Sports
Toulon Golf dropped its new putter collection. Here’s what caught my eye
Toulon Golf has released its 2026 Collection of putters, and I got a sneak peek at what they have to offer.
Toulon has added a couple of new models in the Monaco and the Boston, plus well as refinements across the board. They’ve also brought back their crowd favorite Deep Diamond Mill pattern, this time with a groove similar to the pattern that Xander Schauffele won two majors with in 2024. This is now the third collection release from this “third life” of Toulon Golf following on growth and success in 2024 and 2025. Let’s take a look at what makes the 2026 collection different, and give some insight into the company itself and its family members Sean, Kathy, Preston, Tony, and honorary family member Toru.
;)
Jake Morrow / GOLF
The first thing you’ll notice about Toulon’s 2026 collection is the Midnight Blue finish. This is a finish that has been used in their Toulon Smallbatch program with putters like Smallbatch Sea Island, Smallbatch Pinehurst and Smallbatch Palo Alto. It’s been quite the crowd pleaser so they decided to bring it to their 2026 collection along with accents and paintfill in white and cool grey. The putters are milled once again from 304 stainless steel which is a bit of a softer material compared to some other milled putters on the market, and they take their time in the milling machine. You can see very soft milling details everywhere you look on the new 2026 collection putters and they’ve included their Saulsalito fine milling patter on some of the 6061 aluminum sole plates as well.
;){kind=logo}
Jake Morrow / GOLF
While Toulon has always been known for their beauty — and, with the new finish and a softer overall shaping approach, that’s still a focus — this year’s line focused in on performance.
;)
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
This led to the development of the latest iteration of the Deep Diamond Mill face pattern, a crowd favorite. The new mill pattern is a touch shallower than players may remember from older iterations of Toulon Design, but more closely resembles the milling pattern that starred in Schauffele’s two 2024 major wins. They have also added a groove to the pattern this year, which helps get the ball into its initial roll faster and with more efficiency. From a feel perspective it gives the putter a bit more volume, but not at the sacrifice of pitch.
;)
Jake Morrow / GOLF
You get a nice confident impact sound without any ringing or “shatter” to the sound. There’s also an intentional approach to hand feedback. Each putter has been built with the maximum MOI they can pull out of that given shape, so you’ll get a bit more feedback from the blades than you will the mallets, but it’s nice “player’s desired” feedback. Not harsh enough to make you jump, but just enough to make sure you know you missed the middle of the face.
;)
Jake Morrow / GOLF
Toulon’s new line doesn’t make revolutionary changes; in some ways that’s the point. They’re sticking to their guns and making thoughtful and directed tweaks in their efforts to improve and refine. There’s a lot of purpose in the changes they make not only to the putters but to the lineup itself.
What’s also important is the putters that aren’t in the line. Toulon has only added two new models this year, but you’ll also notice that lots of models have been removed from the line. Carlsbad, Charleston, Atlanta, Miami, and New York City were all put on the chopping block. One of Toulon’s superpowers is its loyal consumers, and the company is geared towards making sure that they are doing right by them. Curating the lineup into the right combination of shapes and necks takes some serious thought. Making sure that they are covering everything that their base wants to buy from them is on the short list of priorities.
New shape offerings for 2026
The two new models in Boston and Monaco tell the story of where Toulon is innovating. Boston is their first long-neck offering in a collection series, and it takes cues from the traditional Austin shape that Toulon has had around since inception. It wasn’t a straight swap of a head to a different hosel, though. By moving the hosel up into the long-neck configuration they had to make subtle changes to the geometry of the head to ensure that the acoustics and the feel of the putter was still up to their standards. A hosel essentially acts like a tuner between the head and the hands, so shifting to a different hosel will typically mean some geometry changes. Boston is finished off with a sight dot, which is one of my personal favorite details, and has two adjustable sole weights.
;)
Jake Morrow / GOLF
;)
Jake Morrow / GOLF
2026 Collection Boston
For the first time ever in a collection line, we’re proud to introduce our new, elongated longneck H3 hosel. This feature creates about 30 degrees of toe hang, substantially less than a blade with a conventional H1 hosel. This makes Boston ideal for those looking to reduce face rotation and a better fit for those with a straighter stroke path. Our front loaded milled round weights improve ball speed consistency across the face and combine with our new Deep Diamond Mill face pattern to create a soft, yet satisfying sound and feel.
Monaco, on the other hand, is a completely new shape they have developed. It can be seen as sort of a cousin to Las Vegas, which is how it was given its name. If you look at Monaco as sort of a Las Vegas with a crown, you can see the design inspiration. The 304 stainless face and crown marry up with a 6061 aluminum sole plate to create a very stable multi-material shape. Monaco, like Las Vegas, is also a very good transition putter for players looking to switch from a blade to a mallet. With it’s adjustable weighting on the sole moved towards the face a bit and a large hollow cavity in the center of the putter head, you get the benefits of a more forward C.G. position like a blade, with the footprint and the M.O.I. benefits of a mallet putter. It also comes in two different neck configurations with an H1 plumber’s neck style hosel that’s becoming more and more popular for mallet users (which is also available in left-handed) and their H4.5 slant neck which gives a player more toe hang and a tighter feeling to the putting surface during the putting stroke.
Toulon Monaco
Meet Monaco. Brand new from the ground up, this progressive, mid-size, multi-material mallet combines stunning looks with breakthrough performance.
;)
Jake Morrow / GOLF
How the new collection really shines
In summing up the entire collection, the word I would use is “care”. That’s what they’ve used to massage the returning shapes to create a new look and feel while also introducing two killer shapes in Boston and Monaco. It’s really hard to describe the detail that went into this lineup until you can get a putter in your hands to see with your own eyes and feel the work yourself. There isn’t an edge, a point, a sharp spot or a flaw anywhere to be seen. Bumpers roll smoothly, the slow milled shaping lines are purposeful and soft, and new finish is brilliant in the light, and that Deep Diamond Mill? It gets me every time. Toulon has changed internal structures in a few of the putters to help adjust sound and feel. Changes you can’t see, but you will certainly hear and feel. That sums up their approach.
The crew over at Toulon Golf cares about the work and the detail that goes into every putter that leaves their shop. Fun fact: if you order a Toulon Collection putter, it’s actually being built by a member of the Toulon family every day in Vista, California. More than anything, they care about and listen to their customer. The entire new lineup is driven by feedback from the people who purchase and use their equipment on a day to day basis. In the third iteration of their third life, it seems Toulon is thriving more than ever before.
What’s available in 2026
In total there are 7 new shapes to choose from: 3 blades and 4 mallet offerings. Each blade comes in a plumber’s neck configuration with the Hollywood (tri-sole) and Austin (Anser style) using their H1 standard length neck with Austin also being available left-handed and their Boston (Anser style) using their new H3 long-neck. For mallets you get to choose between two necks for each model including the return of Alcatraz Mini in double bend and H1 plumber’s neck, Alcatraz in double bend (available left-handed) and H1 plumber’s neck, Las Vegas in Double Bend and H7 Flow Neck, and the brand new Monaco available in H1 plumber’s neck (available left-handed) and a H4.5 slant neck. Each model can be purchased with a chrome or black shaft and choice of new 2026 match collection grip or any other Toulon grip color. Plumber’s neck options can also be custom ordered with a Mitsubishi Diamana P105 putter shaft and all putters can be built with their heavy spec options that use heavier adjustable sole weights, longer length, and a longer 15″ grip. You can purchase Toulon Golf’s 2026 Collection from their website starting at $600.00 USD.
With fans protesting against the club’s board at the start of the game and later ironically cheering Schmeichel making a save, the atmosphere at Parkhead was far from harmonious.
“It’s bitterly disappointing,” former Celtic captain and manager Neil Lennon said of the jeers directed at Schmeichel.
“He had a bad night but it still doesn’t warrant that kind of treatment.”
Thursday night was the latest in a string of perceived errors made by Schmeichel, following Joe Hugill’s looping header for Kilmarnock last weekend and Jonathan Rowe’s effort for Bologna last month.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Celtic closed ranks around their embattled goalkeeper post-match.
“It’s a tough evening for us,” interim manager Martin O’Neill said. “On paper, 4-1 looks pretty poor.
“We were masters of our own downfall in many respects, conceded some poor goals.
“Kasper [Schmeichel] has made some great saves while I’ve been here. This is a collective, there’s no doubt about that.
“We played Feyenoord in a game we probably had to win and he made an unbelievable save, otherwise we wouldn’t be here playing tonight.
“I will think about all sorts of things [before the next game], but Kasper has done really well since I’ve arrived at the football club, in both spells.”
Captain Callum McGregor added: “Everyone makes mistakes.
“Kasper has been amazing since he’s come to the club. He’ll dust that down. We win as a team and lose as a team.
“There’s no blame, he’s made so many big saves for us. He’ll bounce back for sure.”
Sports
‘Babar Azam is nothing’: Former Pakistan captain’s brutal verdict after poor T20 World Cup show | Cricket News
Pakistan have sealed their place in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after a comfortable win over Namibia, becoming the final team to qualify. However, the victory did little to silence the growing debate around former captain Babar Azam, whose lean run with the bat has once again come under scrutiny.Babar has managed just 66 runs in three matches and has struggled to make an impact. During the Namibia game, controversy surfaced when he did not come out to bat despite being padded up for a long period. It also appeared that skipper Salman Ali Agha was not entirely pleased with the call.
Former Pakistan batter and selector Mohammad Yousuf has now openly criticised Babar, revealing that he had earlier recommended resting the batter during his tenure as selector.“I’ve been saying this for 2-3 years that Babar’s technique has gone for a toss. I’ve been hearing that he is out-of-form, but he is not. A player can only be out-of-form for two to three series and he has not scored runs for the past two-three years. The moment I suggested resting Babar, everyone suddenly turned against me. I had to resign because of this. He was eventually dropped a couple of series later,” Yousuf said on the ‘How Does It Work?’ podcast.He further questioned the emphasis placed on mentality over skill. “The churan of mindset is being sold very wrongly. Until you don’t have the skill, the mind can’t do anything. If you don’t have the skill, what will the mind do?” he added.Yousuf also compared Babar to legends of a previous era, placing them on a different pedestal. “Inzy Bhai and Saeed Bhai’s level can’t be matched. They can’t be matched. They were very big players. Zaheer Abbas…. These four players were of different categories and levels. Babar is nothing in front of them.”Despite the noise, Pakistan now shift focus to the Super 8 stage, where they have been placed in Group 2 alongside England cricket team, New Zealand cricket team and Sri Lanka cricket team.
Pakistan Super 8 Fixtures
| Team | Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 21 Feb | 7pm | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| England | 24 Feb | 7pm | Pallekele |
| Sri Lanka | 28 Feb | 7pm | Pallekele |
Pakistan will begin their Super 8 campaign against New Zealand on 21 February in Colombo, followed by crucial clashes against England and Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
Team Akwa Ibom has departed Uyo for the 2026 Niger Delta Games in Edo State with a firm determination to surpass its previous performance at the regional sporting fiesta.
The contingent, which includes 270 athletes, left Uyo en route to Edo State on Thursday, February 19, 2026, from the NYSC Orientation Camp in Nsit Atai, where the athletes had been in closed camping in preparation for the Games.
The Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, who represented the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, at the send-off ceremony, charged the athletes and their coaches to remain disciplined and project the state positively throughout the competition.
He stressed the need for the athletes to have a proper understanding of the rules guiding their respective events, noting that discipline and strict compliance would enhance their medal prospects.
“We finished sixth at the maiden edition of the Games, and that was not satisfactory,” the Commissioner said. “Hosting the last edition came with distractions that affected our performance. This time, we must demonstrate the true spirit of Team Akwa Ibom.”
Bassey conveyed the goodwill of the Governor to the team and assured them of the government’s full support despite the Governor’s inability to attend the ceremony in person.
“Go there, give your best, and you will receive a warm welcome on your return,” he added.
While acknowledging that not every athlete may secure a podium finish, the Commissioner urged them to remain focused and give their maximum effort.
Accompanying the team are members of the State Liaison Committee, sports administrators, the media team, the team’s chaperone, camp commandants, and Directors from the Ministry of Sports.
Team Akwa Ibom is optimistic about improving on its sixth-place finish at the last edition and competing strongly for a higher ranking at the 2026 Niger Delta Games.
Feb 17, 2026; Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy; Bruce Mouat in action against Canada in a men’s curling round robin match during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — World champions Great Britain nabbed a steal of two in the final end to beat Switzerland 8-5 in a thrilling semifinal clash on Thursday in the men’s curling competition at the Winter Olympics, setting up a final against Canada.
Switzerland appeared to have the upper hand in the early stages, but the decisive moment of the contest came in the seventh end, when a brilliant takeout from Bruce Mouat cleared away four stones and forced the Swiss to relinquish the hammer for just a point.
From then on, Britain did well to restrict its opponents and though Switzerland had the last stone of the game, Benoit Schwarz-van Berkel was not able to get the connection he needed.
For Switzerland, the first men’s team to go unbeaten in their round-robin campaign at the Olympics since Kevin Martin’s Canada in 2010, it was a crushing defeat after what had been an excellent week.
Britain and Switzerland also met in the final of the world championships last year, when Team Mouat took a 5-4 victory.
“We weren’t having our best in the first five ends and then really flipped it around in the last five. So just really proud of us for sticking together, supporting each other and believing in each other,” Mouat said.
CANADA BEATS NORWAY IN IMMEDIATE REMATCH
Two sheets over, Canada’s Brad Jacobs, who won gold at the 2014 Games in Sochi, navigated his team through a defensive battle to prevail 5-4 over Norway. The game went to an extra end after Jacobs’ attempt for a double takeout only got rid of one stone, but when Norway handed over the hammer with their two-pointer, it was easy enough for Canada to inch ahead and get the win.
The two teams had met just hours before in the final round-robin session of the men’s competition, in which Magnus Ramsfjell’s Norwegians were 8-6 victors, though it was not against a full-strength Canada line-up with Ben Hebert rested.
“They were tough all day. Magnus made a ton of great shots, starting in that first game. Those guys were virtually lights out,” Jacobs said.
“They gave us everything we could handle. I was just grateful that we had hammer in that game, and we got off to a good start. We were able to manage the scoreboard, because they were not going away easy. “They played awesome. Just happy to be able to get through them in that semifinal.”
Britain will meet Canada in the gold medal game on Saturday, while Switzerland and Norway will face off for bronze on Friday.
–Reuters, special to Field Level Media
USA come from behind to beat Canada 2-1 in overtime of the women’s ice hockey final at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers expect to be fully healthy for the first time in recent memory when they return from the all-star break.
NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic said Thursday that he will “probably” return to the court after missing the Lakers’ final four games before the break with a mild hamstring strain.
Austin Reaves also will no longer be on his minutes restriction stemming from a five-week absence with a calf injury, coach JJ Redick said after practice at the Lakers’ training complex.
LeBron James, who went into the break by becoming the oldest play to record a triple-double, is also expected to be uniform when the Lakers host the Clippers. That means the Lakers’ three best players should all suit up together for only the 11th time in 55 games this season.
“It’s funny, we were talking before the season about building continuity with those three guys, and we’ve had them available together for 10 games,” Redick said. “It’s just the situation we’re in. We’re not the only team that has had a bunch of health issues throughout the season and had to manage that, but my message to the players this morning was that this is going to be a sprint for these last 28 games.”
The Lakers have no consecutive days off between the all-star break and March 28-29, so Redick hopes his team will seize on the opportunity presented by full health out of the break to stack some wins in the competitive Western Conference. Los Angeles (33-21) entered the break in fifth place in the West despite the lengthy absences of Reaves and James, who has missed 18 games this season.
Starting centre Deandre Ayton also is expected to be back for the Lakers after a sore right knee kept him out before the break
Doncic hasn’t played for the Lakers since Feb. 5. He suited up for the World team at the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, but played only the first five minutes of the first mini-game before sitting out the rest of the afternoon.
“I was on minutes restriction,” he said with a grin. “It was definitely good to get up and down a little bit (at practice) after having a week off.”
Reaves’ return to full strength could be an enormous boost to the Lakers, who haven’t had their No. 3 option at full strength since he strained his calf on Christmas. He was the NBA’s ninth-leading scorer at 27.8 points per game before his injury.
Reaves said the full-strength Lakers have the potential “to win a lot of games. You can tell throughout the season, even with the unfortunate injuries, we’ve done a good job maintaining it. We’re on pace for a good record, and getting healthy is going to help that. It’ll be fun to see what that looks like.”
The PGA Tour’s 2026 Genesis Invitational continues on Friday, February 20, with the second round at Riviera Country Club. You can find full Genesis Invitational tee times for Friday’s second round at the bottom of this post.
Featured tee time for Round 2
This year, Rickie Fowler is trying to re-enter the elite ranks of the PGA Tour after years of struggles on the course. And so far, the six-time Tour winner is looking good.
Fowler has made three starts in 2026, and he’s finished in the top 20 in each of them. Now he’s hoping to take the next step and get into contention at this week’s Genesis Invitational.
He has two top-20 finishes in his career at the Genesis and finished T35 the last time it was held at Riviera in 2024.
Fowler will tee off for Round 2 at 10:27 a.m. ET on Friday alongside Tom Kim and Max Greyserman.
You can watch Friday’s second round of the 2026 Genesis Invitational from 4-8 p.m. ET on Golf Channel. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive early streaming coverage beginning at 10:15 a.m. ET on Friday, in addition to featured group and featured hole coverage.
Check out the complete Round 2 tee times and groupings for the Genesis Invitational below.
Get ESPN+
With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
2026 Genesis Invitational tee times for Friday: Round 2 (ET)
Tee No. 1
10:15 a.m. – Aldrich Potgieter, Ryan Fox, Sam Stevens
10:27 a.m. – Tom Kim, Rickie Fowler, Max Greyserman
10:39 a.m. – Lucas Glover, Tony Finau, Max McGreevy
10:51 a.m. – Garrick Higgo, Aaron Rai, Matt Fitzpatrick
11:03 a.m. – Jason Day, Alex Noren, Ryo Hisatsune
11:15 a.m. – Andrew Novak, Brian Harman, Nick Taylor
11:27 a.m. – Russell Henley, Harris English, Corey Conners
11:39 a.m. – Sepp Straka, Harry Hall, Patrick Cantlay
11:56 a.m. – Chris Gotterup, Justin Rose, Robert MacIntyre
12:08 p.m. – Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Si Woo Kim
12:20 p.m. – Min Woo Lee, Jordan Spieth, Daniel Berger
12:32 p.m. – Brian Campbell, Wyndham Clark, Marco Penge
12:44 p.m. – Sami Valimaki, J.T. Poston, Rico Hoey
12:56 p.m. – Kurt Kitayama, Nico Echavarria, Jake Knapp
1:08 p.m. – Matt McCarty, Jhonattan Vegas, Taylor Pendrith
1:20 p.m. – Tom Hoge, Bud Cauley, Matti Schmid
1:37 p.m. – Sahith Theegala, Michael Kim, Pierceson Coody
1:49 p.m. – Ben Griffin, Keegan Bradley, Sam Burns
2:01 p.m. – Maverick McNealy, Akshay Bhatia, Jacob Bridgeman
2:13 p.m. – Cameron Young, Viktor Hovland, Shane Lowry
2:25 p.m. – J.J. Spaun, Ludvig Åberg, Hideki Matsuyama
2:37 p.m. – Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy
2:49 p.m. – Ryan Gerard, Adam Scott, Patrick Rodgers
3:01 p.m. – Kevin Yu, Max Homa, Denny McCarthy
Watch the key turning points and how Great Britain’s curlers “raised their game” during their 8-5 over Switzerland in the men’s semi-final.
Lucknow: On a day when the result was a mere formality and Karnataka’s place in the Ranji Trophy final was already assured, the umpires briefly kept the semifinal against Uttarakhand alive — much to the bemusement of players and broadcasters alike. The only moment of intrigue at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday came at tea, when captains Kunal Chandela and Karun Nair — standing in for an injured Devdutt Padikkal — shook hands, signalling what everyone believed was the end of proceedings. Presentation signage was rolled out, players drifted towards the ceremony area, and one even headed to the dressing room to pack for the airport.
However, a few minutes later, play was ordered to resume after tea. With Uttarakhand six wickets down, umpires pointed to the rulebook, noting that an outright result for Karnataka was still technically possible. A visibly disgruntled Karnataka side returned to the field, but with the match long decided, Abhay Negi (57 n.o.) and Saurabh Rawat (53 n.o.) treated the final session as batting practice, while the opposition wound down the clock. The match was finally called off less than an hour after tea, with Uttarakhand at 260/6. Karnataka will now host first-time finalists Jammu and Kashmir at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium — the first time the northern Karnataka region will stage a Ranji Trophy final. “We are playing the final after a long time. We’ve been working very hard for the last few years but couldn’t quite make it,” said Karnataka head coach Yere Goud. “Playing at home makes it even more special.” Goud was quick to underline the challenge posed by Jammu and Kashmir. “They have done extremely well, beating MP and Bengal. A lot of credit should go to them. They are a very dangerous side. We need to play good cricket and focus on our processes — we’ll have to play well to beat them.” Karnataka sweat over Padikkal Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal did not take the field on the final day after suffering a cut while fielding on Wednesday, which required five stitches on his right hand. However, Goud played down concerns over his availability for the final starting Tuesday. “When I saw the cut, I was pretty sure he’ll make it. He probably needs two to three days’ rest and should be fine for the game,” Goud said. Shreyas’ landmark The match also marked a personal milestone for leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, who became the latest Karnataka bowler to reach 300 first-class wickets, which came in his 97th appearance in the format. The 32-year-old is the side’s leading wicket-taker this season with 46 scalps. “It’s a special feeling to reach the milestone in a semifinal, and it gives me a lot of confidence going into the final,” said Shreyas. Earlier, Karnataka, resuming at 299/6, were bowled out for 323, with KL Rahul left unbeaten on 86 after running out of partners. Karnataka’s focus now shifts to Hubballi and a chance to add a ninth Ranji Trophy title to their storied history. SCOREBOARD Karnataka (I innings): 736 Uttarakhand (II innings): 233 Karnataka (II innings, o/n 299/6): KL Rahul (not out) 86, Vyshak Vijaykumar st S Rawat b Mishra 0, Shikhar Shetty b Mishra 7, Prasidh Krishna (run out) 7, Devdutt Padikkal (absent hurt). Extras (B-8; NB-4; LB-2; W-1) 15. Total (all out; 74.3 overs) 323 Fall of wickets: 7-299, 8-311, 9-323 Bowling: Abhay Negi 19-9-63-2, Janmejay Joshi 9-0-54-0, Mayank Mishra 18-3-69-4, Avneesh Sudha 12-1-50-1, J Suchith 12-0-59-1, Aditya Rawat 3.3-0-15-0, Lakshya Raichandani 1-0-3-0. Uttarakhand (II innings): Bhupen Lalwani c Kruthik b Prasidh 15, Prasanth Chopra c Kruthik b Vyshak 0, Avneesh Sudha c Rahul b Shreyas 66, Lakshya Raichandani c Kruthik b Prasidh 10, J Suchith c Aneesh (sub) b Shreyas 19, Saurabh Rawat (not out) 53, Kunal Chandela st Kruthik b Shreyas 20, Abhay Negi (not out) 57. Extras (B-12; LB-2; W-6) 20. Total (6 wkts; 62 overs) 260. Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-48, 3-72, 4-107, 5-128, 6-156. Bowling: Vidyadhar Patil 4-0-13-0, Prasidh Krishna 6-1-17-2, Vyshak Vijaykumar 4-0-22-1, Shikhar Shetty 24-1-97-0, Shreyas Gopal 19-1-83-3; Karun Nair 2-0-9-0; Mayank Agarwal 2-0-5-0.
Being able to shape the ball both directions is a huge asset. It allows you to access pin locations that were previously unaccessible, and lets you shape the ball off the tee to avoid hazards. You can also get yourself out of trouble with ease, shaping the ball around trees and back into the fairway.
The trouble for most recreational golfers is that they can only work the ball one way. They have a go-to shot shape and not much else.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with having a shot shape you’re comfortable with and sticking to it. But if you really want to start becoming a shot-maker, you’ll need to know how to shape the ball both ways.
Luckily, doing so is a lot easier than you likely thought. GOLF Top 100 Teacher Mike Malizia explained how in a past shoot with GOLF Magazine, which you can read about below.
How to hit draws and fades
The good news about shaping the ball is that it can be easily achieved through slight adjustments in your setup. And once you learn how to make those adjustments, you’ll be able to hit both draws and fades.
Here’s how it works.
Draws
The first thing you want to do to hit a draw is move the ball position slightly back in your stance. Next, you want to slightly tilt your hips and shoulders away from the target.
“The key is, when I get back to impact, I wanna make sure that my shoulders feel closed and I want to feel this right side ‘shrinking,’” Malizia says. “This helps promote a more in-to-out path.”
With that in-to-out path and a slightly closed clubface, you’ll be able to curve the ball right to left with ease.
Fades
For a fade, you’ll want to move the ball more forward in your stance. You’ll also want to limit the amount you tilt your hips and shoulders away from the target at address, giving you a more level setup position.
“At impact, you will see less right-side bend and you’ll see more of the chest opened up,” Malizia says. “This will help you swing a little more out-to-in.”
By making these key setup adjustments, it becomes much easier to swing in a way that promotes a certain ball flight. So, next time you want to shape the ball a certain way, remember that it all starts with the setup.
Zero Torque. Zero Compromise. MEZZ.1 MAX makes it easy for any golfer to benefit from Lie Angle Balance. It looks pretty much like a normal putter. But it actually helps you make putts. MEZZ.1 MAX Stock is our new oversized mallet putter that’s fully CNC machined from a billet of 6061 aircraft aluminum (body) and 303 stainless steel (midsection) to create outrageous stability. It includes 10 weights (eight on the bottom, two on the sides) that allow us to individually build each putter to a golfer’s exact specifications.
L.A.B. Golf MEZZ.1 MAX Putter (Stock)
View Product
Hall Hill Farm County Durham unveils a major revamp
Shares of local oil explorers surge on supply disruption fears
Ethereum Foundation Sets 2026 Protocol Priorities
-
Video3 days agoBitcoin: We’re Entering The Most Dangerous Phase
-
Tech5 days agoLuxman Enters Its Second Century with the D-100 SACD Player and L-100 Integrated Amplifier
-
Crypto World3 days agoCan XRP Price Successfully Register a 33% Breakout Past $2?
-
Sports3 days agoGB's semi-final hopes hang by thread after loss to Switzerland
-
Video7 days agoThe Final Warning: XRP Is Entering The Chaos Zone
-
Tech3 days agoThe Music Industry Enters Its Less-Is-More Era
-
Business2 days agoInfosys Limited (INFY) Discusses Tech Transitions and the Unique Aspects of the AI Era Transcript
-
Entertainment1 day agoKunal Nayyar’s Secret Acts Of Kindness Sparks Online Discussion
-
Video3 days agoFinancial Statement Analysis | Complete Chapter Revision in 10 Minutes | Class 12 Board exam 2026
-
Tech2 days agoRetro Rover: LT6502 Laptop Packs 8-Bit Power On The Go
-
Crypto World6 days agoBhutan’s Bitcoin sales enter third straight week with $6.7M BTC offload
-
Sports20 hours agoClearing the boundary, crossing into history: J&K end 67-year wait, enter maiden Ranji Trophy final | Cricket News
-
Entertainment1 day agoDolores Catania Blasts Rob Rausch For Turning On ‘Housewives’ On ‘Traitors’
-
Crypto World6 days agoKalshi enters $9B sports insurance market with new brokerage deal
-
Business2 days agoTesla avoids California suspension after ending ‘autopilot’ marketing
-
NewsBeat4 days agoThe strange Cambridgeshire cemetery that forbade church rectors from entering
-
Crypto World1 day agoWLFI Crypto Surges Toward $0.12 as Whale Buys $2.75M Before Trump-Linked Forum
-
NewsBeat4 days agoMan dies after entering floodwater during police pursuit
-
NewsBeat5 days agoUK construction company enters administration, records show
-
Crypto World3 hours ago83% of Altcoins Enter Bear Trend as Liquidity Crunch Tightens Grip on Crypto Market