Golf Beneath The Surface

Why haven’t golfers gotten much better?
Equipment is better. Instruction is better. Technology is better. But the average handicap hasn’t changed nearly as much as you might expect.
In this episode, we look at some of the reasons why.
We talk about who actually keeps a handicap, how much time and money golfers are willing to invest in improving, why age and life responsibilities matter, and why getting better becomes harder the better you get.
We also get into course difficulty, equipment, golf instruction, clean feedback loops, and why golfers tend to overreact to one bad shot instead of looking for patterns.
A good conversation about why golf is still so difficult, what actually helps players improve, and why better information doesn’t always lead to better scores.

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 and process information, why focusing too much on technique can actually hurt performance, and how the best players prepare their putting for tournament play.
We also dive into the mental side of putting, the difference between hitting a good putt and making a putt, and some interesting conversations around putter design, alignment, and zero-torque putters.
A great conversation about simplifying putting, practicing with purpose, and learning to trust what you're doing on the greens.

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 interesting stats about how golfers perform throughout a round, and how to get more out of your practice when you don't have much time.
It's a great conversation about using the numbers to make better decisions without letting them get in the way of actually playing golf.

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 tracking, and where the numbers don't tell the whole story. And maybe most importantly, why stats are great for figuring out how to get better, but probably aren't something you should be thinking about while you're trying to play golf.

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, and why constantly trying to protect yourself from bad outcomes can eventually get in the way of playing your best.
At the center of the conversation is a simple question: are you playing to see how good you can be, or playing to make sure you don’t fail?