feel like pushing your own cart anymore? You deserve it. Just tell your significant other, “The Rabbit said I could.”

• Scotty Cameron: Just owning a Scotty will drop two strokes from your putting overnight, purely from the swagger. Look good, feel good, play good.

• Trip to Augusta: The holy grail for any golfer. A trip to Augusta National isn’t just a gift—it’s a dream come true. Whether it’s tickets to The Masters or just a tour of the course, this one is guaranteed to blow minds.

• Premium Launch Monitor: If you’re “serious” about your game, a high-end launch monitor like TrackMan or GCQuad is the ultimate wish-list item. They provide detailed insights into every aspect of your swing, but they come at a hefty price. Pro-level feedback for a high-handicapper? How else would you get better?

Happy wishing everyone.

Helpful Downswing

This Short shows how it actually feels to properly accelerate in the downswing by presenting the difference between throwing and casting your club.

Deals for the Feels

Everybody is gearing up for Black Friday. There are no real deals to be had but one cool drop.

GoodGood Jailbird Drop

• GoodGood dropped a limited series for an Odyssey putter and an orange hoodie. It’s ok, but nothing too extraordinary.

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

Scratch In 12 Months

Sam, a former Tour Pro and current +3 golfer, dishes out some solid advice on what it really takes to reach scratch. And the best part? Most of these lessons are things you and I can use, too (even if we’re nowhere near Scratch).

Video length: 8:14

TL:DW

• Less Balls, More Time: When you’re at the range, focus on fewer balls but be deliberate with every shot. I’m guilty of the “shoot and reload” routine—hammering ball after ball just to feel awesome. It’s fun, but it won’t help your game. Sam says to stick to 30 balls for an hour of focused practice (not counting warm-up, I assume).

• Putt Straight: We all think we’re aiming straight, but if you attached a laser to your putter, you’d probably see otherwise. Sam suggests training at home with a marked/two-colored ball—if it wobbles, you’re not hitting it square. Keep adjusting your alignment, setup, and grip until it rolls true. Keep repeating until aiming straight is automatic, and you can replicate it on the course without thinking.

• Don’t Move Your Lie: When practicing your short game, don’t move the ball to a better lie. Just drop the balls and play them as they lie, even if it’s a divot or a muddy patch. It’s all about simulating real-world conditions—you need to get comfortable with bad lies.

• Record Your Stats: Understand your weaknesses. Thanks to Arccos, I know my putting costs me 8-9 strokes per round, and my wedge play saves me 4-5 strokes. How can you focus your practice effectively if you don’t know what’s holding you back?

• YouTube Golf: Stick to 1-2 YouTubers that suit you—whether it's height, swing style, or mindset. Too many cooks (or golf coaches) spoil the broth. For me, Golf Sidekick is #1, and Sam might just become my #2.

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

Depending on the conditions, it can take a golf ball 100 to 1,000 years to fully decompose. Ouch.

Sincerely, your Magic Rabbit.

Leader through the rabbit hole. Was poor, is poorer now. Thanks gift guide.