The Shotgun Start - Podcast Rankings and reviews

I’m a fan of several golf podcasts — NLU, the Chipping Forecast, Rick Shiels, RGC — and have samples all of them. Started listening after Full Swing revealed that Rory is a listener, and honestly — didn’t like it at first. But listened to a couple of more looking for why Rory was listened,
And now I can’t miss a pod. Brendan is a tremendous host — organizing what appears to be a chaotic mess into a subtly well-organized series of funny but incredibly insightful discussions of all things PGA Tour and majors-related, and hilarious running gags and bits. Andy is, I have come to realize, the singular best analyst of golf today. They both have encyclopedic knowledge of courses the world over and golf architecture— and it’s amazing how much better you understand the game after learning about all of the details that you didn’t pay attention to before, but that make golf the game it is with challenges changing from course to course.

Really couldn’t recommend The Shotgun Start and the related Fried Egg Golf podcast (and Get a Grip) more highly. Just give it a chance even if you don’t love it at first — you’ll be glad that you did.

Been listening to this show since pre- pandemic, my favorite podcast. They offer great views on the state of pro golf with some great insights but also do not take themselves too seriously. It's the perfect combination of information and entertainment. The addition of PJ has elevated the pod even higher. Who doesn't love a little champs tour content. Great work gents.

SGS is one of few great golf Pod-Casts, besides giving great takes on the current professional golf landscape, the recent Tommy Tolles flashlight is what sets the SGS apart from the rest. As a long time pro golf fan, that was greatly appreciated. Andy and Brendan’s passion for the game is evident to see (hear). Keep up the good work to all the SGS team, the golf sicko’s appreciate you.

Andy has me rolling and laughing out loud every episode. Great golf takes and amazing foolishness and clownery. My favorite golf podcast! Their bits are fantastic. BRENDAN!!!

Podcast is unlistenable these days. All the hosts do is offer 3rd grade level football analysis while not talking about golf. Hosts don’t prepare at all for the show, and after a while you realize you haven’t heard them talk about anything interesting. If you want to actually hear about golf, listen to No Laying Up. Very strange to see shotgun start completely sabotage their own brand and actively ignore their listeners’ complaints about too much non golf talk. Completely arrogant, but makes sense since one of the hosts is a stay at home dad who really doesn’t need this job. Complete joke of a golf podcast. Go elsewhere if you’re looking for any actual analysis on the game you love.

As a long-time listener, I’ve witnessed the cringeworthy degeneration of this podcast from a delightful blend of humor and insightful golf discourse to a frustratingly elitist echo chamber. The over-the-top fake rage Brendan displays for such trivial things is the very thing he decries when he sees it in others—and if it’s authentic rage, then we’re even further gone than I thought. I know, I know—it’s a “free” podcast that offers a money back guarantee. While I agree monetarily it is free, it has absolutely cost me the quality time it takes to listen that I will never get back. I know the next suggestion from fanboys and even the hosts alike will be “just don’t listen.” I agree. I will not be listening, but I wanted to voice this to possibly save some unsuspecting soul from devoting time to this reprehensible podcast and its miserable hosts. I’ll end by saying I wish the hosts would take this criticism—along with the other criticism they constantly complain about— reflect, and get back to what made them a popular podcast in the first place. But I know they won’t. If they do see this review, it will be the butt of one of their rants about how they could never be wrong and shouldn’t be questioned. They’ll disguise it with their usual fake self-deprecation and claim they’re just “idiots”. I know they won’t actually take it in and act on it—lazy and arrogant people don’t do that. And that’s exactly who these hosts are.