Your Golf Podcast by NCG

Nicola Slater is back from a busy week at The Open Championship, and she's giving Jack Backhouse the full behind-the-scenes tour. From media days, tour trucks and brand meetings to watching Rory McIlroy warm up, meeting celebrities, and discovering Wyndham Clark's now-famous coat hanger practice routine, there's plenty to unpack.Jack delivers what might be his most controversial opinion yet, this time involving Tommy Fleetwood.The pair also discuss the latest equipment launches, life inside the media centre, the atmosphere around Royal Birkdale, and what it's really like covering golf's biggest championship away from the TV cameras.It's an episode packed with behind-the-scenes insight, equipment chat, laughs, and a debate that's bound to split opinion.

What if everything you've been told about putters is wrong?This week, Nicola Slater is joined by Dan Landman, founder of Spoiler Golf, to discuss one of the most talked-about innovations in golf equipment. Inspired by the way a wedge rolls the ball, Spoiler's unique leading-edge technology challenges traditional putter design in pursuit of a purer, more consistent roll.Dan explains how a lockdown experiment turned into a growing golf brand, the science behind the design, why major manufacturers haven't followed suit, and whether golfers are finally ready to embrace something completely different.

Ahead of The Open at Royal Birkdale, we're diving into everything you need to know about playing links golf. From controlling your ball flight in the wind to avoiding pot bunkers, mastering bump-and-runs, and choosing the right clubs, we explain the biggest differences between links and parkland golf.We also discuss why the world's best players change their equipment for links golf, how creativity becomes more important than power, and what club golfers can learn from watching The Open at Royal Birkdale.Whether you're heading to the coast this summer or just want to understand links golf better, these tips will help you score lower.

The golf ball rollback has officially been delayed but should it happen at all?In this episode of the Your Golf Podcast, we take a deep dive into one of the biggest debates in modern golf. We discuss why the proposed rollback has been pushed back, hear the views of DP World Tour pro Brandon Robinson Thompson, and ask whether the governing bodies are focusing on the right solution.Is distance really making golf courses obsolete? Would tougher course setups be more effective than changing the golf ball? And has modern equipment reduced the skill needed to compete at the highest level?We also round off the episode by tackling another hot topic in the game: pace of play. Is slow play getting worse, who's responsible, and what can be done to speed up the game for professionals and amateurs alike?

The temperatures are soaring but should your scores be? Jack Backhouse and Nicola Slater discuss how extreme heat changes the way golf is played, from longer drives and firmer fairways to club selection, course management and staying hydrated. Drawing on Nicola's experience competing in sweltering conditions, they explain why your normal yardages don't apply, how to adapt your strategy and the mistakes golfers make when the mercury rises. If you're teeing it up during a heatwave, this episode could save you plenty of shots.

Mini drivers are everywhere right now, but do most golfers actually need one?In this episode, Jack Backhouse and equipment expert Nicola Slater take a deep dive into one of golf’s biggest equipment trends. They discuss where mini drivers fit between a driver and a fairway wood, who stands to benefit from using one, and whether they genuinely offer more control off the tee.The pair explore why so many tour players are putting mini drivers in play, share their own experiences testing models from TaylorMade, Titleist and Callaway, and examine the data behind fairway-finder alternatives off the tee. They also debate whether mini drivers are simply modern versions of the compact drivers of old, and why some golfers swear by them while others see no place for one in the bag.Plus, a discussion on club fitting, the shaft-versus-head debate, and Nicola’s visit to The Belfry for a fitting experience with Fujikura.Whether you're struggling with your driver, considering a bag overhaul, or just curious about the latest equipment craze, this episode will help you decide if a mini driver deserves a spot in your setup.