As long as there’s been custom fitting, golfers have wondered if the head or the shaft makes the difference in a driver fitting.

On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, co-host Johnny Wunder asked Impact Golf’s Eric Chung, one of Maylasia best fitters, what he thinks makes the fit.

“I like to keep things relatively simple with everything I do. But I’ve always favored heads,” Chung said. “Heads to me has always been paramount to any fit, whether it’s locked, whether it’s certain weight positions, even shapes, looks, feels, sounds, et cetera, et cetera, right? Spin rates on different areas.

“I always use the shaft as a pairing instrument, this so that they can center the strike a little bit better. Whether it’s length, whether it kicks, whether it’s being profiles, et cetera. So, to keep it really simple, um, predominantly head-based, um, head bias first and then shaft pairing.

“And then all the small things, like, whether it’s a preference of swing weight, grip sizes to, uh, even total masses, which is probably more important for me. Yeah, but it’s still along those lines, and as long as I just feel that you can get it close enough. Like, you know, 85, 90% of where it needs to be. 
It’s more than good enough, if that make sense. It doesn’t have to be completely dialed in or over optimized.”

The startegy for Chung is simple: Identify the best head, then dial everything, including shaft, in from there. Chung says you basically can get 85 to 90 percent of the way there before even touching the shaft.

For more from Wunder and Chung, listen to the full episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped here, or watch it below.

Want to overhaul your bag in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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Nigeria’s D’Tigress have suffered another setback at the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup after losing 71–67 to Hungary in Berlin on Saturday.

The African champions went into the Group B clash looking to bounce back from their 99–81 defeat to South Korea in their opening game.

However, despite staying within touching distance of Hungary for much of the contest, D’Tigress could not find the extra quality needed to turn their efforts into a win.

Hungary showed greater efficiency in key areas, particularly with their two-point shooting. They converted 24 of 41 attempts inside the arc, while Nigeria managed 17 from 44.

D’Tigress also struggled from long range, making just seven of their 25 three-point attempts. They converted 12 of 23 free throws.

Hungary, meanwhile, made four of their 14 attempts from beyond the three-point line and remained composed when the game reached its decisive stages.

The four-point defeat means Nigeria are still searching for their first victory after two Group B matches, leaving their chances of progressing to the knockout phase in serious danger.

With France next on Monday, D’Tigress now face a huge test against one of the strongest teams in the group.

The Nigerian side will need to recover quickly, improve their shooting and produce a much stronger performance against France if they are to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Enzo Maresca felt Manchester City’s record buy Enzo Fernandez slotted seamlessly into the side and backed the £125million man to be a crucial influence for the Blues this season.

Fernandez completed his move from Chelsea on deadline day and was initially named on the bench for City’s Premier League game with Coventry City. But an injury to Nico O’Reilly in the warm up prompted Maresca, who managed the Argentina international during their time together at Stamford Bridge, to hand Fernandez a full debut. The City chief was pleased with how the 25-year-old fared as Erling Haaland’s first half header earned City a 1-0 win and extended their perfect top flight start to three wins from three.

“It is much more easy with a player that you already share time together because they know exactly what you want,” said Maresca of City’s record signing. “We know each other very well and I know how good he is and I know that he he is going to help the team win games.”

Fernandez played 75 minutes and showed his composure and class, linking well with Rayan Cherki and causing Coventry problems from his advanced midfield role. And Maresca, who didn’t want to rush Fernandez straight into the side, felt the midfielder acquitted himself well in what were his first minutes since featuring for Chelsea on the opening weekend of the season.

“The reason why Enzo was on the bench was just because he arrived two days ago,” said the City boss. “I know how frustrating it has been for Enzo in the last two or three weeks so the idea was to give him some minutes but in the end he played from the start and was quite good and I am happy with his performance.”

O’Reilly missed the game with a back issue picked up in the warm up but City hope the issue isn’t serious with the Blues in Champions League action against Porto in midweek before travelling to Old Trafford for the Manchester derby next Sunday.

“Nico felt something in his back, doesn’t look something serious but he was not able to play,” said Maresca.

Being a writer can be a humbling business. So, let’s go ahead and invite the football gods to prove us wrong.

Included below is a listing of 5 Vikings predictions. Many have sent out some guesses about the team’s final record. Moreover, there has been no shortage of people who have made guesses about how the passer battle is going to unfold. Included below is some other ways at coming after what’s in store for the Minnesota Vikings in 2026.

Vikings Predictions | Getting Random

Prediction No. 1 — DT Domonique Orange Exceeds 3 Sacks

Big Citrus boasts some wiggle.

In a perfect world, Domonique Orange ends up being a true monster in the middle. Think back to those Pat Williams days when running on the Vikings was exceedingly difficult. Harrison Phillips offered similar abilities, albeit at a lesser level than Williams.

In Orange, the Vikings boast a 22-year-old talent who is going to get playing time as a rookie. Look for the newcomer to clog running lanes and chase down the passer.

Prediction No. 2 — RB Jordan Mason Clears 1,000 Yards

Most of the focus for Minnesota rests on the high-skill guys like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Think finesse instead of power.

Look for Jordan Mason to get tossed into the mix with greater frequency to help up the meanness level. At 27, Mr. Mason is within his physical prime. What’s encouraging for the Vikings is that he doesn’t have a ton of miles on the odometer. His 159 carries in 2025 were the highest of his career. Look for the carries to clear 250 as he expands his workload while maintaining his efficiency.

Prediction No. 3 — Max Bredeson Plays More Snaps than C.J. Ham Ever Did

C.J. Ham is a Minnesota Vikings legend. Consider his snap totals on offense during the Kevin O’Connell era:

• 2022: 169 Snaps
• 2023: 216 Snaps
• 2024: 269 Snaps
• 2025: 184 Snaps

Look for Max Bredeson to hit/surpass 270 snaps as the Vikings’ FB spot gets reinvigorated by youth.

Prediction No. 4 — Top Ten on O and D

Brian Flores is impressive. He’ll get his side to a top-ten finish in points against per game.

Kevin O’Connell still has something to prove. Last year, the Vikings finished at 26th in the NFL by averaging just 20.2 points per game. I say the skipper gets his side of the ball into a much better spot.

Prediction No. 5 — J.J. McCarthy Goes into 2027 With Momentum and Promise

Anybody buying J.J. McCarthy stock right now is doing so for cheap. Buying the same stock at the beginning of 2027 will mean needing to spend more money.

For a little while, the guess I’ve made is that Kyler Murray starts for the Vikings in Week 1. The catch has been that I’ve often been found insisting that McCarthy starts more games than Murray in the 2026 season. If that occurs, then this prediction could end up looking spiffy.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Ben Shelton and Trinity Rodman. Image via: Getty Images

Trinity Rodman was sitting in Ben Shelton’s player box at the US Open on Tuesday when the cameras found her.The ESPN commentary that followed introduced her as “Trinity Rodman, also known as Ben Shelton’s girlfriend, and also known as a member of the US women’s national team.” The on-screen graphic was similarly arranged: “Ben’s girlfriend & USWNT player.”Rodman is, of course, Shelton’s girlfriend. The two tennis and football stars made their relationship public in March 2025, after Rodman slid into Shelton’s DMs. Shelton, 23, is one of American tennis’s leading players, a left-handed power hitter who reached a career-high world No.5 in late 2025 and has already won four ATP titles in 2026, including the National Bank Open two weeks before the US Open.But Rodman has spent the better part of her career becoming recognisable without him.The 24-year-old is an Olympic gold medallist, an NWSL champion and the highest-paid women’s footballer in the world. She is also the daughter of NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, another fact that has often followed her into introductions of her own.

Soccer player Trinity Rodman celebrates after her boyfriend Ben Shelton, of the United States, won his match against Hubert Hurkacz, of Poland, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The ESPN description prompted a familiar reaction from fans online, particularly because there was no shortage of things from Rodman’s own career that could have been used instead.“Geez… she is so much more than Ben’s girlfriend,” one fan wrote.Another put it more bluntly: “Trin is an Olympic gold medalist, NWSL player and then Ben’s girlfriend. In that order.”

Rodman’s career does not need Shelton’s name attached to it

Rodman’s football career began long before she became a fixture in Shelton’s box.The Washington Spirit selected her No.2 overall in the 2021 NWSL Draft when she was 18, making her the youngest player ever selected at the time. She won the league’s Rookie of the Year award and helped Washington win the NWSL Championship in her first season.Three years later, she produced one of the defining moments of her international career.In the 2024 Paris Olympics final, Rodman scored in extra time against Japan as the United States won women’s football gold for the first time since 2012. She now has 13 goals in 57 appearances for the USWNT.At club level, her value has grown just as quickly. Rodman became the first player signed under the NWSL’s High Impact Player rule and agreed a landmark deal with Washington worth more than $1 million per season through 2028, making her the highest-paid player in the league.

FILE – Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman in action during the second half of an NWSL soccer match against the Portland Thorns FC, Friday, March 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams,File)

There is also the question of her surname, which has brought its own assumptions.Rodman has spoken openly about her complicated relationship with her father and rejected the idea that the name defines her.“He’s not a dad. Maybe by blood, but nothing else,” she said on Call Her Daddy.“I love to have my last name and when I say Rodman, it’s not my dad’s name, it’s my name.”She has been less defensive about being known as Shelton’s partner. In fact, Rodman has said she actually likes the term WAG, even while acknowledging why some people dislike it.“For me, I think I like the term personally because, like I said before, I feel like 24/7 I’m on in front of cameras, and so I think I use the term WAG for me to simplify what I’m doing,” she said on Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce in August.“For me, saying WAG, it’s me being like, ‘I’m Ben’s girlfriend.’ But I can understand why it’s so hated.”She described being able to share that experience with Shelton as “the best feeling in the world”, pointing to the fact that both are constantly training, competing and exhausting themselves doing the sports they love.That distinction matters. Rodman choosing to embrace the label is not the same thing as it being the most useful way to introduce her.

This has happened before

The US Open moment was not the first time Rodman’s identity has been filtered through the people around her.At Wimbledon in 2025, she was introduced during one of Shelton’s matches as “Tiffany” and had her father mentioned in the same breath.This time, the mistake was different. Her name was right, her relationship was real and her football career was acknowledged. Yet the order still said something: Ben’s girlfriend first, USWNT player second.

Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman shoots as Seattle Reign FC midfielder Samantha Meza, right, looks on during the first half of an NWSL soccer match, Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

There was plenty of room for a different introduction.Rodman was not simply another celebrity sitting in a tennis player’s box. She was an Olympic champion watching another elite American athlete compete at one of the biggest sporting events in the world.She can be Ben Shelton’s girlfriend. She can be Dennis Rodman’s daughter. She can even happily call herself a WAG.None of those things requires her own achievements to come second.At 24, Trinity Rodman has already built a career substantial enough to stand on its own. At the US Open, she happened to be there to support someone else.For once, she deserved the spotlight without needing to be introduced through him.

The Ciaron Maher stable recently achieved a top four finish in a maiden race at Sandown.

Two of those contenders are now advancing to a Stakes race at Sandown, aiming to build on the good form exhibited by the Maher stable.

Saintly Dancer and Ghana’s Akan, who finished first and second respectively in the August 19 maiden event, are slated to compete in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes over 1300 metres this Saturday.

Jack Turnbull, the National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, remarked that the prevailing track conditions could play a significant role in the outcome for the stable’s two fillies on Saturday.

Saintly Dancer benefited from the Soft 7 conditions during her Sandown victory, whereas Ghana’s Akan handled the ground but was not as effective.

“Saintly Dancer is up-and-coming and we don’t know her ceiling, a bit like with Ghana’s Akan,” Turnbull shared.

“Saintly Dancer profiles like a horse that will get seven or eight (furlongs – 1400m to 1600m) in time.

“She’s more your middle distance, scopey type whereas Ghana’s I think will be restricted to 1100m to 1400m this prep.

“She’s quite speedy and I don’t think either filly will have too many excuses on Saturday, provided the track is OK.

“Ghana’s probably doesn’t want a boggy track.”

The track was rated a Good 4 on Friday morning, although rain is forecast to begin on Friday evening.

Turnbull highlighted that Ghana’s Akan’s draw of barrier four is advantageous for Saturday’s race, in contrast to Saintly Dancer, who is in gate 10.

Ghana’s Akan has raced six times, securing three second placings, and has amassed close to $500,000 in prize money without a victory.

“Ghana’s has always had improvement this campaign,” Turnbull noted.

“She’s looked rough in the coat coming off the back of winter, but both fillies are very exciting.”

Apprentice Jabez Johnstone, who rides exclusively for Maher, will be making his third ‘Black Type’ Victorian appearance when he rides Saintly Dancer, a horse on whom he won at Sandown.

“It’s good reward for Jabez to retain the ride in a Black Type race,” Turnbull concluded.

Ethan Brown is booked to ride Ghana’s Akan.

Consider the racing betting markets for this upcoming event.

It was another frustrating afternoon for Nigeria internationals Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi as Fulham suffered their third consecutive Premier League defeat after losing 3-2 to Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage.

Fulham started brightly and took the lead in the 11th minute when Josh King’s shot took a deflection and looped over Dean Henderson.

Palace briefly thought they had found an equaliser through Daichi Kamada, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

The visitors eventually got their goal in the 35th minute, with Tyrick Mitchell beating Bernd Leno with a powerful finish.

Fulham responded before the break. Henderson saved Gonzalo García’s effort, but César Palacios was in the right place to fire in the rebound and restore the hosts’ lead.

Palace came out strongly after the interval and levelled nine minutes into the second half when another deflection saw Mitchell’s effort roll over the line.

Both teams then pushed for the winner, with Fulham coming close through Oscar Bobb, only for Henderson to produce an important save.

The decisive moment arrived in the 75th minute when former Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell reacted quickest to a loose ball and volleyed home to put Palace in front.

Fulham threw players forward in search of another equaliser, with Rodrigo Muniz and Ryan Sessegnon both going close, but Palace defended their advantage to claim their first win of the season.

For Fulham, the defeat leaves them without a point from their opening three league games — a difficult start for Marco Silva’s side.

Bassey and Iwobi will now be hoping Fulham can quickly turn their fortunes around before the pressure grows further.

Former India batter Suresh Raina has backed Abhishek Sharma for a place in India’s Test setup while insisting that Rishabh Pant remains an X-factor in white-ball cricket despite establishing himself as one of the country’s key red-ball players.

Raina made the remarks while speaking on former India opener Aakash Chopra’s YouTube channel, where he also discussed the development of young players and the importance of encouraging them to consider Test cricket.

Raina wants Abhishek to make the Test leap

Raina believes Abhishek, who has emerged as one of India’s most explosive white-ball batters, has the ability to make the transition to the longest format.

“I feel Abhishek Sharma should play Test cricket. Vaibhav is very young. Does he want to play? What do his coaches think? These are questions. I feel he should play. Are the IPL owners and associations also thinking of this and putting Test cricket in players’ minds? Coaches also have a role here,” Raina said.

Abhishek has already featured regularly for India in white-ball cricket and previously held the No.1 position in the ICC T20I batting rankings. While his red-ball numbers are not yet outstanding, he has shown enough promise to suggest that he could develop into a useful Test option.

The left-hander has scored 1,071 runs in 24 first-class matches and 37 innings at an average of 30.60, with one century and five half-centuries. He has also contributed with the ball, taking 20 wickets in the format.

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Raina sees Pant as an X-factor in white-ball cricket

Raina was equally effusive in his praise for Pant, who has become an established part of India’s Test setup but has been away from the limited-overs teams since 2024. Pant has amassed 3,725 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 43.82, including eight centuries and 21 half-centuries. His aggressive approach and ability to change the course of a match have made him one of India’s most influential Test batters.

“He has worked hard. I am very happy. Everyone does well, but he is one of the best. He is my favourite player. He is scoring a lot in Tests. He has that X factor. I think he will mature in white-ball and IPL as well. He has done really well,” Raina said.

Pant last played a T20I for India against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on July 28, 2024, while his most recent ODI appearance came against the same opposition in Colombo on August 7, 2024.

Alas Pilipinas’ Khy Progella and Sofia Pagara during a match against Australia in the AVC Beach Volleyball Continental in Shanglou, China.–AVC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines’ campaign in the 2026 AVC Asian Beach Volleyball Championships came to an end on Saturday following the loss of Khy Progella and Sofia Pagara.

Alas Pilipinas’ duo of Progella and Pagara bowed out of the quarterfinals after absorbing a 21-11, 21-14 loss at the hands of Australia’s Stefanie Fejes and Taliqua Clancy.

Progella and Pagara were the last Philippine representatives heading into Sunday’s games.

READ: Alas women pair stays unbeaten in AVC Asian Beach Volleyball

Just 24 hours before their elimination, the decorated pair of Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons was shown the door by Japan’s Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami, 21-11, 21-16.

In men’s action, James Buytrago and Ronniel Rosales were also unable to rack up wins, faltering to Japan and Australia in the preliminaries.

The Philippine beach volleyball contingent may have bowed early in the AVC tournament–an Olympic qualifier for Los Angeles 2028–but they still have a shot at bringing glory to the country in the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games later this month.

Also seeing action for the Philippines in the Asiad beach volleyball event are Alnakran Abdilla and Lerry Francisco.