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The Mental Golf Show

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The Mental Golf Show is all about helping serious golfers translate their game when it matters. Host Josh Nichols β€” a U.S. Mid-Amateur finalist and Golf Mental Coach β€” has spent years investigating one question: why do good players struggle to access...

Location:

United States

Description:

The Mental Golf Show is all about helping serious golfers translate their game when it matters. Host Josh Nichols β€” a U.S. Mid-Amateur finalist and Golf Mental Coach β€” has spent years investigating one question: why do good players struggle to access their best game under real conditions? Through in-depth conversations with players, coaches, and performance experts β€” plus solo episodes breaking down what he’s learned β€” Josh investigates the gap between a golfer’s potential and what actually shows up on the course.

Language:

English


Episodes
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286: Andreas Kali: Golfers are Way Too Nice to Themselves

4/13/2026
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 β€” 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 ----- Andreas Kali's website: https://andreaskaligolf.com/ Andreas Kali on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreaskaligolf/ ----- Mentioned in this episode: πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« 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: πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. ----- Other podcast partners: πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! πŸ€ 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 ----- πŸ”₯ 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:19:11

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The Question Every Golfer Needs to Ask Themselves

4/6/2026
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: 00:00 The Ineffectiveness of Common Mental Game Advice 02:52 Understanding Yourself: The Key to Improvement 06:10 The Five Whys: A Deep Dive into Self-Reflection 09:04 Processing Emotions: Closing the Loop on Bad Shots 11:55 The Long-Term Benefits of Self-Inquiry ----- πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« 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: πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf. πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. ----- 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. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! πŸ€ 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 ----- πŸ”₯ 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:00:16:08

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284: Jeff Troesch - Great Golf Requires Imbalance, Confidence is Overrated, and How to Think Like a Better Golfer

3/30/2026
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 ----- Jeff Troesch's book: One Day Better: Mental Performance Concepts to Transform Your Game and Life ----- Mentioned in this episode: πŸŽ“ 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. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« 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: πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ 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. πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! πŸ€ 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 ----- πŸ”₯ 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:15:58

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283: Matt Young - Why Your Golf Game Spirals (and How to Regain Control)

3/23/2026
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 - πŸŽ“ 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 - πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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 ----- Matt Young's links: Website: mattyounglc.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattyounglc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattyounglc/ Email: matt@mattyounglc.com ----- 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. πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« 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: πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ 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. πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! πŸ€ 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 ----- πŸ”₯ 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:05:02

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282: Rye Stinson - How to Be Great At Golf, Successful at Work, and Avoid/Navigate Injury

3/16/2026
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 15:25 How to Systematically Improve at Golf 25:19 Keeping Golf in the Proper Perspective 32:19 The Divot Board 33:56 How to Avoid Golf Injuries 53:52 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course 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 ----- Rye Stinson's links: Johns Hopkins Golf Rehabilitation Clinic OutPerform Golf LLC Consulting/Sports Performance: rye.outperformgolf@gmail.com ----- 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. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« 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: πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ 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. πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! πŸ€ 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 ----- πŸ”₯ 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:33:24

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281- How to Take Your Game from Indoors to Outdoors

3/9/2026
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. ----- Mentioned in this episode: πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« 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: πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸŽ“ 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. πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! πŸ€ 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 πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. ----- πŸ”₯ 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:00:24:56

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280: John Dunigan - Why Do We Care So Much About Our Golf Swing?

3/2/2026
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 ----- John Dunigan's stuff: The Practice Golf Coach app John Dunigan on Instagram Website - johndunigangolf.com ----- Mentioned in this episode: πŸ€ 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 πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. ----- Josh's stuff: πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« 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. πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! ----- πŸ”₯ 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:13:54

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279: Andy Gorman - Putting Better is Easy

2/23/2026
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: ----- Andy Gorman’s stuff: Email: golf@andygorman.com WhatsApp: +447966235706 YouTube: Andy Gorman ThePASS Website: Andy Gorman Golf ----- 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. πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. ----- Josh's stuff: πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com to work with Josh on your mental game. ----- Podcast partners: πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! ----- πŸ”₯ 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:27:32

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278: Cameron Strachan - Master Golf By Being Lazy and Stupid

2/16/2026
πŸ“• 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 ----- 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: ----- Mentioned in the episode: πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf. ----- Josh's stuff: πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com to work with Josh on your mental game. ----- 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. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. ----- πŸ”₯ 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:05:49

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277: Alex Fortey - Why Do We Make Golf So Complicated?

2/9/2026
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: Alex Fortey's YouTube channel: The Art of Simple Golf ----- 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 πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf. πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. ----- πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. ----- πŸ”₯ Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:09:50

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276: Brendon Post - Why Trying Harder Makes Golf Harder

2/2/2026
Is chasing consistency actually hurting your golf game? In this episode, I’m joined by Brendon Post β€” 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: This one genuinely changed how I think about practice and performance under pressure. ----- πŸŽ“ 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 πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! ----- πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. ----- πŸ”₯ Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:13:03

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275: Steven Yellin - There Is Only One Way to Play Good Golf

1/26/2026
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. ----- Steven Yellin's links: Website: stevenyellin.com Book: Simplicity: The Fluid Motion Factor Golf Program ----- πŸŽ“ 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 ----- πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. ----- πŸ”₯ Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:06:22

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274: How to Play Fearless Golf

1/19/2026
πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf. ----- 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. ----- πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. ----- πŸ”₯ Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:00:22:01

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273: Dr. Gio Valiante - Fear, Flow, and Mastery vs. Ego

1/12/2026
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 Golfβ€”and Who You’re Really Competing Against Playing the Golf Course: Targets, Process, and Task Focus ----- Dr. Gio Valiante's books on Amazon: Fearless Golf: Conquering the Mental Game Golf Flow: Master your mind, Master the course ----- πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. ----- πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. ----- πŸ”₯ Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:00:56:07

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272: Matt Myers - How to Make Golf Fitness Stupid Easy (Q1 2026)

1/6/2026
πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here! ----- 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. ----- πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. ----- πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. ----- πŸ”₯ Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:00:38:30

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10 Lessons 2025 Taught Me (and What I’m Carrying Into 2026)

12/30/2025
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. ----- πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. ----- πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you. πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. ----- πŸ”₯ Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:00:33:35

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270: Steve Wheatcroft - The Unseen Struggles of Being a Professional Golfer

12/23/2025
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 ----- Steve Wheatcroft's links: Book: Cocktails and Range Balls: One's Too Many, Ten's Not Enough The Mulligan Foundation ----- πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. ----- πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you. πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. ----- πŸ”₯ Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:14:44

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269: Best of The Mental Golf Show (2025)

12/16/2025
πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here. ----- 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: Episode 242Episode 239Episode 238Episode 244Episode 241Episode 254Episode 236Episode 245Episode 250 ----- πŸ—“οΈ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you. πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. ----- πŸ”₯ Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:08:37

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268: Will Knauth - Why You Need Swing Thoughts to Play Good Golf

12/9/2025
πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here. πŸ—“οΈ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you. ----- 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. ----- 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? ----- πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. ----- πŸ”₯ Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:13:09

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267: David Buck - Transform Your Game with Truth and Joy

12/2/2025
πŸŽ“ The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here. πŸ—“οΈ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice πŸ‹οΈβ€β™‚οΈ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you. ----- 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 ----- πŸ“Š FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. πŸ“§ The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. πŸ‘¨πŸ»β€πŸ« Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. πŸŒοΈβ€β™‚οΈ 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. ----- πŸ”₯ Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

Duration:01:12:28