
The Mental Golf Show
Host Josh Nichols shares from his own 20 years of competitive and golf psychology coaching experiences, along with years of learning psychology, as well as interviews with players, coaches, and experts in the golf industry, all with the goal of helping you think better on and off the golf course.
*This podcast is not meant to apply to every individuals’ mental health. And not all opinions expressed by guests reflect Josh’s opinions and experiences.
Latest episodes

Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 1min
Ryan Mouque - Consistency, Swing Thoughts, and Better Practice
Special guest Ryan Mouque joins Josh Nichols on The Mental Golf Show (for the second time). Topics and chapter marks below:
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Consistency in Golf
01:55 The Purpose of Practice
04:17 Managing Expectations
05:38 Acceptance
07:57 Is Ryan still improving?
09:21 Pressure Situations in Golf
12:52 Physical and Mental Game Affect on Each Other
18:10 Should We Think About Our Swing While We Play?
26:28 The Purpose of Practice
30:29 Can A Player Improve By Themselves?
33:22 Navigating Golf Content: What's Relevant for You?
42:55 Coaches that Challenge Conventional Wisdom
50:20 What is Ryan Mouque Known For?
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Ryan Mouque's links
Ryan Mouque Golf
Ryan Mouque on X
Ryan Mouque on Instagram
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Special thanks to:
The Divot Board for partnering with The Mental Golf Show.
Get 10% off a Divot Board!
Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
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Weekly Mental Game Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your inbox every week.
-----
Assess Your Mental Game
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
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📚 2025 Book Club!
Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
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Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
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Follow Josh on social:
X/Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
YouTube: Josh Nichols Golf

Mar 17, 2025 • 24min
Monday Mental Breakdown: Rory Conquers Conditions and Playoff at the 2025 Players
Welcome to Mental Breakdown, a series where we dive into how players handled the pressure of the latest tour event.
Today we're recapping the exciting and adverse-condition-packed 2025 Players Championship. What can we learn from the tournament? What can we take away from how the playoff went down?
This tournament and the playoff were a great case study in mental toughness.
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Special thanks to:
The Divot Board for partnering with The Mental Golf Show.
Get 10% off a Divot Board!
Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Weekly Mental Game Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your inbox every week.
-----
Assess Your Mental Game
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
📚 2025 Book Club!
Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Follow Josh on social:
X/Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
YouTube: Josh Nichols Golf

Mar 11, 2025 • 1h 7min
Robert Linville – Know Your Why, Play Your Best
Special guest Robert Linville joins the podcast. Robert is the founder of Precision Golf School in Greensboro, NC, U.S. and has been teaching the best players in the region for decades. And he and Josh have been working together since 2016.
Robert has worked with elite amateurs, USGA Champions, LPGA and PGA Tour players, and even USGA runner-ups ;)
In this episode, Robert and Josh discuss these topics:
how to trust the process
consistency
acceptance in performance
the journey of improvement
overcoming challenges
self-belief
managing expectations
accessing skills under pressure
balance between caring too much and not caring enough
finding your 'why' and why that's so important
It's always great to talk with Robert and learn from his wisdom and experience, so I know you'll get a lot out of this episode.
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Episode chapters
00:00 Intro
00:40 Robert Linville
22:45 The Divot Board
25:46 Robert Linville
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Robert Linville's links:
Instagram
X
Precision Golf School
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Special thanks to:
The Divot Board for partnering with The Mental Golf Show.
Get 10% off a Divot Board!
Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Weekly Mental Game Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your inbox every week.
-----
Assess Your Mental Game
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
📚 2025 Book Club!
Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Follow Josh on social:
X/Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
YouTube: Josh Nichols Golf

Mar 10, 2025 • 24min
Monday Mental Breakdown - Henley Handles Pressure at Arnold Palmer Invitational
Welcome to Mental Breakdown, a series where we dive into how players handled the pressure of the final 9 holes of the latest tour event.
This week we're exploring the final 9 of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Who improved, who got worse, and the stats to back it up. We draw out some mental game observations that will help you play better under pressure.
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Special thanks to:
The Divot Board for partnering with The Mental Golf Show.
Get 10% off a Divot Board!
Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Weekly Mental Game Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your inbox every week.
-----
Assess Your Mental Game
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
📚 2025 Book Club!
Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Follow Josh on social:
X/Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
YouTube: Josh Nichols Golf

Mar 5, 2025 • 1h 21min
Adam Young - What is Good Technique?
Special guest Adam Young joins The Mental Golf Show (for the second time).
Josh and Adam discuss:
The concept that good golf technique is not one-size-fits-all.
The evolution of technique, consistency, and the role of equipment in performance.
Key principles of golf mechanics, emphasizing impact and ground contact.
The importance of intent, shot pattern recognition, and tools for managing patterns.
The psychological side of golf, including overcoming fear and developing a flexible mindset.
Shot control, understanding personal shot patterns, and mental strategies.
Adaptability, especially when dealing with mistakes or the yips in putting.
A structured improvement process and the role of self-awareness.
Resources for golfers looking to improve their skills.
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Episode Chapters
00:00 Understanding Golf Technique
05:18 Defining Good Technique
10:35 The Role of Equipment
16:16 Simplifying Golf Mechanics
23:46 Simplifying Complexity in Golf Instruction
31:18 Understanding Patterns and Adjustments in Golf
40:37 Overcoming Fear on the Golf Course
49:46 Understanding Control in Golf Shots
55:23 Adapting to Mistakes and Consistency
01:04:05 Self-Awareness in Golf Technique
01:10:55 Resources for Golf Improvement
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Special thanks to:
The Divot Board for partnering with The Mental Golf Show.
Get 10% off a Divot Board!
Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code MentalGolf10 to get 10% off your entire purchase.
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Weekly Mental Game Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your inbox every week.
-----
Assess Your Mental Game
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
📚 2025 Book Club!
Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Follow Josh on social:
X/Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
YouTube: Josh Nichols Golf

Feb 20, 2025 • 32min
I Played a Tournament with No Practice—What I did Right and Wrong
I played a tournament recently, and I want to talk through what I did really well, what went wrong, and of course, the result of the actual tournament.
And ultimately I want to make this applicable to you. You don’t necessarily come here just to hear how Josh is doing, you’re here to improve your own game.
So I’m confident you’ll leave this episode with some learnings to help you play better in your next competition.
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Special thanks to:
Titleist (for having the best golf equipment)
Shot Pattern (for having the best GPS strategy and stat tracking app)
-----
Get 10% off a Divot Board!
Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code 'MentalGolf10' to get 10% off your purchase
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Mental Game Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your inbox every week.
-----
Assessment
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
📚 2025 Book Club!
Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Follow Josh on social:
X/Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
YouTube: Josh Nichols Golf
-----
Music credits:
Creative Technology Showreel ****Music by Ivan Ohanezov from Pixabay
“Hopeful Folk Contemplative Loop” by Sonican on Pixabay
Contemplative Mellow Thoughtful Piano Music by Ashot Danielyan from Pixabay
“Waterfall” Music by from

Feb 14, 2025 • 60min
Gary Christian - Stop Getting in Your Own Way
On today’s episode we’ve got special guest Gary Christian.
If you haven’t heard of Gary, he’s a former PGA Tour player. In fact, he was the oldest rookie ever on the PGA Tour at 40 years old.
We get into that story and more in depth to Gary’s history, but first we jump right into the importance of the mental game. Then we get into Gary’s personal journey and the way he improved his game. Gary has a great perspective on struggles and success, and some very unique methods he used to have his pro golf breakthroughs
And Gary is also an author. He recently published the book Beat the Course, Not Yourself. Most mental game books could also read like a text book, where you’re presented a concept, why that concept is important, and how you can improve that concept to help you play better. But Gary’s book Beat the Course, Not Yourself is a story. He subtly introduces mental game and golf improvement concepts through the story of Jack, a 15 year old amateur golfer who’s trying to get recruited to play college golf. Which may sound unrelatable to those non-15 year olds out there, but the way this reads is highly relatable. A very interesting approach to the mental game.
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Gary Christian's book: Beat the Course, Not Yourself
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Get 10% off a Divot Board!
Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code 'MentalGolf10' to get 10% off your purchase
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Mental Game Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your inbox every week.
-----
Assessment
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
📚 2025 Book Club!
Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Follow Josh on social:
X/Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
YouTube: Josh Nichols Golf
-----
Music credits:
“Study” by Chillmore from Pixabay
Creative Technology Showreel ****Music by Ivan Ohanezov from Pixabay
“Thoughtful Contemplative Documentary Piano” Music by from
“Inspiring Thoughtful Piano” Music by Ivan Luzan from Pixabay
“Jazz Happy” by Music_For_Videos on Pixabay

Feb 5, 2025 • 17min
How to Move On from Any Bad Golf Shot
There's not many more important skills than being able to move on from a bad golf shot. Which is why it's so important to actually have a plan for how to do it, and a way to train that ability. Because like any other part of the game, this mental skill is trainable.
In this episode we go through a systematic, evidence-based 4-step plan for moving on from bad golf shots.
-----
Get 10% off a Divot Board!
Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code 'MentalGolf10' to get 10% off your purchase
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Assessment
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every week.
-----
📚 2025 Book Club!
Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Follow Josh on social:
X/Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
YouTube: Josh Nichols Golf
-----
Music credits:
Creative Technology Showreel ****Music by Ivan Ohanezov from Pixabay
“Waterfall” Music by Roman Senyk from Pixabay

Jan 29, 2025 • 14min
3 Ways to Increase Your Odds of Hitting the Fairway
I've always struggled with driving accuracy. Even as a relatively short hitter compared to my peers, for large portions of my golf career I only hit around 50% of my fairways.
But there are some key psychological reasons for that, and processes that have helped me tremendously be able to swing more freely and hit more fairways (and hit it further). We go through 3 of those processes in this episode.
-----
Get 10% off a Divot Board!
Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code 'MentalGolf10' to get 10% off your purchase
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Assessment
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every week.
-----
📚 2025 Book Club!
Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Follow Josh on social:
X/Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
YouTube: Josh Nichols Golf
-----
Music credits:
Creative Technology Showreel ****Music by Ivan Ohanezov from Pixabay
“Study” by Chillmore from Pixabay

Jan 22, 2025 • 1h 9min
The Psychology of Having the Right Equipment (feat. JJ Van Wezenbeeck with Titleist)
As you’ll hear in this episode, over my 20 years of competitive golf experience my relationship with equipment has been hot and cold. Which I believe has left me at a disadvantage not only with quality of shots but also with my confidence in my clubs.
So in this episode I take you through my relationship with golf equipment, how Titleist stepped in and helped me see the error of my ways, and an interview with one of the best club fitters in all of golf, JJ Van Wezenbeeck. So stay tuned to the end to learn what he has to say about the psychological benefits of having the right equipment.
-----
Get 10% off a Divot Board!
Go to divotboard.com/mentalgolfshow and use the code 'MentalGolf10' to get 10% off your purchase
Get a great deal AND support The Mental Golf Show. Thank you! 🙏
-----
Assessment
Take the FREE Mental Game Assessment and learn your top mental game traits and your areas in most need of improvement.
-----
Newsletter
Click here to sign up for The Mental Re-Grip ⛳️ Newsletter to receive mental game tips in your email inbox every week.
-----
📚 2025 Book Club!
Click here to join the exclusive group chat where we discuss the books we're reading, questions and struggles about the mental game, and first access to Q&A's and event info.
-----
Improve how you practice!
Custom Weekly Practice Plan
Do you want to get the most out of your practice time? Let Josh hand-build your practice plan using your stats and your time availability so that you can start practicing more efficiently.
-----
1-on-1 Mental Coaching
Are you a competitive golfer? Interested in working 1-on-1 with Josh as your Golf Psychology Coach? Email Josh directly at josh@joshnicholsgolf.com or head to joshnicholsgolf.com.
-----
Want to be a SPONSOR on The Mental Golf Show? Email us with inquiries at mentalgolfshow@gmail.com
-----
Follow Josh on social:
X/Twitter: @joshlukenichols
Instagram: @joshlukenichols
YouTube: Josh Nichols Golf
-----
Music credits:
Creative Technology Showreel ****Music by Ivan Ohanezov from Pixabay