Off TRAQ Podcast: Golf Debates, Myths, and Hot Takes That Actually Matter

What if Tiger’s entire career starts in 2010 instead of 1996?We break down the alternate timeline and debate whether Tiger still becomes “GOAT Tiger” in the modern era. How much of his dominance was skill, how much was timing, and how much was psychological pressure on the field? We also get into what GOAT even means, the majors math, and how the modern tour changes the ceiling.After the main debate, we hit the weekly golf news and close with a fun ranking of the worst feelings in golf.Chapters:00:00 2010 Tiger Debut: Is He Still GOAT?32:27 This Week's Golf Headlines42:22 Blind Ranking: Worst Feeling in Golf

Are the driver and iron swings actually the same, or are they two completely different swings?In this episode of Off TRAQ, we kick things off with a deep debate on one of golf’s most argued questions: driver vs iron swings. We break down setup, mechanics, feel vs reality, and why so many golfers stripe irons but lose their driver or vice versa.From there, we recap the most interesting tech from the PGA Show, including smart putting balls, grip sensors, budget launch monitors, and why so much modern golf tech provides data without real instruction.We close the episode with a mindset conversation every golfer can relate to: what’s the difference between a fun round and a scoring round? Should you always keep score, or is it okay to stop caring and just enjoy the day?If you like honest golf debates, tech breakdowns, and real conversations about how golfers actually play the game, this episode is for you.Chapters:00:00 Driver vs Iron Swing Debate24:21 2026 PGA Show Recap24:36 Smart Putting Tech35:41 Budget Launch Monitors44:49 New Equipment Standouts53:36 Push Carts & Scooters01:04:09 Fun Rounds vs Scoring Rounds

Buying a new driver shouldn’t feel this complicated — but for most golfers, it does.In this episode, we cover three core topics:• How we personally approach buying a new driver• The biggest current headlines in golf and what actually matters• Why finding a good club fitter is harder than it should beWe cut through marketing noise, talk honestly about gear decisions, and dig into the structural problems that lead golfers to spend money without getting better.This is a candid, practical conversation for everyday golfers who want clarity — not hype.Chapters00:30 – What Charles Actually Looks for in a Driver13:32 – The Only Launch Monitor Data That Matters19:43 – The Right Questions to Ask a Club Fitter24:01 – Common Mistakes When Buying a New Driver27:28 – Rory’s Equipment Change and What It Really Means38:39 – Brooks Koepka and the Reality of a PGA Tour Return46:49 – Is Bryson DeChambeau Worth $500 Million?52:12 – Why It’s So Hard to Find a Truly Great Fitter

2026 golf drivers are starting to surface, and we break down the driver releases and early teases we’ve heard so far — what’s actually new, what feels incremental, and what golfers should realistically care about heading into the season.We also dive into the six new PGA of America rule changes, explaining what changed, why it matters, and how these updates impact everyday golfers, not just tour players.To close things out, we get personal and talk through our 2026 golf goals — what we’re working on, where we’re being honest about our games, and how we’re approaching improvement this year.If you’re into golf equipment, rule updates, and real conversations about getting better, this episode covers it all.⏱ Chapters0:00 – 2026 Golf Driver Releases & Early Teases32:11 – PGA of America: 6 New Rule Changes47:12 – Our 2026 Golf Goals

Golf etiquette. LIV Golf. And a little self-reflection to close it out.In this episode, Charles and Roy break down the golf pet peeves and etiquette rules golfers break all the time — including the ones they’re guilty of themselves. From pace-of-play issues to subtle on-course habits, nothing is off-limits.They also dive into the LIV Golf debate, discussing whether LIV players should be allowed back on the PGA Tour and what fairness really looks like in professional golf.To wrap it up, they reflect on their own golf year in review — what worked, what didn’t, and what they’re taking into the next season.This is also our last episode of the year. We’ll be taking a few weeks off to reset and recharge, and we’ll be back soon with more Off TRAQ.Whether you’re a weekend golfer, a golf traditionalist, or just tired of that guy in your group, this episode hits close to home.Chapters0:00 – Golf Etiquette & Pet Peeves We All Break22:10 – Should LIV Golfers Be Allowed Back?42:35 – Our Golf Year in ReviewAbout Off TRAQOff TRAQ is a weekly golf podcast where Charles and Roy break down the debates, culture, gear, and stories golfers actually talk about. Honest takes, relatable experiences, and zero perfect swings required.

New dad, no range time, stuck in traffic, shows up late… and somehow plays one of his best rounds of the year.In this episode, Charles breaks down how a single swing thought (footwork!) completely changed his game — and why training while holding a newborn actually works. We also review the $50 Amazon rangefinder vs a $550 Bushnell Pro XE, talk LAB putter feel and inserts, and debate the Golf Digest “Build Your Ultimate Round” challenge.Whether you’re a golf dad, gear nerd, or someone trying to get better without touching a range, this episode hits all the relatable pain points.⛳ Chapters00:00 – Solo Dad Golf Hour01:19 – Stressful No-Warmup Round05:50 – LAB DF3 Putter Review Round 209:44 - LAB DF3 Insert Sighting11:29 – Testing the $50 Rangefinder vs Bushnell20:49 – What New Dads Can Actually Train at Home27:28 – Ultimate Round Golf Draft ($80 Challenge)🎧 Topics• Playing well with no warmup• Footwork training at home with a newborn• LAB DF3 putter performance & feel• $50 rangefinder vs $550 Bushnell• Why slope readings differ so much• Building your “Ultimate Round” with $80• Hole-in-one odds vs albatross rarity• Simulator hole-in-one challenge debate

Shopping for golfers is impossible — we’re picky, brand-loyal, and half the time we already bought the thing you were planning to gift us.In this episode, Charles and Roy break down the best golf gifts of 2025, including:Stocking stuffers under $50Solid picks under $200Splurge gifts golfers actually loveAccessories we use every roundGifts to avoid unless you really know the golferWe also give our honest take on the 2025 Skins Game, why it didn’t live up to the hype, and why the Internet Invitational pulled off a better creator event.Whether you’re a golfer shopping for yourself or someone trying to buy a gift for the golfer you love, this episode will save you money, frustration, and a few returns.Chapters• 0:00 – Ultimate Golf Gift 2025• 2:46 – Stocking Stuffers (Under $50)• 22:17 – Gifts Under $200• 34:15 – Splurge Gifts• 42:32 – Why the Skins Game FailedAbout Off TRAQEvery week, Charles and Roy break down golf’s biggest debates, myths, gadgets, gear decisions, and the stories golfers actually talk about. Raw takes, honest opinions, and zero perfect swings required.

This week on Off TRAQ, we break down one of golf’s most overlooked decisions: choosing the right tee box. Most golfers play from the wrong tees — and it affects scoring, pace, and the way the course is meant to be played. We walk through different ways to pick your tees, what yardages matter, and the ego traps every amateur falls into.We also have some fun with a big hypothetical:If you could steal one skill from any pro golfer — driver, irons, wedges, or putting — what are you taking to improve your game?And finally, we share our honest thoughts on TopGolf — just our experiences and how it fits into the golf world today.Come hang out for a mix of real golfer talk, practical tips, and the usual Off TRAQ debates.ChaptersTee Boxes: Why Most Golfers Choose WrongThe One Pro Skill We’d StealOur Thoughts on Topgolf

This week on Off TRAQ, Charles and Roy break down the entire $1M Internet Invitational, the creator golf tournament that’s taken over YouTube thanks to slope-gate, lie-gate, captaincy drama, and some surprisingly elite golf.We dig into our first impressions, what the event got right, and where it completely fell apart. We talk slope controversy, lie-flattening, Paige’s captain decisions, and why one team’s strategy worked.We also run through our winners and losers of the event: who impressed, who disappointed, and who came out looking better (or worse) than before.Should they run this back … or should it never happen again?If you enjoy creator golf, Good Good drama, tournament breakdowns, and honest golf debates, this episode is for you.

This week on Off TRAQ, Charles and Roy go head-to-head in the Build-A-Bag Challenge, competing to build the perfect golf bag for their guest, Richard Kim, using his budget. They break down wood choices, iron setups, wedge gapping, and putter philosophy, revealing how two golfers can create completely different bags from the same starting point.Whose setup will Richard choose — and which one would you play?If you love What’s In The Bag videos, golf debates, and gear talk, this one’s for you.

This week on Off TRAQ, Charles and Roy tee up two of the most debated topics in golf.First, they break down the pros and cons of the most popular putter styles: blade, mallet, and zero torque. Whether you're a feel-first player or chasing tech and forgiveness, they unpack which design might actually help amateurs sink more putts and why looks vs performance might not be as straightforward as you think.Then, the conversation shifts to full swings: should golfers swing hard or swing smooth? They explore how swing effort affects performance, injury risk, tempo, and control — and whether a “Rory rip” or an “Fred Couples tempo” is better for the average player.1:29 Today's Topics1:54 What's Happening in Golf8:14 Which Putter is Best?32:23 Shoulder Golfers Swing Hard or Smooth?

This week on Off TRAQ, Charles and Roy ask the question many amateurs overlook; does the golf ball actually matter? Then they square off over which is better for golfers' game: playing a short course or grinding at the range. And finally, they bring back a fun segment: asking ChatGPT what it thinks of more golf brands, this time covering Cobra, PXG, Mizuno, and Srixon.

This week on Off TRAQ, Charles and Roy break down the biggest mistakes beginners and amateurs make when buying clubs — from $800 “starter kits” to full matching bags that scream marketing. Then they dive into the debate over one-length irons: genius idea or total gimmick? And finally, they asked ChatGPT what it thinks of major golf brands and the golfers that play them; see if AI actually nailed the stereotypes.

We kick off Off TRAQ with three of golf’s most heated debates - should amateurs play blades, are Ryder Cup fans out of control, and what really makes someone a golf D-bag? Charles and Roy dive into the opinions that golfers actually argue about.