Guests: Mike Taylor & John Hatfield – Co-Owners of Artisan Golf TX, Master Clubmakers, Direct Lineage from the Ben Hogan Company

"No shortcuts. Bad tools make bad golf swings." – Mike Taylor
"The ball has never lied a day in its life." – John Hatfield

Episode Overview
Host Christopher Smith sits down with Mike Taylor and John Hatfield of Artisan Golf TX, two master craftsmen carrying a direct torch from the Ben Hogan Company. Both learned under Gene Shealy (Mr. Hogan's personal clubmaker) and have built clubs for Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka, and countless tour pros. Now they run a small hand-crafted shop in Fort Worth where every club is built to fit one person: you. The conversation exposes how big manufacturers have lowered tolerances, how off-the-shelf lie angles destroy swings, and why no amount of coaching can fix a club that doesn't fit.

Who Are Mike Taylor & John Hatfield?

Mike Taylor – Co-Owner
Started at Ben Hogan Co. under master model maker Gene Shealy (WWII Marine, Purple Heart recipient, Mr. Hogan's personal clubmaker). Shealy's ethos: "No shortcuts in the pursuit of perfection." Taylor later spent 15-16 years at Nike Golf, delivering prototype drivers to Tiger Woods. He now builds irons, wedges, and putters by hand.

John Hatfield – Co-Owner & Lead Fitter
Started at Ben Hogan Co., then Head Golf, then Nike. He performs 3-5 hour fittings, has refused to sell putters to five customers who weren't ready, and says: "I want this to be the last putter you ever put in your bag."

Key Topics Discussed

Bad Tools Create Bad Swings
A club that's 3° upright when you need 2° flat makes it impossible to swing properly. You cannot coach your way out of a misfit club. The teaching and the tools must work together.

Lie Angle: The Most Neglected Variable
Most off-the-rack sets have inconsistent lie angles – some upright, some flat. That forces you to swing differently with each iron. A bending bar fixes that instantly.

The Fitting Process
John spends hours learning how you think and move. They fit first, then manufacture. If you're not ready, they'll give you drills and a loaner and tell you to come back. They will refuse a sale.

The Mallet vs. Blade Truth
Tour players use mallets largely because endorsement dollars dictate it. Many mallets actually behave like blades. "What do you hit the ball with? The face. It's about the face being square to a good start line."

The Putter as a Basketball
Once properly fit for head weight, grip weight, length, and balance, don't change it. Changing grips changes balance and speed control. "The best putters in the world didn't change putters."

Elite Player Stories
Tiger Woods tested 40 prototype drivers, gave clear feedback, expected immediate fixes. Brooks Koepka "dunked them right and left." Michelle Wie picked up a putter leaning against a wall and started making everything – she was told it was "the wrong length." John's response: "If they go in the hole, you've got to acknowledge that."

What Gets Them Started
People watch launch monitors instead of the ball. "You haven't even looked at the ball yet. Is it where you want it to be?" Manufacturers have lowered standards.

Practical Advice for Golfers

• Test, don't guess. Hit two different 7-irons. Which one makes the ball do what you want?
• One wedge is enough. Learn one mid-range wedge well.
• Your putter is your basketball. Once fit, don't change it.
• You are good enough to get fit. Higher-handicap players need it more than tour pros.
• Add consequence to practice. On-course shots have consequences. Practice with them.

In this episode, host Christopher Smith sits down with long-time friend and golf technology pioneer Michael Neff, the founder of Gears Sports. Recorded from the iconic Bandon Dunes, the conversation delves deep into the intersection of elite instruction, cutting-edge technology, and the nuanced art of helping golfers—from major champions to high handicappers—perform their best.

Neff explains how Gears, an optical motion capture system, bridges the gap between club fitting and instruction by measuring the 3D movement of both the body and the club throughout the entire swing, not just at impact. This data allows him to uncover hidden issues that elude standard video analysis.

The episode is filled with fascinating behind-the-scenes stories of Neff’s work with top tour players, illustrating his philosophy of finding the "least invasive" solution to get players aggressive again. Key stories include:

• Billy Horschel: How a simple lie-angle adjustment based on Gears data ended a streak of seven missed cuts, leading to a win weeks later.
• Cam Smith: The revelation that a fear of right-to-left holes was costing him, leading to a strategic shift (using 3-wood on those tees) that preceded his British Open victory.
• Chris Gotterup: How a steep, unusual swing was matched with upright long irons to tighten dispersion, contributing to his two-win season.
• Ricky Fowler: The focus on launching the ball higher through a combination of equipment and technique to revitalize his ball-striking.
• Jason Duffner: A discussion on the difficult balance between preserving a unique, successful swing and the modern need for more clubhead speed.

Beyond the tour stories, Smith and Neff explore universal themes for all golfers:

• Feel vs. Real: They emphasize that what a player feels is rarely what is actually happening, and that true change requires "overcooking" the feeling.
• The Mental Game: They discuss how the best players, like Tiger Woods and Chris Gotterup, possess a remarkable ability to flush bad shots, a skill that can be practiced.
• Equipment Myths: Neff debunks old myths about shaft torque, explaining how his new seamless shaft company uses robot and Gears data to achieve tighter dispersion through measurable consistency.
• Driver vs. Iron Swing: Neff explains the technical differences, noting that most amateurs rely on too much tilt and not enough rotation, leading to inconsistency.

The conversation concludes with a shared philosophy that good instructors must be able to both teach and fit, using data to be aggressive in making real change while always prioritizing the player's confidence and ability to swing without fear.

Episode Overview:

In this episode of the Don't Get Me Started podcast, host Christopher Smith engages with guest Max Williams, a caddy a 'sometimes caddy' and full time golf teacher and coach, discussing the evolving landscape of golf instruction, particularly in the age of social media. They explore the challenges posed by misinformation from self-proclaimed experts on platforms like Instagram, the importance of practical coaching experience, and the balance between talent and hard work in achieving success in golf. The conversation also delves into the significance of teaching kids in a way that fosters enjoyment and skill development, as well as the mental aspects of playing golf under pressure. In this conversation, Christopher and Max delve into the complexities of the golfer's journey, discussing the transition from competitive play to coaching, the importance of real-world practice, and the emotional challenges faced on the course. They emphasize the need for coaches to help players respond to adversity and the significance of creating a supportive learning environment. The discussion also touches on the current landscape of golf instruction and the responsibility of coaches to provide genuine, effective guidance to their students.