The Graff Golf Podcast

Here at Graff Golf, we are building a smart golf ball and analytics platform, so it only makes sense that we would do a podcast talking about the many iterations of golf ball that have been made throughout history. From rudimentary beginnings where hand-crafted balls could only go a short distance all the way to the modern day missiles that are made in factories today, golf balls have represented the most remarkable transformation out of any piece of equipment in the game. And as we are proving at Graff, that evolution is far from over.  In this podcast, host Sean Fairholm explain how golf balls started and where they are currently. We'll also go into what are they made out of, how are they made and what could be in store for the future of golf balls. There have been so many eras of golf balls over the years, each one an improvement to making the game more enjoyable — but as I will explain in this podcast, there are a couple of drawbacks with the modern ball that has many people hoping that there will be changes to some of the rules around how big a golf ball is, how much it does or doesn't spin, and other variables like that. But no matter how you view it, golf balls are an iconic piece of equipment in all of sport and their history dwarfs some of the other histories of different equipment used in other sports. 

The front half of this episode is host Sean Fairholm's reaction to everything happening with the LIV Golf Invitational Series, the controversial league backed by the Saudi government. It's definitely caused a buzz this week and throughout this year, and the entire structure of professional golf is at risk. What does the PGA Tour do in response? The back half of the episode will be all about LIV Golf's emotional leader, Phil Mickelson, and his ever-changing legacy. Will we ever see Lefty on the PGA Tour again?

In our ninth installment of the Behind the Ball series, which takes a deeper look into how Graff Golf is developing a first-of-its-kind smart golf ball, host Sean Fairholm talks to VP of Hardware Eric Goodchild about his first few months on the job. Eric comes to the company with a true wealth of experience having attended Arizona State in their electrical engineering program, working five years at Taser International and being a co-founder and CTO at Aira, a company that drives innovation in wireless charging. He's done a little bit of everything in his young career and is now doing a tremendous job at Graff. In this conversation, we talk about his past experiences, what led him to Graff, what excites him about this opportunity and some of the milestones and challenges that he has encountered thus far.

Rick Sessinghaus has been teaching Collin Morikawa since the Californian's junior golf days, guiding him all the way to becoming a two-time major champion. Morikawa has been lauded for his mental approach to the game, and nobody has had more of an impact on that than Sessinghaus. In this chat, Sessinghaus describes meeting Morikawa for the first time, what the pair continue to work on, managing fear as a golfer and much more.

It's arguably the best week of the year for golf fanatics! With the 2022 Masters Tournament on deck at Augusta this week, we take a deep dive on everything you need to know heading into the year's first major. Our host Sean Fairholm will be on site at Augusta National taking in the action, and he is joined by Jeremy Schilling to break down what they expect to see come Sunday.

We are thrilled to welcome on a special guest to the program as Damon Goddard joins the show. Damon is a sports performance coach for Jordan Spieth, Will Zalatoris, Davis Riley and many other notable players. In this episode, we discuss how he got into the career of training elite golfers, the relationship between mobility, flexibility and muscle, why golf could be heading towards much shorter career spans, why back issues occur in the golf swing, what fitness looks like at the highest level and a ton more.  You can find out more about Damon by visiting: https://www.goddardspn.com/about-damon.

How does a smart golf ball get made? In this episode with Parker Feldmann, the Graff Golf VP of Manufacturing, he describes the complex manufacturing process behind creating a golf ball that provides invaluable analytics directly to your device. Feldmann touches on how the pandemic has impacted the operation, the many hurdles involved, what his greatest accomplishment is to this point and much more.

Continuing our Behind the Ball series that provides an in-depth look at Graff Golf, strategic advisor Ari Friedman joins the show. In this conversation, Ari really goes into his background in business, what led him to start consulting Graff, his opinion of what makes a great startup, where Graff is at in the process of establishing itself and a lot more. This is a cool episode because Ari has a ton of experience and can give both an outsider's and insider's perspective on what the company is like, which is such a valuable thing to have.  You can visit Graff.Golf for more info on our first-of-its-kind smart golf ball and analytics platform.

There's a common myth in golf that high-handicap golfers shouldn't pursue getting fit for clubs because "they aren't good enough" for it. This week's guest, Club Champion founder Nick Sherburne, calls that line of thinking "pure insanity". In this pod, Nick explains why that is the case, what the fitting process is like, whether to take lessons prior to being fit and a lot more. This is a great intro to why club fitting matters for everyone and to assess whether you want to make the investment. You can learn more about Club Champion at https://clubchampiongolf.com.

Mark Immelman, a PGA Tour broadcaster, host of the On the Mark podcast, a longtime swing instructor and of course the brother of Masters champion Trevor Immelman, joins the podcast to nerd out about the golf swing. In this episode, we cover Mark's serendipitous career path, what amateurs should and shouldn't try to copy from the professional game, breaking down how to evaluate your own golf swing, why amateurs should almost never aim at the flag on approach shots and a lot more.  You can learn more about Mark at markimmelman.com.

Today is the longest episode our pod has ever had, and it deserves that time because it's all about golf's many mental demons and how we defeat them. Evan Singer of the Par Train podcast joins host Sean Fairholm for a conversation taking a deep dive into the mental game, exploring why golfers feel shame, how one metaphor can completely alter how you think about playing the game, a mental game comparison between Collin Morikawa and Rory McIlroy, why it's so hard to transfer practice to the course, where the yips come from and much more. More info on The Par Train can be found at thepartrain.com.

In the latest installment of our Behind the Ball series, Sean Fairholm and Rowen Frazer talk about where golf is headed, specifically with training and analytics, and how the Graff smart golf ball factors into that. Among the questions discussed: Is golf cool? What high-level questions are we trying to answer as golfers? And what influence can Graff have on the game at large?

Will Jordan Spieth win a major? When will Tiger Woods play again? And what common theme will all the major winners share this year? Host Sean Fairholm goes through 10 bold predictions for the 2022 calendar on the PGA Tour, giving answers to burning questions that are on every fan's mind heading into one of the most exciting years in recent memory.

This is the end of season one for the Graff Golf Podcast, and we are celebrating with a holiday medley episode featuring some of our favorite moments from the season. We figured this is a good moment to stop and reflect given that we've seen our audience grow over the last year. For those who are new to the podcast, this is actually a perfect introduction to what we are all about here because you will hear a handful of snippets from different episodes, and really get a feel for what type of conversations we have — which includes a lot of talk about how we are launching a smart golf ball and analytics platform, but also includes a lot of talk about the game itself, both at the PGA Tour level and amateur level. Support this podcast

The golf world has been buzzing about Tiger Woods and his return to competitive golf less than a year after a harrowing car accident and catastrophic leg injury. Our host Sean Fairholm and guest Jeremy Schilling are grateful to see him back on the course but understand that, despite the hype, his career is likely transitioning into its ceremonial phase. In this conversation, Sean and Jeremy break down expectations for the rest of Tiger's career and the emotions of what it will be like to see him back on a golf course next week. Support this podcast

Not everything you hear on the golf course is true, even if a lot of people say it. In this episode, PGA professional Sean Fairholm breaks down 10 myths that most golfers believe, offering an explanation for why these exist in the first place and what they should actually mean in modern times. Among the myths explained are "You Need to Keep Your Head Down", "You Should Keep Your Left Arm Straight" and "90 Percent of Golf Is Mental". Support this podcast

Aaron Shapiro first had the idea for building a smart golf ball when he was 13 years old. Now he is the CEO of Graff Golf, and the dream is becoming a reality. In this episode, Aaron talks about the circumstances around starting Graff, the challenges behind creating a smart golf ball, the milestones the company has reached to this point, his message to those who may doubt the viability of the ball, why the name of the company is so special and a lot more. Support this podcast

Welcome to the Graff Golf Podcast, a podcast for golf nerds that is all about understanding analytics in the game we all love. Hosted by PGA Professional Sean Fairholm and released twice per month, the podcast will aim to help you better examine your game from the inside out. Here at Graff, we are developing a smart golf ball that will give you immediate feedback on your shot, offering metrics like spin rate, launch angle, ball speed and a lot more. This podcast is designed to give you a deeper look at our process as a company while giving guidance on what all of this data means and how to apply it to your game so you can be the smartest player in your foursome. For more information about the Graff Golf Podcast and the smart golf ball, visit our website graff.golf and click on The Club for a database of articles and podcasts that aim to make this frustrating game a whole lot easier to understand. Support this podcast

The smart golf ball from Graff will offer several key metrics like ball speed, launch angle and spin rate, but they aren't useful unless you understand these analytics. In this crash course, host Sean Fairholm explains a few important terms and how a player can apply them to his or her own game. What does ball speed mean? How do you know when your spin rate is too high? These questions are answered and a lot more. Support this podcast

What is a smart golf ball and why should a golfer care? In this installment of Behind the Ball, Graff Golf's VP of Manufacturing, Parker Feldmann, breaks it all down with host Sean Fairholm. Parker explains what led him on a path that included stints with the U.S. Air Force, Tesla and Hamilton before taking on a much different challenge with Graff. He also delves into what excites him the most about the capabilities of the smart golf ball that Graff is developing. Support this podcast

It's been three long years since the last Ryder Cup, and we are in for a doozy this time around. In this episode, host Sean Fairholm is joined by Dalton and Dante of the Enjoy the Walk Pod to break down how the U.S. stacks up against Europe, what pairings they like for each side and who they believe will be spraying champagne at Whistling Straits. Enjoy the Walk Pod Website: enjoythewalkpod.com Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5yLH7L6eqQdjFiJJ12YscI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enjoythewalkpod/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/enjoythewalkpod/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1s8V1dZzZfmlVfdtU_gMoA Support this podcast

Where does the company name Graff Golf come from? For company CPO Patrick Kelly, it's personal. Along with fellow co-founders Aaron Shapiro and Mike Eberle, Kelly drew inspiration from Johns Hopkins football coach Jim Margraff, who passed away while they were in school. In this episode of our Behind the Ball series, Kelly explains the origins of Graff, his role in the company and the many challenges in building a smart golf ball. Support this podcast

Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau clearly don't get along, and that tension has been a great storyline for the game of golf. However, have we reached a point where the entertaining bickering is doing more harm than good? On this podcast, host Sean Fairholm and fellow writer Jeremy Schilling breakdown how each player has handled the rivalry, whether it is still productive for golf, the dynamic of the U.S. team room for the upcoming Ryder Cup and much more. Support this podcast

Behind the Ball is a look into how and why Graff Golf is developing a smart golf ball that offers detailed shot analytics, improvement plans and Bluetooth locating. After starting episode one of the series with Rowen Frazer, the VP of Marketing and Design, this conversation centers around Mike Eberle, a Co-Founder and CTO. Mike explains the early days of joining Graff, challenges around how to build a smart golf ball and what kind of experience a user can expect while using the Graff app. Support this podcast

Everyone wants to hit it farther, it's just in our DNA as golfers. But the formula behind gaining distance and confidence with the big stick — walking up to the first tee knowing you can crush it while still being accurate — is one of the more frustrating elements of the game. Alex Fortey, a former tour pro and the creator of The Art of Simple Golf, explains his advise for how to hit a driver. Spoiler Alert: Don't change your tee height when you want to hit a driver lower, because it's not going to be effective. Art of Simple Golf: https://www.youtube.com/user/athleticgolftraining Support this podcast

Behind the Ball is a look into how and why Graff Golf is developing a smart golf ball that offers detailed shot analytics, improvement plans and Bluetooth locating. It's a deeper look into the company, examining why analytics in golf can be so important and the role that different employees play in taking on the challenge of coming up with a breakthrough platform. Our series starts with Rowen Frazer, the VP of Marketing and Design at Graff. In our conversation, Rowen explains his background in golf, how he ended up at Graff and why he thinks we are only just scratching the surface with analytics in golf. Support this podcast

He's consistently one of the best players in the world, and he's won four major championships, so why has Rory McIlroy experienced a seven-year major drought with plenty of disappointments along the way? Graff Podcast host Sean Fairholm and guest Jeremy Schilling go through several theories while breaking down what Rory could do moving forward to change his luck in golf's biggest events. Support this podcast

This week's PGA Championship is taking place at Kiawah Island's Ocean Course, a daunting venue with a strange past. Host Sean Fairholm takes a deep dive into how the course was constructed in less-than-ideal circumstances and the epic 1991 Ryder Cup that altered the course of golf history. Support this podcast

A brief summary of Jordan Spieth's career to this point, chronicling how he became one of the best players in the world, what went wrong during a winless drought and how he began to reclaim his spot amongst the game's elite. Support this podcast

In this episode of The Club, Cordie Walker of the Golf Science Lab podcast joins the show to talk about what separates a great player from a good player, how golf continues to evolve into a more dynamically athletic pursuit and some of the best lessons he's learned from top coaches, mental gurus and players. Support this podcast

There's no doubt that Bryson DeChambeau is one of the most compelling figures in golf, but how long he will be able to maintain his pace of pushing the boundaries of what we know to be possible in golf remains a question mark. In this episode, host Sean Fairholm and fellow writer Jeremy Schilling break down Bryson from every angle and offer their opinions on what his journey means for the future of the sport. Support this podcast

How do you take things to the next level and master the full swing fundamentals of the golf swing? Noted instructor Brian Jacobs comes on the podcast to discuss some of the techniques he uses to help students better understand the building blocks of their swing. Support this podcast

In this episode of The Club, our host Sean Fairholm talks with long-time instructor Tom Burnett about evaluating a player's mental game, using brain mapping to understand what teaching techniques will be effective, misconceptions around the mental game and much more. Support this podcast

In this episode of The Club, our host Sean Fairholm talks with U.S. Open low-amateur John Pak about how he dealt with the pressure of playing in golf's toughest major championship. Pak describes his low-maintenance approach to preparing for each round and how understanding his swing allows him more freedom in the moment. Support this podcast

In this episode of The Club, our host Sean Fairholm talks with Graff Golf's Alex Fortey about how ball analytics can help to simplify your golf game. Fortey delves into the specifics of carry yardages, spin rates and more to explain what you need to know. Support this podcast

In this episode of The Club, our host Sean Fairholm chats to Pat Goss, a PGA Tour short game coach. Goss explains why so many players — even the best in the world — struggle with consistency around the greens, and how the solution is often found in changing their setup position. Support this podcast

In this episode of The Club, our host Sean Fairholm chats to Conrad Ray, the head men's golf coach at Stanford University. Ray talks about what he learned as a player at Stanford, keeping his current players motivated, the role of technology in the game and more. Support this podcast