Episodes

  • Lou Stagner - Stats, Expectations, and Managing Emotions on the Golf Course

    Lou Stagner - Stats, Expectations, and Managing Emotions on the Golf Course
    Apr 29 2025

    Lou Stagner is a statistician, coach, and one of the most influential voices in the golf industry. He joins The Mental Golf Show.

    Topics and Timestamps:

    00:00 Emotional Control in Golf

    05:07 Statistics and Anger

    10:23 How much should we be thinking about stats?

    12:56 The Importance of Data Tracking

    14:49 Playing with Confidence vs. Emotion

    19:15 Stat Tracking Apps

    22:39 Does Lou practice what he preaches?

    39:48 What to do when you don't know where the ball is going

    41:31 How does Lou manage his own anger on the course?

    46:20 Lou's Pre-shot Strategy Routine

    48:25 What should our stat benchmark be?

    55:33 Structuring Practice with Swing Changes

    58:09 Does playing shorter tees help or hurt your handicap?

    1:00:13 How can Mike & Eli of Chasing Scratch get to scratch?

    1:04:25 Does Statistics Actually Help You Improve?

    1:06:19 Lou's Role as Statistician at Princeton Golf

    1:09:45 Lou Stagner

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    Lou's newsletter: Lou Stagner Golf

    Lou on X

    Lou on Instagram

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    🏌️‍♂️🗓️ Basic Practice Plan Template

    A practice plan robust enough to help you actually improve, but flexible enough to handle the chaos of your life.

    Click here to check out the Basic Practice Plan Template

    -----

    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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    FREE 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.

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    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.

    -----

    Take the next step in 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 Mental 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
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Gary Nicol - Intention, Attention, Attitude, and Enjoying Golf

    Gary Nicol - Intention, Attention, Attitude, and Enjoying Golf
    Apr 23 2025
    Gary Nicol joins The Mental Golf Show. Gary is a Performance Consultant, and co-author along with Karl Morris of The Lost Art Of Putting, The Lost Art Of Playing Golf, and The Lost Art Of The Short Game. Topics: - Golf is often seen as an identity rather than an activity. - Players frequently tie their self-worth to their scores. - The human brain struggles to stay present and often projects into the future. - Influencing performance involves intention, attention, and attitude. - Asking positive questions can shift mindset and focus. - Resetting one's mindset can be done after every hole, not just at the turn. - We tend to live out the stories we tell ourselves about our performance. - Golf should be fun, and enjoyment is key to performance. - Self-talk can significantly impact performance and mindset. - Clarity of intention is crucial for effective performance. A good coach directs attention to useful areas. - Dividing attention can hinder performance. - Single-point focus is essential in golf. - Finding what works for you is crucial. - Dopamine hits from winning can lead to dissatisfaction. - Managing expectations is key in youth sports. - Golf should be enjoyable, not a grind. - Acceptance is a skill that can be developed. - Mistakes are a natural part of the game. - Emotions in golf can be both a challenge and a motivator. ----- Gary Nicol's links Books on Amazon performanceprinciples.co.uk thelostartofgolf.com Instagram X ----- 🏌️‍♂️🗓️ Basic Practice Plan Template A practice plan robust enough to help you actually improve, but flexible enough to handle the chaos of your life. Click here to check out the Basic Practice Plan Template ----- 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
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    51 mins
  • Howard Falco - Confidence, Golf Trauma, and the Invincible Golf Mindset

    Howard Falco - Confidence, Golf Trauma, and the Invincible Golf Mindset
    Apr 16 2025

    Howard Falco, author of Invincible: The Mindset of Infinite Potential and the Secret to Inevitable Success, joins The Mental Golf Show.

    Topics and Timestamps:

    00:00 Confidence Comes from Fundamentals 03:28 Bad Round: Fix or Adapt? 08:15 The Intersection of Life and Golf 14:40 What Makes Golf So Hard and So Great? 18:42 Optimism and Performance in Golf 24:59 Facing the Truth in Golf 33:29 Take Responsibility for Your Own Game 35:10 How to Recover from "Golf Trauma" 40:15 Rise to the Occasion? Or Fall to Preparation? 43:23 Take our time and learn? Or take the easy way out? 47:37 The Importance of Mindfulness and Calmness 54:03 Invincible by Howard Falco

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    Click here to check out Invincible by Howard Falco on Amazon

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    🏌️‍♂️🗓️ Basic Practice Plan Template

    A practice plan robust enough to help you actually improve, but flexible enough to handle the chaos of your life.

    Click here to check out the Basic Practice Plan Template

    -----

    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
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Rory McIlroy Wins the 2025 Masters and the Career Grand Slam

    Rory McIlroy Wins the 2025 Masters and the Career Grand Slam
    Apr 14 2025

    Josh tries his hardest to draw out to do it justice and draw out the mental aspects of Rory's win at the 2025 Masters.

    -----

    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.

    -----

    🏌️‍♂️🗓️ Basic Practice Plan Template

    A practice plan robust enough to help you actually improve, but flexible enough to handle the chaos of your life.

    Click here to check out the Basic Practice Plan Template

    -----

    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! 🙏

    -----

    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
    Show more Show less
    27 mins
  • Debbie O'Connell - Self-Talk, Flow State, and Keeping a Good Round Going

    Debbie O'Connell - Self-Talk, Flow State, and Keeping a Good Round Going
    Apr 8 2025

    Debbie O'Connell joins The Mental Golf Show.

    Topics and timestamps:

    00:00 Debbie O'Connell's Journey in Sports 04:19 Overcoming Nerves and Achieving Flow State 09:11 "The Grass Floor" 10:32 Taking the Leap: From College to Professional Golf 15:14 The Value of Nerves to Being in Flow 19:17 Techniques to Be in Flow 22:59 How to Keep a Good Round Going 29:48 What if Positive Self-Talk is Fake? 35:53 How You Interpret the Situation is Vital 38:51 Shifting Limiting Beliefs 47:15 How to Change Negative Beliefs 57:27 Debbie O'Connell

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    🏌️‍♂️🗓️ Basic Practice Plan Template

    Have a practice plan that is robust to help you actually improve, but flexible enough to handle the chaos of your life.

    Click here to check out the Basic Practice Plan Template

    -----

    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
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Gary Christian - Improve without a Swing Change, Practice Smarter, and Maximize Your Time

    Gary Christian - Improve without a Swing Change, Practice Smarter, and Maximize Your Time
    Apr 1 2025

    Gary Christian, author of Beat the Course, Not Yourself, joins The Mental Golf Show for a second time.

    Topics and Timestamps:

    00:00 Maximizing Limited Practice Time 03:52 Using a Swing Coach to Work Smarter 10:35 Long-Term Improvement vs. Short-Term Results 18:03 Finding the Right Coach 21:00 Going long stretches without practice 22:37 Self-Coaching 25:26 Technique vs. Feel 30:17 The Balance of Enjoyment and Improvement in Golf 41:47 Structuring Effective Practice Sessions 47:00 Decision Making and Course Management 54:14 Mental Preparation for Tournaments 01:00:22 The Value of Mental Game Podcasts

    -----

    🏌️‍♂️🗓️ Basic Practice Plan Template

    Have a practice plan that is robust to help you actually improve, but flexible enough to handle the chaos of your life.

    Click here to check out the Basic Practice Plan Template

    -----

    Special thanks to:

    Nerd Fitness

    Go to nerdfitness.com and when you start the onboarding process mention Josh from The Mental Golf Show sent you!

    -----

    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
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Jon Sherman - Dial In Your Routine, Compete Better, and Enjoy the Game

    Jon Sherman - Dial In Your Routine, Compete Better, and Enjoy the Game
    Mar 25 2025

    Special guest Jon Sherman (Practical Golf) joins The Mental Golf Show. Topics and timestamps below:

    00:00 The Balance of Fun and Score in Golf 03:55 Jon's Experience winning a U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier 08:16 Titleist 12:33 Strategies for Slowing Down in Golf 14:27 Jon's Experience at the 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur 17:26 How to Slow Things Down on the Course 19:11 Do the Opposite to Get What You Want 21:28 Jon Sherman's Putting Routine 25:26 Dealing with and Learning from Missed Opportunities 31:42 Improving Your Driver 36:22 The Divot Board 38:57 What is Face Control and How Do You Work On It? 43:33 Changing or Playing with What You Got? 46:59 Confidence Competing Against Others 51:30 Managing Reactions to Bad Shots 01:02:03 The Mental Golf Show w/ Jon Sherman

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    Special thanks to:

    Titleist and The Divot Board

    Join Team Titleist

    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
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Ryan Mouque - Consistency, Swing Thoughts, and Better Practice

    Ryan Mouque - Consistency, Swing Thoughts, and Better Practice
    Mar 18 2025

    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! 🙏

    -----

    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
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 1 min
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