This week on Sticks Together, we dive into what it really meant for Stacey to get new clubs after 14 years and how she's learning to play our best with them. It's more than just picking up shiny equipment—it’s about building a real relationship with each club (and yes, we extend that analogy). We share how surprising it can be when new clubs don’t magically fix your game but instead push you to practice, test distances, and get comfortable with how each club feels and reacts. For Stacey, the new set came with hybrids, woods, and an eight iron as the longest iron, which meant she had to relearn her distances from scratch.
We tell the story of how we brought our son onto the course to help measure shots the old-fashioned way, by standing at target distances, and how that was only part of the process. We laugh about how frustrating it is to realize you can’t figure out club distances in just five swings and how competition changes everything. Stacey talks about playing more competitive rounds this year to get more comfortable under pressure, knowing she often scores worse when it counts but sees it as a way to grow. We reflect on how competition is still fun, even if it makes us sweat—sometimes literally.
Speaking of sweat, we get into the realities of playing golf in extreme heat. Slade shares his system for staying safe: hydrating a day in advance, using electrolyte tablets, bringing extra water, using cooling towels, and even carrying a powerful fan that sits in the cart. We discuss the importance of food for energy and why caffeine or sodas won’t cut it. Stacey explains how women golfers often think ahead about comfort and safety more than men do, which led to a conversation about whether men are just stubborn when it comes to calling off a round for heat.
We also laugh about the little stuff, like Stacey’s collection of mismatched head covers and how our different opinions about seat blankets for the cart sum up our compromises on the course. Finally, we wrap up with advice on whether to involve a significant other in a club fitting and why the right support—without interference—can make the experience more positive.
As we wrap this episode, we remind ourselves and everyone listening to stay smart, stay hydrated, build that relationship with your clubs, and always remember golf should be fun, whether you’re competing or just trying to break 90 for the first time in years.