What we'll cover this week

• GOAT Training- One month of training like Tiger

• Pure Skill - Don’t try this at home

• Speed Training - I didn’t know it was that simple

Estimated read time: 7 minutes

This Week I Learned

Speed Training Works.

I had a short speed training session with my coach (10 minutes) and I was amazed how quickly I saw results. We did a few drills (more on that later in the mail) and I increased my max ball speed from 135mph to 147mph with my driver. On average I added 10mph to every swing.

I did not expect these results from just 10 minutes of speed training.

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

21 = 225 minutes saved

Training Like the GOAT

Would training like Tiger Woods drop your handicap? Andy Castell put that to the test, and the results were… revealing.

For a full month, Andy trained like a pro—grinding through Tiger-inspired drills, fine-tuning his game, and even throwing in some serious fitness work. The video documents his progress, and let’s just say, there were some strong takeaways.

Video length: 27:14 (watching at 2x speed is a good move)

TL:DW

• Putting Setup
  Your eyes should be directly over the ball. Test it:

  • Take your putting stance over a ball.

  • Hold another ball at the bridge of your nose and drop it.

  • Your alignment is off if it doesn’t hit the ball on the ground. Adjust accordingly.

• Consistent Tempo
  A smooth, repeatable tempo is key. The backswing controls distance—not an extra burst of speed on the downswing. Tick-tock.

• Straight Path
  Set two clubs slightly wider than your putter head and putt within that “corridor.” This drills a straight stroke and exposes any unwanted wrist movement.

• Putting Grip
  Andy’s coach changed his grip, which helped, but this won’t be a game-changer for everyone. If you’re struggling, experimenting is fine—but consulting a pro is better.

• Control the Wrist
  Flipping the wrists in the short game leads to disaster (trust me, my coach nearly lost hope with me over this one). Relax the hands, but keep the wrists stable for a controlled, repeatable motion.

• Fitness, Fitness, Fitness
  Tiger revolutionized golf fitness, and Andy saw firsthand how cardio and flexibility impact performance. Running, cycling, and yoga are great options. I swear by 15 minutes of restorative yoga 3-4 times a week—no spiritual fluff, just mobility work.

• Keep the Ball in Play
  No hero shots. Stick to the 80% rule—only attempt shots you can hit cleanly 80% of the time.

• Basics Matter
  Alignment, weight distribution, engaged core, avoiding early extension—it always comes back to fundamentals. Whenever your swing feels off, check the basics first.

• #1 Tip? Flexibility & Mobility
  After a month of pro-level training, Andy’s biggest takeaway? “Flexibility and mobility helped me improve the most. Do yoga.” Agreed.

There’s a lot of great advice packed into this one, so it’s worth a full watch. Andy even plays a tournament at the end to see how his training holds up under pressure. No spoilers—go see for yourself.

Living On The Edge

This is equal parts terrifying, impressive, and absolutely unhinged. I’ve watched it multiple times, and I still can’t wrap my head around the level of skill (and/or recklessness) involved.

INSANE.

(Also, don’t try this at home. Unless you have phenomenal insurance—then by all means, go for it and send me a video.)

Deals for the Feels

The era of massive discounts is over, but if you’re cool with last season’s top gear, some killer deals are still floating around.

Callaway Paradym Driver

• Was $600, now $340 at RockBottomGolf. Solid deal for a driver that was top-tier just a few months ago.

PING i525 Irons

• These are my irons, and I can’t believe how cheap they are now. A full 5-PW set with steel shafts is down to $685 from $1,125—aka way less than I paid. If you’ve had your eye on the i525s, this is as good as it gets.

New AI Callaway Soft Balls

• Callaway just dropped their latest soft-feel balls—designed with AI. I picture the meeting going like: “ChatGPT, make us a premium soft golf ball ASAP.” Results TBD.

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

Speed Training

What I’ve been doing with Super Speed Sticks is pretty close to this routine.

Quick tip before you start: warm up properly and make sure you’re on a flat, level surface—unless you enjoy injuries.

Video length: 1:00

TL:DW

• Progressive Weight Swings

  • 3 swings with the light stick (super light for women).

  • 3 swings with the medium stick (light for women).

  • 3 swings with the heavy stick (medium for women)

  • My coach also had me swing opposite-handed for 3 sets to balance things out.

• Rest: 60 seconds

• Step-Up Drill

  • Feet together then rotate into the backswing.

  • As you start the downswing, step into the shot and open your stance.

  • 3×3×3 swings (no lefty swings this time).

• Rest: 60 seconds

• Swing HARD

  • Grab the lightest stick and go all out for 3 swings.

• 30 Driver Shots

  • Grab your driver and hit 30 full swings as hard as you can.

  • Ignore where the ball goes—speed first, accuracy later.

• Training Aids

  • The speed sticks used in this video are currently $119 since a new version just dropped. The older model works just fine.

The speed stick drills take about 5 minutes, and then it’s however long you need for the 30 driver shots. If you can, track your swing speed (before and after) with Trackman or Toptracer to measure progress.

If you’re serious about gaining distance, this kind of training pays off fast.

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

Seagulls. They’re notorious for swooping down and carrying off golf balls, mistaking them for eggs or food. MINE! MINE! MINE!

Sincerely, your Magic Rabbit.

Leader through the rabbit hole. Is sore from speed training like his ego depended on it.