Curious to know if the lack of @djpie’s voice from behind the camera was an intentional choice or something that just sort of happened. Always love the audio of the little interjections he has made in previous seasons.
I can’t make up my mind about this one. Some stuff I liked a lot, other things not so much.
I might be in the minority here, but I like the 3 episode setup better than one film. 20-40 minute episodes are great in terms of being consumable/digestible, and the first creates anticipation for the next two. Felt like we kinda lost that excitement a bit. Imagine the hype if we had to wait a week or two to find out whether their AirBNB burned down after having that teased on the opening scene? That woulda been electric.
Kinda got off to a soft start; felt like too much time was spent talking about what Strapped is, rather than doing Strapped. Strapped hasn’t ever needed to explain itself, or its evolutions. Sapped some of the early energy.
Some of the earlier Strapped content did a much better job of following the “plot” of the quota games, balls lost, budget etc. This one I was honestly kinda tuned out mid-Rawls because it was a lot of random swing shots, not showing much of the ball flight, what hole they’re on, etc. I totally get this is “a buddies trip with some golf”, but golf + budget = the “plot” of the story, and kinda feel like we’re losing that storyline in this one. The golf content is so much more compelling when shots have consequential context, even though the “consequences” are made up and don’t matter. A small scorecard and ball count graphic woulda probably helped, especially on the non-money rounds IMO. Ofc the money round coverage leaned into the plot around the mega bonus and I loved it, just wish it got a bit more love on the other rounds.
Felt like we lost sight of Randy’s money round on the back with the focus on Neil, and then out of nowhere we find out Randy balanced Neil out and there’s no blood. Feels like a missed opportunity to have raised the tension/stakes on the quota game. Sure, it’s a dumb thing to get excited about, and maybe the guys are tired of it. But it’s part of the recipe.
I know there was plenty of adjacent content made about the budget being busted in Myrtle back when it happened, but the no-show from the C-suite to explain the raise to $800 was weak. We waited so long for sanctions, for penalties, for a format change, for anything to come into play on the next go-around. Gotta address the elephant in the room, even if it’s just pointing out the obvious (inflation) with lip service and corpspeak. Investors are gonna be sharpening knives for a board fight. Roll back the C-Suite!
In terms of things I loved:
Radio calls/commentary were a fun innovation. Get some KVV personas and Scoops on the horn in the future.
Machinehead. Brought be back to life as I was about to tune out. Bravo on the soundtrack selections as always, Justine.
West Texas was a great location selection. Felt like we got into the vastness and multitudes within. Really enjoyed the change up from metro/suburban areas. Felt like a return to the Iowa roots and I hope more states/regions get that treatment.
Exploring the local sports scenes always pays off. Permian HS football? Hell yeah. Texas Tech? Sign me the fuck up (just not for tuition).
Potentially the best roster of local characters since Baltimore. I need to re-watch that one to decide. Great scouting, or great sheer dumb luck, idk.
This may be my new favorite Strapped. The FNL stuff was used sparingly and deftly. I loved the interview with Chavez and how seriously Neil took the sword fighting. I really dug the long format as well.
The notion of high school sports being attainable dreams for kids really resonated with me. Throughout my childhood, I harbored this mostly-secret desire to play football. I think I asked my folks one year in elementary school and they said no. I was a skinny kid and no one in my family played or knew anything about football and that was that.
It wasn’t until late junior year that I finally went out for spring practice. I didn’t want to leave high school without that experience. I got my ass kicked, trained until I puked, got in great shape, and managed to find myself down the depth chart at receiver/tight end. Even with minimal playing time, one target, and no catches, playing that season was one of my favorite things I’ve ever done.
Was using chatgpt for some other random things and tried to see how well it could integrate with YouTube content.
It made up almost everything…
Here’s a ranking of Strapped series by No Laying Up, based on a mix of fan consensus, humor, storytelling, golf course intrigue, and the vibes each location gave off. This isn’t scientific, but it’s aligned with how many devoted Strapped viewers (myself included) would rank them:
Top Tier — Iconic Episodes
Strapped: Raliegh/Durham (NC)
The combo of great golf, fantastic banter (Randy’s “country strong” line), and the UNC vs. Duke vibes made this an instant classic.
Pinehurst vibes without the Pinehurst price tag.
Strapped: Southern California (CA)
The original. The format was born here—three courses, three days, $500 budget—and it nailed the tone.
The muni course energy plus ocean backdrop was elite.
Strapped: Northern Michigan
Gorgeous courses, elite vibes, and small-town charm.
Classic Big Randy moments + Soly’s cameo sealed it as a fan favorite.
Mid Tier — Solid Watch, Memorable Bits
Strapped: Kansas City
Barbecue, Midwest hospitality, and good courses.
Fun mix of weather and wackiness—classic Strapped DNA.
Strapped: Philadelphia
The “yo” energy plus unexpectedly strong muni courses.
Gets better on rewatch.
Strapped: Jacksonville (FL)
Home turf for NLU added some polish, and the challenge was real with Florida heat.
Underappreciated banger.
Strapped: Boston
Some weather issues and tough course conditions, but good banter and tight editing.
Lower Tier — Still Enjoyable, But Less Iconic
Strapped: San Diego (CA)
A few too many familiar courses (Torrey Pines vibe) and less of the “hidden gem” feel.
Still solid, but not their most distinctive.
Strapped: Mississippi
Great people and local color, but flatter courses and production.
Some fun moments, but not top-tier replay value.
Strapped: Southern Indiana
Budget golf was real, but the energy lagged a bit.
Has its moments, but less memorable overall.
Would you like me to create a visual ranking or a shareable graphic version of this?
