Wicked Smart Golf

533: Jess Lapachinski - Overcoming Bad Shots, Building Routines, External Focus, & On-Course Mindset

Oct 1, 2026
Guest
Jess Lapachinski
Jess Lapachinski, a sports performance mental coach with nearly 20 years of experience and a master’s in sports psychology, explores the mental game of golf. They discuss recovering from bad shots, building a consistent pre-shot routine, using external targets instead of swing mechanics, managing anger, and staying focused between shots. Tournament preparation, visualization, journaling, and confidence also take center stage.
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INSIGHT

Confidence Means Trusting Your Recovery

  • Confidence is not proof that everything will go well; it is trust that you can handle whatever happens next.
  • Preparation builds that trust, especially for neglected shots such as bunker play, while constructive framing preserves it afterward.
ADVICE

Turn A Bad Thought Into A Shot Plan

  • Let the first negative reaction appear, then deliberately switch to yardage, target, club, and execution.
  • Use a repeatable process instead of expecting a perfect shot to rescue an unstructured decision.
INSIGHT

Your Second Thought Controls The Round

  • Suppressing anger often makes it return, while briefly acknowledging disappointment creates room to refocus.
  • Jess Lapachinski compares self-criticism to living with an endlessly negative friend and recommends observing that pattern through journaling.
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