Crossfield: How to squeeze more yards out of your drives
This series of videos will be posted every Tuesday (8:30 p.m. UK time). I make them to help golfers learn and improve their golf with fun, educational and fact-based golf coaching. Let’s keep sharing this info so we can all improve together.
This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.
With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.
Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!
Club Junkie
Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast
The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.
Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.
If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.
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Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
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Ryan
Apr 4, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Thank you, Mark. As someone who is not a scratch golf (far from it), your video was very informative. I’ve loved watching them on YouTube for a couple years and hope you continue the instructional videos. It’s nice to learn why certain things are happening and how to fix them. Thanks again!
HG Wells
Mar 31, 2016 at 11:02 am
Pretty sure this won’t end well! Mark’s whole thing is stating the obvious “just hit the ball better you stupid twits,” on a site dedicated to people obsessed with gear and swing theory, lol.
Jim H
Mar 31, 2016 at 12:30 am
I’ve been following Mark since he started producing videos on his old creeky-floored driving range. I was first attracted to him for his club reviews. But then his instructional side kicked in, followed by on-course videos with local buddies which are incredibly entertaining. He’s done more for my game in the past few years than all the golf magazines, lessons and other web sites I visit combined. What a great addition to WRX.
Barry
Mar 30, 2016 at 8:21 pm
Great stuff Mark. Forgive the trolls who have nothing better to do than hide behind their keyboards and fire off their negative crap. _That_ is what is boring and quite frankly old.
Mike
Mar 30, 2016 at 11:39 pm
Sod off mate
D'mack
Mar 30, 2016 at 7:38 pm
I’ve been a fan of Crossfield and shield for a while. I’m pumped there on WRX.
Jay
Mar 30, 2016 at 6:45 pm
Love your YouTube stuff. Looking forward to your wrx stuff!
Akim Bizati
Mar 30, 2016 at 8:09 pm
This is a good tip
golfraven
Mar 30, 2016 at 6:16 pm
Bored of the constant drive for more distance. How about more accuracy, Fairways hit and GIR and less putts per round.
kn
Mar 30, 2016 at 5:19 pm
Even though I am familiar with how and where you strike the ball affects distance and dispersion, I thought this video was full of excellent information, and could be very revealing to a lot of golfers out there seeking more distance. The numbers tell the story. Now it’s just a simple matter of delivering the club into exactly the right place, every time you swing. Simple. Guess that’s where a coach could come in handy.
Chet
Mar 30, 2016 at 4:01 pm
We’re all missing to the point here. He’s hitting a driver from 2016. I’m headed to my local golf super store. Cheers.
Chet
Mar 30, 2016 at 4:00 pm
We’re all missing to the point here. He’s hitting a driver from 2016. I’m headed to my local golf super store.
Mike Honcho
Mar 30, 2016 at 1:42 pm
:17-:18 did he say ‘long dongs’?
Mat
Mar 30, 2016 at 6:06 pm
Yep. Long Dongs.
SId
Mar 30, 2016 at 1:39 pm
Bit of an obvious first tip Mark, I hope your next isn’t how to cure a slice!
Ps i loved your round with Lee Westwood, just a pity you couldn’t get him to join in the bantz a bit more!
Good luck on Golfwrx
Brandon
Mar 30, 2016 at 2:24 am
Excellent vid. I remember reading that Nicklaus, when needing to get in the fairway, would aim left and hit the ball hard off the heel and it would start on the left side of the fairway and come back to center.
Martin
Mar 30, 2016 at 7:33 pm
Maybe that was easier to do when they all used persimmon woods?
RG
Mar 30, 2016 at 2:23 am
LET’S GET STUCK IN!!!!!
Blewis
Mar 30, 2016 at 1:37 am
Mark is refreshing in an industry that tries to obscure the reality; you need to work on your game and quit looking for gear to fix it for you. It impresses me that golfwrx has reached out to Mark and Rick. The site where shaftoids breed asking The Guru to guest lecture is brilliant.
Matto
Mar 30, 2016 at 12:22 am
Crossfield!!! Please please PLEASE post something on WRX about your opinion on driver shafts(shafts in general?)!!
I look forward to the responses!!!!!
Tbry
Mar 30, 2016 at 5:16 pm
I second this. It is amazing how the #’s change between relatively similar golf shafts.
Tom
Mar 29, 2016 at 11:00 pm
This guy is the British version of Michael Breed
Tom
Mar 29, 2016 at 10:55 pm
A game of millimeters.
Other Paul
Mar 29, 2016 at 10:40 pm
I am not surprised Mark is on here. We just need Kelvin Miyahira and i dont have to go to any other golf sites.
Jeff
Mar 29, 2016 at 8:45 pm
Mark is the best. Didn’t realize he joined golfwrx. Happy to see him onboard.
kevin
Mar 29, 2016 at 8:32 pm
you’re a legend mark! keeping on keeping on! ignore the KNUCKLEheads
Mat
Mar 29, 2016 at 6:43 pm
I have to say, this video impressed me. Why? Because it’s actual data. Crossfield is actually showing real differences, and not regurgitating marketing speak in his own unique (cough) way.
One of the things he didn’t mention, and how could you in a short video, is how that “lean back” alters the swing path. I know several guys who don’t have a “driver” swing because they’re using higher lofted drivers and a neutral AoA. If the loft is good, the dynamic angle is fine. Adding 4º of loft by leaning and moving the ball forward a later contact point. This can often lead to the banana ball.
I think the most important thing he says out of all of this is that he has “two swings”… his “pat pat” and his “long dong”. He says it… my inner-teen snickers. However, the concept of a fairway finder and full shot being two variances of style and not just tempo are important. You can’t just hit that low AoA harder and expect a lot of results in distance. You can’t hit up on a ball and keep it where you want without adjustment. Impact on the face is more important than it ever gets credit for in the 460cc age.
Andrew Olson
Mar 29, 2016 at 6:27 pm
Why is crossfield telling me how to hit the ball further when he can barely get it out there himself?
Mark Crossfield
Mar 29, 2016 at 7:27 pm
It’s a dream I have #oneday
Forsbrand
Mar 30, 2016 at 7:39 am
A very nice easy to understand video Mark, thank you! I enjoy all of your videos, especially your games with Gorilla James 😉 keep up the great work making it easy to understand this great game!
john
Mar 29, 2016 at 10:09 pm
I think if he was scaled up to say my size (6’3″) and build, he’d probably out drive me, his technique is sound, he’s just a bit wee.
KitchenTime
Mar 30, 2016 at 1:22 am
I just love that Mark responded! He has been the most fun part of golf for me over the last 3 years.
Ezra
Mar 30, 2016 at 5:08 am
You’re a funny guy! I think only 5% of the members of my golf club can drive further than 220 yards (carry distance). So for the vaste majority of us, those tips are relevant. If you want to brag about how far you can hit a ball: good for you! (but you may appear like a jerk 🙂 PD: I’m french so sorry for the bad English.
TR1PTIK
Mar 30, 2016 at 3:40 pm
Because I’d be willing to bet you can hit it further if you applied the information in his videos to your swing. Golf instructors don’t have to be tour pros or smash the driver a million miles. Your comment is full of ignorance.
Old Pappy
Apr 3, 2016 at 6:07 am
OK let me take a guess …. eeeere ……hmmmm, because Mark knows more about the golf swing than you do. Never mind it was just a guess.
4pillars
Mar 29, 2016 at 4:36 pm
I like both Shiels and Crossfield.
But why do I have to see them here.
I could go directly to their YouTube.
brian h
Mar 29, 2016 at 7:08 pm
many have no idea what you are talking about.
you dont have to see them here. It is here to help the masses that dont know about him to learn he exists.
4pillars
Mar 30, 2016 at 7:04 am
I think the masses should stay ignorant.
Jay
Mar 30, 2016 at 6:43 pm
Seems you’ve already got that covered
Nath
Mar 30, 2016 at 7:58 am
oah GOLFWRX what are you doing….
brian h
Mar 29, 2016 at 4:12 pm
Great to see you here on golfwrx. The best new stars are here. You are obviously one of them.
es
Mar 29, 2016 at 3:51 pm
Golf WRX first Shiels now Crossfield… good stuff.
Question – why aren’t there any USA based golf instructors / youtube stars. Seems like all the good golf youtube channels are all from peeps the UK…. who are now getting invited to come to the USA more and more often…
Shiels and Crossfield are hands down the 2 best golf equipment reviewers on youtube.
I watch Shiels when I want to hear affirmation on a particular club I want to buy.
I watch Crossfield when I want to buy a new club but trying to convince myself its not worth it.
🙂
Mat
Mar 29, 2016 at 6:34 pm
They’re all behind paywalls.
Brad Repplinger
Mar 29, 2016 at 9:47 pm
From content standpoint, are you more keen to product reviews/demos/data or on-course vlogs?
es
Mar 29, 2016 at 11:03 pm
i tend to watch the product reviews the most – both at the home course and when they are invited to demo days, I can say I bought the nike vrs covert tour because Crossfield like it. But now use a Ping LS Tec cause Shiels like. i like it more than golfdigest equipment review or even golfwrx equipment review. I’ve watch so many of their equipment review I feel as if I have a good understanding of how the equipment will preform for me based on what they say and what the numbers say. I like what they have to say about the looks of a club as well.
don’t really watch the instructional videos, not for me. my play similar to crossfield
watch on-course vlogs especially if they playing with tour pro and interviewing a tour pro, or if there is some type of challenge
Willy
Mar 30, 2016 at 7:07 am
Agree with this 100%. I’m addicted to this game and find myself watching all of Sheils and Crossfield’s vids on YouTube. I’m glad they are on golfWRX too though. Great stuff Mark, as always!