534: 7 Warm Up Mistakes Winners Avoid At All Costs

Oct 6, 2026

Your round begins long before the first tee shot. Explore seven costly warm-up mistakes, from skipping mobility and rushing arrival to wasting the drive and practicing aimlessly. Learn how to make putting and range time more purposeful, mentally rehearse the opening holes, and replace score pressure with a confident, process-focused preparation routine.

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ADVICE

Activate Your Body Before Hitting Balls

Activate your body before hitting balls to reduce injury risk and start playing better immediately.
Even five minutes of lunges, bands, or mobility work can prevent feeling unprepared until the seventh hole.

ADVICE

Arrive Early Enough To Avoid Rushing

Arrive early enough to complete a consistent physical and mental routine without rushing.
Michael Leonard typically arrives 65 to 75 minutes early for tournaments, while emphasizing that 20 or 30 minutes can work.

ADVICE

Turn Your Drive Into A Confidence Ritual

Use the drive to build confidence through positive music, intentional self-talk, and controllable process goals.
Avoid negative news and score calculations that create tension before the round begins.

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Most golfers think their round starts when they hit their opening tee shot—but your performance is often influenced by what you do in the 60 minutes before you tee off.

In this episode, I'm breaking down 7 common pre-round mistakes that can cost you shots before the round even begins.

I'll also share the pre-round strategies I use in tournament golf to activate my body, prepare my mind, build confidence, and make the first tee feel like just another shot.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why you need to activate your body before hitting balls
Why arriving early makes it much easier to prepare without feeling rushed.
How to use your car ride to get mentally ready instead of scrolling, stressing, or thinking about your swing.
Why most golfers have a pathetic putting warm-up and how to make those final minutes more productive.
How planning your opening holes can eliminate unnecessary decisions and uncertainty.
Why score goals can create unnecessary pressure before you've even hit a shot

The goal isn't to find your golf swing 20 minutes before your tee time. It's to get your body activated, mind prepared, and game ready so you can step onto the first tee with confidence.

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