The Mental Golf Show

Peter Melton is a Golf Enjoyment Coach and author of Conversations with Par. He spent three decades stuck in the same trap most golfers never escape — believing his score determined his worth.

In this conversation, we dig into the inner golfer versus the outer golfer, why your survival identity is quietly running your game, and whether enjoyment is just another arrow in the quiver or the whole bag. You're going to leave this episode with a completely different answer to the question "How did you play?" and “Why do you play?”

Get Conversations with Par here.

Check out Peter Melton Golf here.

Topics and Chapters:

00:00 - Intro: Join Mental Golf Club!

00:36 - How You PLAY and How You SCORE Are Different Things

7:07 - How to Play Without Getting Upset

11:26 - Are ‘Results’ and ‘Score’ Naughty Words?

13:49 - Basic Practice Plan: joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

14:52 - You Need to Work On the “Outer Golfer” and the “Inner Golfer”

23:33 - PutterCup: puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and sign up for the PutterCup newsletter for 15% off

25:45 - Why We Play Small and Safe and Get Protective and Bail

34:07 - What Role Does Enjoyment Play in Scoring?

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Join Mental Golf Club for FREE here: app.joshnicholsgolf.com

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Mentioned in this episode:

🏌️‍♂️ Basic Practice Plan - Practice made simple, intentional, and accountable.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

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Josh's stuff:

👨🏻‍🏫 1-on-1 Mental Coaching with Josh: Visit joshnicholsgolf.com/coaching to see plans and pricing to work with Josh on your mental game. Or send an email to josh@joshnicholsgolf.com.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

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Other podcast partners:

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

⛳️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

🍀 Fairways & Fundays - Ireland Golf Tours - Named World’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards in 2024 and 2025! If you’re interested in going on a golf trip to Ireland, send me an email and I’ll get you set up with them - josh@joshnicholsgolf.com

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

 

Chia Chou is a classical pianist and has taught the best of the best musicians for decades.

In the last 5 years he has grown his very unique approach to helping golfers through the use of audio. We even get into how Chia's method is different from (and potentially better than) Tour Tempo.

You'll leave this episode with actionable practices to help you have better tempo, a better understanding of what quality practice actually looks like, new thoughts on the yips, a more clear picture for what you should be thinking about over the ball, a better relationship with the importance of mechanics, and more.

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Check out Chia Chou's Audio Golf here

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Topics and Chapters:

00:00 - Join Mental Golf Club: app.joshnicholsgolf.com

00:37 - Can a Sound Fix My Golf Swing?

04:17 - Why Do We Practice Poorly? And What Is Good Practice?

11:03 - Basic Practice Plan: joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

12:05 - Skepticism About Quick Fixes and Shortcuts (Too Good to Be True?)

15:27 - Why Does Our Tempo Change Day to Day or Shot to Shot?

22:08 - Shot Pattern: shotpattern.app and use discount code MENTALGOLFSHOW for 20% off

24:06 - Can You Practice Enough Quantity to Make Things Automatic?

27:02 - Can Sound Fix the Yips?

30:54 - Where Should Our Attention Be While We’re Hitting a Golf Shot?

39:00 - Perfect Mechanics Don’t Matter If Your Tempo is Off

43:33 - The Divot Board: divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use discount code MENTALGOLF10 to get 10% off

45:10 - Audio Golf vs. Tour Tempo

52:02 - Josh Tries an Audio Exercise

57:03 - Give Your Brain A Task To Do (Don’t Try to Turn it Off)

1:00:04 - Chia Chou and Audio Golf: audio.golf

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Join Mental Golf Club for FREE here: app.joshnicholsgolf.com

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🏌️‍♂️ Basic Practice Plan - Practice made simple, intentional, and accountable.

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

⛳️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

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Josh's stuff:

👨🏻‍🏫 1-on-1 Mental Coaching with Josh: Visit joshnicholsgolf.com/coaching to see plans and pricing to work with Josh on your mental game. Or send an email to josh@joshnicholsgolf.com.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

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Other podcast partners:

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

🍀 Fairways & Fundays - Ireland Golf Tours - Named World’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards in 2024 and 2025! If you’re interested in going on a golf trip to Ireland, send me an email and I’ll get you set up with them - josh@joshnicholsgolf.com

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

I made a massive shift in my game between missing the cut at the 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur to making it the finals of the 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur. In this episode we get into two major ways I did that.

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Join Mental Golf Club for FREE here: app.joshnicholsgolf.com

Join Mental Golf Club here: app.joshnicholsgolf.com

You guys comprise the best community of the smartest, most thoughtful, deepest thinking bunch of golfers I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen and heard how much you guys have engaged over the years. It's been incredible.

So we wanted a way for you to engage even further and deeper than you already do. Somewhere you could get even more out of the podcast and of course ultimately improve your game even more.

It’s called MGC+.

With MGC+ you’ll get ad-free episodes of The Mental Golf Show, early access to episodes (don’t have to wait until Monday each week!), access to exclusive bonus Q&A episodes, and of course this will directly support the production of the podcast ❤️

I’ll be opening up submitting questions for the first Q&A episodes to the first 20 MGC+ founding members, and readers of The Mental Re-Grip newsletter are also hearing this offer, so get it while it’s hot!

You can join MGC+ for $5/mo or $49/year.

Go to app.joshnicholsgolf.com. Sign up for free. Then upgrade to MGC+.

We've got another check-in with Nerd Fitness Matt.

Ok, sure, these are thinly-veiled selfish conversations with my fitness coach. But also I firmly believe they're a peak for you into the mindset that builds real consistency and actual results with fitness, nutrition, habits, self-care, and just general relationship with ourselves and what we need.

Hope you learn more about yourself listening to this.

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🏌️‍♂️🏋️ Get the free MVP Golf Workout here!

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Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

0:53 - Struggling With Motivation to Workout

5:41 - Cast Tiny Votes for The Person You Want to Be

11:15 - The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Go to joshnicholsgolf.com/courses

13:05 - Getting Distracted from Doing the Boring Work (Shiny Object Syndrome)

16:59 - Can/Should AI Replace Coaches?

24:40 - Shot Pattern: Go to shotpattern.app and use the discount code MENTALGOLFSHOW

26:39 - Why You Shouldn’t Try To Optimize Your Fitness

32:16 - The Simplest Way for a Golfer to Get Stronger

42:18 - Matt Myers: Get the FREE MVP Golf Workout

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Mentioned in this episode:

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

-----

Josh's stuff:

👨🏻‍🏫 1-on-1 Mental Coaching with Josh: Visit joshnicholsgolf.com/coaching to see plans and pricing to work with Josh on your mental game. Or send an email to josh@joshnicholsgolf.com.

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

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Other podcast partners:

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

🍀 Fairways & Fundays - Ireland Golf Tours - Named World’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards in 2024 and 2025! If you’re interested in going on a golf trip to Ireland, send me an email and I’ll get you set up with them - josh@joshnicholsgolf.com

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

If you've ever played your best golf alone but fallen apart the moment others are watching, this episode is for you.

In this conversation, Gary Belsky makes a compelling case that solo golf isn't just a scheduling convenience — it's a mental training ground that can rewire how you handle pressure, self-criticism, and the performative noise that creeps in during a round. You'll walk away with some fresh perspective on why the mental game is so hard, and a genuinely practical tool for building it.

Gary is a New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and decision-making expert who spent 14 years at ESPN, and his newly released book Solo Golf: The Zen of Playing Alone and How It Can Transform Your Game is unlike anything else in the genre.

Timestamps and topics:

01:46 - Is golf a difficult test, or for pure enjoyment?

14:49 - Shot Pattern: shotpattern.app - Discount code MENTALGOLFSHOW for 20% Off

17:19 - The Value of Solo Golf for When You're Not Solo

29:10 - Basic Practice Plan: joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

30:06 - Why Do We Try to Perform for Others?

45:30 - PutterCup: Get 15% off by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter

47:14 - Does Enjoying Golf Get In the Way of Performing Well?

57:57 - Why Are Pro Golfers So Much Better Mentally Than Us?

1:05:15 - Gary Asks Josh What He's Learned From Doing the Podcast

1:16:01 - Gary Belsky

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Gary Belsky's book:

Solo Golf: The Zen of Playing Alone and How It Can Transform Your Game

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Mentioned in this episode:

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

🏌️‍♂️ Basic Practice Plan - Practice made simple, intentional, and accountable.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 1-on-1 Mental Coaching with Josh: Visit joshnicholsgolf.com/coaching to see plans and pricing to work with Josh on your mental game. Or send an email to josh@joshnicholsgolf.com.

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Josh's stuff:

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

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Other podcast partners:

🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

🍀 Fairways & Fundays - Ireland Golf Tours - Named World’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards in 2024 and 2025! If you’re interested in going on a golf trip to Ireland, send me an email and I’ll get you set up with them - josh@joshnicholsgolf.com

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Andreas Kali is a golf coach based in Denmark who works with nine professional golfers across four tours, including players ranked inside the top 50 in the world. He's spent the better part of two decades coaching, and his philosophy runs counter to a lot of what you see or hear — harder practice, honest feedback, and no false confidence. Things that I love and agree with.

This is going to be a conversation that makes you reflect on your own improvement process and how you could be getting more from yourself.

Here's are the topics we hit:

The Importance of Getting It Wrong

Practicing Under Pressure and Discomfort

Balancing Mastery and Competition

The Role of Statistics in Improvement

The Importance of Being Present in Golf

The Evolution of Practice Techniques

Redefining the Purpose of Playing Golf

Passion and Curiosity in Coaching

Knowing When Your Swing is Good Enough

Mental Approach Over the Ball

The Balance of Math and Creativity in Golf

Calming the Mind: Overcoming Performance Anxiety

The Importance of Perspective in Golf

Coaching Styles: Balancing Tough Love and Support

How do Pros Structure and Plan Their Improvement

The Future of Coaching: Personal Growth and Development

Expectations vs. Reality: Insights from Tour Events

Are Danish Golfers the Best Ball Strikers?

Resources for Aspiring Golfers

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Andreas Kali's website: https://andreaskaligolf.com/

Andreas Kali on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreaskaligolf/

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Mentioned in this episode: 

🏌️‍♂️ Basic Practice Plan Template - Practice made simple, intentional, and accountable.

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

👨🏻‍🏫 1-on-1 Mental Coaching with Josh: Visit joshnicholsgolf.com/coaching to see plans and pricing to work with Josh on your mental game. Or send an email to josh@joshnicholsgolf.com.

-----

Josh's stuff:

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

-----

Other podcast partners:

🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

🍀 Fairways & Fundays - Ireland Golf Tours - Named World’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards in 2024 and 2025! If you’re interested in going on a golf trip to Ireland, send me an email and I’ll get you set up with them - josh@joshnicholsgolf.com

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

You ever feel like the mental game advice you try doesn't stick? That's because most mental game advice is superficial and not effective in high-pressure moments. Including some of the stuff I've put out.

That's because there has to be a deeper layer underneath that advice for your mental game to actually be effective. In this episode, we dive into that.

Key topics:

The Ineffectiveness of Common Mental Game Advice

Understanding Yourself: The Key to Improvement

The Five Whys: A Deep Dive into Self-Reflection

Processing Emotions: Closing the Loop on Bad Shots

The Long-Term Benefits of Self-Inquiry

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Pre-order How to Try Again by Steve Kamb

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👨🏻‍🏫 1-on-1 Mental Coaching with Josh: Visit joshnicholsgolf.com/coaching to see plans and pricing to work with Josh on your mental game. Or send an email to josh@joshnicholsgolf.com.

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Josh's stuff:

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

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Podcast partners:

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

🍀 Fairways & Fundays - Ireland Golf Tours - Named World’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards in 2024 and 2025! If you’re interested in going on a golf trip to Ireland, send me an email and I’ll get you set up with them - josh@joshnicholsgolf.com

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Jeff Troesch is a mental performance coach to major champions on PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, Olympians, and athletes in nearly 100 other sports.

He has just released a new book titled One Day Better: Mental Performance Concepts to Transform Your Game and Life. It contains 150 one or two-page lessons on the most important facets of performance. It's unlike anything else I've read in any other mental game book. I've been reading it and I find myself taking in one facet and spending that day chewing on just that one. I like this way of going about mental game improvement.

This conversation was great. Jeff has 40 years of experience helping the best athletes access their skill when it matters, and that comes through on this episode.

Timestamps & Topics:

00:00 - Does a Balanced Life Help Us Play Better Golf?

11:55 - The Perfect Pre-shot Routine: joshnicholsgolf.com/courses

13:45 - The Mentality That’s Better Than Positivity

24:19 - Shot Pattern: shotpattern.app - Discount code MENTALGOLFSHOW for 20% Off

26:18 - How a Good Coach Coaches a Golfer

33:37 - Jeff’s Process and Philosophy of Writing his Book One Day Better

39:11 - The Divot Board: divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow - Discount code MENTALGOLF10 for 10% Off

40:48 - Does Working On Your Mental Game (and Game in General) Add Pressure to Perform?

44:38 - Turning Logical Knowledge Into Lived Experience When It Matters

51:15 - How Can We Measure Our Mental Game?

57:01 - Can Working On Your Mental Game Make You Worse?

1:04:38 - Should We Be Unconsciously or Consciously Competent?

1:10:19 - Jeff Troesch

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Jeff Troesch's book:

One Day Better: Mental Performance Concepts to Transform Your Game and Life

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Mentioned in this episode:

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

👨🏻‍🏫 1-on-1 Mental Coaching with Josh: Visit joshnicholsgolf.com/coaching to see plans and pricing to work with Josh on your mental game. Or send an email to josh@joshnicholsgolf.com.

-----

Josh's stuff:

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

-----

Other podcast partners:

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

🍀 Fairways & Fundays - Ireland Golf Tours - Named World’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards in 2024 and 2025! If you’re interested in going on a golf trip to Ireland, send me an email and I’ll get you set up with them - josh@joshnicholsgolf.com

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Matt Young is an Emotional Change Specialist. His expertise is in helping people move past their limiting beliefs and protective/automatic emotions in order to access their best as often as possible. Matt's an avid golfer himself, and in this episode we we dive in to some real-world case studies of PGA Tour players, as well as Matt's (and my own) golf game to discuss the deeper psychology of how and why we tend to do what we do on the course, and how to overcome it.

Timestamps & Topics:

00:00 - The Anatomy of a Spiraling Golf Game: Beliefs > Emotions > Needs

14:44 - 🎯 Shot Pattern: shotpattern.app - Discount code MENTALGOLFSHOW for 20% Off

16:43 - Should We Try to Care Less About Golf?

26:05 - The Big 3 of the Mental Game: Body, Focus, and Self-Talk

34:06 - 🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: joshnicholsgolf.com/courses

37:06 - Can We Fake Our Body to Trick Our Mind?

44:25 - Why Does Our Tempo Get Off Under Pressure?

53:04 - 🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow - Discount code MENTALGOLF10 for 10% Off

54:41 - Limiting Beliefs: Why They Keep Us Stuck

1:01:31 - Matt Young: mattyounglc.com

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Matt Young's links:

Website: mattyounglc.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattyounglc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattyounglc/

Email: matt@mattyounglc.com

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Mentioned in this episode:

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

👨🏻‍🏫 1-on-1 Mental Coaching with Josh: Visit joshnicholsgolf.com/coaching to see plans and pricing to work with Josh on your mental game. Or send an email to josh@joshnicholsgolf.com.

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Josh's stuff:

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

-----

Other podcast partners:

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

🍀 Fairways & Fundays - Ireland Golf Tours - Named World’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards in 2024 and 2025! If you’re interested in going on a golf trip to Ireland, send me an email and I’ll get you set up with them - josh@joshnicholsgolf.com

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Rye Stinson is perhaps the only person in the world who is all of these things: Occupational Therapist, Certified Hand Therapist, TPI M3 Certified, AND has qualified for a U.S. Mid-Amateur, which he did in 2024.

So I took that as an opportunity to dive right into how on earth he is so successful in his work while also being such a high level player. He plays humble, but he shared some great wisdom for how he does it.

We also get into the nuances of injuries, navigating the healthcare system when it comes to diagnoses, dealing with apathetic orthopedic surgeons, and what to do if you are in fact injured. I really enjoyed this conversation (hence why we went so long!) so I think you will too.

Timestamps & Topics:

00:00 - How to Be Great at Golf AND Successful Professionally

12:00 - How to Learn and Become An Expert

13:27 - Shot Pattern: shotpattern.app - Discount code MENTALGOLFSHOW for 20% Off

15:25 - How to Systematically Improve at Golf

25:19 - Keeping Golf in the Proper Perspective

32:19 - The Divot Board: divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow - Discount code MENTALGOLF10 for 10% Off

33:56 - How to Avoid Golf Injuries

53:52 - The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: joshnicholsgolf.com/courses

55:42 - Is Your Injury a Problem or a Superpower?

1:07:06 - How Golfers Can Navigate Injuries

1:21:56 - Johns Hopkins Golf Rehabilitation Clinic

1:30:34 - Rye Stinson

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Rye Stinson's links:

Johns Hopkins Golf Rehabilitation Clinic

OutPerform Golf LLC Consulting/Sports Performance: rye.outperformgolf@gmail.com

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Mentioned in this episode:

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

👨🏻‍🏫 1-on-1 Mental Coaching with Josh: Visit joshnicholsgolf.com/coaching to see plans and pricing to work with Josh on your mental game. Or send an email to josh@joshnicholsgolf.com.

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Josh's stuff:

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

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Other podcast partners:

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

🍀 Fairways & Fundays - Ireland Golf Tours - Named World’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards in 2024 and 2025! If you’re interested in going on a golf trip to Ireland, send me an email and I’ll get you set up with them - josh@joshnicholsgolf.com

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

It's that time of year. You've been working hard on your game all offseason, grinding on your swing, getting things dialed, and now it's almost time (or is already time) to get outside and play.

But what typically happens when you do that? If you're like me, everything you worked on all winter can seem to go right out the window when you touch real grass. That terrible feeling of all that practice not even doing any good.

Well I propose a better way. This episode is all about how to ready your game for getting outdoors and playing golf, not golf swing.

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Mentioned in this episode:

👨🏻‍🏫 1-on-1 Mental Coaching with Josh: Visit joshnicholsgolf.com/coaching to see plans and pricing to work with Josh on your mental game. Or send an email to josh@joshnicholsgolf.com.

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Josh's stuff:

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

-----

Other podcast partners:

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

🍀 Fairways & Fundays - Ireland Golf Tours - Named World’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards in 2024 and 2025! If you’re interested in going on a golf trip to Ireland, send me an email and I’ll get you set up with them - josh@joshnicholsgolf.com

🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

 

John Dunigan is the cofounder of the Practice Golf Coach app. I haven't used the app personally yet, but one of my mental coaching clients uses it and he swears by it. He's sent me screenshots and it looks awesome. It uses AI combined with John and cofounder Dr. Will Wu's expertise and experience to build you custom workouts that change with you as you enter in more data. I'll have to check it out.

But this was an awesome conversation with John. He's extremely passionate about golfers practicing better and having a more well-rounded view of their game and improvement. Which is a soapbox I've been standing on for a long time, before and since starting this podcast.

Timestamps and Topics:

00:00 - Thinking Too Much About the Golf Swing

08:42 - Embrace Golf Like a Roller Coaster

16:58 - Fairways & Fundays ad

20:24 - Bigger Picture Perspective Enhances Acceptance of Outcomes

25:39 - Does the Golf Swing Matter?

32:13 - Shot Pattern ad

34:41 - Should We Strive for Consistency in the Golf Swing?

40:00 - Golf is Hard. Make Your Practice Just as Hard.

56:09 - Do Most Golf Instructors Teach the Wrong Things?

59:10 - Using a Golf Club as a Tool

1:01:51 - Errors are a Good Thing

1:05:40 - John Dunigan - Practice Coach app

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John Dunigan's stuff:

The Practice Golf Coach app

John Dunigan on Instagram

Website - johndunigangolf.com

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Mentioned in this episode:

🍀 Fairways & Fundays - Ireland Golf Tours - Named World’s Best Golf Tour Operator at the World Golf Awards in 2024 and 2025! If you’re interested in going on a golf trip to Ireland, send me an email and I’ll get you set up with them - josh@joshnicholsgolf.com

🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

-----

Josh's stuff:

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com to work with Josh on your mental game.

-----

Other podcast partners:

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Andy Gorman is ThePASS (The Putting And Shortgame Specialist). And this episode is truly all about putting.

If you wonder why you don't putt better, whether you have the right putter for you, why you don't putt well under pressure, why you under-read so many putts, and then exactly how to address all of these things... then you're going to love this episode.

Andy is both extremely knowledgable about the ins and outs of every detail of the putting stroke, but he's also able to consolidate that info into very simple practices, fundamentals, and feelings that will instantly help you putt better. I've already been trying some of the things he told me about and I feel much more comfortable and confident over putts. Pretty cool stuff.

Here's a sample of the many topics we cover on this episode:

• How life pressure is tied to golf pressure
• The dangers of comparison to other players or the leaderboard
• The one fundamental key to improving putting
• What to think standing over a putt
• Should you change your putting technique?
• Is it better to be correct or consistent?
• Why was (is? 👀) Tiger so good at putting?
• How to stop under-reading greens
• The biomechanics of the putting stroke
• The 10-10 Drill to calibrate green speed and stroke length
• The psychology of putting pressure
• Putting yips

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Andy Gorman’s stuff:

Email: golf@andygorman.com

WhatsApp: +447966235706

YouTube: Andy Gorman ThePASS

Website: Andy Gorman Golf

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Mentioned in the episode:

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

-----

Josh's stuff:

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com to work with Josh on your mental game.

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Other podcast partners:

🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

📕 Click this link to get Cameron Strachan's book UNF*CK YOUR GOLF BRAIN, plus bonus videos, a pre-round cheat sheet, and more: https://bit.ly/ufygb-josh

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Cameron Strachan was not a name I had heard before this. But when he reached out to me expressing interest in being on the show and shared his book UNF*CK YOUR GOLF BRAIN with me, I gave it a read and I was immediately hooked. I read over half of it in about 30 minutes. It's unlike any golf book I've ever read before. The best way I can describe it is a wakeup call to the golfer who is obsessed with mechanics and swinging "correctly" and looking good on camera. And despite what I've learned over the years I would put myself in that class of golfers. It's a refreshing read, and I encourage you to pick it up.

This conversation with Cameron was equally refreshing. It's crazy to think that someone saying "just be yourself, let it rip, and go play" is controversial, yet it is. And it kind of broke my brain at times. I think you'll like this one.

Here are some of the topics we cover:

• Balancing Golf and Family Life
• Freedom in Golf: Letting Go of Control
• Instruction vs. Coaching: What Actually Helps?
• Trusting Your Swing
• Mastery vs. Expertise in Golf
• Why Simplicity Wins in Golf
• Performance, Psychology, and Enjoyment
• What Makes Golf Legends’ Swings Unique
• Golf as a Journey of Self-Discovery
• Playing Freely: An Art Form
• Letting Go Is Harder Than You Think
• Giving Yourself Permission to Play Your Game
• Learning Without Losing the Joy
• The “Lazy and Stupid” Approach to Golf
• From Expert to Mastery: The Real Shift
• Trust and Self-Acceptance on the Course
• The Radical Idea of Playing Freely
• Simplifying Your Game, Elevating Your Results

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Mentioned in the episode:

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

-----

Josh's stuff:

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com to work with Josh on your mental game.

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Podcast partners:

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

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🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

 

I had the pleasure of hosting Alex Fortey on the podcast. Alex is a content creator with over 300,000 subscribers on YouTube (The Art of Simple Golf). He's a pro golfer with some very strong opinions on the golf industry and golf instruction, and has some very honest takes on how to make golf simpler.

Some of the topics we cover:

• The Complexity of Golf Instruction
• Understanding the Disconnect in Golf Performance
• The Importance of Setup in Golf
• Simplifying Golf: The Art of Simple Golf
• The Psychological Aspects of Golf
• Overcoming Fear and Embracing Authenticity
• The Journey of Improvement in Golf
• The Pursuit of Perfection in Golf
• The Role of Expectations in Performance
• Finding Joy in the Game of Golf
• The Impact of External Perceptions
• The Power of a Simple Checklist
• Reducing Variables for Better Performance
• The Balance of Enjoyment and Competition
• Future Goals and the Fear of Failure

Alex Fortey's YouTube channel: The Art of Simple Golf

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Mentioned in the episode:

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

-----

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Is chasing consistency actually hurting your golf game?

In this episode, I’m joined by Brendon Post — a longtime competitive player, coach, and caddie with decades of experience at the college and professional levels. Brendon brings a rare perspective from living on both sides of the rope: competing under pressure and watching the game with total clarity as a coach and caddie.

Topics covered:

• Why your ability doesn’t disappear under pressure — your ability to access it does
• How “tournament mode” creates mental clutter and breaks down trust
• Why easy shots often produce more fear than hard ones
• The danger of chasing repeatability and “perfect” ball striking
• How acceptance has to be credible to actually work
• Why messy golf can still produce low scores
• The caddie/coach perspective vs. the player perspective
• Swing thoughts vs. feels (and why it’s completely individual)
• Course management as a true separator at higher levels
• What to prioritize when time is limited: body, mind, and putting — not panic practice

This one genuinely changed how I think about practice and performance under pressure.

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🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there

🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

-----

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

I had the honor of hosting Steven Yellin on the podcast. Steven is an author of the book Simplicity. He holds some very strong positions on how good golf must be played. But he claims they aren't his ideas, they are just the way the brain and the body work. I truly can't spell it all out here, you'll have to listen to know what I'm talking about. 

If you like this podcast in general, you're going to love this conversation with Steven Yellin.

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Steven Yellin's links:

Website: stevenyellin.com

Book: Simplicity: The Fluid Motion Factor Golf Program

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🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

🎯 Shot Pattern - The Golf GPS App Designed to Help You Play Smarter Golf - Start a free trial and get 20% off by using the discount code 'MENTALGOLFSHOW' or click this link to go straight there

-----

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

🏋️‍♂️ Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

-----

🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

 

🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

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I used to always play golf with a ton of fear. And frankly, I still play golf with fear. But not as much as I once did, thanks to an understanding of some of the core reasons we as humans encounter fear.

In this episode, you will learn what the core sources of human fear are, why we fear those things, how that relates to golf, and a solution for dealing with and extinguishing each of the core sources of human fear.

I'm confident you will leave this episode with a better understanding of yourself, your tendencies, and having new tools to play better golf.

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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

🏋️‍♂️ Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

 

I had the great honor of hosting Dr. Gio Valiante for a conversation that had me thinking from the moment he started talking. Something about the way Dr. Gio explains things makes me feel like golf is on the one hand deep and rich and complex, but on the other hand incredibly simple and fundamental to who we are as humans. His grasp of human psychology is aspirational, so it's no wonder he's been a pillar of the golf psychology arena for decades.

I know you'll enjoy this episode, and I'm confident you will leave this episode with a deeper understanding of your golf game as well as yourself and why you do what you do on and off the course.

Topics:

• Is Fear the Root of Most Mental Game Problems in Golf?
• Fear, Flow, and the Full Spectrum of Golf Psychology
• What Fear Does to Skill, Decision-Making, and Performance
• Why Golf Creates Fear: Social Judgment and the Human Brain
• Mastery Orientation vs. Ego Orientation in Golf
• How Golf Shifts from Love of the Game to Results and Approval
• Embarrassment, Shame, and the Conditioning of Fearful Golf
• Why Ego-Driven Golf Makes Flow States Unlikely
• What It Means to Compete in Golf—and Who You’re Really Competing Against
• Playing the Golf Course: Targets, Process, and Task Focus

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Dr. Gio Valiante's books on Amazon:

Fearless Golf: Conquering the Mental Game

Golf Flow: Master your mind, Master the course

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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

-----

🏋️‍♂️ Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

 

🏋️‍♂️ Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

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I worked with Matt Myers at Nerd Fitness for the entirety of 2025 as my personal trainer. But far beyond building workout plans and keeping me accountable to nutrition goals, he was a partner on a journey. I know for a fact I would be so far off course from where I started 2025 had I been trying to go it alone. I can say without exaggeration that Nerd Fitness has changed my life.

Matt and I want to do quarterly updates through 2026, so this is Q1 2026 Update.

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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

-----

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

I've done a goal-setting episode at the end of every year for the past 6 years, but I don't think I've ever done a review of the year that just ended. This episode will show you a simple, proven way to review your year (or your day or your round of golf) that you can and should use. And I of course set some golf and podcast goals for 2026, which I think can help you do the same.

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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

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🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Steve Wheatcroft played professional golf for 19 years, almost all of those on the Korn Ferry and PGA Tour. In this episode we get into the experiences he had, the fallout of retiring, and the journey since. 

Topics discussed:

The Silence After Professional Sports
Identity Beyond the Game
The Balance of Passion and Profession
Learning to Practice Effectively
The Journey of Becoming a Golfer
Self-Perception and Mental Challenges
Lessons Learned and Advice for Others
The Humor in Golf: A Lighthearted Approach
The Feeling of Not Belonging: A Personal Journey
Aspirations and Realities: The Golfing Dream
The Pressure of Early Success: A Cautionary Tale
The Long-Term View: Sustainability in Golf Careers
Identity Beyond Golf: Finding Self-Worth
Reflections on the Book: Cocktails and Range Balls
The Identity Crisis After Golf
Struggles with Alcoholism and Depression
The Journey to Recovery
Finding Purpose Through Storytelling
Transitioning from Professional Golf
The Mulligan Foundation: A New Hope
Writing for Change: The Power of a Story

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Steve Wheatcroft's links:

Book: Cocktails and Range Balls: One's Too Many, Ten's Not Enough

The Mulligan Foundation

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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

-----

🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

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This year has been a monumental one for The Mental Golf Show. It's the most interviews I've ever done (33 up to this point) and I feel like my skill as an interviewer has drastically improved across this year, and certainly over the life of the podcast.

So with guest episodes in mind, I wanted to pull out some of my favorite nuggets from interviews in 2025. I wanted to include so many more than this, but I also wanted the episode to be about an hour long so I landed on 9 guest nuggets (I said 8 in the pod intro, pardon my bad counting skills).

Below are all the guests and their episode number so you can go back and listen to their full episode:

1. Webb Simpson: What confidence is made of, how to grow it, and what hurts Webb's confidence (Episode 242)
2. Dan Abrahams: How to get the most out of your ABCD Game (Episode 239)
3. Jayson Nickol: Getting comfortable going low and eliminating “Anyway Shots” (Episode 238)
4. Ross MacLeod: Is putting the most important part of the game? (Episode 244)
5. Mike Booker: The difference between a “Tournament Golfer” and a “Golfer Who Plays Tournaments” (Episode 241)
6. Gary Waters: The benefit of detaching yourself from your results (Episode 254)
7. Lou Stagner: Where should players set their stat benchmarks? (Episode 236)
8. Jim Waldron: What and how much should we be thinking about during the golf swing? (Episode 245)
9. Dawn Grant: How do you maximize joy on the golf course? (Episode 250)

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🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

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🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.

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Will Knauth is a +5 handicap U.S. Mid-Amateur competitor, a PhD student in Theoretical Statistics and Time Series Analysis, and he has opinions on how to play better golf. In this episode, you'll hear those opinions.

I'm confident you'll leave here knowing more about the game with real things to try and having changed your thinking on different parts of golf.

Will is one of my favorite guests because he has no skin in the game--he's not pushing or selling anything, he's not trying to build a personal brand... he's just a good golfer who's incredibly smart. I think you'll enjoy it.

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Topics discussed:

Two and a Half Years of Fighting the Hooks

The Physics of Pushing vs. Pulling: Finding a New Swing Feel

Swing Thoughts on the Course: Why Mental Chatter Isn't the Enemy

Block Practice vs. Random Practice: The Internal Dialogue

The Music Analogy: Distraction and the Sequence of Thoughts

Bridging the Gap: Taking Your Range Game to the Course

The Bottom of the Pendulum: Knowing When to Change Swing Thoughts

Peaking for the US Mid-Am: Timing Your Game

The Tale of the 13: A US Mid-Am Disaster

Making Golf Work with a Demanding Life: Commitment and Sacrifice

Time vs. Efficiency: There's No Substitute for Hours

The Choice to Stay Competitive: What Are You Willing to Give Up?

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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

-----

🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.

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David Buck is a former professional playing pro who’s competed on the Canadian Tour, mini tours, and traveled extensively across North America and internationally chasing the game. He now operates an engaged community through his brand Big Swing Kings, where he blends humor and real coaching, swing roasts, and totally unique ways of thinking about the game. And he says he does this all with the intent to help players play better and enjoy the game more.

You can find David at these places:

Youtube: Big Swing Kings

TikTok: bigswingkings

Instagram: bigswingkings

Website: bigswingkings.com

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📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

-----

🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement.

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In this FundaMENTALS episode, we look at how expectations add tension and narrow your options, and why shifting to clear standards helps you swing with freedom. I cover the basic brain mechanics, a simple process to use before each shot, and a few practical course examples. The goal is steadier decision-making and more durable confidence.

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🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

-----

🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement

🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

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What if your pain wasn’t just a body problem, but a brain and golf problem? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Carly Hunt—Mid-Am Golfer/Pain Psychologist and author of Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain—to talk about how golf can both ease and amplify pain, why “it’s all in your head” is a terrible (and wrong) message, and how the brain’s alarm system actually works. We get into practical tools for playing with ongoing pain, navigating fear of re-injury, dealing with the identity grief of not being the golfer you used to be, and how to shift from fighting your body to working with it so you can keep playing the game you love.

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Carly Hunt's links:

Carly Hunt's Book: Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain: How to Harness the Power of the Mind-Body Connection - https://www.amazon.com/Train-Your-Brain-Beat-Chronic/dp/1462558526

Pain Reprocessing Therapy - https://www.painreprocessingtherapy.com

The Pain Psychology Center - https://painpsychologycenter.com/therapy-techniques

Carly on LinkedIn

Carly on Instagram

Email Carly

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📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

-----

Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

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How do you lean in when the round of golf starts going sideways? It’s so easy to eject mentally and just go through the motions.

Let's dive into the concept of Exposure Therapy as a tool to build your mental resilience.

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FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com.

PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

-----

Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement

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Paul Salter joins The Mental Golf Show (for the second time). Paul is a mindset and performance coach who uses hypnosis to help his clients get unstuck, uncover their edge, and unlock their potential.

We cover these topics:

The Commitment to Golf Mastery
The Power of Language in Self-Talk
Building Confidence Through Action
Understanding Fear and Success
The Role of Beliefs in Performance
Unlearning Limiting Beliefs
Navigating Fear and Anxiety in Golf
The Art of Unlearning for Success
The Pressure of Expectations
The Secret to Consistent Success
The Secret to Extraordinary Success
Challenging Societal Norms and Rules
The Balance Between Success and Fulfillment
Identity and Performance in Sports
Communication and Relationships in Golf and Life

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Paul Salter's Links:

The Scratch Golfer's Mindset podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Instagram - thegolfhypnotherapist

Website - thegolfhypnotherapist.com

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Get more from Josh Nichols:

The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com.

PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

-----

Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Most of us don't have caddies helping us get fully committed to shots, so we have to be our own caddies. Learning how to be your own caddie effectively can give you a huge advantage over your opponents and your own unhelpful tendencies.

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The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

-----

Get more from Josh Nichols:

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com.

PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.

-----

Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

 

Dr. Doug Tataryn is the founder of the Bio-Emotive Framework. And we get into things like integral theory, the Four Facets Model of Human Transformation, and the effects of your childhood experiences on your worldview.

But, and this is very important, Dr. Doug is very good at grounding these abstract topics back to golf. And I’d like to think that I represent you, the listener, in being relatively new, if not completely ignorant of these concepts. Hopefully I do you justice and ask the questions you might ask.

Dr. Doug's links:

Read (and sign up for) Dr. Tataryn's Substack: https://drdougbioemotive.substack.com/p/fairways-of-the-mind-worldviews-intro

 

The Bio-Emotive Website: https://bioemotiveframework.com/

 

Sign up for Dr. Tataryn's "Fairways of the Mind" online offerings to improve your Golf Psychology: https://mailchi.mp/bioemotiveframework.com/fairwaysofthemind

 

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Topics Covered:

• The Universality of Golf and Mental Game
• Introduction to the Four Facets of Human Experience
• Understanding the Four Facets Framework
• The Role of Emotional Processing in Golf
• Disidentification and Its Impact on Performance
• The Interplay of Childhood Experiences and Golf
• Balancing the Four Facets for Optimal Performance
• Real-Life Applications of the Four Facets
• The Relationship Between Golf and Personal Growth
• Navigating Feelings of Inadequacy in Golf
• The Quest for Balance in Golf and Life
• Emotional Holes and Compulsive Behavior
• Worldviews and Personal Growth
• Pattern Recognition and Ego Deconstruction
• Vision, Motivation, and Emotional Conditioning
• Exploring Regret and Self-Betrayal
• Embracing Current Reality
• Betrayal vs. Abandonment
• Core Feelings and Emotional Depth
• Vision for Success and Loneliness
• Reframing Isolation in Golf
• Worldviews and Emotional Reactions

-----   Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.   The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.   Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com.   -----   Get more from Josh Nichols:   📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.   PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.   Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.   Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.   -----   Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

 

Special guest Coach Bruce Chalas and I talk all about college golf, the psychological demands of college golf, and the recruiting process for junior golfers. So if you’re a junior golfer, college player, a parent of one, or a coach helping players navigate this stage, this one’s for you.

And even if you’re not in that world, it’s still a really cool peek behind the curtain at how high-level players get noticed, develop, and play great golf under pressure.

Bruce Chalas is the head coach of the Boston University women’s golf team and he’s been there for 17 years.

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Junior Girls Golf Clinic: https://bostonuniversitygirlsgolfclinic.com/

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📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

-----

Get more from Josh Nichols:

The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

Custom Weekly Practice Plan: Hand-built plans based on your stats and schedule at joshnicholsgolf.com.

Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.

-----

Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

Welcome to Episode 3 of the FundaMENTALS series, where Josh Nichols will be walking through the core components of a good mental game.

This week: Handling Pressure

On this episode, I want to talk about that feeling in your chest, that slight tremor in your hands, that racing thought pattern that can suddenly appear when the stakes feel higher. Something that every golfer deals with on the course, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned tournament player, and whether you realize it or not: pressure. 

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📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

-----

Get more from Josh Nichols:

The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

Custom Weekly Practice Plan: Hand-built plans based on your stats and schedule at joshnicholsgolf.com.

Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.

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Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

In this episode, I sit down with Jayne Storey for a deep conversation about golf, performance, and the inner life of an athlete. Jayne brings decades of experience in meditation, movement, and spiritual practice.

Golf feels hard when you’re trying to control every move. So we dig into how letting go leads to freedom and flow on the course. If you’re tired of grinding and want to just feel golf again, this is the conversation you need.

Thanks to Jayne for the thoughtful exploration of how golf can open the door to something far greater than just the game itself.

Topics discussed:

1. Golf as a Spiritual Practice – beyond the game and into self-expression

2. Sri Aurobindo’s Teachings – spirit, matter, and the athletic body

3. Scheffler’s Search for Fulfillment – dissatisfaction and meaning in sport

4. Flow and Meditation – entering the state where golf plays itself

5. Jayne’s Journey Through Movement Arts – Tai Chi, yoga, and swimming

6. Chi Energy in Sport – subtle awareness and performance

7. Relaxed Readiness – the paradox of being loose yet prepared

8. Getting Out of Your Own Way – surrendering to the swing

9. Ego on the Course – tension, fear, and the desire to succeed

10. Vigilant Passivity – alert presence without interference

11. Trusting the Body – allowing skill to emerge naturally

12. Equanimity Under Pressure – calmness when it matters most

13. Practices for Presence – meditation, grounding, and soft focus

14. Gratitude and Devotion – embracing golf as a higher offering

15. The Spiritual Horizon of Sport – where performance meets transcendence

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Jayne Storey's links:

Website: chi-performance.com

Books: chi-performance.com/books

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📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

-----

Get more from Josh Nichols:

The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

Custom Weekly Practice Plan: Hand-built plans based on your stats and schedule at joshnicholsgolf.com.

Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.

-----

Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

Confidence in golf often feels like it comes and goes with your scorecard. But what if there’s a way to build confidence that doesn’t vanish after a bad hole or a bad round? In this episode, we’ll explore where true confidence really comes from—and why most golfers never find it.

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Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

-----

📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

-----

Get more from Josh Nichols:

The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

Custom Weekly Practice Plan: Hand-built plans based on your stats and schedule at joshnicholsgolf.com.

Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.

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Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

Special guest Mike Berland joins The Mental Golf Show. They discuss the multifaceted nature of golf, emphasizing the importance of enjoyment over mere improvement. Mike shares personal experiences and insights on the psychological aspects of the game, the social dynamics involved, and the need for modernizing golf to make it more inclusive. The discussion highlights the balance between striving for better performance and appreciating the joy of the game, ultimately advocating for a more relaxed and fulfilling approach to golf.

Topics discussed:

• The Joy of Golf vs. Improvement
• Mental Game and Flow State
• Social Aspects of Golf
• Managing Expectations in Golf
• The Unpredictability of Golf
• Golf as a Social Connector
• Topgolf and Accessibility of Golf
• Rekindling the Love for Golf
• The Role of Mental Focus in Golf Performance
• Overcoming Distractions and Regaining Focus
• The Journey to Improvement and Consistency
• The Social Dynamics of Golf
• Modernizing Golf for Inclusivity
• The Evolution of Golf During the Pandemic
• Personal Exploration vs. Social Aspects of Golf
• The Message of 'Not About Golf'

Mike Berland's links:

Book: Not About Golf: The Life Changing Joy of Playing the Game

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram

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📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

-----

Get more from Josh Nichols:

The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

Custom Weekly Practice Plan: Hand-built plans based on your stats and schedule at joshnicholsgolf.com.

Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.

-----

Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

Welcome to the Episode 2 of the FundaMENTALS series, where Josh Nichols will be walking through the core components of a good mental game.

This week: the Pre-Shot Routine.

Every good pre-shot routine contains four key pillars. We explore those on this episode.

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📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

-----

Get more from Josh Nichols:

The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

Custom Weekly Practice Plan: Hand-built plans based on your stats and schedule at joshnicholsgolf.com.

Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.

-----

Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

In this enlightening episode, Josh Nichols sits down with Gary Waters for a deep dive into the mental game of golf and life. Gary, a performance coach with a passion for unlocking human potential, explores how shifting your perspective can transform your experience on the golf course and beyond.

From redefining success as inner peace to dissolving limiting beliefs that fuel fear and frustration, this conversation unpacks practical insights for golfers seeking flow, freedom, and joy in their game.

Whether you're a pro battling a slump or an amateur chasing enjoyment, Gary's wisdom offers a roadmap to playing with authenticity and ease. Tune in to discover how to rewrite your "why" and embrace a limitless approach to golf.

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Topics & Timestamps:

Perspective and Golf (00:00 - 06:00)
Peace vs. Competitiveness (06:00 - 09:35)
Dissolving Unhelpful Motivations (09:30 - 15:55)
Overcoming Deep Frustration in Golf (15:55 - 19:56)
Role of Therapy and Mentorship (19:56 - 26:17)
Fear and Performance on the Golf Course (26:17 - 32:30)
Balancing Conscious and Subconscious in Golf (32:30 - 38:02)
Detaching from Identity in Golf (38:02 - 46:05)
Origins of Limiting Beliefs (44:23 - 47:32)
Self-Acceptance and Authentic Self (47:32 - 51:28)
Balancing Acceptance and Change (51:28 - 57:33)
Resistance as an Opportunity (57:33 - 01:02:58)
Gary Waters Contact and Resources (01:02:58 - 01:05:39)

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Resources and Links Mentioned by Gary Waters:

• Gary Waters' Website: garywaters.co.uk
• Gary Waters' Instagram: @iamgarywaters
• Power vs. Force by David R. Hawkins
• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
• Peter Crone's work: petercrone.com

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Get more from Josh Nichols:

The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.

PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.

Custom Weekly Practice Plan: Hand-built plans based on your stats and schedule at joshnicholsgolf.com.

Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.

The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com.

-----

Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

Welcome to the first episode in the FundaMENTALS series, where Josh Nichols will be walking through what he believes are the core components of a good mental game.

First up: Acceptance

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Dial in your Pre-Shot Routine!

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

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Get 10% off a Divot Board!

Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.

Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏

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Thanks to these partners for supporting The Mental Golf Show:

Titleist - Join Team Titleist

Nerd Fitness

Fit For Golf

Shot Pattern - golf GPS app

PutterCup training aids (15% off when you sign up for their newsletter)

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Perform better with these Josh Nichols Golf products:

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

🏌️‍♂️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans

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1-on-1 Mental Coaching

Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Mental Coach? Email Josh directly at ⁠⁠josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshnicholsgolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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📚 2025 Book Club!

Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and meetups.

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Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com

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Follow Josh on social:

X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Nichols Golf

Dallas Webster, creator of the Tangent Golf app, joins to discuss his journey from competitive high school golfer to tech entrepreneur, focusing on using data to improve golf performance while keeping technology unobtrusive.

Topics & Timestamps:

• Introduction to Tangent Golf App (05:03)
• Mental Game and Tracking (06:25)
• The Tangent Four (14:44)
• AI Caddy and Course Management (10:43)
• Battling Mental Demons (19:34)
• Balancing Technology and Focus (24:52)
• AI Caddy’s Impact (26:54)
• Mental Game and Dispersion Patterns (29:35)
• Avoiding Negative Visualization (32:28)
• Subconscious and Target Selection (33:53)
• Pressure and Mental Shifts (35:17)
• Handling External Distractions (42:23)
• Mental Breakthroughs in Tournaments (43:44)
• Public Golf Journey and Mental Struggles (46:34)
• Rating Good Shots with Poor Mental Game (51:50)
• Mental Game’s Impact Across Skill Levels (55:02)
• Hands-Free Technology Use (01:02:18)
• Dallas’s Golf Journey (01:07:13)

Where to Find Dallas:

• Website: tangent.golf
• App: Tangent Golf on the Apple App Store (Android coming soon)
• YouTube/Instagram: The Good Miss Golf

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15% off PutterCup! Improve your putting!

🔗 Go to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow

👉 Then sign up for the PutterCup newsletter for 15% off

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📧 Sign up for The Mental Re-Grip free weekly newsletter

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Get 10% off a Divot Board!

Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.

Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏

-----

Thanks to these partners for supporting The Mental Golf Show:

Titleist - Join Team Titleist

Nerd Fitness

Fit For Golf

Shot Pattern - golf GPS app

PutterCup training aids (15% off when you sign up for their newsletter)

-----

Perform better with these Josh Nichols Golf products:

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

🏌️‍♂️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans

-----

1-on-1 Mental Coaching

Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Mental Coach? Email Josh directly at ⁠⁠josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshnicholsgolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

-----

📚 2025 Book Club!

Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and meetups.

-----

Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com

-----

Follow Josh on social:

X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Nichols Golf

In order to play well, you have to let go of playing well.

In order to lower your handicap, you have to let go of lowering your handicap.

These paradoxes make for tough, disciplined behavior. But if you can dial this in then you'll be getting out of the way of your own golf improvement.

-----

📧 Sign up for The Mental Re-Grip free weekly newsletter

-----

Get 10% off a Divot Board!

Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.

Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏

-----

Thanks to these partners for supporting The Mental Golf Show:

Titleist - Join Team Titleist

Nerd Fitness

Fit For Golf

Shot Pattern - golf GPS app

PutterCup training aids (15% off when you sign up for their newsletter)

-----

Perform better with these Josh Nichols Golf products:

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

🏌️‍♂️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans

-----

1-on-1 Mental Coaching

Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Mental Coach? Email Josh directly at ⁠⁠josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshnicholsgolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

-----

📚 2025 Book Club!

Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and meetups.

-----

Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com

-----

Follow Josh on social:

X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Nichols Golf

In this episode, we sit down with performance coach and hypnotherapist Dawn Grant to unpack the true nature of "the zone." While many think of it as a purely mental state, Dawn reveals it as a spiritual and mental experience that goes far beyond traditional sports psychology. She shares how her work with hypnosis led her to discover that the peak performance state athletes describe is the same euphoric, calm, and focused state her clients enter during hypnosis.

Dawn explains that the zone is a natural state of mind, characterized by reduced critical thinking and the absence of worry, doubt, and fear. By learning to quiet the ego and its negative thought patterns, we can deliberately tap into our true potential—not just on the golf course, but in every aspect of our lives. We discuss the value of failure as a roadmap for growth, the importance of a healthy mindset, and why the "post-segment routine" is key to building lasting confidence and joy.

Topics & Timestamps:

• The Zone as a Peak Performance State (00:00 - 02:58)
• The Post-Segment Routine (10:13 - 14:00)
• Building Confidence Deliberately (14:50 - 17:13)
• Applying Mental Training to Life (17:19 - 21:09)
• Effective Visualization in the Post-Shot Routine (22:26 - 25:21)
• Taming the Ego and Realistic Affirmations (25:21 - 28:12)
• Striving for Joy and Presence (28:12 - 32:24)
• Mental Training as Human Psychology (32:24 - 39:18)
• Conscious vs. Subconscious Mind in Performance (39:18 - 53:49)
• The Role of Faith and Letting Go (53:49 - 59:02)
• Dawn Grant's Resources and Free Content (59:53 - 01:00:48)

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Dawn Grant:

🌐 DawnGrant.com

📱 MindMastered.com

📘 7 Strokes In 7 Days

-----

📧 Sign up for The Mental Re-Grip free weekly newsletter

-----

Get 10% off a Divot Board!

Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.

Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏

-----

Thanks to these partners for supporting The Mental Golf Show:

Titleist - Join Team Titleist

Nerd Fitness

Fit For Golf

Shot Pattern - golf GPS app

PutterCup training aids (15% off when you sign up for their newsletter)

-----

Perform better with these Josh Nichols Golf products:

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

🏌️‍♂️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans

-----

1-on-1 Mental Coaching

Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Mental Coach? Email Josh directly at ⁠⁠josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshnicholsgolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

-----

📚 2025 Book Club!

Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and meetups.

-----

Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com

-----

Follow Josh on social:

X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Nichols Golf

Scottie Scheffler has been on a ridiculous run. And at the risk of recency bias, I want to try to glean something from the way Scottie goes about playing the game. Specifically his mentality and his relationship with golf. He's a fascinating case study that we're getting to watch in real time.

-----

📧 Sign up for The Mental Re-Grip free weekly newsletter

-----

Get 10% off a Divot Board!

Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.

Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏

-----

Thanks to these partners for supporting The Mental Golf Show:

Titleist - join Team Titleist

Nerd Fitness

Fit For Golf

Shot Pattern - golf GPS app

PutterCup training aids (15% off when you sign up for their newsletter)

-----

Perform better with these Josh Nichols Golf products:

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

🏌️‍♂️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans

-----

1-on-1 Mental Coaching

Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Mental Coach? Email Josh directly at ⁠⁠josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshnicholsgolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

-----

📚 2025 Book Club!

Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and meetups.

-----

Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com

-----

Follow Josh on social:

X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Nichols Golf

Josh goes on-course with special guest Matt Davis. Matt is the founder of PutterCup, a dead-simple and truly effective set of putting training aids. The three different PutterCups tackle three distinctly different components of putting: The Center Cup helps with narrowing in your focus, The Speed Bump helps with dialing in holing speed, and The To Go Cup allows you to have a regulation-sized hole wherever you go.

-----

You can get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter. Thanks to Matt and the PutterCup team for supporting The Mental Golf Show.

-----

Get 10% off a Divot Board!

Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.

Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏

-----

Links mentioned:

Feedback survey

📧 The Mental Re-Grip free weekly newsletter

📊 Mental Game Assessment

-----

Thanks to these partners for supporting The Mental Golf Show:

Titleist - join Team Titleist

Nerd Fitness

Fit For Golf

Shot Pattern - golf GPS app

-----

1-on-1 Mental Coaching

Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Mental Coach? Email Josh directly at ⁠⁠josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshnicholsgolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

-----

📚 2025 Book Club!

Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and meetups.

-----

Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com

-----

Follow Josh on social:

X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Nichols Golf

On today’s episode we’re going to be doing something totally different than any other previous episode of The Mental Golf Show. I’m going to take you inside the ropes of my fitting for the brand new, just released Titleist T-Series irons. I got to try these out for a pre-release fitting which of course made me feel super special. And I’ve had them in the bag for about two weeks now and holy cow are they good.

And we break down how having the right equipment can help your mental game.

-----

Links mentioned: 

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

🏌️‍♂️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans

📧 The Mental Re-Grip free weekly newsletter

📊 Mental Game Assessment

-----

Thanks to these partners for supporting The Mental Golf Show:

Titleist - join Team Titleist

Nerd Fitness

Fit For Golf

Shot Pattern - golf GPS app

PutterCup

-----

1-on-1 Mental Coaching

Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Mental Coach? Email Josh directly at ⁠⁠josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshnicholsgolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

-----

📚 2025 Book Club!

Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and meetups.

-----

Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com

-----

Follow Josh on social:

X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Nichols Golf

In this episode, I detail what we can do to counteract the effects that the pressure and stress of golf can cause.

-----

Links mentioned: 

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

📧 The Mental Re-Grip free weekly newsletter

📊 Mental Game Assessment

-----

Timestamps & Topics

00:00 - Breathing for Golf

01:20 - What’s happening internally when pressure ramps up?

04:05 - What mental state is best for golf?

04:31 - The Breath’s Role In Our Mental State

07:03 - NEW Online Course: The Perfect Pre-shot Routine - joshnicholsgolf.com/course

09:07 - Three Breathing Techniques for On-Course

14:32 - Summary

15:41 - Resources & Links

-----

Research cited in this episode:
Spiegel, D., Malhotra, P. A., Li, R., et al. (2023). Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal. Cell Reports Medicine, 4(2), 100895. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36630953/

-----

Thanks to these partners for supporting The Mental Golf Show:

Titleist - join Team Titleist

Nerd Fitness

Fit For Golf

Shot Pattern - golf GPS app

PutterCup

-----

1-on-1 Mental Coaching

Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Mental Coach? Email Josh directly at ⁠⁠josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshnicholsgolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

-----

📚 2025 Book Club!

Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and meetups.

-----

Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com

-----

Follow Josh on social:

X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Nichols Golf

On this episode of The Mental Golf Show my guest is Jim Waldron, a nationally acclaimed golf teaching professional, mental game coach, author, and lecturer. Jim touts a 94% success rate of eliminating the yips, so naturally I was curious about and we dig into it right away.

This was one of my favorite conversations on The Mental Golf Show yet, so hopefully you enjoy listening as much as I did. Topics are below.

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Links mentioned: 

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

🏌️‍♂️ Practice Plans

⛳️ The Divot Board 10% Off - Use code MentalGolf10 at checkout

📧 The Mental Re-Grip free weekly newsletter

📊 Mental Game Assessment

-----

Timestamps & Topics

(00:00) Understanding the Yips: What Exactly Are They?

(04:13) Why does our brain make us yip? (The Two Minds Theory)

(11:06) What’s the opposite of the yips?

(14:17) Should we have emotions before and during the golf shot?

(16:14) NEW Online Course: The Perfect Pre-shot Routine - joshnicholsgolf.com/course

(17:59) How did Ben Hogan exemplify true acceptance?

(19:38) How to Work On Acceptance

(25:37) Basic and Custom Practice Plans - joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

(27:44) Digging Into Identity to Truly Change Your Golf Game

(33:37) Sponsor: The Divot Board - Get 10% Off - divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow with code MENTALGOLF10

(35:41) Shedding the “Adolescent Ego”

(39:27) Seeking Discomfort and Rites of Passage

(47:36) The Pros and Cons of “Playing Like a Kid”

(49:46) Radical Acceptance and The Mastery Mentality

(53:08) Swing Thoughts: What should we be thinking about over the ball?

(58:24) Two-Way Miss: What can you do?

(1:05:25) Jim Waldron: balancepoint.com

(1:06:54) Bonus topic- The Missing Link: Mindfulness and Consciousness

-----

Links mentioned: 

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

🏌️‍♂️Practice Plans

⛳️ The Divot Board 10% Off - Use code MentalGolf10 at checkout

📧 The Mental Re-Grip free weekly newsletter

📊 Mental Game Assessment

-----

Thanks to these partners for supporting The Mental Golf Show:

Titleist - join Team Titleist

Nerd Fitness

Fit For Golf

Shot Pattern - golf GPS app

PutterCup

-----

1-on-1 Mental Coaching

Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Mental Coach? Email Josh directly at ⁠⁠josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshnicholsgolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

-----

📚 2025 Book Club!

Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and meetups.

-----

Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com

-----

Follow Josh on social:

X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Nichols Golf

Ross MacLeod joins The Mental Golf Show. Ross is a putting coach to players of all skill levels. Click here to find him on X. And click here to check out his Putting Coaching offerings.

Timestamps & Topics:

(00:00) Putting Under Pressure and Tendencies It Causes

(06:06) Does mental game cause bad putting? Or does bad putting cause mental issues?

(14:25) Can a bad golfer be as good of a putter as the best players in the world?

(18:34) Basic and Custom Practice Plans - joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

(20:41) Why do golfers focus on their swing when putting is a simpler fix?

(24:46) Is putting the most important part of golf?

(29:27) Why did Ross choose to teach JUST putting?

(36:48) NEW Online Course: The Perfect Pre-shot Routine - joshnicholsgolf.com/course

(38:32) What makes Phil Kenyon (Scottie Scheffler’s putting coach) such a good putting coach?

(42:03) Why is it important to measure putting stats?

(45:34) What is a good putting pre-shot routine?

(50:44) 10% off The Divot Board - divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow with code MENTALGOLF10

(52:48) Where should our “mind’s eye” be while we’re putting?

(55:29) Putting Speed Control

(1:03:57) Does the putter matter?

(1:10:14) Are you born a good/bad putter?

(1:12:14) Putting Yips

(1:17:00) Ross MacLeod

-----

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

Six modules plus downloadable practical exercises to help you be consistently present and freed up on every shot.

Check out the Pre-Shot Routine course here

-----

🏌️‍♂️🗓️ Plan Your Practice Better

A Basic Practice Plan to organize your busy life while staying flexible to a changing schedule. And a Custom Practice Plan built for you to structure your entire week of golf down to the minute.

Check out the Practice Plans here

-----

Get 10% off a Divot Board!

Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.

Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏

-----

🏋️ Nerd Fitness

Get stronger, feel better, change your habits, and improve your life. Start working with a personal coach by going to nerdfitness.com and mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.

-----

FREE Weekly Mental Game Newsletter

Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your inbox every week.

-----

Assess Your Mental Game

Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.

-----

1-on-1 Mental Coaching

Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Mental Coach? Email Josh directly at ⁠⁠josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshnicholsgolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

-----

📚 2025 Book Club!

Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.

-----

Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com

-----

Follow Josh on social:

X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Nichols Golf

Dr. David Spiegel is a Stanford psychiatrist, and he is one of the most published and respected experts in the field of hypnotherapy.

He is the cofounder of the self-hypnosis app Reveri. Rory has been outspoken about his use of the Reveri app.

Dr. Spiegel has been on podcasts such as Huberman Lab, Tim Ferriss, and Rich Roll. So to add The Mental Golf Show to that list is an incredible honor.

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Dr. Spiegel’s app: Reveri

Get 25% off Reveri yearly and lifetime plans with code MENTALGOLF

This code is available on Reveri's website only, so go to reverihealth.app.link/e/mentalgolf

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Timestamps & Topics:

(00:00:00) What happens to us when we experience “golf trauma”?

(00:06:15) How to address our own past “golf trauma”

(00:09:53) The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course - joshnicholsgolf.com/course

(00:11:37) How can hypnosis help our golf game?

(00:14:58) What is self-hypnosis?

(00:20:30) Should we be in hypnosis on the golf course?

(00:22:27) Can we hypnotize ourself into being able to hit a high draw (or any other shot)?

(00:24:19) Basic and Custom Practice Plans - joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

(00:26:26) Hypnotism: Is it for skill access, or skill acquisition?

(00:30:11) Hypnosis helps you shift how you see yourself and your own thoughts

(00:40:14) Nerd Fitness - nerdfitness.com and mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you

(00:42:18) The Yips and Hypnosis

(00:47:19) Why is golf so hard mentally?

(00:49:27) Breathing Exercises for Golf

(00:53:07) Golf is Just One of the Things We Do with Our Mind

(00:53:58) Dr. David Spiegel

-----

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine Digital Course

Six modules plus downloadable practical exercises to help you be consistently present and freed up on every shot.

Check out the Pre-Shot Routine course here

-----

🏌️‍♂️🗓️ Plan Your Practice Better

A Basic Practice Plan to organize your busy life while staying flexible to a changing schedule. And a Custom Practice Plan built for you to structure your entire week of golf down to the minute.

Check out the Practice Plans here

-----

🏋️ Nerd Fitness

Get stronger, feel better, change your habits, and improve your life. Start working with a personal coach by going to nerdfitness.com and mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you.

-----

FREE Weekly Mental Game Newsletter

Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your inbox every week.

-----

Assess Your Mental Game

Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.

-----

1-on-1 Mental Coaching

Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Mental Coach? Email Josh directly at ⁠⁠josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠joshnicholsgolf.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

-----

Get 10% off a Divot Board!

Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.

Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏

-----

📚 2025 Book Club!

Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.

-----

Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com

-----

Follow Josh on social:

X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@joshlukenichols⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh Nichols Golf