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.

Guest: Bruce Rearick – 30-Year PGA Member, Founder of Burnt Edges Consulting, Pioneer in Putter Fitting & Design, and former member of the SAM Putt Lab Research Team

"What you prefer rarely is what you need" - Bruce Rearick

Episode Overview

In this no-nonsense episode of Don't Get Me Started, host Christopher Smith sits down with longtime friend and putting guru Bruce Rearick for a deep dive into the art, science, and unfortunately, the pseudoscience of putting. With decades of experience working with everyone from major champions including Arnold Palmer to weekend warriors, Rearick pulls back the curtain on what actually works and what's just clever marketing.

The conversation tackles the massive disconnect between how golfers want to putt and how their bodies are actually designed to move, introducing listeners to the groundbreaking Nine Putting Profiles and the concept of core movement patterns.

Key Topics Discussed

The Preference Bias Epidemic: Why most golfers and instructors chase a linear stroke when human anatomy is rotary, the danger of forcing your body into positions that fight your natural movement, and how Instagram experts and marketing hype create confusion rather than clarity.

The Nine Putting Profiles: How Rearick discovered these patterns after analyzing thousands of strokes, why great putters like Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw, and Arnold Palmer all had different strokes and why that matters, the connection between body type, hand position, and natural stroke tendencies, and why one-size-fits-all instruction is holding golfers back.

Core Movement Patterns: Understanding that your body has ingrained movement patterns you can't simply fix, why trying to change these patterns leads to worse speed control and inconsistency, and the importance of working with your natural motion rather than against it, with insights from Dr. Debbie Cruz.

The Mallet vs. Blade Debate: Why tour players use mallets and why endorsement dollars play a role, the truth about forgiveness and whether mallets actually help or just mask problems, when a blade makes sense versus when a mallet might genuinely help, and what Scottie Scheffler's switch really tells us.

Debunking Putting Myths: The truth about gear effect in putters and why it's misunderstood, whether the ball really has spin off the putter, why deceleration isn't always bad and acceleration graphs are often misinterpreted, and the reality of shaft torque and whether it matters.

Feel, Feedback, and the Right Hand: Why feel is often just marketing and why results matter more, the importance of accurate feedback for improvement, how your trail hand position dictates your stroke, simple tests to determine your natural hand tendencies, and the eyes closed drill to reveal your true impact position.

The LAB Putter Discussion: What makes Lie Angle Balance putters genuinely different, the genius of front-weighting versus rear-weighting, why the two-degree forward press grip is underrated, the adjustment period when switching from a blade to a LAB, how the nine profiles fit within the LAB family, and important setup considerations.

What All Great Putters Do: They have a crystal-clear picture of where they're going, they possess an innate sense of square that comes from the hands, and stories from Arnold Palmer, Aaron Baddeley, Tiger Woods, and Jackie Burke Jr. about the difference between face aware and path aware players.

Practical Advice for Golfers: How to find the right putter by hitting it in the center of the face, why heel-hitters should try blades and toe-hitters should consider mallets, why kids should start with blades as Tiger made Charlie do it for a reason, the problem with forgiveness masking poor contact, and simple video tests to assess your natural stroke.

In this episode of the Don't Get Me Started podcast, Christopher Smith engages with Ward Jarvis, a mental performance coach on the PGA Tour, discussing the intricacies of mental performance in golf, particularly focusing on the YIPS and its psychological implications. They explore the journey of golfer Brendan Todd, the connection between stuttering and performance anxiety, and the role of neuroscience in understanding these phenomena. The conversation delves into the misconceptions surrounding neuroscience in golf coaching and emphasizes the importance of prediction in the brain's functioning. Additionally, they address the fear factor in golf and how it parallels high-stakes professions like surgery. In this conversation, Christopher Smith and Ward Jarvis explore the intricate relationship between confidence, competence, and performance in golf. They discuss the myth of consistency, the importance of an approach mindset, and the challenges posed by the yips. The dialogue emphasizes the need for context-specific practice and effective strategies to enhance performance. They also touch on the role of neuroscience in understanding these phenomena and the integrity required in coaching and marketing within the sports industry.

In this engaging conversation, Christopher Smith and Dr. Debbie Cruz explore the intricate relationship between psychology and performance in sports, particularly golf. They discuss the significance of thought processes, the concept of sub-personalities or 'mini-me's', and the psychological factors contributing to the yips. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of intention, accountability, and the adventure of performance, while also addressing the challenges athletes face in maintaining confidence and focus. In this conversation, Christopher Smith and Debbie Cruz delve into the mental aspects of golf performance, discussing the importance of overcoming fear and doubt, the role of the subconscious mind, and the impact of mental myths on golfers. They explore how adventure athletes maintain calmness under pressure, the significance of balance in the brain, and the necessity of determination in achieving success. The discussion also touches on the influence of language on performance and the unique insights gained from working with horses in coaching.

Chapter Markers:
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Debbie Cruz
05:11 The Importance of Thought in Performance
10:47 Understanding Sub-Personalities in Golf
17:40 Energy Transfer in Performance
24:51 The Yips: Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety
27:29 Understanding the Yips: A Deep Dive
30:05 The Role of Aim and Anxiety in Golf
33:07 Psychological vs. Neurological Yips
36:56 Outsmarting the Yips: Strategies and Techniques
40:42 Mental Myths in Golf: What to Focus On
49:14 Calmness in High-Pressure Situations
52:41 The Calm Before the Storm: Arousal and Focus
54:15 Relaxation vs. Performance: The Neurofeedback Study
56:25 Finding Balance: The Key to Optimal Performance
58:40 The C's of Performance: Consistency, Confidence, and Control
01:01:12 Determination Over Confidence: Strategies for Success
01:04:05 The Language of Expectations: Letting Go of Pressure
01:06:55 Chasing Goals: The Vision 54 Concept
01:12:22 Horses as Mirrors: Learning Through Connection
01:14:40 Bringing It All Together: Programs and Resources

Struggling with your putting? This podcast episode with David Orr, founder of Flat Stick Academy and top putting coach, reveals groundbreaking research and practical tips to transform your putting game.

In this podcast episdoe you will learn:
✅ Why most putting advice is WRONG (and what to do instead)
✅ The hidden role of wrist and forearm movements (3D data proves it!)
✅ How to read greens like a tour pro (slope is your #1 enemy)
✅ The difference between coaching and teaching (performance vs. technique)
✅ Why "perfect strokes" don’t exist (variability is normal!)

⛳ CHAPTER MARKERS:
00:00 - "Your Putting Coach is WRONG" (The shocking truth)
01:26 - Coaching vs Teaching: What pros really focus on
03:20 - Why old-school putting advice destroys your game
05:42 - The 3D revolution in putting (What TrackMan can't show)
08:15 - "Your wrists are LYING to you" (Data proves it)
12:34 - The "Symphony" of a perfect stroke (Like sheet music)
16:45 - Tiger Woods' secret putting weapon (Hint: It's not what you think)
20:30 - Green reading myths BUSTED (Why aimpoint isn't enough)
25:18 - Putter fitting lies exposed (Why most fittings fail)
30:22 - Speed golf putting secrets (Why fast = better)
35:40 - The "zero torque" scam (Industry doesn't want you to know)
40:15 - Mental game hacks (Stop fighting your line)
45:50 - Future of putting tech (AI coming soon)
50:38 - "You'll suck at first - here's why that's GOOD" (David's final tip)

In this episode of Don't Get Me Started, host Christopher Smith sits down with Dr. Mark Guadagnoli—neuroscience professor, performance coach, and expert in the psychology of elite performance.

Listeners can expect a deep dive into the mental side of golf and performance, as Dr. Guadagnoli shares insights from his work with world-class athletes, surgeons, and business leaders. The conversation explores how pressure affects performance, practical strategies to overcome mental barriers, and science-backed methods to accelerate learning.

Christopher and Dr. Guadagnoli also discuss optimizing practice, building confidence under pressure, and the importance of mindset in achieving peak performance. Whether you're a golfer, coach, or simply interested in performance psychology, this episode offers valuable takeaways on mastering the mental game.