The Golfing Lad

A single plain white golf ball resting on short dewy fairway grass in soft morning light, with a blurred green and flagstick far behind

What golf balls should I use? A straight answer for 2026

November 1, 2026 Admin

Most mid handicappers should play a soft ionomer ball and earn urethane with their short game. Here is how to choose by speed, spin and lost balls.

Three plain white unmarked golf balls resting separately and spaced apart on short green fairway grass in soft morning light, with an empty blurred fairway behind and no people

What do the numbers on golf balls mean? (2026) Decoded

October 31, 2026 Admin

The big number on a golf ball is just an ID tag. Here is what 1-4, 90 or 100, red vs black and three-digit numbers really mean, and what to buy instead.

A square metal pipe cage draped in loose black netting stands on a backyard lawn, with a green hitting mat and a few white golf balls in front of it in soft evening light

Do it yourself golf hitting net (2026): build it to last

October 30, 2026 Admin

Build a DIY golf hitting net that lasts: the frame, the netting grade that survives, how to hang it, and when a pop-up net is the smarter buy.

Two pairs of plain white golf shoes, one with cleated soles turned upward, resting side by side on dewy fairway grass in soft morning light

Spikeless vs spiked golf shoes (2026): which grips when it counts

October 29, 2026 Admin

Spikeless vs spiked golf shoes: spikeless wins for dry, flat summer golf; spikes win on wet grass, hills and fast swings. Here is how to choose your pair.

Two plain, unmarked white golf balls resting side by side on a closely mown fairway or green in soft morning light, with no tee, no hole and no people in the frame

TP5 vs TP5x (2026): which TaylorMade ball fits your swing

October 28, 2026 Admin

TP5 vs TP5x: the TP5 is the better ball for most 10 to 25 handicaps. Here is when the lower-spin TP5x wins, and which year to buy.

An indoor golf practice bay in a tidy garage: a green hitting mat, a white ball on a rubber tee, a black net hanging behind it and a plain iron leaning against the wall

Garmin Approach R50 review (2026): brilliant screen, one catch

October 27, 2026 Admin

Garmin Approach R50 review: superb ball data and a 10-inch screen that runs the sim on its own, but club data and firmware bugs need weighing first.

A single plain white golf ball resting on closely mown grass beside a pitching wedge lying on the turf, soft morning light, no people, no writing or logos

How to put backspin on a golf ball (2026): strike, face, ball

October 26, 2026 Admin

How to put backspin on a golf ball: the strike fixes that matter, why clean grooves count, and the urethane balls that spin most in robot tests.

A plain unbranded driver resting on the turf behind a white ball on a wooden tee, on a tee box facing a wide fairway at sunrise

Srixon ZXi RKT driver review (2026): straight, fast, one catch

October 25, 2026 Admin

Srixon ZXi RKT driver review: elite ball speed, toe misses that stay on line and weights that move the ball 15 yards. The catch is the feel and the alignment ai

A small plain black handheld rangefinder lying on fairway grass beside a white golf ball, a flag far off on the green

How to use a golf rangefinder: lock the flag, not the trees

October 24, 2026 Admin

How to use a golf rangefinder properly: set it up, brace, sweep across the flag until it locks, check odd readings, and switch slope off for competition.

A golfer seen from behind on a fairway, raising a small plain rangefinder to his eye towards a distant green with a flag and a line of trees beyond it, soft morning light

How do golf rangefinders work? The laser, the flag and slope

October 23, 2026 Admin

How golf rangefinders work in plain English: time of flight, flag lock, slope maths, and which features are worth paying for before you buy one.