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?