This Vessel Player IV Pro DXR review was updated in January of 2024 to add a video comparing Player IV DXR models vs non-DXR models. Over half of my rounds in the last 3 years have been played with a Vessel golf bag. In most cases, this might not be a very impressive statistic. But considering my job is to review golf bags (among many other things), the fact one brand has gotten so much use is notable. The Vessel Player III for years had been my pick for the Best “Overall” Golf Bag. The looks, materials, and functionality were…
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.
This post was updated in January 2024 to include comparisons to the new Arccos Link Pro. The evolution of Arccos has been pretty impressive to follow along with. I fully saw the promise of Arccos when I played my first round with it way back in 2014 – before it was even released to the public. The first product and app worked well, but there was clearly room to improve. Then the launched updated sensors with Arccos 360. After that they rebranded to Arccos Caddie and gave the app a huge overhaul by introducing an AI powered Caddie (that actually works). Note:…
This was originally published in November 2013 after one of my most humiliating moments on a golf course. Don’t do be like me 🙂 I’ve never played competitive golf. Ever. Handicap? Nope never had one of those either. I mean why would I? Golf has always been a game against myself, and I haven’t really gotten into the sport until the last 8 months. To be honest, up until recently, just about everything related to the idea of a handicap was foreign to me. When people asked I usually told them I was an 18. The average of my last…
Over the years I’ve struggled to find a pair of golf pants that I truly loved. Most often I’ve found myself leaning towards versatile pants that I can use both on the course and off. I’ve worn the Bluffworks Ascender for years, and more recently I’ve been a fan of the TRUE Linkswear All Day pants. And those are great. But I’ve got a new love: the G/FORE Tour 5 Pocket pants. I’ve written in other reviews about my reluctance to embrace G/FORE. The brand seemed a little too fashion-forward for me, and if I’m honest, a lot of their branding and…
Updated October 2023 to make direct comparisons to the Epix line of watches to help you better decide which Garmin golf watch is right for you. When I first reviewed the Garmin Approach S62, I declared it the best GPS golf watch on the market. And that’s been the case ever since. Any GPS golf watch will give you accurate distances to the green, but few provided the level of detail and functionality of Garmin’s flagship S62. But it wasn’t perfect. If you’re used to an Apple Watch the screen quality is a noticeable downgrade on the S62, and it’s…
Five years ago, if you saw a guy walking around town in golf shoes you’d probably laugh at him. It’s just not something you do. But these days, that’s all changed. There’s a handful of companies that have embraced the idea of the “all day” golf shoe. These are shoes that perform well enough to wear on the course, but look and feel more like regular street shoes. https://youtu.be/Uq3ExgaYteI?si=l4UXSwWXfk5G2o1u They still represent a pretty small niche in the world of golf, but for the right person, having a pair of all day shoes in your golf (and street) wardrobe can…
Before arriving at the Santa Lucia Preserve outside of Carmel, I’d heard nothing but wonderful things. Every person I’d talked to before the trip said things like: “You’re going to The Preserve? You’re going to love it.” “It’s such a special place…” “It’s unlike any club I’ve ever been to…” Naturally, when you hear these things over and over, your expectations begin to rise. After being intrigued by both the golf and the property in general for years, I recently had the chance to visit the Santa Lucia Preserve for the first time. I stayed at the Hacienda on the property…
Over the last few years I’ve seen a lot of golf products, seen a lot of golf brands, and met a lot of people in the golf industry. But there are only a couple that have truly impacted my life on an ongoing basis. One is Arccos Golf, which I use nearly every round I play. The other? Holderness and Bourne. Holderness and Bourne is a golf apparel and accessory company that takes modern tradition and style and updates it for the 21st century. I first met John Bourne and Alex Holderness at the PGA Show a few years back, and knew…
There’s a reason Footjoy golf shoes have such a good reputation. But what are the best? We like these 4.
Updated in February 2026 to reflect current pricing, competitive landscape, and the introduction of Uneekor’s GameDay simulator software. The mid-range launch monitor market continues to evolve rapidly, with new pricing models and features that make it harder than ever to know which option to choose. I’ve extensively reviewed and tested most launch monitors in the $2-10k price point, including the: SkyTrak+ SkyTrak ST MAX Bushnell Launch Pro Circle B Foresight GC3 Foresight GC3S Garmin R50 Full Swing Kit All of those are fantastic launch monitors that are worth investing in. So, does the world need another one to consider? Well, considering…