The Sweet Spot - Golf Podcast Why Trying Not to Think About Your Score Makes Golf Harder
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Dec 15, 2025 Jon and Adam explore why trying to avoid score thoughts in golf can backfire, emphasizing the importance of accepting score anxiety. They discuss techniques to maintain focus on routines and the mental aspects of the game, advocating for managing expectations. The duo also compares online and in-person coaching, highlighting when online lessons might be more effective and how to choose a coach wisely. With insights on creating a list of intentions and shifting focus to match play, they offer practical tips for golfers seeking improvement.
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Accept Score Thoughts, Don't Fight Them
- Accept that you will think about your score instead of trying to banish the thought entirely.
- Jon Sherman says accepting score-thinking reduces the unhelpful internal struggle and is more realistic.
Junior Course-Record Anxiety
- Adam Young recalls hyper-focusing on breaking course records as a junior and choking late holes.
- He says repeated success later made those milestones feel less threatening.
Think In Scoring Spectrums, Not One Number
- Understand your personal scoring distribution instead of fixating on your best-case score.
- Jon Sherman says most golfers live in the middle of a bell curve and misaligned expectations breed dissatisfaction.
