Updated October 2023 to reflect updated pricing and an updated on-course review. I originally wrote this Noodle golf balls review in July of 2018, about 5 years ago. After 5 years, I found myself curious: are Noodle golf balls still worth buying? They’re among the cheapest golf balls on the market, so obviously they’re not going to compare to say, Pro V1s. But for the a beginner to high handicap, do they still represent a good value and a ball worth picking up? Good news, yes, years later, I’m still impressed with the trust ol’ Noodle. Obviously, a ball at…
Author: Sean Ogle
Sean Ogle
As the Founder of Breaking Eighty Sean has spent the last 10+ years reviewing the best golf products and golf courses in the world. He prides himself on only writing about products and courses he's experienced first hand, and helping others find exactly what they need to enhance their enjoyment of the game we all love so much.
Updated in October 2023 to make comparisons to the newer Approach S70 and Epix Gen 2. We’re not breaking any news when we say the Garmin Approach S62 is a killer piece of golf equipment. It’s been out a couple of years now, and in the past it’s topped pretty much every best-of list, including our own best golf watches list. But (there’s always a but, right?). As of May 2023, Garmin released the brand new Approach S70 – their new flagship golf watch. It comes in at $200 more than the S62, but it also brings a whole lot more to…
This review was originally published in August 2020. Wilson has since refreshed the styling on the Launch Pad irons, but overall performance is the same. This has been updated as of October 2023 to address the styling changes as well as keep pricing up to date. These days most of the golfers I play with on a regular basis are all pretty good sticks. However, two people I’m very close to are still definitely in the realms of beginners golf: my dad and my brother-in-law. So any time I’m looking at equipment geared towards newer golfers, they are the two…
Despite the fact this is a golf blog, I’ve accidentally become somewhat of an expert in sleep heating and cooling systems. About 3 years ago I picked up a Sleep.Me Ooler. It was far from perfect, but definitely helped lead to more comfortable and more restful sleeps. Fast forward to about 4 months ago when I had the chance to upgrade to an Eight Sleep Pod 3 Cover. It blows the Ooler out of the water. It isn’t even close in terms of features, functionality, and most importantly its ability to warm and cool. But there’s a third major competitor…
Originally published in September 2022, this has been updated in September 2023 to add a long-term update of my personal use with the El Camino bag. Even just three years ago, the idea of a Sunday golf bag was a pretty niche product. It was mostly reserved for urban locals of needed a way to get a handful of clubs to the range, or the minimalist golfer set who spent hundreds on boutique MacKenzie bags. And then came Sunday Golf. This startup out of San Diego saw a need that wasn’t being filled very well: Smaller bags that can carry…
Living in the Pacific Northwest, we truly experience 4 distinct seasons. We get hot, we get cold, and we get everything in between. Because of this, it’s important to have a versatile golf wardrobe. And one of the most versatile pieces you can have in your arsenal? A golf vest. Whether you’re laying it with a jacket to stay extra warm, or just need something to take the bite off of those early morning shoulder season rounds – every golfer should have a high-quality golf vest in their locker. Full disclosure? Up until the last couple of years, I’ve never…
Over the years I’ve had a number of great golf vests. Pieces I’ve loved from Holderness and Bourne, Nike, and Patagonia. There was just one problem with all of them: they weren’t very packable. While all of my previous vests have been comfortable and stylish, every one of them has taken up quite a bit of space in my bag while traveling. Recently, I picked up a Colter Vest from Sun Mountain, and I’ve been very impressed by it. Not just for how well it packs down, but more so for how warm it is, despite being extremely portable. So as we…
What hasn’t been said about the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai over the past 3 decades? “Best resort in Hawaii” “Best Four Seasons Golf Resort in the World” “The Ultimate Luxury Family Getaway.” I’ve been hearing it for years, and have received dozens of people asking me about it since I began Breaking Eighty. Everything from: How is the golf at Hualalai? To how does Hualalai compare to Punta Mita? I visited the Four Seasons Punta Mita a little over a year ago and was blown away. From the hospitality to the resort amenities to the fantastic golf on the Pacifico…
When it comes to buying a new set of golf clubs or golf balls, there’s a good chance Wilson isn’t the first name on your list of brands to check out. They’ve been around forever, but generally, the latest Callaway, Taylormade or Titleist goods are the most top of mind when it comes to new golf gear. But should you be giving Wilson a second look? Based on my time playing with the D9 and CB irons, as well as their latest Staff golf balls – I think the answer may be yes. I’ve reviewed a handful of different Wilson…
These days there are no shortage of people sharing their opinions on golf courses. And personally, I love it. Golf is such a subjective thing, that it’s always interesting to me to see what types of course people like, don’t like – and why. I’ve been fortunate enough to play a lot of fantastic golf courses. And every once in awhile I come across a course that surprises the hell out of me. One of those courses that makes me say “how is this place not talked about more.” Or maybe it’s a course that is well known, but makes…