What we'll cover this week

• Putting God - Knowledge overload

• Epic Backyard - “Tell Mommy ‘I need this’”

• Off-Season - Get flexible in 2 minutes

Estimated read time: 7 minutes

This Week I Learned

Eating a noodle casserole before a round is no bueno.

Total no brainer… I KNOW. Still… it was wayyyy too delicious to say no to. I paid the price during the round with a lack of focus and a stomach that seemed to be filled with stones.

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

21 = 245 minutes saved

Putting Like a God

It’s been a while since I last saw a video this jam-packed with practical advice. Matt from Golf Sidekick really takes the cake here, sharing his top insights that can seriously level up your putting game.

Video length: 18:38

TL:DW

• Double Your Break: As amateurs, we tend to underestimate the break. Matt’s advice? "Double your break." Personally, I can’t remember the last time I overread a break. Usually, my putts end up below the hole, making the next putt tougher. This is the ONE nugget I’m definitely keeping in mind.

• Go High: If you miss on the high side of the hole, the ball rolls out just a bit. Miss on the low side, and it rolls much further with the same speed. Your goal? If you miss, miss on the high side.

• Inside of 2 Feet, No Break: Putts within 2 feet are pretty much immune to break. Just hit it straight.

• Outside of 6 Feet, Everything Breaks: If you’re outside 6 feet and there’s any slope (even 0.5° or more), aim outside the cup. I usually aim for the edge of the cup on softer breaks, but apparently that’s something I need to change.

• See the Line Correctly: When practicing, place a small marker on your putting line between the ball and the hole. Get into your stance, and see if the marker, the line on your ball, and your putter are aligned. If not, adjust your stance until you see a straight line. On the course, use a small imperfection or leaf to visualize that line.

• Eyes Over the Line: When you’re in your stance and look toward the hole, make sure your line of sight is straight. If it feels like you could draw a circle with your view, your stance is off. Keeping your eyes over the line prevents your brain and body from pulling or pushing putts.

• Pace Control: Place a ball in front of the hole and try tapping it in with another ball from further out. Doesn’t matter if it drops; it’s all about controlling distance.

• Quick Warm-Up Routine: Establish a standard putting stroke length, like the small toe of your back foot. Putt three times from that length and see how fast the balls roll—calibrate to that day’s green speed. Then, try hitting a small target (like another ball) to check if your speed is dialed in.

There are so many nuggets in this video, plus amazing visuals to help you understand putting better. Seriously, this one will make your head explode—in a good way.

Epic Backyard

1) I need a backyard like this 2) These glowing balls are AMAZING!

Deals for the Feels

Be patient, everyone. Don’t commit to any big purchases just yet—take these savings in the meantime.

Scotty Cameron Putters

• Found some Scottys with a $100 discount for just $349. They’re 'preowned' (a.k.a. played once during a Pro-Am tournament) and in mint condition. $100 off for that? I’ll take it!

Nike Golf Sale

• Shoes, shirts, pants—everything you need to qualify as 'dressed' for a quick run to the store is now on sale. Nike items are discounted between 25-67%. If I were cool, I’d say "BAM!"

Travel Bags

• As the weather starts to turn, it’s time to head somewhere sunny for golf. Keep your clubs safe with these discounted travel bags. One of them is called "The Vault," and it definitely looks like it lives up to the name.

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

Off-Season Improvements

We asked, you answered, we listened. An overwhelming majority of you want to use this off-season productively—whether that’s with better indoor practice sessions or a fitness plan to boost your game.

Don’t worry, this isn’t turning into some hardcore boot camp; we’re still golfers, right? 😉

Over the next few weeks, we’re laying the groundwork to make your 2025 season unforgettable, helping you hit longer and more accurate shots. So, let’s get a few things straight. To get better, you need:

• Technical Practice (swings, green reading, etc.)

• More Strength (in the right areas—and they’re not what you think)

• Injury Prevention (through better flexibility and endurance)

• A New Understanding of Yourself (you’re an athlete now)

For technical practice, see your local pro. We all know that watching a million YouTube videos only gets us so far when it comes to swing improvement.

The other three parts? We’re tackling those over the next few months.

To kick things off, here’s a quick routine to do every morning:

TL:DW:

1) Cat & Cow pose

2) Open your hips (Mike’s hip flexibility is insane)

3) Lunge with hip rotation

4) Activate those shoulder rotators

Write it down on a sticky note and just do it. Flexibility is your best friend for a smoother swing, injury prevention, and avoiding long-term damage.

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

Balls that end up in the water on TPC Sawgrass’s 17th hole are collected and sold as souvenirs in the pro shop, with some lucky customers even getting balls hit by famous pros!

Sincerely, your Magic Rabbit.

Leader through the rabbit hole. Is prepared to leave town for nicer weather. Will still be around in 5 months :/