Golf Beneath The Surface

Ryan Hager: Skill vs. Mechanics

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 and low point without constantly rebuilding their swings. Ryan shares his coaching preferences, how he approaches grip and wrist angles, and why struggling through a change is often necessary for improvement. We finish with a conversation about AI, the future of golf instruction, and why technology can be incredibly useful without replacing the value of a good coach. A great conversation about understanding your game, developing real skills, and learning how to get better.

Ryan Hager: Why Golfers Don’t Get Better

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 improve, why understanding ball flight and shotmaking matters, and why practice often gravitates toward what feels comfortable instead of what we actually need. Ryan also shares how he’s watched players improve their technique without seeing their handicaps move. We also talk about mentorship, learning environments, block practice, course strategy, and matching instruction to what a golfer actually wants from the game. This is part one of our conversation with Ryan. Part two picks up with more on coaching, social media, and how golfers should think about the information they consume.

Codebreakers 2.0 - Skill vs Swing vs Strategy

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 ideas behind this year’s Codebreakers Retreat at Skokie Country Club. A really good conversation for coaches, players, or anyone interested in what actually helps golf transfer from practice to the course. Codebreakers is made up of Rob Failes, Garrett Chaussard, Mark Grace and Sean Kennedy. The group started through years of sharing ideas, reviewing each other’s coaching and challenging each other’s beliefs around player development. That eventually grew into small, hands-on coaching retreats built around open discussion, research and learning directly from experts in different areas of performance. The 2026 Codebreakers Retreat is October 26–27 at Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, Illinois. Raymond will be joining the group as a featured presenter, covering the neuroscience and psychology of habits, along with block and random practice. More info at codebreakersgolf.com.

What If You’re Not Good Enough?

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 well enough. A deep conversation about facing the truth, going for what you want and choosing the type of regret you’re willing to live with.

Dealing With the Elements

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.

On Time 2.0

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 – Why being off time is a form of multitasking – The relationship between presence, performance, and flow state – Why confidence is not certainty – How trauma, bad experiences, and embarrassing moments can linger in golf – The role of mindfulness training in performance – Why scrolling, distractions, and constant stimulation make focus harder – Practical ways to become more present on the course Raymond also explains why the brain is designed to prioritize avoidance over pursuit, why “just focus on the target” is often incomplete advice, and how mindset creates the space necessary for golfers to access their skills under pressure. Whether you’re struggling with tournament nerves, overthinking, yips, confidence issues, or simply want to understand what it means to truly play one shot at a time, this episode provides a deeper look at one of the most important skills in golf—and life. Follow us: @gbtspodcast @chasecoopergolf btspmindset.com

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Q & A 12.0

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 and actually being free enough to execute, especially when anxiety, fear, or avoidance are running in the background. Other topics include: – How naps help learning – Why cramming is not the same as long-term learning – Why most people are not built to perform on 4–5 hours of sleep – How to deal with distracting thoughts over the ball – Why yips are usually rooted in anxiety – The fastest ways higher handicaps can lower scores – Why identity and outcomes create threat responses If you have a question for a future Q&A, send it to us on Instagram. Follow us: @gobtspodcast @chasecoopergolf btspmindset.com

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Audio Golf: Can Sound Improve Your Golf Swing?

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 discuss where Audio Golf may be most useful, where it has limits, and how mindset still matters when pressure, anxiety, or the yips show up. To learn more about Chia and Audio Golf, visit audio.golf or follow @audio.golf on Instagram.

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Dr. Pete Kadushin: The Stories That Shape Your Game

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 life. The conversation dives into why golfers often chase swing fixes when the real issue is their relationship with discomfort, uncertainty, or heartbreak. They also discuss swing thoughts, when to make in-round adjustments, why one bad shot is not always a pattern, and how trust can create more freedom than constant correction. This is a great episode for golfers, coaches, and parents who want to better understand how mindset, narratives, and self-protection can either limit performance or open the door to growth.

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Thoughts That Create Pressure Part 2: The Hidden Layers

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 pressure, from one bad shot to fear of letting others down, needing approval, or tying performance to identity. This episode is about learning to see thoughts more clearly, widen your margin for error, and give yourself permission to perform freely without needing perfect feelings, perfect thoughts, or perfect outcomes first.

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The Thoughts That Create Pressure

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, resilience, and a more stable kind of confidence. This is a powerful episode for golfers, parents, and coaches who want to better understand pressure, self-talk, and how to perform with more freedom.

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Q & A 11.0

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

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

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 ground forces, and why many golfers misunderstand what elite movement really looks like. They also discuss the importance of owning your stock swing and why meaningful improvement still requires time on the golf course, not just time on the range. This episode blends science, coaching, and performance insight to help golfers better understand how the body works in the swing and how that understanding can lead to more effective practice and better performance. Find Dr. Scott Lynn on Instagram @drsklynn. Learn more about Swing Catalyst’s force plates and motion analysis technology www.swingcatalyst.com.

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Playing for a Miss

**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 wedge decisions to tour-level scoring, dispersion patterns, and stat-driven strategy, this episode explores how fear of big numbers quietly lowers your ceiling. If you’ve ever felt caught between “playing smart” and playing freely, this conversation reframes how to think about risk, scoring, and what it actually takes to go low.

John Scott Rattan: Coaching On Tour

Raymond Prior and Chase Cooper kick off 2026 with a wide-ranging conversation with John Scott Rattan, coach at Congressional Country Club and a full-time presence in the world of elite competitive golf. John Scott breaks down what coaching Tour players actually looks like—travel, remote support, building a weekly “blueprint,” and why the goal is to eliminate anything new once the tournament starts. They get into the real separators at that level: how players handle adversity, how coaches ask better questions, and why confidence beats correctness when it’s time to compete. The episode also goes beyond mechanics into the parts most people don’t talk about: permission to give unfiltered feedback, the coach-player relationship, why players change coaches, and how social media can help—or quietly hurt—performance. From concept vs swing thought, to in-event adjustments, to the myths that won’t die in golf instruction, this one is equal parts Tour coaching reality and high-level coaching philosophy. You can find John Scott Rattan at Congressional Country Club in the Washington, DC area, at JSRgolf.com, and on Instagram @jsr_golf.

Year-End Q&A: Confidence, Ego, and Trust in Golf

In this episode of the Golf Beneath the Surface podcast, Raymond Prior and Chase Cooper reflect on the past year and the topics that resonated most with listeners. They break down confidence in golf, why it’s often tied to outcomes, how trying too hard creates anxiety, and the common mistakes players at every level make with practice, ego, and trust. The conversation touches on unmeasurable skills, adaptability under pressure, hypnosis as a tool for regulating anxiety, and the subtle mental habits that separate consistent players from streaky ones. Enjoy!

Gabby Herzig: Inside the Stories That Shape Professional Golf

**Apologies for previous technical difficulties should be good now… Blame Chase!! 😂** In this episode, we’re joined by Gabby Herzig of The Athletic for a deeper look at the part of professional golf most people never think about — how the stories of the game actually get made. We talk through what real golf journalism looks like today, the difference between reporting and content, and how players manage the growing tension between access, image, and truth. Gabby explains how the landscape has shifted with fan accounts, rumor cycles, and YouTube golf suddenly shaping public opinion faster than traditional media can keep up. We also explore Bryson’s reinvention, the widening gap inside the PGA Tour, and why the future of men’s and women’s golf may depend on who controls the narrative. Toward the end of the conversation, we dive into her Masters feature on “scar tissue” — how past failures and unresolved experiences show up for elite players in the present, why anxiety is more common than people realize, and what it really means when a golfer carries their history onto a tee box like 12 at Augusta. It’s a grounded, honest look at the forces shaping modern golf, the psychology underneath the biggest moments, and the human side of a game that often gets covered only at the surface level. You can follow Gabby on Instagram and Twitter at @gabbyherzig, and find all her work at The Athletic.

John Dunigan

In this episode, Raymond and Chase sit down with longtime friend and renowned coach John Dunigan to talk about what real skill development looks like—and why most golfers spend their time on the wrong things. John breaks down the difference between improving a motion and improving a skill, why perfection and “consistency” often hold players back, and how tools like external focus, exaggeration, and the Goldilocks principle help golfers learn faster. They also dig into why low point, face-to-path, and predictable curve matter far more than picture-perfect mechanics, how to blend block and random practice the right way, and why practice should mirror the shots you actually face on the course—not just what feels good on the range. John also shares his work with the Skilled Coaching Alliance, where coaches learn to apply motor learning science in real lessons, and the Practice Coach app, which builds structured, disciplined training sessions that help players get better where it counts. You can try the Practice Coach app on the iOS App Store for a discounted rate using the code: CCGOLF To learn more about the Skilled Coaching Alliance, visit: https://www.skilledcoachingalliance.com/

The Science of Practice — with Dr. Will Wu

In this episode, Raymond and Chase sit down with Dr. Will Wu, professor at Long Beach State and one of the leading experts in motor control and learning, to talk about how to design practice that actually transfers to performance. They dig into the difference between motor learning and motor control, why block practice feels great but rarely holds up in tournaments, and how contextual interference and practice variability help players build adaptable, tournament-ready skills. Will also shares how he’s bringing this research to life through two powerful tools: the Skilled Coaching Alliance, a program that helps coaches learn and apply the science of motor learning to their teaching, and the Practice Coach app, which builds personalized, data-driven practice sessions designed to accelerate improvement. If you’ve ever wondered why your range game doesn’t show up on the course, this episode will change how you think about practice. You can try the Practice Coach app on the IOS AppStore for a discounted rate by using the code: CCGOLF To learn more about the Skilled Coaching Alliance, visit: https://www.skilledcoachingalliance.com/