swing timing pga tour 2k23

PGA Tour 2K23 Swing Timing Tips And Tricks

By Ashok Bhandari , On 28 September 2023 11:03 AM

PGA Tour 2K23 swing timing can be enhanced by reducing the distance by 1 to 2 feet from the set target and focus on hitting the perfect power shot. 

The biggest challenge while streaming in PGA Tour 2K23 is being good with putting. Putting well is usually the main things to avoiding bogeys or getting eagles or birdies.

One of the tip for measuring the putt distances and angles is to first look at the terrain or condition of the golf course. If there is a big downhill slope, the ball will roll sharply to the left or right more.

If the slope of the golf course is uphill, it should be a lot easier to measure the angle of the putt. Moreover, if the course is flat, it should be the easiest pull you could ever ask for. 

There are some scenario where fades or draws are better which will be another tip. The most important thing to remeber is that adding spin to the ball will make your swing timing a lot harder. 

3 Click Swing In PGA 2K23

3-click swing in PGA 2k23 is a great thing to have in the game but users were prefer to play with the usual swing style. If TGC tours allows it and it becomes meta, everyone would likely be forced to switch over to use it to have any chance to compete. 

Not only that but many fighting games have 1-button auto-combos these days, online games let people choose legacy instead of stick controls , and it had zero effect. Play with friends and do not worry how other people are playing or improve your game and deal with it.

Some users may need the 3-click mechanism if they have severe arthritis or other mobility issues and you can not expect them to be sectioned off or otherwise eliminated from general competition. If the game is unbalanced or lagged, that is a developer problem.

Furthermore, there will now be an option to use a traditional 3-click swing instead of the default analog stick motion. The function was the default option for online golf games of the late ’90s and early 2000s, and still is for arcade-style golf games.

The 3-click swing in a game works as described as given below: 

First Click

• Firstly, hold down A/X button to the desired power
• Then, time the release as it nears the power circle (exceeding will cause an overpowered shot, let go too early and it is an underpowered shot).

Second Click

• A green dot will move counterclockwise from the bottom of the circle.
• Tap button to determine the swing path

Third Click

• Tap button as it reaches the bottom hash marks.
• This determines an open or closed club face. 

This above mentioned difficulty setting will change the swing speed of the meter. 

The 3-Click Swing offers a simpler, more accessible alternative to the traditional analogue stick swing. It is especially the good options for beginners of the 2k23 which provides a quick and easy way to get into the game.

Crazy Courses PGA 2K23

Crazy courses PGA 2K23 includes 420 Crazy Golf 7's, Skull Island, Mars Outpost 18, Ruins At Pharaoh Valley, The Highlands and Hounds Tooth Point. 

The course developers has provided the gaming community with the ability to create some of the most challenging, ridiculous, crazy and hilarious courses imaginable. 

From fictional fantasy golf locations to courses with holes that are a mile long, there are plenty of interesting golf courses to explore in 2K23. 

This type of crazy courses are one of the main reasons for the game's huge success. Some courses are funny in their own way and others are so tough they will force people to rage quit. 

Users who are looking for the new funniest online golf courses to try out with friends should give the following user created courses a try. The below mentioned list will focus on some of the highest rated and craziest courses avaiable to all online streamers. 

• Hounds Tooth Point
• Musk's Mission To Mars
• Ruins At Pharaoh Valley
• The Highlands
• 420 Crazy Golf 7's
• Skull Island
• Mars Outpost 18
• Sam's Crazy Golf
• Dystopian (Redux)
• McFear's Quarry Course
• BD's Silly Seven
• BD's Goose's Nemesis
• The Gates Of Mordor

Best Swing Input For PGA 2K23

Best swing input for PGA 2K23 are Greensman, Powerhouse, Rhythm, Sculptor and Woodsman. 

For the beginners who are new to the The Golf Club/PGA Tour 2K franchise, starting off with Rhythm is not a bad idea as this is probably the most balanced archetype and it makes your ability to swing the club a little easier. 

The user friendly features of the game to swing naturally with the analog stick makes its long awaited return.

Furthermore, this year marks the PGA 2K’s franchise debut of a new swing option called the 3-Click Swing to add some interesting update to level up the gameplay experience. 

PGA 2k23 users thinks the 3-click is a lifesaver for them who can not swing with the stick because of hand tremors. The timing of the 3-click swing can be every bit as challenging as the alignment and tempo on the stick. 

There is one of the most significant changes in the online golf game PGA Tour 2K23 is the new swing system.

PGA 2k23 users who prefer the classic analog swing stick will be able to stick with it, but the game will also have the option of a new 3-click swing system.

This new feature is much more precise according to the developers of the game HB Studios. 

The Online gamers and streamers will be able to hold down X button on PlayStation or A button on Xbox and time its release close to the power circle using the new swing system. 

Then, long press the shortcut button (Playstation or Xbox ) to determine the swing path. Finally, press it again to determine whether it will be an open or a closed clubface.

PGA 2k23 Swing Calibration Reset

The PGA 2k23 swing calibration is a kind of update on the Xbox which makes the game pretty much unplaybale .

Users can update multiple swing calibrations until found the right tempo for the perfect gameplay. Here is the complete process of swing calibration reset:

• Exit PGA 2K23
• From main menu, press start button on PGA 2k23 and go to the manage game setting.
• Delete all saved data from the system.
• Go to Xbox settings, then go to network settings. Remove internet cable from PC (or switch off your router).
• Go to Xbox settings, then go to power settings. Select full shot down.
• Power on Xbox(Restart PC) 
• Start PGA 2k23 online game. If you have done everything correctly, the tutorial should start like you are playing game for first time.
• After you get back into the main menu, close down the game.
• Go to Xbox settings, network settings. Plug back in the internet cable (or switch on router).
• Start steam and switch to 'online' mode
• Wait 30 seconds. Return to PGA 2k23 and select go online.

Related Posts

Top Seller Golf Pants For Men In 2024

Best Selling Golf Shoes and Sneakers For Women 

• Ashok Bhandari

Durable Mens Golf Shorts For Any Weather

Best Rated Golf Push Carts To Buy In 2024

Stylish Women Golf Bags Within Your Budget

Ultimate Guide to Choosing Beginner Golf Clubs

Golf Video Games

Mastering pga 2k23’s 3-click swing: tips, tricks, strategy and controversy.

• November 9, 2023

Golf enthusiasts and gamers, prepared to tee off with precision and finesse when PGA TOUR 2K23 introduced the revolutionary 3-Click Swing. This innovative feature is reshaping the virtual golfing landscape, offering both novices and pros a fresh way to experience the game’s challenges and triumphs. Whether you’re looking to casually hit the links or compete at the highest levels, the 3-Click Swing is your new secret weapon for navigating some of the most prestigious courses the digital world has to offer.

What is the 3-Click Swing in PGA 2K23?

At its core, the 3-Click Swing is a game-changer in PGA TOUR 2K23. It’s a sophisticated alternative to the traditional Swing Stick mechanics, providing a method that hinges on timing and precision rather than fluid motion. This feature allows players to engage in a three-step swing action—power, direction, and impact—each controlled by individual clicks. It’s an approach that democratizes the gameplay, opening the doors to those who might find the standard swing mechanics daunting while still posing an exciting challenge for seasoned players​ ​.

In essence, the 3-Click Swing is designed with accessibility in mind. It gives you more control over each shot, breaking down the swing into manageable segments. The first click sets the power, the second determines the swing path, and the third click finalizes the club face angle, all contributing to the ball’s trajectory and final resting place. This method is akin to a rhythm game, where your response to visual cues determines the precision of your shot. It’s a fresh take on the golfing formula, crafted for those seeking a more interactive and responsive gaming experience​ ​​ ​.

How to Execute the Perfect 3-Click Swing

Achieving the perfect 3-Click Swing in PGA TOUR 2K23 is about mastering the rhythm and timing of your clicks. Begin by holding down the A/X button to set the power of your shot, watching the circular meter fill to the desired level. Release it at the right moment to ensure your shot has the correct amount of force. The next step involves a quick tap at the top of the meter to align your swing path, followed by another tap at the bottom hash mark to adjust the club face angle for accuracy​ ​​ ​.

This mechanic ensures every swing is in your hands, quite literally. There’s no relying on pre-programmed outcomes; it’s all about your skill and your ability to read the game’s visual cues. The 3-Click Swing removes the guesswork from your gameplay, providing a more involved and engaging golfing experience that rewards practice and precision​ ​.

Comparing 3-Click Swing to Traditional Swing Mechanics

The 3-Click Swing and the traditional Swing Stick mechanics offer contrasting experiences in PGA TOUR 2K23. The Swing Stick is more about emulating the real-life movement of golf, focusing on the fluidity and rhythm of a natural swing. It requires players to maintain tempo and timing to avoid hooks and slices, and it’s perfect for those who enjoy the classic feel of golfing games​ ​.

Conversely, the 3-Click Swing is about breaking down the swing into specific, controlled stages, offering a more video game-centric approach. It adds an element of strategy, as players must carefully consider each click. This can be particularly appealing to those who prefer a methodical and tactical gaming style. While the Swing Stick may cater to the purists and those with an affinity for the physicality of the sport, the 3-Click Swing opens up the floor to those who may be more accustomed to traditional gaming mechanics, providing a bridge between the worlds of golf and gaming​ ​​ ​.

The Controversy: Should 3-Click Swing Be Allowed in PvP?

The introduction of the 3-Click Swing has sparked a debate among the top players of PGA Tour 2K23, particularly regarding its place in PvP modes. Some argue that the mechanic should be restricted, suggesting it offers an unfair advantage and deviates from the traditional skills associated with the game. Yet, others advocate for its inclusion, emphasizing the learning curve and the proficiency needed to master it.

A Player’s Perspective

“I’ve experienced the highs and lows of both swing types,” shares a top-level player who transitioned from the swing stick to the 3-Click method in PGA 2K23. “The learning curve for both is steep for beginners. There’s a bias towards the stick swing, but claims that the 3-Click is inferior are unfounded. As someone who has become proficient in both, I see no reason to discredit the 3-Click system. In fact, many new players are adopting it and learning just as quickly as those starting with the swing stick.”

This player’s experience is a testament to the balance of challenge each system presents. The 3-Click Swing, often dismissed by critics as too simplistic, requires the same dedication to master as the traditional swing stick. The debate is less about the mechanics themselves and more about the recognition of skill and adaptability among the players.

Advanced Techniques and Settings for 3-Click Swing

The 3-Click Swing in PGA TOUR 2K23 isn’t just about the basics. The game ups the ante with a variety of difficulty settings and advanced techniques designed to challenge even the most skilled players. Legend difficulty, for example, transforms the 3-Click Swing into a formidable task, requiring impeccable timing and profound understanding of the game’s physics. Advanced players can experiment with the tempo and pressure of each click, fine-tuning their swings for different weather conditions and course terrains, making the gameplay as challenging and realistic as they desire​ ​.

Community and Developer Insights on 3-Click Swing

The inclusion of the 3-Click Swing has resonated well within the PGA TOUR 2K community, with players expressing appreciation for the added accessibility and fresh challenge it brings to the game. Developers have taken note of community feedback, using it to refine the mechanic further. This back-and-forth between the players and creators has cultivated a sense of collaboration, ensuring that the 3-Click Swing is well-received and continuously improved upon​ ​.

PGA TOUR 2K23’s 3-Click Swing is a groundbreaking feature that enhances the game’s accessibility and depth. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a user-friendly introduction to golf gaming or an expert chasing the thrill of a perfectly executed swing, this mechanic offers a novel and engaging way to experience golf simulation. The community’s input and developers’ insights have honed the 3-Click Swing into a beloved feature that respects the traditions of the sport while embracing the future of gaming. As you gear up for your next round in PGA TOUR 2K23, consider the 3-Click Swing as your go-to choice for precision, control, and an ultra-realistic golfing experience. Embrace these PGA 2K23 swing mechanics, explore the game controls, and immerse yourself in the most lifelike virtual golf gameplay yet. And remember, whether you’re looking for PGA 2K23 gameplay tips or strategies, the 3-Click Swing is your key to unlocking a new level of play on the digital green.

Chip Greenway, an ardent golf enthusiast and writer, brings a unique and knowledgeable perspective to golf journalism. His profound passion for golf, rooted in his childhood, has shaped his distinct fan-based approach, evident in his engaging and detailed writings. Through "Greenway’s Fairway," his blog, Chip delivers heartfelt stories and analyses, blending his personal playing experiences with the sport's rich history and spirit. His contributions extend beyond journalism, as he actively promotes golf's camaraderie and cultural significance within his local community. EMAIL: [email protected] Quote from Chip Greenway "Golf is more than a game; it's a culture and a community, and through my writing, I aim to capture its spirit and celebrate its rich history with fellow enthusiasts."

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

More in Golf Video Games

PGA Tour 2K23 Latest Update Patch 1.20 and Patch 1.21: New Features and Holiday Giveaways

Key Points: PGA Tour 2K23 continues to evolve with its latest updates, bringing fresh...

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR Unveils Exciting Season 8 Updates, Full Breakdown Patch Notes 9.0

Key Points EA SPORTS™ PGA TOUR™ is set to receive a comprehensive update on...

PGA TOUR 2K23 Clubhouse Pass Season 6: Bad Birdie Golf Gear Takes Center Stage

Key Points 2K has unveiled the lineup for PGA TOUR 2K23 Clubhouse Pass Season...

EA SPORTS PGA TOUR Update 1.000.014 : Introducing Season 7 with Visual Enhancements and Online Gameplay Tweaks

Key Points: The gaming world has been eagerly awaiting updates to EA SPORTS PGA...

• Football Manager
• MLB The Show
• Mortal Kombat
• Street Fighter
• Genshin Impact
• League of Legends
• Battle Royale
• First Person Shooters
• Role Playing Games
• Sponsored Content
• PGA Tour 2K

PGA Tour 2K23 New Swing Mechanic: How to use 3-Click Swing

The new 3-Click Swing looks great for all abilities

Published: 24 Aug 2022 2:00 PM +00:00 Updated: 02 Nov 2022 9:38 AM +00:00

PGA Tour 2K23 is coming soon, with none other than Tiger Woods leading the charge for this year's game!

The golfing legend is not only the cover star across all three editions , but he is also the Executive Director of the game too.

This year's game offers an all-new swing mechanic too, so players will have the choice of two ways to play the game.

Analog Swing

Let's start with the tried and trusted Analog Swing which remains available in PGA Tour 2K23.

The Analog Swing mirrors a traditional real-life golf movement, so it is perfect if that is what you are after.

Analog Swing Controls

To begin the motion, pull straight back on the right analog stick and time your push forward as the power meter reaches the sweet spot for a silky smooth shot laced down the fairway.

Tempo and timing are crucial with your windup; swinging too quickly will hook your shot and being too slow will cause a slice.

A seamless, fluid follow-through will produce quality shots—and a rush of excitement.

Many players will feel right at home with this classic swing technique and will become fairway finders in no time.

3-Click Swing

Making its debut in the PGA TOUR 2K franchise, the 3-Click swing requires you to holdand release the A/X button (depending on your platform of choice) for power, and tap it twice to line up your swing path and club face angle. It’s as simple as one, two, three.

The presentation differs from the traditional 3-Click swing mechanic you might've seen in past golf games: you’ll see a circular power meter displayed as you take your stance, rather than a horizontal bar. Regardless of whether you’re hitting a normal iron shot, pitching, or chipping, the meter shape won’t change.

3-Click Swing Controls

To start your shot, hold down the X/A to the desired power and time your release as it nears the power circle; exceeding the recommended range will result in an overpowered shot or vice versa.

After you release, a green dot will start moving counterclockwise at the bottom of the circle, quickly tap X/A at the top of the circle to determine your swing path.

Tapping X/A a second time as it reaches the bottom hash mark will determine an open or closed club face.

At any time, you can change the difficulty settings, but it will tweak the swing speed of the meter—unlike the Analog Stick.

Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!

• Mobile Games

All Swing Options in PGA Tour 2K23

2K’s PGA Tour is back after a two-year hiatus (alongside Tiger Woods) with PGA Tour 2K23. And with it, the user-friendly ability to swing naturally with the analog stick makes its long-awaited return (also called, Analog Swing, obviously). However, this year marks the 2K’s franchise debut of a new swing option called the 3-Click Swing to add some spice to the formula (and bring back old memories from past golf arcade games). Let’s swing away and talk about all swing options available in PGA Tour 2K23.

The Analog Swing

Arguably, the best part of the previous installment in the series, PGA Tour 2k21, was the Analog Swing, and it has returned. Although it may need a little bit of calibration, it feels quite natural and self-explanatory. All the player needs to do is to pull back on the analog stick (it can be the left or right analog stick, the game gives you the ability to choose), and then push forward just as the power meter reaches the perfect spot in order to achieve golf glory. Timing is the rule here, just like in all things, I guess.

The 3-Click Swing

A new swing option arrives, and it’s a traditional one. The 3-Click Swing is a little more complex to explain and also to perform, but certainly, some control freaks like myself will surely be appreciative of this inclusion, as well as the golf-game purists from the past.

Instead of swinging with the analog stick, the player needs to push the swing button (X or A, depending on the platform) and release it when the shot power is at the white circular band which represents the intended power (don’t worry, there is a little bit of leeway thanks to the gray band, while the red band represents an overshot).

Afterward, a dot will travel counterclockwise at the top of the circle firstly, which represents the path of your swing, and then at the bottom of it, representing the open or closed club face. Aiming for the yellow spots is the goal here (you can also change the difficulty if you find it very unforgiving, there’s no shame in that. Right?).

You can choose your own play style right now from all the swing options available in PGA Tour 2K23! PGA Tour 2K23 is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows. You can also check out All Playable Characters in PGA Tour 2K23 or How to Hit a Draw Shot in PGA Tour 2K23 .

Filed under:

PGA Tour 2K23 is Elden Ring for golf, somehow

Thrilling golf marred by frustrating swinging mechanics and career progression

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Reddit
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: PGA Tour 2K23 is Elden Ring for golf, somehow

I don’t spend much time playing video games whose difficulty is a selling point; if it’s anything like a Soulslike, I’m likely to avoid it. So it’s been a long time since a game has made me swear as much as PGA Tour 2K23 has. I’m not proud that one of those instances occurred when my wife came downstairs to see how things were going, just as I shanked a tee shot — for perhaps the 50th time? I’ve lost count at this point — into a thicket of trees on the left side of the fairway.

From wayward drives that end up in the drink to gimme putts that somehow don’t drop, the analog stick swing mechanic is my greatest frustration in PGA Tour 2K23 . After all, swinging is the main thing you do in this game; it takes 60 to 80 shots, on average, to complete a full 18-hole round.

But after taking thousands of swings across hundreds of holes of golf, I still don’t feel like I have a great handle on my virtual clubs in PGA Tour 2K23 . In other words, I don’t feel like I’m improving — an issue that is compounded because I’m also not getting a meaningful sense of progression for my created golfer in the game’s MyCareer mode.

PGA Tour 2K23 defaults to a control scheme that’s common in golf video games: To swing, you pull down on the right stick and then flick it upward. Here, though, the timing of the second motion (the downswing) is crucial — you’ll pull the shot to the left if you flick too quickly, and push it to the right if you’re too slow.

Downswing timing is the bane of my existence. I’ve enabled many of the assists available in the game’s settings, and have been hoping I’d eventually be able to wrap my head around the swing system. But even on the second-easiest difficulty setting, swinging feels like something of a crapshoot. No matter how many practice cuts I take, I’m liable to hook a shot when I swing for real.

There’s another option now: Fulfilling a long-standing request, developer HB Studios has added a traditional three-click system in PGA Tour 2K23 . It’s much less analogous to a real-life golf swing than, well, the analog stick scheme, but it’s good that an alternative is available.

This is HB Studios’ second effort under 2K Sports, a mass-market publisher. As such, I’m surprised that PGA Tour 2K23 doesn’t feel substantively more accessible than its predecessor, 2020’s PGA Tour 2K21 . Even the three-click swinging is implemented in a way that feels like it’s different for the sake of being different. Rather than simply pressing the button three times, you first hold it down to determine power, and then tap it twice to fine-tune the accuracy. I tried this system and quickly reverted to analog controls, despite my issues with them.

PGA Tour 2K23 ’s MyCareer mode also ends up feeling overcomplicated, although its foundation is solid. When creating your MyPlayer character, you choose one of five archetypes. For instance, Powerhouse players can drive the ball farther than anyone else, but they struggle with accuracy and putting. I’ve stuck with Woodsman because, frankly, I miss so many fairways and greens that I need all the help I can get when recovering from a bad lie in the rough. It’s nice that I can change my archetype if I ever want to, at no cost.

Here, HB Studios’ design works beautifully: The archetypes are meant to offer packages of strengths and weaknesses to support and complement your personal play style. My shots may often land on pine straw or in a fairway bunker, but thanks to the Woodsman archetype and its shot-shaping benefits, I don’t feel like all is lost when they do — and in fact, I’ve managed to save par in many of those cases.

The same customization-based design philosophy applies throughout MyCareer, but it’s less successful outside the realm of archetypes. The experience points you earn by playing tournaments aren’t used to directly upgrade your player’s attributes, like in a typical role-playing game (or in, say, a standard career mode in a sports game). Instead, you get a single skill point every time you level up, and you use the points to unlock and upgrade skills.

To avoid getting too far into the weeds (or woods) here, I’ll just say that almost all of the skills take effect only on a situational basis: They’ll either activate when you’re struggling and deactivate once you regain your form, or activate when you’re doing well and deactivate if you don’t keep it up. And as you level up a skill, it activates more easily and stays active for longer.

While the concept is sound, this setup makes the entire skill system feel inert. The first skill for hybrid clubs, Gusto, seems eminently valuable: When you’re mired in heavy rough, your shots will fly farther. But at level 1 of the skill, it only takes effect if you happen to be hitting into a headwind of at least 15 mph — an exceedingly rare combination of circumstances, in my experience. Because it takes a while to earn skill points, I’m not inclined to waste my precious few points on a skill that I don’t expect to get much use out of, even if there are more desirable ones locked farther along that branch of the tree.

Personalization is also the driving force behind club fittings, the most significant (and concrete) method of improving your performance in PGA Tour 2K23 . Fittings are parts of a golf club — head, shaft, or grip — that you can equip to magnify its attributes. Each one has a level of rarity attached to it, as with loot in a game like Destiny 2 ; the more rare it is, the stronger its effects. Attaching an “uncommon” head to a wedge might boost its power rating by 6 points while also dropping its timing attribute by 2.

Unlike in PGA Tour 2K23 ’s basketball sibling, NBA 2K, you can’t spend real-world money to power up your athlete, thankfully — at least not by buying fittings, since you receive them only as random drops. Virtual Currency, 2K Sports’ real-money currency (called “coins” here), is used primarily to purchase items like licensed clothes and gear from companies such as Adidas and Mizuno, none of which affect gameplay.

However, a pay-to-win element does creep into the game with respect to fittings: It costs coins to equip them to each club. The charge for attaching a legendary shaft to an iron is 150 coins, so I had to spend 900 coins to outfit all six of the irons in my bag. Considering the slow rate at which you earn coins through play — something like 250 coins if you can manage to finish in one of the top spots of a tournament — you may end up staring longingly at a collection of fittings that you’ve unlocked but can’t afford to equip.

The real bummer here is that I’ve had to spend so many words analyzing all that ancillary stuff, because once I’m playing a hole in PGA Tour 2K23 , most of those nuisances fade away. This is a true-playing golf game — I had a devil of a time with the steep greens at Los Angeles’ Riviera Country Club, and I’ve found it tremendously satisfying to craft and execute shots . The unforgiving difficulty of the swing mechanics, coupled with the game’s complicated system of fittings and skills, can lead to more frustration than fun. But when it all comes together, and I manage to pull out a birdie just when I need one to hold off a challenger on the leaderboard, it makes for thrilling moments of fist-pumping glory.

Perhaps I’m just too much of a casual gamer for the PGA Tour 2K series. To wit: I played many hours of PGA Tour 2K21 and didn’t remember having trouble with its swing mechanics — but when I booted up that game to check the options, I realized that I had disabled the downswing timing setting. At some point, I must’ve gotten frustrated enough to give up on the challenge (and the associated boost to the rate at which you earn XP). I’d also love to be able to save-scum, but that’s not an option: Due to the integration of VC, this is an always-online game by default, so it saves your progress with each stroke, with no allowances for mulligans.

It seems like my best bet — if I want to more fully enjoy my time with PGA Tour 2K23 — would be to turn off downswing timing. Either that, or it might be time to put this franchise on my personal “I don’t need this stress in my life” list, right next to Elden Ring .

PGA Tour 2K23 was released Oct. 14 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The game was reviewed using on PS5 using a pre-release download code provided by 2K Sports. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here .

Loading comments...

• EA Sports College Football 25
• MLB The Show 24
• Madden NFL 24
• EA Sports FC 24
• PGA Tour 2K23
• EA Sports PGA TOUR

How to Make the Most of Club Fittings in PGA Tour 2K23

Just as with real golf, it can take some time to find your shot in PGA Tour 2K23 . You’re bound to duff drives, shank irons, and hook wedges all over courses while you attempt to figure out the ideal tempo to keep shots straight.

If you want to avoid the roughs, bunkers, and water hazards that are eagerly waiting to gobble up errant shots, you’ll want to make sure that the clubs in your golf bag have been properly fitted to best assist you when out on the course. You’ll begin to collect fittings as you play rounds in the game, receiving them as rewards when you finish up your final hole.

The fittings are how to get the most out of the various club types (driver, wood, hybrid, iron, wedge, and putter) by maximizing particular attributes of theirs. Most clubs have six different attributes that you’re able to target with fittings: power, timing, swing path, transition, shaping, and lie range. However, putters only have two, putt weight and putt path.

Fittings also appear in five distinct colors depending on their effectiveness. In order of those with the greatest power to alter your clubs to the least, these are red, purple, blue, green, and grey. They have all been individually balanced though to come with pros and cons, meaning even the red fittings can boost certain parts of your game while decreasing others.

When you start out, it can be a little confusing to know exactly what to do with the fittings that you begin to accrue. It only gets more complicated strategically as your number of fittings grows and you have to consider which ones will give you the greatest advantage. To help you in your quest for the perfect swing with every club, here are some tips to bear in mind as you wade through the wonderful world of fittings in PGA Tour 2K23 .

Lean On Your Strengths

This is a good time to mention that so much of how you’ll want to use your fittings will depend on what kind of archetype you’ve chosen to use. For instance, if you’re someone who likes to slam the ball as far as possible by employing the powerhouse archetype, you might want to also outfit your clubs (or at least your driver) with power fittings. This will ensure that few will be able to hit the ball farther off the tee and will give you less distance on approaches, which will come in especially handy on those shorter par 5s.

Similarly, if you’re someone who prefers the rhythm archetype for its focus on improving timing, you’re likely to gravitate to the timing fittings should you want to limit the instances that you miss the mark with shots. Just be sure to pay attention to any attributes of your clubs that you’ve raised all the way to 100 because you could be better served using your fittings elsewhere once you’ve maxed out.

Hide Your Weaknesses

Rather than using the fittings to enhance aspects of your game that are already fairly strong, you could try instead to achieve balance by using them to compensate for your weaknesses. With this strategy, someone using the rhythm archetype might want to add some power fittings to their clubs to avoid losing too much in distance against opponents. A powerhouse archetype could probably stand to straighten out their bombs some with a few timing or transition fittings.

Do you struggle hitting out of the rough? Look to add lie range fittings to remedy that. These weaknesses shouldn’t just be limited to ones accompanying the archetypes either. If you find it hard to achieve a consistently good tempo in general because of your stick skills (or lack thereof), it’s only going to be easier if you max out the timing on your clubs.

While it may seem like a smart idea to plan out your fittings meticulously, your plans can always go awry once you hit the course. That’s when you can always bring out the reliable trial-and-error method to find a combination of fittings that works. There’s no arguing with results and if you find an array of fittings that’s perfect for you, even if that’s only a placebo of sorts, it’s best to stick with that until it starts faltering. You’ll be surprised to find that sometimes a red fitting doesn’t have the impact you might expect while a purple fitting will get the job done better for you with a certain type of club.

Don’t be chaotic in your experiments though and go in with some sort of problem you’re looking to solve, especially since fitting a whole group of clubs like irons in your bag can get awfully expensive.

An interesting wrinkle to fitting your clubs is that the game gives you the opportunity to fit single clubs rather than an entire group of clubs. While you’ll usually probably want to keep your fittings uniform across a club group, there are times when there could be an upside to having a club or two with different fittings than the others. Perhaps you want to have your longer irons fitted with more power while you prefer the shorter irons to be focused on timing so you can dial in your approaches. Or maybe you have certain wedges that you’d like to use from the rough so you apply lie range fittings to help you make those clubs slightly more adaptable.

Trade In Lesser Fittings

A neat feature that PGA Tour 2K23 utilizes is allowing you to trade in fittings that you don’t need for better options. By trading in three fittings, you can choose a specific fitting of the same quality (purple to purple, for example) that might serve you better in any of the club types. This can come in handy when you have an abundance of quality fittings of one type or club group but are lacking in other parts of your bag. You also have the ability to trade in three fittings of one quality for a random fitting one tier better (purple to red, for example). As you start to acquire those premium red fittings on all your clubs, this exchange will be valuable to turn all your lesser fittings into other red options that might improve your game slightly.

NEW CONTROLS, NEW COURSES, MORE FEATURES

Welcome to the Clubhouse Report, your one-stop-shop for detailed breakdowns directly from the developers. Each Clubhouse Report is packed with useful nuggets of information, detailing some of the latest features coming this year. With that said, the wait is over: PGA TOUR 2K23 is available for pre-order, and is now accepting tee times.

While you’ve been striping drives and sinking putts in PGA TOUR 2K21, we’ve been hard at work building on the features you’ve come to love and expanding them with more options to explore. Before you can officially hit the links in PGA TOUR 2K23 when it launches for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Steam on October 14, we want to give you the tools you’ll need ahead of time, so you can compete at the highest level when you step on the tee box. Here's everything you need to know about the new controls, all-new first-time playable pros, breathtaking courses, and a plethora of features you’ll find in the most authentic golf simulation game to date.

ANALOG SWING

Crushing a drive off the tee box always starts with a confident approach. Before you even grip the club, you need to feel comfortable with your setup, which is why we’re giving you the option to choose between the standard analog swing stick swing and the new 3-Click swing in PGA TOUR 2K23.

If you’re looking for a swing that mirrors a traditional real-life golf movement, the analog swing stick swing should be a good fit for you. To begin the motion, pull straight back on the analog stick and time your push forward as the power meter reaches the sweet spot for a silky smooth shot laced down the fairway.

Tempo and timing are crucial with your windup; swinging too quickly will hook your shot and being too slow will cause a slice. A seamless, fluid follow-through will produce quality shots—and a rush of excitement. Many players will feel right at home with this classic swing technique and will become fairway finders in no time.

3-CLICK SWING

Making its debut in the PGA TOUR 2K franchise, the 3-Click swing requires you to hold and release the A/X button (depending on your platform of choice) for power, and tap it twice to line up your swing path and club face angle. It’s as simple as one, two, three.

The presentation differs from the traditional 3-Click swing mechanic you might've seen in past golf games: you’ll see a circular power meter displayed as you take your stance, rather than a horizontal bar. Regardless of whether you’re hitting a normal iron shot, pitching, or chipping, the meter shape won’t change.

To start your shot, hold down the button to the desired power and time your release as it nears the power circle; exceeding the recommended range will result in an overpowered shot or vice versa. After you release, a green dot will start moving counterclockwise at the bottom of the circle, quickly tap the button at the top of the circle to determine your swing path. Tapping the button a second time as it reaches the bottom hash mark will determine an open or closed club face.

At any time, you can change the difficulty settings, but it will tweak the swing speed of the meter—unlike the Analog Stick. Experiment with the Analog Stick and 3-Click swings to find which works best for you in PGA TOUR 2K23.

PLAY AS THE PROS

PGA TOUR 2K23 is the only place you can play as, or against, Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Lexi Thompson and more. The 11-time PGA TOUR Player of the Year leads a diverse group of talented, playable pros you can swing with in-game. In year’s past, you’d only be able to compete against the pros, but for the first time in the PGA TOUR 2K franchise you can take control of golf’s biggest names.

As if having one of the greatest athletes of all-time isn’t enough, we’re including another one as a playable celebrity pro: Michael Jordan. Drain long range, high arcing shots with one of the NBA’s greatest scorers around the green and from the fairway. Jordan is just one of the many of the playable celebrities in PGA TOUR 2K23, but you’ll have to wait for the rest.

VISIT WORLD-RENOWNED COURSES

In the world of sports, no venue can hold a candle to the natural beauty of the PGA TOUR’s stunning courses—and they’re waiting for you in PGA TOUR 2K23. Formed by winding rivers, lush rolling hills, and rugged mountain ranges, every course features a stunning backdrop that sets the stage for elite competition.

PGA TOUR 2K23 boasts a vast collection of licensed courses that have played host to some of the game’s most memorable moments, and now it’s time to leave your mark in history. Experience the pageantry and challenge that comes with playing at world-renowned locations.

You’ll find 20 licensed courses in-game at launch, including new additions Wilmington Country Club, The Renaissance Club, St. George’s Golf and Country Club, and more. Keep an eye out for a full reveal of all the courses coming in PGA TOUR 2K23.

START YOUR PGA TOUR MyCAREER

Begin your professional career in PGA TOUR 2K23's MyCAREER mode as a member of the Korn Ferry TOUR and graduate to the unmatched competitive setting of the PGA TOUR. With each tournament, you’ll be put to the test against the best talent on the planet, competing for FedExCup points and a shot at first place in the standings. Using your MyPLAYER creation, write your legacy by hitting clutch shots and become one of the game’s legendary players. Combat the elements and your peers as you strive to etch your name on numerous trophies, culminating in a shot at the prestigious THE PLAYERS Championship.

PLAY GOLF LIKE NEVER BEFORE

PGA TOUR 2K23 offers a variety of game modes and formats for your enjoyment. In our last game, multiplayer featured the always chaotic Divot Derby, where players raced from the tee box to the pin as fast as they could to be dubbed victorious, along with Online Societies where you could challenge fellow players around the world in one- to four-day tournaments. These popular formats are making their return in PGA TOUR 2K23, along with traditional Stroke and Match Play—but we’re excited to welcome Topgolf into the fold.

Best enjoyed with friends and family, this real-life entertainment venue is now part of PGA TOUR 2K23, where good times and laughs can be had locally or online. Step onto one of the many hitting bays solo or with up to three other players, and paint the glistening skyline with a barrage of white golf balls. Take turns hitting 10 balls each and try racking up points by aiming for the assortment of colorful circular and square targets. The player with the most points at the end of the round will be crowned victorious.

SHARE YOUR COURSE CREATIVITY

Let your imagination run free with the PGA TOUR 2K23 Course Designer. There’s already an expansive library of licensed courses in-game, but why not add your own to the mix?

Using a deep toolbox of objects and features you can piece together 18 holes of majestic beauty, spend hours designing a hazardous swamp with treacherous rivers abound, create a dense woodland links-style course that weaves through towering trees, and much more. The only limit is the one you set on yourself. Unleash your creativity and share your masterpiece with your friends and the community by uploading it.

PGA TOUR 2K23 features exhilarating courses, competitive formats to prove your skills, more modes to fuel your creativity, and a star-studded cast of pros led by Tiger Woods. We can’t wait for you to get in the game on October 14 and experience everything for yourself, so stay tuned for more reports, breakdowns, and how-to guides in the coming weeks!

* Playable Michael Jordan is available as part of the Michael Jordan Bonus Pack. The Michael Jordan Pack is included with the Deluxe Edition and Tiger Woods Digital Edition of PGA TOUR 2K23.

Pre-order bonus offer available for PGA TOUR 2K23 Standard Edition through October 13, 2022. Offer is for Michael Jordan Bonus Pack. Digital pre-orders: items will be automatically entitled via game at launch. Physical pre-orders: Pre-order to guarantee access to the Michael Jordan Bonus Pack, and items will be redeemed in game via code provided in box. Terms apply.

CLUBHOUSE REPORT

PGA TOUR 2K23 CLUBHOUSE PASS: SEASON 7

Ring in the New Year with the PGA TOUR 2K23 Season 7 Clubhouse Pass, filled with the best items from every Season and all-new Smerf challenges to complete.

PGA TOUR 2K23 CLUBHOUSE PASS: SEASON 6

Tee it up in Season 6 and climb the leaderboard as you claim all-new rewards and compete against fellow players around the world in PGA TOUR 2K23.

PGA TOUR 2K23 CLUBHOUSE PASS: SEASON 5

The FedExCup Playoffs are officially underway! The top golfers on the PGA TOUR have fought for coveted FedExCup Points all year long, but who will be crowned champion?

PGA TOUR 2K23 CLUBHOUSE PASS: SEASON 4

Race to the top of the leaderboard and the Clubhouse Pass in Season 4 of PGA TOUR 2K23, and earn all-new rewards from Titleist and FootJoy.

PGA TOUR 2K23 CLUBHOUSE PASS: SEASON 3

Season 3 of PGA TOUR 2K23 is loaded with new rewards from PUMA and Cobra, competitions and challenges, and some notable names as playable characters.

PGA TOUR 2K23 PASS CLUB HOUSE: SEASON 2

Season 2 of PGA TOUR 2K23 welcomes prestigious new courses and rewards from your favorite brands!

• » Articles
• » Reviews
• » PGA Tour 2K23

PGA Tour 2K23 Review

Continued improvement on the links.

A lot has changed since I covered PGA Tour 2K21 back in August 2020. I went from being someone with no knowledge of golf to someone who has taken baby steps towards playing an actual round. I’m still learning, but I can safely say that I wouldn’t have even attempted it if it wasn’t for HB Studios’ previous release. That title has been a weekly staple of my gaming rotation since release, and I have spent countless hours playing online with friends over the last two years. So, when it was finally announced that PGA Tour 2K23 would be coming, I was interested to see how the series would evolve.

Unlike most sports, golf does not require yearly game releases. Professional golf doesn’t need to worry about major roster turnover or frequent rule changes. This has afforded HB Studios the time to really look at what did and didn’t work from their last release, and how they can adjust while still staying true to the sport itself. When the series made the move from The Golf Club to PGA Tour, there wasn’t too much of a change mechanically. However, this year’s release has introduced some pretty seismic changes.

For the more casual fans coming to the title, PGA Tour 2K23 has added a three-click swing system. This style of swing has been featured in the likes of Everybody’s Golf in the past, but the system used here is a tad more complicated. To begin, you hold down a button to generate how much power you want in your swing. This is depicted as filling up a three-tiered color circle. You are aiming for the white portion of this circle, as that is ideal. Stopping it in the grey means you aren’t generating enough power, while stopping in red means you are over-compensating. From there, you need to complete timing segments to determine swing path and club face. Essentially, these will determine whether your shot will be accurate, or go flying off into a bunker.

On its easier difficulty, the three-click system is much more forgiving for newcomers. It’s easy to get into a rhythm, and you have enough leeway to hit well even if your timing isn’t fully there. However, when playing on a higher difficulty, the system can be brutal to utilize successfully. The meter moves quickly, and if you can’t get the timing down, you’re going to be hitting some pretty ugly shots. I’ve managed to get swinging fairly well, but even now I’m still occasionally botching my path set-up. Regardless of difficulty, I do think that putting with this option feels awkward. The swing stick remains the ideal option when it comes to the short game.

Speaking of the swing stick, the title largely keeps those mechanics as is, but some changes have been made. The most immediately noticeable change is the movement of the swing meter from the bottom of the screen to the side. Not only is this more aesthetically pleasing, but having the meter closer to your golfer makes it easier to focus on correctly timing your swing. It also feels like speed and timing has been slightly adjusted to make for an easier experience. I struggled at times with the previous release with making sure my swing wasn’t too slow or too fast, but I have been having much greater success avoiding that in 2K23. That could just be my experience with the franchise speaking, but I do think it feels better this year.

Is there a proper way to play PGA Tour 2K23? Not at all, and I think both swing styles have their positives and negatives. Whatever style you are most comfortable with will determine how much enjoyment you get out of the game. Besides, with all the other adjustments that go into shot selecting, worrying about whether one swing style is correct or not just seems silly. Having to adjust for club selection, shot style, shot shaping and more remains an integral part of the game that still even gives me fits. As I have mentioned, I am by no means a professional, but having so many ways to approach a hole kind of makes me feel like one.

Although the updated swing mechanics are the most important change, the addition that has gotten the most attention is the presence of playable professional golfers. Real golfers were featured on leaderboards for MyCareer in 2K21, but you couldn’t actually play as them. 2K23 rectifies this by including a slew of both PGA and LPGA stars to select from. Cover star Tiger Woods is the biggest get, but other well-known talents such as Justin Thomas and Lydia Ko are included too. There’s even some 2K Sports cross-over action, as Michael Jordan and Steph Curry are available for use as well. Since this is a PGA branded game, though, there are several notable names not included due their move to the LIV Golf League. This means that familiar faces such as Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau are not featured. It’s definitely disappointing, but with all of the controversy surrounding LIV, it’s not surprising.

These players are ideal for casual play, but the real meat of the game still comes from building up a created player through MyCareer. As with 2K21, MyCareer sees you rising from amateur to FedEx Cup champion. You can choose to start in Q-School, or immediately hop into the PGA Tour field. The goal is to have the most points at the end of the season, and this is accomplished by placing high in the various tournaments you can compete in. If you continue to do well, you’ll unlock new events. You can even swap events in and out so that you can avoid repeats in future career runs. However, if you continuously miss the cut at events, you may find yourself locked out of important matches.

In the previous title, there was not a way for you to level up your golfer. You improved your base stats by unlocking or purchasing better clubs. For PGA Tour 2K23, though, a leveling system has been implemented. When you first start out, you are given the option to select from one of five different archetypes. This serves as your base set of skills, and each archetype has their own area of expertise. I went with rhythm, which provides a boost to my overall swing quality at the expense of power. As you complete events, you’ll also unlock skill points by leveling up. These skills points can be used to upgrade your ability with the types of clubs you carry in your bag. There are seven categories for each of the six kinds of clubs, so it’s important to place these points in areas where you think your game needs a boost.

You do still unlock new clubs while making career progress, but they only really serve as visual updates now. You can even modify the color of the club shaft and grip. Instead of equipping a club with better stats like in 2K21, you now need to unlock fittings to boost the base stats of your clubs. Fittings come in a variety of styles, and like with the skill points, are broken down into specific club categories. They provide boosts in attributes such as shot shaping, power and lie range. The same fitting can be used for all clubs in a specific category as well. You don’t need to unlock separate versions of the same fitting to use across all your irons, you just need to have the one. The downside is that it does cost in-game currency to equip fittings. Not a lot, mind you, but you will need to use your in-game winnings to advance your arsenal.

There was potential here for the character leveling system to really go off the rails. As much as I enjoy the NBA 2K series, the pay to win aspect of that game is a major bummer. However, the fact that you currently can only improve your player by playing through the campaign is a relief. With the in-game Pro Shop already up and running, it wouldn’t have been shocking for fittings to be available through purchase. As of now, though, it’s only for buying new clothes and accessories. Overall, I appreciate the customization afforded through these new systems. The PGA tour is full of professionals with wildly varied skillsets, so it only makes sense that your custom player also has a unique style of play. If you want to drive 300+ yards every time, you can do that. Or if you want to be an ace chipper, that’s an option as well.

One aspect of the leveling system I don’t enjoy is the fact that golf balls now have their own unique traits as well, such as spin and bounce stats. This addition feels like one system too many to keep track of, and I wish they just let you focus on appearance only when it comes to golf balls. Another issue I have with MyCareer is that for some reason, you still need to be online to play through the mode. This is a single-player focused mode, and as far as I can tell, there’s no actual reason for the game to force you to be online for it.

The choice to force you to always be online to access MyCareer is baffling, because the title features a solid slate of online options already. The ability to join online societies is the main source of top competitive play. The official 2K society is where I imagine most players will flock towards, but the option to create private ones for just you and your friends remains a nice touch. Outside of societies, you can choose to just play single rounds of various types as well. Skins, Stroke Play, Match Play and Scramble return, as does the Divot Derby, which was a mode that was added after 2K21’s launch. Finally, there’s an option to play Topgolf as well. Topgolf is a competition where you work to drive the ball into targets of various differing points. Highest score at the conclusion of the match wins. This is something that is more fun to play in real-life than virtually, but it’s still a nice option to have included.

Although the gameplay remains as strong as ever, PGA Tour 2K23 still can’t quite match it in the aesthetics department. Perhaps because pros are now playable, character models do look better, and pretty close to their real-life counterparts. However, the courses themselves continue to look rather uninspired. There doesn’t appear to have been much of a bump from the last gen-only game to this year’s release. The same commentary duo returns, but they are now joined by English broadcaster Henni Koyack as well. The addition of a third person, though, doesn’t fix the issues with the commentary. They are still prone to repetition, and struggle to accurately call the action.

After two years of tinkering, PGA Tour 2K23 is a worthy follow-up to a title I really came to enjoy. The swing stick feels just as good as ever, and the addition of the three-button swing system opens the door for a new audience. Tying character progression to completing the campaign instead of buying new clubs was a smart move for the series as well. It can be tough to keep track of every system involved, but it offers a stronger sense of improvement than just purchasing a better club. It’s a shame that the presentation of the series still feels behind other sports titles. With a lot of carry over from 2K21 when it comes to course availability, I was expecting there to be more visual panache this year. At their current trajectory, though, I expect that whenever the next iteration of the series debuts, they’ll have upped their game.

• Release: October 14, 2022
• Publisher: 2K Sports
• Developer: HB Studios
• Genre: Sports
• Buy it now: Amazon.com
• Also Available On PC PlayStation 4 Xbox One Xbox Series X

PGA Tour 2K23 - Review

Bland virtual golfing with limited ways to play is hard to get excited about..

Real golf doesn’t lack thrills – watching a player sink a delicate chip-in generates no shortage of excitement. But in the context of a video game, it needs some extra energy. A pizazz. An added enthusiasm, even if it’s when browsing a menu, just to keep it from becoming something you can sleepwalk through. PGA Tour 2K23 lacks that. It’s silent, it’s calm, it’s bland, it’s so… proper.

PGA Tour 2K23 (and previously, PGA Tour 2K21) was born of HB Studios’ fanatically accurate simulation The Golf Club, and the change in name hasn’t changed much about the underlying philosophy behind it. The actual shot mechanisms, ball physics, and standard frustration when sinking into a bunker retain their dazzling authenticity, and yet, even with a year off between editions to rethink things, HB Studios has produced another plain, stuffy, elitist golf sim with as much personality as a white polo shirt. 2K23 makes minor strides towards loosening up the pomposity, but lands inches from dropping in the cup. 

2K brings the points-based FedEx Cup into focus as the central career goal. That’s fine, although the PGA draws more attention for the Masters, US Open, and other high-profile events – the stuff EA licensed in the past for its golf projects. PGA Tour 2K23 doesn’t have those, or their most famous courses, like Augusta National. That means the career mode feels like filler as it works around licensing restrictions and takes us through second-tier courses like the Detroit Golf Club and TPC Southwind. That’s an issue when it’s the primary way to play, and here there aren’t a lot of other options.

The career mode feels like filler as it works around licensing restrictions and takes us through second-tier courses.

Taking to the course, the major publisher influence from 2K becomes evident. There’s an effort to streamline things, including an optional three-click swing system. That’s new, but brutally difficult to master, and not the accessible feature that was expected. This method involves holding the swing button to set power, releasing to begin a spinning meter that needs to be stopped twice to determine swing accuracy. If you’re anything like me you can expect botched shots on the regular before reverting to the smooth, clean, and precise analog stick swing.

HB Studios mastered this analog method, thankfully. Other golf games have tried – and even succeeded in their own ways – but HB’s quest to mimic the feel and challenge of a real club pays off. It’s an appropriately fragile existence off the tee or from the fairway, as stick speed dictates a slice or hook. Even when well practiced, the possibility always remains to botch a shot – as it should be. Plus, 2K23 adds needed shot types like punches to squeeze the ball under hazards, furthering PGA Tour’s repertoire and strategy.

Selectable golfers include NBA stars Michael Jordan and Steph Curry.

There’s an attempt to add charisma to this series, but it comes across as half-hearted. Selectable golfers include cover star Tiger Woods and other known PGA names, but also celebrities like NBA stars Michael Jordan and Steph Curry. In the equipment section, a hockey stick is offered as a putter choice, giving necessary nods to Happy Gilmore. That’s it though, and those celebrity players exist only in side modes or versus play. Say what you will about the defunct Tiger Woods PGA Tour series, but maintaining golf’s central appeal while driving with Happy Gilmore’s walk-up swing was a delight, with no gameplay cost.

There’s also TopGolf, a party-esque challenge founded in 2000. Now it’s digital, and a passable substitute for when short on time with friends, if also an uneventful target practice event unlikely to earn any long-term engagement.

Likely, the most time people are going to spend with PGA Tour 2K23 will be with the career, mostly because that’s almost all that’s offered. There’s one goal (FedEx), one play style, and outside of exhibitions, nothing else to do for solo golfers. Brief (usually) one-event rivalries using a Stableford scoring system bring the slightest additional drama. Local and online versus adds small variety like two-on-two match-ups and skins play. That’s something. Between matches the deepening RPG side offers incremental skill upgrades. Some offer easier swing timing, others accuracy, or better work out of bunkers. Leveling requires tiered decision making as each club type is individually boosted, and opportunities grow in tandem alongside the custom golfer’s XP meter. 

In a reversal of HB Studios’ usual philosophy, clubs themselves matter. Not just the clubs, but every boost to them, which are acquirable after winning events. A +3 club shaft of power matched with a +2 grip of shot shaping can form a credible weapon – err, piece of sporting equipment. Given PGA Tour 2K23’s demanding swing precision, even a tiny boost to accuracy or timing will reduce risks, and that’s appreciated. It’s a notably game-y idea for what is otherwise such a deep simulation though, and purchasing actual clubs makes no difference. Only the part boosts do. 

The quality of its attempt to recreate the atmosphere of televised golf is dismal.

Moving toward the FedEx Cup means dealing with HB Studios’ weak point: The dismal quality of its attempt to recreate the atmosphere of televised golf. It’s not bad so much as utterly broken in places. Commentators make the wrong calls regularly, such as failing to identify when a ball is or isn’t on the green or whether it’s trailing left or right. Attempts to show replays from earlier in the tournament take excessive time to load in this era of SSDs (and chug further when trying to reach the server sometimes), and when they do show up they frequently don’t actually show anything. Rather than following the ball, these snippets stay on the golfer reacting to an unseen shot, but at least the character models justify that lingering attention. Coming from 2K, whose emulation of NBA broadcasts set a best-in-class example, PGA Tour 2K23’s non-functional delivery annoyed more than helped once I got past the first match’s introduction.

As a side note, the orchestral music playing over the menus painfully adds to the idea of golf being a dull, elitist game. There was room for PGA 2K23 to build energy while maintaining its status, but it didn't take a single opportunity to do so.

The recurring course creator lets people give PGA Tour 2K23 the spark if they so want it. That also helps fill in the course selection’s holes – someone will render an accurate Pebble Beach in no time (with titles like, “Pebbles on the Beach Golf Course”), although as I played before  release there was nothing available to download yet. That said, trying to build something offers a pleasant, easy-to-use menu system flush with choices. Better, everything is open from the outset, meaning there’s no need to unlock items to fill the spaces. Yes, a crocodile hiding out by hole 9’s green is just as much an option as placing a hotel on 16.

The Verdict

Even after a year off, PGA Tour 2K23 returns offering minimal progress from its preceding, prior-generation edition. A new three-click swing is an unforgiving mess, it’s somehow worse at emulating the look and feel of televised golf, and the few spurts of personality that’ve been layered on can’t counter developer HB Studios’ penchant for preserving pro golf’s elitism above all, or the apparent terror of breaking from that form. At least PGA Tour 2K23 can define itself through the properly challenging golf sim at its heart and the barebones career mode that stands all but alone in its menus.

PGA Tour 2K23

Pga tour 2k23 review.

WWE 2K23 Arrives in March With John Cena on the Cover

Street Fighter 6 Release Date Announced, Four Characters Revealed

Press Play - Episode 2 - Tony Hawks 1 + 2 Remake

The Importance Of Localization And Local Game Development - Abbas Saleem Khan

PGA TOUR 2K23

Originally posted by Schmiddy : i can do legend difficulty swing and get perfectly straight shots without swing timing, but the swing timing even on amateur settings is really difficult for me. wish i could make that part easier without making the swing shape braindead easy.

Report this post

Latest User Reviews

Pga tour 2k23, where to buy, all platforms.

Based on 34 Critic Reviews

Based on 8 Critic Reviews

Based on 6 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

• All Reviews
• Positive Reviews
• Mixed Reviews
• Negative Reviews

Summary Tiger Woods leads a roster of more than 14 male and female pros at launch, including Justin Thomas, Lexi Thompson, Tony Finau, Lydia Ko, Collin Morikawa, Will Zalatoris, Brooke Henderson and more. Players can step into the tee box as one of the pros in Exhibition, multiplayer and Divot Derby play, or go head-to-head with them in a battle ... Read More

• PlayStation 4
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X
• Take-Two Interactive

Related Games

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003

Mario Golf: Advance Tour

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13

PGA Tour 2K21

EA Sports PGA Tour

The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour

Real World Golf

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2001

Related news.

Notable Video Game Releases: New and Upcoming

Jason dietz.

Find release dates and scores for every major upcoming and recent video game release for all platforms, updated weekly.

New Free & Subscription Games for All Platforms

Our frequently updated list shows the latest free games available from Epic Games Store, IndieGala, Steam, Fanatical, GOG, and more as well as new and upcoming titles added to subscription services like Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, Prime Gaming, and Humble.

Metacritic's 14th Annual Game Publisher Rankings

We reveal the past year's best and worst video game publishers (based on their 2023 releases) in the 14th edition of our annual Game Publisher Rankings.

The 20 Best PC Games of 2023

We rank the highest-scoring new PC games released in 2023.

The 20 Best PlayStation Games of 2023

We rank the highest-scoring new PlayStation games released in 2023.

The 20 Best Xbox Games of 2023

We rank the highest-scoring new Xbox games released in 2023.