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
2 hours ago
2 hours ago
Gary Nicol joins The Mental Golf Show. Gary is a Performance Consultant, and co-author along with Karl Morris of The Lost Art Of Putting, The Lost Art Of Playing Golf, and The Lost Art Of The Short Game.
Topics:
- Golf is often seen as an identity rather than an activity.- Players frequently tie their self-worth to their scores.- The human brain struggles to stay present and often projects into the future.- Influencing performance involves intention, attention, and attitude.- Asking positive questions can shift mindset and focus.- Resetting one's mindset can be done after every hole, not just at the turn.- We tend to live out the stories we tell ourselves about our performance.- Golf should be fun, and enjoyment is key to performance.- Self-talk can significantly impact performance and mindset.- Clarity of intention is crucial for effective performance. A good coach directs attention to useful areas.- Dividing attention can hinder performance.- Single-point focus is essential in golf.- Finding what works for you is crucial.- Dopamine hits from winning can lead to dissatisfaction.- Managing expectations is key in youth sports.- Golf should be enjoyable, not a grind.- Acceptance is a skill that can be developed.- Mistakes are a natural part of the game.- Emotions in golf can be both a challenge and a motivator.
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Gary Nicol's links
Books on Amazon
performanceprinciples.co.uk
thelostartofgolf.com
Instagram
X
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🏌️♂️🗓️ Basic Practice Plan Template
A practice plan robust enough 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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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
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Howard Falco, author of Invincible: The Mindset of Infinite Potential and the Secret to Inevitable Success, joins The Mental Golf Show.
Topics and Timestamps:
00:00 Confidence Comes from Fundamentals03:28 Bad Round: Fix or Adapt?08:15 The Intersection of Life and Golf14:40 What Makes Golf So Hard and So Great?18:42 Optimism and Performance in Golf24:59 Facing the Truth in Golf33:29 Take Responsibility for Your Own Game35:10 How to Recover from "Golf Trauma"40:15 Rise to the Occasion? Or Fall to Preparation?43:23 Take our time and learn? Or take the easy way out?47:37 The Importance of Mindfulness and Calmness54:03 Invincible by Howard Falco
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Click here to check out Invincible by Howard Falco on Amazon
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🏌️♂️🗓️ Basic Practice Plan Template
A practice plan robust enough 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
-----
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 Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Josh tries his hardest to draw out to do it justice and draw out the mental aspects of Rory's win at the 2025 Masters.
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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.
-----
🏌️♂️🗓️ Basic Practice Plan Template
A practice plan robust enough 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
-----
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! 🙏
-----
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 Apr 08, 2025
Tuesday Apr 08, 2025
Debbie O'Connell joins The Mental Golf Show.
Topics and timestamps:
00:00 Debbie O'Connell's Journey in Sports04:19 Overcoming Nerves and Achieving Flow State09:11 "The Grass Floor"10:32 Taking the Leap: From College to Professional Golf15:14 The Value of Nerves to Being in Flow19:17 Techniques to Be in Flow22:59 How to Keep a Good Round Going29:48 What if Positive Self-Talk is Fake?35:53 How You Interpret the Situation is Vital38:51 Shifting Limiting Beliefs47:15 How to Change Negative Beliefs57:27 Debbie O'Connell
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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
-----
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 Apr 01, 2025
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
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
-----
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!
-----
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 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