The Mental Golf Show
Host Josh Nichols shares from his own 20 years of competitive and golf psychology coaching experiences, along with years of learning psychology, as well as interviews with players, coaches, and experts in the golf industry, all with the goal of helping you think better on and off the golf course. *This podcast is not meant to apply to every individuals’ mental health. And not all opinions expressed by guests reflect Josh’s opinions and experiences.
Listen on:
Episodes
28 minutes ago
28 minutes ago
Gary Christian, author of Beat the Course, Not Yourself, joins The Mental Golf Show for a second time.
Topics and Timestamps:
00:00 Maximizing Limited Practice Time03:52 Using a Swing Coach to Work Smarter10:35 Long-Term Improvement vs. Short-Term Results18:03 Finding the Right Coach21:00 Going long stretches without practice22:37 Self-Coaching25:26 Technique vs. Feel30:17 The Balance of Enjoyment and Improvement in Golf41:47 Structuring Effective Practice Sessions47:00 Decision Making and Course Management54:14 Mental Preparation for Tournaments01:00:22 The Value of Mental Game Podcasts
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🏌️♂️🗓️ Basic Practice Plan Template
Have a practice plan that is robust to help you actually improve, but flexible enough to handle the chaos of your life.
Click here to check out the Basic Practice Plan Template
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Special thanks to:
Nerd Fitness
Go to nerdfitness.com and when you start the onboarding process mention Josh from The Mental Golf Show sent you!
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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! 🙏
-----
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.
-----
📚 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.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
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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
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Tuesday Mar 25, 2025
Special guest Jon Sherman (Practical Golf) joins The Mental Golf Show. Topics and timestamps below:
00:00 The Balance of Fun and Score in Golf03:55 Jon's Experience winning a U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier08:16 Titleist12:33 Strategies for Slowing Down in Golf14:27 Jon's Experience at the 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur17:26 How to Slow Things Down on the Course19:11 Do the Opposite to Get What You Want21:28 Jon Sherman's Putting Routine25:26 Dealing with and Learning from Missed Opportunities31:42 Improving Your Driver36:22 The Divot Board38:57 What is Face Control and How Do You Work On It?43:33 Changing or Playing with What You Got?46:59 Confidence Competing Against Others51:30 Managing Reactions to Bad Shots01:02:03 The Mental Golf Show w/ Jon Sherman
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Special thanks to:
Titleist and The Divot Board
Join Team Titleist
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! 🙏
-----
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.
-----
📚 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.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
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
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
Special guest Ryan Mouque joins Josh Nichols on The Mental Golf Show (for the second time). Topics and chapter marks below:
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Consistency in Golf01:55 The Purpose of Practice04:17 Managing Expectations05:38 Acceptance07:57 Is Ryan still improving?09:21 Pressure Situations in Golf12:52 Physical and Mental Game Affect on Each Other18:10 Should We Think About Our Swing While We Play?26:28 The Purpose of Practice30:29 Can A Player Improve By Themselves?33:22 Navigating Golf Content: What's Relevant for You?42:55 Coaches that Challenge Conventional Wisdom50:20 What is Ryan Mouque Known For?
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Ryan Mouque's links
Ryan Mouque Golf
Ryan Mouque on X
Ryan Mouque on Instagram
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Special thanks to:
The Divot Board for partnering with 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! 🙏
-----
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.
-----
📚 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.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
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
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Welcome to Mental Breakdown, a series where we dive into how players handled the pressure of the latest tour event.
Today we're recapping the exciting and adverse-condition-packed 2025 Players Championship. What can we learn from the tournament? What can we take away from how the playoff went down?
This tournament and the playoff were a great case study in mental toughness.
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Special thanks to:
The Divot Board for partnering with 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! 🙏
-----
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.
-----
📚 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.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
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
Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
Special guest Robert Linville joins the podcast. Robert is the founder of Precision Golf School in Greensboro, NC, U.S. and has been teaching the best players in the region for decades. And he and Josh have been working together since 2016.
Robert has worked with elite amateurs, USGA Champions, LPGA and PGA Tour players, and even USGA runner-ups ;)
In this episode, Robert and Josh discuss these topics:
how to trust the process
consistency
acceptance in performance
the journey of improvement
overcoming challenges
self-belief
managing expectations
accessing skills under pressure
balance between caring too much and not caring enough
finding your 'why' and why that's so important
It's always great to talk with Robert and learn from his wisdom and experience, so I know you'll get a lot out of this episode.
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Episode chapters
00:00 Intro00:40 Robert Linville22:45 The Divot Board25:46 Robert Linville
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Robert Linville's links:
Instagram
X
Precision Golf School
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Special thanks to:
The Divot Board for partnering with 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! 🙏
-----
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.
-----
📚 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.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
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
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Welcome to Mental Breakdown, a series where we dive into how players handled the pressure of the final 9 holes of the latest tour event.
This week we're exploring the final 9 of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Who improved, who got worse, and the stats to back it up. We draw out some mental game observations that will help you play better under pressure.
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Special thanks to:
The Divot Board for partnering with 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! 🙏
-----
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.
-----
📚 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.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
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
Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
Wednesday Mar 05, 2025
Special guest Adam Young joins The Mental Golf Show (for the second time).
Josh and Adam discuss:
The concept that good golf technique is not one-size-fits-all.
The evolution of technique, consistency, and the role of equipment in performance.
Key principles of golf mechanics, emphasizing impact and ground contact.
The importance of intent, shot pattern recognition, and tools for managing patterns.
The psychological side of golf, including overcoming fear and developing a flexible mindset.
Shot control, understanding personal shot patterns, and mental strategies.
Adaptability, especially when dealing with mistakes or the yips in putting.
A structured improvement process and the role of self-awareness.
Resources for golfers looking to improve their skills.
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Episode Chapters
00:00 Understanding Golf Technique05:18 Defining Good Technique10:35 The Role of Equipment16:16 Simplifying Golf Mechanics23:46 Simplifying Complexity in Golf Instruction31:18 Understanding Patterns and Adjustments in Golf40:37 Overcoming Fear on the Golf Course49:46 Understanding Control in Golf Shots55:23 Adapting to Mistakes and Consistency01:04:05 Self-Awareness in Golf Technique01:10:55 Resources for Golf Improvement
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Special thanks to:
The Divot Board for partnering with 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! 🙏
-----
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.
-----
📚 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.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
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
Thursday Feb 20, 2025
Thursday Feb 20, 2025
I played a tournament recently, and I want to talk through what I did really well, what went wrong, and of course, the result of the actual tournament.
And ultimately I want to make this applicable to you. You don’t necessarily come here just to hear how Josh is doing, you’re here to improve your own game.
So I’m confident you’ll leave this episode with some learnings to help you play better in your next competition.
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Special thanks to:
Titleist (for having the best golf equipment)
Shot Pattern (for having the best GPS strategy and stat tracking app)
-----
Get 10% off a Divot Board!
Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code 'MentalGolf10' to get 10% off your purchase
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Mental Game Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your inbox every week.
-----
Assessment
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
📚 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.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
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
-----
Music credits:
Creative Technology Showreel ****Music by Ivan Ohanezov from Pixabay
“Hopeful Folk Contemplative Loop” by Sonican on Pixabay
Contemplative Mellow Thoughtful Piano Music by Ashot Danielyan from Pixabay
“Waterfall” Music by from
Friday Feb 14, 2025
Friday Feb 14, 2025
On today’s episode we’ve got special guest Gary Christian.
If you haven’t heard of Gary, he’s a former PGA Tour player. In fact, he was the oldest rookie ever on the PGA Tour at 40 years old.
We get into that story and more in depth to Gary’s history, but first we jump right into the importance of the mental game. Then we get into Gary’s personal journey and the way he improved his game. Gary has a great perspective on struggles and success, and some very unique methods he used to have his pro golf breakthroughs
And Gary is also an author. He recently published the book Beat the Course, Not Yourself. Most mental game books could also read like a text book, where you’re presented a concept, why that concept is important, and how you can improve that concept to help you play better. But Gary’s book Beat the Course, Not Yourself is a story. He subtly introduces mental game and golf improvement concepts through the story of Jack, a 15 year old amateur golfer who’s trying to get recruited to play college golf. Which may sound unrelatable to those non-15 year olds out there, but the way this reads is highly relatable. A very interesting approach to the mental game.
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Gary Christian's book: Beat the Course, Not Yourself
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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 purchase
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Mental Game Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your inbox every week.
-----
Assessment
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
📚 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.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
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
-----
Music credits:
“Study” by Chillmore from Pixabay
Creative Technology Showreel ****Music by Ivan Ohanezov from Pixabay
“Thoughtful Contemplative Documentary Piano” Music by from
“Inspiring Thoughtful Piano” Music by Ivan Luzan from Pixabay
“Jazz Happy” by Music_For_Videos on Pixabay
Wednesday Feb 05, 2025
Wednesday Feb 05, 2025
There's not many more important skills than being able to move on from a bad golf shot. Which is why it's so important to actually have a plan for how to do it, and a way to train that ability. Because like any other part of the game, this mental skill is trainable.
In this episode we go through a systematic, evidence-based 4-step plan for moving on from bad golf shots.
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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 purchase
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Assessment
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every week.
-----
📚 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.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
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
-----
Music credits:
Creative Technology Showreel ****Music by Ivan Ohanezov from Pixabay
“Waterfall” Music by Roman Senyk from Pixabay