PodcastsEducationThe Mental Golf Show

The Mental Golf Show

Josh Nichols
The Mental Golf Show
Latest episode

286 episodes

  • The Mental Golf Show

    287: Gary Belsky - The Mental Game Difference Between Pros and Amateurs

    20/04/2026 | 1h 18 mins.
    If you've ever played your best golf alone but fallen apart the moment others are watching, this episode is for you.

    In this conversation, Gary Belsky makes a compelling case that solo golf isn't just a scheduling convenience — it's a mental training ground that can rewire how you handle pressure, self-criticism, and the performative noise that creeps in during a round. You'll walk away with some fresh perspective on why the mental game is so hard, and a genuinely practical tool for building it.

    Gary is a New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and decision-making expert who spent 14 years at ESPN, and his newly released book Solo Golf: The Zen of Playing Alone and How It Can Transform Your Game is unlike anything else in the genre.

    Timestamps and topics:

    01:46 - Is golf a difficult test, or for pure enjoyment?

    14:49 - Shot Pattern: shotpattern.app - Discount code MENTALGOLFSHOW for 20% Off

    17:19 - The Value of Solo Golf for When You're Not Solo

    29:10 - Basic Practice Plan: joshnicholsgolf.com/practice

    30:06 - Why Do We Try to Perform for Others?

    45:30 - PutterCup: Get 15% off by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter

    47:14 - Does Enjoying Golf Get In the Way of Performing Well?

    57:57 - Why Are Pro Golfers So Much Better Mentally Than Us?

    1:05:15 - Gary Asks Josh What He's Learned From Doing the Podcast

    1:16:01 - Gary Belsky

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    Gary Belky's book:

    Solo Golf: The Zen of Playing Alone and How It Can Transform Your Game

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    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.

    🏌️‍♂️ Basic Practice Plan - Practice made simple, intentional, and accountable.

    ⛳️ PutterCup: Get 15% off your PutterCup order by going to puttercupgolf.com/mentalgolfshow and signing up for the PutterCup newsletter.

    👨🏻‍🏫 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 [email protected].

    -----

    Josh's stuff:

    🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

    📊 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 atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

    -----

    Other podcast partners:

    🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

    🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

    🍀 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 - [email protected]

    -----

    🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.
  • The Mental Golf Show

    286: Andreas Kali - Embracing Discomfort, Exposing False Practice, and Earning Real Confidence

    13/04/2026 | 1h 19 mins.
    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 — 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

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    Andreas Kali's website: https://andreaskaligolf.com/

    Andreas Kali on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreaskaligolf/

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    Mentioned in this episode: 

    🏌️‍♂️ 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.

    🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

    👨🏻‍🏫 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 [email protected].

    -----

    Josh's stuff:

    📊 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 atjoshnicholsgolf.com/newsletter.

    -----

    Other podcast partners:

    🏌️‍♂️ 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.

    🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

    🍀 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 - [email protected]

    -----

    🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.
  • The Mental Golf Show

    285: The Question That's Rewiring My Golf Brain

    06/04/2026 | 18 mins.
    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:

    The Ineffectiveness of Common Mental Game Advice

    Understanding Yourself: The Key to Improvement

    The Five Whys: A Deep Dive into Self-Reflection

    Processing Emotions: Closing the Loop on Bad Shots

    The Long-Term Benefits of Self-Inquiry

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    Pre-order How to Try Again by Steve Kamb

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    👨🏻‍🏫 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 [email protected].

    -----

    Josh's stuff:

    🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

    📊 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 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.

    🏌️‍♂️ 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.

    🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

    🍀 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 - [email protected]

    -----

    🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.
  • The Mental Golf Show

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

    30/03/2026 | 1h 15 mins.
    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

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    Jeff Troesch's book:

    One Day Better: Mental Performance Concepts to Transform Your Game and Life

    -----

    Mentioned in this episode:

    🎓 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.

    🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

    👨🏻‍🏫 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 [email protected].

    -----

    Josh's stuff:

    📊 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 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.

    🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

    🍀 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 - [email protected]

    -----

    🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.
  • The Mental Golf Show

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

    23/03/2026 | 1h 5 mins.
    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 - 🎓 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 - 🏌️‍♂️ 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

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    Matt Young's links:

    Website: mattyounglc.com

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattyounglc

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattyounglc/

    Email: [email protected]

    -----

    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.

    🎓 The Perfect Pre-Shot Routine digital course - Dial in your pre-shot routine, play your best golf.

    🏌️‍♂️ The Divot Board: Get 10% off at divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow using code 'MentalGolf10'.

    👨🏻‍🏫 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 [email protected].

    -----

    Josh's stuff:

    📊 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 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.

    🏋️‍♂️ FREE Nerd Fitness Golf Workout - Get the Free MVP Golf Workout from Nerd Fitness here!

    🍀 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 - [email protected]

    -----

    🔥 🧈 Special thanks to Titleist for their support of The Mental Golf Show. Join Team Titleist here.

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About 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 episodes breaking down what he’s learned — Josh investigates the gap between a golfer’s potential and what actually shows up on the course.
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