Rookie⛳️Rounds Weekly

Thursday, June 12th, 2025 | 5-Minute Read ⏱️

Author

Gil L
June 12, 2025

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Hey Golf Friend!

Hope your week's been solid and you're gearing up for some weekend golf.

I know you've probably been analyzing your last round (classic move), but let's take a break from the spreadsheets and dive into what's actually happening in the golf world.

Speaking of commitment... did you catch that the US Open starts today at Oakmont? Those greens are so fast they make your local muni look like shag carpet. And they'll separate the committed from the merely talented.

Grab your coffee ☕ and let's get into it.

What's Inside This Week 📋

🏆 Rory vs. Bryson: Golf's Newest Rivalry Takes Center Stage

🧠 The Commitment Drill: A 5-Minute Practice That Transforms Your Mental Game

⛳ Mike's Gear Corner: Cobra DS-ADAPT Drivers - My Love-Hate Relationship

💪 Your Weekend Motivation - Because we all need it

🎁 Special Offer for Rookie Rounds Referrers - Help us grow, get rewarded

Rory vs. Bryson: Golf's Newest Rivalry Takes Center Stage 🏆

The News: The US Open begins today at Oakmont Country Club with golf's newest titanic rivalry threatening round three. Rory McIlroy is seeking redemption after his near-miss at the PGA Championship, while defending champion Bryson DeChambeau arrives with a new putting technique specifically designed for Oakmont's brutal greens.

What This REALLY Means for You:

Look, I get it. Watching these guys bomb 350-yard drives while you're still trying to keep it in play can be... humbling. But here's the thing that most people miss:

This rivalry isn't about distance. It's about two completely different approaches to the mental game. Rory plays by feel and instinct. Bryson approaches golf like a science experiment with spreadsheets and calculations.

The Real Lesson: Both approaches can work. What doesn't work is being caught in the middle – half-committed to feel, half-committed to technique. The pros pick a lane and go all-in.

Your Takeaway: This weekend, decide whether you're playing by feel or by the numbers. Commit fully to one approach for all 18 holes. You might be surprised which one works better for your game.

The Commitment Drill: A 5-Minute Practice That Transforms Your Mental Game 🧠

Oakmont is famous for having the fastest greens in championship golf. The pros will be grinding just to avoid three-putts. But their secret weapon? Unwavering commitment to every shot.

The 5-Minute Commitment Drill:

  1. Setup: Place 5 balls in a line, 3 feet from a hole (or a target if practicing at home)

  2. The Process:

  • Before each putt, verbalize OUT LOUD your exact intention: "I'm going to hit this 2 inches left of the cup with medium pace"

  • Take your stance and FREEZE for 3 full seconds

  • Make your stroke without hesitation

  • Repeat for all 5 balls

  1. The Rules:

  • If you change your mind after verbalizing, you must step away and start over

  • If you don't commit fully (hesitation), it counts as a miss regardless of result

  • Track your "commitment percentage" not your make percentage

Why This Works for Weekend Golfers: Most amateurs change their mind during the stroke. This drill forces you to make a decision and stick with it - exactly what the pros do at Oakmont.

Bonus Tip: Do this drill with your first 5 putts before EVERY round. It sets the tone for commitment all day.

Mike's Gear Corner: Cobra DS-ADAPT Drivers - My Love-Hate Relationship ⛳

What's the deal? Cobra's new DS-ADAPT drivers have me feeling like a kid with a new toy... that I occasionally want to throw in the lake. I've been testing the DS-ADAPT MAX-K for a month, and my golf buddies are sick of hearing about it.

Why I'm genuinely excited: The FutureFit33 hosel system offers 33 different loft and lie settings. THIRTY-THREE! That's 32 more than my ex-wife gave me when discussing weekend plans. Translation: You can dial this thing in without needing a new mortgage for custom clubs.

The stuff I'm loving:

  • Adaptive weighting: Each model has weight positioned differently based on loft. Smart! My mishits are now merely bad instead of catastrophic.

  • 10,000 M.O.I. (MAX-K model): So forgiving it's like the club is saying "there, there" after you hit it off the toe.

  • Four distinct models: From "I'm a scratch golfer" (LS) to "I need all the help I can get" (MAX-D). I'm firmly in the latter camp.

The not-so-great stuff (keeping it real):

  • Price tag: $549 is steep. I had to hide the credit card statement from my wife for a week.

  • Adjustment tool: Feels like you need an engineering degree to use it. I may have stripped one screw already.

  • Sound: A bit tinny compared to my old driver. Some playing partners said it sounds like hitting a cookie tin.

My honest results: My driving distance increased by 8 yards, but more importantly, my dispersion tightened by 15%. I'm finding fairways I didn't know existed at my home course. Though to be fair, that's not saying much.

Who it's ACTUALLY for: Mid-handicappers who want more forgiveness without the embarrassment of carrying a driver head the size of a toaster. Or low-handicappers who like to fiddle with settings more than they actually practice.

P.S. No, Cobra didn't pay me for this review so far…this is only an affiliate link, but if they're reading, I wouldn't say no to a free fairway wood. Just saying.

Your Weekend Motivation 💪

Here's something that might surprise you:

The pros at Oakmont this week will miss more greens than they hit. Even the best in the world struggle on the toughest courses.

This weekend, remember:

  • Every pro was once a beginner

  • Every expert was once a disaster

  • Every good round starts with managing expectations

You're not trying to qualify for the US Open. You're trying to enjoy 4 hours outside with friends while gradually getting better at a ridiculously difficult game.

That's not settling for mediocrity. That's being smart about your goals.

Go show that course what life experience can do. 🏌️‍♂️

Help Rookie Rounds Grow (And Get Rewarded) 🎁

I hope you appreciate our no-BS approach to golf improvement!

If you've found value in these weekly insights…

I have a favor to ask.

The Ask: Forward this newsletter to one golf buddy who could use some straight talk about the game.

Your Reward: For every friend who subscribes through your referral, you'll get access to our exclusive "Weekend Warrior's Course Management Guide" - a 15-page PDF that breaks down exactly how to play smarter golf and lower your scores without changing your swing.

What's Inside the Guide:

  • The 3-shot strategy that works on any course

  • How to read greens like a pro (without the drama)

  • Equipment decisions that actually matter • Pre-round routine for consistent scoring

Ready for the weekend?

Hit 'em straight (or at least straighter than last week),

Gil & Mike The Rookie Rounds Team

Rookie Rounds - Weekend Golf Made Easy

P.S. - If you're tired of golf tips that don't work for real golfers, you're in the right place. See you next Thursday.

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