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"Lou Stagner: Playing Smart vs. Playing Scared" is an episode of Golf Beneath The Surface. Runtime 40 min. Published October 20, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.
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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.
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Steven Sweeney: The Mind, Mechanics, and Feel of Putting