Ball Rollback, Ground Reaction Forces & LIV's Reckoning

Baden and Clappy are back to unpack a massive week in golf. They kick off at Harbour Town — a course that makes the case that great design, not a rolled-back ball, is how you defend par. From there it's a proper debate on the USGA's bifurcation plan: is it pointless engineering theatre, or the future of the pro game? The boys get into why slower swingers barely notice the change, the social awkwardness of "which ball are you playing?" at your home club, and why Trotty Golf reckons driver designers will claw every yard back anyway.

Then it's ground reaction forces — the thing Baden famously doesn't have. Clappy breaks down the three flavours (lateral, vertical, rotary), why Scottie Scheffler slides and Matt Fitzpatrick pulls his front foot out of the way, and how understanding ground forces turned his clubhead speed from 116 to 132 mph. Plus a sharp take on why most 18-handicappers should be nowhere near a force plate.

The back half dives into LIV's rumoured cash crunch, TaylorMade team rebrands, and the no-man's-land waiting for returning players like Cam Smith, Joaquin Niemann and DJ — while Patrick Reed serves out his suspension. Bryson's stirring up trouble again. And next week: golf media insider Luke Kerr-Dineen joins the pod.

Grab a coffee. Plenty to chew on.