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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

**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.

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.

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!