Jack Nicklaus was a known advocate for teeing up the ball, saying, “It’s an opportunity to give yourself a perfect lie. You only get that opportunity 18 times.”

But, with all due respect to Jack’s advice, should you always tee up the ball on a par-3? Aside from the likelihood of a better strike, is there truly any performance benefit to teeing the ball up on a par-3?

Let’s find out.

To tee or not to tee

We know that using a tee for a driver can impact performance. However, can it impact performance with an iron as well?

A majority of golfers use a tee on a par-3 most, if not all, of the time. Why? Did they see or hear what Jack Nicklaus said and took it to heart? For a few, the answer could be yes. For others, their friends or their instructor told them to do it.

Every testing cycle, a few clubs quietly overperform. They don’t grab headlines, they don’t dominate marketing campaigns, but when you dig into the numbers, they’re right there with the best. In MyGolfSpy’s 2025 Fairway Wood Test, that sleeper was the Srixon ZXi fairway wood.

Despite earning an overall score of 8.8, tying it for third place, the ZXi flies under the radar. However, when you look at the performance, it checks nearly every box.

Distance without compromise

The ZXi’s ball speed of 133.7 mph ranked among the fastest in the entire test, translating to an average carry of 209.6 yards and total distance of 223.1 yards. Only a handful of fairway woods went farther and many of those achieved that extra yardage by giving up consistency. The Srixon didn’t.

Its distance score of 9.2 placed it inside the top three overall.

Accuracy that keeps the ball in play

The ZXi also delivered accuracy. With an accuracy score of 8.4 and an average offline dispersion of –1.98 yards, it ranked among the most stable performers in the test. For golfers who use their fairway wood off the tee or as a long-approach club into par-5s, that blend of distance and directional control matters.

As a PGA professional and coach with almost two decades of teaching experience, I’ve watched hundreds of golfers take their first swings and either fall in love with this game or get frustrated and quit within six months.

What is the difference between those two outcomes? It’s rarely talent. It’s almost always about what they focused on first.

Most new golfers start by trying to build a “proper swing.” They watch YouTube videos about shoulder turn, lag and swing plane. They buy training aids. They obsess over their grip pressure and whether their left arm is straight enough at the top. Six weeks later, they’re hitting it worse than when they started and golf feels like an engineering problem they can’t solve.

Here’s what I tell every beginner who walks onto my range: forget the swing for now. Build these five habits first and the swing will come easier than you think.

1. Develop a pre-shot routine (Even if your swing is terrible)

Tour players don’t look at the ball for 11 seconds and then swing just because they’re superstitious. They do it because consistency in process creates consistency in outcome, even when your technique isn’t perfect yet.

The Vice Pro Air replaces the long-running Vice Pro Soft. It’s designed for players who love a soft feel but need help getting the ball airborne without sacrificing distance.

MyGolfSpy’s 2025 Ball Test data paints a clear picture that the Pro Air is the softest-feeling Vice ball and it’s tuned for higher launch and lower spin. That combination makes it especially playable for moderate and slower swingers looking for carry and control.

Here are four key takeaways every golfer should know about the Vice Pro Air.

1. Higher launch and lower spin than other Vice models

The Vice Pro Air produces a higher-launching, lower-spinning flight than the rest of the Vice lineup.

Driver spin averaged 2,862 rpm (slow) and 2,351 rpm (mid), both on the lower end among urethane-covered balls tested.

Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for how the Internet Invitational ends.

As if the scriptwriters were pulling the strings behind the scenes, the sixth and final episode of the Internet Invitational was full of controversy and theatrics.

Manufactured or not, much of the online golf community was glued to YouTube Thursday night as the tournament—produced by Barstool Sports and Bob Does Sports—delivered more entertainment than anyone could have reasonably asked for.

The 48-person event was based on team competition all the way through, cutting the field in half until only six players remained. It left a 3v3 18-hole alternate shot match with $1 million going to the victors.

On one side was Creator Classic winner Brad Dalke (Good Good), Francis Ellis (Barstool) and the late Cody “Beef” Franke (Barstool) who was a part of the event prior to passing away last month at the age of 31.

Penfold Golf is announcing a new partnership with one of the leading youth golf programs in the U.S., the PGA Jr. League.

Under the agreement, Penfold will provide custom-designed equipment and accessories to PGA Jr. League players, coaches and teams.

“We’re honored to be part of a program that is shaping the future of golf,” says Penfold Golf CEO Gavin Perrett. “PGA Jr. League represents everything we believe in: teamwork, sportsmanship and a deep love for the game.”

The partnership became official late last month at the 2025 PGA Jr. League Championships for the 17U division in New Mexico. The 13U championships will be held later this month at PGA Frisco in Texas.

What is the PGA Jr. League?

Operated by the PGA of America, the PGA Jr. League serves more than 70,000 boys and girls each year. It’s known for its low-pressure team-based format and its inclusive environment.

Kai Trump has brought some added attention to this week’s LPGA event. But that’s not where the real beauty in her presence lies.

The post Kai Trump’s opening 83 in LPGA debut serves as powerful reminder   appeared first on Golf.

Stewart Cink shot a bogey-free, 7-under 64 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the PGA Tour Champions' season-ending Charles Schwab Championship.

Haeran Ryu shot a 6-under 64 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in The Annika, with Grace Kim second after a 65.

Kai Trump shot a 13-over 83 on Thursday in her LPGA Tour debut in The Annika, leaving President Donald Trump's granddaughter last in the 108-player field.

Here are nine nuggets for your weekend. There are items on Fred Couples’ Ryder Cup change, my favorite ghost story and more.

The post Fred Couples’ Ryder Cup change and my favorite ghost story | Weekend 9 appeared first on Golf.

Adam Hadwin shot a 6-under 65 in windy conditions on Thursday in the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, which was not completed because of darkness.

Holiday Golf Gift Ideas

Finding the perfect gift for the golfer in your life can be a delightful challenge! Here are some fun and festive ideas to consider this holiday season.

For the Golfer Who Has Everything

Sometimes the best gifts are the ones that are a little unexpected or offer a small luxury they wouldn't buy for themselves.

• Premium Golf Balls: A dozen golf balls from a top brand is always a welcomed gift, especially if they are a specific model the golfer prefers.
• Customized Gear: A golf towel or headcover embroidered with their initials or a fun golf-related quote.
• High-Quality Gloves: A new leather golf glove in their size is a practical luxury.
• Golf-Themed Apparel: A stylish new polo shirt, quarter-zip pullover, or a nice rain jacket.

Gadgets and Training Aids

Help them improve their game or make their time on the course easier with some modern tech or clever training tools.

Bernhard Langer, 68, has achieved longevity and greatness in his golf career by way of an uncomplicated life philosophy.

The post The secret to Bernhard Langer’s success boils down to 3 little words appeared first on Golf.

We asked GOLF staffers to share the details on any accessories they added to the bag and loved this year. Here are their top picks.

The post GOLF staff top picks: Our 5 favorite accessories of the year appeared first on Golf.

Good Good has been all over the news lately.

You may heard they are sponsoring a PGA Tour event and resuscitating “The Big Break” Golf Channel show that was a cult classic back in the day.

Now they are making headlines again as Good Good launched a women’s golf channel this week.

The channel’s first video—a match between Good Good Girls and their boy counterparts—hit a solid 400,000 views in the first 24 hours. As of this writing, Good Good Girls already has 90,000 subscribers.

The 70-minute match was a 4v4 scramble with plenty of fireworks. I won’t spoil the results, but you can be rest assured that the girls can play. These are former college/pro golfers who have game.

GOLF Top 100 Teacher Mike Malizia explains the proper way to fire your hips from the top of the swing to produce more crisp ball striking.

The post This is the correct way to fire your hips for better ball striking appeared first on Golf.

Rory McIlroy has a 'weird' theory on his next 10 years as a pro — and his inspiration comes from a surprising place.

The post Rory McIlroy’s latest career inspiration comes from a surprising source appeared first on Golf.

A simple efficiency test helped a SoCal course save millions in irrigation costs. Now, other courses are inspired to do the same.

The post This California muni saved millions in irrigation — and others are following suit appeared first on Golf.

Nelly Korda unveiled her signature Nike golf shoe during the pro-am of The Annika in Belleair, Fla., on Wednesday.

The post Nelly Korda’s new Nike golf shoes have unusual touch appeared first on Golf.