What we'll cover this week

• Lie Cheat Sheet – Maybe the most impactful video of the year

• Cheeky Play – A smack that belongs in a museum

• Hands Off – When dominant hands become a problem

Estimated read time: 6 minutes

This Week I Learned

Relax your arms when putting

The session with my coach started with me saying, “Help me read green speed,” and ended with him shaking his head, “You’re way too tight, man.”

Apparently, I was trying so hard to keep my putter straight that I turned my arms into iron bars. My triceps were tight the entire stroke, pulling every single putt left. No pendulum. No fluid motion. Just pure, locked-up tension.

It only clicked when I admitted I didn’t really get the whole “pendulum” thing.
Turns out: you can't have a pendulum if you’re muscling the putter like it owes you money.

So yeah... another smart moment for me.

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

21 = 231 minutes saved

Lie Cheat Sheet

This might be the most useful golf video you’ll watch all year.

We all know we need to adjust to the lie. But in the middle of a round? Most of us forget half of it. That’s why this 52-second clip is gold. Quick, clear, and perfect to revisit before your next round.

Video length: 0:52

TL:DW

Ball Above Your Feet

• Choke down on the club

• Stand taller

• Aim right of target (ball will tend to draw/hook)

Ball Below Your Feet

• Grip up on the club if possible

• Bend your knees more and stay down through the shot

• Aim left of target (ball will tend to fade/slice)

Downhill Lie

• Move the ball back in the stance

• Keep your shoulders parallel to the slope

• Take one club less than normal

• Swing along the slope direction

• Focus on a clean strike and controlled flight

Uphill Lie

• Keep shoulders matching the slope angle

• Take one more club than normal

• Stay committed to the shot

• Avoid falling backward during impact

Keep this one bookmarked. Or write it on your glove. Or tattoo it on your forearm. Whatever helps.

Cheeky Divot

Usually, it’s guys who do stupid stuff on the course, but this is a nice change. Also, that smack was a beautiful sound.

Deals for the Feels

Still a bit quiet on the deals front, but a few smart buys are popping up if you’re looking in the right places.

Callaway Chrome Soft Closeout

• TGW is clearing out last season’s Chrome Soft stock, and you can grab an extra dozen for no additional cost when you buy three. Solid balls, solid deal. Might be a good time to stock up before the stock runs low.

Vice Pre-Tariff Deal

• Load up your cart with at least $150 (excluding clubs and 2025 special editions), and Vice takes 30% off your entire order. Balls, gear, accessories—nearly everything qualifies. Bags are already gone, but the rest is still well worth it.

TaylorMade NFL Team Balls

• TaylorMade is rolling out limited team-branded balls—and they look surprisingly good. Not just a slapped-on logo, but actual design work went into these. Good news: the Jets, for obvious reasons, didn’t get a special edition ball.

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

Body Owns Arms

Most of us amateurs get caught up in what our hands and arms are doing mid-swing. But the truth is: they’re just along for the ride.

I usually roll my eyes at technical swing tips on YouTube, but this one made such a difference during two range sessions, I had to share it. Turns out, letting your body own the swing (and your arms) is one of the simplest breakthroughs you can make.

Video length: 8:09

TL:DW

• Your arms do less than you think - They barely raise or bend in the swing. Most of our issues come from the dominant hand (hello, right hand for righties) doing way too much, creating all kinds of swing chaos.

• Let go - Place your trail hand on the club without gripping it—just rest it on the side. Suddenly, your body has no choice but to rotate properly. The club shallows naturally, the swing path improves, and the dreaded flip at impact disappears.

• Goodbye, lawnmower backswing - You know that pull-back move that feels like starting a gas mower? Yeah, this drill shuts that down. Body turns, weight shifts, and everything starts to feel more… effortless.

  Start slow - Try the drill at home in slow motion. On the range, tee the ball slightly if needed. Then slowly reintroduce a lighter grip with your trail hand and keep the same body-driven feeling.

If you feel like your dominant hand might be too active during the swing, give this quick drill a go (even at home with a few practice swings). Disengaging my right hand during the swing has unlocked a new fluidity that I hadn’t known before (but it still breaks down from time to time. Wouldn’t be golf if everything was easy right?).

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

The 7th hole at Satsuki Golf Club in Japan is the longest, stretching an incredible 964 yards from the championship tees.

Mark me down for 25, please.

Sincerely, your Magic Rabbit.

Leader through the rabbit hole. Has regained his confidence in putting. Lost every other part of the game. Again.