The Mental Golf Show 264: How to Lean Into Golf Discomfort, Not Eject
Nov 11, 2025
Discover how to tackle the mental game of golf when things don't go as planned. Explore exposure therapy, which helps build confidence through facing anxiety-inducing shots. Learn a step-by-step routine for entering pressure situations and how to expand your tolerance for discomfort. Josh emphasizes the importance of neutrality over forced positivity and advises mapping your mental challenges. Find out how to track your progress and develop a multi-round plan to confront discomfort, ultimately enhancing your performance.
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The Urge To Escape A Tight Tee
- Josh Nichols describes being three under with four to play and feeling the urge to 'get this shot over with.'
- He explains that this impulse often produces rushed or conservative swings that sabotage the round.
Pressure Is A Signal Not A Command
- Your brain flags pressure as a threat but that signal is not a command to escape.
- Repeated escape responses wire an 'eject' habit; exposure rewires tolerance to pressure.
Run A Deliberate Pre-Shot Process
- Engage the triggering situation deliberately and name the physical sensations you feel.
- Anchor a clear process: target, out-loud shot, pre-acceptance phrase, full inhale/exhale, then swing.