Golf Beneath The Surface

Episodes

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  Steven Sweeney: The Mind, Mechanics, and Feel of Putting 27.10.2026 1h 8m

  What really separates great putters from everyone else? In this episode of Golf Beneath the Surface, Chase and Raymond sit down with world-renowned putting coach Stephen Sweeney to talk about what goes into becoming a great putter beyond just having good mechanics. Stephen shares his journey from growing up in Ireland to working with some of the best players in the world, and how his approach to coaching has evolved over the years. We get into the importance of understanding how players see a...
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  Lou Stagner: Playing Smart vs. Playing Scared 20.10.2026 40m

  When does playing smart golf turn into playing scared? In Part 2 of our conversation with Lou Stagner, Chase and Raymond get into the balance between course strategy, managing risk, and still being able to play freely. Lou shares how he uses stats with his players at Princeton, why avoiding big numbers can make such a difference, and how the statistically correct decision isn't always the best decision for the player. We also get into the importance of working the ball both ways, some interes...
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  Lou Stagner: What the Numbers Really Tell Us 13.10.2026 37m

  How well do you really know your own golf game? In Part 1, Chase and Raymond sit down with Lou Stagner to talk about how stats have changed golf and what the numbers can actually tell us about our games. From strokes gained and the importance of distance to figuring out where we're really losing shots, we get into how stats can help players and coaches make better decisions. We also talk about why golfers aren't always great at judging their own strengths and weaknesses, which stats are worth...
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  Q & A 13.0: Practice, Pressure & Performance Part 2 06.10.2026 51m

  How do you know if your practice is actually making you better? In Part 2 of our Q&A, Chase and Raymond dig into practice, pressure, and performance. They discuss how we should measure improvement, why success in practice doesn’t always transfer to the golf course, and how different types of practice can help players build skills that actually hold up when it matters. They also dive into when a golf swing needs to be changed versus left alone, short-term fixes for anxiety and the yips, an...
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  Q and A 13.0: Playing With Freedom Part 1 29.09.2026 39m

  In part one of our Q&A, we dig into what it actually means to play freely when things aren’t going exactly how you want. We talk about how much a player should adjust during a round, the difference between calibrating and tinkering, and why better players need to be able to make small adjustments without turning everything into a mechanical change. We also get into acceptance—what it actually means, why it doesn’t mean being passive, and how it can give you a better starting point to make...
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  Ryan Hager: Skill vs. Mechanics 22.09.2026 47m

  Ryan Hager is back for part two of our conversation where we dig into the relationship between technology, coaching, and what actually helps golfers improve. We talk about how social media has changed golf instruction, the benefits and dangers of learning from online tips, and why understanding your own swing matters more than chasing the next fix. We also get into skill versus mechanics, why good technique doesn't always produce good contact, and how golfers can learn to control the clubface...
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  Ryan Hager: Why Golfers Don’t Get Better 16.09.2026 42m

  Ryan Hager joins us for part one of a two-part conversation about coaching, practice, and what actually helps golfers improve. We talk about Ryan’s path as a coach, the mentors who shaped the way he teaches, and what he’s learned from working with golfers of every level. A big part of the conversation turns to a simple question: why do so many golfers work on their games without actually getting better? We get into the things golfers tend to prioritize versus what might actually help them imp...
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  Codebreakers 2.0 - Skill vs Swing vs Strategy 27.08.2026 59m

  What actually makes practice work? We’re joined by Rob Failes and Garrett Chaussard from Codebreakers to talk about how coaching, practice, skill development and adaptability all fit together. We get into block practice, why looking good on the range doesn’t always mean you’re learning, the difference between swing and skill, how great players calibrate on the fly, and why adaptability might matter more than repeatability. We also dive into putting, habits, confidence, freedom and some of the...
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  What If You’re Not Good Enough? 04.08.2026 1h 14m

  What if you give something everything you have and find out you still aren’t good enough? In this episode, we discuss why avoiding that question creates more anxiety, hesitation and regret. We break down the role of radical acceptance, radical honesty and radical ownership in pursuing difficult goals and performing freely without any guarantee it will work out. We also talk about risk, luck, failure and why being good enough means very little if you never give yourself the chance to perform w...
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  Dealing With the Elements 18.07.2026 32m

  In this episode, Chase and Raymond discuss one of golf’s greatest challenges: dealing with the elements. Using The Open Championship as a backdrop, they explore why difficult conditions expose both your psychology and your skill set. From handling uncertainty and staying composed to controlling trajectory, shaping shots, and managing the wind, they share practical strategies to help you perform your best when conditions are at their worst.
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  On Time 2.0 30.06.2026 1h 12m

  What does it actually mean to be “on time?” In this episode, Raymond and Chase revisit one of the foundational concepts behind stable confidence and performance: being present. They explore why being on time is much more than “one shot at a time,” and why the brain’s natural tendency to worry about the future and replay the past makes it so difficult to perform freely when it matters most. Topics include: – Why anxiety pulls us into the future – How past failures become future fears &nb...
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  Q & A 12.0 18.06.2026 1h 8m

  In this episode, Raymond and Chase answer listener questions on sleep, learning, memory, intrusive thoughts, the yips, target focus, lowering handicaps, and why tying your identity to outcomes makes golf feel so threatening. They discuss why sleep before and after practice helps learning stick, why “don’t three-putt” usually makes three-putting more likely, and why stepping off a shot is sometimes the best decision you can make. They also dig into the gap between holding a target in your mind...
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  Audio Golf: Can Sound Improve Your Golf Swing? 10.06.2026 1h 3m

  In this episode, Chase and Raymond are joined by Chia Chou, concert pianist, university professor, and founder of Audio Golf. Chia shares how his background in elite music training led him to explore movement, rhythm, tempo, and sound as tools for better performance. The conversation dives into movement sonification, auditory-motor entrainment, putting tempo, wedge distance control, driver sequencing, and why sound can help golfers access skill without getting buried in mechanics. They also d...
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  Dr. Pete Kadushin: The Stories That Shape Your Game 26.05.2026 55m

  In this episode of Golf Beneath the Surface, Chase and Raymond are joined by Dr. Pete Kadushin to explore how the stories we tell ourselves shape the way we perform. They unpack how beliefs, narratives, and past experiences can quietly create the “rules” golfers play by—rules about score, failure, swing mechanics, pressure, and what is or isn’t possible. Pete explains why sport often acts as an amplifier, revealing the same patterns we bring into other high-meaning, high-uncertainty areas of ...
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  Thoughts That Create Pressure Part 2: The Hidden Layers 19.05.2026 1h 2m

  In this follow-up episode of Golf Beneath the Surface, Chase and Raymond continue the conversation on thoughts, pressure, and performance. After introducing A-shaped and V-shaped thinking in the previous episode, they go deeper into why simply trying to “not think” is impossible, why judging thoughts often makes them louder, and how pressure builds when golfers treat thoughts as facts, predictions, or commands. They also explore confidence, confirmation bias, and the deeper layers behind pres...
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  The Thoughts That Create Pressure 07.04.2026 57m

  In this episode of Golf Beneath the Surface, Chase and Raymond unpack how the way we think about our thoughts can either create freedom or create pressure. They explore why self-talk is more than just “positive vs. negative,” how players unknowingly shrink their margin for error, and why that leads to anxiety, rigidity, and unstable confidence. Raymond breaks down the difference between A-shaped and V-shaped thoughts—one style creating constriction and fear, the other creating space, resilien...
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  Q & A 11.0 24.03.2026 1h 16m

  In this episode, Chase and Raymond delve into the evolution of golf equipment, the impact of technology, and the psychological aspects of performance. They explore how changes in equipment affect the game, industry, and player psychology, offering insights for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
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  Developing Junior Golfers with James Hong 17.03.2026 1h 16m

  In this insightful interview, golf instructor James Hong shares his coaching philosophy, the importance of long-term development in young athletes, and how parents can support their children's growth in golf and life. Discover practical tips for nurturing enjoyment, resilience, and independence in young players.
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  Ground Forces and Speed in the Golf Swing with Dr. Scott Lynn 03.03.2026 1h 16m

  In this episode of the Golf Beneath the Surface podcast, Raymond Prior and Chase Cooper sit down with Dr. Scott Lynn, a biomechanist known for his work in golf and baseball movement research. The conversation explores how biomechanics can help players and coaches better understand movement efficiency, power production, and how the body actually creates speed in the golf swing. Dr. Lynn explains why deceleration patterns are critical for generating power, how foot flare influences motion and g...
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  Playing for a Miss 13.02.2026 1h 25m

  **Updated Audio** Chase and Raymond sit down to chat about one of the most common — and most misunderstood — ideas in golf: playing for a miss. They dig into why golf isn’t a game of misses so much as a game of variability, and how aiming to avoid trouble often creates more anxiety, more multitasking, and ultimately worse outcomes. The boys break down predictable misses, one-way miss myths, and the difference between strategic risk and psychological avoidance. From Sawgrass tee shots and wedg...