The Shopwada Journal

Game-day notes

Sizing help, team-order tips and gear ideas for golf, bowling, billiards, pickleball and archery — from the Shopwada team.

Bowhunter kneeling on an autumn aspen slope blowing an elk call, compound bow in hand, wearing a timber camo hoodie with a bull elk print

How to Hunt Elk: A Beginner Plan From Trailhead to Wallow

A beginner elk hunting plan: trailheads, wind, cow calling, ambush spots and common mistakes.

3 min read
Turkey hunter sitting against a large oak at sunrise with a shotgun and box call, wearing a camo hoodie with a strutting turkey, hen decoy in the clearing

How to Hunt Turkey: Gear, Setup, Calls and Tactics

Gear, a step-by-step spring morning plan, turkey calls, fall tactics and safety.

3 min read
Duck hunter blowing a wooden duck call in a marsh at dawn beside a black Labrador, wearing a waterfowl camo hoodie with a Lab and mallard print

How to Call Ducks: 8 Duck Calls and When to Use Them

The eight duck calls to learn, what they sound like, when to use them and common mistakes.

3 min read
Two anglers casting from coastal rocks into the surf at sunrise in white fishing shirts with a compass and a marlin over an American flag

How to Catch Striped Bass: Bait, Lures, Tackle and Rigs

Best bait and lures, tackle by situation, boat and shore techniques and common rigs.

2 min read
Angler casting from the grassy bank of a misty farm pond at sunrise in a green Bass Master fishing shirt

How to Catch Bass in a Pond: Tackle, Timing and 7 Lures

Stealthy approach, light tackle, a depth-by-time plan, seven pond lures and cover.

3 min read
Smiling angler on an offshore boat holding a red snapper, wearing a white American flag fishing shirt with fishing gear silhouettes

How to Catch Red Snapper: Structure, Bait, Jigs and Tackle

Where red snapper hold, the best bait and jigs, tackle, timing and safe release.

3 min read
Angler on a flats boat casting toward a mangrove shoreline at sunset for snook in a blue marlin fishing shirt

How to Catch Snook: Spots, Line, Baits and Lures

Finding feeding snook, line and leader by spot, best live baits and lures by depth.

3 min read
Angler fishing from a sit-on-top kayak on a calm lake at sunrise wearing a PFD over a green Bass Master fishing shirt

Kayak Fishing Tips for Beginners: Safety, Gear and Fishing

Safety rules, choosing a kayak, gear, launching and how to fish from a kayak.

3 min read
Angler on a wooden pier at sunrise jigging for flounder in a white Texas Slam fishing shirt with redfish, trout and flounder emblem

How to Catch Flounder: Depth, Bait, Lures and Rigs

Where flounder live, how deep to fish, the best bait, lures and rigs for beginners.

3 min read
Angler surf fishing at sunrise on a sandy beach with a long rod and sand spike, wearing a blue marlin fishing shirt

Surf Fishing Tips: 10 Ways to Catch More From the Beach

Ten beginner surf fishing tips: species, structure, tides, timing, rigs and bait.

3 min read
Angler on a flats skiff fishing a popping cork for speckled trout at sunrise in an American flag fishing shirt

How to Catch Speckled Trout: Spots, Rigs and Best Baits

Where speckled trout live, a simple popping cork rig, the best baits and when to fish.

3 min read
Angler wading a shallow grass flat near an oyster bar at sunrise, casting for redfish in a Texas Slam fishing shirt

How to Catch Redfish: Spots, Tackle, Lures and Bait

Where redfish hold, line and leader by conditions, the best lures and bait, and timing.

3 min read
Scene cover for fly-fishing-for-beginners

Fly Fishing for Beginners: Gear, Flies and Casting Tips

The beginner fly setup, leaders and tippets, which flies to carry and six tips.

3 min read
Scene cover for how-to-catch-catfish-in-a-pond

How to Catch Catfish in a Pond: Rigs, Bait and Timing

Simple rigs, the best pond baits, where to cast and how to hook more catfish.

3 min read
Scene cover for how-to-catch-crappie

How to Catch Crappie: Spots, Baits and Simple Techniques

Where crappie hold, a six-step approach, the best baits and beginner gear.

3 min read
Scene cover for how-to-get-out-of-a-sand-bunker

How to Get Out of a Sand Bunker: 6 Steps and Rules

A six-step greenside bunker technique, deep bunker tips, club choice and the bunker rules.

3 min read
Scene cover for how-to-fix-a-slice-in-golf

How to Fix a Slice in Golf: Causes, Steps and Drills

Why a slice happens, six fixes from grip to tempo, and range drills to straighten your drives.

4 min read
Scene cover for how-to-grip-a-golf-club

How to Grip a Golf Club: 6 Steps, Styles and Pressure

A 6-step grip routine, overlapping vs interlocking vs ten-finger, and how tight to hold the club.

3 min read
Scene cover for parts-of-a-golf-course

Parts of a Golf Course: Hole Layout and 5 Rule Areas

Every part of a golf hole, plus the five rule areas and what you can do in each.

3 min read
Scene cover for how-to-hit-irons

How to Hit Irons: 8 Steps, Ball Position and Drills

An 8-step iron swing, ball position chart, common mistakes and three range drills.

3 min read
Scene cover for what-is-a-links-golf-course

What Is a Links Golf Course? Meaning, Features, Tips

Where the word links comes from, links vs parkland, and how to play a windy seaside course.

3 min read
Scene cover for golf-rules-for-beginners

Golf Rules for Beginners: 10 Rules You Will Use

The rules new golfers meet every round, from bunkers to dropping a ball.

4 min read
Scene cover for golf-swing-basics-for-beginners

Golf Swing Basics for Beginners: 5 Simple Steps

Setup, takeaway, backswing, downswing and finish, plus the best beginner drill.

3 min read
Scene cover for how-to-drive-a-golf-ball-farther

How to Drive a Golf Ball Farther: 6 Fixes That Work

Six fixes for more distance off the tee, a 3-week plan and common mistakes.

4 min read