When it comes to golfs bags most Hackers think the same thing, “It’s a golf bag, they’re all the same right?” They’re designed to be put on the back of a cart, carry your sticks from hole to hole and back to the trunk of your car. That’s how I use to think until I discovered the Jones Utility Trouper. This bag which helped redefine what I thought I needed in a golf bag and then some.

Design/Style:
The Utility Trouper uses a simple design that should appeal to most golfers. As simple as the Utility Trouper’s design looks at first glance, its details separate it from the competition. From the small leather straps that keep your umbrella in place to the Jones logo which is placed on each of the zipper openings. The bag has 5 different club compartments for you to set up your bag the way you’d like. The Utility Trouper comes in a wide variety of colors and if you’re looking to make it truly unique, Jones offers custom embroidery options for a small fee.


Favorite HACKER Features: Dual side pouches: These dual side pouch are lined with two different materials, one with a soft cloth for your valuables, and the other lined with nylon. I found myself putting my valuables in the nylon side on rainy days because it seemed to be more waterproof.
Cooler compartment: Jones designed this cooler compartment to keep two cold drinks chilled for the whole round. So naturally…for pure scientific purposes, I had to test it out with some adult beverages. When I was in need of some liquid courage, I reached into the compartment and to my surprise the beers were still cold! Now granted, they weren’t as cold as I’d like them to be, but I’ll do anything to save a few bucks at the course, so skipping a beverage cart visit is great in my book.
Speaker slots: Music on the golf course is a taboo topic these days. The “Country Club” golfers see it as a distraction while the “Next wave” can’t play a round without it. I’m a firm believer that music brings us together, and I love golfing with tunes…the team at Jones clearly feels the same way. The Utility Trouper has a mesh pocket which is a perfect compartment for your phone. If your phone speakers aren’t cutting it, they also included a carabiner style clip on the outside of the bag that’s perfect for holding a Jones x JBL Clip Speaker or a bluetooth speaker of your choice.

​Durability:From the stitching, to the zippers, Jones truly outdid themselves and picked only the best materials to make sure this bag stays your bag for years and years. We had a really wet spring in Chicago, and I was frequently getting caught in random flash storms out on the course; but have no fear, the Utility Trouper kept all my personal belongings safe and dry.

​Performance:The bag is extremely lightweight, tipping the scales at only 5 lbs. No matter how many golf balls, drinks, or other unnecessary items you pack in the bag you’ll comfortable the whole round. Coming straight out of the box the straps are well padded but incredibly rigid. First time carrying the bag I struggled with comfort no matter how I tried to adjust the straps. But like a fine wine, the straps get better with age! Having this bag for the past 3 months and taking it through testing, the straps have finally found their groove and feel fantastic. 

Over the past couple of years, Under Armour Golf has become an afterthought for this Hacker when it comes to not only apparel, but shoes as well. I felt that UA Golf was going through a lull period after riding the massive success of Jordan Spieth and his Major successes. That was until this year; Under Armor released a golf shoe that was so intriguing that I was willing to give them a chance to redeem themselves in my book; and that shoe is the HOVR Drive. The HOVR Drive offered something which I was not use to seeing with Under Armour products. Subtlety and style which wasn’t over the top, flashy, or too distracting. As soon as I saw these shoes when they released I wanted to put them to the test.

Design/ Style:
Under Armour’s HOVR Drive shoe comes in two colors: black and white. These neutral colors are very easy to pair with any outfit whether you dress traditionally, or more like Jordan Speith. The HOVR Drive has subtle hints of navy sprinkled throughout the shoe which make them easy on the eyes. The HOVR Drive shoes are accented with two 3M reflective eyelets on each side which are used to hold the blended white and navy laces. The HOVR Drive has a bit of what I’d call “traditional UA styling” with bold red coloring on the inside of the toe box and on the heel. The red offers a nice pop off color and compliments the white and navy perfectly.
The HOVR Drive is a truly athletic looking golf shoe designed to perform at your local Muni as well as the PGA Tour. The HOVR Drive features a few different areas for ventilation to keep your feet cool during the blistering summer heat. The UA branding is subtle with a logo on each side of the shoe and an additional one on the sole. ​

Durability:
The HOVR Drive was built to be worn and tested to the limits! During my testing process (as well as my poor golfing skills) I encountered multiple scenarios where I found myself either in tall fescue or ankle deep in a mud just to get keep my ball in play. Each time the HOVR Drive was able to keep me stable and dry no matter where my ball ended up.  My swing is beautifully accented (heavy sarcasm) with a deep front toe drag. That toe drag abuse usually wears shoes out faster than normal, and way faster than my wallet would like! That wasn’t the case with the HOVR Drive; toe drag after toe drag these shoes have held up to and have yet to show any signs of wear…which is a HUGE plus for me!  I’m less than impressed with the cleaning of these shoes. With previously owned golf shoes I was able to take a damp towel at the end of the round and wipe off any excess turf easily keeping my shoes looking nice and clean. The synthetic leather-esque materials the HOVR Drive is made of has left me with grass stained areas, which is highly disappointing. 

Performance:
Under Armour nailed performance with these shoes, especially when it comes to comfort. The HOVR Drive is equipped with Under Armour’s HOVR Cushioning system which is designed to give your foot stability while putting a little spring back in your step after chucking two shots within 50 yards of the green. Between multiple rounds of walking, and riding, I never found my feet aching or uncomfortable. Stability is another important feature I look at when selecting a golf shoe and having the heinous swing I do, stability is extremely important. The HOVR Drive is equipped with unique “Tornado Spikes” from SoftSpike. These cleats are specifically designed to help maintain stability throughout your swing and they did not disappoint! Another component which is important to me is waterproofing. Being from the Midwest; spring time golf conditions are less than ideal as a good amount of rounds experiencing some sort of rain.  UA equipped HOVR Drive’s with their UA Storm Technology, which is just fancy wording for really good waterproofing. These shoes do an excellent job keeping your feet dry and comfortable no matter the conditions you may encounter while out on the course. 

Final Thoughts:
This shoe has restored this Hacker’s faith in Under Armour. You’d be hard pressed to find a spiked shoe that offers better comfort, style and performance than the UA HOVR Drive. Now if only I could play like Jordan Spieth while wearing them.
​
You can grab a pair for yourself at the link below:
 
Men’s: https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/mens-ua-hovr-drive-golf-shoes/pid3022273-100
Women’s:https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/womens-ua-hovr-drive-golf-shoes/pid3021211-100

Milled Putters – With their sleek designs and finely milled faces are a thing of beauty…and a guilty pleasure to most golfers because that beauty usually comes at a price…typically around $400! Ben Hogan Golf recently released their Precision Milled Forged Putter line; a lineup of 4 different fully milled and forged putters priced competitively at $250.00. I had to ask myself; can the new Hogan putters perform as well as their higher priced competitors?

 Design/Looks:
Hogan’s Precision Milled Forged  line comes in 4 classic putter shapes sure to grab the attention of any golfer. With minimal branding and a black oxide finish, the BHB01 offers a clean look that a wide range of golfers would appreciate. The BHB01 mirrors the classic tri-sole Ping Anser putter; a timeless design golfers flock to when looking for anew flat-stick. Each one can be customized with one of three different SuperStroke Grips. Offering a non-SuperStoke option for golfers like myself who use a traditional style rubber grip would be really nice, and the lack of grip options was one of my biggest issues with the Hogan putters! Each putter comes with a gorgeous blue leather head cover that features Ben Hogan’s famous signature branding. 

Performance:
​Ben Hogan’s Precision Milled Forged Putters are made from 1020C carbon Steel which involves a multiple step forging process in order to enhance and strengthen the structure of the metal. That very complex process gives golfers like us a more forgiving putter that will perform consistently regardless of where you strike it. Being a putter review, I wanted to give hackers insight of how the BHB01 performs from typical putting distances.
The “I hope I don’t miss / 3 putt” distance 4 Ft – the BHB01 offers confidence from this range, with its soft face I was able to stand over all putts from this easily missable distance and hit putts confidently regardless of how bad the break was. the PGA tour average at the distance is 92%. I somehow made 87% of my putts from 4FT., with the other 13% either lipping out or just missing the mark.
The “1 Putt chance” distance – 10 ft
The BHB01 provides a solid feel trough contact that helps the ball release seamlessly off the face towards your “guestimed” target line. Whether the greens are lighting fast or slow and shaggy, you can rely on the BHB01 to provide you with exceptional feel and confidence giving you the best chance to make that putt.  During my testing, I was able to make 24% of my putts, having 72% of the misses end up within 1-2 feet of the hole. Considering the PGA Tour putting average from this distance is 41% I will take these stats any day!
The “I hope I can get it close distance” - Lag Putt - 40FT
The BHB01 provides you with a solid weight to keep your stroke smooth from start to finish to help aid your distance control. All you have to do is pick your line and keep your tempo, the putter will do the rest and roll purely towards the hole. In testing, I was able to make a total of 3 putts at this distance with 85% of my putts ending up within a 4 FT radius of the hole. 

Final Thoughts:
Based off results alone, this Hacker feels the Ben Hogan Precision Milled Forged Line can compete with all the high-end milled putters currently available. With quality materials, classic design, and most importantly consistent performance, Hackers need to give Ben Hogan’s putters a chance to lower their chances of 3-putting!

​​The Hybrid; a club made to cure a Hacker’s inability to hit those daunting lower lofted irons. And perhaps a gift from the golf gods? I recently set out to find a hybrid that would deliver a ton of performance and be budget friendly (remember, being a father of two girls now, diapers are tapping into my golf budget.) Fortunately I found one right in my backyard…well not in my actual backyard but an hour south of me. Batavia, IL is the home of Tour Edge Golf, and their slogan says “Golf’s Most Solid Investment.” I picked up one of their new EXS Hybrids and I was eager to see if the club matched their slogan. 

​Looks/Design:
Tour Edge keeps things simple with the look of the EXS. A traditional shape combined with a sleek black finish helps instill a feeling of confidence at address. The splashes of blue and white add just enough flair to keep things interesting. The stock Mitsubishi Tensei CK Blue shaft continues the black and blue theme, and to me complements the hybrid perfectly.
In terms of design, Tour Edge added their slipstream sole to the EXS which is supposed to aid turf interaction and promote better ball flight no matter where your ball ends up. The hybrid also features customizable weight towards the back of the club, giving players the ability to dial in their desired trajectories. My only concern/issue with the EXS hybrid is the lack of stock shaft options. I know it helps reduce overhead cost, but most OEMs these days offer multiple shaft choices for their clubs. It would be nice if Tour Edge could do the same in the future.

​Performance:
I found the EXS very easy to hit and to launch at differing heights. Compared to my current hybrid, I was able to see an in increase ball speed and narrowed dispersion on most of my shots. As most hackers know, great swings on the range never translate onto the course, so let’s talk about miss-hits. The EXS provided solid ball flight, and distance on slices, hooks, and thinned swings. When trying to play specific shots the EXS provided workability, and most importantly, confidence! From mishits to best strike of your life, the EXS offers a crisp ping sound time and time again. Regardless of how good or bad my lie was, the EXS offered a solid feel and helped get the ball up in the air quickly!

Final Thoughts:
If you’re in the market for a new hybrid that is going to offer value, confidence, and playability, look no further than the Tour Edge EXS. With its sleek designs, controlled ball flight, and affordable price, it’s a club that any Hacker could happily add to their bag.  

Hackers – as you know, I am always on the search for the best products on the market. Whether it be clubs, shoes, clothes, I am always trying to find the products which I feel are going to bring you the most value. This time, I think I hit the JACKPOT. True Linkswear states you can wear their shoes anywhere, not just on the course. You can take that for what it’s worth, but this time, this Hacker feels they nailed it right on the head with the Knit. Knitted shoes seemed to be the trend in 2018 for many brands and True was no exception to the trend. For this Hacker, these Knit's were unlike any other on the market. These appeared from first sight, to provide the best value and versatility. Let’s dive in on what separated the Knit from the competition. 

Materials:
The Knit is made of a material called TRUEKnit. The one piece construction knitted upper offers users a lightweight and breathable shoe versus the standard golf shoe. TrueKnit gives you the sensation of playing barefoot without the pain of stepping on rocks or twigs. True equipped the Knit with a water resistant coating to wick away any dew from those early tee times. I would not recommend wearing them right after a long night of thunderstorms… they are water resistant, not waterproof.

Comfort:
True is known for making comfortable shoes, in fact, it’s something they pride themselves on. The Knit continues this trend. They are made with an EVA midsole, which means you’ll be pain free walking 18 holes. Hackers should know, the Knit is only available in full sizes. If you are in between sizes, this Hacker recommends sizing up!  I do have one complaint about the Knit; I wasn’t a fan of the heel at all. It’s made with a soft cloth/leather material embossed with “TRUE Knit” which looks incredible, but I had to continuously pull my socks up because the heel kept forcing them down. To fix my sock issues, I’ll be rocking my Knit's barefoot from now on. 

Durability:
I had hesitations on how well the Knit's would hold up from normal wear and tear, along with the punishment from my horrendous swing. From multiple rounds, date nights, and family parties, the Knit's have held up with minimal signs of wear. The other thing that surprised me was how easy they are to clean. This Hacker is a white shoe fanatic, and as anyone who wears white shoes on the course; golf and white are not exactly a match made in heaven. Every time I’ve cleaned my Knit's, I've been able to get them looking as fresh as they did right out of the box! 

Style / Functionality:
Style is in abundance with the Knit, and I think True created a golf shoe at your local Muni, or at a private country club.  The Knit is woven in a wing-tipped pattern which is guaranteed to turn heads wherever you take them including off-course adventures.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been running late from the course and didn’t have time to change out of my Knit's but they’ve paired with my outfit as well as a stylish pair of tennis shoes. The True Knit are available in three colors; Grey, Navy, and White. True has collaborated with well-known California based golf brand, Linksoul, on a pair of limited edition Knit's. 

Final Thoughts:
If you’re in the market for a golf shoe that you can utilize on and off the course this year, look no further than True Linkswear Knit. The offer value, style, comfort, and most importantly, versatility!
 
Grab a pair today at the links below:
Men’s: www.truelinkswear.com/true-knit/
Women’s: www.truelinkswear.com/true-womens-knit/
 
PSA –True recently announced a partnership with the National MS Society on a #MSSTRONG edition of the Knit! For every pair sold, True will be donating $30 to the National MS Society. I know multiple people in my life who are affected by MS, so when I heard the announcement I immediately fell in love with them. Whether or not you know anyone dealing with MS, why not purchase a shoe that supports a tremendous cause?
If you are interested in purchasing these shoes for a cause you can find the link below!
​www.truelinkswear.com/true-knit-ms-strong

Part of being the voice behind Hacker’s Golf Guide is researching and finding the best products for us to use on, and off the course. Products that are affordable, reliable, and most importantly, built to last. With keeping these values in mind, I’ve found a duffle bag that fits these Hacker’s standards. With durable materials, spaciousness, and style, the Jones FC Weekender Duffle is a product that any Hacker can fall in love with.
So let’s dive in and see what makes the FC Weekender the new go to companion for any Hackers next excursion.

Space:
The FC Weekender measures out to 22” W X 15” W X 11” T. What’s that mean for you? SPACE. I’ve taken this duffle on weekend trips, and a couple week long trips, and I never felt deprived of space. Inside the duffle you will find five different sized compartments and two exterior pockets for you to maximize to your liking. One compartment Jones specifically designed for your hats so they remain undamaged in transit. I found multi-purpose for this area to double as a hamper for grimy clothes!

Materials/Durability:
The FC Weekender is made with a combination of tarpaulin and a nylon blend. What’s that mean for you? Durability and Reliability. Tarpaulin is a material which is used throughout the entire FC collection and boasts both an impressive water resistance and durability. From hotel rooms, trunks, and rain showers, the FC Weekender has held strong and shows no signs of wear.

Details:
Fine details can make or break a product for this Hacker, and the FC Weekender’s details take this duffle to the next level. The FC weekender is equipped with a special Jones liner that gives you the added validation of the attention to detail Jones accounts for in their products. The straps on this bag may be the most overlooked detail. The bag offers you three different ways to carry: center straps, end straps, and backpack straps. Jones took the time to give everyone the option on how to carry their new bag in the way they deem best.

Style:
Jones made sure there wasn’t a shortage of style when it came to FC Weekender. The heathered grey nylon and black endcaps offers a level of style usually uncommon in the duffle bag arena. Jones has gone on to collaborate with the high-end golf brand Greyson, on a print guaranteed to make a statement. If you’re into customization, Jones has plenty of options to make your Weekender as unique as you are.

Final Thoughts:
In the end, what does this Hacker have to say? If you’re in the market for a new duffle to replace that old bag you’ve been using for years then look no further than the Jones FC Weekender. It’s got style, it’s durable, and most importantly for this Hacker, it’s available at a price point that fits my budget! I consider it a Hole In One!

Like many of the hackers across the world I’m always on the hunt for a pair of golf shoes that could possibly help maximize my potential, no matter how “Hackerish” I’m playing that round.

Last season  I wanted stray from the big brand path and
find a pair of shoes with a focus on pure golf…I stumbled upon True Linkswear this past January and was hooked immediately. I ordered a pair of the brand’s “Originals,” to see if their iconic feel, and unorthodox style can hold up to the brand’s mantra; “Enjoy the Walk.”

Upon arrival I was instantly blown away. The packaging has subtle logos and included a postcard, which was personalized by the team member who packaged my shoes. I was even more
impressed when I took the shoes out of the box, from the leather to the laces, you could tell True used
only the highest quality materials.

After I got done drooling over my pair I decided to wear them out to the course for a stroll. True’s Originals are known as a “Zero Drop shoe” which means there is no difference in height from toe to heel, which is unlike 99.9% of other golf shoes available right now. I’ve never worn a “Zero Drop” shoe before so as I made my way to the range I imagine I looked like I was a puppy wearing snowshoes for the first time. After my awkward learning stage they started to feel more natural and within days I was able to walk an entire round with comfort and ease…In fact at points during the round I sometimes forgot they were on my feet! At one point during my maiden round I decided to test the shoe’s water resistance, so I dumped half of my water bottle on them, and I was excited to see that there was no
difference in performance or comfort. I loved wearing the True’s so much I decided to keep them on after my round, much to my wife’s dismay! I was in shoe heaven and didn’t want it to end! 

If you are looking for a shoe that will keep you comfortable, well connected with the course while playing, and able to hold up to regular daily wear, I highly recommend investing in a pair of True Originals, and enjoying the walk.
 
You can see the shoes pictured below and the rest of the TRUE Linkswear link in the link below!
www.truelinkswear.com/true-original
​

​Dear Hackers, 

You may have noticed we haven’t been putting any content up recently. I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to the all of the brands who have provided us products for us to review, but here’s why we’ve been away; my family and I have been going through a very up and down year which has included multiple housing obstacles and a miscarriage and then a successful pregnancy which at this point we will be expecting our second daughter into this world within the next couple of weeks. It has not been an easy decision to put this project of mine on hold but I needed to do what was in the best interest of my family and for that I hope you all truly understand.
 
Now that things are back to a very positive state in my life I am going to give this page and you what I told you I was going to do. Give you honest reviews for the everyday “Hacker” to promote brand awareness and be the best resource I can be for you, the hacker’s nation!
 
You can expect to start seeing the reviews coming through as well as a couple of other different segments which are going to be designed for you to maximize your game this season! 

Thank you all for your support on this ride so far and I can assure you this is only the beginning of something either great or mediocre (I'll let you be the judge).

Sincerely,

Hacker’s Golf Guide