266: FundaMENTALS - Expectations: The Psychology That Makes Good Golf Harder

🎓 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: Webb Simpson: What confidence is made of, how to grow it, and what hurts Webb's confidence (Episode 242) Dan Abrahams: How to get the most out of your ABCD Game (Episode 239) Jayson Nickol: Getting comfortable going low and eliminating “Anyway Shots” (Episode 238) Ross MacLeod: Is putting the most important part of the game? (Episode 244) Mike Booker: The difference between a “Tournament Golfer” and a “Golfer Who Plays Tournaments” (Episode 241) Gary Waters: The benefit of detaching yourself from your results (Episode 254) Lou Stagner: Where should players set their stat benchmarks? (Episode 236) Jim Waldron: What and how much should we be thinking about during the golf swing? (Episode 245) Dawn Grant: How do you maximize joy on the golf course? (Episode 250) ----- 🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice 🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you. 📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. 📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. 👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email [email protected] or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. 🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. ⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter. ----- 🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here. 🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice 🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you. ----- 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? ----- 📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. 📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. 👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email [email protected] or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. 🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. ⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter. ----- 🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here. 🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice 🏋️‍♂️ Nerd Fitness: Head to nerdfitness.com, and when (not if) you go through onboarding just mention Josh at The Mental Golf Show sent you. ----- 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 ----- 📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. 📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. 👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email [email protected] or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. 🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. ⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter. ----- 🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement. ----- In this FundaMENTALS episode, we look at how expectations add tension and narrow your options, and why shifting to clear standards helps you swing with freedom. I cover the basic brain mechanics, a simple process to use before each shot, and a few practical course examples. The goal is steadier decision-making and more durable confidence. ----- 🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice 🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here. 📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. 👨🏻‍🏫 Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email [email protected] or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. 🏌️‍♂️ Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. ⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter. ----- 🔥 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

📊 FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement 🗓️ Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com/practice 🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here. ----- What if your pain wasn’t just a body problem, but a brain and golf problem? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Carly Hunt—Mid-Am Golfer/Pain Psychologist and author of Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain—to talk about how golf can both ease and amplify pain, why “it’s all in your head” is a terrible (and wrong) message, and how the brain’s alarm system actually works. We get into practical tools for playing with ongoing pain, navigating fear of re-injury, dealing with the identity grief of not being the golfer you used to be, and how to shift from fighting your body to working with it so you can keep playing the game you love. ----- Carly Hunt's links: Carly Hunt's Book: Train Your Brain to Beat Chronic Pain: How to Harness the Power of the Mind-Body Connection - https://www.amazon.com/Train-Your-Brain-Beat-Chronic/dp/1462558526 Pain Reprocessing Therapy - https://www.painreprocessingtherapy.com The Pain Psychology Center - https://painpsychologycenter.com/therapy-techniques Carly on LinkedIn Carly on Instagram Email Carly ----- 📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email [email protected] or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter. ----- Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

🎓 The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here. ----- How do you lean in when the round of golf starts going sideways? It’s so easy to eject mentally and just go through the motions. Let's dive into the concept of Exposure Therapy as a tool to build your mental resilience. ----- FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement 📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email [email protected] or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com. PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter. ----- Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

FREE Mental Game Assessment: joshnicholsgolf.com/assessment - identify your mental strengths and areas for mental game improvement ----- Paul Salter joins The Mental Golf Show (for the second time). Paul is a mindset and performance coach who uses hypnosis to help his clients get unstuck, uncover their edge, and unlock their potential. We cover these topics: The Commitment to Golf Mastery The Power of Language in Self-Talk Building Confidence Through Action Understanding Fear and Success The Role of Beliefs in Performance Unlearning Limiting Beliefs Navigating Fear and Anxiety in Golf The Art of Unlearning for Success The Pressure of Expectations The Secret to Consistent Success The Secret to Extraordinary Success Challenging Societal Norms and Rules The Balance Between Success and Fulfillment Identity and Performance in Sports Communication and Relationships in Golf and Life ----- Paul Salter's Links: The Scratch Golfer's Mindset podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts Instagram - thegolfhypnotherapist Website - thegolfhypnotherapist.com ----- Get more from Josh Nichols: The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here. 📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email [email protected] or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com. PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter. ----- Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here. 

Most of us don't have caddies helping us get fully committed to shots, so we have to be our own caddies. Learning how to be your own caddie effectively can give you a huge advantage over your opponents and your own unhelpful tendencies. ----- The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here. ----- Get more from Josh Nichols: 📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email [email protected] or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com. PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter. Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas. ----- Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.   

Dr. Doug Tataryn is the founder of the Bio-Emotive Framework. And we get into things like integral theory, the Four Facets Model of Human Transformation, and the effects of your childhood experiences on your worldview. But, and this is very important, Dr. Doug is very good at grounding these abstract topics back to golf. And I’d like to think that I represent you, the listener, in being relatively new, if not completely ignorant of these concepts. Hopefully I do you justice and ask the questions you might ask. Dr. Doug's links: Read (and sign up for) Dr. Tataryn's Substack: https://drdougbioemotive.substack.com/p/fairways-of-the-mind-worldviews-intro   The Bio-Emotive Website: https://bioemotiveframework.com/   Sign up for Dr. Tataryn's "Fairways of the Mind" online offerings to improve your Golf Psychology: https://mailchi.mp/bioemotiveframework.com/fairwaysofthemind   ----- Topics Covered: The Universality of Golf and Mental Game Introduction to the Four Facets of Human Experience Understanding the Four Facets Framework The Role of Emotional Processing in Golf Disidentification and Its Impact on Performance The Interplay of Childhood Experiences and Golf Balancing the Four Facets for Optimal Performance Real-Life Applications of the Four Facets The Relationship Between Golf and Personal Growth Navigating Feelings of Inadequacy in Golf The Quest for Balance in Golf and Life Emotional Holes and Compulsive Behavior Worldviews and Personal Growth Pattern Recognition and Ego Deconstruction Vision, Motivation, and Emotional Conditioning Exploring Regret and Self-Betrayal Embracing Current Reality Betrayal vs. Abandonment Core Feelings and Emotional Depth Vision for Success and Loneliness Reframing Isolation in Golf Worldviews and Emotional Reactions -----   Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.   The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here.   Basic and Custom Practice Plans: Get more organized with your practice at joshnicholsgolf.com.   -----   Get more from Josh Nichols:   📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.   PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.   Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email [email protected] or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions.   Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas.   -----   Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.   

Special guest Coach Bruce Chalas and I talk all about college golf, the psychological demands of college golf, and the recruiting process for junior golfers. So if you’re a junior golfer, college player, a parent of one, or a coach helping players navigate this stage, this one’s for you. And even if you’re not in that world, it’s still a really cool peek behind the curtain at how high-level players get noticed, develop, and play great golf under pressure. Bruce Chalas is the head coach of the Boston University women’s golf team and he’s been there for 17 years. ----- Junior Girls Golf Clinic: https://bostonuniversitygirlsgolfclinic.com/ ----- 📧 The Mental Re-Grip Newsletter: Sign up for weekly mental game tips at joshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter. ----- Get more from Josh Nichols: The Perfect Pre-shot Routine digital course: Dial in your pre-shot routine here. PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter. Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'. Josh Nichols Golf (1-on-1 Mental Coaching): Email [email protected] or visit joshnicholsgolf.com for sessions. Custom Weekly Practice Plan: Hand-built plans based on your stats and schedule at joshnicholsgolf.com. Mental Game Assessment: Free assessment at joshnicholsgolf.com to identify strengths and improvement areas. ----- Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.