Welcome to Kick Point: The Golf Gear Show brought to you by Golf Monthly. Each week a new episode will land providing you with in-depth gear-related insights. Whether you are thinking your next purchase or you're interested in the finer details behind golf club design and fitting, this show provides a light-hearted, informative look at all areas of golf equipment.
You can listen to Kick Point: The Golf Gear Show below...
Dan Parker plays the role of host with former Tour player, expert club fitter and golf gear geek, Joe Ferguson, offering the insights. Each week the two will discuss what they've been testing, provide explanations of the techniques used by designers and fitters to produce the best gear and discuss the club line ups of the best and most influential players.
You can watch the latest episode (and every episode so far) of Kick Point: The Golf Gear Show in the video playlist below...
Get in touch with Dan and Joe by dropping an email to: kickpointpodcast@futurenet.com. We would love to hear your suggestions for reviews, player's bags to cover and golf gear terminology to debunk.
You can download each episode of Kick Point: The Golf Gear Show from your favorite podcast platform. While you're there, why not leave Dan and Joe a review!
Episode Descriptions
Theegala's Clubs, The Butter Blade & How To Be Sure You Get A Good Club Fitter
Another busy episode this week, thanks for joining us! To start, Dan has a James Bond-themed show-and-tell from a recent trip to Stoke Park. The name's Pride, Golf Pride...
Meanwhile, Joe's been testing a viral training aid called 'The Butter Blade' and explains how using something that makes practice harder could be the key to better golf out on the course. This week's explainer focuses on the difference between professional men's and women's clubs. Having both watched the AIG Women's Open and Solheim Cup over the end of the summer, we wanted to discuss the key differences between the specs of men's and women's clubs and how most amateur golfers might be better served looking in the bags of LPGA Tour players for an ideal set up and spec sheet.
Our Ask The Pod this week comes from Matthew, who wants to know how he can be sure he's getting a good fitting service next time he buys a new club. Joe gives him some easy questions you can ask to make sure the fitter you're going to knows what they're doing. Finally, our WITB deep dive this week looks into Sahith Theegala's bag. The charismatic American has only been on the Tour for two years, yet he's felt like something of a regular atop leaderboards on the PGA Tour. He also has two 8-irons in this bag, what's that all about?
Published on October 24th, 2024
Matt Fitzpatrick WITB Special & Should You Buy Lessons Or Equipment First?
You thought our run of interviews was over. We thought our run of interviews was over. That was until Matt Fitzpatrick invited us for an in-depth chat about his golf clubs at a recent Skechers event in London. While Joe covered his clubs extensively in an episode a few months ago, his in-person chat with Matt allowed him to ask some of the questions left unanswered by his research while also diving into the equipment changes he's made over the late summer.
Also this week, Joe explains exactly what CG is in a golf club and how it affects ball flight, Dan has a new GPS watch that might have too much data and our best Ask The Pod to date asks us, 'What should I invest in first - lessons to get my swing in good shape before buying new clubs, or new clubs so I can make sure I'm learning with the correct equipment?' There's also a guest appearance from Ozzy Osbourne, sort of...
Published on October 21st, 2024
Joe's Workshop, Oosthuizen's In The Bag Special & Launch Monitor Data Explained
This week, Joe gives us his insight into how to build your very own club workshop, we explain what the data you see on a launch monitor actually means, Dan tests the new Adidas Codechaos shoes AND Louis Oosthuizen joins us for a what's in the bag special. It's another jam-packed episode, hope you enjoy it!
Published on October 3rd, 2024.
PXG Black Ops Irons, Garcia's In The Bag Special & Do Tees Effect Distance?
This week, Joe has yet another iron family to review, this time from PXG. As well as the game improvement PXG Black Ops irons (the first ever true game improvement iron from PXG), he's also recently tested the 0311 P & XP Gen 7 irons. Despite the complex naming system that PXG continues to employ with some of its franchises, Joe gives his full verdict on these fresh offerings in the iron market to see if they can compete alongside the more established brands.
The explainer this week may sound a little simple, but stick with us. The tee is a part of equipment that isn't given enough time in our opinion, so we thought it was only right to spend some time on the topic. Do you think about what tee you use and why? Stick around as Joe dives into this surprisingly interesting equipment sub-category and reveals the results of some tee testing (yes, really) he's recently conducted.
Finally, the 2017 Masters Champion and the most decorated European in Ryder Cup history Sergio Garcia joins us for an in-depth look at his equipment. Now an uncontracted player, Sergio's bag comes with a few surprises and a real mixture of equipment brands.
Published on September 26th, 2024.
Mizuno JPX925 Irons, Patrick Reed's In The Bag Special & Loft And Lie Explained
This week, Joe gives his verdict on the latest Mizuno JPX925 Hot Metal irons. One of the most popular iron franchises for the discerning golfer who still requires some of added forgiveness, Joe reviews all three new models that were launched last month. After that, the Explainer this week focusses on loft & lie on golf clubs. We all likely know what loft is and what lie angle is, but Joe divea into what they effect when it comes to hitting the ball and why both are such important aspects of club fittings to get right.
We're also very excited to welcome Patrick Reed onto the podcast for a WITB special. Patrick has one of the most unique bags on any of the global tours, and Joe managed to corral him for a chat earlier this year at the LIV UK event. From his custom ferrules to his flatter than flat irons and spoon wedge, it's one of the best WITB interviews we've had on the podcast so far - enjoy!
Published on September 19th, 2024.
TaylorMade P Series Irons, Bubba's In The Bag Special & Grips Explained
Another jam packed episode for you this week, thanks for downloading! Tested this week features TaylorMade's 2024 P Series irons. With the well-loved P770 receiving a face lift and the all-new P7CB being introduced a few weeks ago, Joe gives his full verdict on how well TaylorMade has refined and improved on its flagship iron series.
This week's explainer is something of a back to basics on grips. It's the only part of the golf club golfers actually touch, so it's an important facet of the game to get right. Joe dives into different grip types, tapers, compounds, grip tape and, of course, finds a way to shoe horn in Scottie Scheffler's famous grip trainer.
Finally, the lads are very excited to welcome two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson onto the podcast. The colorful left hander is known to have one of the most unique set ups in the game - specifically when it comes to his grips - and Joe spent some time with Bubba at the LIV UK event in July to ask him just how his bag of equipment came to be. All of this, plus another edition of Ask The Pod, enjoy!
Published on September 12th, 2024.
Grading Every Equipment Brand's Year (So Far) & Henrik Stenson WITB Special
This week Dan and Joe are 'Live From LIV' with a bit of a different, but nonetheless jam-packed, episode of Kick Point. The lads were on site at JCB Golf & Country Club for the LIV UK event back in July and have lined up six WITB specials with some of the game's biggest names. This week, they're joined by Henrik Stenson who talks through his eclectic and somewhat aging bag of equipment. Yes, that iconic 3-wood is still in the bag but there's also some new nuggets and equipment tweaks the Ice Man is still making.
Before they chat to Henrik, Joe wanted to sit back and take stock of the year in equipment so far. Seeing as it was the summer holidays when they recorded this, Dan and Joe spend some time grading each of the major equipment manufacturers year so far. Who goes home to happy parents with their A grade and who has plenty to work on going into next year?
Published on August 29th, 2024.
Akshay Bhatia's Clubs, The Origins Of Bryson's New Irons & A Watermelon Golf Bag
On this episode, Dan's in charge of Tested This Week with a new watermelon pattern bag from Ping and G/FORE's new G/18 to show off in the studio. Meanwhile, Joe's been busy doing some investigative journalism and has been chatting to the founder of Avoda Golf, Tom Bailey. Avoda irons have been in the bag of one Bryson DeChambeau since this year's Masters, and Joe tells the story of how Avoda Golf came to be and how its relationship opened up with Bryson.
Finally, the WITB this week dives into the golf bag of Akshay Bhatia. While not the biggest name in the game (just yet), a quick look in his bag reveals what seems to be a real gear nerd and equipment tweaker. Joe takes a detailed look at some of the unique choices he's made including a draw bias driver and a Tour-only driver adapter.
Published on August 22nd, 2024
Hovland's Clubs, The Half Price Pro V1s & Bounce Explained
Thanks for joining us for another episode of Kick Point! First, our Tested This Week comes in the shape of Seed golf balls, a direct-to-consumer golf ball brand now available in the UK and US that claims to offer balls that perform as well as the big brands best balls for half the price. Joe has been out on the golf course and with his Trackman to put these claims to the test...
Joe's explainer this week is something of a back to basics, but with a Kick Point twist, all about bounce. Joe talks through what bounce is, how we can use it to our advantage on course and asks why iron sets don't come with different bounce options.
Finally, this week's What's In The Bag is Viktor Hovland. The Norwegian has had a tough year on Tour after winning the FedEx last year - has he made any drastic equipment changes to try and help him out?
Published in August 15th, 2024
Åberg's Clubs, 3D Printing Explained & 'The Future Of Golf Club Manufacturing'
We're back in the studio this week after our recent trip to The Wisley. Joe has been out testing Cobra's new LIMIT3D iron, the first fully 3D printed iron to be available at retail. Cobra launched the irons with bold claims of 'blade looks' with 'game improvement forgiveness' and Joe's testing reveled some incredible findings.
It felt fitting after chatting about the LIMIT3D iron to delve into the wider relationship between golf club manufacturing and 3D printing. What exactly is it? What are the benefits of 3D printing when it comes to club manufacturing and prototyping? When will we see more of this? Finally, this week's WITB dives into the bag of Ludvig Åberg. The super Swede signed a deal with Titleist at the end of 2023, but his bag still holds a few secrets and pieces of Tour sauce well worth tuning in for.
Published on August 8th, 2024.
Richard Bland WITB Special
This week, we welcome our first ever guest onto Kick Point - Richard Bland. We spoke to Richard at his home club The Wisley the week after he won the Senior PGA Championship in Michigan. With very mixed bag, this episode is a really interesting dive into a fellow equipment nerd's bag.
After we spoke to him, Cleeks GC went on to win its first team event at LIV Houston and Richard went on to win the US Senior Open, so we'll consider this appearance Kick Point's first podcast bump! Hope you enjoy this special (we've got plenty of guests lined up to join us very soon) and we'll be back next week with our usual format back in the studio.
Published on August 1st, 2024. This episode is available in audio only.
Rory's Clubs, L.A.B Putters & Putter Fittings Explained
This week's episodes comes from The Wisley in Surrey - our first podcast outside of the studio! To commemorate the feat, Joe and Dan dive deep into the world of putters, first looking at the takeover of L.A.B putters before Joe talks through the benefits of getting a putter fitting and the kinds of questions you should be asking a fitter when getting your next flatstick.
After a quick foray into the halfway house, the What's In The Bag this week is that of one Rory McIlroy. A long-time TaylorMade ambassador, there's still plenty of tour sauce in Rory's bag to get stuck into.
Published on July 25th, 2024. This episode is available in audio only.
Fitzpatrick's Clubs, Best Launch Monitors (For All Budgets) & Shaft Puring Explained
Joe has been busy testing launch monitors over the last few months, so we thought we'd start this episode by getting him to talk through the key differences camera and radar based systems, while also giving his verdict on launch monitors from right across the price spectrum - what would Joe recommend going for if we was building his very own home simulator? After that, he gets stuck into what Dan thinks is the most interesting explainer to date - shaft puring (stick with it!)
After a quick stop at the JCB Golf & Country Club halfway hut, our What's In The Bag this week is Matt Fitzpatrick, one of the most meticulous minds in the game of golf with a similarly intricate bag set up.
Published on July 18th, 2024.
Schauffele's Clubs, TaylorMade R7 Quad & Japanese Forging Explained
Joe has been testing some stunning clubs from Japan, specifically the Bose Iron Factory, owned and founded by Falcon Matsubura. After a chat about these rather intimidating blades, the lads chat about Japanese forging practices more broadly - is it still the gold standard?
After that, Joe has another piece of 'gear that changed the game' in the shape of the TaylorMade R7 Quad driver before the pair dive into the bag of recently crowned PGA Champion Xander Schauffele.
Published on July 11th, 2024.
Korda's Clubs, Top Budget Equipment & 'The Most Iconic Wedge Of All Time'
This week Dan and Joe take a deep dive into the bag of women's world number one Nelly Korda, discuss some of the best 'budget' irons and drivers on the market right now and take a dive into the Halfway Hut at The Belfry.
Also this week, Joe also kicks off a new franchise he's coined 'Gear That Changed The Game' with the Ping Eye2 Copper Beryllium wedge - a wedge he describes the 'most iconic wedge of all time'.
Published on July 4th, 2024.
Bryson's Clubs, Malbon Clothing Debate & Tipping Explained
In episode two, Dan and Joe discuss the furore around the Malbon clothing Jason Day wore at the US Masters. Joe explains what 'tipping' is in relation to shafts and custom fitting and the two take a deep-dive look at the club set-up of the mercurial Bryson DeChambeau.
Published on June 27th, 2024.
Scheffler's Clubs, TaylorMade BRNR Mini, Hot Melt Explained & Nike Shoes
In episode one, Dan and Joe kick things off by looking at the growing trend of players using two drivers. Dan provides his view on Nike's work in the golf shoe market. Joe reveals how the Tour fitters use 'hot melt' to improve the performance of drivers and the two discuss the interesting club line up of world number one, Scottie Scheffler.
Published on June 20th, 2024.
