April 23, 2025
235: Gary Nicol - Intention, Attention, Attitude, and Enjoying Golf
The Mental Golf ShowAbout this episode
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