026: Stats Deep Dive with Lou Stagner

This week we were joined by Lou Stagner, the golf data evangelist and Data Insights Lead for Arccos Golf and one of the game’s best-known voices on golf analytics. Lou has built a huge following for his ability to make data both accessible and practical for everyday golfers (even though many STILL won’t believe the stats), both through his Twitter/X account or his weekly newsletter. We dug into two of his most popular topics from the newsletter. First, from Issue 109, Lou walked us through the massive impact of being short-sided versus long-sided around the green, showing how shot outcomes and scoring change dramatically depending on where you miss. Then, from Issue 21, we examined the myth that more distance makes golfers less accurate. Lou shared the numbers on penalty shot percentage, fairways hit, recovery rates, and offline dispersion—and why strokes gained almost always improves for players who add distance. Whether you’re an analytics junkie or just want to shoot lower scores, Lou’s insights are a must-hear. Find Lou’s Newsletter here: https://newsletter.loustagnergolf.com Hosts: Erik J. Barzeski, Jayson Nickol Sponsor: Strike Wedge (https://strikewedge.com) – A multi-use training tool for crisp contact! Use the coupon code “SPINAXIS” to save 15%!