Off TRAQ Podcast — Golf's Real Conversations

If Rory McIlroy were an NBA player, would he be Kobe Bryant or LeBron James? Is Bryson DeChambeau golf's Steph Curry or Shaq? And is Scottie Scheffler the Tim Duncan of golf?We're back for Part 2 of Golf Greats in NBA Terms, and this time Charles and Roy take on the modern era of golf, with Alex returning as judge.From Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson to Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau, we debate which NBA players best represent today's biggest golfers.But we're looking beyond stats and championships. We're comparing career trajectories, playing styles, personalities, cultural influence, and even the controversies that define their legacies.Some comparisons are obvious. Others spark heated debates. And a few leave Alex questioning our basketball knowledge.After dozens of comparisons and some questionable judging decisions, one of us finally walks away with the win.Who did we get right? And which comparisons would you change?Welcome back to Off TRAQ, where golf meets everything else.Presented by TRAQ Golf — helping golfers practice with purpose.traqgolf.com

If Tiger Woods is golf's Michael Jordan, who's the NBA equivalent of Phil Mickelson? What about Jack Nicklaus, John Daly, or Anthony Kim?This week on Off TRAQ, Charles and Roy go head-to-head pitching NBA counterparts for 12 of golf's most recognizable players, while Alex serves as the judge.We're going beyond wins and championships to compare playing styles, personalities, rivalries, cultural impact, and the legacies that define these athletes.From the undisputed greatness of Tiger and Jordan to the unfulfilled potential of Anthony Kim, some comparisons are obvious, while others spark serious debate.Whether you're a golf fan, an NBA fan, or both, join us as we explain golf's greatest players in basketball terms.Who did we get right, and who deserves a different comparison?

Does playing in golf tournaments actually make you a better golfer, or does it just expose the weaknesses you already have?This week on Off TRAQ, Charles and Roy debate whether amateur golfers should compete in tournaments and what tournament pressure teaches you that a casual round with friends can't. Charles shares his experiences in individual competitions, team scrambles, and the Audi Quattro Cup—including why overpreparing has sometimes made him play worse.We get into course management, mental resilience, playing under pressure, and why tournament golf might be the best way to discover your true scoring ability. Plus, how much money would you have to bet with your friends to recreate that same competitive pressure?Then we lighten things up with a round of Golf Would You Rather, where Roy puts Charles through some impossible choices:Never three-putt again or never lose another ball?A perfect driver or perfect wedges for life?Driver off every tee (even par 3s) or never hit driver again?Break 80 but lose every bet, or win every bet but never break 90?Shoot 69 once or shoot 77 every round forever?Some answers might surprise you.Whether you're looking to take your game more seriously or just enjoy debating ridiculous golf hypotheticals, there's something for every amateur golfer in this episode.Off TRAQ is brought to you by TRAQ Golf. Practice with purpose using TRAQ Spray and Blueprint. Learn more at TRAQGolf.com.

Brian Kim, founder of Liteyear Golf, joins Off TRAQ to talk about what it really takes to build golf equipment from scratch and why most junior clubs are designed the wrong way.Brian shares how he went from DocuSign to launching a golf equipment company, what goes into designing clubs specifically for kids, why Liteyear chose blade style irons, and how weight, shaft design, feel, sizing, and manufacturing all come together.We also get Brian’s perspective on Grant Horvat’s Little Legends launch, the $200 junior golf club controversy, and whether more competition is ultimately good for the junior golf market.Then Charles and Roy get into this week’s bigger golf debates: whether the Presidents Cup is still a real rivalry, what could make the event more competitive, the latest equipment and golf ball rollback discussion, whether amateurs really play the “same equipment” as tour pros, and electric push carts being allowed in NCAA golf.CHAPTERS3:14 Brian Kim + story behind Liteyear Golf5:59 How Liteyear Golf got started12:05 Blade Irons for Kids?33:30 Brian Reacts to Lil' Legends Golf Set47:57 Rapid Fire Qs with Brian55:20 Near President's Cup Clash, Equipment Rollback, and Carts in College Golf?

Which golf stats actually help amateurs improve, and which ones are mostly noise? Charles and Roy go through driving distance, fairways hit, putts per round, greens in regulation, double bogeys, and handicap and decide what they would keep, kill, or replace. They also reveal the three stats they would track if they could only choose three.Then, they break down LIV Golf’s Chapter 11 restructuring, what it could mean for its biggest stars, and whether LIV ultimately changed professional golf for the better. Plus, TaylorMade is up for sale. Why now, what could the company be worth, and would Charles or Roy put their entire $3 billion portfolio into buying it?CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro 03:43 Are Golfers Tracking the Wrong Stats? 15:00 Driving Distance: Keep It or Kill It? 22:40 Why Fairways Hit Is a Flawed Golf Stat 30:54 Are Putts Per Round Misleading? 38:57 Is GIR the Most Important Golf Stat? 53:23 The Stat Amateurs Should Track 58:00 Is the Golf Handicap System Broken? 1:03:39 The 3 Golf Stats We'd Actually Track 1:07:12 What LIV Golf's Bankruptcy Means 1:12:14 Why TaylorMade Is For Sale 1:17:21 Would We Buy TaylorMade for $3 Billion? 1:21:30 Golf Jeopardy: Test Your Golf Knowledge