What we'll cover this week

• Scottie’s Green Strategy - Easy to adopt

• Beer = Cucumber - After-Golf-Nap should be sacred!

• Range Practice - Is it a waste?

Estimated read time: 7 minutes

This Week I Learned

3:1 Swing Speed

I’m still working on this, but I’m catching glimpses of when it works really well.

I used to rush my backswing, essentially having a 1:1 swing speed—1.5 seconds for the backswing, and 1.5 seconds to hammer it on the downswing. Now, I’m trying to slow my backswing to about 3 seconds while keeping the same 1.5-second downswing. It’s tough, but when it clicks, it feels like a game-changer.

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

20 = 245 minutes saved

Scottie’s Scoring Strategy

Except for his unorthodox swing, Scottie’s game can be described in one word: Boring.

And yet, this boring approach has made him insanely successful (World #1 by a mile, anyone?). Here’s Scottie’s simple, effective scoring strategy that we could all benefit from adopting:

Video length: 10:56 (you can easily watch this at 2x speed)

TL:DW

• Green Zone Strategy: Scottie always aims away from the pins—opposite to where they are. The goal? Avoid the dreaded short side, which statistically puts you in the worst spot for the next shot.

• Missing Long on Front Pins: Most players will aim directly at front pins and often come up short, leading to difficult shots. Scottie aims to slightly overshoot front pins and end up in the middle of the green, making his next shot far easier.

• Play the Odds: Scottie’s game might not be flashy, but it’s all about avoiding big mistakes and playing the percentages. Reducing the chance of ending up in a tough spot boosts his consistency.

• Don’t Get Greedy: When everyone else is going for glory, trying to stick it close for a birdie, Scottie plays it safe. He aims for an “at worst” two-putt scenario by targeting the safe part of the green, avoiding big risks and minimizing mistakes. (Definitely not “one of us”)

Scottie’s secret can be summed up as: Play it safe and (mostly) ignore the pin location. If you mix this with the 80% rule, you’ll probably see your scores start to drop!

Cucumber <> Beer Swap

I gotta be honest—I could easily be that guy. Nothing hits quite like a nap after a long round of golf. And let’s face it, my family would definitely be the type to pull a prank like this on me.

Deals for the Feels

Black Friday is finally here, but honestly, it feels like every shop turned it into "Black Last Week in November-Day." My wallet’s already gasping for air, but if you’ve still got some dry powder left, here are the real Black Friday deals from the golf world:

GoodGood Black Friday Deals

• Starting off strong with GoodGood’s bestseller category—featuring a cool 40% discount. Stock up if you’ve been eyeing something!

Evnroll Black Friday Putters

• Evnroll is putting the “black” back in Black Friday with their stunning matte black putters—now 20% cheaper than yesterday. If you've had your eye on one of these beauties, now's the time to pull the trigger. Evnroll hardly ever does discounts like this!

Adidas Apparell Black Friday

• You know I’m a sucker for Adidas golf pants. No joke, I wore them to the office all day yesterday and then straight to practice afterward. I even got a few compliments for finally wearing pants to the office. Best day ever.

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

Waste Of Time?

This one’s gonna stir the pot: Is driving range practice a waste of time? That’s what Matty from GolfSidekick claims, and while he’s got some good points, I’m not totally buying it (especially if you’re following last week’s Driving Range Practice Guide from Peter Finch). Stick around, there’s a caveat at the end!

Video length: 19:52

TL:DW

• No Different Lies: On the course, you face all sorts of different lies, and each one changes how you need to play the ball. On the range? You’re hitting from the same flat spot over and over again—not super realistic.

• Different Wind Conditions: Okay, here’s where I disagree with Matty. If you’ve ever been to my range, you’d know that wind conditions change every second. I doubt my range is that unique in this regard.

• Different Elevation: Out on the course, you’re almost always hitting to a target that’s above or below you, which changes your shot length. On the range… not so much. You’re always on flat ground, standing in the same spot.

• Preparing Your Next Shot: If your range style is just “scrape and hit,” then no shot ever really counts. On the course, you’re always trying to make your next shot easier by positioning yourself well. That pressure just isn’t there on the range.

• No Short Game: Mastering the short game is the fastest way to drop your scores, but endless range practice doesn’t touch it. If you’re not mixing in short game work, you’re leaving strokes on the table.

Matty’s points can basically be summed up as: “No variance, no mental game, and no short game.”

But here’s the caveat—I think you can get around most of these issues if you throw in some Toptracer sessions (or whatever tech your range has).

Playing a virtual course on Toptracer allows you to work on your mechanics and practice course strategy. You get a little bit of pressure while keeping the freedom to experiment with your swing. During the winter, that’s all I do, and I’m even considering keeping it up in the warmer months between rounds.

So, yeah, there are two sides to this argument. Mindless range practice is a waste, no doubt—but if you bring some structure and purpose, your range sessions can be amazing.

Quick Bryson’s 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

Most golf balls have between 300 and 500 dimples, though the exact number varies by brand and model. Damn trick question!

Sincerely, your Magic Rabbit.

Leader through the rabbit hole. Pretends to never have woken up with a cucumber in his hand.