Is Modern Golf Actually Making Us Better?

Should You Buy A Mini Driver or 7-Wood?

Mini drivers and 7 woods are two of the hottest clubs in golf right now, but do they actually belong in the average golfer’s bag? Charles and Roy break down why mini drivers have surged in popularity, what they are really designed to do, and why buying one may not solve your driver problems. Then they dig into the 7 wood boom, why more tour players are using one, how it compares with long irons and hybrids, and which golfers could benefit most from making the switch. Later, they react to the biggest controversies from The Open, including Bryson DeChambeau’s penalty, Scottie Scheffler’s free relief, and whether golf’s rules are being applied consistently. To close the episode, Charles and Roy draft competing golf bags from a limited pool of clubs. The result includes aggressive strategy, questionable selections, a chipper, and one host attempting to use a 2 iron as a putter.  Chapters 00:18 Golf at Yosemite? 04:10 What’s the Hype With Mini Drivers and 7 Woods? 13:45 Should Amateurs Buy a Mini Driver? 27:04 Why the 7 Wood Became a Tour Favorite 36:08 Should You Replace Your Long Irons With a 7 Wood? 44:21 The Open: Penalties, Drama and Controversy 1:00:39 The Ultimate Golf Club Draft 1:07:39 Who Built the Better Bag?

Is Modern Golf Actually Making Us Better?

On this episode of Off TRAQ, Charles and Roy ask a deceptively simple question: is modern golf actually better? With better equipment, launch monitors, rangefinders, YouTube instruction, and more data than ever, golfers should be getting dramatically better… so why has the average handicap barely moved? They break down how golf has changed from the early 90s and 2000s to today, where technology has genuinely helped, and where it may actually be making golfers more confused, dependent, and cluttered. Then they hit current events, including Scottie Scheffler’s playoff loss, Jordan Spieth testing a new putter, and first reactions to Your Golf Tour. To close, they put each other on the spot with a bag audit and call out the one club the other probably shouldn’t be carrying. Chapters: 00:32 Happy 250th America 03:28 Is Modern Golf Actually Better? 39:53 Scottie's Playoff Loss, Spieth's New Putter & YGT 46:08 Bag Audit: What Club Has to Go?

Watching The PGA Tour Is Making You Worse At Golf

What if the biggest thing hurting your golf game isn’t your swing… it’s the golf you’re watching? This week on Off TRAQ, Charles and Roy explore why the modern PGA Tour may actually be teaching amateur golfers all the wrong lessons. From flop shots and hero recoveries to going for par 5s in two, they discuss why what works for the best players in the world often leads to bigger scores for the rest of us. Then they dive into Wyndham Clark’s U.S. Open victory and why the tournament felt strangely flat, why so many fans seem to be rooting against him, and what his win says about personality in professional golf. They also discuss the latest developments surrounding the golf ball rollback, why the governing bodies suddenly appear to be reconsidering their plans, and whether professional golf is finally moving toward a true shot clock to combat slow play. To wrap things up, they play a round of Overrated or Underrated on some of golf’s biggest traditions, including: • The halfway house hot dog • Mulligans • Pre-round range sessions • Matching headcovers • Gimmes • Hitting a 3 wood off the deck Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:56 Is Watching the PGA Tour Making You Worse? 26:42 Wyndham Clark and Weird U.S. Open Vibes 30:28 Ball Rollback Drama and Golf’s Shot Clock 36:32 Overrated or Underrated: Golf Rituals If you enjoy thoughtful golf conversations from an amateur’s perspective, follow Off TRAQ for new episodes every week.

The PGA Tour Has Changed Forever

The PGA Tour has changed forever. In a surprise emergency episode of Off TRAQ, Charles and Roy break down the biggest structural change to professional golf in decades. Starting in 2028, the PGA Tour will split into a new Championship Series and Challenger Series featuring promotion, relegation, smaller fields, and dramatically different purses. We discuss: • What actually changed • Why the Tour is doing this now • Whether fans will care about relegation battles • Which recognizable names could be in danger • The return of match play • The winners and losers of the new system • Whether this helps reunify professional golf Chapters: 2:03 What Actually Changed? 6:39 Why is the Tour Doing This Now? 9:58 Who’s in Danger? 13:14 The Match Play Twist 14:06 Winners and Losers 17:46 Buy or Sell? Is this the future of professional golf—or did the PGA Tour miss an opportunity to go even further?

Why Golfers Get Stuck at 10 Handicap

Most golfers improve quickly at first… until they hit the same wall. The scores stop dropping. The handicap stays stuck. And no matter how much they practice, nothing seems to change. In this episode of Off TRAQ, we break down why golfers plateau at every stage of improvement — from beginners trying to break 100 all the way to low handicaps chasing scratch. We talk about the biggest mistakes golfers make at each level, what actually unlocks the next jump in scoring, and why so many players get trapped around the 10 handicap range. We also discuss: • Why improvement gets harder the better you become • The practice mistakes keeping golfers stuck • The jump from 15 → 10 handicap • What separates 10 handicaps from 5 handicaps • How scratch golfers think differently • The role of short game, expectations, and course management • And what finally helped us improve ourselves If you’ve ever felt stuck in your golf game, this episode is for you. ⛳️ CHAPTERS 00:23 Why Golfers Plateau 01:26 Beginner → 15 Handicap 8:46 Why Most Golfers Get Stuck at 10 Handicap 19:55 The Jump from 10 → 5 27:42 What Scratch Golfers Do Differently 32:17 PGA Tour’s New Relegation System 36:32 Brad Dalke Gets PGA Tour Sponsor Exemption 39:17 Slow Play Is Becoming a Problem 42:45 Building Our Dream Golf Trip Is 10 handicap the hardest plateau in golf? And what really separates good golfers from great ones? Follow Off TRAQ for weekly conversations about golf, competition, improvement, and the modern game. 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4VUqJIu… 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast… 📸 Instagram: / traqgolf 🎵 TikTok: / traqgolf Learn more about TRAQ Golf: https://www.traqgolf.com/