The Mental Golf Show
The Mental Golf Show is all about helping serious golfers translate their game when it matters.
Host Josh Nichols — a U.S. Mid-Amateur finalist and Golf Mental Coach — 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 — plus solo topical episodes breaking down what he’s learned — Josh investigates the gap between a golfer’s potential and what actually shows up on the course.
Episodes
Oct 3, 2023
Oct 3, 2023
30 min
On this episode we’ve got part 2 of 2 of my conversation with Kiel Alderink. If you haven’t heard episode 1 it’s got some great stuff in it so I encourage you to go listen to it.
In this episode we’re going to be talking about
- sticking to a process of improvement rather than jumping right into fix mode
- learning your own discomfort level and preparing for it and overcoming it
- building your game to have confidence when the pressure is on
- and more
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Kiel Alderink's links
10x Better Golf
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Check out the Mental Golf Type
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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.
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Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
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Take the Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
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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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Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every-ish Tuesday.
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Have a suggestion for a topic or guest? Drop your suggestions here.
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Follow Josh on social:
Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
TikTok: @joshlukenichols
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Follow The Mental Golf Show on social:
Twitter: @mentalgolfshow
Instagram: mentalgolfshow
TikTok: mentalgolfshow
Sep 28, 2023
Sep 28, 2023
18 min
On this episode we’re going to be talking about how to properly warmup before a round of golf, from a mental perspective.
You’re going to learn why the unhelpful ways we sometimes warmup can lead to issues on the course, and how going at your pre-round warm up from a place of better psychology will allow you to play better.
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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.
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Golf Psychology Coaching with Josh Nichols
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
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Take the Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every-ish Tuesday.
-----
Have a suggestion for a topic or guest? Drop your suggestions here.
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Follow Josh on social:
Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
TikTok: @joshlukenichols
-----
Follow The Mental Golf Show on social:
Twitter: @mentalgolfshow
Instagram: mentalgolfshow
TikTok: mentalgolfshow
Sep 26, 2023
Sep 26, 2023
44 min
On this episode we’ve got part 1 of my conversation with Kiel Alderink.
He’s one of the best young instructors in the country and has been a highly skilled, influential coach in the industry for years now.
We’re going to be talking about:
- what Kiel does with players to help them perform better
- how long to stick with a swing change or a putter or a swing instructor
- how to manage your expectations with getting better
- should you make major changes to your golf swing
- and more
I expect you to leave this episode with a better understanding of the value of having better control of your emotions.
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Kiel Alderink's links
10x Better Golf
-----
Check out the Mental Golf Type
-----
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.
-----
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Take the Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every-ish Tuesday.
-----
Have a suggestion for a topic or guest? Drop your suggestions here.
-----
Follow Josh on social:
Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
TikTok: @joshlukenichols
-----
Follow The Mental Golf Show on social:
Twitter: @mentalgolfshow
Instagram: mentalgolfshow
TikTok: mentalgolfshow
Sep 21, 2023
Sep 21, 2023
12 min
On this episode we’re going to be talking about the number one thing that helps you play your best on a shot by shot and round by round basis. We all know that mental game issues make us play worse, but on this episode you’re going to learn why, and how to turn that around and play up to your potential.
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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.
-----
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Take the Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every-ish Tuesday.
-----
Have a suggestion for a topic or guest? Drop your suggestions here.
-----
Follow Josh on social:
Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
TikTok: @joshlukenichols
-----
Follow The Mental Golf Show on social:
Twitter: @mentalgolfshow
Instagram: mentalgolfshow
TikTok: mentalgolfshow
Sep 19, 2023
Sep 19, 2023
41 min
On this episode we’ve got part 2 of 2 of my conversation with Michael Leonard.
We talk about:
a different kind of goal for your round
having a consistently detailed structure
what it’s like to play q school as an amateur
techniques to move on from bad shots
what better players do that average players don’t
playing your own game and being true to yourself
And more
You should walk away from this episode having a better mentality around leaning into your own game and not trying to be something you’re not.
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Michael Leonard's links:
TikTok
Instagram
YouTube
Book
-----
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.
-----
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Take the Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every-ish Tuesday.
-----
Have a suggestion for a topic or guest? Drop your suggestions here.
-----
Follow Josh on social:
Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
TikTok: @joshlukenichols
-----
Follow The Mental Golf Show on social:
Twitter: @mentalgolfshow
Instagram: mentalgolfshow
TikTok: mentalgolfshow
Sep 14, 2023
Sep 14, 2023
14 min
On this episode we’re going to be talking about watching leaderboards and knowing where you stand and knowing your score during a round.
Is it good, bad, should you avoid it at all costs or would it be helpful to know?
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Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Take the Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every-ish Tuesday.
-----
Have a suggestion for a topic or guest? Drop your suggestions here.
-----
Follow Josh on social:
Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
TikTok: @joshlukenichols
-----
Follow The Mental Golf Show on social:
Twitter: @mentalgolfshow
Instagram: mentalgolfshow
TikTok: mentalgolfshow
Sep 12, 2023
Sep 12, 2023
34 min
On this episode we’ve got Michael Leonard of Wicked Smart Golf.
We’re going to be talking about
- how to get into a good mental space before the round
- why expecting bad things to happen is actually a good strategy
- how to catch yourself when you’re going mentally off the rails
- and more
And this is just part 1 of 2, so stay tuned for more on the next episode with Michael.
You’ll hear him talk about it but he quit his 6 figure job to fully dive into golf from both a business side and a playing side. So the guy loves the game, and it's exciting for me to hear someone so passionate about golf talk about their love for it and their pursuit of improvement.
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Michael Leonard's links:
TikTok
Instagram
YouTube
Book
-----
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Take the Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every-ish Tuesday.
-----
Have a suggestion for a topic or guest? Drop your suggestions here.
-----
Follow Josh on social:
Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
TikTok: @joshlukenichols
-----
Follow The Mental Golf Show on social:
Twitter: @mentalgolfshow
Instagram: mentalgolfshow
TikTok: mentalgolfshow
Sep 7, 2023
Sep 7, 2023
19 min
On this episode we’re going to be talking about the US Mid-Amateur. On the day this is released the first day of practice rounds are happening right now at the US Mid-Am at Sleepy Hollow. No, I’m not there. And yes, I’m extremely jealous.
But I want to take this episode to talk about the mentality that it takes to get good enough to play in a US Mid-Am, and make it all the way to the finals.
Now I know what you might be saying, “this episode isn’t for me, there’s no way I could ever get that good or I don’t like setting goals like that or I don’t have that kind of time.” I think this episode is more than just about achieving this one specific goal. It’s more about becoming the type of player that you aspire to be, no matter what that level is. Mine might be different than yours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get better and improve toward your goals.
As some of you have heard me talk about, I made it to the finals of the 2017 US Mid-Am. That’s getting farther and farther into the past, but the process I used to get there has solidified over time.
And if you’re actually currently playing in the US Mid-Am, maybe this can help you pace out your days and hopefully your long road to the final. And you have to promise me if you make it to the final like I did you gotta give The Mental Golf Show a shout out.
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Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Take the Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every-ish Tuesday.
-----
Have a suggestion for a topic or guest? Drop your suggestions here.
-----
Follow Josh on social:
Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
TikTok: @joshlukenichols
-----
Follow The Mental Golf Show on social:
Twitter: @mentalgolfshow
Instagram: mentalgolfshow
TikTok: mentalgolfshow
Sep 5, 2023
Sep 5, 2023
51 min
On this episode we’ve got part 2 of our re-release of my all-time favorite episode of the podcast. It’s from the very first conversation I had with Raymond Prior titled Golf Beneath the Surface released back in February of 2022.
Again, this conversation was formative for me because it completely shifted my focus from the surface level mental game that we read about and hear on social media to deeper level psychology that actually gets at the heart of the issue. And it’s the way I believe we should all be addressing our own improvement. Rather than jumping from one quick fix to the next, instead taking the time to address what’s at the heart of our struggles. As Prior says, patiently and systematically working on something might be a slow road, but it’s still the fasted road to sustainable change.
So I hope you learn as much as I did in talking to Raymond Prior. I think you can even hear how I’m being challenged on my thinking during this episode. So I encourage you to take some notes and commit these things to belief.
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Raymond Prior, PhD:
Raymond Prior's website: btsmindset.com
Amazon book- Golf Beneath the Surface: The New Science of Golf Psychology
Raymond Prior, PhD on Twitter: @bts_mindset
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Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Take the Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every-ish Tuesday.
-----
Have a suggestion for a topic or guest? Drop your suggestions here.
-----
Follow Josh on social:
Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
TikTok: @joshlukenichols
-----
Follow The Mental Golf Show on social:
Twitter: @mentalgolfshow
Instagram: mentalgolfshow
TikTok: mentalgolfshow
Aug 31, 2023
Aug 31, 2023
20 min
I wanted to bring back a very popular episode of the podcast about quieting your mind.
When things are going sideways on the course, the mental chatter starts to ramp up. And maybe even more difficult, when things are going well on the course the mind gets very noisy. Past, future, good, bad. So being able to handle this properly is an essential skill for playing good golf.
-----
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Take the Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every-ish Tuesday.
-----
Have a suggestion for a topic or guest? Drop your suggestions here.
-----
Follow Josh on social:
Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
TikTok: @joshlukenichols
-----
Follow The Mental Golf Show on social:
Twitter: @mentalgolfshow
Instagram: mentalgolfshow
TikTok: mentalgolfshow