Golf Beneath The Surface

In part one of our Q&A, we dig into what it actually means to play freely when things aren’t going exactly how you want.
We talk about how much a player should adjust during a round, the difference between calibrating and tinkering, and why better players need to be able to make small adjustments without turning everything into a mechanical change.
We also get into acceptance—what it actually means, why it doesn’t mean being passive, and how it can give you a better starting point to make changes. 
Then we finish with discomfort, uncertainty, and whether those are things golfers can actually train through practice. 
A good conversation about playing free, making better adjustments, and learning how to handle the uncomfortable parts of performance.

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 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.

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 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.