Golf Beneath The Surface

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 creat...

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...

**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 ...

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 ...

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, hypno...

**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...

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 gol...

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 playe...

Why can you stripe it on the range but not when it matters? In this episode, we unpack the gap between practice and performance—and what it really takes to transfer skills from a controlled setting to the course. From Scott Fawcett’s DECADE framework to blackjack analogies, we dig into decision-making, judgment, and why context always matters.

We explore how conservative swings under pressure can backfire, why warmups aren’t fortune...

We’re back.......

In episode 44 of The Golf Beneath the Surface Podcast we started off by answering questions on the difference between freedom and perfection. We unpack Scottie Scheffler’s “decoupling” of identity from golf, the arrival fallacy, and how intrinsic motivation fuels consistency. We cover journaling that actually changes behavior, the four core needs kids have in sports, and why chasing “perfect” mechanics kills freedo...

You asked and we answered. 

In this Q and A, the boys explore topics such as: letting go vs. trying too hard, what it takes to reset after anger, and why out-of-position swings demand more athleticism—not less.

We also dig into what college coaches should look for when recruiting players, how parents can create more resilient kids, and why multitasking only works in non-judgmental spaces.

A wide-ranging conversation on performance, pr...

In this episode, Raymond and Chase dive into what it actually means to be mentally prepared to compete. They cover how outcome-based thinking shows up, what it looks like to truly pursue shots vs. avoid mistakes, and why most players don’t even realize they’re multitasking until it’s too late. Whether you're teeing it up in a major, your club championship, or just a round that matters to you—this conversation is one you'l...

In Part 2 of our post-Masters MEGA Q&A, we cover how often you should really take lessons, coaching juniors at different levels, and helping kids play with more freedom and less fear.

We dig into why kids glance at parents after bad shots, what that says about confidence, and why parents often need to do less.

We also tackle emotions on the course — why players like Tyrrell Hatton sometimes play better when they’re mad, and how a...

In episode 40 of the Golf Beneath the Surface Podcast, we kick off Part 1 of our two-part post-Masters MEGA Q&A. We start with some fun: where players actually use the bathroom at Augusta, and the ongoing (and slightly heated) debate about the famous pimento cheese sandwich.

From there, we dig into the heart of the episode — the mental game. We answer listener questions on why bad shots stick in our memory, whether it’s useful t...

In this episode, we take a deep dive into how parenting styles can shape a young athlete’s development — and how kids respond to their parents during lessons. We unpack the power dynamic between parents and kids, the importance of autonomy, and the three core parenting styles: permissive, authoritarian, and authoritative. We also explore how to support kids who have big goals in golf (or any pursuit), what to do when motivation fad...

In episode 38, we sit down with Mike Carroll from Fit For Golf to break down the key components of golf swing speed — mobility, strength, and power — and the best ways to train them. We explore gender differences, force production (wrist, ground, and rotation), and how tension contributes to generating speed. Mike also unpacks common myths around “stability” in golf fitness and shares insights on golf-specific vs. general athletic ...

Episode 37 of the Golf Beneath the Surface podcast is a bit of a 2 parter. Part 1, the boys chat about the best ways to ‘gear up‘ for the upcoming golf season. Is it technique work? All skill and performance work? Blend of both? 

In part 2, Doc and Chase chatted about the most used word that every player seems to be searching for more of… consistency. 

Does consistency exist in golf? Are tour players more consistent than average amat...