Golf Beneath the Surface: The New Science of Golf Psychology

by Raymond Prior

An essential resource for golfers who want to play a smarter, more fulfilling game on the green

For as long as golf has existed, the game’s greatest players and instructors have lauded the importance of mental resilience. However, while golfing equipment and course strategy have evolved over time, the field of golf psychology has not kept pace. Many outdated, unscientific notions remain widespread, despite the fact that they actually lead to repetitive, harmful patterns that impair golfer gameplay and create mental barriers to success.

In Golf Beneath the Surface , performance consultant Dr. Raymond Prior expertly debunks these “surface-level” psychology myths and explains psychological predictors that encourage long-term growth and skillful performance under pressure. Backed by rigorously researched neuroscience and psychology, and drawing on years of experience working with some of the world’s best players, Dr. Prior shares fresh, practical insights into how golfers think, train, and play, both on and off the course. With a customizable experience that places the reader’s own psychology front and center, this book breaks


Accessible and entertaining, Golf Beneath the Surface challenges the status quo and brings a long-overdue update to modern performance psychology.

Genres: Psychology

368 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2023

Reviews

[Brandon Einstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really wanted to like it, but it was painfully repetitive and unnecessarily dense. I appreciated the underlying message and themes yet both could have been conveyed in a much more direct or concise manner.

[John Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A better observation of what it actually means to have a postive, growth mindset while playing golf. Still quite a few strategies that are very standard nowadays but a lot for amateurs and beginners to learn about.

[Lexie Mckay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Repetitive but had some bangers in there. A plethora of sticky tabs was used.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was not the easiest read but it was very helpful at identifying the inner reasons that were keeping me from enjoying fully a game i love. its been moderately easy to implement some of the framework of this book and helped me identify ways i can be more present, set meaningful goals and once again enjoy my time on the golf course

[Jgray4241222 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meaningful Book for Golf & Life

Wonderful book that not only explains the whys but the hows. I have just started a mindfulness practice, mapping and remapping habits, evaluating and reshaping my beliefs, but have already seen a tremendous improvement in my enjoyment of the game and of daily life. Thanks, Doc, for writing this book. I am deeply grateful to have found a how to that empowers me to reshape my life and relationship with the game I love.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great way to look at things

This really made me think about how I look at things. So much more than just at the game of golf. Golf is a great example to follow for it is all you and how you perform.

[Dave Wylie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book was just too hard to get into, can understand and accept the extensive detail the author has gone to and it makes for a good book on psychology but I gave up after 60-odd pages because I wasn’t feeling the golf connection as you would in a Dr Rotella book or the like.

[Peter Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating … and many things to take away from the this book for on the golf course, and also off. Highly recommended.

[DJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve read a couple golf books and this one is just not as good as some others.

[Magnus Pedersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best golf book I have read. Talks about everything needed in golf, but also in fact, life.

[Bella Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for school